2020 Homeless Count: Registration is now OPEN!Register today to join us on the night of January 22, 2020.
*Check-in will begin at 10:30 p.m at St. Monica Catholic Community. Each January, nearly 300 volunteers take to the streets of Santa Monica to count some of the City's most vulnerable individuals - those experiencing street homelessness. It is because of this volunteer support that we are able to measure progress towards addressing homelessness. Click here to visit our website to learn more or register today! 
As we head into the holiday season, consider volunteering your time, food or essential items to those in need. You’ll give back to the community, work alongside neighbors and learn more about the organizations and people who are a lifeline to thousands right here in your back yard.
December 13 - 15 - The Giving Spirit will fill 2,400 duffel bags in Brentwood with necessities for distribution through the month. For more info, contact Steve at steve@thegivingspirit.org St. Monica's Catholic Community: St. Joseph Center Holiday Carnival - Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. St. Monica will host the annual St. Joseph Center Holiday Party! Our auditorium will become a hub of energy as hundreds of children and their parents enjoy carnival games, a tasty lunch, music, an exciting raffle, and a visit from Santa! We need help with hospitality, parking, running games and craft projects, and serving food. Contact Christine Gerety at or (310) 566-1531 for more information. December 14 - 17 - One Voice Holiday Program provides Christmas food baskets, toys and books to 2,500 families (12,500 people) living in poverty in the Los Angeles area. Help prepare and deliver baskets on the following dates: December 14 - 7:30 - 11 p.m. (sort & package food for gift baskets) December 15 - 7:30 - 11 p.m. (box & load food baskets) December 16 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (food basket delivery to distribution centers) December 17 - 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (gift basket giveaway) Click here to register > December 18 - Project Connect nights at the Westside Shelter. This annual tradition brings together faith communities and friends throughout the Westside in a collaborative effort to collect needed supplies and distribute them to residents of the Winter Shelter. Contact Darci (darci@westsidecoalitionla.org) to participate. FOOD & CLOTHING DONATIONS: Meals on Wheels - Help deliver food to those in need! You can deliver every day, once a week, or once a month. Learn more: 310.394.7558 Upward Bound House - Adopt a family or give toys to Upward Bound House. Learn more: 310.458.7779 Westside Food Bank - The Westside Food Bank is looking for volunteers to donate food and diapers and help sort food at the warehouse. Contact: Allison Griffith, allison@westsidefoodbankca.org or 310.828.6016, ext. 12 The People Concern - 503 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401. The People Concern (formerly OPCC) is always looking for food and clothing donations. NOMA is Nominating!Become a NOMA Board candidate if you care about:
To join the Board, you must be a member, attend NOMA's monthly meetings (the 1st Thursday of each month) and Board meetings when called. To be considered, contact the NOMA Nominating Committee, chaired by Sherrill Kushner at sherkush@aol.com or by phone 310 729-2647. The NOMA Board: Nancy Coleman - Chair Danilo Bach - Vice-Chair Victor Fresco - Treasurer Jeff Brecht - Secretary Evelyn Lauchenauer Phillis Dudick Derek Devermont Jeff Gordon Steve Lissik Ann Greenspun Jim Williams Sonya Sultan Todd James 
Register for Winter Recreation ClassesCapture all the fun this winter with a new session of recreation programs for youth and adults! Winter Break Camps for youth are available partial weeks from December 23, 2019 through January 3, 2020. Winter Recreation Classes for all ages begin the week of January 6, 2020. View activities and learn how to register at santamonica.gov/recscape
Help for Caregivers
The Adult Day Services Center at WISE & Healthy Aging provides free emotional support, information, and referral to community resources for those caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke. These support groups are open to the community. Learn More > 
Santa Monica’s Heritage Tree Program recognizes outstanding trees throughout the city. The goal of the program is to educate citizens and raise community awareness about tree diversity and the city’s rich history by focusing on a limited number of designated Heritage Trees. Nomination form >
Be Prepared: Four Steps to Disaster Preparedness
For all these steps, more information can be found at https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/recent-earthquakes-are-a-reminder-to-be-prepared
Photos by Margaret Bach
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401 Ocean Avenue
The Henry Weyse/Charles Morris House is a two-story residence built in 1910 and located at 401 Ocean Avenue. The residence was designated a City Landmark on September 13, 1990 as an example of the residential work of notable and renowned architect Robert D. Farquhar that embodies distinguishing Craftsman and Colonial Revival architectural characteristics.
