Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles written by Sarah Storkin


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  • Robert Redford's Passing Resonates in Santa Monica, Where He Helped Save the Pier

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Sep 17, 2025

    The recent passing of iconic actor and filmmaker Robert Redford at age 89 has left a profound impact on his birthplace, Santa Monica, where his legacy as a Hollywood legend and local hero endures. Born in the coastal city in 1936, Redford's early life and connection to the area have sparked an outpouring of tributes, with vintage photos of a young Redford alongside his father circulating widely, stirring nostalgia for Santa Monica's deep Hollywood roots. Redford, celebrated...

  • Tom Lehrer, who wrote Hanukkah in Santa Monica, Dies at 97

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 31, 2025

    Cambridge, MA – July 27, 2025* – Tom Lehrer, the Harvard-trained mathematician and musical satirist whose biting, darkly humorous songs captivated audiences in the 1950s and 1960s, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 97. His death was confirmed by his longtime friend David Herder, who did not specify a cause. Born Thomas Andrew Lehrer on April 9, 1928, in Manhattan, New York, to a secular Jewish family, Lehrer was a pro...

  • Man Bites Dog: After LAPD Car Chase from Downtown to the Santa Monica Pier, It Turns Out a Dog Was Behind the Wheel

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 25, 2025

    A high-speed chase that tore through Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, ended dramatically near the Santa Monica Pier when a suspect, accompanied by a dog, surrendered to police after a tense standoff. The pursuit, initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) following a report of an assault with a deadly weapon, began in the West Adams district and culminated in downtown Santa Monica, briefly disrupting the bustling tourist area. The incident, captured by SkyFOX...

  • Leftists Said ICE Nabbed Nannies In Santa Monica's Douglas Park, Taking them away from Screaming Babies. It Wasn't True

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jun 27, 2025
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    On June 14, Santa Monica officials dispelled rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detaining nannies at local parks, sparked by unverified online posts and a preschool email. While no evidence supported these claims, recent ICE activity at Westside car washes fueled broader immigration enforcement concerns. Separately, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stated that their agents were not at Dodger Stadium looking for illegal aliens. This...

  • Is Santa Monica Making Any Special Preparations Due to the Immigration Riots?

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jun 8, 2025

    There’s no specific information confirming that the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) is on heightened alert following the June 8, 2025, riots in downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). The SMPD’s official Instagram and website don’t mention any tactical alert or heightened status as of the latest updates, with their most recent posts focusing on routine activities like vehicle burglary responses from May 2025. However, given the proximity to DTLA (about 15 miles) and the scale...

  • Class of 2025 Graduates from Pacific Palisades High School, Despite Losing Their Campus in the January 7th Fire

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jun 7, 2025

    The Palisades Charter High School Class of 2025 held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Hollywood Bowl, a departure from the school's campus due to damage from the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025, which destroyed parts of the campus, including the football stadium. The ceremony celebrated the resilience of the graduating class amidst significant adversity. Speakers at the Graduation The ceremony featured notable speakers, reflecting the school's...

  • Rite-Aid Store on Wilshire and 14th Street in Santa Monica Will closes permanently on May 28, 2025.

    Sarah Storkin|Updated May 4, 2025

    Rite-Aid Drugstore will close permanently on May 28th, 2025, a store employee confirmed for The Observer. The Rite Aid at 1331 Wilshire Boulevard, near the intersection of Wilshire and 14th Street in Santa Monica, is scheduled to close permanently at the end of May 2025. A notice posted at the store indicates that prescriptions will be transferred to the CVS at 1411 Lincoln Blvd starting May 29, 2025. The store remains open with normal hours as of May 5 2025, but many shelves...

  • Chainsaw Weilding Bike Rider Arrested For Cutting Down Trees in Downtown Los Angeles

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 25, 2025

    By Sarah Storkin One man. was arrested in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for cutting down at least 13 trees with a chainsaw over a 12-day period starting April 13. Samuel Patrick Groft, 44, had been taken into custody on suspicion of felony vandalism. The suspect, identified as a homeless man named Groft, was apprehended after a 12-day rampage during which he allegedly cut down at least 13 mature trees while bicycling in and around downtown LA. The tree-cutti...

  • Who is Shooting Crows in Westchester, and Why?

