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Claremont Speaks

LATEST EPISODES

Dec. 26, 2022

Random Shorts 2022: Nancy James on the Happy Crowd and Claremont's se…

The Random Shorts series is an effort to post the several short but enjoyable interviews that, unfortunately, had to be temporarily set aside (not forgotten) due to life, time and scheduling constraints. As everyone was leavi...

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Dec. 25, 2022

Random Shorts, 2022 - Miguel Farer, Competitive Cyclist, talks about …

One warm evening, during the summer concert series, when most everyone else was not so interested, Claremont resident and experienced competitive cyclist Miguel Farer was kind enough to take the microphone and talk with Clare...

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Dec. 24, 2022

Random Shorts 2022: Lori and Hector, enjoying the Happy Crowd's Last …

During the year, the hardworking staff at Claremont Speaks sometimes ventures into the wilds of Claremont, armed only with a field recorder and a couple of microphones, in hopes of speaking to everyday people about everyday s...

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Dec. 24, 2022

A Children's book...for everyone?: Author Marisa Nicely on her new bo…

Claremont-ers love their dogs; they go everywhere with them, and during a trip through the village, not seeing one being walked would be odd. Among those, few are more famous and beloved than "Ezer the Bagel", the star of a …

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Dec. 23, 2022

Can Claremont's Small Businesses Compete Against the Malls and "Big-B…

Claremont's business community is made up of many unique, specialized retail destinations and relatively few mega-corporate businesses; no "big-box" stores, no large malls, and few classic "fast food" establishments. Claremo...

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Dec. 17, 2022

Can Claremont Lead in Environmental Stewardship? - Interview with Dr.…

Claremont is rich in many resources, not the least of which are the smart, active and involved residents. One of the most prominent is Evaggelos Vallianatos, Ph.D , an ecopolitical theorist and environmental strategist, hist...

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Dec. 5, 2022

Activist Mandana Mojaverian on the murder of Mahsa Amini, the oppress…

During a vocal civil demonstration in late September, a group of Iranian-American women sought to raise awareness of the fate of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year old Iranian woman that was beaten into a coma, and later death, by the Ir...

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Dec. 5, 2022

The Turkey Trot Chronicles (pt 5) - A select group of local professor…

As a final cap to the day, a small group of local professors were kind enough to take a few minutes to get acquainted and provide their insight and impressions of the race, the value of a dog as a …

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Dec. 4, 2022

Movies, in theaters, "provide a community experience" - Interview wit…

Claremont is a destination for many who seek to appreciate a variety of art forms, and among the most valued are independent films. Movie theaters were severely impacted by the pandemic, most vulnerable among them has been i...

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Dec. 3, 2022

The Turkey Trot Chronicles (pt 4) - Anil, Kunjin and Cairo, on the ra…

Anil, Kunjin and 3 yr-old Cairo, were cooling off after the 5K, and were amenable to talking briefly bout their first-ever Turkey trot. They discuss their livelihood, Claremont, the race and how pushing a 3-year old in a str...

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Dec. 2, 2022

The Turkey Trot Chronicles (pt 3) - Darlene Berg of Endless Fitness, …

At an event that is so much about fitness, everyone naturally expects to see Darlene Berg, Owner of Endless Fitness. And she did not disappoint; Darlene participated on many levels - helping to organize the 1K race, running ...

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Dec. 2, 2022

The Turkey Trot Chronicles (pt 2) - Suzanne Keen, Rotarian and Presid…

Dr. Suzanne Keen, who recently assumed the mantle as the President of Scripps College, was gracious enough to take a short break from handing out water bottles at the Rotary booth to speak with Claremont Speaks. She recounts...

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Dec. 2, 2022

The Turkey Trot Chronicles (pt 1) - Lucky Feet Shoes' Nichole and Kev…

In the crisp Thanksgiving morning of 2022, Claremont Speaks went to the Sunrise Rotary Club's Annual Turkey Trot, seeking to talk to those involved with the event. The ace pattaloog/sneaker-head team from Lucky Feet Shoes of...

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Nov. 26, 2022

Introducing the Claremont Creative Connection; Businesswomen/entrepre…

Before and, especially, during the pandemic, women in the Claremont artistic and business community needed help staying motivated, competitive...and profitable. Seeing a need, Elizabeth Preston, of Elizabeth's Art Studio cre...

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Nov. 6, 2022

Rise, Shine and let's TURKEY TROT, Claremont! Claremont's fall class…

Among the many, many traditional and iconic events in Claremont each year, The Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club's Annual Turkey Trot is consistently one of the most anticipated, fun and well-attended. Gabe Millar, a prominent S...

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Oct. 28, 2022

Tough questions, honest answers...straight from the heart and mind of…

In the middle of the current race for the Claremont Unified School District's Board Seat for Area 4, experienced classroom educator and sixteen year CUSD School Board veteran Steven Llanusa took some time to respond to today...

