April Breland, AKA "Ms. Liberty," promotes Liberty Tax Service on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at the corner of Lincoln and Pico Blvd. The IRS filing deadline for the 2012 tax returns are due on Monday, April 15. 2013. Liberty Tax Service is located at 817 Pico Boulevard.

Longtime peace activist and project coordinator Jerry Rubin  presents a No Toy Guns Merit Award to Actress, Activist, and Mamas and Papas Founding Member Michelle Phillips, Santa Monica/ Malibu School Board Member, Oscar de la Torre and Psychiatrist, Dr. Carole Lieberman during the "No Toy Guns" News Conference at the Third Street Promenade on Friday, January 11, 2013.The press conference was held to draw attention to the negative effects playing with toy guns is having on children and to remind people of the specific dangers of playing with replica toy firearms, and to call for strengthening already existing restrictions.

The Ocean Park Boulevard Complete Green Street project is almost finished!

The Ocean Park Boulevard Green Street project runs from Neilson Way to Lincoln Blvd., and includes a range of improvements designed to result in a better performing, enhanced streetscape environment that is pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented, attractive, green, and provides several environmental benefits, such as capturing and preventing significant volumes of urban run-off from entering the Santa Monica Bay. 

This project is the result of many years of planning and collaboration between community members, City staff, and other local stakeholders. The end result will benefit of the Ocean Park neighborhood and the entire Santa Monica community as a model of sustainability, multi-modality and low-impact street design. 

Some key project elements include:
- Wider sidewalks. 
- Parkway/storm water biofilter swales and infiltration areas, and a drip irrigation system. 
- Over 100 new trees, new landscaping, and medians. 
- New marked crosswalks with enhanced overhead flashing beacons. 
- More visible, painted bike lands and traffic striping, and new bike racks. 
- Street furniture, trash and recycling cans, and 75 pedestrian-scaled light poles. 
- Traffic signal improvements. 
- Los Amigos Park storm drain improvements. 

Ocean Park Blvd. was kept open during construction.

The Complete Green Street was funded by Measure V, Prop 18, Prop C and the City of Santa Monica.

Construction started in December 2011, and should be completed by the end of the month.. 

Photo by FabianLewkowicz.com on Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Santa Monica City Electrician replaces metal-halide lamp for LED street lamps at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, January 10, 2013. “Before people use to complain the lights were not bright enough, now they complain that the lights are to bright,” said a city electrician.

There are a number of benefits to using LED light fixtures in street lighting applications. When comparing LED to metal halide street lighting, there is typically a 50 percent energy reduction with comparable light levels. For example, a 250-watt metal halide fixture would typically be replaced by a 125 to 150 watt LED fixture. While the most efficient pulse-start metal halide lamps are rated for 25,000 hours, LEDs are rated for more than 100,000 hours of useful life. Another reason why LED lights are far superior is because they provide a far higher light output with a directional light source.

Santa Monica Pier Maintenance Personnel Eric Broeske replace a 15 foot wall board on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

Marion Davies Birthday Celebration - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Guests dance during Marion Davies’ Birthday Celebration at the Annenberg Community Beach House Sunday, January 6, 2013. Guests were invited to come in their favorite Gold Coast era attire or dress as if attending one of Marion’s famed costume parties.

Michael Stubbs gives a hug to a customers at 'MIKEY'S HUG DELI' on Santa Monica Beach on Saturday, January 5, 2013. 'Mikey's Hug Deli' is a traveling interactive pop-up art exhibit created by Michael Stubbs. Customers walk up to the counter, ring the bell, and order a Hug from a friendly Hug Ambassador. The menu includes "gangster hugs," "group hugs," and the infamous "long, uncomfortable hug," not to mention the daily hug specials. Each hug costs two compliments.