Northeast Pomona Power Outage On Thursday?

Did anyone elsewhere in the city go through this? Im going to say around 9pm or so, the power went out approximately 3 times. The last being off for almost 5 minutes. I walked out and as far as I could see, it was seriously dark. I looked towards American Ave, west to Indian Hill, and as far as I could see it was all dark. Towards Montclair it was also dark. Was it just our immediate neighborhood or did the rest of Pomona, Claremont or Montclair go through this? I tried searching the news and nothing.

Garden Painting Update

Went out this morning and snapped a quick shot of my Garden Wall painting. It's a little blurry but you get the idea. I hardly go out there to work on it. It is not as cool as in June, but I am just about done but can't seem to find the time to finish it. The bird details are pretty much complete, I just need to finish the flower detail which is almost done. Some green blending of the mountains in between the flowers is also needed, nothing that can't be done in a couple of hours. I added the blue for the water, although the actual beer label does not have blue for the water, just orange as in the sky.

I am debating whether to add the 'Red Nectar' logo above in the red space, or just leave it alone...

A Message From The Exec. Director of the D.P.O.A.

It's no secret, I am a big supporter of the good people of the DPOA (Downtown Pomona Owners Association). The good folks over at Ren's Images of Pomona have a small video of the DPOA's Executive Director, Mr. Larry Egan's thank you to all who supported and helped pass the re-certification of Downtown's Pomona P-Bid. You can always find Larry around the downtown's Artwalks or Fox shows, or heck many odd times. He's one of the coolest people to talk to in the area. Anyways, just wanted to spread the word of the great DPOA's next 10 years and thanks...

Vacation Vacation

I am now on my 2nd week off and have hardly done anything 'internet'. I'm hanging with the kids and doing fun stuff around town this week. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to wind down and blog a bit. Not much happening this week, except me trying to beat the game 'Little Big Planet' on the PlayStation 3. That is my highlight so far. I think I'll hit Malibu beach tomorrow morning and do some bodyboarding. Huntington & Newport are still having a huge riptide problem. I've been caught in those and it's no fun. I'll have to check beach reports for the Malibu area tonight.

Brewing Hope Tonight!

(Click to enlarge)

DPOA P-BID Renewal Succeeds!

Well, what can I say? WOOHOO!

Now that I am not currently working I decided to go to the Pomona Council Meeting and show my support for the Downtown P-Bid renewal last night. I was told to fill out a card and vote in favor of and that's pretty much it. I sat there with some acquaintances from the area (Brad, Diane, Natalie, Sally, Johnny, basically everyone who is always in the downtown area). I've never been to one of these council meetings for any city which I have lived in. Brad informed me that I can say whatever I'd like for 3 minutes. I thought, hmm, should I or shouldn't I? As they spoke about the renewal and votes, they came to calling the names on the cards. Most people just said 'In Favor' from their seats. As my name was called, I went up to the mic. When the mayor asked me to speak, I just said what was on my mind about the whole thing. As I finished, it was really nice to have everyone clapping for my 'short speech'. It was straight from the heart.

We all met at the DBA for drinks later that night, and it was nice of Larry & Carolyn of the DPOA to thank me for my words. They said my speech was the winner of the night. Again, thank you all involved with the DPOA, you have my made downtown Pomona so much fun, you can't get me out of there on the weekends now!

Tonight! Vote For Pomona's DPOA Renewal!

Show your support for the DPOA by coming out tonight at 7pm! Here's a letter from Mr. Egan, the Executive Director of the DPOA:

Hello All,

Once again we need your help. This Monday, July 20, 2009 at 7:00 PM the Pomona City Council will hold a public hearing regarding renewal of the DPOA. After public hearing a tally of the returned ballots from downtown property owners will take place with the City Council instructing the City Manager to vote aye,nay, or abstain, regarding city owned properties in the downtown . After the ballots are counted the City Council will vote up or down to renew the DPOA. The City Council has the deciding vote and authority to renew, disband, or modify the DPOA.

A strong show of support for the DPOA by way of attending the meeting and submitting a speaker card requesting the council to instruct the City Manger to vote yes on the city's ballot will show the Council in a tangible way the community's desire for the DPOA to be renewed so that it can continue its work revitalizing downtown Pomona. With your help it will prevail. Your support in the past has been heartwarming to all of us at the DPOA, and has had a tremendous impact on the City Council. Monday night is the last step in the process, and the decisions made will be FINAL. There is no appeal process. So, please attend the meeting, show your support, email your Council member and urge them to instruct the City Manager to vote yes on the ballot, and allow us to continue to serve the interests and well being of downtown Pomona.