The original two-story residence is in the process of being rehabilitated, with a new, three unit residential building at the rear of the parcel under construction.
The original two-story residence is in the process of being rehabilitated, with a new, three unit residential building at the rear of the parcel under construction.
Learn More About Santa Monica's Clean Power Future
Electricity is essential in our lives and economy. Yet according to the American Lung Association, the production of electricity generates a significant share of our air pollution, threatening the health and lives of millions of people, including those who are most vulnerable.
Making sure our electricity comes from clean and renewable sources is critical to improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions. In 2019, 100% Green Power will be delivered to all Santa Monica customers, making going green as easy as turning on the lights! This is possible through the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a partnership of 32 local communities including Santa Monica, to directly source renewable energy for our electricity needs.
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) will offer three rate options:
• 100% Green Power, sourced from 100% renewable energy sources
• Clean Power, sourced from 50% renewable energy sources
• Lean Power, sourced from 36% renewable energy sources
All customers will automatically be enrolled in the default option of 100% Green Power chosen by the City, which comes at a slight cost premium. Residential customers will be first served by Clean Power Alliance starting in February 2019. Commercial customers will be served starting May 2019. At any time, customers may opt down to a lower renewable energy rate that is more costcompetitive with Southern California Edison, or opt out of Clean Power Alliance service altogether and stay with Southern California Edison. To opt out or down, contact Clean Power Edison customer service at any time to indicate your preference.
To learn more, visit smgov.net/cleanpower or cleanpoweralliance.org.
This article originally appeared in the January edition of Seascape.
Making sure our electricity comes from clean and renewable sources is critical to improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions. In 2019, 100% Green Power will be delivered to all Santa Monica customers, making going green as easy as turning on the lights! This is possible through the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California, a partnership of 32 local communities including Santa Monica, to directly source renewable energy for our electricity needs.
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) will offer three rate options:
• 100% Green Power, sourced from 100% renewable energy sources
• Clean Power, sourced from 50% renewable energy sources
• Lean Power, sourced from 36% renewable energy sources
All customers will automatically be enrolled in the default option of 100% Green Power chosen by the City, which comes at a slight cost premium. Residential customers will be first served by Clean Power Alliance starting in February 2019. Commercial customers will be served starting May 2019. At any time, customers may opt down to a lower renewable energy rate that is more costcompetitive with Southern California Edison, or opt out of Clean Power Alliance service altogether and stay with Southern California Edison. To opt out or down, contact Clean Power Edison customer service at any time to indicate your preference.
To learn more, visit smgov.net/cleanpower or cleanpoweralliance.org.
This article originally appeared in the January edition of Seascape.
NOMA Historic Landmark Declared
North of Montana Association (NOMA) in partnership with the Santa Monica Conservancy, filed an application for landmark designation of 435 Georgina, a 1913 Craftsman home that was vacant and for sale. This house had long been noted in the city’s Historic Resources Inventory as a potential candidate for landmark status. The Landmarks Commission approved the nomination at its April 2018 meeting.
The residence was built in 1913 for A. W. Morgan, a bookkeeper, as one of the pioneering homes of the Palisades Tract and one of the earliest homes on that street. Designed in the Craftsman style, it reflects English arts and crafts rather than the typical California Craftsman. A few additions have been made to the original home, which blend well with the original design and materials, and don’t detract from the architectural integrity. The large parcel size allows for new construction at the rear. A Mills
contract could provide a significant reduction of the property taxes for a new owner who would commit to preserving and maintaining it.
