CBS2/KCAL 9 - Defeat the Heat 2009

This summer is heating up, and it's time to cool off so come "Defeat the Heat" with CBS 2 & KCAL 9! Each week we'll provide tips to help you stay safe all summer long. Plus, every weekend beginning July 4th through Labor Day Weekend, CBS 2 and KCAL 9 will feature FREE outdoor events taking place in the Southland that your whole family can enjoy!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

"Metro Night Out" at the Historic downtown Metro Pomona

From 5pm-10pm • Historic Downtown Pomona • Free Parking

With 36 Art Venues for your viewing pleasure, as well as The Certified Farmers Market and street fair, plus live entertainment at Thomas Plaza and other entertainment venues, including the newly restored majestic Fox Theatre, there really is something for everyone at "Metro Night Out" in the Historic downtown Metro Pomona. And be sure to check out "Cruise Night" which features over 100 cars of all classes!

Be sure to visit us at the Defeat the Heat booth where you and your family we will able to receive FREE Cold Stone Creamery Samples and Coupons, El Pollo Loco and Knott's Berry Farm coupons, PLUS the chance to win Dodger Baseball Tickets, Los Angeles Lakers antenna balls, First Aids Kits, and gift cards to Cold Stone Creamery and El Pollo Loco!

Check back throughout the summer for new and exciting contests coming your way. And don't forget to check out our Tips to Defeat the Heat to make your summer experience safe and fun. So grab your sun block and come celebrate your summer and "Defeat the Heat" with us!

American Museum of Ceramic Art awarded grant for $50,000

Daily Bulletin Article 7/12/09

by: Diana Sholley, Staff Writer

POMONA - Christy Johnson can't stop smiling.

That is except for the times she's breaking out in full-fledged laughter.

Johnson's giddiness started Thursday when she learned that the American Museum of Ceramic Art had been chosen to receive a $50,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

"We needed this badly," said Johnson, AMOCA director. "Our membership has remained the same, and we're grateful for that, and the donations have been coming, but the donation amounts have been smaller."

Nonprofit arts organizations are receiving grants to support the preservation of jobs that are threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn, according to the NEA Web site.

Johnson applied for the grant after Congress removed museums from the list of stimulus exclusions such as casinos, sports arenas and amusement parks. The grant is part of the $50 million federal economic stimulus recovery package.

In California, 99 nonprofit arts organizations are cumulatively receiving $4.45 million in funding, and $50,000 is the maximum a single organization can receive.

"We're young and stand-alone, being the only museum on the West Coast dedicated exclusively to ceramic art," Johnson said.

AMOCA will celebrate its fifth anniversary Sept. 11. Since its inception, the museum has received grants from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the James Irvine Foundation,

Opera Coming to The Fox Theater!

POMONA, CA—The historic Fox Theater in Pomona and The Repertory Opera Company are bringing professional opera to the Inland Empire.

“We are very excited to be performing in such a wonderful space,” said LizBeth Lucca, Pomona resident and Artistic Director for the opera company. “The historical presence of the building is fabulous and the acoustics are great. The singers’ voices just resonate beautifully out into the hall."

The first opera will be Elixir of Love by Donizetti on Sunday, August 30 at 2 pm. “We hope this will be the start of a four-show opera season at the Fox. Pomona is establishing itself as a cultural presence in the Inland Empire with the Fox Theater and with the Arts Colony. Now we have an opera company.” said Mrs. Lucca. The Repertory Opera Company was established six years ago and is based in Pomona. The group has staged 16 opera productions in Los Angles to critical acclaim. Past productions by the group include La Boheme, Falstaff, Don Giovanni, Tales of Hoffman and The 

Barber of Seville. The most recent production of the Repertory Opera Company, The Marriage of Figaro, was performed at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center.

“We also did a successful traveling production of Don Pasquale,” said Ms. Lucca. “With the upcoming production of Elxir of Love at The Fox we will completely transition to Pomona. The Inland Empire forms the ideal community to support a regional opera company.”

As a regional opera company the group provides opportunity to both aspiring opera singers developing their resume, and also many skilled vocalists for whom opera is a second career. Ms. Lucca can cite the names of at least a half dozen singers who performed with Repertory Opera Company and who have moved on to a major opera company, or are performing internationally, including two children from Claremont who have gone on to sing with Los Angeles Opera.

“The performance we are planning for the Fox Theatre will include Leslie Dennis who is a wonderful performer and soloist with LA Opera,” said Ms. Lucca. Other performers are being cast. 

“Part of the Repertory Opera Company’s mission is to give local performers a venue,” added Ms. Lucca, “so we will also be looking for local talent in the next few weeks.”

Information on auditions is available by calling The Repertory Opera Company at 909-230-4949. You can also visit their website at www.repertoryoperacompany.org, or become a fan on Facebook under Repertory Opera Company.

