SM BEACH — Standing next to a massive Victorian sand sculpture, Claudia Freire stared across the sand at the families dancing to the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” in celebration of the grand opening of the Annenberg Community Beach House, known for years simply as 415 PCH. “This is beautiful,” she... Read more →

WISE & Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, in partnership with City of Hope, is conducting a 12-week pilot study on the lingering physical and mental effects of treated disease on cancer survivors. With funding from the California Breast Cancer Research Program, the “Mindful Movement Program for Breast Cancer Survivors” is designed... Read more →

SMMUSD HDQTRS — After months of poring over a pile of studies, audits, and strategic plans on the troubled special education department, parents and teachers presented recommendations to the school board Thursday that they believe will enhance services and create a new culture of equality and access, all while saving money. But to save... Read more →

NORTH OF MONTANA — Three women shot at in an alley just off of Santa Monica’s Palisades Park may have been targeted because of some sort of dealings in their past, and one of the two people hit by gunfire remains in critical condition, police said Saturday. Doctors passing by the shooting Friday night stopped and immediately began... Read more →

VENICE — The Venice Neighborhood Council recently opened deliberations to form a policy recommendation concerning medical marijuana dispensaries for Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl. VNC member Challis Macpherson made the motion to open the debate, having received complaints from Venice residents, whom she would not... Read more →

LOS ANGELES — One of two gang members convicted last month of the 2005 murders of two men at the Santa Monica Moose Lodge was sentenced to prison Friday. Deputy District Attorney Alan Schneider of the Hardcore Gang Division said Erick Nunez, 24, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 75 years to... Read more →

CITY HALL — City Manager Lamont Ewell has asked hundreds of employees to forego performance bonuses this fiscal year so that he can prevent cuts to services and possible layoffs because of a reduction in revenue. The move would save $2.6 million, according to city officials. The City Council approved a budget of $567 million in June of... Read more →

BUNDY CAMPUS — A cinematographer for most of his life, Adam Meltzer became concerned about his family’s future last year when the economy tanked and the unions representing writers and actors went on strike. Work was sporadic and Meltzer had a daughter to provide for. The environmental activist decided he needed a career that... Read more →

Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sunday, April 19, at 12:03 a.m., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2400 block of Ashland Avenue regarding a report of a man lying in the... Read more →

OCEAN PARK — Local filmmaker Stephen Auerbach has completed one of the most tremendous projects of his career. His documentary, “Bicycle Dreams,” which chronicles the experiences of five riders in the grueling, 3,000-mile Race Across America (RAAM), is set to world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Saturday. The... Read more →