VOLUME 9 NO. 4		SPRING 2002

BIG BLUE BUS DRIVES AWAY HUNGER Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus Food Drive raised close to 6,000 pounds of food for the Westside Food Bank in December, a 300% increase from last year's efforts. A bright red, holiday-themed bus brought decorated food barrels to many of Santa Monica's special holiday events. The Westside Food Bank, which supplies food to more than 60 social service agencies throughout western Los Angeles County, reaches more than 70,000 people each year, half of them children. Food bank officials said the Big Blue Bus campaign is one of the most successful food drives conducted on their behalf.

BIG BLUE BUS WEBSITE EARNS HONORABLE MENTION FROM PTI For the second year in a row, Public Technology Inc., a national consortium of local governments, has awarded the City of Santa Monica an Honorable Mention in the Small City category of the 2001 Solutions Technology Achievement Awards. Just nine of 200 entries across all categories were selected for this prestigious honor! The PTI award recognizes the innovative management tools that are built into the Big Blue Bus website at http://www.bigbluebus.com/home/index.asp. These tools enable staff to easily and quickly post new information and keep the site up to date. The state-of-the-art design is considered essential for an already busy staff to continue offering new information and services on-line. Check it out for yourself and find a new way to get on the bus!

COUNCIL AGENDAS NOW ON-LINE WELL AHEAD OF TIME City Council agendas are now posted one full week ahead of the meeting date instead of the Thursday before. To get immediate notice of their availability, subscribe to WIN, the city's award-winning e-mail notification system (a 2000 PTI honoree) that helps residents stay up to date with all that's going on in Santa Monica - just to to http://win.smgov.net.

2002-03 CITY BUDGET PLANNING BEGINS As is their traditional practice, the City Council kicked off the annual municipal budget development process at their first meeting of the new year, January 8, by inviting the public to comment on issues, programs and services they feel are worthy of city attention and the dedication of city funds in the coming year. More than 40 people spoke on topics ranging from support for public schools to tree, sidewalk and sewer problems in the Borderline neighborhood, parks and recreation facility development and maintenance, support for the Santa Monica Historical Society, youth programs, child care and early childhood education, issues affecting persons with disabilities, the city's ongoing sustainability efforts, prosecuting tenant harassment cases and providing information and advocacy for tenants. Many of these same issues surfaced in budget suggestions submitted to the Council on-line at www.smgov.net. Suggestions may still be submitted electronically and viewed on-line. SURVEY, FORECAST SET TONE Prior to public comment, the Council received a report on results of the 2001 Resident Satisfaction Survey, which showed Santa Monicans generally satisfied with provision of city services, concerned still with homelessness, growth, housing and traffic, and wanting the city to tackle these issues and communicate more with residents. (Complete survey results are available online). Council also heard from Finance Director Mike Dennis on the financial forecast for the city since September 11, which indicates that the loss in sales tax, hotel tax and other income sources could cause the city to conclude the 2001-2002 fiscal year $7.7 million below budgeted revenue. The revenue-expenditure gap forecast for the next five years ranges from $5 million in a best-case scenario to $13.7 million in the worst case. City Manager Susan McCarthy outlined for Council the cost saving actions being taken by city departments for the balance of this fiscal year and longer term expenditure reduction strategies that will guide development of the budget recommended to Council in May. McCarthy also noted that strong fiscal policies adopted by past and present Councils and the city's disciplined financial management practices have helped maintain an impressive AAA bond rating (see cover story), even in the face of a weakened economy. COUNCIL REAFFIRMS CURRENT PRIORITIES Following the public hearing, Councilmembers expressed their individual commitment to various issues raised by the public and noted additional activities or approaches for consideration by staff. As a Council, they also reaffirmed their five priorities from the past two budget years for 2002-2003 – Education, Community Livability/Quality of Life, Affordable Housing, Mobility and Sustainability – and added a guiding principle of economic flexibility for budget decision-making. Council study sessions on the city manager's recommended budget are scheduled for May 28, 29 and 30, with adoption of the 2002-03 city budget slated for June 19. The new fiscal year begins July 1, 2002.

Walkable Westside Promoted Walkable Westside Moving Violators (aka "those orange people") shared a "Walk Safe/Watch for Walkers" message with shoppers on the Third Street Promenade during the holidays. The safety rules apply all year: Pay attention, don't assume a crosswalk will protect you or that a traffic signal will prevent pedestrians from crossing your vehicle's path, be visible, look for signs of danger, know and obey traffic laws. Visit www.santamonicapd.org for more information.

THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING SANTA MONICA Let's keep up the hometown spirit demonstrated so strongly over the holidays by patronizing local shops and restaurants, spending weekend getaways in one of Santa Monica's great hotels, visiting the Pier, our galleries, theaters and other attractions, or simply walking on the beach. For information on convenient parking, if you're driving downtown, visit parking.santa-monica.org on the web. Better yet, take the Big Blue Bus or Tide Shuttle (schedules available at www.bigbluebus.com).

SITTING HANDSOME Handsome new street furniture has been installed on the Downtown Transit Mall on Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway, along with bus shelters and new street lights. Kiosks with Big Blue Bus information come next. Work on the Transit Mall, which was on hiatus over the holidays, resumed on January 2 and is on schedule for late spring completion (including the resurfacing of 4th Street). In the meantime, watch the signage for information on streets and intersections to avoid and alternate routes to your favorite Downtown location or parking structure. Thanks for your patience during construction. The result will be worth it!

DISAPPEARING ACT--TO CLOVER PARK AND BEYOND! Raindrops falling on rooftops, parking lots and streets normally flow unrestrained and untreated through our storm drains into the Santa Monica Bay, carrying along a variety of harmful pollutants washed off hard, impenetrable surfaces. Now, as part of the effort to meet its Sustainable City Program objectives, the city has developed a new strategy to "harvest" this storm runoff into underground, gravel or plastic-filled caverns (called drywells), helping to reduce the greatest single source of pollution in the bay. This approach was inaugurated in October with completion of a 14-foot deep drywell under a grassy section of Clover Park, south of the rocket playground. Water running off parking lots and a city office building there now drains into the drywell, which contains 3,000 cubic feet of gravel, and then filters into the ground. Collecting rain in this manner shifts the traditional flood control practice of the last century (directing runoff as fast as possible into a body of water) to the watershed approach found in nature – water percolates into the ground to recharge our groundwater supplies and rivers, or flows back into the ocean. This urban runoff model will be used in a number of new city projects, including several alleys with center infiltration areas to reduce flooding of private properties and draining to streets; an alley with plastic cisterns underneath and permeable paving on top to handle runoff; and at the city's Public Safety Facility under construction behind City Hall. A city ordinance now requires that private developers also incorporate this approach into their projects. *** LEADERSHIP SERIES "No Fear! Emergency Preparedness in Santa Monica" On Thursday, March 21, Santa Monica Fire Department and Police Department staff will lead a discussion of preparedness in a post-September 11 environment, with a special presentation on lessons learned for California from the World Trade Center tragedy. The session will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center. For more information and to register, call 458-8301 (TDD/TTY 917-6626). The Ken Edwards Center is wheelchair accessible and is served by Big Blue Bus lines 1, 3, 7 and 8.

Briefly... CITY HALL, 1685 MAIN STREET, is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and every other Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. "Closed Fridays" (which reduce car trips and improve air quality) for the next 2 months are: March 8 and 22 and April 5 and 19. DID YOU KNOW ...meetings of Santa Monica's boards and commissions are regularly scheduled each month and open to the public? The following meetings are held at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Fourth Street: Social Services - fourth Monday, 7 p.m. Older Americans - third Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. Status of Women - second Wednesday, 7 p.m. Recreation & Parks - third Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Agendas for all meetings (including Council and Planning Commission) are posted on the city's website at http://www.smgov.net/cityclerk, or call the City Clerk's Office at 458-8211 for more information. SENIORS TAKE NOTE! Two new messages just for our senior residents were recently added to City Hall on Call (458-8999, TDD/TTY 458-2243), the city's "always-available" source for services and program information, as well as fax-on-demand meeting agendas and other documents. Message No. 892 describes services and referrals available through several local social service agencies and Message No. 894 explains the Police Department's new voluntary registration/identification service for seniors. To receive a color brochure/directory or for more information about City Hall on Call, call 458-8301 (TDD/TTY 917-6626).

CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS WORKSHOP CALENDAR Informal workshops to answer basic questions, led by experienced attorneys and other knowledgeable professionals, are held on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Fourth Street. The cost is $15 ($5 for C.L.A. members & for residents of Santa Monica). Workshops sell out, so reserve early, call the California Lawyers for the Arts at (310) 998-5590. MARCH 13: GRANTWRITING FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS Grantwriter Gail Schwartz shows how to write a compelling proposal and provides insight to the funding community. MARCH 27: COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK OVERVIEW Embarking on a new project? Unsure about ownership or protection? Michael Leventhal, an intellectual property attorney, will provide an overview of these forms of protection. APRIL 8: INDEPENDENT FILM FINANCING Attorney Peter Wilke discusses the various means of financing a film, including LPs, LLCs, and investor financing. APRIL 24: THE RECORD BUSINESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: MONEY, SUCCESS & CAREERS (Cosponsored by NARIP) Tess Taylor, president of the National Association of Record Industry Professionals, conducts a workshop on finding and networking your way to your dream job and success in the music business. MAY 8: CYBERSPACE AND THE LAW A multimedia attorney will discuss legal issues related to computer technology, including copyright law, fair use and licensing of existing works and the interplay between the right to privacy and free speech. MAY 22: RUNAWAY PRODUCTION: USING FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO PRODUCE FILM AND TV (Cosponsored by SAG) Runaway production expert and SAG representative Lance Simmons explores the ramifications of production job losses and dollars to foreign companies and locations. These workshops are supported by the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, the California Arts Council, the County of Los Angeles Dispute Resolution Program and the 18th Street Arts Complex. *** ENERGY REBATE UPDATE As reported in previous issues of Seascape, the city's temporary utility users' rebate program was implemented last fall, first for gas customers and then for electricity users. The city expects that by the end of the fiscal year, the $1.4 million originally anticipated to be returned to customers will be fully expended; however, gas customers will receive less than first predicted due to the subsequent decline in gas prices. As authorized by City Council, the Director of Finance adjusted the "mix" of the rebate amounts to appropriately reflect the utility rate changes and revenues received by the city. The gas rebate on customers' bills will end effective February 1, 2002. The rebate on electricity customers' bills will be terminated by June 30, 2002. For more information on the rebate program, please call the Finance Department at 458-8741.   HEALING ART Artwork created by schoolchildren in the aftermath of September 11 will be on display February 10 through March 25 at the Community Focus Gallery on the first floor of Santa Monica Place. Paintings, drawings, collages and poetry compose the Healing Art exhibit, conveying the fears, hopes and insights of students in response to the tragedy. RICARDO LEMVO & MAKINA LOCA Dance the afternoon away at a free outdoor concert featuring Afro-Cuban sensation Ricardo Lemvo, part of Santa Monica College's month-long Cuban celebration. Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m., Madison Campus, 1310 11th Street. SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLUNTEERS Westside Special Olympics, committed to athletic training and competition for kids and adults with mental retardation, is recruiting volunteer coaches (15 years and older) for its spring programs, including swimming, track and field, basketball, and tennis. To help either for a one-day event or the entire season, call 458-8300.

A TORRID EXCHANGE: OLD TORCHIERES TRADED IN In the early morning hours of November 17, hundreds of Santa Monica residents lined up at the entrance to the Civic Auditorium parking lot, their cars jammed with old, energy-guzzling and unsafe halogen torchiere lamps. For their patience, they were rewarded with attractive new fluorescent lamps that use far less electricity--free of charge!--thanks to the Regional Energy Efficiency Initiative, an award-winning partnership of the cities of Santa Monica and Irvine, Southern California Edison and the Energy Coalition. Volunteers cheerfully unloaded and reloaded cars, and, at the end of a very long but rewarding day, over 3,000 lamps were traded in. This represents an annual electricity savings of 657,000 kilowatt hours (kwh)--or $91,980 per year (at 14¢ per kwh). Over the 10-year life of these lamps, that's $919,800 of electricity savings! Speaking of savings, efforts during the summer months to reduce electricity usage in City Hall and at the Police Department in the wake of the last year's power crisis resulted in a 19% decrease over the same period a year ago – a $15,153 cost savings for the three month period ($60,000 annually)! Although the crisis appears to be past, the city remains committed to maintaining or improving on these reductions. *** 9-11 PARKING CITATION MORATORIUM A decision by the city not to pursue collection of parking citation fees for tickets issued on September 11 evoked a strong response from many citizens and others, including this from one grateful resident: "Yes, it was a tragic and distressing day, and your recognition and display of sensitivity at this time is why Santa Monica continues to be a city with vision and concern for its citizens. Thank you." The moratorium was put into effect because, although City Hall opened for business that day, city officials realized that residents in a state of shock would give little thought to their cars parked overnight in violation of the day's streetsweeping or other posted time limits.

