By Daily Press staff
Care to know what is going on north of Wilshire? The Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition (WILMONT) will host its annual meeting on Saturday, June 25, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Reed Park Auditorium at Seventh Street and Wilshire Boulevard. This year’s annual meeting will feature refreshments, door prizes, presentations and discussions among residents. The scheduled speakers are Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr.; Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent John E. Deasy; and Santa Monica Planning Department staff to update Wilmont on the General Plan. Other agenda items include the election of board members and discussions of resident concerns.
The meeting will be attended by City Council members and other local officials, in an effort to give attendees a chance to present his or her views directly to local representatives.
“Wilmont gives everyone the opportunity to be heard,” said Rob Rader, chair of the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition. “This past year, Wilmont has taken positions on affordable housing, the proposed fluoridation plant, the Garden of Angels school at 18th and Washington, outdoor dining on Montana Avenue and extending preferential parking for businesses. We’ve continued adding new board members to ensure that Wilmont retains its vital connection to the community.
“Neighborhood organizations are the lifeblood of the city and participating in the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition is the best way for a Wilshire/Montana resident to get involved,” he added.
There will be door prizes for attendees provided by local merchants, including from Bagel Nosh, Fromin’s, Izzy’s, Panera, Three Bags Full, Starbucks, Jafra Skin Care, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Number One Beauty Supply, Pavilions, Ron Teeguarden’s Drgon Herbs and Staples.
The next regular Wilmont board meeting is July 18 at 7 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center on Fourth Street. Board meetings are every third Monday and are open to the public.
For more than a decade, the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition has addressed the concerns of its members by organizing neighbors to work with the city and local businesses to ensure that residents’ voices are heard. The Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition is a non-profit 501 corporation and has the largest population within its boundaries of any neighborhood organization in the city. The boundaries are: Montana Boulevard to the north (both sides); Ocean Avenue to the west; 21st Street to the east; and Wilshire Boulevard to the south (north side only). Annual membership dues are $10 per person, $15 per family. For more information, contact Wilmont at: Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition, P.O. Box 607, Santa Monica, CA 90406, or (310) 840- 2257. www.wilmont.org
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 21, 2005. Read the original PDF.