Do the hustle!

We were over in the park this afternoon enjoying a frozen treat and conversation with other families when two young people -- maybe 19 or 20 (one male, one female)-- approached us and asked, "Sir, do you know if they make million dollar bills?"

Reply: "No, they definitely do not make million dollar bills."

"Well, we have one and need change for it."

"Then you should go to a bank."

"Yeah, but they claim there's no such thing as a million dollar bill."

"And you don't believe them?"

"Well this has been in our family a long time. A guy gave it to my uncle when he did some work for him. This was a long time ago when they made million dollar bills."

"Then go to the Antique Row and ask a currency vendor to change your bill."

"I think we'll go ask the ice cream guy."

They ask the ice cream guy. They ask another parent, who convinced the hustlers to show him their bill -- a really crappy photo copy. He then chased them and their shopping cart filled with personal belongings out of the park.

Big time bizzaro. Lamest hustle ever.

(And, no, I didn't call PD because I didn't have my dang cell phone with me.)

Pomona Beautification Day

Saturday, April 30th beginning at 8AM

Join scores of people who live and work in Pomona in our fifth annual City-Wide Beautification Day. Individuals, families, groups, organizations, businesses, etc. all welcome. Register your project or ask to be assigned to an existing one.

Work 8 AM - 12 PM then join us at the Fairplex 12-3 PM for lunch and celebration. FREE BURGER OR HOTDOG, CHIPS, & DRINK for each participant who works at a registered site. (Additional lunches can be purchased for $3.) FREE FAIR TICKET FOR EACH PARTICIPANT AS WELL.

To suggest potential cleanup projects or to find out how to sign up for the cleanup, e-mail Matarrita at Nancy@ PFBlive.tv or call her at 909-629-5277, ext. 3014.

Goldilocks?

A neighbor stopped by this evening to tell me about a curious event.

He arrived home from work this afternoon to find a total stranger fast asleep on his bed. He tried to roust Goldilocks, who seemed drunk and/or high. He then pretended to call dispatch to report the bewildered intruder. (I'm not sure why he didn't actually call dispatch.) That got her attention. She lumbered out of the house. Where did she go?

I think she might have come over to my house. I heard the doorbell ring about the time my neighbor said Goldilocks had left his house. But, given I was taking a nap of my own, I ignored the bell. An hour later I was over at the park and noticed a woman crashed out in a weird place. We see lots of people crashed in the park, but I took note of her because of the location she chose for her nap: an unshaded spot on Holt at the corner of Arboleda. This evening, as my neighbor described his intruder, he seemed to be describing the woman I saw at the park. White woman, blond hair. Blue jeans. Darkish t-shirt. Mid 40s to early 50s.

How bizarre. (Dang, now I'm going to have that song stuck in my head...how bizarre, how bizarre).

Hide your porridge.

Pill Patrol

Tired of rummaging through old pill bottles in search of your current medications? Worried about curious toddlers mistaking your medications for candy? Concerned about drug-curious teens (or their friends) snagging your medications for a cheap high? If yes, read on. The Pomona Police Department can dispose of these medications safely and at no cost to you.


This just in from WebWatch...

NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY

On April 30, 2011, the Pomona Police Department will be participating in this year's National DEA Drug Take Back initiative scheduled from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Pomona Police Station. This is a great opportunity to safely dispose of accumulated unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs according to 2009 statistics. Each day approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

In an effort to address this problem, the Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the first ever National rescription Drug Take Back Day on September 25, 2010. This first effort was a huge success and approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated. All told, the American Public turned in more than 121 tons of pills.

The other Pomona: Worth the trek south?

Pedro Salinasa, a writer for Pomona College's paper, The Student Life, recently visited and reviewed our downtown. He asks whether students should bother trekking south to visit the City of Pomona. Read his answer here.

I think it would be nifty if we hosted a college night downtown some Second Saturday. Dinner discounts with a current student ID? A special exhibit featuring work of college student artists? Invited performances by college student bands and dancers out on the plaza? No cover charge at The Brick?

I would have loved a haunt like downtown Pomona during my college years!