Historic Douglas World Cruiser aircraft on course to return to Santa Monica
One of the two remaining Douglas World Cruiser aircraft that took part in the first ever aerial circumnavigation of the world is set to return to the place where it was originally conceived, designed and built, Santa Monica Airport. The accomplishment was completed in 1924 by four aviators from the US Army Air Service, the precursor of the US Air Force, traveling east to west around the northern-Pacific Rim through to South Asia and Europe before returning to the United States. One of the aircraft, the New Orleans, was recently noted by Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Collections Manager Beth Werling as potentially finding a home at the Santa Monica airport, with discussions beginning on how to properly display the plane.
SMMUSD testing challenges persist despite increase participation
During the March 20 meeting of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Board of Education, officials took the board through the Q3 Lead Metrics Report, including winter diagnostic and interim assessment results, as well as secondary grades for the winter semester’s first marking period as well as winter attendance and discipline data. Though not reaching a goal of having 95% participation rates for all district assessments, many of the exams taken in the winter months had increased student involvement. Areas for growth in testing include English Learners and African-American/Black students lagging behind in English Language Arts assessments, and the same groups in highest need of urgent intervention when it comes to math assessments.
Students rock out for sun block out
A multitude of students at Grant Elementary School, spanning multiple grade levels, all came outside together to witness the April 8 solar eclipse, peaking at nearly half-coverage of the moon during the 11am hour. This was the final chance to view an at least partial solar eclipse in the Los Angeles area until January 2029, and the April 8 event was also the last nation-spanning eclipse until 2044. Grant Principal Christian Fuhrer said the event highlighted the importance of science in student curriculum, and that he purchased safety glasses for student viewing a month prior to the eclipse.
Bean bags and police dogs used to subdue armed suspect on the bluffs
The Santa Monica Police Department announced activity at about 12:06pm with all southbound traffic stopped at the 400 block of Pacific Coast Highway and northbound traffic stopped at the 1200 block. Officers confirmed they were dealing with a suspect, 38-year-old homeless male Michael Vincent Parrett, who was armed with a metallic rod. Parrett had previously used the rod to threaten a lifeguard on the 1200 block of the beach, jumping from the roof of Lifeguard Tower 12 and attempting to hit the victim several times. The victim was able to dodge out of the way and was not injured. After a stand-off lasting over an hour, at least one round of a non-lethal bean bag projectile was fired from an officer atop the ladder of a Fire Department truck, while two K9 officers flanked the suspect from both sides in a pincer movement. At this point, the suspect became aggressive, and officers who had remained on the roadside then climbed up onto the lower part of the bluff in bringing the suspect down as safely as possible. He was laid out on the ground, secured and strapped onto a gurney and wheeled into a waiting paramedic unit. Barrett was taken to a local area hospital for evaluation before being transported to the Santa Monica Jail, booked for assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to inflict great bodily injury.
Police Department investigating anti-semitic graffiti across Santa Monica
The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) is actively investigating multiple reports of anti-Semitic graffiti discovered in various locations throughout the city, including the Pico neighborhood, marking sidewalks, trees and light posts. SMPD Chief Ramon Batista said the department is "appalled by these cowardly acts" and that SMPD "is fully committed to upholding the safety and dignity of all members of our community."
Cross-country trek for MS research starts at Pier
On April 3, Michael Azar kicked off the MS Run the US ultra relay at the Santa Monica Pier, committed to running the first segment of a cross-country journey poised to end in New York City in August. Azar’s segment lasted from Santa Monica to Barstow, California, with a goal to raise $10,000 for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. The 2024 relay team, composed of 21 runners, already raised $170,760 as of March 28.
Community unites over passing of Bob Rosenbloom, founder of Bob’s Market
Well-known Ocean Park Blvd. grocery store Bob’s Market closed early on April 9 so that employees, members of the surrounding community and relatives could gather at Hillside Memorial Park to celebrate the life of market founder Bob Rosenbloom. According to Sue Moss, Rosenbloom’s niece and manager of the store, Rosenbloom had been ill for some time, hit with COVID-19 during the pandemic and soon after developing a case of shingles. Rosenbloom was 91 years old and passed away on April 5.
