Seven years ago Repertory Opera Company, Pomona’s Opera Company, presented the first Manly Men of Opera concert as a way to support our bass Young Artist, Sean Michael Hughes. It was to be a chance for him to hear the bass music he would sing, and meet and work with other basses.  In the average production or concert there may be one or two basses, but here was a multitude.

This idea grew to be a yearly dinner concert that features basses and bass-baritones: A celebration of  the resonance of the low male voice.

This year’s concert will include opera, music theater, movie, and art song.  We will hear from Guys and Dolls, Macbeth, South Pacific, Beauty and the Beast, Luisa Miller, Tales of Hoffmann and much more.  Something for everyone.

There are 18 singers including Patrick Blackwell, who has sung multiple roles at LA Opera; Vaga Martirosyan, our newest Manly singer; and of course, our Young Artist,  Sean Michael Hughes.  Dinner will be prepared by Erle Saunders and will be served at 5 pm.  Singing starts at 6 pm.  Join the fun!

www.repoperaco.org

(909) 618-7041

Diva Viva Verdi Concert Tomorrow Saturday July 18 at 4 pm in Pomona

Here is a link to hear a preview of this concert.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a-CT8_D29w

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Pomona's opera company continues its eleventh season with an amazing afternoon of sublime Puccini music. We start with the intense opera Il Tabarro and then heart warming scenes from Madama Butterfly, Gianni Schicchi and more. The concert ends with the famous ensemble around Musetta's aria in the Cafe Momus from La Boheme. Buy your tickets now at http://repertoryoperacompany.org/Buy_Tickets.html

Is there anyone still out there?

Periodically I've posted events and other information here, but I haven't seen any comments in quite a while. Is anyone still reading this blog? Has everyone moved to NextDoor? Is that a better place to post these items?

Comment and let me know.

Thanks, John Clifford.

Victorian Tea SUNDAY

Historical Society of the Pomona Valley will be holding their annual meeting and a Victorian Tea on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 pm at the Ebell Museum of Pomona History. Come and enjoy a Sunday afternoon in the "Victorian" style.

Happy Holidays

It's that most wonderful time of the year and Saturday will see the start of a string of events in our beloved city. This is ONLY the happenings this weekend. A great start. Hope to see you all at one or all of these great events.

Saturday, Dec. 6, the Pomona Christmas Parade.

Saturday, Dec. 6 (after the parade): Holiday at the Plaza (see poster above)

Free at the Civic Center Plaza, Snow, games, food, entertainment, and various vendor booths.

Saturday, Dec. 6. Lecture on Librarys of the Ancient World.

This is the third in a series of lectures by Duane Smith on the beginnings of librarys and how they have affected our society. If you missed the first two, this is your last chance this year to learn about ancient libraries. 3:30 pm in the Pomona Library conference room.

Sunday, Dec. 7: Pomona Heritage Holiday Home Tour.

An opportunity to tour some of Pomona's classic historic homes as they are decorated to celebrate the holiday season. It also includes a crafts fair on the 300 block of Jefferson St. Craft Fair: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Home Tour: 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Day of Tour tickets $30.

Spookily heading into November

Well it's the eve of All Hallows (Halloween) and Lincoln Park is girding for the annual onslaught of monsters, princesses, and other assorted revelers. The decorations are up and the candy has been collected. (clicking on images will give you a larger, easier to read version).

Jefferson St. will be closed off to traffic in the Lincoln Park area to ensure a safe place for the youngsters without the normal traffic hazards. If the past is any indication, we'll expect about 2-3,000 candy-beggars out there with a lot of spill over on both Lincoln and Columbia.

OTHER EVENTS

Oct. 31

After the kiddies have collected their booty, you can head on over to Spadra Cemetery for a spooky historical tour of the site. Vandals in years past have tried to diminish the site, but the ghosts of our forebears are still there for us to visit.

Nov. 1

The next day, November 1 is Dia de los Muertes or the Mexican "Day of the Dead" festival. There will be activities at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Lincoln Park (on Alvarado) including displays of Day of the Dead altars and a special display of early Misoamerican documents.

Also on Nov. 1, Duane Smith will be making a presentation of the Ancient Library at Alexandria. At the Library from 2:00 - 3:00 pm.

Nov. 4

Election Day. If you haven't done so, be sure to get out and VOTE. Of course, I want you to consider voting YES on PPL, but regardless, be sure to VOTE.