Tim Sunders - Gonzo Marketers

www.gonzomarketers.com

Miss Pomona Pageant Returns

The Downtown Owner’s Association (DPOA) announced today that it will sponsor the Miss Pomona Pageant this year. “The pageant, which has gone missing for two years, will return and some deserving young lady will be crowned Miss Pomona this October” said Lorena Matarrita Co-Chair of the Miss Pomona committee and Miss Pomona 2004. “A committee was formed two months ago, Matarrita said, “and we are now in a position to announce our plans”. The steering committee consists of a group of individuals that appear to be dedicated to making the pageant happen. Co-Chairs of the committee are Lorena Matarrita, DPOA Executive Assistant and former Miss Pomona, and Mickey Gallivan, Pomona Historical Society President. Other members are; Katherine Culliver and Adriana Robledo, Pomona Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and former Miss Pomona Princesses, Larry Egan , executive director DPOA, Paul Knopf, teacher, Pomona Unified School District, Ronald Ching, Pomona Community Life Commissioner, Tim Saunders, Pomona City Councilmember, Dawn Schaller, active community member, and Rita Romero, Pomona Cultural Arts Commissioner.

Plans are to notify all eligible young ladies and move the screening process along to a coronation scheduled tentatively for October 25, 2009. To be eligible to participate in the pageant young ladies must be an unmarried Pomona resident, under the age of 21, and a junior or senior in a Pomona high school with a 3.0 or better grade average. There is no talent requirement, but she must be ready to demonstrate the she is involved in her community and be ready to represent the Pomona community.

Applications will be made available in August, after the start of the new school year. Scholarships, in an amount yet to be determined, will be awarded to the finalist and her court.

DOWNTOWN POMONA PBID TO SPONSOR POMONA’S CHRISTMAS PARADE

It was announced today that the Downtown Pomona Owner’s Association, the operating arm of the Downtown Pomona PBID will assume responsibility for hosting Pomona’s annual Christmas Parade. Several details are still to be worked out, but the framework of the parade is all set.

The route will change this year from Holt Ave. to downtown Pomona’s historic Second Street. A wide variety of participants are expected with firm commitments from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Post 30 American Legion, Diamond Ranch High School, Ganesha High School, Pomona Eagles Lodge # 2215, Pomona, and many more. It is expected that as many as 100 entrants will participate.

“The parade will be a community parade, everyone is welcome, car clubs, equestrians, community groups, bands, drill teams, city officials, and much more”, said Larry Egan Co-Chairman of the parade committee.

Another difference this year is the day of the parade. The parade will take place on the Second Saturday of December, December 12, 2009 and will end at Pomona’s City Hall where the Holiday Lane Celebration will be hosted. “There will be a lot going on that day”, Egan said, “The parade in the morning, Holiday Lane in the afternoon, and Second Saturday Art Walk in the evening. Good wholesome family activities”.

Download the form and rules here.

Daily Bulletin Article

Renew Downtown Business District

Posted  6/13

"Downtown Pomona property owners would be wise to vote in favor of continuing the Pomona Business Improvement District....
... thanks largely to the security, cleanup and marketing provided by the Downtown Pomona Owners Association through the PBID.  Now, events like the Second Saturday and Last Saturday Art Walks attract people who not only check out the art in the many galleries in the Arts Colony, but also shop, eat and drink downtown. It's a fun crowd...
...With Antiques Row, the rapidly expanding Western University of Health Sciences and Cal Poly's Downtown Center, there's a lot going on downtown these days....
...The momentum is definitely going in the right direction."

Click Here to Read the Whole Article

IE Weekly Article

Downtown Divided - Is a Pomona business tax 

a burden or a life support?

By: Nate Jackson - Inland Empire Weekly

Click here to read...

VEHICLE PARKING DISTRICT AND DPOA BEGIN PARTNERSHIP

The Pomona Vehicle Parking District (VPD) and the Downtown Pomona Owner’s Association (DPOA) entered into a discussion last night at the regularly scheduled VPD meeting in the City Council chambers at Pomona City Hall. It was agreed that in a three way partnership between the VPD, the DPOA, and the City of Pomona’s Public Works Department empty tree wells throughout downtown Pomona could well be filled with young trees.” There are currently fifteen barren tree wells throughout the downtown “, stated Larry Egan, executive director of the DPOA. “If the VPD were to purchase the trees and the Public Works Department provided the manpower to plant the trees, then the DPOA could water, weed and care for the trees. It’s a win, win, and win situation for everybody” 

Paige Bruyn, the Chair of the Vehicle Parking District Commission requested that the item be placed on the agenda for discussion and action at the July 9, 2009 meeting. 

OC Weekly Review

As a follow up to the "This is a test" posting on Friday, the OC Weekly printed a review of Gogol Bordello as well as the Fox and to some degree downtown Pomona, which reinforces this blogs earlier comments. First impressions are always lasting impressions and while one would hope that all visitors to the downtown are first time visitors, that simply can't be the case. The City of Pomona was incorporated over 120 years ago and the downtown of course is much older than that. So it would be fantasy to expect that people are coming to Pomona for the "first" time. What we are left with are return visitors for the most part, and reluctant returnees at that. Most are keenly aware of the reputation "Pomona" has had in the past, and especially downtown's reputation. Those days are long gone of course, but not everyone got the memo. It is almost spiritual to hear visitors say "WOW!, this isn't the Downtown Pomona I remember, this is great!. Reminds me of Long Beach, or Pasadena. Things have really changed."