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 14, 2025

    More than 100 crows were shot to death in a neighborhood on the 8300 block of Chase Avenue, Westchester. Bullets narrowly missed people, causing fear and concern among residents. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating this "deadly animal attack," on March 12th. One Westchester resident, Brenna Lenoir, expressed heightened concern, stating, "I think the whole block is feeling pretty freaked out about it... It's crows, but how long until it escalates to pets...

  • Naked man punched 3-year-old, tried to rape woman at her LA home, police say

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 7, 2025

    On February 27, 2025, a violent incident unfolded in the Sawtelle neighborhood of West Los Angeles, leading to the arrest of 33-year-old Ishmail Bangura. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Bangura, who was nude during the attacks, is accused of two separate assaults that day. The sequence began around 12:30 p.m. when Bangura allegedly entered an apartment complex near the 2400 block of Barry Avenue and...

  • Do The Various Mothers of Elon Musk's 14 or So Kids, Really Hate Each Other?

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 1, 2025

    The tension between Ashley St. Clair, Shivon Zilis, Grimes, and other women-particularly those vocal on platforms like X-seems to stem from a mix of personal, social, and ideological factors tied to their relationships with Elon Musk and their public personas. Based on sentiment from X posts and broader context, here's the breakdown: Ashley St. Clair: As a 26-year-old conservative influencer claiming to be the mother of Musk's 13th child (unconfirmed by Musk as of March 1,...

  • Did Kat Timpf Have a Baby or Breast Cancer? Both, And She Says She's Full of Gratitude

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 26, 2025

    Fox News’ Kat Timpf reveals she was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 hours before giving birth to a son. As of today, February 26, 2025, Kat Timpf is navigating a whirlwind of emotions and challenges. She welcomed her first child, a healthy baby boy, with her husband Cameron Friscia last week, and shared her joy on social media, saying she and her husband are "drunk in love" with their son. However, just fifteen hours before going into labor, she received a Stage 0 breast cance...

  • Illegal Alien Set the Kenneth Fire in West Hills

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 12, 2025

    "Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the #KennethFire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva." "He is in custody on a probation violation & has NOT been charged w/ arson. I'm told ICE will place a detainer request on him with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, but they do not expect it to be honored due to California's Sanctuary State law." "I'm told...

  • Santa Ynez Reservoir in Santa Monica Mountains Was Offline and Empty Before the Palisades Fire

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 10, 2025

    9: The Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117 million gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades. This according to the Los Angeles Times. Cal. Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged a full investigation into the closure. He has taken much criticism along with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, for being underprepared before Tuesdays fire basically immolated the entire town of Pacific Palisades. The affluent town is looking...

  • Blazing Fire on 100-Foot Luxury Yacht Loaded with Ammunition in Marina del Rey

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Sep 20, 2024

    Marina del Rey became the scene of a dramatic fire on Wednesday evening when a 100-foot luxury yacht, named "The Admiral," erupted in flames. The yacht, known for its opulence, was carrying nearly a thousand pounds of unspent ammunition and fireworks, adding a dangerous twist to the already intense blaze. The fire lasted more than two hours, lighting up the harbor with plumes of smoke and flames that leapt as high as 30 feet. A Dangerous Spectacle Witnesses described a...

  • Great White Singer Jack Russell, 63, Dies of Lewy Body Dementia. Performed at the deadliest rock concert in the U.S.

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 16, 2024

    Great White singer Jack Russell, who struggled in his career with drug and alcohol addiction, has died of Lewy Body Dementia. He was just 63. Sadly, Russell was perhaps best known for the deadliest rock concert in the U.S. (a 2003 fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI), which killed 100 people and left 200 people seriously injured after a fire caused by pyrotechnics set off by Great White. "I watched this live on CNN as it happened in 2003 and have watched every...

  • Hell Freezes Over: Snow Falls in Las Vegas on Valentine's Day

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jun 17, 2024

    Snow is not unheard of in Las Vegas, though Feb. 14 is a little late for it. "something is either about to go really well or really bad if it’s snowing in VEGAS on valentine’s day," tweeted one local. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reporting that Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International is at a ground stop on Tuesday as storms have moved into the area. Residents across the Las Vegas Valley have reported seeing snow flurries as the storm starts to pick up speed. It's...

  • Christine Peake's Birthday Comedy Show For 'Breast Cancer Bandit' Brings The Talent And The Laughs.

