Electricians from C.T. & F., inc. replace florescent lights and fixtures with L.E.D. ones at the Santa Monica Pier on Monday, Aug 13, 2012.

Elmo and the Cookie Monster spotted together at the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday, July 22, 2012.

Amadou & Mariam perform at the Santa Monica Pier during the 28th annual Twilight Concert Series on Thursday, Aug 16, 2012.

Y La Bamba performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 28th annual Twilight Concert Series on Thursday, Aug 16, 2012.

Santa Monica Police Department Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks congratulates Santa Monica Police Officer Jason Olson for receiving the California Office of Traffic Safety Excellence Award at the Public Safety Facility on August 15, 2012. Officer Olson’s work has served the Santa Monica community well, helping to lower alcohol involved deaths and injuries, training department personnel on driving under the influence detection, serving as a traffic collision investigator as well as using his expertise as a Drug Recognition Expert for identifying individuals driving under the influence of narcotics.  His efforts are why the Office of Traffic Safety is honoring him.   Earlier this year Officer Olson was recognized by the Los Angeles Chapter of MADD for his efforts in arrests of individuals driving while impaired.  In 2011 Officer Olson arrested 60 individuals that were driving while impaired.

California’s law enforcement community must set ambitious goals for traffic safety enforcement and education.  Police department officials have unprecedented responsibilities to prevent traffic fatalities which now occur at the rate of one every two hours, to reduce the number of serious injuries resulting from traffic collisions, and to positively impact the spiraling emergency services and health care costs.  

Richard Golawski paints the New Orleans Building Clock on Main Street on Tuesday, Aug 14, 2012.

Santa Monica City Librarian Greg Mullen (right to left) discusses the new library with Mayor Richard Bloom, City Manager Rod Gould and Council Member Gleam Davis during the Pico Branch Library  groundbreaking ceremony at Virginia Avenue Park on Wednesday, August 15, 2012.

This project is the result of many years of planning and collaboration between community members, City staff, the Pico Branch Project Team, and other local stakeholders, sparked by interest in having a branch library in the Pico neighborhood.

Designed by the award-winning, Santa Monica firm of Koning Eizenberg Architecture, the one-story library will be oriented towards Pico Boulevard and consist of a dynamic, two-building design. The main 7,872 square-foot facility will have children’s, teen and adult collections; popular materials; a children’s area; reading areas; group study rooms; and public computers. Across the fire lane, a separate 818 square-foot community room will be used for story times, educational and cultural programs and will be available for rental by the public. The neighboring structures will be connected at the roofline with a trellis, creating a lively pedestrian breezeway. The first park in the country to receive a LEED silver rating, the Pico Branch Library and surrounding landscape will have many sustainable features and the project is seeking a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Virginia Avenue Park is wheelchair accessible and welcomes persons of all abilities. For special accommodations, contact (310) 458-8688 or TTY (310) 917-6626 at least three business days prior to the event. The park is served by Big Blue Bus  lines 6, 7 and the Sunset Ride. Bicycle parking is available.   

For more information, contact the Santa Monica Public Library at (310) 458-8600. Or visit the Library’s Pico Branch Project website at smpl.org./picobranch.aspx.

Fire at old Fisher Hardware and Lumber site - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Santa Monica Firefighters puts out a fire at 14th and Colorado Ave. on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012. The fire was at the former Fisher Hardware and Lumber Co. site.