Santa Monica Daily Press, November 25, 2009

INSIDE SCOOP

AUTO

PARENTING

LIFE’S A BEACH PAGE 3 GREEN IS KING AT L.A. AUTO SHOW PAGE 6 HATING THE ONE YOU LOVE PAGE 7 Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

Volume 7 Issue 321

Santa Monica Daily Press

CHECK OUT THOSE WAVES SEE PAGE 10

Since 2001: A news odyssey

THE DREAMING OF STUFFING ISSUE

Federal grant to help police analyze DNA evidence

District eyes background checks on volunteers

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas.

Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.

BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer

SMMUSD HDQTRS — School volunteers

BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer

CITY HALL The Santa Monica Police Department is about to receive a big tip for its criminal investigations.

The City Council plans to award nearly $20,000 toward the department’s DNA/Advanced Forensic Evidence project at its meeting tonight as part of an estimated $1.9 million spending package.

The money will come from the 2008 Justice Assistance Grant, which City Hall has received from the U.S. Department of Justice for each of the past three years. The funds have always been appropriated to the DNA project, which pays for the department’s use of certified crime labs to analyze DNA and other evidence collected in major crimes.

“JAG grant funding has given the police department a potent investigative tool that is too costly to pay from the operating budget,” the city staff report stated. “Among the crimes solved in 2006 through DNA analysis are five of Santa Monica’s most troubling cold case homicides.”

The other piece of the spending package will cover construction costs for the office and cafe spaces in the Civic Center Parking Structure.

The council is expected to approve the second phase of a design-build contract with TLD Construction, which was hired in July to remodel approximately 3,500 square feet in the garage to accommodate a cafe and the Transportation Management Division’s permit sales counter.

The colorful 882-space structure, which opened in 2007, was designed to include a restaurant on the second floor, overlooking Olympic Drive. The space attracted minimal

TURKEY TOSS

Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com After purchasing more than 300 turkeys Monday morning, Prince Frederic von Anhalt (center), husband of actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, tosses them into the back of a truck at the Albertsons at Lincoln and Ocean Park boulevards. The turkeys will be donated to the Vera Davis McClendon Youth & Family Center in Venice where Gabor did her community service after slapping a Beverly Hills cop 16 years ago.

who come into contact with students could soon be subject to criminal background checks.

Following the lead of districts across the state, local public school officials are considering revising an administrative regulation that deals with volunteers, possibly requiring a Megan’s Law check on all non-paid personnel to ensure they are not a registered sex offender.

The proposed changes would also mandate that a small subset of volunteers who are not under the direct supervision of a teacher — such as a drama coach working with students in the green room or a parent on an overnight trip — be fingerprinted.

“It would let us know if there was anything in their past that would prevent them from being (hired) as a volunteer and it would notify us if anything were to happen in the future,” Mike Matthews, the assistant superintendent for human resources, said.

Matthews estimated that there are more than 2,000 volunteers in the Santa MonicaMalibu Unified School District. The existing policy only requires that volunteers be tested for tuberculosis.

The revised regulation could come before the Board of Education at its Dec. 11 meeting.

The proposed changes came from an ad hoc committee formed earlier this year to review and revise the district’s child abuse and sexual harassment policies whose changes have since been adopted. The Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee was put together in response to circumstances concerning the May arrest of Thomas Arthur Beltran, a Lincoln Middle School teacher who has been charged with molesting his students.

Public outcry followed Beltran’s arrest when it was discovered the teacher was investigated two years ago after a student told school administrators that she was uncom-

SEE CONSENT PAGE 10

SEE VOLUNTEERS PAGE 10

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

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Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 Help others, help yourself

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GOLDSMITH DESIGNER

Wrap it up!

Wrap it up puts you first in the minds of LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS. Distributed in the December issue of the Santa Monica Daily Press, shoppers will be reminded of your business at all 750 locations throughout Santa Monica and adjacent areas.

The Gift Guide is a comprehensive guide to gifts, dining and holiday entertainment. The Gift Guide will be inserted in the November 22nd edition of the Santa Monica Daily Press, the Biggest shopping weekend of the year. In addition, the Gift Guide will be placed at all local area hotels, restaurants, Daily Press Boxes, and racks for an entire week following that weekend.

PRICING

1331 Sixth St., 7 a.m. — 9 p.m.

Bring 10 cans of food to the Santa Monica YMCA and participate in any fitness class, lap swim, or fitness center for free per visit. All food will be donated to Sojourn, a local facility for disadvantaged families, in time for Thanksgiving. Free parking is available. A photo ID will be required.

Call (310) 393-2721 ext. 129 or e-mail lidiam@ymcasm.org for more information.

Story time for two’s

2601 Main St., 10 a.m. — 11 a.m.

Come and join Mr. Jesse for a lively session of music, rhymes, stories and puppets. Registration is required. Call (310) 392-3804 for more information.

Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 Learn like an emperor

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1807 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 200 Do you want to learn more about Oriental Medicine, but aren’t sure about committing to a 4-year program quite yet? The opening series at Emperor’s College is a great opportunity to sample introductory courses. Courses are fully transferable into the Masters Degree Program. For schedule details visit www.emperors.edu or call (310) 453-8300 ext. 127 or e-mail admissions@emperors.edu.

Kiwanis Club

1332 6th St., 12 — 1:30 p.m.

Join the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club weekly luncheon with guest speakers at the YMCA. Call (310) 613-1249 for more information.

For more information on any of the events listed, log on to smdp.com and click the “Events” tab for the given day’s calendar.

Inside Scoop Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

3

COMMUNITY BRIEF DOWNTOWN

An extra bed to spare

DELICIOUS DECORATING

Fabian Lewkowicz FabianLewkowicz.com Rueben Frausto, 33, a graphic installer for I MAGIC, decorates a Big Blue Bus on Monday as part of the transit company's annual tradition that dates back to the early 1950s with the original candy cane bus. This year's holiday bus looks like it is made out of gingerbread. The bus will start running throughout Santa Monica this Friday and continue through Jan. 2. It will run on all BBB routes rotating daily. ‘This is the only bus that looks good enough to eat,’ said Dan Dawson, marketing manager for BBB. The bus is sponsored by KJazz 88.1 FM.

Just keeping a household up and running during the holidays can be stressful enough for most families, but pile on the responsibility of hosting nosy in-laws or a crazy uncle and it’s easy to see why this time of year can cause headaches.

To make life a little easier for Santa Monicans, 12 local hotels have teamed up with the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau to offer residents and their friends and families discounts on a variety of rooms through the “Extra Bedroom Program,” which ends Jan. 25. All one needs to do is show proof of Santa Monica residency to receive discounts at participating hotels this season.

The discount at The Georgian Hotel brings its one bedroom rate down from $267 to $200, Senior Sales Manager Vanessa Tourney said. Under the discount program, patrons will get added amenities such as free Internet service, breakfast and valley parking, Torney said. Without the discount, these amenities would raise the one bedroom rate up to around $350, she said. The program was designed as a way to say thank you to residents for their support in making Santa Monica a top tourist destination, as well as help hotels fill empty rooms during the winter when the number of visitors drops.

“We have a few extra rooms to sell, like everyone right now,” Debra Matsumoto, director of sales and marketing for Le Merigot hotel said.

Around Nov. 20 bookings slow down until Dec. 29, Matsumoto said, much of which has to do with the decline in business travel. In addition to the hotel discounts, those who participate in the program can receive two passes to Pacific Park for the price of one. For a breakdown of price, availability and services, go to www. www.santamonica.com/locals.

DAILY PRESS

Life’s a beach for student surfer

BY NICK FULLER GOOGINS Special to the Daily Press

SM BEACH It was early Sunday morning, and most teenagers were sound asleep, getting some much-needed rest after staying up late watching movies or playing video games. But not Santa Monica resident Will Dove.

Dove,13, rose early this past Sunday,

grabbed his wetsuit, waxed his surfboards, and headed to the beach to participate against 87 other middle schoolers in the Interscholastic Surfing Federation’s second competition of the season. And, after placing first in both the short and longboard divisions, it seemed that his early-morning wake-up call was well worth it.

