Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles from the December 22, 2014 edition


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  • Ribbon Cutting at new Concierge Lounge

    Ribbon Cutting at new Concierge Lounge, see page 3 pictured left to right: John J. Johnston, Andrew Halarewicz (Chamber of Commerce Board Member), Kathleen Rawson (CEO, Downtown Santa Monica), Laurel Rosen (President & CEO Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce), Julia Ladd (Assistant Vice President, Santa Monica Place), Richard Peterson (Executive Vice President, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau), Courtney Saavedra, Cristina Harries, Shoshana Puccia (Sr. Marketing Manager, Santa Monica...

  • Sony Suspends Tours

    Stephen Hadland, Special to the Observer|Dec 22, 2014

    Sony Pictures Entertainment has suspended tours at the iconic studio lot in Culver City in the wake of continued threats against the studio by North Korea and hackers who were protesting the movie "The Interview" where two journalist were hired to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un The tours have been suspended indefinitely, however they plan to re-evaluate the potential threats after the first of the New Year. Sony along with all Los Angeles studios ramped up security over a decade...

  • Jury Finds SM Man Guilty of Murdering Best Friend

    Dec 22, 2014

    A 28-year-old man was convicted Monday of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his roommate and longtime friend. Ryan Taylor Bright killed 27-year-old Jensen Gray early on the morning of July 11, 2012, at a Santa Monica apartment in the 400 block of Broadway following a party. Bright and Gray had known each other since middle school, attended Laguna Beach High School together and had become roommates not long before Gray's death, according to the victim's mother. The two had also been...

  • HelpfulHoliday at OPCC SM

    On Friday Dec. 19th from 11am-1pm, the SoCal Honda Dealers and the Guys in Blue brought holiday cheer and lit smiles to (400) locals without homes at Ocean Park Community Center (OPCC) by hosting their annual holiday event complete with a warm holiday meal, backpacks filled with winter essentials including parkas, socks and toiletries; and also hosted a raffle to giveaway dozens of thick winter jackets. Bringing a message of hope and generosity in true Helpful spirit, this is one of the many...

  • Strong Winds to Batter Southern California through Christmas

    Dec 22, 2014

    Strong winds will buffet much of the Southland today, particularly mountain regions, and last through Christmas afternoon, raising fears of severed tree limbs and downed power lines, National Weather Service forecasters said. A wind advisory will be in effect until 3 this afternoon in the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys and the Los Angeles coastal zone, which includes beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, downtown L.A. and the Hollywood Hills. In Orange County, a wind...

  • SM Council Resolves Against Hermosa Beach Oil Drilling Plan

    Dec 22, 2014

    The Santa Monica city council on Tuesday takes up a resolution against drilling for oil in Santa Monica Bay. The council has no authority over any current drilling proposals, so the vote is largely symbolic. But it will signal the position of civic leaders on a controversial drilling plan in nearby Hermosa Beach. In March, Hermosa Beach residents will consider whether to roll back a long-standing ban on oil drilling. A company called E & B Natural Resources is seeking permission to put up a rig on shore and sink 34 wells using directional...

  • Local News Briefs

    Dec 22, 2014

    New Concierge Lounge at SM Place On December 23 at 10:00 am, Santa Monica Place held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially inaugurate the new Concierge Lounge. In celebration of the grand opening, the public was invited to visit the Concierge Lounge during mall hours for refreshments. “The Concierge Lounge is fashioned for our guests to create a memorable experience,” said Shoshana Puccia, senior marketing manager, Santa Monica Place. “Because we have a heavy tourist attraction, we want to ensure their experience at our center was worth...

  • EVENTS CALENDAR

    Stogie Kenyatta’s The World is My Home – The Life of Paul Robeson December 28, 7pm Powerful and poignant, heartfelt and humorous, and to celebrate the third night of Kwaanza, Santa Monica Playhouse is proud to present a one night engagment of film, television and stage personality Stogie Kenyatta’s acclaimed 2013 NAACP Solo Show Award-Winning show about African-American artist-activist Paul Robeson. Robeson – internationally renowned actor, recording artist, concert singer, football player, All-American athlete and Phi Beta Kappa Society...

  • LA Chamber Orchestra Opens With Special Performance

    Steven Lieberman, Observer Reporter|Dec 22, 2014

    The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) opened its “Baroque Conversations” series on Thursday at Zipper Concert Hall at The Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles. It was a special affair honoring James Arkatov, artistic founder of LACO and original member of the cello section. There was a champagne toast for him at the pre-concert reception attended by musical director/conductor Jeffrey Kahane and then Arkatov kicked things off by saying a few words of thanks on stage before the concert. And that’s when the magic began. Kahane chose the c...