Arts Opportunities for Santa Monicans Announced Some of L.A. County's most exciting arts organizations make their home in Santa Monica, offering a wealth of programming in our city. Each year, the Santa Monica Arts Commission designates recipients of the city's Community Arts (CO-ARTS) Grants, ensuring availability of the highest quality arts and cultural activities. Here are the 2002 recipients: * 18th Street Arts Complex 453-3711 Each October, this internationally recognized arts organization opens its doors to the community for its annual Arts Fest. The free event features performances and workshops for all ages and tours of the studios of resident artists. * Dancessence 260-1198 This modern dance company will present a series of lecture/demonstrations in Santa Monica community centers and schools. Students get to view the creative processes involved in a dance performance and learn the basic tools for developing their own aesthetic tastes and appreciation of modern dance. * Highways 453-1755 Highways will produce the Southern California International Performance Festival. This mature-themed festival will bring many of the world's most respected performance artists to California for the first time, as well as provide opportunities for local artists to present their own work. * Musica Angelica 458-4504 The ensemble will present concerts of Baroque music at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica. * Powerhouse Theater 396-3680 This local theater will present a four-week-long summer theater camp for local youth ages 11 through 16. Students will explore the elements of theater from acting and writing to stage lighting, puppetry and choreography. The program builds reading and writing skills as students create an original performance piece for presentation to their families, friends and community. * Santa Monica Museum of Art 586-6488 The Museum's Evening Salon Series is free to the public, bringing artists, scholars and community members together for spirited discussions of contemporary visual art and exploration of other arts and culture issues. * Trade City 398-9065 The theater company will host a summer art and performance poetry workshop for and by local teenagers. * The Verdi Chorus 394-1902 This unique community chorus, joining professionals, students and community members, will present a series of performances from grand opera, light opera and the Broadway stage at First United Methodist Church. These grants are designed to promote arts activities for, by and about Santa Monica's Latino community. This program was created by the City Council in 1991 to broaden cultural and educational opportunities that explore the city's Latino heritage. * 18th Street Arts Complex 453-3711 This prestigious local arts agency will provide an arts education project with Latino-led workshops at John Adams Middle and Edison Elementary Schools. * Highways Performance Space 453-1755 The renowned performance art space will present Los Vocas, a community-building bridge between Highways and Santa Monica's Latino community. Included in the series will be an exhibition by Nuke, a local artist, and workshops and performances for local youth. * Santa Monica Museum of Art 586-6488 A free outreach program, presented during spring break in Virginia Avenue Park, will serve as an introduction to art for many young people, with workshops, field trips and a final exhibition of the children's work at the Museum's Community Focus Gallery in the Santa Monica Place shopping center. * Santa Monica Playhouse 394-9779 The Playhouse offers scholarships to Latino youth in the Pico Neighborhood for participation in the company's noted after-school theater programs. * Trade City 398-9065 The company will coordinate an exhibit of temporary public art as well as an exhibition by four local Latina artists, focused on their responses to the largely Americanized Cinco de Mayo holiday.

		TWO WELLS SCHEDULED FOR REACTIVATION
In the words of Ben Franklin, "When the well is dry, we know the worth of water."  Six years after being shut down due to contamination from a nearby gasoline station, two of the city's drinking water wells have been cleared by health agencies be returned to service in the next few months.  The water's quality will be strictly monitored and the water will be treated to remove contaminants before it is delivered to the public. Located at the city's water treatment plant at Bundy and Wilshire in West L.A., the Arcadia Wells were found in 1996 to contain the fuel additive MtBE (Methyl tertiary-Butyl Ether), a colorless chemical that, at very low concentrations in water, smells like turpentine and is a suspected carcinogen.  To protect public health and drinking water supplies, the state has since banned MtBE for use as an additive in gasoline.  The ban takes effect at the end of 2002. An investigation resulted in closure of the adjacent gas station, cleanup of the underlying shallow ground water, and construction of a sophisticated facility to treat the water flow from the Arcadia wells in order to render the water healthy enough to drink.  The cost of all of this and the additional cost to purchase replacement water has been borne by the oil company responsible for the contamination. The new treatment system has been tested for over a year to ensure that it can safely and consistently remove MtBE to meet strict health standards.  A review of the city's plant data and operational plan has led the state Department of Health Services to allow the city to begin using the treated water. The Arcadia wells account for only about 5% of the city's lost ground water production.  The Charnock wells, also shut down for public health reasons in 1996 due to MtBE contamination, continue to sit idle while the city pursues litigation against 18 refiners, manufacturers and suppliers of MtBE and MtBE-laden gasoline.  Although reimbursement is still being made for the additional cost of importing water to replace the Charnock supply, city officials are equally committed to full clean-up of this priceless natural resource so that it meets the strictest health and safety standards and can again be served to our residents and visitors. For more information, please call the city's Water Treatment Plant at 458-8584.