The young athletes, representing five Los Angeles County middle schools, came from

as far away as Santa Barbara to surf under cloudy, gray skies just south of the Santa Monica Pier. With the Ferris wheel and roller coaster in the background they rode the waves in groups of five, hoping to impress the judges in one or more of three categories: boys and girls shortboard, boys and girls longboard, and co-ed bodyboard.

Organized like a March Madness-style tournament, ISF competitions follow a

bracket system, beginning with one surfer from each school competing against the others in a single group. Judges award points based on style and duration of a wave caught. The surfers with the three-highest scores advance to the next round while the others will hang up their wetsuits and head home.

SEE SURFING PAGE 9

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OpinionCommentary 4

A newspaper with issues

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PUBLISHER

Your column here

Send comments to editor@smdp.com

Greg Vargas

Breen freeze Editor:

I always enjoy reading articles written by the mailman Steve Breen.

As an African-American man and a liberal, let me tell you why young Mr. Breen is blowing smoke.

He talks about being an old school, red meat conservative. Let me tell you what an old school conservative is. They were the people who would not let blacks go to public schools with whites. They were the ones who would burn crosses in front of the homes of blacks, Jews, and Catholics. They were the ones who would make a 60-year-old black person call a 10-year-old white child “Mr.” or “Miss.” and that 10-year-old child would have to call that 60-year-old black person “boy” or refer to that black woman by her first name.

Those same conservatives were known as Southern Democrats or Dixiecrats. When President Johnson passed the civil rights bill, they all became conservative Republicans.

Mr. Breen talks about all he gives a rip about is small government and true fiscal responsibility. I’d like to remind Breen that former conservative President Reagan, Bush number one and Bush number two, doubled the size of government. Let me inform Mr. Breen that I was a political appointee in the federal government and I was a member of the senior executive service, so I witnesses this governmental growth. At one time, I worked for the conservative Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel from Nebraska.

President Clinton was the only president during my federal career that streamlined the federal government and brought back efficacy to all levels of the government.

Mr. Breen can have his .357 magnum. Mr. Breen has often criticized President-elect Obama as being liberal and threw his undying support to McCain. I’d like to remind Mr. Breen that the family values that Republicans cherish, Obama not only embraces them, he lives them. McCain, on the other hand, cheated on his first wife, has no real religion and does not attend church regularly.

But as a man of color myself, I thought Mr. Breen was either out of his mind or joking. Then I thought, there are some blacks who say they are anti-Obama, but are really self-hating blacks like Larry Elder, Thomas Sowell and Shelby Steel. So Mr. Breen could be “real.”

What a shame. If it were not for the sufferings, the lynchings and the indignations that generations of blacks have suffered, Mr. Breen would not be allowed to make a fool out himself.

I don’t believe Mr. Breen is a fool. I think he’s as proud as I am that Obama is the first black president of the United States. I also believe he’s fooling everybody and really voted for Obama.

If I’m wrong, I feel very sorry for him. He will be on the wrong side of history. But if I’m right, Obama can add one more supporter to his campaign.

Norman Hensley Santa Monica

ODDS OF A CHILD BECOMING A ODDS OF A CHILD PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE: BEING DIAGNOSED 1 in 16,000 WITH AUTISM: 1 in 166

To learn the signs of autism, visit autismspeaks.org

Ross Furukawa ross@smdp.com

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Kevin Herrera editor@smdp.com

MANAGING EDITOR Daniel Archuleta daniela@smdp.com

STAFF WRITER Melody Hanatani

IN THE REALM OF POLITICS, PARTY affil-

iations, and personal political positions, most people are unable to see beyond left wing-right wing, liberal-conservative, and democraticrepublican politics — the same prevalent and pervasive partisan divisions, and oft times political misidentifications, dividing this nation into blue and red states and creating the conditions for political inaction and obstruction to conflict resolution from Capitol Hill to the pages of this newspaper.

Political debate between individuals is so touchy and personal beliefs so sensitive, when in disagreement with another’s ideology it is most expedient to resort to rash name calling, labeling, and stereotyping than it is to taking the more difficult and challenging route of rational analysis and debate. The inability to see beyond partisanship, to see beyond one’s political self, is a fundamental problem that impedes our ability to move beyond the limitations of two-party politics and towards a more fuller and progressive understanding of each other, the democratic process, and alternative views of the world. The root of the problem is not solely based on conflicting beliefs and partisanship, per se, but rather on an internal struggle with reconciling emotion and reason. When faced with the challenges of resolving this conflict, the emotional response has become the ingrained default way to deal with these difficulties. And it is nothing more than an ideologue that throws rationality and reason out the window for a sense of mind-numbing, political categorizations. The unfortunate result is the inability to never see anything reasonable when presented with an opposing view and conflicting argument — to never see beyond the limitations of one’s own beliefs.

As a result of a column of mine recently published in the SMDP (”Voters should look at character, not color,” page 4, Nov. 13), I was stereotyped, by Bennet Kelly (“Bigotry, lies, and the Obama wars,” page 4, Nov. 20), as being part of the vague “right-wing disinformation campaign,” along with Rush Limbaugh and Steve Breen, and of “shedding light”on my own bigotry. It was shades of the Clinton-esque “vast right-wing conspiracy” argument. In this case, I defer to Satchel in the comic strip Get Fuzzy who intoned, “I wish I was in a vast chicken wing conspiracy.”

To Bennet’s credit, he got one thing right.

The SMDP edited the exact New York Times quote I referenced, thus changing its veracity.

Nevertheless, in taking the time to carefully and rationally research the issue, I stand by my overall premise. The information is available to all with the wherewithal to look at it with a clear mind, and any careful investigation and deductive reasoning of the information will enlighten any reader. However, doing so may result neither in an answer in keeping with the conclusion set out to discover nor with what one wants to believe.

Regarding bigotry, Miriam Webster defines a bigot as “a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.” Other definitions include “stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own” and “obtuse or narrow-minded intolerance.” This kind of intolerance results in unreasoned emotional labeling, categorizations, and characterizations as opposed to intellectual, critical analy-

sis of an issue that may be hard to digest when initially consumed. The easy way out is to resort to simplistic and vague political phraseology like “right-wing disinformation campaign.”

I read “political fundamentalism is an ideology that like its religious counterpart thrives on simplifications.”The logic is that pinning a simplistic tag on an opponent is the surest way to win a political battle. Thus, we experience the

POLITICAL DEBATE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS IS SO TOUCHY AND PERSONAL BELIEFS SO SENSITIVE, WHEN IN DISAGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER’S IDEOLOGY IT IS MOST EXPEDIENT TO RESORT TO RASH NAME CALLING, LABELING, AND STEREOTYPING THAN IT IS TO TAKING THE MORE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING ROUTE OF RATIONAL ANALYSIS AND DEBATE.

melodyh@smdp.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Bauer, David Pisarra, Meredith Carroll, Kenny Mack, Jack Neworth, Lloyd Garver, Taylor Van Arsdale, Dane Robert Swanson, Ryan Hyatt, Steve Breen, Elizabeth Brown, Merv Hecht, Ron Scott Smith Mike Heayn, Brian Hepp Mariel Howsepian, Cynthia Citron, Amanda Cushman, Steve Parker and Phyllis Chavez

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Fabian Lewkowicz

NEWS INTERNS Catherine Cain, Saba Hamedy, Elizabeth Kenigsberg, Rob Lawrence, Teddy Lashnick news@smdp.com

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kind of common, blind loyalty to party that is destructive to intellectual and rational debate, and ad hominem attacks on opponent’s differing beliefs and ideas that result in political pigeonholing like “right-wing disinformation campaign.” Louis Hodges, retired ethics professor at Washington & Lee University, stated, “such language now simply ignites emotion and does not inspire thoughtful inquiry.”

My personal politics have been far from what one commonly understands as “right wing.” If Bennet only knew the reality.

Personally, I have had an evolution of political thought, finding myself in agreement with positions from the Communist Party to the Republican Party.

