Santa Monica Sister City Association (SMSCA) President Joseph E. Deering, (left) gives a David Beckham Galaxy jersey to Santa Monica College President and Tournament Organizing Committee Chair, Dr. Chui Tsang during the International Youth Soccer Tournament's Kick-Off Reception at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Sunday, March 1, 2009.

The tournament, which will be held July 28-31 at Santa Monica College, will bring together teams from Santa Monica Sister cities in Mexico, Germany, Japan and Italy and will provide opportunities for youth to exchange friendship through soccer games.

Under the leadership of SMC President Dr. Chui Tsang, and SMSCA President Joseph E. Deering, the tournament will invite youth teams from the following Santa Monica sister cities: Fujinomiya, Japan; Mazatlan, Mexico; Hamm, Germany; and Cassino/S'Entelia, Italy to compete with our local teams.

The motto of the Santa Monica Sister City Association is "Peace in the World - One Person at a Time." To fulfill former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's dream of "citizen diplomats" establishing peace with "people-to-people" contacts between countries, the Santa Monica Sister City Association aims to educate, foster and encourage youth from all over the world.

A boy examines four-year old 'Mertle (right) and Squirtle the Two Headed Turtle' at the Venice Beach Freakshow on Saturday, February 21, 2009. Venice Beach Freakshow has the largest collection of two-headed animals in the world. Thirty two-headed animals can be seen including a two headed snake, pig, chicken, sea horse and raccoon. Visitors can pet Rocky the five leg dog. Admission to the Venice Beach Freakshow is $3.00.

T.L.D. Construction, Inc. workers lay wood beams onto the roof of the Santa Monica Pier new restroom facility on Thursday, Feb 26, 2009. The new Santa Monica Pier restroom facility will provide 32 toilets, 9 urinals, 18 hand wash sinks, a storage area and a 190 sq. ft retail space. A special whimsical feature is  the undulating roof. Construction is due to be completed by summer 2009. The new restrooms is expected  cost $2,891,060.

Warren Metcalfe, 24, an internationally ranked professional surfer and model, autographs a "9:Fish" Barracuda model surfboard on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at the Santa Monica Red Cross chapter. The surfboard was donated by 9:Fish and is worth $700.00. Metcalfe will throw in private surfing lessons to complete the package going up for auction at the Santa Monica Red Cross Red Tie Affair fundraiser. The surfboard and surfing lessons will be auctioned off during a live auction at the 3rd annual gala which is being held at the Fairmont-Miramar Hotel, Saturday evening, March 28, 2009.

A group of Santa Monica Librarians AKA “Book Mob” simultaneously read-aloud excerpts from 'The Shadow Catcher,' by acclaimed author Marianne Wiggins at the Third Street Promenade on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, in support of literacy and to promote the Citywide Reads program. The book mob handed out free copies of the The Shadow Catcher.

The book mob is based on the concept of a flash mob - a group of people who gather together suddenly and perform an unusual action.

Citywide reads is an annual program presented by the Santa Monica Public Library encouraging the community to read and discuss a book together. This years’ selection is The Shadow Catcher. Citywide Reads events and book discussions officially begin on March 7.

(1) After winning the Oscar® for Best Picture at the 81st Academy Awards®, Slumdog Millionaire stars Madhur Mittal, 22,(L) and Taney Chheda,12, (R) ride the rollercoaster at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, February 24, 2009. (2) After winning the Oscar® for Directing and Best Picture at the 81st Academy Awards®, Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle (R) takes direction from Taney Chheda (L) as they enjoy the SIG Alert EV bumper cars at Pacific Park (3) Slumdog Millionaire star Madhur Mittal rides the SIG Alert EV bumper cars at Pacific Park (4 ) Slumdog Millionaire star Taney Chheda rides the SIG Alert EV bumper cars at Pacific Park (5) Oscar winning director Danny Boyle rides the SIG Alert EV bumper cars at Pacific Park (6) Oscar winning director Danny Boyle and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail ride the roller coaster together at Pacific Park. (7) Slumdog Millionaire star Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, 15, (left) Tanay Chheda, 12, ride the Gyro Loop at Pacific Park (8,9) Slumdog Millionaire star Madhur Mittal, 22, (right) and Rubiana Ali, 9, ride the Gyro Loop at Pacific Parkon Tuesday, February 24, 2009.

