Sarah Spitz Retires from KCRW

Tweet Sarah Spitz, the longtime KCRW producer, voice and spokeswoman, was feted at The Rose Cafe in Venice for her years of service to the station (starting as a volunteer, like so many) and her impending retirement. In a note posted on the KCRW members blog, she writes: “I have always defined myself by my identification with KCRW. Ruth’s retirement and my mother’s passing last year have made me look inward to see who’s there. I am off to grow food, preserve it, to... Read More

SCHOOLS HIT HIGH NOTES

Tweet Go to the Samohi Winter Orchestra Concert on December 13, and click on the video. http://smmarts.info/VAPAmusicevents.html – This is one of 7 orchestras at a grade 9-12 high school with about 3,000 students. The school also has six choirs, six concert bands, a marching band, and two jazz bands. This is what having district-wide 3rd grade general music once a week, and 4th and 5th grade choir and instrumental music instruction twice a week, during the school day,... Read More

GOVERNOR GIVES SCHOOLS A BREAK

Tweet The governor is slashing $1 billion for higher education, school buses, MediCal, and services for the disabled. The cuts were necessitated when revenue for the first half of this year fell $2.2 billion short of projections. But the shortfall is below earlier estimates, which is why K-12 is being largely spared. From Bay Area News Group: School district officials across the state breathed a sign of relief at the news. Although they’ll face a $248 million hit for school... Read More

Commission Nominates Trailer Park as Landmark

Tweet At its Monday night meeting, the Landmarks Commission nominated the Village Trailer Park for designation as a landmark (see prior story below). The nomination is the first step in a process that could ultimately lead to the four-acre park being declared a Santa Monica landmark. Landmarks must meet certain specific criteria, and, according to a consultant’s report, the trailer park qualifies under two of the criteria. At the completion of the process, if the Commission... Read More

Lionstone Pays $90 Million for Five SM Buildings

Tweet The Los Angeles Times reported today that “Santa Monica’s status as the destination of choice for technology and entertainment businesses got another boost with the $90-million sale to a Houston real estate investment firm of five “creative” office buildings — those highly designed, edgy alternatives to typical corporate environs. “Lionstone Group, one of the largest owners of creative offices on the Westside, bought the buildings from a limited partnership... Read More

Motus Perpetuus VII: the Winter Choral Concert of Perpetual Motion

Tweet The most unusual choir concert of the year, “Motus Perpetuus VII: The Winter Choral Concert of Perpetual Motion,” will be presented Thursday, December 15. The Santa Monica High School choirs will simultaneously make beautiful vocal music and make the most of all of Barnum Hall’s performing spaces. For Motus Perpetuus, the choirs’ annual concert of perpetual motion, choirs are strategically situated throughout Barnum Hall, with songs following each... Read More

TRAILER PARK MAY BE DESIGNATED A LANDMARK

Tweet The Landmarks Commission will hear a consultant’s report on the Village Trailer Park, 2930 Colorado Avenue, and decide whether to file an application to designate it as a City Landmark at tonight’s meeting. at 7 p.m. in City Hall. According to the City Landmark Assessment Report, “…the property located at 2930 Colorado Avenue appears to meet two of the City of Santa Monica’s Landmark Criteria (1 and 4). The property was evaluated according to statutory criteria... Read More

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD CORRAL CORPORATIONS

Tweet On December 6, Los Angeles became the first major city to endorse a proposed Constitutional amendment that would subject corporations to regulations. The text of the proposed amendment: Section 1 [A corporation is not a person and can be regulated] The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State,... Read More

SOME 405 PANELS DEFICIENT

Tweet Metro said it has no cause yet for the failure of a retaining wall section on the 405 freeway improvement project in Sepulveda Pass, but is aware of it, in a statement released this week. “A MSE (Mechanically Supported Engineering) retaining wall, located along the southbound I-405 at Mountain Gate, suffered a localized failure on Thursday, December 1. The failure occurred on Caltrans right-of-way, west of the freeway, in our construction zone. No one was injured and our... Read More

KATHERINE, NANNINI NAMED SMC 2011C0-FACULTY OF YEAR

Tweet According to Santa Monica College spokesman Bruce Smith, Amber Katherine is “a philosopher who has blended her passion for the environment with teaching and mentoring,” and Dan Nannini is “a counselor who has become something of a statewide guru on transferring to universities,” and they have been named Santa Monica College’s 2011 Co-Faculty of the Year. In naming the winners, the SMC Academic Senate also announced that it was nominating Katherine... Read More