A personal hero, Malcolm X, said, “I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth.” Of course, most people only know Malcolm X for his more limited raciallycharged beliefs and not the impressive evolution of his beliefs, if his life is closely and carefully studied without prejudice. If we could all could only have such an open mind.

GREG VARGAS lives in Santa Monica. He drives a Corvair yet still respects Ralph Nadar’s political perseverance. He can be reached at goyo_vargas@hotmail.com.

Connie Sommerville connies@smdp.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Robert Summa summa@smdp.com

CIRCULATION Keith Wyatt Osvaldo Paganini circulation@smdp.com

A newspaper with issues 410 Broadway, Suite B Santa Monica, CA 90401 OFFICE (310) 458-PRESS (7737) FAX (310) 576-9913

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The Santa Monica Daily Press is published six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

19,000 daily circulation, 46,450 daily readership. Circulation is audited and verified by Circulation Verification Council, 2006. Serving the City of Santa Monica, and the communities of Venice Beach, Brentwood, West LA. Members of CNPA, AFCP, CVC, Associated Press, IFPA, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.

Published by Newlon Rouge, LLC © 2006 Newlon Rouge, LLC, all rights reserved.

OPINIONS EXPRESSED are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Santa Monica Daily Press staff. Guest editorials from residents are encouraged, as are letters to the editor. Letters will be published on a space-available basis. It is our intention to publish all letters we receive, except those that are libelous or are unsigned. Preference will be given to those that are e-mailed to editor@smdp.com. All letters must include the author’s name and telephone number for purposes of verification. Letters also may be mailed to our offices located at 410 Broadway, Suite B, Santa Monica, 90401, or faxed to (310) 576-9913. All letters and guest editorials are subject to editing for space and content.

OpinionCommentary Visit us online at smdp.com

Sharing the joy THE HEADLINES ARE SHOCKING. CNN

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has created an ad hoc review committee that will explore options for the district’s homework policy, which some say is antiquated and gives students too many assignments.

So this week’s Q-Line question asks: How many hours did you spend doing homework and what should it be now?

Call (310) 285-8106 before Friday at 5 p.m. and we’ll print your answers in the weekend edition of the Daily Press. Please limit responses to a minute or less.

DAVID PISARRA is a divorce attorney who specializes in father’s rights and men’s issues with the firm of Pisarra & Grist in Santa Monica. You can read his blog at www.MensFamilyLaw.com, and he can be reached at dpisarra@pisarra.com or (310) 664-9969.

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Study time

nals” that are getting larger and larger sections of our annual budget, both for annual operating expenses, and in capital expenditures as we continue to incarcerate more and more people for lesser and lesser charges.

Instead of putting money into more prisons, we should be building schools, vocational training centers, and developing the infrastructure we need.

The latest developments from the President Elects office are that most of these ideas are being incorporated into his new package.

As we approach this Thanksgiving, with the needs of so many being unmet, and with the dire predictions of more and more bad news continuing, let us take a moment to review the good fortune that so many of us have.

If you have someone to share this holiday with, if you have a roof over your head, and food on the table, take a moment to consider those who are less fortunate. This year, more than any other, I would like to encourage people to forego buying that extra latest ‘must have’ DVD rewinder, and putting the money to work someplace useful. If you can, donate it to a non-religious based organization that actually does good, like local food banks.

This year programs like Toys for Tots are going to need your help.

We can make a difference in the lives of those around us. As a country we have endured tough times in the past, and as we pass through this episode of economic downturn, by our resiliency, our pluck and our creativity, we shall survive.

The best lesson to be learned from this is that by helping others, we raise our own self-esteem, not from a sense of financial superiority, but by sharing what we have.

It is an old saying, and I’m pretty sure that every ethnicity wants to claim it as their own, but the reality is that this truth cuts across all races and ethnicities, “pain shared is halved, joy shared is doubled.”

This season, share the pain of others, and feel the joy in giving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

(But the laughing gas helps)

#

T. HS 14T

reported that, “Parents, Kids Grub In Dirt For Free Food.” The Los Angeles Times had a story entitled: “Hard Times and Long Lines for Southern Californians,” which covered the scary topic of the growing need for food banks. It was reported in that same article that: ‘In Van Nuys, about 2,000 homeowners attended a workshop promoted as Home Preservation Day. But this was not about how to lay tile or install plumbing. A bank had mailed notices to homeowners in trouble with their mortgages, and Saturday offered them a chance to rework the terms of their loans. Bankers had hoped 100 would turn out, and planned for 200.”

This is a sad way to begin the holiday season, these are not the usual holiday down and out, “miracle ending” happy stories that have historically been put forth. These are the real deal, people are suffering. It’s a harsh reality that this season is going to be the worst in recent memory for more people than ever.

I don’t know what bothers me more, the fact that we are in such a pickle, or the fact that the government is doing so little to help the least amongst us. I’m not generally a big government kind of guy. I don’t believe in handouts as generally a good way to get an economy moving again, either on the micro or the macro level.

Months ago, before the election, I called for massive infrastructure investment to build the society we need, and as a means to get the economy back on track.

I believed then, and I believe now, that it is time for someone to step up to the plate with the ‘Grand Vision’ thing. I wanted to see us build more reservoirs in California, not only for the water which we are going to so desperately need as our population continues to explode, but also a means of building the hydroelectric generation systems that are clean energy.

If we don’t have get a public transit system that works, we’re doomed to a gridlock situation that will become even more insane than it already is. It took me 30 minutes last Thursday to go from 21st Street and Pico Boulevard to the Geffen Theater in Westwood.

The waste in fuel, the damage in emissions, the productivity that is lost is simply criminal. But sadly, it is the “crimi-

MY DENTIST TELLS THE WORST JOKES!

E. AV NA O IZ AR

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What’s the Point?

David Pisarra

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

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Green is king at L.A. Auto Show AN ALL-GREEN AUTO SHOW? WELL,

not quite, but there’s enough green at this year’s Greater Los Angeles Auto Show to keep environmentalists and futurists talking late into the night, maybe planning dinner with Tom Bergeron and his guests on Planet Green TV’s Eco Dinner Party, or even driving to Ed Begley’s to see how he hides all the power lines coming into his house.

The show is open until 10 p.m. nightly, except for Thanksgiving and the show’s last night, this Sunday, when it closes at 8 p.m.

Admission is $10, cash only (kids under 12 free with an adult) and parking is $12 daily, $10 weekends. Bring mucho dinero and credit cards for the outrageously high food and drink prices at the convention center. More info at: www.laautoshow.com.

We’ll talk green in a moment, but first some info on a car or two you might have been waiting to see.

Though many people have already seen the concept and prototype versions of the all-new Chevrolet Camaro, the production version of the 2010 model is at the show and it’s a standout. Ford has some interesting new cars at their display, including the all-new 2010 Mustang (with even more horsepower, naturally) and all-new gas/electric hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion, and its cousin, the Mercury Milan.

Audi’s new A6 is found at the show, while Nissan’s new 370Z and Infiniti’s G37 hardtop convertible share many bits and pieces; they’re the least-expensive Nissan GTRs anyone could buy. Ferrari’s all-new California, the all-new BMW 7-series, Lexus’ IS convertible, Bentley’s Azure-T and Aston-Martin’s DBS are all part of the power and passion of the show.

Renault/Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, speaking at the show last week, came out strongly in favor of EVs (electric vehicles). Ghosn has been one of the few car executives not enamored with gas/electric hybrids, keeping his focus almost singularly on the development of EVs (the Nissan Altima hybrid uses Toyota’s hybrid system under license from that company; it’s cheaper than inventing your own system). Thanks to Nissan developments in new battery technology, Ghosn said Nissan would have at least one EV for sale in the U.S. by

Robert Summa summa@smdp.com

GONE GREEN: The 2010 Chevy Volt was one of many energy efficient cars on display at the 2008 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show.

2010, 2011 at the latest.