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Oct. 11, 2022

Aging Well means Living Well - the right resources can make the diffe…

Aging is the one thing that everyone has in common, and does constantly, every day. Being aware of what's available to you is the greatest gift that you can give to yourself. At AgingNext, CEO Abby Pascua and her experienced...

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Oct. 9, 2022

"Conserve, Recycle, Reuse and Innovate": Javier Aguilar, Candidate fo…

In the November 2022 election, to Claremont and La Verne, the contest for Director, Division III, of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District may be one of the most important. Seeking to take the area into the future is J...

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Oct. 2, 2022

Jed Leano, Candidate for re-election to City Council representing Dis…

Outspoken and active, Mayor Jed Leano has spent the last four years being a catalyst for change. Despite a full campaign schedule, Jed set a few minutes aside for this short but informative interview to cover some of the to...

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Sept. 29, 2022

Six Decades in Water: Incumbent Candidate for TVMWD Director, Brian B…

Brian Bowcock, the long-serving, incumbent candidate for Director of the Three Valleys Municipal Water Department, Division 3, brings over 60 years of experience and insights on the history, present state and future direction...

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Sept. 18, 2022

"We need a real climate change plan, or we are in trouble." Jeff Han…

Jeff Hanlon , a first-time candidate for Board Director of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District (TVMWD), Division 3, is is keenly concerned about the effects of climate change and how it will impact Claremont's water so...

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Sept. 5, 2022

Never Give Up; Claremont Mayor Pro Tem Ed Reece recounts his life's m…

Claremont's Mayor Pro Tem, Ed Reece is one of the city's core group of people who are focused on, and dedicated to service to the community. In doing so, Ed is visible and known to the community through his past …

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Sept. 3, 2022

The quality of aging is a choice - Jennifer and Adam Smith of The Exe…

Everyone makes choices in their lives; circumstances change, jobs can disappear, and many have a desire to do something on their own. Jennifer and Adam Smith were faced with the need for a change, and chose to do what reall...

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Sept. 2, 2022

Newcomers Access Center's Anne Thorward, President, shares news & upd…

The Newcomers Access Center is a non-profit dedicated to assisting those who choose Claremont when coming to America, often from distressed areas of the globe. NAC continues to work tirelessly to improve the lives of the rec...

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Sept. 1, 2022

Employment Means Success! Kari Anderson, EMS' CEO, relates how EMS he…

In one of the most informative yet casual, conversational and sometimes tangential interviews, Kari Anderson , the CEO of Employment Means Success , describes her path to starting her own company, the often life-changing assi...

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Aug. 28, 2022

CLASS is in SESSION! Trusted Canna Nurse Megan Mbengue announces the…

Trusted Canna Nurse ' s professional team of experts - Megan Mbengue , BSN, RN, CHPN and Kathy Simmons , BSN, RN - are bringing their combined half century of direct nursing experience, board certification and graduate-leve...

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Aug. 23, 2022

“GUN TRAGEDIES are 100% preventable...the solutions are COMMON SENSE”…

Claremont's Wendy Ramallo thought she had found "it" several times over - California's sun, law school, working at Los Angeles high-profile law firms, Washington DC, the Robert Kennedy Memorial, working with Father Greg Boyle...

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Aug. 22, 2022

Claremont's Clayton Becker provides his own unique perspectives on so…

Clayton Becker has accomplished more than most in the years since graduating from Claremont High School, but to some, locally, he may be best known for his thoughtful, strong and data-backed responses and letters in the Clare...

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Aug. 17, 2022

The Happy Crowd Finale!! Moments before their final Memorial Park Sh…

The Concerts in the Park are a summer staple in Claremont, and The Happy Crowd has been one of the most beloved groups for over three decades. On August 11, 2022, The Happy Crowd - Hai, Smarty Marty, Collie and …

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Aug. 12, 2022

Reducing individual water use vs. more new housing: Effective...or Fu…

Given the drought situation at present, taking measures to reduce residential and personal water consumption only seems to make sense. However, adding hundreds of single-family homes and thousands of people makes those indiv...

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Aug. 9, 2022

New Housing vs. Adequate Water Supply - a Choice? LA Times writer Li…

In the first of three interviews focusing on whether the objectives for more - and more affordable - housing in Claremont are a good idea, or even possible, in the face of the drought SoCal is now experiencing. In the …

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Aug. 7, 2022

Rt. 66 is ON! Kiwanians Julie Martin and Raul Rodriguez spill the det…

If you want to party in the west, the Kiwanians' party is the best. Get your kicks at (The Kiwanis') Route Sixty-Six...party. (with apologies to Nat King Cole*, The Rolling Stones, etc.) The Kiwanis group of Claremont brings ...

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July 16, 2022

The Winter's Tale - Shakespeare Presented As Intended: Randy Lopez, C…

Randy Lopez, CEO of Ophelia's Jump, Executive Director of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and one of the most recognized folks in Claremont took a few moments to discuss OJP's new Shakespeare Summer Festival offering. The...

