Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles from the December 15, 2014 edition


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  • SMMUSD Outlines Water Sustainability Progress at Meeting

    Jack Sadler, Special to the Observer|Dec 15, 2014

    In light of a statewide drought and environmental concerns, the SMMUSD Board of Education discussed the progress of district-wide water conservation measures and outlined ideas for the future. Despite admittedly flawed data, members of the district’s Business Service staff explained the serious improvements and overhauls that have been taking place at district schools as a result of Measure BB funding. These include everything from small changes in irrigation, to large-scale innovative technology like “Green Roofs”. Stuart Sam, Director of Fa...

  • After Hacker Threats, Sony Cancels North Korea Movie

    Dec 15, 2014

    Sony Pictures Entertainment handed a victory to its tormentors Wednesday, announcing it would pull a movie that has angered North Korea, amid reports that U.S. intelligence has connected the Thanksgiving hack on the studio to the isolated Communist state. In a statement, Sony said it decided not to release “The Interview” on Christmas Day as planned, “in light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film.” Five of the top theater chains in North America already announced earlier Wednesday that they would not screen...

  • Stolen Car Recovered after Chase through SM

    Dec 15, 2014

    Police chased a man suspected of stealing a car Wednesday evening from North Hollywood through Santa Monica to Malibu and all points between. The man drove erratically and was alone in the BMW that was reported stolen. The pursuit began around 6:45 p.m. at Whitsett Avenue and Valleyheart Drive. The driver often went as fast as 70 mph on surface streets. He blew red lights and went at “extremely high speeds” while he made a series of wide turns. The stolen car suspect zigzagged dangerously close to several cars and drove on a sidewalk to evade a...

  • The Giving Spirit

    Dec 15, 2014

    From December 11 - 14, over 1000 volunteers from The Giving Spirit assembled and distributed almost 2,600 survival kits to homeless men, women and children living in shelters and on the streets of the greater Los Angeles area including Santa Monica,Venice downtown LA, the Valley and for the first time this year, San Pedro. These kits contain over 60 items to help the homeless survive the winter months. During the event, TGS celebrated 15 years of helping the homeless one individual at a time....

  • Local News Briefs

    Dec 15, 2014

    Elaine Polachek Named Santa Monica's Interim City Manager Elaine Polachek, Santa Monica's current Assistant City Manager has been named Interim City Manager as Rod Gould's retirement at the end of January nears. Mayor Kevin McKeown announced the unanimous selection of Polachek at the Council Meeting on December 16th. "With great confidence, our Council chose Elaine Polachek because of her long history with our city, her record of successful communication and collaboration with residents and the...

  • Students Rally Against Police Abuse at SM City Hall

    Dec 15, 2014

    About 50-60 people attended a rally to honor the victims of what organizer Amanda Gordon called "Police abuse. Our goal was to bring awareness of the issue to our community, whichwant to keep the dialogue about race and equality going with numerous other nonviolent protests and events in our community," said Gorman, a SamoHi student. Fellow student organizer Zolee Griggs told the crowd: "We stand here today not for ourselves, but to honor the lost lives of far too many victims of police abuse....

  • Saint Monica Statue 80th Anniversary

    The Santa Monica History Museum announces the 80th Anniversary of the Statue of Saint Monica in Palisades Park. The 18-ft. high Art Deco Sculpture for whom Santa Monica was named was sculpted in 1934 by Eugene Morahan as a Public Works of Art project and presented to the citizens of Santa Monica by the Federal Government. In an impressive unveiling ceremony at Palisades Park, it was dedicated with the hope and prayer that the figure might come to be a tower of strength to mothers everywhere....

  • Orion Featured At SMC Planetarium In January

    The Santa Monica College John Drescher Planetarium launches 2015 with a special feature show and two telescope-observing events on Friday evenings. The January shows are: • Starbirth in Orion’s Sword on January 9 and 16. Explore the massive Great Orion Nebula and learn about recent discoveries that reveal the hundreds of stars and potential planetary systems forming within! • Special Observing Event: Orion and the Winter Hexagon – with a Special Guest on January 23. Come view the winter sky, including the bounty of bright stars surroun...

  • Griffith Observatory Marks Shortest Day Of The Year With Winter Solstice Activities December 21

    As fall ends and winter arrives in the northern hemisphere, Griffith Observatory invites members of the news media to cover the winter solstice on Sunday, December 21, 2014, at local noon (11:51 a.m., PST) and at sunset (4:48 p.m., PST). Observatory staff will provide interpretation of the Sun’s travel on the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice occurs at 3:03 p.m., PST, on December 21, 2014, and marks the beginning of winter. It is the moment when Earth’s orbital motion points the North Pole to its greatest angle away from the Sun. Fr...

  • EVENTS CALENDAR

    The Holiday Shop at GRACIE November 15 -December 23 Tuesday - Saturday, 11 AM-6 PM Each year, the GRACIE gift shop expands for the holidays, filling to the brim with artful, one-of-a-kind gifts hand-selected by the Santa Monica Museum of Art’s retail curator. Opening day shoppers will enjoy cider, cookies, lots of good cheer, and unique gifts and items to delight the entire family. They will find unique gifts and items to delight the entire family in SMMoA’s holiday wonderland, including art objects, toys, and jewelry. All proceeds support SMMo...

  • Public Input Sought on Final Phase of Reed Park Improvements

    Dec 15, 2014

    The City of Santa Monica is kicking off the final phase of improvements at Reed Park, which will focus on the 1-acre lawn in the northeast section of the park. The redesign will seek to better connect the lawn with the rest of this active park. Public input is needed to ensure that the design will meet community needs. Located along Wilshire Blvd between 7th Street and Lincoln Blvd, Reed Park is home to the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse, tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, a senior lunch program, and offices for the City’s C...

  • MOVIE REVIEW: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB

    debbie lynn elias|Dec 15, 2014

    I was one of the lucky few press who, several months ago, was treated to some early clips of NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB. My appetite for more was quickly whetted on seeing just brief glimpses of Sir Ben Kingsley and Rami Malek in all their royal glory, Ben Stiller as history's best friend Larry Daley, and that pee-happy capuchin Dexter (aka Crystal the Monkey). Now having seen the film in its entirety, I can honestly say that my enthusiasm and delight for NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM:...

  • What's Worse? Trading Kemp Or Piazza

    Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor|Dec 15, 2014

    In 1998 the Dodgers traded away Mike Piazza in what immediately became the most unpopular move in their Los Angeles history. Last week the Dodgers traded away Matt Kemp, and judging by initial reactions this is going to rival Piazza's departure as the worst decision the club has made. Conditions are different. In 1998 new Dodger owners were trying to make a point that they were not going to cave in to players' salary demands. Piazza's contract had expired and negotiations weren't going well on a...

  • Kobe Has Been Great, But The Greatest Laker???

    Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor|Dec 15, 2014

    When the National Basketball Association revealed its list of the 50 greatest players of all time I was on the selection committee. When the list was made public, unfortunately so was the balloting of every committee member. For years afterward several players who weren't chosen confronted me to ask me why I didn't vote for them. Really, it was an impossible task. There were 70 or 80 deserving players. No amount of research allowed me to feel comfortable about my choices, especially the last 20...