BMW is displaying their 335d model, a 3series with a clean diesel engine. Clean diesel cars and trucks are now approved for sale in all 50 states. Near BMW’s exhibit is where you’ll find Mini E, an-all EV Mini. Five hundred Mini Es will be leased to consumers for one year for about $850 a month. For info on how you might get involved with the Mini E, visit www.mini.com.

Green Car Journal has been naming their choice for Green Car of the Year at the L.A. Auto Show the past two years. This year, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel won the honor, being the first clean diesel to go on sale in America.

Other green-ish cars, trucks and crossovers on display at the show include the Lexus RX 450h hybrid SUV (which is our test car this week), Honda’s new hybrid Insight (which is a

real car this time using that name; Honda used the Insight name for their first hybrid, a tiny two-seater) and Hyundai’s hybrid Sonata.

Honda’s FC Sport is an aerodynamic threeseat concept car which uses a hydrogen-fueled fuel cell to produce the electricity which runs electric motors turning the car’s wheels. You’ll find Kia’s third-generation fuel cell technology at work in their Borrego FCEV crossover, and Volkswagen has a 3.0 liter V6 221 horsepower clean diesel Touareg 2 on display.

Never left out when it comes to being green, Toyota’s CNG hybrid Camry is on display at the L.A. Auto Show. Toyota tried marketing a CNG Camry a decade ago, but the public wasn’t interested; there was still plenty of cheap gasoline available everywhere. Now the situation is different, and Toyota believes CNG’s benefits (clean-burning, comparatively low cost and more CNG availability as time

goes on) outweigh its negatives (fewer miles per gallon than gasoline and still being somewhat hard to find). Over one million people usually go through the doors at the auto show, and perhaps a look at some of the positive developments in cars and trucks is just what’s needed to forget about the real world, if only for a few hours.

STEVE PARKER has covered the world’s auto industry for over 35 years. He’s a two-time Emmy Award-winner who reported on cars for almost a decade at both KTLA/TV5 and KCBS/TV2. He is a consultant to the NBC-TV show Whipnotic and the show’s companion website, www.Whipnotic.com.

He created, writes and moderates the only allautomotive blog on The Huffington Post at www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-parker. Contact Steve through his own automotive issues Web site at www.SteveParker.com.

ASK GEORGE

Slow speed racer, slow down there

BY GEORGE VALVERDE Special to the Daily Press

Do you have questions about general driving related requirements like registration or insurance? Are you unclear about laws and restrictions related to driving? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers.

Q: Is there a place in California where street racing is legal?

A: Speed contests or exhibitions of speed on public highways or streets, commonly known as street racing or drag racing, are illegal and threaten the well-being and safety of the public. More than 100 people die annually in the U.S. as the direct result of a

speed contest or illegal street race.

Along with various other penalties, you can have your driver’s license revoked and be fined up to $1,000 for speed racing. More importantly, illegal exhibitions of speed put you and others in danger.

There are alternative sites to race legally, however. The National Hot Rod Association has more than 140 tracks in North America.

For more information on California regulations go to http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/crazy_btn3/speed.htm.

To find the NHRA track in your area go to the www.NHRA.com.

Q: How close is too close when following someone on the roadways?

A: In ideal driving conditions, the “three-

second rule” can help you make sure you are being safe, following traffic laws and not being a tailgater. When the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain point such as a street or traffic sign, count “one-thousand-one, onethousand-two, one-thousand-three.” If you pass the same point before you finish counting, you are following too closely. During inclement weather, you will need to allow more distance between you and the person in front of you.

Q: What if my registration is due with a smog certification but the repairs needed for my car to pass smog will take me past the due date?

A: If a smog certification is required and you have not had a smog inspection, you

may still pay your registration fees online at www.dmv.ca.gov to avoid any late fees.

However, you will not receive your new registration or annual renewal sticker until the smog information has been received by DMV. Late registration fees are subject to penalties. If you paid your renewal fees prior to acquiring the smog certification, and you have not received your registration card or sticker, you should call your local DMV or 1800-777-0133 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. A department representative will check your vehicle record and inform you of the status of your renewal.

GEORGE VALVERDE is the director of the California DMV.

Parenting Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Mommie Brain Send comments to editor@smdp.com

Hating the one you love most THE BEST ADVICE ANYONE GAVE ME

before I had my baby was not what diapers to buy or how many times to nurse. It was that, at times, I would hate my husband.

This did not actually mean that I had married the wrong man. In fact, it was normal, my friend said.

I smiled kindly at this advice. “Oh, I see,” I said, as I rubbed my happy belly. But all the while I thought, that may be you. But not me. Not us.

But then, my son was born. Then, I was no longer pregnant. I was fat. Then, we were not sleeping. Then my husband could go back to sleep while my son fed from my body attached to me, always. Then, I got mastitis. Then, my husband could go out into the world to work, and I was still fat. We were still not sleeping.

Then, when my husband and child played, I would listen from bed trying to sleep, commenting, judging. What are they doing? Why isn’t he feeding him? Has he been changed?

Then, oh then, I admit, I hated my husband. Now, for the record, I love my husband. I stood up before all of our friends and family and declared it loudly. I would marry him again every day any way from Vegas to City Hall, if possible.

But when he asks me to hold our son so he can eat his cereal, I want to remind him that I have yet to have had my breakfast either and that he will be leaving for work soon and I will still not have had breakfast, lest he forget, and he will be gone and there will be no one for me to pass our son to, so FIGURE IT OUT! But I do not. I quietly, or if you ask my husband, not so quietly, take our son and pout away.

When I get up at night when our son is wailing, it does not matter that my husband has been up with him every other night or even an hour earlier. At that moment, he is asleep. I carry the weight of all the world’s mothers vs. all the world’s fathers as I stare him down and walk out of our room pounding the floor just a little too loudly.

It is not a good feeling to flash these thoughts on the man you love. But what I don’t feel terrible about is that I have these

thoughts. I do not worry when we are stretched by our new parenting duties that I need to worry about us as an us. It is normal.

I am not going anywhere. My husband is not going anywhere. And I am sure he has had these thoughts about me as well. But I may not have figured that out as quickly, if I had not been reassured by a knowing and caring friend. And so now, when I can, I try to pass the same advice along.

Parenting is a monumental task, one with enough worries. So when I haven’t showered for the umpteenth day and my hair has yogurt, spit up and whatever other unmentionables in it and my husband is clean, I take a deep breath and admit that part of me is jealous as he goes into the day. My husband may wonder what a little more time with our son would be like, so too do I wonder about just a little less time.

Parenting is not easy. We have battled over who works harder. We have needed to establish new household routines and rhythms. This takes time. But through these bumps, we have learned to parent our child together. In doing so, we have fallen in love all over again by getting to know the three of us as this new family.

And in this new family, when I look at my son, I see my husband in his face. When I look at my husband, I see the man this little boy will want to become. I see them together laughing. It is so raw, so pure, so delightful. This has replaced the grumpiness.

And now that our son is older, we are not so new at this, not so grasping, not so scared.

Our comfort level has increased and so our annoyance with each other has decreased.

For Father’s Day this year I wrote on his card, “I couldn’t do this without you.” I did not mean I couldn’t be a single parent. I meant I wouldn’t want raise our son without him, even on those mornings when he chooses to sleep in.

RACHEL ZIENTS SCHINDERMAN lives in Santa Monica with her husband and two-year-old son.

Through her business Mommie Brain, she helps expecting mothers document their pregnancies.

She can be reached at rachel@mommiebrain.com

A mixed sleigh full of holiday books for kids

BY LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press Writer

A peg-legged pirate St. Nick with a sleigh pulled by sea horses, and a big-headed flying caribou who’s fed up with the cult of Rudolph provide fresh spin for the holidays on a beloved Christmas poem for kids.

Clement Clarke Moore’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” has delighted one and all since it first appeared anonymously in a newspaper in 1823.

This season, some oldie-but-goodie versions are available, along with a few wacky new ones amid piles of pleasing picture books for Christmas and Hanukkah.

— “A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas,” ($14.95, ages 4-8, Sterling) by Philip Yates, with illustrations by Sebastia Serra.

