Caltrans Extends PCH Closure

Caltrans will close one lane of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., between Temescal Canyon Boulevard and the McClure Tunnel, nightly from Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27. Caltrans is repaving the 11.6-mile stretch of PCH between the Malibu Lagoon Bridge and the tunnel. The $7 million project includes removing existing concrete pavement and replacing it with Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC), and removing and replacing raised pavement markers, traffic... Read More

Council Rendered Mute

We’ve seen more Council meetings than we can count. Hundreds. Perhaps thousands. But last night, we saw something we never we’d never seen before, and never expected to see. It was a special meeting. There were only two items. Major items: the final review of the 2008-2009 budget and another discussion of the “Strategic Framework” for the revision of the land use and circulation elements of the General Plan (LUCE). The Council (minus Bobby Shriver) breezed through... Read More

To the Communitty

SAY NO TO THE SANTA MONICA COLLEGE $295 MILLION BOND MEASURE— It’s time to put the education of Santa Monica resident K-12 students first! 90% of Santa Monica High School African-American and Hispanic students are not proficient in math. We can no longer afford to provide millions of dollars of financing to SMC, with 80% of its students from Los Angeles, while our resident Santa Monica K-12 children struggle to read, write and do math. Santa Monica High School has an achievement... Read More

Here They Come Again

Predictably and inevitably, President Bush and his would-be successor John McCain both issued calls yesterday to lift the ban on off-shore oil drilling. It’s pandering at its most shameless, proving – again — that both men are motivated solely by self-interest, and don’t give a damn about the national interest or the public good. McCain’s claims that he’s a maverick and a straight talker are as bogus as Bush’s claim that God is his co-pilot. Bush wants... Read More

District Schools Slate Graduation Cerenonies

For Santa Monica- Malibu Unified School District students, summer will begin this weekend, as a series of graduation ceremonies winds down Friday. On June 11th, 90 individuals received their GED and five high school students received their diplomas from the Adult Education school at Olympic High School. Malibu High School will hold its graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 19, at 2 p.m. Over 200 seniors will receive diplomas. Santa Monica High School will hold its graduation... Read More

Conservancy Spotlights Isherwood, Bachardy

Christopher Isherwood, sn Englishman who came to America in 1939 and lived most of the rest of his life in Santa Monica, was one of the most acclaimed and prolific writers of his era. His best-known work was “The Berlin Stories,” which was the basis for the celebrated film, “Cabaret,” but his novels and memoirs were all first-rate. He also wrote 13 films and appeared as a party guest in d\Director George Cukor’s last film, “Rich and Famous.” Don Bachardy is a... Read More

BULLETIN: PCH CLOSURES SLATED

Caltrans will close one lane of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) nightl from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., south of Chautauqua Boulevard to the McClureTunnel, for grinding and crack sealing (spot locations). Sunday, June 15 through Friday, June 20. The closures are part of a $7 million, 11.6-mile paving project from Malibu Lagoon Bridge to the McClure Tunnel. The work consists of removing existing concrete pavement and replacing it with Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC), which includes removing... Read More

Tim Russert: Son, Father, Newsman

It was unprecedented. In the midst of a heated and historic presidential campaign, devastating tornados and floods in the Midwest, rapidly escalating gas prices, and a sagging economy, the two 24-hour cable news channels – MSNBC and CNN — bagged the “big” stories. and devoted much of Friday afternoon and Friday night to extended tributes to Tim Russert, the consummate newsman who ran NBC News’ Washington bureau as well as presiding on “Meet the Press.” Russert... Read More

Possible SMC Bond Measure on FOSP Meeting Agenda

At the Friends of Sunset Park annual meeting on Saturday (see story below) a possible Santa Monica College $295 million bond issue will be discussed. SMC trustee David Finkel will speak in favor of the possible measure and longtime SMC employee Phil Hendricks will oppose it. They will be followed by a general discussion. The bond presentation will take place at abaci 2:45 p.m. In an email, Hendricks wrote, “I was pivotal in raising $2,000 through my union in support... Read More

Whither the Weather 6/13 – 6/19

By Ava Tramer Beaches Mostly sunny Highs: 70-74; Lows:59-63 Inland Clear and hot Highs: 90-95; Lows: 60-62 Deserts Hot and sunny Highs: 105-110; Lows: 75-80 And Santa Monica… Well, the weather will be boring this week, but at least it will be nice. Highswill fluctuate between 70 and 74, and lows will bounce dramatically between 59 and 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The skies will be sunny and clear, with the major excitement coming from a few clouds that may float by now and... Read More