MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012
Volume 11 Issue 145
Santa Monica Daily Press
DOING WELL OVERSEAS SEE PAGE 3
We have you covered
THE COMING ALONG ISSUE
COMMUNITYPROFILES
BILL SCHWARTZ
Appealing to the old funny bone BY SAMANTHA MASUNAGA Special to the Daily Press
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com
DIGGING IN: Boy Scout Troop 2 creates an urban forest out of a small strip of land Saturday as part of a national carbon trading initiative.
Boy Scouts plant trees for achievement, environment BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
MICHIGAN AVE Drive along Michigan Avenue today near Crossroads School where it overlooks the buzzing I-10 Freeway, and you’ll notice something different — trees. A stand of young California sycamores, supported by poles nearly as tall as the trees themselves, line what used to be a dilapidated asphalt pad, sentinels against the waves of invisible chemicals and particulates emanating from the cars below. The trees represent the intersection of national policy and local achievement as part of both a federal pilot project to study the carbon sequestering potential of the urban forest and the culmination of one Santa Monican’s journey to attain the highest title available to him — Eagle Scout. Josh Lappen, 17, stumbled upon the
planting project through hard work and luck. Lappen has been a member of Santa Monica’s Boy Scout Troop 2 since he was in seventh grade. That’s several years of knot tying, fire starting and learning to canoe, a specialty of Troop 2. At the end of the parade of merit badges comes not a new turn, but a mountain — choose to take on the six-month process of elevating to Eagle Scout or simply content oneself with a job well done. Amongst a host of other requirements, prospective Eagle Scouts have to commit themselves to accomplishing a project for the community. Although there are no hard and fast rules on what the project must entail, they usually contribute something meant to last and consume over 100 hours of effort on the part of the applicant. Lappen was struggling. He knew he wanted to contribute something to the out-
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doors that had an emphasis on the environment and sustainability, but hit only dead ends. “I looked originally at trail building,” Lappen said. “One of the things I especially love about Boy Scouts are the outdoor activities.” But when he picked up the phone to call a state park and offer free manual labor, no one answered. Budget cuts had taken their toll on the park system to the point that Lappen couldn’t find anyone to even hear his proposal. “Now that’s a story,” Lappen said. A multitude of contacts later, Lappen hit upon the city of Santa Monica and contacted City Forester Walt Warriner. Warriner, it so happened, had an idea. City Hall signed up with the United States Forest Service to take part in a pilot SEE TREES PAGE 12
WILSHIRE BLVD He explained the seeds of his project with such nonchalance that it seemed almost ordinary. “My lawyer and I have been collecting thousands of jokes over the years,” said Bill Schwartz, longtime Santa Monica resident. “We decided one joke book was not unique.” So they chose to write 12. Schwartz’ series, ACME’s House of Humor, is now available in e-book format through the Amazon Kindle. The books are organized by themes ranging from “Trust Me, Lawyer Jokes” to “Totally Twisted Holiday Jokes.” The brand of his collection draws inspiration from the fictitious company of Looney Tunes fame. He said he hopes readers will get the joke and understand the type of business he’s after. “There’s a shortage of good quality jokes,” he said. “Rather than people combing through ... jokes, we’ve done it.” SEE CP PAGE 10
Some slam charger deal that ends allegations ANDREW DALTON Associated Press
LOS ANGELES A $120 million settlement that allows an energy company to establish and operate a vast network of electric vehicle chargers in order to end a decade of legal battles over price-gouging during California’s energy crisis has come under criticism from competitors and government officials who say the deal allows a huge head start in a burgeoning market in place of a penalty. The agreement between New Jerseybased NRG Energy, Inc. and the state’s SEE CHARGERS PAGE 11
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