Nov. 6

Together We Read will be holding a Bowlathon at Bowlium in Montclair. The price includes dinner and bowling. A real bargain. The tie-in with the book all Pomonan's are asked to read is that two of the main characters are Mexican bowling champions.

Nov. 8

And don't forget the Chalk Art Festival in downtown at Thomas Plaza on November 8 at 3:00 pm.

Together We Read, Halloween, there's always something happening in Pomona.

More Together We Read

After a successful Tribute to Ray Bradbury and Walkathon, the Together We Read program continues on Tuesday at 7:00 pm with Gustavo Arellano (Ask a Mexican) doing a program called Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. He is editor of OCWeekly, lecturer in the Chicana and Chicano Studies department at Cal State Fullerton and author. Mr. Arellano will also have a few books on hand for purchase and signing.

This event will be held at Western University of Health Sciences, Health Education Center, Classroom A. Parking will be in the Patient Care Center parking structure

On Saturday at 2pm  There will be a screening of compiled oral history stories of people who live/work in Pomona. Presented by Allan Lagumbay of the library, in the Library's Conference Room.


Teen Open Mic Night--Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 4:30pm - 6:30pm at the Library You're so talented, you deserve an audience. Do you sing, dance, rap, play an instrument, or do a little comedy? Come out and show us what you can do!! Or just sit back and prepared to be amazed.

Food and drinks provided. HEY, TEENS! Spotlight your talent at FPL's Teen Open Mic Nite! Join special host Jules Taylor of Arts Live Theatre as she emcees an evening of fun for you to show off your music, comedy, dance, or poetry! Teen Open Mic Nite will be held in the library's lobby next to Arsaga's Cafe. No registration required--just show up and show out!


Saturday, October 25, 2014, 3:00pm - 4:00pm at Pilgrim Congregational Church Performances by Pomona Youth Orchestra and Ballet Folklorico from Lincoln Elementary.

AND LOOK FOR MORE as we finish out October and move into November. For more information see the Together We Read online Calendar HERE

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Also, a few VIP Reception tickets are available. Limited to 50, there are only a few of these left. $100/person gets you an hour to mingle with the special guests, wine and appetizers, and reserved seating for the film and program. Email John@PomonaLibraryFoundation.org to make your reservation by Friday, October 11.

The City of Pomona declared October 12 as Ray Bradbury Day in the city.

Electric Buses

FOOTHILL TRANSIT TO LAUNCH WORLD’S FIRST HEAVY DUTY FAST CHARGE ALL ELECTRIC BUS LINE

Foothill Transit Line 291 between Pomona and La Verne now fully zero-emissions. WEST COVINA, CA (September 19, 2014) - Foothill Transit, the primary public transportation provider for the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Los Angeles County, is launching the world’s first heavy duty, fast charging, fully electric bus line at the Pomona Transit Center at 9AM on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Almost four years ago to the day, Foothill Transit became the first public transit agency to put fast charge electric buses into service.  The Foothill Transit Ecoliner, manufactured by Proterra LLC in Greenville, SC, is a lightweight, 35-foot transit vehicle with heavy duty responsibilities, driving 30-miles without charging, and able to recharge, hands free and in-route, in 10 minutes.  This Ecoliner was the first of its kind in the nation and now, thanks to the purchase of 12 more buses from Proterra LLC, the agency’s Line 291, which travels between the cities of Pomona and La Verne, will carry passengers exclusively with these vehicles. “The immense challenges we face with the environment demand that we expand our sustainability efforts,” said Doug Tessitor, Chair of Foothill Transit’s Executive Board.  “Rapid advancement in battery and vehicle technology makes zero-emission public transit not only possible but reliable.  This is the time and place for us to show that zero emissions transit is here now.” The project was entirely funded through a Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) II  grant from the Federal Transit Administration.  Foothill Transit’s Line 291 travels 17 miles between La Verne and Pomona and recharges its buses in route at the Pomona Transit Center at a drive-in docking station.  The 10-minute charging time is possible thanks to specially designed lithium titanate batteries. Foothill Transit will be officially launching the all-electric Line 291 at the Pomona Transit Center on Saturday, September 27th at 9AM. In addition to viewing the new fleet of 35-foot Ecoliners, guests at the event will also be able to see Proterra's new 40-foot, V2 electric bus.  Foothill Transit became the first public transit agency in the nation to purchase the new V2.  Delivery is expected in early 2015.  The agency is exploring expansion of electric bus service to neighboring communties. *** Foothill Transit is in its 25th year of serving the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Los Angeles County. Its 330-bus fleet covers approximately 327 square miles each year, carrying 14 million passengers with 35 fixed-route bus lines. To receive a complete travel itinerary of starts, stops, and transfers to your destination, call 1-800-RIDE-INFO or visit one of Foothill Transit’s five Transit Stores located in West Covina, Claremont, Pomona, Puente Hills Mall, and El Monte Station. For the latest news, route maps, job openings, and past press releases, visit foothilltransit.org.