This is a bellylaugh of a book for young buccaneers, loaded with jargon that lends itself to amusing readalouds.

— “The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas,” ($18.99, ages 4-8, Chronicle) by Anne Muecke, with illustrations by Nathan Hale.

A boy is snug in his New York City apartment bed when a clatter from the American Museum of Natural History across the street awakens him. Racing over snow in barefeet, he walks into a dinosaur holiday party in the fossil room.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT

Local Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

Nick Fuller Googins news@smdp.com

CHOKA: Will Dove, 13, a student at Lincoln Middle School, took first place in both the shortboard and longboard events at the Interscholastic Surfing Federation competition held this past Sunday at Santa Monica Beach.

It runs in the family FROM SURFING PAGE 3 After putting a last-minute coat of wax on their boards, Dove and his fellow surfers gathered at the shore’s edge. They were dressed in bright oranges, blues, and yellows so the judges could tell them apart. Finally the double-blast of an air horn signaled the start of the round, and they were off, sprinting into the water with every intention of taking full advantage of the 15 minutes they had to catch the best two waves possible.

The horn blasted again to announce a five-minute warning. Then “watch your ears,” said an official — a final blast marking the end of the round. The surfers paddled in, dropped their boards and waited at the scoreboard for the results.

The competition grinded on, the young surfers coming to and from the water with each new round. Up on the beach, which hosted an ISF high-school competition the day before, there were dozens of surfboards and wetsuits scattered about, giving the 100yard stretch of sand the feel of a hastily-prepared surf shop bazaar. Moms, dads, big brothers and family dogs on leashes lounged around in lawn chairs amidst umbrellas, coolers, and video cameras on tripods. It looked and sounded like any other youth sporting event, only here the playing field was the Pacific Ocean.

Morning became afternoon and the sun burned through the clouds, as if rewarding the few who successfully made it to the final round.

By 3 p.m. the competition was over, and the remaining participants gathered in the

shade of the officials’ tent for the announcing of the final scores and awarding of medals.

Dove accepted his first-place award for the longboard division with a sheepish smile. The Lincoln Middle School student may be only 13, but he’s been riding the waves for more than half his life and already shows the calm, confident composure of a surfing veteran.

“Did you Hang-Ten?” the award ceremony’s MC asked him.

“I tried,” Dove said, shrugging his shoulders while speaking into the microphone.

Dove had two blue-ribboned medals hanging around his neck as he packed up his boards to go home, but he took his victories in stride. If anything, his relaxed look — shaggy dirty-blond hair under a navy-blue trucker’s hat — seemed to say, “there’s no reason to celebrate. I’ve been here before and I’ll be here again.”

Will isn’t the only Dove to watch out for in the up-and-coming Santa Monica surfing scene. His brother, Jake,11, a sixth-grader at Lincoln, placed fifth overall in body boarding. Together the two helped secure their school a solid third-place in the yearly rankings.

And what will the Dove brothers do now that they’ve cleaned up nicely at Santa Monica beach? Hopefully catch up on some much-needed sleep.

Nick Fuller Googins is a freelance writer and traveler. He can be reached at fullergo@gmail.com and his most recent work can be viewed at nomadicworder.googlepages.com.

9

Local 10

A newspaper with issues

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

City Hall to fight for more aggressive water conservation FROM CONSENT PAGE 1

SURF CONDITIONS

WATER TEMP: 62°

SWELL FORECAST ( 2-3 FT ) Tuesday should see NW swell increase throughout the day as rain falls across the south-land. This isn't looking like a pretty day for surf, but west facing breaks can expect some waist to at times chest high swell.

LONG RANGE SYNOPSIS WEDNESDAY

THE

26TH

TIDE FORECAST

THE

FOR

NW'ER

IN

THE VOID IN THE STATE WATER CODE IS RESULTING IN ANNUAL WATER RESOURCES BEING WASTED AT A TIME WHEN SUCH WAS IS UNACCEPTABLE.”

FIGHTING TO CONSERVE WATER

SHOULD COMPLETELY FILL IN, PUSHING SIZE HEAD HIGH TO

TODAY

prospective tenants because of its large size and lack of tenant improvement assistance

by City Hall, which later decided to split the area to host a small cafe and offices. Trimana Grill has been selected to operate in the cafe space.

The first phase of the project included the designs for the tenant improvements while the second portion will cover construction costs, which is estimated to cost approximately $1.84 million.

Construction is expected to begin in January.

SANTA MONICA

2

FEET OVERHEAD AT WEST FACING BREAKS.

Facing severe drought conditions, city staff plans to advocate for changes in the state water code to allow more aggressive water-saving strategies.

The proposed revisions would allow the reuse of rainwater and dry weather runoff, which are currently absent in the water code.

Harvesting all rain water within the city limits would satisfy approximately 35 percent of local water needs, according to the city staff report.

The existing water code only allows recycled and gray water — which comes from bathroom sinks, washing machines and showers — as acceptable for reuse.

City Hall receives a bulk of its water supply from the Metropolitan Water District and is considered to be the third most dependent on imported water out of the MWD’s member agencies. The drought could force the MWD to begin reduced water allotments for at least one year, starting in July 2009.

“To cushion residents and businesses

city staff report from possible water disruptions, the city needs to direct more effort toward other sustainable water management strategies,” the city staff report stated.

City Hall has long promoted water conservation through its Sustainable City Plan, which includes an initiative to reduce usage by 20 percent in 2010. While much has been done in indoor water efficiency, efforts in exterior water-saving measures have been more challenging because of limitations in the state water code, according to city staff.

“The void in the state water code is resulting in annual water resources being wasted at a time when such waste is unacceptable,” the staff report stated. “The present regulatory system discourages the use of these other water resources, and in some ways puts up impediments to such use; the code is not promoting sustainability.” melodyh@smdp.com

New rules would require volunteers be fingerprinted FROM VOLUNTEERS PAGE 1 fortable with the way he was touching her.

Beltran was not charged at the time because authorities found there was insufficient evidence to support the claims. He has since been charged in connection with the allegations.

While school officials determined there was no wrongdoing by Beltran and advised he no longer touch any of his female students to protect himself from further misinterpretation, the investigation was never relayed to top district administrators until after the teacher’s arrest.

The new policy revamped reporting procedures to require that a principal file a confidential incident report with the superintendent.

“In reviewing previous policies, the Ad Hoc Policy Committee has found several previous SMMUSD policies on essential aspects of child safety to be inadequate or nonexistent,” Michael Chwe, a parent and committee member, said. “Many other school districts and organizations such as AYSO [American Youth Soccer Organization] and Little League have required criminal background checks of volunteers for years, but until now, the SMMUSD has had no policy at all.”

If adopted next month, the new regulations would affect parent volunteers accompanying the Santa Monica High School Marching Band in its trip to London to perform at the New Year’s Day Parade. The Santa Monica Band Parent Association has asked for an exemption given the time constraints but that request has been denied, according to Helen Weary, who serves as co-president.

Approximately 14 parent volunteers are expected to travel with the band, all of whom will honor the regulation and submit their fingerprints, Weary said.

“Whatever allays people’s concerns is good,” she said regarding the new policy.

Rebecca Kennerly, a parent who also serves on the policy committee, noted that there was a desire to bring the district’s rules and practices more in line with organizations like the AYSO, though she added that most volunteers work under the supervision of a teacher.

“They’re not alone in any way but I do think that with this growing technology that makes (live scan fingerprinting) available, it’s always better to have a policy … that looks at those few volunteers that are alone with students.” melodyh@smdp.com

Movie TimesHoroscope Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

11

MOVIE TIMES AERO THEATRE 1328 Montana Ave. (323) 466-FILM Call theater for information.