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 13, 2024

    Despite what Governor Gavin Newsom called the worst storm in decades, the crowds came out to comedian Christine Peake's Birthday charity show for 'Breast Cancer Bandit', a charity founded by journalist and actress/comedian Marisa Sullivan, who also performed at the standing room only show. The show not only had a stellar line up featuring SNL legend Darrell Hammond, Thash Mose, Greg Baldwin, Marc Gordon and Cat Ce, world renowned DJ Paul Oakenfold supported his friend...

  • Four Pepperdine Sorority Sisters Killed in Traffic Collision on PCH in Malibu Tuesday Night

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Oct 22, 2023

    Four young women studying at Pepperdine's Seaver college were killed in a collision on PCH Tuesday night. The driver was arrested for vehicular manslaughter following the collision. Pepperdine University identified the students killed in the accident, all seniors at the university's Seaver College of Liberal Arts. Their names are as follows: Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, Deslyn Williams. The four were sorority sisters and three of them were roommates. Capt....

  • Winning Time Series About the Showtime Lakes Surprises With Cancellation After Second Season Finale

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Sep 19, 2023

    After the 7th and final show of its second season, HBO announced that it would n ot renew the Showtime Lakers documentary for a third season. The show centers on the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team and their rise in the early 1980s. The first season dramatized Jerry Buss' first year as the team's owner and Magic Johnson's rookie year, 1979-80. The second season is set during the four-year period after that. Twitter posters protested the way the series was pulled after the Celtics...

  • A Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Hits So Cal During Hurricane Hilary; 6 aftershocks in the 3.0 range.

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 22, 2023
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    As Southern California prepared for a "storm of biblical proportions," i.e. Hurricane Hilary, a small earthquake hit the sea Southwest of Ojai, California. That's in Ventura County, North of Los Angeles County. According to the USGS, which upgraded it from a 5.1 to 5.5, the temblor was felt in Northern Mexico as well. The earthquake was felt in Santa Monica, the San Fernando Valley, and Malibu, among other areas. It started at 2:41 pm PST, and last several seconds. There were...

  • Librarian Stumbles into Homeless Man Who Was Nearly Murdered As Librarian Closes the Public Library in Ocean Park Santa Monica

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Aug 15, 2023

    Police have arrested a suspect for the attemp[ted murder of a homeless man. A librarian found the victim Wednesday night outside the public library in Ocean Park, as he closed the library. That Andrew Carnegie library is over 100 years old, and features a children's reading room. Due to Prop 47 and other progressive ideas that promote drug addiction and homelessness, it seems incongruous to have a reading room or a library at all in Santa Monica. But anyway, here's the press...

  • Jonah Hill Made Ex Girlfriend Sarah Brady Take Down Risque Photos and "Respect Herself."

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jul 12, 2023

    A-list actor Jonah Hill is being pilloried--and supported on Twitter--after his ex GF Sarah Brady leaked a text message Hill sent her in December 2021. The message says that he doesn't want to be in a relatiohsip with a woman who lacks self respect. And that the risque photos posted by Brady indicate a lack of self respect. "If you need surfing with men--boundless inappropriate friendships with men," Hill wrote Brady,"...friendships with women in inappropriate places.... I am...

  • Diner Assaulted by Homeless Man at California Pizza Kitchen on Wilshire Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 23, 2023

    A man was assaulted while dinning at California Pizza Kitchen in the 200 block of Wilshire. This on Thursday at about 7:40 PM. An aggressive homeless man slammed a chair on a table. He smashed dishes on the table of a couple dining at the restaurant. After struggling with the assailant, the patron fell on the ground, cutting his hands on the broken dishes. SMPD's press release is below. On April 20, 2023, at approximately 7:43 PM, the Santa Monica Police Department received a...

  • Mrs. Winston's Green Grocer Closes Ocean Park Blvd Location, Remains Open on Colorado in the Watergardens

    Sarah Storkin, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 1, 2023

    Done in by free lunches for the employees of a large social media company, a salad bar extraordinaire has closed its doors. Not to worry, though, as the restaurant will continue serving customers at its 2450 Colorado Avenue location. Mrs. Winston's Green Grocer opened its location on Ocean Park Blvd in 2009. Owner Eddy Winston named it in honor of his mom, Mrs. Winston. It closed permanently this month. Snapchat's parent company Snap Inc. is now the largest tenant in this...

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