  • Los Angeles Master Chorale Excels In Holiday Concert

    Steven Lieberman, Observer Reporter|Dec 22, 2014

    Grant Gershon, esteemed Artistic Director/Conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), filled the Walt Disney Concert Hall with his passion and joy as they presented their annual holiday concerts. He channeled his un-rivaled enthusiasm during the LAMC’s presentation of “Festival of Carols” on December 13 and Handel’s Messiah on December 21. The LAMC rung in the holiday season with a concert of favorite carols sung by one of the greatest chorales in the world. Sprinkled with new arrangements (three by composer in residence Shawn Kirchne...

  • Deadline Approaches for U.S. High School Students Seeking YES Abroad Scholarships

    Dec 22, 2014

    The application deadline for the 2015-2016 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad scholarship program is January 7, 2015. The program provides full scholarships to American high school students to experience overseas communities and cultures, preparing students to collaborate on today’s global challenges such as human rights, community development, workforce development, climate change, and global health. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the YES Abroad program enables stu...

  • UCLA Has Lowest-Scoring Half In Its History

    Dec 22, 2014

    UCLA scored only seven points in the first half of its 83-44 loss to top-ranked Kentucky last Saturday. It was the lowest scoring half in the Bruins’ history. The previous low was 15. The two teams have won the most NCAA men’s basketball championships in history. But this season Kentucky is expected to go through the regular season with few losses, perhaps none. The Wildcats have a 12-0 record with nine McDonalds All-Americans on the roster, most of them expecting to play in the NBA. By contrast, UCLA was the only school in the country thi...

  • Struggling Lakers Miss Gasol A Lot

    Mitch Chortkoff, Sports Editor|Dec 22, 2014

    As I look at the Lakers' dreadful record I wonder how much better they'd be this season if Pau Gasol remained on the team. Gasol, a far better big man than anyone on the Lakers this season, was driven away (let's be frank about this) by his dispute with Coach Mike D'Antoni. As I've written before, D'Antoni's offense featured three-point shooting rather than plays revolving around a center. Dwight Howard didn't like that and departed after one Laker season when he became a free agent. He signed...

  • Dodgers Finalize Deal For Rollins

    Dec 22, 2014

    The Dodgers have finalized the deal that brings shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the team from Philadelphia. The Dodgers gave up lefthanded pitcher Tom Windle and right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, who was acquired earlier in the week from San Diego. The 2007 National League Most Valuable Player and three-time All-Star (2001-02, 2005) has a .267 career batting average with 216 home runs and 887 RBI in 15 big league seasons, all with the Phillies, from 2000-14. Rollins ranks third among active players wi...

  • MOVIE REVIEW: INTO THE WOODS

    debbie lynn elias|Dec 22, 2014

    Fans of the stage musical, and those who have heard of but never seen the wonder that is Stephen Sondheim, are in for a special holiday treat come Christmas Day as all tied up with a big red bow, er, cape, is Sondheim's acclaimed and long-running INTO THE WOODS which finally arrives on the big screen in this stunning adaptation written by stage scribe James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim and directed by Rob Marshall. What big eyes you'll have as you watch the magic of this fairytale mash-up unfold...

  • SXSW Lawsuit Recalls 2003 Santa Monica Farmer's Market Tragedy

    Dec 22, 2014

    Last week, attorneys filed a lawsuit against SXSW festival organizers on behalf of Lizzy, the widow Steven Craenmehr who was killed at SXSW last March by accused errant and drunk driver Rashad Owens. Owens was fleeing police when he allegedly killed Craenmehr, Jamie West, Sandy Thuy Le and DeAndre Tatum, all of whom died from being hit by Owens’ car. Twenty other people sustained injuries from the accident. The evidence against Owens is strong, but proceedings against the manare proceeding slowly, as often happens in the criminal justice s...

  • What's Happening at the Y?

    Saturday January 10th Y Open House -- FREE Admission Chair Massage Courtesy of Dr. Takahachi Chiropractic’s Office 10:00am – 12:00pm in the Senior Center Tuesday, January 13th -- FREE Admission Macular Degeneration Support Group Offered by the nonprofit Discovery Eye Foundation Group will be meeting every second Tuesday of the month FREE Information-Resources-Support Group Facilitator: Judith Delgado Director, Macular Degeneration Partnership A program of the nonprofit Discovery Eye Foundation 12:30pm – 2:00pm in the DeWind Room Tuesday, Janua...