AMC LOEWS BROADWAY 4 1441 Third Street Promenade (310) 458-1506 Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 1hr 46min 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:45

Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 1 hr 46min 1:30, 2:30, 4:00, 5:00, 6:30, 7:30, 9:15, 10:30 Role Models (R) 1hr 35min 2:15, 4:45, 10:05

Happy-Go-Lucky (R) 1hr 58min 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 9:50 Christmas Tale (Un conte de Noel), A (NR) 2hrs 30min 1:00, 4:30, 8:00

MANN'S CRITERION THEATRE 1313 Third St. (310) 395-1599

Bolt in Disney Digital 3D (PG) 1hr 36min 1:15, 3:35, 6:15, 9:00 Bolt (PG) 1hr 36min 2:00, 4:30, 7:15, 9:45

Body of Lies (R) 2hrs 08min 11:10am, 4:10, 9:50

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG) 1hr 29min 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40

Changeling (R) 2hrs 20min 3:15, 6:45, 10:00

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) 1hr 40min 2:10, 4:45, 7:20, 9:55

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG) 1hr 29min 1:45, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30

Twilight (PG-13) 2hrs Digital Projection, Special Engagement 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30

Synecdoche, New York (R) 2hrs 03min 4:15, 7:10, 10:00

LAEMMLE’S MONICA FOURPLEX 1332 Second St. (310) 394-9741 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (PG-13) 1hr 33min 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:45, 10:10

AMC 7 SANTA MONICA 1310 Third St. (310) 289-4262 Max Payne (PG-13) 1hr 40min 2:20, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Rachel Getting Married (R) 1hr 56min 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, 9:55

Twilight (PG-13) 2hrs 11:00am, 12:30, 1:45, 3:30, 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30 JCVD (R) 1HR 32min 12:00, 2:20, 5:00, 7:40, 10:10 Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (PG-13) 1hr 30min 2:00, 7:10 Zack and Miri Make a Porno (R) 1hr 41min 12:10, 2:40, 5:20, 8:00, 10:40

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Mosey on home, Leo ARIES (March 21-April 19)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

★★★★ Others have a lot to share; do listen.

You might be taken aback by all the information that heads in your direction. Deal with a key associate on a one-on-one level. You don’t need others’ feedback. Tonight: Share news with a good friend.

★★★ Go that extra mile. It makes a difference in how you handle finances and others. Know that you can indulge people without a great cost. You are coming from a very caring base.

Tonight: Easy does it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★★★ You have much to share, but do you have a welcoming audience? Perhaps you need to extend your listening abilities to others.

Many will learn by role-modeling. Great ideas could hatch. Tonight: Dinner for two.

★★★★★ You could change directions at the last minute. News that heads your way gives you important financial information. Be indulgent with a neighbor, loved one or child. This person needs your gentle understanding.

Tonight: Just don’t be alone.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

★★★★ Others dominate. Though you are the idea person, you discover others also have great ideas. Listen and evaluate the possibilities. Your gentle manner goes far. Listen to what is shared, then decide which way you want to go. Tonight: Recognize how much you are your own person.

★★★ Take your time with others. Though you might not mean to step on someone’s toes, you easily could. Be sensitive to others’ needs. If you want to give someone a token of affection, buy a card. You don’t need to go overboard.

Tonight: Get some much-needed rest.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

★★★★★ Your creativity keeps bubbling forward. Your easy style comes out. Listen to news that heads your way. A well-meaning friend has many suggestions to ease your path.

Take one or two. Tonight: Ever playful.

★★★★★ Zero in on what is important — not only for you, but also for others. You might be surprised by how easily you reach a consensus.

Others might be more agreeable than usual because you are! Tonight: Where your friends are.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

★★★ You might be more on top of your game.

Follow through on personal or domestic matters. Make an adjustment with your work. Your efforts mean a lot to someone in your daily life.

Sensitivity to a key individual is important.

Tonight: Mosey on home.

★★★★★ You might wonder which is the right action or what you need to do. Others will be taking their cues from you, adding to your responsibility and perhaps adding to the feeling of being burdened. Tonight: Burning the candle at both ends.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

★★★★★ Visit with those in your daily life.

Often you bypass these people; stop and get to know them better. Keep a conversation lively and incorporate new information. Brainstorm and share. Tonight: Catch up on others’ news.

★★★★★ Realize what information might be missing. Even if you think you have everything together, it wouldn’t hurt to get an expert to give you feedback. A friend supports you in your actions. Tonight: Look past the obvious.

Happy birthday

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JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS The stars show the kind of day you’ll have: ★★★★★Dynamic ★★ So-So ★★★★ Positive ★ Difficult ★★★ Average

You have a strong sense of direction this year, but you might choose to keep your opinions to yourself. Others really might want to hear more of your feedback. Your instincts concerning finances prove to be right-on. Avoid all risks if possible. You have many ways of making money, one of which is a natural talent. You also discover ways of thanking other people and expressing your caring within your budget. If you are single, you have much more going on, and you have a lot to offer. Sometimes you will choose not to reveal yourself.

The same might be true of your chosen sweetie. SCORPIO can be secretive.

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Comics & Stuff 12

A newspaper with issues

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

Girls and Sports

Sudoku

By Justin Borus and Andrew Feinstein

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from ★ (easiest) to ★★★★★ (hardest).

The Meaning of Lila

By John Forgetta & L.A. Rose

King Features Syndicate

GETTING STARTED There are many strategies to solving Sudoku. One way to begin is to examine each 3x3 grid and figure out which numbers are missing. Then, based on the other numbers in the row and column of each blank cell, find which of the missing numbers will work. Eliminating numbers will eventually lead you to the answer.

The Other Coast

By Adrian Raeside

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE

Garfield

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ODDS OF A CHILD BEING IN A FATAL AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT: 1 in 23,000

ODDS OF A CHILD BEING DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM: 1 in 166

To learn the signs of autism, visit autismspeaks.org

Dog eat Doug

By Jim Davis

By Brian Anderson

Comics & Stuff Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

13

DAILY LOTTERY 1 22 52 53 56 Meganumber: 45 Jackpot: $96M 1 12 17 20 21 Meganumber: 25 Jackpot: $19M 5 10 16 27 36 MIDDAY: 3 5 5 EVENING: 4 3 5 1st: 10 Solid Gold 2nd: 06 Whirl Win 3rd: 01 Gold Rush RACE TIME: 1.42.75

MYSTERY PHOTO

Soraya Danesh news@smdp.com The first person who can correctly identify where this image was captured wins a prize from the Santa Monica Daily Press. Hint: Check smdp.com for color. Send answers to editor@smdp.com.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the winning number information, mistakes can occur. In the event of any discrepancies, California State laws and California Lottery regulations will prevail. Complete game information and prize claiming instructions are available at California Lottery retailers. Visit the California State Lottery web site at http://www.calottery.com

NEWS OF THE WEIRD BY

Strange Brew

By John Deering

Speed Bump

By Dave Coverly

CHUCK

SHEPARD

■ In November, the Bombay high court expunged the arrangedmarriage records of an Indian couple who had separated immediately after their 1998 honeymoon when the husband complained that he had been unable to consummate because the bride had large boils on her face. She has since been cured of her disorder and did not want future suitors to read of her past.

■ Two high school boys in Markesan, Wis., were hospitalized in September with broken pelvises after a "prank" went bad and a classmate inadvertently drove over them as they lay in the road in front of her car. On the other hand, a professional, Tom Owen (known as the "Human Speed Bump"), was hospitalized in October with similar injuries after he attempted to break the Guinness Book record by being run over by eight vehicles (with the last one, a box truck, leaving him in bad shape). Owen got certification, though, because the truck did pass completely over him.

■ Failure to Keep a Low Profile: (1) University of New Hampshire officials banned Bert Allen III, 44, a convicted sex offender, from campus in September for posting fliers without permission, seeking a "trophy wife." To further draw attention to himself, Allen sued for a restraining order (unsuccessfully) to allow the continued solicitation. (2) Police in Covington, Ky., arrested Gregory Griggs, 19, in October at the USA Motel, a suspected drug market.

Though several people were booked that night, Griggs was the one wearing the T-shirt that read, "It's Not Illegal Unless You Get Caught."

TODAY IN HISTORY the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.

President Bush signed legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head.

