CITY HALL — There once stood a stack of more than two dozen applications from residents who were interested in replacing late Councilman Herb Katz after he died in January from cancer, making up a larger pool of candidates than in the election just a few months prior. It’s been a different story for the vacancy on the unsung Rent... Read more →

Editor’s Note: This is a series in which Daily Press writers overhear and observe happenings around Santa Monica. DOWNTOWN — A girl in a yellow halter top sits on the edge of the ivy-covered triceratops fountain on the Third Street Promenade. She runs her fingers through her curly brown hair as the wind lifts it gently. The... Read more →

BROAD STAGE — What does an Asian-American youth orchestra, a West African drum ensemble, and a punk-folk-country-protest musician all have in common? The answer is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, best known for its fourth movement, “Ode to Joy.” Billy Bragg, the punk, folk, country and political singer-songwriter, is... Read more →

In mid-June Uncle Teddy came to my mother’s Hyannis Port home for a drink before dinner. My family and I had just arrived from Santa Monica. Even though we were tired, Teddy and his wife Vicki wanted to welcome us to town. So a little cocktail party was planned. They arrived at 6:30 p.m. in a golf cart, just the two of them. We went out... Read more →

SUNSET PARK — Lloyd Saunders remembers when Ocean Park Boulevard was his go-to route, driving on the neighborhood’s main drag daily to reach any points east and west. Today, the 30-year Santa Monica resident avoids it at all costs, opting for other streets because of “bottleneck traffic” that he blames on the current... Read more →

A lunch at the fire station awaits anyone who donates $1,000 or more to the Santa Monica Firefighters Association’s Firefighters Relief Fund — one of only two yearly fundraisers. The association, comprised of current and retired firefighters from the SMFD, puts out a program twice a year with advertisements from businesses and... Read more →

SM PIER — Lovers of California funk may not be familiar with The Lowrider Band, but they sure know their signature sound. That’s because the group is comprised of the creators behind such classic hits as “Spill the Wine,” “Slippin’ into Darkness,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Why Can’t We... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — For Raphael Mawrence, it isn’t a strange sight to see plastic bottles floating on water as opposed to containing it. “I go to the beach and see a lot of trash in the water,” the surfing regular said. It’s for that reason that the Santa Monica High School student pledged to support public drinking... Read more →

The SMPD Traffic Enforcement Section conducted a DUI checkpoint in the 300 block of Pico Boulevard Friday evening, nabbing four suspected drunk drivers, issuing eight citations and impounding seven vehicles, police said. The enforcement, funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, began at 9 p.m. and ended 1:30... Read more →

The Santa Monica Pier and The Lobster restaurant have launched an eBay auction to benefit the Special Olympics of Southern California. In honor of the pier’s Centennial Celebration on Sept. 9, the auction features a dinner for six at The Lobster with exclusive VIP viewing of the centennial fireworks show. The Lobster’s premier... Read more →

CITY HALL — When someone needed Herb Katz, they knew where to find him. There he would be every day, standing in the off-leash dog area at Joslyn Park, letting his two faithful companions run around with their tails wagging and tongues hanging loose as he caught up with his neighbors and constituents. It’s for this reason that... Read more →

11TH STREET — Parking is precious in Santa Monica, so when resident Daniel Davidsohn awoke one morning to find a new “No Parking” sign in front of his building, he was naturally upset. He thought City Hall had finally declared war against the gas guzzling SUV after examining the sign, which prohibited parking for vehicles... Read more →

PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY Send a (beef) salami to your boy in the Army Help the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan feel a little more comfortable with a care package filled with goodies from home, including batteries, baby wipes, dried fruit and People magazine. The Santa Monica Police Officers’ Association is collecting items to send to... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — Jenny Saldana has a long to-do list for the next four years — join the crew team, drama club, engineering society and fight for social justice causes. And of course, finish college. Saldana is among the hundreds of high school graduates from Santa Monica who will begin college in the next few weeks, some going to... Read more →

CITY HALL — The economic downturn continues to hurt businesses in Santa Monica where city officials are expecting to see less money come in from the state this month because of declining sales tax revenues. The California State Board of Equalization, which collects $53 billion annually in taxes and fees to support state and local... Read more →