Comedy culture comes together for mental health support
A talented troupe of comedians teamed with Find Your Anchor during April 5’s "Mental Health Day" at the Bergamot Comedy Festival. At The Crow comedy club, jokesters jumped at the chance to make Find Your Anchor boxes, filled with mental health resources such as cards detailing "anchors," or reason to live in the name of suicide prevention and awareness. Find Your Anchor Founder and CEO Ali Borowsky said the process was about creating "tangible" mental health resources, as the boxes are sent out worldwide to those in need requesting them, or put in locations such as libraries or coffee shops for a little "divine intervention."
Gas prices up almost 20 cents
According to gas prices resource GasBuddy, local gas prices in Los Angeles were up about 20 cents in the week of April 2-9 and 35 cents over the last month. Nationally, prices increased 6.5 cents over the same week, and prices are up 17.1 cents from a month ago. A spokesperson for AAA said that the spike in oil prices are partially due to renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure and increasing tension in the Middle East, while GasBuddy experts pointed to the impending switch over to California’s summer blend gasoline taking refineries offline as another reason for the increase.
Nearly three decades of musical success honored at state level
In February, John Adams Middle School Director of Instrumental Music Angela Woo was presented with the prestigious 2024 California Music Educators Association Middle School Music Educator Award. Woo, who has worked at JAMS for 29 years, was commended for her contributions at the middle school level during the 2024 California All-State Music Education Conference in Sacramento. In addition to the state award, the Sacramento conference held what Woo called a "tremendous surprise," an election as a guest conductor for the 2026 California All-State High School Concert Band.
Children’s choral phenomenon powered by local voice
This year, Santa Monica-born Luke McEndarfer is celebrating his 20th year with the National Children’s Chorus, one of the world’s top children’s choirs that boasts a roster of over 1,200 students across eight global chapters. Fresh out of school after graduating from UCLA, McEndarfer was appointed as the fourth Artistic Director for the California Paulist Choristers, transforming the identity into the National Children’s Chorus in 2008. After the first concert in 2009, held at the BroadStage in Santa Monica, the chorus has achieved many accolades including a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.
Popular Broadway Baker shuts doors, will be replaced with brand new bakery
Broadway Baker, the extremely popular pastry store on Wilshire Blvd, closed its doors on April 13, to be replaced with a brand new bakery that will "focus on French and Mexican inspired pastries." The talented chefs behind Broadway Baker, Jim Orsorno and his partner Tom Mueller, have decided to retire, but two more incredible talented bakers, Clémence de Lutz (co-owner of The Gourmandise School) and her partner, Tony Hernandez (Bread Lounge, Friends & Family) are taking over the space. The new establishment, called Petit Grain Boulangerie, is set to debut on May 1.
Financial agreement for Santa Monica, Malibu school separation shared
At a special meeting of Malibu City Council on April 10, a presentation gave an overview of the tax revenue sharing agreement which will take care of financial matters in the potential split of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District into separate Santa Monica and Malibu Unified districts. The agreement is part of a term sheet adopted by Santa Monica and Malibu parties in November 2022, which also includes pending operational and joint powers agreements. The revenue sharing is broken down into two components, a "base year calculation" to be determined once in the first year of separation, and an "annual calculation" for each subsequent fiscal year until termination.
Council approves business tax changes, but stresses importance of assisting small businesses
In an April 9 meeting of Santa Monica City Council, Councilmembers voted to approve the proposed business license modernization and associated business license tax rate changes. According to Assistant City Treasurer Stephanie Manglaras, the tax code modernization reflects economic changes that have occurred in the past few decades. Manglaras noted that the finance department collects business license taxes from approximately 23,000 businesses and 13,000 of those are physically located within the city and the City of Santa Monica adopted its existing business license tax code in 1990, more than 30 years ago.
thomas@smdp.com