Captain Scott Ziegert escorts the eight 2008 Santa Monica Fire Department Graduates on Saturday, October 26, 2008, at the Fire Academy. The graduates demonstrate their life-saving skills during the graduation exercise.

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(top) Artist Janet Rodriguez places flowers on to her Alfombras de Aserrin (sawdust carpet) during Edison Language Academy's Sixth Annual Day of the Dead Fall Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2008. The making of alfombras de aserrín, with its vivid colors and eye-catching patterns is a Guatemalan tradition that dates back to the Mayans. Mayans made these carpets with flowers for the kings to walk on as they made their way to Mayan ceremonies. In the 16th Century, the Catholic church altered the tradition of the alfombra and began to use colorful sawdust to create them. The Alfombras are made from hand-dyed sawdust, pine-needles, flowers, vegetables and is a community-forming tradition.

(top) Karen Benjamin and Alan Chapman perform Broadway classics during the Upward Bound House's Welcome Home Gala fundraiser at at the Broad Stage on October 23, 2008. The event honored Dee Menzies, the Families and Faculty of Carlthrop School with the Humanitarian Award. (center) Carlthorp School 's Fourth Grade Students perform "Give My Regards To Broadway," during the Welcome Home Gala. (above) Master of Ceremonies, Leanza Cornet performs during the closing ceremony. UBH is a community-based 501 (c) (3) nonprofit social service agency located in Santa Monica California that provides affordable housing for homeless families with children and very low-income seniors. Founded in 1990, the non-denominational agency fulfills its mission through three programs. Family Place, a transitional housing facility for homeless families with minor children has graduated over 850 individuals, including over 525 children from the program into permanent, independent housing since opening in 1997. Senior Villa, an affordable housing facility for the very low-income elderly houses 90 individuals every night. And the S. Mark Taper Intergenerational Center, which brings together the three generations housed at Upward Bound House, where they interact and receive services that enable each resident to lead an enriched, empowered, and independent life.

The glowing sun sets over Santa Monica Bay on Monday, October 20, 2008.

(top) Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem, Richard Bloom, and his 9 week-old black Lab  'Jackson' welcome  Santa Monica's newest teachers during  Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's 14th Annual Education Celebration at Le Merigot on Thursday, October 23, 2008. (center) McKinley Elementary School teachers (left to right) Principal Irene Gonzalez, Kristen Mowry, Nancy Murphy, and Mary Carpenter examine their stuffed door prize during the Education Celebration at  Le Merigot. The event is held to welcome new teachers to the district and celebrate educational excellence.

(top) Santa Monica Daily Press Editor and Chief, Kevin Herrera, who served as the moderator, asks the panel tough questions that face the city during the '2008 Local Candidates Forum Squirm Night' at Santa Monica Public Library's Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008. The forum included questions posed by the SMDP editorial staff as well as questions from the public. Candidates for the Santa Monica City Council (left to right) are;Peace Activist Jerry Rubin, Flight Attendant Jon Louis Mann, Writer Ted Winterer, Council member Bobby Shriver, Retired Stock Broker Herbert Silverstein, Attorney Susan Hartley, Data Entry Operator Linda Armstrong, Council member Ken Genser, Mayor Herb Katz, Business Advisor Michael Kovac, Physical Therapist Linda Piera-Avila, Actor/Entrepreneur John Blakely, Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bloom and Entreatment Consultant Terence Later.

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(top) Santa Monica Police Officer Dawson gives field sobriety test to St. Monica High School Students on Tuesda, October 21, 2008, during "Red Ribbon Week." (center) St. Monica's High School Students wear 'Drunk Buster Goggle' to simulate .08 Impairment. (above) Santa Monica Police Officer John Gallagher gives a Breathalyzer test to a St. Monica High School student. The educational event was sponsored by SMPD and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD.

MADD is a non-profit organization that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving and prevent underage drinking. The campaign is a unified way for communities to take a stand against drugs and show intolerance for illicit drug use and the consequences to all Americans. The Red Ribbon Campaign is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-October 31 each year.

Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually, every October and is a way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against substance abuse. Schools, businesses, the faith community, media, families, and community coalitions join together to celebrate Red Ribbon Week in many ways, such as: sponsoring essay and poster contests; organizing drug-free races; decorating buildings in red; handing out red ribbons to customers; holding parades or community events; and by publicizing the value of a drug-free, healthy lifestyle.