Eight new Santa Monica Fire Department Dispatch personnel ride on a sandtram at Santa Monica Beach on Thursday, Aug 6, 2009, during a training exercise. They where surveyingthe beach area and lifeguard stations. Dispatch is returning to the Santa Monica Fire Department

Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women performs at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, during the 25th Anniversary Twilight Dance Series.

Goldie, a 3 year old blue-and-gold Macaw (Ara ararauna), sits atop a girls arm at the Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday, August 4, 2009. Macaws can be trained to talk and live between 30 to 50 years.

Teenage girls from Pico Youth & Family Center's (PYFC) Woman of Empowerment (WOE) group wash a car on Saturday, August 1, 2009, to raise money for a graduation event. Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC), a non-profit organization in Santa Monica is committed to preventing youth violence. Through various services and caring staff support PYFC brings hope to the lives of youth. They serve hundreds of youth annually, ages 16-24 who are most at risk, through case management, counseling, tutoring, job readiness training, leadership development, music, art and computer training. The PYFC is a positive alternative to the streets for many of Santa Monica's youth and young adults who seek guidance, support and service.

(1) Nicholas Rosenberg, 10, shakes the paw of McGruff, the crime fighting dog during the 26th Anniversary of National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 04, 2009. (2) Kids play on a Santa Monica Police SWAT Hummer during  National Night Out. (3) Santa Monica Police Sergeant Thomas lands his helicopter at Santa Monica City Hall's front lawn for National Night Out.

National Night Out 2008 involved 37 million people in 15,449 communities from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. National Night Out 2009 is expected to be the largest ever. The goal of the Santa Monica Police Department is to build upon the good relationship our police and community share along with celebrating that partnership which makes the city of Santa Monica such a safe place to live, work, and visit. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

This year’s event theme is “Back to Basics” and the SMPD is highlighting the efforts of  their Homeless Liaison Program and the City’s “Project Homecoming.” This program is available to homeless individuals and families currently receiving services from City-funded homeless agencies, individuals in the process of discharge from the criminal justice, health, mental health or substance abuse systems in Santa Monica who will be homeless upon discharge. The goal of the program is to reunify individuals with their family members by arranging and providing travel assistance.

The event featured carnival games with prizes, the ballet folklorico dance recital, and the Police Activities League ( PAL ) martial arts demonstrations. Free food and drinks was provided and everyone had an opportunity to win a raffle prize.

Some of the sponsors for this year’s event include the Santa Monica Police Officers’ Association, 7-Eleven, Famima, MP Urban Marketing-Jarritos, Ocean Park Pizza, Bookmark Café, and Bud’s Deli.

A cameraman from Santa Monica City TV records 'Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited' performing at the Santa Monica Pier during the 25th Anniversary Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 30, 2009. 

Odissi Dance Circle performs during the 33rd Annual Festival of Chariots on Sunday, August 2, 2009. Odissi dance is a classical dance form of Orissa and has its origin in the temples. The Festival of the Chariots featured free feast for thousands, free entertainment, exhibits and booths all bringing together the finest in Indian culture. The festival celebrates Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe, and is put on by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The Festival of the Chariots is now performed in every country across the world and dates back 5 thousand years to Jagannatha Puri, India.

Harre Krishna's hand-pulls three fully decorated, four-story chariots during the 33rd Annual Festival of Chariots on Sunday, August 2, 2009. The parade commenced at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and traveled south on Main St., west on Rose Ave., south on the Venice Boardwalk and ended at the Ocean Front Walk Plaza in Venice. The Festival of the Chariots featured free feast for thousands, free entertainment, exhibits and booths all bringing together the finest in Indian culture. The festival celebrates Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe, and is put on by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The Festival of the Chariots is now performed in every country across the world and dates back 5 thousand years to Jagannatha Puri, India.