1986

2002

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WORD UP! g u e r d o n \GUR-duhn\, noun : 1. a reward verb : 1. to reward, pay back

14

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

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Call us today start and promoting your business opportunities to our daily readership of over 40,000.

YOUR AD COULD RUN TOMORROW!* Some restrictions may apply.

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CLASSIFICATIONS: Announcements Creative Employment For Sale

Furniture Pets Boats Jewelry Wanted Travel

Vacation Rentals Apartments/Condos Rent Houses for Rent Roomates Commerical Lease

For Sale

For Rent

For Rent

Line Cook with valid drives license for catering delivery Must speak English.

Please call (310) 985-0080

VENICE 10 Unit Apt. Bldg.2 blks. from beach $4,125,000.00 Must Sell! Agent: Alex 310-273-1975

Newly Lowered Rates

GIVE OF YOURSELF American Cancer Society Discovery Shop needs sales help. You can contribute by spending 4 hours per week Thurs., Fri., or Sat.assisting in our up-scale resale shop in Santa Monica. Conact Terry or Shaunnah at (310) 458-4490.

Instruction

Room and Board 401 Montana Avenue

microwave,blinds, laundry, tandem gated parking no pets $1795 $500 off move-in (310)578-7512 www.jkwproperties.com

IMMEDIATE POSITIONS available in the Environmental Services Department. Housekeepers needed hospital experience preferred. Must speak English Call (310)829-8431 for interview.

LOOKING FOR A GREAT PART TIME JOB? A leading Market Research Company is looking for Hosts/Hostesses for its Los Angeles Focus Group facilities located in Santa Monica. Must have previous experience in Hospitality, Hostessing, Hotel or Wait Staff or in Market Research or related field. Interested applicants must be computer literate, responsible and flexible, well spoken and have previous experience with direct client interaction both in person and on the telephone.Job responsibilities include greeting clients, meal serving/clearing, audio & video recording as well as basic office and reception duties.

Please email with "CSR Position" in subject line for consideration to mnorris@focuspointeglobal.com Customer service/sales position/on site coordinator at lawfirm in Santa Monica.

Prior experience in lawfirm preferred.Salary negotiable. Contact bsberkowitz@aol.com.

PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME Driver. Must have own car, need to be familiar with L.A. have Ca. driver’s license, English speaking. Can earn up to $100/ a day.

Submit resume to bsberkowitz@aol.com

Daily meals, laundry, housekeeping, utilities, and cable. Studios, 1bdrms avaliable. Seniors and all ages welcome.

Ask about move-in special 1 month FREE.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

Starting at $1,800/MO

TUTORING All subjects, all levels. $40/hr.

(310)775-7599

Beautiful Montana Gardens

(310) 245-9436

For Rent

1248 11TH st. unit I, 3bdrm/1 1/2bath, stove, carpet, blinds, laundry, parking, no pets.on site manager $2595/mo $500 off move in (310)393-6322 www.jkwproperties.com 2BD/3BA CONDO close to UCLA and SMC. Students welcome. $3000/mo.

1314 17th Street, #6, SM. (310)850-5524, Richard.

3623 KEYSTONE Ave.unit 5, $800 bachelor, upper, fridge, microwave, carpet, blinds, utilities included laundry, street parking, no pets (310)578-7512 jkwproperties.com

BOLD IT! MAKE YOUR AD STAND OUT

1417 11th Street #E 1bdrm/1bath $1495 PLEASE Visit our website for complete listings at: www.howardmanagement.com rentals@howardmanagement.com Mar Vista $2300.00 2Bdrms, 2 Baths W / Loft Stove, Refrig, Dshwshr, Wshr/Dryr, Gated Parking, NO PETS 4077 Inglewood Blvd, # 1 Call for Appt. (310)780-3354

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458-7737

UPHOLSTERY

BY ERNESTO Residential 30 YRS EXPERIENCE

Visa & MasterCard accepted

(310) 450-5207 Personal Trainer Storage Space SANTA MONICA, $200/month. large secure garage, north of Montana, plenty of storage, avaliable now call 310-576-0935

QUICKBOOKS BOOKKEEPING service, personal or businesses. Online version available. Call 310 977-7935

Services

Lou Ferrigno Jr Certified Private Fitness Trainer

*Lose weight, shed bodyfat *Exclusively private facility *Individualized routines!

(310) 913-2232 FERRIGKNOW@gmail.com HANNIBAL O.

◊ Tilecraft ◊ Grout cleaning & repair complete shower pan repair complete bathroom remodels Gerry (310)338-0475 ◊ Lic 713459 ◊ TRAINED PROFESSIONAL SINGER Will sing at all parties, churches, women’s clubs, and all occasions.Jolson, Sinatra, Tony Bennett, popular songs, and will have a sing along. Lots of fun. Call Gabe 310-392-6501

Twenty years of experience Training actors and athletes in Europe. I’ll help you achieve your goals (310)985-2524 anibaloliveira1@hotmail.com

Your ad could run here!

WESTCHESTER 6707 W. 86th place B, 2+ 2 upper, bright unit, newly remodeled hardwood floors, tile, carpet d/w

There is no more convincing medium than a DAILY local newspaper.

• Custom made pillows • Drapery & Repairs • We pickup & Deliver (FREE) • FREE in home estimates

Bookkeeping Services

Venice 25 19th Ave. Single unit E $1000/mo stove, fridge, carpet, blinds, laundry, no parking or pets, $300 off move-in (310)578-7512 www.jkwproperties.com

CALL TODAY FOR SPECIAL MONTHLY RATES! Prepay your ad today!

Upholstery

SM garage for storage secure and lock 1934 18th st. $250 /month (310)490-9326

SM LARGE room for rent with private bath and entry close to beach mature, refrig $750/mo + deposit (310)581-8982

$5.50 A DAY LINER ADS! CALL TODAY

Ask for Daniel (310) 309-9422

1020 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica

THIRD STREET PROMENADE. Office in tranquil, architecturally designed six-office suite. Brick, exposed redwood ceiling, original artwork.

Must see to appreciate. Excellent location on the Third Street Promenade.

Perfect for a professional. 11'X11'.use of waiting room and kitchen. Monthly parking pass available.Steve (310)395-2828 X333

Santa Monica/ West LA $1295.00 1Bdrm, 1 Bath.stove, refrig, gas paid, NO PETS 2535 Kansas Ave #211 Open daily 9am-7pm Additional Info in unit Mgr- Apt #101

PALMS 9804 Regent unit #3. 2+2 $1450/mo, dishwasher stove, fridge, carpet, on-site laundry, parking, no pets, $300 off move-in (310) 578-7512 jkwproperties.com

• Painting (ext & int) • Home Repairs (all types) • Electrical & Plumbing • No job too small • FREE ESTIMATES • Fast & Professional

WLA 2577 Armacost Ave, 2bdrm/ 1 bath stove dishwasher microwave carpet central AC/heat 2 car garage front & backyard pet ok with deposit $2750 (310)578-7512 www.jkwproperties.com

Santa Monica/ West LA $1295.00 & up 1Bdrm, 2Bdrms W/ Lofts . See manager at 1935 Cloverfield blvd. #19 for list of vacancies

Help Wanted

REMODELING

3 HOUSES for rent close to Santa Monica College. 3BD/1BA $3,200, 1BD/1BA $1,800, 3BD/1BA $3,200. Ready to move in. Parking no problem. New Paint and appliances. Call (714)450-0224

Commercial Lease

Services

JDM

WLA, UNOBSTRUCTED OCEAN VIEW. 2+2, hilltop upper front. Priv drvwy, large sundeck, cat ok. Newly redeco, $2150.00. 310-390-4610.

Santa Monica/ West LA $1295.00 & up 1Bdrm, 2Bdrms W/ Lofts . See manager at 1935 Cloverfield blvd. #19 for list of vacancies

PUBLICITY SALESPERSON needed p/t or f/t to sell Radio Publicity campaigns to writers, speakers, etc. Full commission, $1,000 per sale and up, plus temporary base of $200/wk for four weeks. Site: Radio-Media.com. Leave message to apply: 310-998-8305 x84 and say you saw the ad in the Santa Monica Daily Press.