Big Blue Bus News

IMPROVEMENT PLAN MOVES BUS ROUTES AND SCHEDULES The Big Blue Bus calls it a shake-up. Three times a year, to meet the changing needs of the community and implement its Service Improvement Plan, the Big Blue Bus modifies the routes and schedules in the system. Starting in mid-March 2002, riders will experience these changes firsthand. With the Transit Mall Project close to completion, the Big Blue Bus will soon be operating in the new "buses only" lanes throughout the Downtown mall area, with buses traveling westbound on Broadway and eastbound on Santa Monica Blvd. between Ocean Avenue and 5th Street. This affects lines 1, 7, 8, 10 and the Tide Shuttle. Lines 2, 4, and 7 will also have minor schedule changes to accommodate the "buses only" lanes. Traveling to the Westside Pavilion and the Veterans Hospital area will be made easier with a division of Line 13 between the hospital, the Pavilion and Pico Rimpau into two separate routes. Line 13 will operate Monday through Saturday in the morning and afternoon only between the Pico Rimpau terminal and the Pavilion. A new line 15 will operate every 30 minutes between the hospital and Sawtelle and Pico from 6:15 a.m. (7:15 a.m. weekends) to 7:15 p.m. daily. There will also be minor late afternoon schedule changes to Line 12 on weekdays and one later trip leaving Westwood at 10:15 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. To improve on-time performance, Line 2 (Wilshire Blvd. to UCLA) will no longer operate through the VA Hospital campus, and minor schedule changes on Line 1 will improve its on-time performance, as well. Details of these changes, including a complete system map and schedule information, will be available on the Big Blue Bus website (http://www.bigbluebus.com) or by calling Customer Relations after March 1 at 451-5444 (TDD 395-6024). *** BBB Excursions * The Ramona Pageant, Hemet-Riverside: Saturday, April 20, $40 per person (lunch not included). Tickets sales begin February 4 (limited seating). * Oxnard Strawberry Festival: Saturday, May 18, $20 per person (lunch not included). * San Diego Wild Animal Park: Saturday, June 22, $40 per person (lunch not included). Buses leave from and return to Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main St. Please call 451-5444 for more information and tickets. *** GROW FLOWERS, NOT PESTS THIS SPRING! Every spring, aphids, whitefly and mealy bugs are some of the first pests to arrive in your yard and garden. These plant-sucking bugs are related, and the techniques to control their populations are similar. Detection and monitoring Aphids are small, green, winged or wingless bugs. Yellow, curled, distorted leaves, or black soot on leaves can indicate their presence. Whitefly look like tiny white flies and often are associated with a white powdery, cottony substance. Mealy bugs appear as tiny, pinkish pancakes, usually covered with a white cottony substance. Inspect the leaves, including undersides, and stems of plants and trees to see if these pests are present in your garden. Biological controls Natural pest predators, such as ladybird beetles, lacewings and parasitic wasps, can help plants and trees to survive and even thrive. Encourage their presence by planting flowering plants such as fennel and calendulas. You can also purchase these insects for release in your garden, but they may not stay. When a serious pest infestation occurs, a combination of controls is most effective in reducing their populations. Physical and Chemical controls * Healthy plants are most resistant to pests; stressed, unhealthy plants are pest magnets. Plants under attack should get plenty of water, as these pests suck plant fluids. * These pests thrive on plants with high nitrogen levels, so look for slow-release, urea-based fertilizers. * Use a strong stream of water to spray off pests. Repeat every few days and spray early in the morning to reduce the risk of fungal disease. * Heavily infested growth should be wiped off, clipped or pruned. Dip clippings in soapy water before disposing. * Since ants protect aphids and mealy bugs for the honeydew they produce, ant control is essential. Apply sticky barriers, available at garden stores, to base of plants and trees to prevent ant access. * Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils can be sprayed on pest colonies, killing them on contact. Always test first, as some plants are sensitive to soap sprays. Avoid conventional chemical pesticides, which kill not only pests but also the beneficial insects that prey on them, leaving your garden essentially lifeless and quite boring. Be Prepared Don't discard this article--you'll need it! Clip and place it with your garden supplies, so you'll know what to do when the time comes.