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July 15, 2022

Should Claremont tax medicine? Megan Mbengue - RN, CannaNurse and pa…

During a recent City Council meeting's Public Comment, Megan Mbengue was a standout participant, and conveyed a concise and cogent argument regarding the decision to tax cannabis deliveries, sales and more in Claremont, and w...

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July 10, 2022

AL FRESCO EDITION @ THE RAVELERS' FOURTH OF JULY MEMORIAL PARK CONCER…

As the afternoon cooled off and the Ravelers' music kept getting hotter and keeping the crowd energized, my luck held with three more random and extemporaneous conversations that turned out, as you'll hear, to have a common t...

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July 6, 2022

AL FRESCO EDITION @ THE RAVELERS' FOURTH OF JULY MEMORIAL PARK CONCER…

What better time to try to talk to people than when one of Claremont's favorite rock 'n roll bands - The Ravelers - is tearing it up on-stage? Claremont speaks took the opportunity to catch people in a festive and …

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July 2, 2022

Al Fresco Edition @ Friday Night Live: Four brave souls take a turn s…

Claremont Speaks - Al Fresco Edition continues with four brave souls accepting the invitation to speak their minds at a couple of Friday Night Live events in the village. Luis describes his experience in Azusa regarding thei...

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June 26, 2022

"People NEED art - it is not just a luxury": Seth Pringle, Co-Curator…

The Claremont Lewis Museum of Art is one of Claremont's emerging art venues, bringing some of the best of the best art, in many forms, to Claremont and visitors. Seth Pringle, CLMA's Co-Curator, art educator/expert and amazi...

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June 26, 2022

Gun Violence Protest - Indivisible Claremont's members express themse…

In another Al Fresco edition, Claremont Speaks went to the corner of Indian Hill and Foothill (Claremont's Protest Grounds of Choice) during the " Indivisible Claremont / March for Our Lives " demonstration by many of Claremo...

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June 20, 2022

Combating Ageism: Kathryn Mora, former professional clown, comedian a…

Kathryn Mora has spent many years marching to her own drum, having been a SoCal journalist, a professional clown, a standup comedian, an author and now a columnist featured regularly in The Claremont Courier. Kathryn first p...

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June 6, 2022

The Healthy Mind; Rimmi Hundal, Tri-City Mental Health Services' Exec…

Amongst Claremont's plethora of unique and valuable people, businesses and services, Tri-City Mental Health Services might best fit the metaphor of "Hidden Gem." Rimmi Hundal, TCMHS' new Executive Director, introduces hersel...

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June 2, 2022

Kim Peeples, proprietor of Claremont's Vom Fass, discusses her life-p…

Visitors come to Claremont for a variety of reasons, including "finding what you can't find anywhere else" - and Vom Fass, Claremont's top-rated European-style "try before you buy" grocery is a destination stop for exactly t...

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June 2, 2022

Larkin Place - Jamboree Housing Corp.'s CDO Michael Massie and Direct…

Currently, one of the " Matters that Matter Most " in Claremont is the Larkin Place Project - Jamboree Housing Corporation's proposal to build a 32-unit Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project on a property at Larkin Park,...

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June 2, 2022

Cannabis Dispensaries - Are they right for Claremont? William Kaufma…

Bill Kaufman, a veteran of military service, running and launching several successful businesses and now a spokesperson for Red Workshop LLC , joined Claremont Speaks to discuss how Claremont could benefit considerably by all...

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May 16, 2022

Claremont Speaks: al fresco Edition; Casual, entertaining and insight…

In an effort to democratize being a guest on Claremont Speaks, we are trying an experiment: Claremont Speaks: al fresco Edition . On May 13, 2022, our crack staff secured a position outside the Claremont City Hall at one of …

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April 27, 2022

Is reading fundamental to recovery? Ivan Mendez, Manager of The Clar…

Ivan Mendez , the Manager at the Claremont Forum Bookstore was able to pause for a short but informative interview, talking about his path to becoming a dedicated and pivotal leader of the Bookstore's team, the mission and go...

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April 16, 2022

Claremont Educational Foundation's Immediate Past-President Deborah K…

"Claremont is an amazing place to live...so many opportunities here to be involved in real and meaningful and impactful ways" is how Deborah Kekone, Claremont Educational Foundation's Immediate Past President, describes our ...

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April 10, 2022

Educator, art historian, and frequent star of Ancient Aliens, Dr. Dee…

Claremont is privileged to have an abundance of extremely talented, highly educated and extraordinarily interesting people. Few fit that description better than Dr. Deepak Shimkhada ; a long-time Nepali-American Claremont re...

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March 9, 2022

Stephen Cooley, three-term Los Angeles County District Attorney, make…

Stephen Cooley - respected and renown District Attorney for Los Angeles County (2000 to 2012) - has since become an outspoken, experienced and respected activist and advocate in LA and California. He is at the forefront of ...

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Feb. 28, 2022

"The Taste" is BACK! - The Rotary Club of Claremont's Nona Tirre and …

The annual " Taste of Claremont " has been one of Claremont's main staples of community entertainment, fellowship and contribution to a number of good causes, which many have enjoyed for decades. The most recent years' event...

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