| SwimRight Academy Sponsored Post – Water Skills That Help Kids Stay Safer at the Beach: Many families in Santa Monica look for kids swimming lessons before visiting the ocean. Basic floating and breathing control help children stay calmer in moving water. See a local water safety resource. |
| Ocean Park Community Paint Party (3/22 @ 1pm): Gather on Second and Hill for Graffiti Removal, Mutual Support and Celebration! You are invited to paint a section of the wall to cover up the hateful language (if you wish) and Support each other and Celebrate this resilient community with food, music and good people! Come Celebrate Our Diversity Together! |
| Suspected Gunman Linked to Pier Shooting Arrested: An Inland Empire man was arrested and booked in Santa Monica after being accused of firing his weapon at the Santa Monica Pier and injuring one person, police said Monday. Officers with the Santa Monica Police Department had responded to the Santa Monica Pier at around 9 p.m. Sunday after learning about the shooting following a large fight involving multiple people. More details in this NBC4 report and this SaMo.gov report. |
| SMPD’s high-tech system nabs armed robbery suspect: Police said the suspect entered the 7-Eleven store on Lincoln Boulevard at around 4:15 p.m. Monday and tried to steal merchandise. When confronted by the store employees, the suspect took out his gun and pointed it at the workers before running away. As soon as receiving a call about the suspect, the department utilized its SMART Center, a technology and support system that gathers data quickly and and helps with investigations, Santa Monica police said. The SMART Center is equipped with security cameras, automated license plate readers and drones. More details here. |
| Meals On Wheels asks for donations after freezers break: The organizations had to throw out hundreds of meals for homebound people, including seniors and veterans. This NBC4 video report details their current issues and needs. More details here or go to mealsonwheelswest.org to donate food, money, freezers, etc. |
| Santa Monica Set to Become First Jurisdiction to Launch Automated Bike Lane Enforcement: City Manager Oliver Chi’s newsletter details how some “Two SMPD parking enforcement vehicles have now been equipped with camera systems specifically designed to identify and cite bike lane parking violations.” More details here. |
| Coming Soon to Main St. – La Diperie: This is a dipped ice cream concept out of Canada and is moving into the old Holey Grail Donuts space at 2441 Main St. Their Insta says “Real Belgian chocolate dips for cones, cookies, cakes & donuts. WE DIP EVERYTHING” instagram.com/ladiperie_sm |
| Crudo e Nudo Celebrates Five Years on Main Street with Week-long Chef and Winemaker Collaboration Series: “When Chef Brian Bornemann opened Crudo e Nudo on Main Street before COVID, the timing could not have been more uncertain. Restaurants were closing their doors as the pandemic took hold, and the future of dining was anything but clear. Five years later, the small seafood restaurant has not only survived, it has built a loyal following around a simple idea to make local seafood something people eat every day.” More details here on the restaurant’s history and their week-long anniversary celebration from April 13 through April 19, bringing together chefs and winemakers who have been part of the restaurant’s journey. |
| Former SaMo Mayor (and Current OPA Board member!) Judy Abdo named 2026 Assembly District 51 Woman of the Year: “Judy Abdo has spent her life fighting to make Santa Monica a more just, inclusive, and compassionate community,” California Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur said. “As Santa Monica’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayor, she helped break barriers and expand representation at a time when that visibility mattered deeply. Her years of advocacy and grassroots leadership helped shape Santa Monica into the progressive and caring community it is today. I am incredibly proud to honor her as Assembly District 51’s 2026 Woman of the Year.” More details here. |
| The Street Seen: 151 Fraser Ave (Armstrong): Former Riverside business partners, Newberry and Crombie, acquire the vacant lot in 1901, but decide not to build, and sell it in 1903. In 1904, Commodore Armstrong and his wife build one of the largest houses on the street on a double lot at 151 Fraser Ave. More details here. |
| Santa Monica Selects Jay Baldwin as Poet Laureate: Baldwin, who was born and raised in Santa Monica, currently works as a school librarian at a Santa Monica elementary school and is completing a master’s degree in library science. More details here. |
| Letter to the Mayor and Santa Monica City Council from Friends of Sunset Park (FOSP): The FOSP Board has voted to not apply for a city grant this year and published this letter explaining that decision. OPA has applied for the grant. |
| Councilmember Lana Negrete Newsletter: Here is her weekly newsletter, with Public Safety stats (including Sunday night’s pier shooting), street safety upgrades, Economic Development updates, and more. |
| Red Cross Urges Blood Donations: To help combat a shortage, those who donate blood, platelets or plasma through March 31 will receive A1C testing and a $15 Amazon gift card by email. More details at RedCrossBlood.org/March. |