Nonprofit organizations such as NOMA, may file landmark applications without paying the application fee. While the landmark nomination is under consideration by the Landmarks Commission, no alterations or demolition may be undertaken. The Conservancy encourages other neighborhood organizations and individuals to keep an eye open for potential landmarks that may be in danger of being substantially altered or demolished.
Article originally published in the Santa Monica Conservancy NEWS June 2018 Vol. 16, No. 2
The residence was built in 1913 for A. W. Morgan, a bookkeeper, as one of the pioneering homes of the Palisades Tract and one of the earliest homes on that street. Designed in the Craftsman style, it reflects English arts and crafts rather than the typical California Craftsman. A few additions have been made to the original home, which blend well with the original design and materials, and don’t detract from the architectural integrity. The large parcel size allows for new construction at the rear. A Mills
contract could provide a significant reduction of the property taxes for a new owner who would commit to preserving and maintaining it.
Nonprofit organizations such as NOMA, may file landmark applications without paying the application fee. While the landmark nomination is under consideration by the Landmarks Commission, no alterations or demolition may be undertaken. The Conservancy encourages other neighborhood organizations and individuals to keep an eye open for potential landmarks that may be in danger of being substantially altered or demolished.
Article originally published in the Santa Monica Conservancy NEWS June 2018 Vol. 16, No. 2
Dial-A-Ride Program Is Now MODE On-Demand Service for Older Adults Living in Santa Monica
Big Blue Bus has partnered with Lyft to provide on-demand services to replace the Dial-A-Ride program for older adults and people with disabilities living in Santa Monica. The new service is called MODE (Mobility On-Demand Every Day). Lyft’s flexible transportation service network will allow MODE to meet the high demand for service during peak times when members are most interested in traveling while increasing efficiency when the demand for transportation decreases. Learn more about the MODE program at bigbluebus.com/mode.
“Blue at Night” Your Late Night Connection to Expo
Beginning Monday, April 1, 2019, only Lyft Shared rides will be eligible for Blue at Night service; standard Lyft rides will no longer qualify.
What's Blue at Night? Big Blue Bus has partnered with Lyft to provide Blue at Night, an on-demand shared ride service to and from Expo stations in Santa Monica, for just $3 every Friday and Saturday from 8pm-3am. What's Lyft Shared? Lyft Shared helps group riders traveling in the same direction into a single Lyft car, when seats are available. When using Lyft Shared, you may be paired with up to three (3) separate riders along your route. To get started, download the Lyft app and enter promo code SAMOBLUE3. For more details, visit: bigbluebus.com/blueatnight. |
NextBus - Check Realtime Bus Arrival
Big Blue Bus has instituted the NextBus system for real-time bus arrival information to our customers.
What is NextBus? The highly advanced NextBus system makes predictions about when buses will arrive at a given stop. Predictions are made using a combination of GPS tracking and computer modeling. This information is used to provide customers with the estimated number of minutes until their bus arrives. How can I get arrival predictions using NextBus? With NextBus, arrival information can be accessed on your computer, via text message, by phone, or on your smartphone. Learn more about using the system on our NextBus page With real-time arrival information, you are in control. Here on the Westside, we know traffic congestion is a fact of life, and our buses are not immune to delays. However, instead of waiting and wondering at a bus stop, NextBus allows you to know when your bus will actually arrive. That might mean knowing you have a few extra minutes to grab a cup of coffee before the bus comes, or knowing exactly when to leave home in order to meet the bus. |
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Having your car fingerprinted
Police Officer Marilyn Amiache from SMPD In Santa Monica, if your car was broken into and/or stolen and recovered you have a choice to bring your car in and have it finger printed. In fact, we encourage you to do so. One fingerprint located inside your vehicle could lead us to a suspect and be enough to have him or her arrested and prosecuted. |
Crime MappingClick here for a map of local police activity in Santa Monica. Use the Santa Monica Police Department's crime mapping system to obtain crime information and register for crime alerts.
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North of Montana Association: Working Together for a Better Santa Monica
