Friday, April 30, 2010

Happening Today

The Los Angeles Harbor International Film Festival continues this weekend. Peruse the Daily Breeze story for background info.

If this is finally your year to plant a garden, go claim some freebies at the San Pedro Math & Science Center today, May 1, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The LA school district and Councilwoman Janice Hahn’s office are sponsoring a seedling giveaway, where you can also get free compost and more. Bring your own containers. Details in this blog post and the event website.

Week in Review

“LA/Long Beach lead US in ozone pollution”

“Janice Hahn joins backlash against Arizona’s new immigration law”

“San Pedro resident running for state superintendent”

“San Pedro bird center members among responders to Gulf oil spill”

New issues of Random Lengths News and San Pedro Today are circulating, with cover stories on the war in Iraq and the Little Sisters of the Poor nuns, respectively. (Neither is posted online at presstime, so find the print edition around town).

Arts News

First Thursday is May 6. Visit your favorite galleries and eateries at the monthly artwalk in downtown San Pedro and/or make new discoveries on the free guided tour, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Think Café, 302 W Fifth St. For more information about the tours, contact FirstThursdaySPTour@gmail.com. For general information about First Thursday, call Findings Art Center at (310) 489-1362.

The Daily Breeze theatre critic gives “wholehearted approval” of “Fully Committed” at Little Fish Theatre Company.

And at the Warner Grand Theatre: “Golden State Pops to feature Weill, Borodin selections”

State Budget Public Hearing Friday

Distract yourself from the L.A. city budget crisis and ponder a bigger deficit. State Assembly Democrats are holding a series of hearings to take public testimony on budget priorities. A Los Angeles-area hearing is taking place on May 7 in the San Fernando Valley. Here are details on how to participate in person or via live webcast.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Parts of S Pacific Avenue Closed for Filming This Weekend; Downtown is Accessible

South Pacific Avenue between Fourth and 12th Streets is closed for filming this weekend. Downtown businesses are accessible via Mesa Street to the east, and Fourth and Sixth Streets will be open to cross Pacific Avenue eastbound. A bank robbery and speeding getaway will be part of the action as “Faster” is filmed, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Week in Review

Residential burglary alert: “Police arrest 3 burglary suspects” and “Police use truancy sweep in battle against San Pedro burglaries”

“City Attorney Carmen Trutanich calls Villaraigosa’s budget a ‘management failure’”

“State Democrats are split in Hahn-Newsom race”

The current issue of Random Lengths News features an interview with Chief Charlie Beck of the LAPD.

Arts News

A preview of “Fully Committed” and a review of “Tooth and Nail,” both at Little Fish Theatre Company.

The LA Harbor International Film Festival runs Thursday-Sunday, April 29-May 2 at the Warner Grand Theatre.

Learn to be a Neighborhood First Responder

The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council is sponsoring free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to teach the basic skills needed in the event of a disaster. The classes will be taught at Peck Park, 560 N. Western Ave., from 6:30 to 9 pm on seven consecutive Thursdays beginning May 6. Classes cover disaster preparedness, search and rescue, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operator/assessment and team organization.

CERT educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

To register, send your name, address, and phone number to board@nwsanpedro.org or 638 S. Beacon St, Box 688, San Pedro, CA 90731. For more information visit www.nwsanpedro.org or contact Katy Carlson at girlscoutkaty@hotmail.com or (310) 320-3027.

Correction

The Earth Day events previewed last week actually occurred last Saturday, April 17. Today, April 24, you can help the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy clean the White Point Nature Preserve.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Past and Future

Here’s the week in review and week ahead, all wrapped up into one.

“Polar Bear Club pioneer Ray Falk dies at 87”

“Port of LA High School holds admissions lottery”

“San Pedro takes aim at ‘unsightly’ advertising benches”

San Pedro Today has launched a new website. The current issue is posted, plus much more.

In arts news, read a preview of “Tooth and Nail” at Little Fish Theatre Company, a work authored by a San Pedro playwright.

The Week Ahead

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22 but these two San Pedro events are happening next Saturday. In addition, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is sponsoring an Earth Day clean-up at White Point Nature Preserve next Saturday. (And/or, you can recycle old electronics today, April 17, at Albertsons on Western Avenue to raise money for San Pedro Girl Scouts.)

Coastal Council Meeting Monday – The Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meets on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cabrillo Marina Community Building, Cabrillo Plaza, Berth 28. For more information, view the agenda or call (310) 290-0049.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Week in Review

What’s up? If it’s Saturday, the answer is (a) kites and (b) a commemorative airplane flyover, both of which will fill the San Pedro skies today. Fly kites with the Kiwanis at 22nd Street Park and/or mark the first flight over the Pacific at Pt. Fermin Park. Details here.

If it’s high-flying political talk you prefer, head to the Democratic candidates forum this afternoon, 3-6 p.m. in Harbor City on April 10.

Ponte Vista drifted out of the news for a while, but it reappeared this week in a report that it’s effectively “back to square one.” The old planners are out, the chief investor has resumed control and the slate has been wiped clean as the developer starts over.

The ports are updating the Clean Air Action Plan and holding public meetings on the topic later this month. View the meeting flyer here or find much more background information at www.portoflosangeles.org and www.cleanairactionplan.org.

If you haven’t seen a print copy of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council’s new newsletter yet, click to view the premier issue of Grand Central.

The co-founder of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has died.

Have Fun, Do Good and Support the Hometown All at Once

Enjoy yourself and support San Pedro lifestyle businesses at today’s Edge of LA International Wine Festival.

Next Saturday, give it up for the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, which is holding a casino night fundraiser on April 17.

Neighborhood Council Meetings Next Week

The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council meets on Monday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Peck Park, 560 N. Western Ave. View the agenda, visit www.nwsanpedro.org or call (310) 732-4522 for more information.

The Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council meets on Tuesday, April 13 at the Port of LA High School, 250 W. Fifth St. Refreshments are served at 6 p.m. and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. View the agenda, visit www.sanpedrocity.org or call (310) 918-8650 for more information.

Angels Gate HS Construction Update

Hear an update at a community meeting Wednesday, April 14 at 6 p.m. at White Point Elementary School, 1510 Silvius Av. Details here.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Extra Credit if You Can Find the News This April Fool’s Week

Hey, what happened to the news this week? Your industrious editor can’t find anything substantive to report to you eager readers.

Here’s what I’ve scraped together:

Today is the informational meeting for neighborhood council candidates from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Peck Park. Details here.

You can flip through the new issue of the San Pedro Business Journal, with a lead story on the economic benefits of the arts.

Here’s what’s on the horizon this month:

The first annual Edge of LA International Wine Festival is next Saturday, April 10 in downtown San Pedro.

A Democratic candidates forum is taking place next Saturday afternoon in Harbor City. Democrats running for Secretary of State, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner and Superintendent of Public Instruction are confirmed to attend. Details here.

The LA Harbor International Film Festival is April 29-May 2.

Happy Easter and Passover to end this “holiday light” and fool-hardy news week.