Here is the OC Weekly article...

Friday, May. 22 2009 @ 9:57AM
By Nate Jackson in live review
Last Night: Gogol Bordello at Fox Pomona on Thursday, May 21st.Better Than: Being an actual gypsy in Eastern EuropeDownload: Super Taranta on Side One Dummy RecordsFor years, night life in down town Pomona usually meant parking the car, catching a show at The Glass House and making a clean exit. For many, it also meant a swift walk past the forsaken skeleton of the Fox Theater on Garey Ave. followed by the whiny, rhetorical question "why the f--k don't they do something with this place?" As I weaved my way through darkened parking lots filled with cars a couple blocks from the theater, which made it's glorious return a couple months ago, I'm guessing people aren't asking that question anymore. Last night, the theater hit another milestone as it welcomed it's first Golden Voice concert featuring New York gypsy punks Gogol Bordello and Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros (who I regrettably missed due to traffic issues...seems like a reoccurring theme in these reviews).But after a brisk, two block walk from the car to the glowing marquis, it was hard not to feel a bit of excitement swell in your throat as clusters of noise, people and cigarette smoke brought life to the spanking new neon scenery. In a story written by yours truly for our friends at IE Weekly a few months ago [shameless plug... check the story here] I chronicled most of the work that went into resuscitating the glamorous structure, mis-haps and all. But stepping inside the grand foyer drenched in winding stair case splendor and multicolored murals was an experience that echoed a new era in Pomona nightlife.
With Gogol about to start, people were bumping into each other like confused ants, grabbing last minute drinks, texting their coordinates or running around the second floor in awe of the Fox aura. All things considered, the choice to go with GB for the first Fox concert was spot on. In the darkness of the concert hall, parades of tattooed punkers, olive-skinned gypsy chicks and heavily-mustached carnival characters darted to the front barriers of the stage. Savvy, laid-back show goers, buzzed over to the bars lined the exits at the back of the hall. After all, you can want to be too far away from the booze at a good rock show.Emerging from the wings, head gypsy Eugene Hutz and bassist Thomas Gobena emerged to a roar that swelled from the front row to the silhouettes in the balcony. Starting things off with a slow build of thumping and hazy acoustic guitar, the rest of the band slowly crept on stage in front of a gargantuan black and yellow banner sporting their sling shot logo. Launching into an hour and a half set, the band's clap-happy sound took off instantly with early favorites like "Wander Lust King" and "Ultimate" from 2008's Super Taranta. Under swirls of rainbow stage lighting, the controlled chaos of the crowd almost stole the show as people jumped, clapped and sang like a trained choir.The energy only intensified as toga-wearing back-up vocalists emerged with the band's customary, glittery marching drum and cymbals as they pounded away on the stage filled with color, light and sweat. Churning through one song after another, the unified shouts of the crowd filled the air of this 2,000+ capacity venue.The frenzy continued with pounding percussion for several more songs, that included some insane chops from Sergey Ryabstev, the band's gray-haired violinist on instrumental breaks like "Barro Foro". Having never seen this band live, it's hard to put the sever eclecticism of Russian folk, Ukrainian party music, Samba and funk into one neat paragraph. But suffice it to say that unless you've seen them, you haven't seen anything like it. Launching into the opening chords of "Start Wearing Purple", the crowd exploded again, locking arms and dancing with each other with brimming beer cups held high. Even with the security in front, one girl managed to squeak her way on stage and give Hutz a kiss or two as he flailed his acoustic guitar around like a stage prop...ah, the life of a gypsy.Another thing you must know about a gypsy party is that it doesn't like to be told when to get off stage. After several false set endings, the band kept going, vamping wildly on their closing songs until finally making a riotous exit, only to return momentarily for an encore. All around fans stomped the floor like a thunderous heard of buffalo until the band returned to close out the night. Filtering back into the foyer, the sense of success for the Fox was palpable as it ushered in a new chapter in it's history. And with more acts like Wilco and Band o Horses on the way, there's plenty of reason to believe in the glowing hype of this revived venue.Critic's NotebookPersonal Bias: Party music of any culture is never a bad thing. Especially when it involves the lead singer jamming out on a metal bucket.Random Detail: One thing I did notice: was anyone else bothered by the fact that there seemed to be only one ATM in the entire building?By The Way: HEY!!!!......HEY!!!!.....HEY!!!!

BEST OF THE INLAND EMPIRE

IE Weekly just published its list of the "Best Of The Inland Empire". Downtown Pomona picked up four , count them, four categories: 1. Best Live Music Venue..The Glass House 2. Best Antique Shop..Pomona Antique Mall 3. Best Jukebox..Characters 4. Best Art Gallery Associated with Non-Violent Animals..Bunny Gunner