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The hills are green right now, that specific shade of April green that only lasts a few weeks before the summer heat settles in and turns everything gold. If you live up near the canyon roads you already know it, but even down on Foothill and Arrow Highway there's something in the air this week that feels a little lighter. Spring in the foothills has a way of doing that.
This issue has a little of everything: a new kitchen worth knowing about in Glendora Village, a toy store that's been a Village fixture for four decades, some genuinely exciting news out of the Claremont Colleges, and a weekend packed with reasons to get outside. Let's get into it.
The Graduation Gift They Will Replay Forever: A Custom Song Written for Your Senior
Graduation only happens once, and it deserves something more than a gift card. Songs for Your Story takes your senior's name, memories, and inside jokes and crafts them into a fully custom, professionally produced song. Play it at the party, drop it behind the slideshow, or just send it to them on the big day. Give them something nobody else will think to give.
Country, pop, hip-hop, ballads. You pick the style. They handle everything else.
Before you decide, go to songsforyourstory.com/graduation and hit play on any song. Just 30 seconds. You will be blown away.
Starting at $49. Graduation season only.
Thank you to our sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the community. 🙏
🎓 Cal Poly Pomona Names New Leader
The Gist: Cal Poly Pomona has selected Vanya Quiñones as its eighth president and the first Latina to lead the university. She currently leads Cal State Monterey Bay and will officially take over on July 1 with a salary of $492,500 plus performance-based incentives and standard executive benefits.
Why It Matters: Leadership shifts like this shape the direction of a major campus that many students and families rely on for opportunity. For our broader community, it’s about seeing who guides the future of higher education and how that leadership reflects the students it serves.
🎤 Poetry Awards Celebrate Bold Voices
The Gist: Claremont Graduate University has named Jennifer Chang and Eduardo Martinez-Leyva as winners of the 34th Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards. Chang earned $100,000 for “An Authentic Life,” while Martinez-Leyva received $10,000 for his debut “Cowboy Park,” with both works exploring identity, power, and resilience.
Why It Matters: Stories like these remind us how deeply art reflects lived experience, turning personal truth into something that resonates across communities. It’s a quiet but powerful celebration of voices that help us understand each other a little more clearly.
🍷 French-Latin Fusion Favorite
221 N. Glendora Ave., Glendora
Some kitchens blend traditions so naturally you forget they’re blending at all. At Gabacho Restaurant, Chef David brings French technique together with bold Latin flavors in a menu that feels both familiar and fresh. Expect crêpes, scratch made plates, and thoughtful combinations where every bite feels intentional and balanced.
The dining room stays warm and easygoing, with a steady flow that lets conversations linger over each course.
🍓 Good vibes, great flavors: now all day long!
Robeks La Verne is excited to announce new store hours:
🕖 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Every day
2208 Foothill Boulevard, La Verne, CA
Plus, meet your new bowl obsessions:
🍓 Strawnana Berry Blast
🥭 Mango Magic
🍌 Nutty Banana Crunch
Spoon-worthy goodness from open to close!
Thank you to our local sponsors who help make this newsletter possible 🙏
🧸 Classic Toy Store With Timeless Finds
145 Harvard Ave N, Claremont
Boon Companion Toys brings back that nostalgic toy store feeling, filled with shelves of games, puzzles, and creative finds for all ages. The selection leans toward educational and imaginative play, with plenty of unique gifts you won’t see everywhere else. It’s a long-standing local favorite, known for its welcoming vibe and helpful team.
Families love stopping in, taking their time browsing, and leaving with something fun, thoughtful, and a little bit special.
🐣 Just like that, Q1 is in the books
As we head into Easter weekend, Foothills is draped in that vibrant Spring green. While the national news remains a fog of "maybe," our local reality is clear: the high season is here and quality is the currency of the canyons. Capital & Influence brings you:
• Real-time intel on what local buyers are hunting for
• Veteran strategy built on 30 years of Foothills shifts
• Data that respects our unique community values
Get the full truth on your home’s value:
🌱 Spring is a time for taking root
Leader of Men is the spring tune-up your spirit needs. As the local hills catch their color, it’s time to stop drifting and start driving your legacy forward.
• 12 monthly gatherings for raw, honest conversation
• Daily spiritual guides that build consistent momentum
• Direct mentorship from a veteran who understands the mission
From the Glendora morning mist to the Julian sunset, we are forging men of grit.
🎭 Cinderella | Life Pacific University | San Dimas | 04/16-04/18 | More
A timeless fairytale brought to life with charm, music, and youthful magic.
🎼 Pomona College Choir & Orchestra | Bridges Hall Of Music | Claremont | 04/17 | More
Powerful choral and orchestral works filled with depth, beauty, and reflection.
🎻 Candlelight: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings | Ann & Steve Morgan Auditorium | La Verne | 04/17 | More
Hip-hop classics reimagined through rich, glowing string quartet arrangements.
🪔 Hindu Heritage Camp | Masonic Center | San Dimas | 04/18 | More
A cultural learning experience celebrating heritage, values, and community connection.
🌿 Earth Day Celebration | Shelton Park | Claremont | 04/19 | More
Native plants, eco-learning, and a lively community market atmosphere.
⛳ Pomona POA Golf Tournament | Canyon Golf Course | San Dimas | 04/17 | More
A lively charity round with contests, camaraderie, and community support.
🏳️🌈 Claremont Pride Festival | Memorial Park Dr | Claremont | 04/18 | More
Joyful celebration of identity, unity, and uplifting community spirit.
🎶 Groovy Tunes Live | Lordsburg Taphouse & Grill | La Verne | 04/18 | More
Easygoing live music paired with a festive evening stroll through Old Town.
🎶 Rubelian Acoustic Tea Social | Rubel Castle | Glendora | 04/19 | More
Laid-back folk, blues, and Americana with charming garden tea vibes.
⛳ Twilight Golf League | Marshall Canyon Golf Course | La Verne | 04/20 | More
Relaxed evening golf with friendly teams and an easy social rhythm.
🌿 Essential Conference for Women: Living Clean | Life Pacific University | San Dimas | 04/23 | More
An uplifting day of faith, renewal, and meaningful connection.
Thanks for reading our Newsletter! We’ll have more updates for you next week!
