COMMENTARY
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
EARTH TALK
MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS THIS ELECTION DAY PAGE 4 NEW WAY TO SAVE GAS PAGE 13
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008
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Volume 7 Issue 302
Santa Monica Daily Press
SEEING DOUBLE SEE PAGE 18
COMMUNITYPROFILES MELISSA BIGGS
Since 2001: A news odyssey
THE SECRET SEED BOMB ISSUE
Going guerrilla style Local residents make a clandestine green gardening statement BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
DOWNTOWN By day, Roly Poly is a project manager for theme parks, but by night she returns to her natural earthly elements. The Santa Monica resident, who goes by the nickname after the beloved terrestrial creature, is part of a growing subculture that uses aggressive gardening tactics to make an ecological statement — and difference — in the community. The cause of what has become known as Guerilla Gardening is to launch a green offensive attack on public properties — such as medians — that have otherwise been neg-
lected, beautifying it by planting flowers, bushes and other forms of vegetation. The intrigue is the incognito way in which the operation is done, typically taking place at night when there is less traffic, all done without the permission of the land owner. Such underground operations have been popping up all over the world in places like London, Sydney and most recently, Los Angeles. Roly Poly co-founded Los Angeles Guerilla Gardening (LAGG) this summer with friend, Mr. Stamen, who lives in Los Feliz. The group has in the past few months gardened in several public spaces throughout the Los Angeles area, including a recent “seed bombing” at the 16th Street median directly
across from the Santa Monica Swim Center. A seed bomb is a ball of clay, compost and seeds that are dropped right before an anticipated rain storm. Rain water untangles the ball, allowing the nutrients from the compost and clay to sink into the soil. “This is the perfect time for a seed bombing because we don’t want the seed bombs baking, but we also need the rain to come,” Mr. Stamen said. The group is planning another guerilla gardening project in Santa Monica at an unspecified time and location. Most of the group’s operations have thus far taken place SEE GARDENING PAGE 14
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com BIGGS
Actress turns into activist BY CHRISTINA WALKER Special to the Daily Press
OCEAN AVE Melissa Biggs had her sights set on making it big in Hollywood, but instead she achieved the limelight she sought through raising awareness about an incurable genetic disease. The fashion designer came to Hollywood fresh out of high school with one goal in mind: She was determined to become an actress. After some success, Biggs landed a bit part in “Rush Hour 2” and appeared in 16 episodes of “Baywatch.” It was only after giving up on her dream of becoming an actress that she learned that she had a serious illness. Biggs was diagnosed with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT) in 2005, a disease characterized by the lack of a protective protein that protects the lungs and liver. A year ago was named spokesperson for an education campaign on behalf of CSL Behring, a pharmaceutical company. With treatment running upwards of $20,000, Biggs felt compelled to help others diag-
LOSSES MOUNT
Morgan Genser news@smdp.com Santa Monica High School defensive back Jared Onouye (left) leaps into the air to tackle Culver City High School wide receiver Devin Sylvester at Corsair Field on Friday night. Samohi lost the Ocean League game, 28-35. The Vikings record falls to 6-2, 1-2 in league play.
SEE CP PAGE 14
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