Why should you care what happens to the DPOA? If the DPOA were to go away here are some of the benefits and services that would no longer be available:


Farmers Markets
Metro Night Out and car show
Antique Collector's Fair
Fresh Air Flicks
Private Security
Dedicated Police Officers
Trash Pick Up
Parking Lot cleaning
Power Washing sidewalks and graffiti removal
Insurance to cover any downtown special event
Street Banners
Metro Minute
Metro Pomona Web Site and Blog
A voice and organization representing the downtown's interests at City Hall
Miss Pomona Pageant
Downtown Christmas Parade
Second Saturday Art Walk promotion

This is LAST CALL!
Thank You for Your Support


Larry Egan
Executive Director
Downtown Pomona Owner's Association
www.metropomona.com
t) 909.469.1121
f) 909.469.1120

Claremont Cool Zones

You know, Claremont has always been a 'cool' place, but this time they are 'cool' literally. If you need to get away from the hot temperatures we are facing, and even hotter ones in the next several weeks, you are in luck! Claremont's Human Services Department is setting up cooling centers immediately. Heck, they will even extend the service for a couple of hours longer if the temps exceed 100 for 2 days! How cool is that? yeah, cool like 'cool' and cool like "cool". Huh? anyways, too much Sam Adams Summer Ale this evening...

Here are the locations:

* Hughes Community Center 1700 Danbury Road
Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:30 am - 9:00 pm,
Fridays 7:30 am - 6:00 pm,
Saturdays 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

* Joslyn Center, 660 North Mountain Avenue
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

* Blaisdell Center, 440 South College Avenue
Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

* Claremont Library, 208 Harvard Avenue
Hours: Monday -Thursday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Friday - Saturdays 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

* Youth Activity Center (YAC), 1717 North Indian Hill Blvd.
Hours: Monday - Friday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

* Tracks Activity Center (TAC), El Roble 665 North Mountain Avenue
Hours: Monday - Friday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

* Wading Pools (Memorial Park, Wheeler Park, El Barrio Park)
Hours: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Call the Alexander Hughes Community Center at (909) 399-5490 for more information.

Thanks to Wes Woods of Claremont Now for the heads up!

The Garden Burns

I am deeply saddened, but very hopeful, that the place that inspired me into the Gardening world has burned down over the weekend. The Van Allens are one of the sweetest people, in fact, one of the first people who we met when we moved out to Pomona from Glendale several years ago. They had a beautiful historic craftsman on a HUGE lot on Garey and ran a gardening center/shop from their home.

We were one of those 'strangers' who frequented their home with our kids and they took us in like family while we looked at gardening curiousities and picked up some native plants for our gardens. While we didn't go on a regular basis, we will always remember their love for gardening and just being wonderful people to all.

Here's an excerpt from a Pomona Now:

"We'll be camping out for a while but then we'll just put one foot in front of the other," Dawn Van Allen said Monday. "We should be up and running by next week."

The Van Allens lost their home which has also been the site of their garden center business in a fire that started in a shed in the area of Kingsley Avenue and Gordon Street shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday.

The fire destroyed two homes, did heavy damage to two others and cause moderate damage to eight others including one unit at an apartment complex.

Inspector Fred Stowers of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said Monday the fire, which did about $2.5 million in damage to the turn-of-the-century house, is still under investigation.

Investigators have ruled out the fire was started by illegal fireworks or a methamphetamine lab, Stowers said, adding the blaze began in a utility shed behind an apartment complex on Gordon Street.

I wish their recovery fast and hopefully as smooth as possible. I know their love for these kind of homes, heck, I recall them having another craftsman hauled to the lot next door for their friends. Good luck to both of you!

How to help

Pomona First Baptist Church is collecting donations to benefit those most affected by a fire that destroyed two homes in Pomona.

Checks can be made out to First Baptist Church with word "fire" written on the check and mailed or dropped of at the church offices at 586 N. Main St. Pomona 91768.

Donors can also go to www.pfblive.tv and go to on-line giving and make a donation marking it with the word "fire."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE

Wednesday... So Much To Answer For

"Under slate grey Californian skies.
Here you'll find, my heart and I,
And still we say come back,
Come back to Cambria.

And I'll be good..."


yes, I've slightly modified the lyrics above, but...

My mind is still overlooking the ocean in Cambria, smelling the sea breeze as I sip on a glass of wine. Even though I've been back since Sunday evening.

But my body is exhausted.

In the last 2 days I've had so much to do back here around town that it's insane. I got a call for another job Monday, and had to do a phone interview that same day plus a physical one in Downtown L.A. on Tuesday at 10am, yes, the same 10am day of the Michael Jackson Staples event. Not to mention I had to try and get my son's physical done for his Pop-Warner football season coming up, plus registration etc in the city of San Dimas. Oh yeah, had to go pay some bills in person as well. Did I mention we were out of groceries? yup had to do that too. My yard/garden are looking like crap and had to handle that today. Though I knocked back a few Sam Adams Summer Ales to help out.

There is a light at the end of the week. No, not my other son's dental pre-braces thingy. But it is ARTWALK POMONA TIME. Y'all know how excited I get the week before it hits....And yes, I am SUPER excited and anxious to check out all the new art around the Arts Colony's Galleries. Hope to see you all there!

Greetings From Cambria

Simply loving it out here in Cambria. We're blessed with great friends to enjoy visiting such a wonderful place. We've hiked about 6 miles throughout the town and we're still ready for tonight's 4th of July show. You go from the beach through small forests and into the town filled with tons of little shops that sell everything you can think of!

Here's a few shots from today:

The Neptune Pool - Hearst Castle

Gone To Cambria For The Weekend

Have a great 4th everyone! I'm in Cambria for the weekend... Today I visited the Hearst Castle and I will hopefully have some pics up soon. We have wireless here but I'm off to PARTY!!!