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MONDAY
06.20.16 Volume 15 Issue 178
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WHAT’S UP WESTSIDE ..................PAGE 2 CELEBRATE AMERICA ..................PAGE 3 MY WRITE ........................................PAGE 4 INSIDE/OUTSIDE ..............................PAGE 5 LIBRARY LOWDOWN ......................PAGE 7
Santa Monica Daily Press
smdp.com
Escarce won’t seek SMMUSD re-election BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
The race for seats on the Santa Monica-Malibu school district’s Board of Education just got a little more interesting. Longtime board member Jose Escarce will not seek re-election to the district’s governing body, telling the Daily Press via email that he will not run to keep his seat in November. News of the future vacancy comes at a critical juncture for the district, which is currently searching for a new superintendent as it faces a protracted legal battle over chemical cleanup at Malibu schools and looks into the possible creation of a separate Malibu district, among other weighty issues. “Serving on the school board
Girl Scouts strike gold BY CAMILLE DE BEUS Daily Press Intern
To most, the words “Girl Scout” evoke images of cookies galore or memories of a group they participated in briefly during their younger years. But for Madison Seifer, Natalie Gold, Lana Biren and Zoe Parcells, the mention of “Girl Scouts” will always carry more meaning. Each of these four Girl Scouts received the Gold Award at the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles’s (GSGLA) annual Gold Award Ceremony on June 4. Established in 1916, the Gold Award is considered Girl Scouting’s highest honor. Nationwide, only about six percent of all Girl Scouts ever earn this award, and those who do receive
has been a wonderful honor and privilege, but 16 years is a long time,” Escarce said in an email. “It’s time to give others a chance.” Escarce is one of three school board members whose seats are expiring in December, joining Ralph Mechur and Maria LeonVazquez. The other four board members’ terms are up at the end of 2018. In response to a Daily Press inquiry, Mechur said in March that he will campaign to remain on the board. Mechur was appointed to the board in January 2015 after beating eight other candidates for the seat vacated by Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), who was elected to the SEE ELECTION PAGE 6
Samohi salutatorian heads to Yale Alba will become the first member of his family to attend college BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
It’s not that Christopher Alba wasn’t grateful to be named Santa Monica High School’s salutatorian this year. He certainly was. To him, though, the accomplishment of becoming the first person in his family to graduate from high school and go to college is far more meaningful.
SEE SCOUTS PAGE 8
In today’s real estate climate ...
Experience counts! garylimjap@gmail.com www.garylimjap.com
Matthew Hall editor@smdp.com
Santa Monica held its annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 18. The event marks the anniversary of freedom for the last group of slaves under the Emancipation Proclamation. Santa Monica’s event, organized by a volunteer committee, includes music, storytelling, community information and other festivities.
SEE ALBA PAGE 6
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339
JUNETEENTH
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