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When my colleague and friend, Sandra Stokley, asked me to accompany her to a topless bar on Sun., Sept. 2, I didn’t hesitate.

What better excuse to peek into a world of business transactions whose currency centers around a pole, g-strings and removable tops?

Sandra had business reasons of her own. A Press-Enterprise reporter for more than 20 years, she’s writing a book on one of her more celebrated — and sickening — stories, Alex Mendoza. In 2009 a jury convicted him of the first degree murder of Mikey Vallejo-Seiver, the 3-year-old son of Mendoza’s stripper girlfriend. The killing happened in Rubidoux, part of Sandra’s Jurupa Valley/Eastvale beat.

Seven years ago Mendoza met Mikey’s mom, Pam Seiver, at the very same bar — Fantasy Topless on La Cadena — where Sandra and I sat sipping Diet Cokes amid flashing lights, ear-splitting, pulsating music and strippers bumping and grinding for the entertainment of three men.

Sandra hoped to find a dancer who might have known another Mendoza girlfriend who used to work at the club, Roxane Elias. Mendoza had served time for severely beating her.

While Sandra interviewed, I chatted with one of the dancers. Naomi Garcia, 34, a single mom who lives in Anaheim, a pretty woman with big hair, a very little costume and braces, showed me why she does this part-time gig: she pointed to a photo of her 9-year-old son Jordan in her iPhone. He was wearing a football uniform and helmet.

“There’s no schedule, I come in when I want, the dancing is OK, I buy my own outfits,” she said with a shrug. Her other job is at an insurance company, but she needs the extra dough.

On a good night dancing, Naomi said she makes $300, the best tippers being “old men. “Young ones are the worst,” she said. “They’re cheap.”

By the time we’d finished our Cokes, Sandra had struck out. I didn’t do much better. One stripper, who calls herself “Diamond,” let me photographer her, but the pictures came out too dark.

At Kutztown, its mascot is named Avalanche, and he has a variety of responsibilities that involve the school and the community.

“Avalanche attends tailgates, dinners, special events, welcomes groups and visitors to campus, makes appearances at elementary schools through Pepsi Kid Zone, a program that encourages reading,” said Sean Dallas, Assistant Director of University Relations at Kutztown.

Something unique about Avalanche’s job at Kutztown is the “Cub Club.” This is a club that is used to engage children to become involved with the university. As part of the Cub Club, children are sent t-shirts, birthday cards, and a membership card that gives free admission to all athletic events. Parents are also able to request for Avalanche to attend their children’s birthday party at a reduced cost.

The final priority of the mascot is to follow the traditions established by those who wore the suit before them. At Bloomsburg, Roongo runs out on the field with the football team with a spirit flag. The tradition at Millersville is to have its Marauder mascot walk in the annual homecoming parade. Avalanche celebrates his birthday with surrounding high school, college, and minor league baseball mascots at Kutztown on its annual Family Day.