BRAVO TO SANTA MONICA'S BRAVO NOMINEES! Two Santa Monica residents recently were announced as nominees for the Music Center of Los Angeles County's BRAVO Awards, one of the nation's most prestigious arts education awards. Joan Evans, a second grade teacher at Nora Sterry Elementary School in West L.A., and Mary Vail, a music teacher at North Hollywood High School, were among the 57 southern California teachers nominated. Presentation of three BRAVO Awards, one each to a school, to a teacher specializing in music, dance, drama or visual arts, and to a general classroom teacher, will be made on February 25. Congratulations and best wishes to our local honorees! *** NEW LOOK FOR PREFERENTIAL  PARKING PERMITS IN 2002 Residents in the city's Preferential Parking Areas 4, 5 and 6 started receiving their redesigned parking permits - with features that provide for better readability for enforcement staff and better security for residents -- in December.  The colored, numbered permits should always be displayed so they are visible from the REAR of the vehicle.  Although display instructions were included with the new permits, we offer these helpful tips as a reminder to ensure that your parking permit is easily seen:  Bumper sticker permits should be applied to the far left of the vehicle's clean, dry, rear bumper.  Hanging permits should hang so the colored, numbered permit faces the driver--NOT toward the windshield.   (Hanging permits must always be removed before driving.)  If you have questions about enforcement schedules, fines or citations, contact SMPD Parking Enforcement at 458-2226.  For other preferential parking permit questions, contact the Transportation Management Division at 458-829.

The Thelma Terry Center at Virginia Avenue Park offers the following specializedprograms in addition to those listed under Before and After School Programs: VISIONS Rights of Passage, 9 a.m. - 12 noon. A Saturday program focusing on African-American culture. A career guidance and life management skills program for young males 11-17 yrs. Parenting Class, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Parents are invited to attend this exciting bi-lingual class on Tuesdays and Thursdays to discuss important family issues. Music Class for the Young, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon. This 9-month program is offered on Tuesdays for children ages 0-5 years, to help young children develop emotionally, cognitively, socially and physically. Baby N Me, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. This interactive play class is offered on Wednesday mornings. Bring your baby and enjoy the fun! Employment Services The Thelma Terry Center Employment Services Program at Virginia Avenue Park provides free job placement assistance to Santa Monica residents, specifically those in the Pico neighborhood. The program includes job-skills assessment, individualized job search planning, direct referrals to employers, and specialized training workshops designed to help participants compete for jobs in the current workforce. Topics include Making Career Decisions, Marketing Transferable Job Skills, Resume Writing, Interviewing Techniques and Successful Work Habits. For information, call 458-8688.

Christine Emerson Reed Community Center Reed Park offers a variety of cultural events, community classes, youth and senior activities, and unique park amenities, including playground equipment and picnic benches. There are also basketball courts, lighted tennis courts, croquet, horseshoes and shuffleboard courts. For more information, please call 458-8771. Memorial Park Memorial Park offers activities for youth and adults including sport leagues, tots play area, gymnasium and community meeting rooms. For details about adult sports leagues (basketball, softball, volleyball) please call 450-1121. For PAL information, please call 392-7673. Thelma Terry Center at Virginia Avenue Park The Center provides free after-school programs and services to Pico neighborhood youth of all ages, including educational, recreational and cultural programs and activities. A formal Homework Assistance program is available Monday through Thursday until 7:00 p.m. Also offered are tournament games, arts and crafts classes and activities, a reading program for elementary school children every Friday at 4 p.m., and Ballet Folklorico classes every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon. NO FEES. For information, please call 458-8688.