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Your Pomona City Council candidates

Information on who qualified for the ballot has been posted on the City's web site. Find your district here. Note that because the Pomona City Council rejected redistricting a few years ago, District 5 (Phillips Ranch and Westmont) residents have slightly more representation than average. But don't let that stop you from voting if you live elsewhere.

Remember that the top vote getter wins, even if that percentage is less than a majority. In some cases, such as District 5 with five candidates, that could mean someone could win with only 21% of the vote. On the other hand, candidates always tend to drop out, and such a low vote total means that the winner must be extra careful to avoid being recalled should they vote the wrong way on a controversial issue.

District 2 
This generally consists of the southwest quadrant of "old" Pomona (i.e. not Phillips Ranch) and most of downtown.

Adriana Robledo - incumbent (appointed) councilwoman, former parking commissioner and Pomona Princess. Here's a bare bones website.
Tomas Ursua - former mayor, several time loser for mayor and councilman, mathematically challenged, property developer. No website yet.
(Ironically they apparently live down the street from each other, which could be somewhat awkward.)

District 3
This generally consists of southeast Pomona.

Cristina Carrizosa - incumbent councilwoman. Has served on Pomona City Council for years. Does campaign finance forms by hand. Double dipped on a pension by retiring and being reappointed to City Council in a somewhat shady deal at the start of her current term. Strong advocate for immigrant rights. No website (never had a website).

Nancy Matarrita - Community resources director. Ran for school board in 2009 and lost. Active in Youth and Family Master Plan work. Has a website.

Diane Lawson - ballot title is "homemaker". Opposed wage increases on city employees. Retired from Disneyland. Not supportive of unauthorized immigrants staying in town. Other change is unspecified, but has working website.

District 5
This generally consists of Westmont, the mobile home park and graduate student housing around Cal Poly Pomona, and Phillips Ranch.

Ginna Escobar - Incumbent councilwoman. First term member. Former Miss Pomona. Was cited for stealing campaign signs of an opponent. Supported trash station, opponents claim she wasn't paying attention and texting while they were testifying. Has a website (unfortunately the colors you see are the ones on the signs in real life) and a political Facebook page. Top accomplishment on her page - perfect attendance at council meetings. To be fair, also talks economic growth, public safety, widening the 71 Freeway, and "improvement of the quality of life".

Luis Jorge Grajeda - Historic Preservation Commissioner. Realtor/businessman. Co-founder Pony Baseball League. Ran for same office in 2010. Believes there is a disconnect between residents and current leadership (i.e. incumbent). Detailed web site.

Joshua Heredia - Businessman. No web site. No information available on past civic or community involvement.

Alicia Malone - Sheriff Lieutenant (Lakewood Station). Key points are "integrity, leadership, community safety". Ranch Hills PTA. Has a website.

Gabriel Rogers - Parole Agent/Educator (in a work capacity instructing other parole agents). Former planning commissioner. Key points are "honesty, integrity, service" (I'm seeing a trend here). Endorsed by former councilman for the district, Tim Saunders (must login to Facebook to see): "an honest person running for office ,,,, has my vote !!!!!!!" (sic) Involved in various youth programs. Has a website and a Facebook (which you must log on in order to see).

See you at the polls.

Coming In September

A few items that you may want to consider as you prepare your September calendars.

On September 4th there will be a meeting to determine new parking fees for Downtown. If you have any thoughts or want your voice to be heard, this is your chance.





There will be a reading at the Pomona Public Library on September 6 of An Anthology of Art and Literature by Southeast Asian Women in the Diaspora. It will feature a reading by Chau Nguyen, who has been very active in making sure that our library is the place that Pomona deserves.



Both events are Free and open to the public. Hope to see you there.