PRESCHOOL TEACHER AA degree or higher, in ECE/CD or related field w/3 units supervised field experience in ECE/CD setting; min 105 hrs. of prog growth hrs completed under guidance of prof growth advisor.

Must have Child Dev. Teacher Permit; Send resume to Stepping Stones Child Care, 2527 25th St., Santa Monica, Ca. 90405. Bilingual (English & Spanish a plus). We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

1234 11th Street # 8 1bdrm/1bath $1895 2639 21st Street 2bdrm/1bath $2300

Wealth and Success Lost and Found Personals Psychic Obituaries Tutoring

MAINTENANCE

2814 KANSAS Ave SM $2450/mo 2bdrm 1 bath duplex hardwood floors, remodel kitchen and bathroom (424)228-4633

FOUR FULLY self contained trailers for rent across from Will Rogers state beach 2 miles from Santa Monica Pier $1095/mo and $995/mo (310)454-2515 HOWARD MANAGEMENT GROUP (310) 869-7901

Computer Services Attorney Services Business Opportunities Yard Sales Health and Beauty Fitness

Remodeling

WLA $1750/MO. Large bright 2 bdrm upper, on Barrington near National. Very spacious. Large closets, crown moldings, new carpet appliances Closed garage Well maintained, charming, older building in popular WLA area.near Whole Foods. FREE MONTH WITH ONE YEAR LEASE (310)828-4481 or (310)993-0414 after 6pm.

One bedroom apartment West LA $1300 (310)391-8880

PART-TIME SALES position. Our attorney service is looking for referrals to law firms. Referrals result in ongoing commissions. Submit resume to bsberkowitz@aol.com

Real Estate

Houses For Rent

MAR VISTA, 11621 Braddock Dr. unit 16 2bdrm. 1.5 bath, $1350, townhouse style, stove, carpt, w/d hookup, patio, gated parking, carpet, intercom entry, no pets.$500 off move-in (310)967-4471 www.jkwproperties.com WLA, LARGE 3+2. OCEAN VIEW, top of hill, prv drvwy, 3 patios/backyard, gated, no pets. Redeco $2550/mo 310-390-4610.

Real Estate Real Estate Loans Storage Space Vehicles for Sale Massage Services

All classified liner ads are placed on our website for FREE! Check out www.smdp.com for more info.

Employment

Your home away from home.

458-7737

*Please call our Classified Sales Manager to reserve your ad space. Specific ad placement not gauranteed on classified ads. Ad must meet deadline requirements. See complete conditions below.

Call us today at (310) 458-7737

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING CONDITIONS: REGULAR RATE: $5.50 a day. Ads over 15 words add 20¢ per word per day. Ad must run a minimum of twelve consecutive days. PREMIUMS: First two words caps no charge. Bold words, italics, centered lines, etc. cost extra.

Please call for rates. TYPOS: Check your ad the first day of publication. Sorry, we do not issue credit after an ad has run more than once.

DEADLINES: 3:00 p.m. prior the day of publication except for Monday’s paper when the deadline is Friday at 2:30 p.m. PAYMENT: All private party ads must be pre-paid. We accept checks, credit cards, and of course cash. CORRESPONDENCE: To place your ad call our offices 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, (310) 458-7737; send a check or money order with ad copy to The Santa Monica Daily Press, P.O. Box 1380, Santa Monica, CA 90406 or stop in at our office located at 410 Broadway, Suite B, Santa Monica. OTHER RATES: For information about the professional services directory or classified display ads, please call our office at (310) 458-7737.

HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY 9:00am - 5:00pm

LOCATION 410 Broadway, Suite B, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit us online at smdp.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

GET RID OF YOUR ROLLERBLADES. Sell your sports equipment to someone who will actually use it.

Prepay your ad today!

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Services

458-7737 Services

To be published in Santa Monica Daily Press 11/11/2008, 11/18/2008, 11/25/2008

Therapy

AFFORDABLE HOUSE CLEANING $40 by day, honest reliable, own transportation, references, L.I./L.O. nanny housekeepers. Low fees, been in business since 1988, open 7 days. Call, ask for (818)705-0295 or fax (818)705-2927

STILL L SMOKING?

A/C CONSTRUCTION General Construction Commercial & Residential

Remodel & Add ons Honest. Reliable.

FREE ESTIMATES — Sabbath Observed—

There is no more convincing medium than a DAILY local newspaper.

Notices

Cleaning

Gen. Contracting

CALL TODAY FOR SPECIAL MONTHLY RATES!

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Classifieds

$ 50 5 per day. Up to 15 words, 20 cents each additional word.

Your ad could run here!

Call us today at (310) 458-7737

Life is short — Why make it shorter

John J. McGrail, C.Ht. Certified Hypnotherapist (310)) 235-2883 www.hypnotherapylosangeles.com

Legal Services

Considering Filing for Bankruptcy?

“Your Local Santa Monica Attorney”

310.278.5380 Lic# 804884 Fully Insured

Pines Remodeling

• Free phone consultation • Speak to your local Santa Monica Attorney • Get the facts now

A PROFESSIONAL LEGAL CORPORATION

up

to

20% OFF

coupon

2001 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica CA 310 453 8320 www.lawgross.com

Local Contractor

Lost & Found

• Kitchen • Bathroom • Windows • Patio • General remodeling

$300 REWARD 4 INTACT RECOVERY BLACK PLASTIC FILE BOX w/ handle.

10''x14''x11''. FELL FROM CAR on FRI., NOV. 14th, @ 12:30 pm, on 4th STREET near EAST BOUND ON-RAMP to 10 FRWY. CONTENTS: RECORDS/FILES (CRITICAL) - CONTACT DR. SULLY, M.D., @ (310)450 - 5025, or at Sullytoo@verizon.net; $300 REWARD if contents intact.

Cell: (818) 735-7856 Free Estimates LIC: 848754

Handyman

The Handy Hatts Painting and Decorating Co.

SINCE 1967 RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL SPECIALISTS IN ALL DAMAGE REPAIR “EXPERT IN GREEN CONCEPTS” Free estimates, great referrals

FULL SERVICE HANDYMAN FROM A TO Z Call Brian @ (310) 927-5120 (310) 915-7907 LIC# 888736 “HOME SWEET HOME”

Photography

Massage BLISSFUL RELAXATION! Heal your body, mind, spirit. Therapeutic bodywork/energy healing. Strictly non-sexual. Introductory specials $68.00. Lynda, L.M.T. (310) 749-0621 EXQUISITE, INTUITIVE, strong and tender relaxing body work by mature European.

Very Professional, Sonja (310) 397-0433.

Personals LADIES INTERNET DATING PICTURES male photographer will take quality pictures for your profile indoors or out SM residence affordable rates Lawrence (310)266-5416

Notices SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department Suffolk Division Docket No. 08d0254

SIGN UP TO GET FREE AMBER ALERTS ON YOUR CELL PHONE. wirelessamberalerts.org

A child is calling for help.

Loraine Toorie, Plaintiff(s) v. Dante Hamoon Samimi, Defendant(s) To the above named Defendant(s): A Complaint has been presented to this Court by the Plaintiff(s), Loraine Toorie, seeking a Complaint for Divorce Pursuant to Supplemental Probate Court Rule 41 1, an Automatic Restraining Order has been entered against the above named parties, and that the said defendant cannot be found within the Commonwealth and that his/her present whereabouts are unknown: that personal service on said defendant is therefore not practicable, and that said defendant has not voluntarily appeared in this action.

You are required to serve upon ___ - plaintiff(s) – attorney for plaintiff(s) – whose address is ___, your answer on or before February 12, 2009.

If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer in the office of the Register of this Court at Boston.

Witness, John M. Smoot, Esquire, First Justice of said Court at Boston, this 27th day of October, 2008.

HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY 9:00am - 5:00pm

LOCATION 410 Broadway, Suite B, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

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