Programs Specially Designed For

For more information on any of the programs listed below, please contact Danny Price, Therapeutic Program Supervisor, at 458-8300. SOCIAL CLUB An evening program for people with all disabilities, offering a variety of programs and trips into the community. Fee per activity. Ages 13 and up. EXPLORERS A weekend program for people with all disabilities and their non-disabled friends. Excursions include day trips to museums, plays, hiking, amusement parks, etc. Fee per activity. Ages 13 and up. WESTSIDE SPECIAL OLYMPICS Spring session begins at the end of February and offers track & field, aquatics, basketball, gymnastics, and tennis. Golf and Bocce begin in April. Participants may compete in regional and state tournaments. Participant application/medical release forms are required and are accepted year-round. FREE. Ages 8 and up. DANCE SERIES For people with any disability and their friends, these dances are held monthly from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center (1450 Ocean Ave.), and are themed with the holiday or occasions occurring each month. For dance dates, call John at 458-8300. Nominal fee per dance. Ages 13 and up. MARTIAL ARTS Classes for people with all disabilities are held at Virginia Avenue Park on Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Program fee of $30.00. Ages 13 and up. ACCESS SERVICES Curb-to-curb accessible paratransit transportation system for persons with disabilities. Provides transportation within ten miles of each bus route or rail line in L.A. County, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with reduced service from 1 to 5 a.m. (Service hours vary by each transit district). Call (800) 827-0829.

Now is the perfect time to sign up for the Volunteer Program! Openings for volunteers with youth, seniors, library services, police, fire and more! Please call 458-8300 or email volunteer@smgov.net to request a brochure and registration card. * February Senior Valentine's Day Dance Senior Recreation Center. Help create a festive environment to celebrate Valentine's Day! * March Senior Prom Civic Auditorium. One of the most popular volunteer events of the year, the Senior Prom is the combined effort of several Westside cities and attracts nearly 1,000 seniors! The Civic is transformed into a ballroom and seniors dance the day away to their favorite big band music! * April Santa Monica Festival This annual festival celebrates cultural diversity through music, food and crafts. * May Senior Day on the Promenade A special event for seniors to spend the day at the Third Street Promenade enjoying lunch, a movie and entertainment under the sun!

The City of Santa Monica offers many leisure opportunities to residents over the age of fifty, including dances, trips and special events. Services are offered at three locations: Senior Recreation Center, Virginia Avenue Park and Reed Park. Become an Activity Card holder ($3 annually for residents) and receive our bi-monthly newsletter in addition to senior activity discounts. LUNCH PROGRAM Adults over the age of 60 can enjoy a nutritious hot lunch Monday through Friday at one of our conveniently located dinning centers. Suggested donation is $1.50. Reservations are required one day in advance; call the dining center of your choice between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Or, call the Senior Recreation Center, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Box lunches are available on Saturdays at the Senior Recreation Center. Ken Edwards Center 395-8478 / 458-8644 1527 4th St. Reed Park 458-8315 / 458-8644 7th St. & Wilshire Senior Rec. Center 458-8644 (also Sat. service) 1450 Ocean Ave. Virginia Ave. Park 450-9645 / 458-8644 2200 Virginia Ave. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WISE provides services for seniors who may not have their own transportation. Vans are wheelchair-equipped and rides can be scheduled by calling WISE at 394-9816.

HOME DELIVERED MEALS Meals on Wheels – Santa Monica, Malibu and Pacific Palisades offers both home-delivered frozen meal service and a hot and cold meal program for individuals seven days a week. There is also breakfast and liquid nutrition. Call 394-5133 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for additional information. ST. PATRICK'S DANCE Come to the Senior Recreation Center on Monday, March 18 from 2 - 4 p.m. for live entertainment, dancing and a raffle. $2.50 with activity card / $3 without. SENIOR PROM The annual Senior Prom will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, featuring music by the Kenny Sheldon Orchestra, dancing, refreshments and raffle prizes. Free admission. NEW SENIOR RESOURCE DIRECTORY AVAILABLE An extensive directory of Westside services for seniors and their caregivers is now available from the UCLA Center on Aging and the City of Santa Monica Commission on Older Americans. This free publication offers a host of important resources including transportation services, meals, day care, senior centers, recreation services, counseling and more. Directories are available at the Senior Recreation Center, Ken Edwards Center or the Main Library.

S A N T A M O N I C A is a publication of the City of Santa Monica designed to inform residents about city programs and services. Please address editorial information and comments to: Judy Rambeau Santa Monica SeaScape City of Santa Monica 1685 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401 *** Diane Kuntz DESIGN In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this publication is available in alternate formats by calling the City Manager's Office at 458-8301 (TTD/TTY 917-6626).

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