New Name

So many blog posts! That is because it is so much nicer to write blog posts than pack and clean!

You might remember that I have written about the building where D. works, which was demolished and rebuilt.

This March D. snapped this picture after the removal of the
old name, as described by Pomona College here.

Today they were setting up the new letters.

Looks great. 
The official naming will be at the end of August.

Another Day Off

Friday was a day off in observance of Veterans Day, but this time instead of entertaining A. I chose activities with other people. As I was sharing the list of plans with a friend she asked if I were planning to swim. What else would I be doing at 6 a.m.?

The next event was a hike, although we were surprised to see the police and ranger at the start and find the gate closed. The helicopters on the hillside and in the air should have been clues that there was a problem. We were sorry to hear about a medical evacuation. We took a different route and took it easy!

I changed and headed off to meet a friend at the annual Pilgrim Place Festival, which is one part an event to highlight crafts made by residents, another part yard sale, and a final part entertainment. I bought a shoe horn, greeting cards with art created by a resident, a book, and persimmons. Socializing was free.

I went on my own to the Friday Noon Concert Series. No one else seemed curious to hear tuba concertos. I think once was enough, but I don't regret going.

The rest of the day was spent cooking and cleaning before people came over for dinner.

Another day off and it was a good one!

Getting closer

You may remember what the Millikan Building looked like in the summer of '13.

 I wrote about the demolition and a lot has happened since then!

I was especially pleased to see the atom above the doorway.

Q.  Do you think they moved it from the old building?

  

A.  Yes!  It was cleaned and looks fabulous!

Go Team, Go!

In the old days we lived a couple blocks from campus and we had only one baby who didn't complain about where we went as long as we took her with us.  No one had a bedtime, homework, or things they would rather do so we went to lots of sporting events.

This break we relived the old days by going to a Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball game to watch the grandson of my father's former colleague.  In one of those small world happenings, he is also the grandson of my mother-in-law's former law school classmate (my father's colleague's ex-wife).

Pomona-Pitzer defeated Redlands 90-73

Because it was between semesters there weren't a lot of students in the stands, but the swim team, in town for their winter training, came to cheer them on.  Seeing them motivated me to check out their schedule so I could give them some support.

Start of the men's 100 yard free

I used to go volunteer at the meets in exchange for swimming privileges, but when I lost those I stopped going.  The starting blocks have moved and the scoreboard has been updated, but it was still as I remembered it.  I was sorry not to see any basketball players, but the swimmers didn't seem bothered.

Next up, baseball and softball.  Go Hens!

Demolition

Maybe you remember that beautiful picture of Millikan last July?  Things have changed on the corner of Sixth and College.

November 10 (from inside the building next door)

November 18

November 19

November 19

November 21

November 21

November 22

November 22

And then the local paper's photographer showed up to document the demolition.  No one was hurt, but it was unfortunate that he was there just as the excavator accidentally broke through the foundation.

from the Claremont-Courier

Special Meeting

Claremont Unified School District held a special workshop today at the Claremont University Consortium Administrative Campus Center.

LTL Architects

This is a relatively new building, but the old building is honored with a traditional piece by Dawn Grimes.

The inside is modern and if I apologize for not including pictures of the beautiful bathroom.  I can't tell you about the men's room, but the women's room is definitely worth a visit!

LTL Architeccture

I took a break and enjoyed eating my lunch outside.

The meeting itself was fascinating, if you are interested in educational policy.  The board discussed the goals they set almost three years ago.

GOAL #1
Our students will increase their academic achievement in English Language Arts and Mathematics by one performance level annually until they are on grade level (proficient) or above (advanced). The achievement gap of the lowest performing sub-groups will narrow.

GOAL #2
Our schools will provide unique opportunities that develop the whole child by promoting involvement in extracurricular and co-curricular activities and encouraging positive student behaviors.

GOAL #3
Our district will attract, support and retain high performing, highly qualified staff. 

GOAL #4
Our district will remain fiscally sound by maintaining a balanced budget, demonstrating long term financial stability and distributing resources equitably, based on student need.

GOAL #5:
100% of our facilities will be safe, clean, and appropriate to support student learning.

GOAL #6
All schools will engage their families and community to increase student success. 

Also discussed were the new standards and criteria that will be in place for LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula and LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan).  This will happen in California in addition to the implementation of Common Core State Standards.  Exciting times, but I have tremendous confidence in the school board members and administrative staff.

Outdoor art

In the center of Pitzer College's campus is this relatively new building.  I like the leaf pattern on the windows that appears when you stand in the right place, but I am not sure what it looks like from the inside.  

In this area, right by the dining hall, are a set of benches with memorial plaques.

Each plaque is surrounded by a different tile pattern, which qualifies as art in my mind.

Ainrofilac

Around here Pitzer College is known for students involved in social justice and environmental issues, along with having the most students receiving Fulbright scholarships.

I am not quite sure when these signs started showing up at Pitzer.  I don't carry a camera when I run, but today I cycled over and took pictures, finding a few signs I had not seen before.

If it hadn't been for this blog I would have just looked at them and never investigated.  Today I poked around online and learned that Pitzer has a new artist-in-residence, Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds, who is combining art and the environment.  You can learn more by watching this video or reading here.

On the move

Pomona College is preparing to replace the old Robert A. Millikan Building with a new and improved building.  As chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department David has spent much time in meetings with other stakeholders and architects.  I think it will be exciting when it is done, but it isn't the exciting part yet.

The part that is happening now is deciding what to put into storage for two(?) years and what to take to an office half the size.

I helped by taking things off the door and bulletin board.

David did an amazing job of filling recycling bins, 

but there were still a few things to pack

Today we did some unpacking and the temporary 

office is beginning to look functional.

In his old office he had family cards hanging on the venetian blinds so I could cycle up, know which office was his, and knock on the window.  I guess we'll have to develop a new communication system.

The Good Life

I had not been down to Pomona College's Pendleton Pool in a while and was amazed to see what had replaced the former road and parking places.

Can you see the road to the north of the pool and the parking to the northeast?

A swing is on what used to be the east side of the road.

A couple grills and some tables are on what used to be the west side of the road.

The hammocks replace the parking spots.

Glad to see it in use.