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film directed by Danny Boyle, co-directed by Loveleen Tandan and written by Simon Beaufoy. It is an adaptation of the Boeke Prize-winning and Commonwealth Writers' Prize-nominated novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup.

Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and exceeds people's expectations. He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.

Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won eight, the most for any film that year, including Best Picture. It also won five Critics' Choice Awards, four Golden Globes, and seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film.

Photojournalist Brandon Wise and Julie Larson, eat a stack of free pancakes at the International house of Pancakes (IHOP) during National Pancake Day on Tuesday Feb.24, 2009. Known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products...hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has raised nearly two million dollars to support charities in the communities in which it operates. With your help, we hope to raise $1,000,000 for Children’s Miracle Network in 2009!

(1) Danielle Noble, Sr. Administrative Analyst - Homeless Services for the City of Santa Monica explains the results during the 2009 Santa Monica Homeless Count Findings Community Forum Convened by the Santa Monica Social Services Commission on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at the Santa Monica Civic Center. (2) Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson and Santa Monica Police Lieutenant Alex Padilla discuss the homeless count results. (3) McKinley Williams, OPPC Development Director, talks with a volunteer during the community forum.

2009 Santa Monica Homeless Count Shows Reduction in Homelessness
New City study will accurately reflect future progress at reducing homelessness

Santa Monica, Calif. – Today the City of Santa Monica Human Services Division (HSD) announced an 8% reduction in the city’s homeless population, based on its recent count of the city’s homeless. Using a new, rigorous methodology that involves physically counting homeless individuals in every census tract of the city, HSD is demonstrating the early success of Santa Monica’s Action Plan to Address Homelessness, and paving the way for accurate evaluation of progress in the future. The Count tallied 915 homeless individuals living within the City’s borders.

“We are pleased, but not surprised, to see a decline in street homelessness,” said Julie Rusk, Santa Monica Human Services Manager. “The City has been working hard for a long time to develop a compassionate and effective plan to address the issues of homelessness in our community. Considering the current state of the economy, this reduction is an indication of the success of our efforts.”

In 2008, the Santa Monica City Council adopted an Action Plan to Address Homelessness. The 2009 Count was designed to gauge the initial progress of the Plan. The Plan, which focuses City services and resources on the most vulnerable populations, aims to end the impact of homelessness in Santa Monica by engaging homeless individuals in services, assisting them to become stable and moving them off of the streets and into appropriate housing.

Today’s announcement bodes well for the City’s new approach. However, there is no denying that “street homelessness remains a major issue in certain areas throughout the city,” according to Santa Monica Police Captain Al Venegas. “But, thanks to the success of City programs like the Homeless Liaison Program (HELP), law enforcement and service providers have begun to work together with the City to help people find ways off the streets.”

The Homeless Liaison Program, a partnership between law enforcement and homeless service providers, is just one example of the City’s new homeless initiatives. The City’s chronic homeless service registry program identifies the city’s most vulnerable individuals, helping service providers to prioritize treatment and find appropriate housing solutions. Santa Monica’s Homeless Community Court provides individuals a second chance to get back on their feet; Project Homecoming reunites homeless individuals with friends and family members who can offer safe and stable housing options.

“The City, in collaboration with service providers, businesses and residents, has shown a continued commitment to finding compassionate and effective solutions to end homelessness in Santa Monica,” stated John Maceri, Executive Director of OPCC. Maceri credited the comprehensive Action Plan for today’s good news. “Fewer homeless individuals on the streets means we are on the right track.”

Santa Monica’s Homeless Count, which was conducted in conjunction with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Homeless Count (www.lahsa.org), covered more than 226 linear miles, including all 19 of the city’s census tract areas. This year’s Count utilized a new, more thorough methodology to ensure that each area within the City’s limits was properly surveyed. City staff is confident that the 2009 Count findings paint an accurate picture of the city’s homeless population.

Bryan Adams, a community volunteer who participated in the 2009 Homeless Count, was also impressed with the City’s dedication to helping the homeless. “I was proud to have participated in the Count, and I’m proud to see Santa Monica take a leadership role on the issue. As a resident, I understand the concerns of other residents and homeowners and I’m happy to know that something is being done to improve things. I’m also happy to know that the City is taking a humane approach, an approach that I think reflects the good will of the people who live here.”

The 2009 Homeless Count was conducted by more than 250 volunteers between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on January 27, 2009.