INSIDE SCOOP COMMENTARY FOOD COMMUNITY PROFILE PAGE 3 SANTA MONICA IS NOT FOR SINGLES PAGE 4 MARKETS GOING LOCAL PAGE 9 Visit us online at smdp.com MONDAY,APRIL 30, 2007 Volume 6 Issue 144 Santa Monica Daily Press RANDY THE PATRIOT SEE PAGE 13 Since 2001: A news odyssey THE IN A DESERT FAR, FAR AWAY ISSUE Airport park a mixed bag BY KEVIN HERRERA Daily Press Staff Writer SM AIRPORT A seldom explored corner of Santa Monica came alive Sunday as hundreds of families flocked to the opening of Airport Park, eight-acres of open space that fea- tures the city’s first synthetic-turf soccer field, its third dog park, a children’s playground and a picnic area complete with massive grills for barbequing. Parents sat in the shade and watched as their kids climbed on a jungle gym, tossed footballs through the air or frolicked with the family dog. Others spread out blankets on the soft grass and listened to music from the Belle Air Brass as lines formed for free food from local eateries. Elected officials along with city staff were also on hand to share in the festivities as Santa Monica celebrated the first new city-built park to open in 24 years, a great accomplish- ment considering the lack of open space and high cost of land within the city limits. “This is just beautiful,” said Deanna Hagan, who grew up a few blocks away from the Santa Monica Airport and remembers the area being relatively deserted. She was sur- prised to see so much activity in a place where she once was prohibited from going as a teen, and in fact had been busted by airport security for trespassing. SEE PARK PAGE 12 Adults get a kick BY DAILY PRESS STAFF AIRPORT PARK City Hall is looking to fill a void. Thanks to the opening of the new, eight-acre Airport Park, there now is enough room to begin an adult soccer program. The new park includes a three-acre, synthetic turf soccer field with lights that will allow adults to play at night during non-peak hours, said Barbara Stinchfield, City Hall’s direc- tor of Community and Cultural Services. The lack of available space and the high demand for the youth soccer program has made it difficult to host an adult soccer program in the city. “Nearly 2,500 youth participated in a soccer program in the city last year, yet once these youth become adults, they are left no opportunity for organized play,” a report to the City Council states. Scheduled to begin in late spring of this year and run approximately 10 weeks, the Adult Soccer League pilot pro- gram will complement the city’s existing adult basketball, volleyball, and softball leagues, which have approximately 4,200 participants. Fabian Lewkowicz [email protected] The pilot will be operated by the Community Programs UP, DOGGY: Sara Winter plays tug-of-war with Scout, an Australian Cattle dog, in the new dog park at the Santa Monica Airport Park on Sunday. Some Los Angeles residents believe they should have access to the canine portion of the city park as well. SEE SOCCER PAGE 11 Gary Limjap VONS RALPHS ALBERTSONS AND OTHER LOCAL RETAILERS UP TO 90% TAXES (310) 586-0339 ALL FORMS, ALL TYPES, ALL STATES ON YOUR NEXT AUDITS • BACK TAXES • BOOKKEEPING • SMALL BUSINESS It’s all about you... The client SAVE SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA SAVE GROCERY BILL GROCERY BILL (310) 395-9922 100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800 www.iCanShop4Less.com Santa Monica 90401 you Calendar Do look this happy while working out? 2 MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007 A newspaper with issues Easton Gym features: I No Sign-Up A Great Location on the Third Street Promenade Awesome Trainers All for only $55 per month 1920 Santa Monica Blvd. (Corner of 20th & Santa Monica Blvd.) (310) 829-9597 Hours: 6:30am - 10:00pm Daily 310.395.4441 1233 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica April Political Film Series 1900 Pico Blvd., 6:30 p.m. Santa Monica College's Monday night political film series continues in April with a screening of the Oscar-nominated movie "Hotel Rwanda.” The free screening, which is followed by audience discussion, will take place in Room 105 of the History & Social Sciences Building. The series features provoca- tive movies that deal with war, race, genocide, the environment, politics and the media, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and nuclear annihilation. Political Science Professor Alan Buckley and Film Studies Professor Josh Kanin host and moderate the after-screening discussions. For information, call (310) 434-4588 or (310) 434-4510. Bridge Lesson 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., 1 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. A brief lesson from Life Master Jeri Berger will be followed by sample hands and play. The event is free. Call (310) 450-0443 to sign up. Second Annual Santa Monica Teen Film Festival The festival invites teens in seventh-grade through twelfth, or ages 12 to 18, to submit original films between two and 30 minutes in length. Submissions in all categories will be accepted. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 4. Film entries that meet the minimum criteria will be consid- ered for screening at the festival in June. Entry forms and submission guide- lines are available online at www.smteenfilmfest.org or at the Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center, located at 2200 Virginia Avenue and the Santa Monica Main Library Youth Reference Desk, located at 601 Santa Monica Boulevard. For more information about the festival or about film submis- sions, call the Cultural Affairs Supervisor Justin Yoffe at (310) 458-8634 or e-mail him at [email protected]. Free English and Citizenship Classes 2510 Lincoln Blvd., times vary Classes are offered morning, afternoon and evening at the Santa Monica Adult Ed Center. For more information, call (310) 664-6222. Hatha Yoga at FPC 1220 Second St., 7 p.m. — 8:15 p.m. Yoga instructor John Sweetman will lead in the Renaissance Room at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica. Cost is $5 per class. Argentine Tango Class with Makela Brizuela 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, 9 p.m. — 10 p.m. Meet people while dancing the Argentine Tango. No partner required. For more information visit www.makelatango.com. Tuesday, May 1, 2007 Citywide Reads Book Discussion at Barnes & Noble 1201 Third Street Promenade, 7:30 p.m. — 9 p.m. Join others in reading and discussing the Santa Monica Citywide Reads 2007 featured book, “The Time Traveler's Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger. Malibu Pier Sportfishing 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 6 a.m. — 5:30 p.m. Half-day Sportfishing boat excursions will depart from the Malibu Pier seven days a week through May 31. Boats will depart at 6 a.m. and noon from Wednesday through Monday; weather permitting. On Tuesdays one trip will depart at 6 a.m. Ticket prices are $37.50 for all ages. The excursions last approximately 5 1/2 hours. A galley onboard will provide food and beverages for purchase. Fishing equipment is available for rent. For more information and reservations, call (310) 456-8031. Sustainable Works Green Living Workshop 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 7 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. Sustainable Works' Green Living Workshop is a 6-week course designed to help residents learn about important environmental issues, save valuable resources, lower utility bills, and protect household health. Cost is a sug- gested donation of $25 for the full 6 weeks; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. To reserve your space today, call Anna Cummins at (310) 458- 8716, ext. 1 or e-mail her at [email protected]. For more information on any of the events listed, log on to smdp.com and click the “Events” tab for the given day’s calendar. Inside Scoop Visit us online at smdp.com MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007 3 Sea animals COMMUNITYPROFILES STACY PERALTA wash ashore By the Associated Press LOS ANGELES Rescuers worked Saturday to save more dead and dying dolphins and sea lions that have washed up on Southern California beaches, believed poisoned by a naturally occurring toxic acid. A bloom of ocean algae that produces domoic acid may be responsible for killing or sickening dozens of the sea mammals, including birds, in recent weeks, environ- mentalists said. On Friday state health officials warned consumers against eating certain locally har- vested shellfish and seafood because they may be contaminated with the acid. At least four sea lions were found Saturday on shores in Marina del Rey, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Venice, said Peter Wallerstein of the Whale Rescue Team. "We've done at least 35 rescues in the past couple weeks," Wallerstein said. "The local marine care center is at full capacity and they are putting restrictions on how many ani- mals we can bring in." SEE POISON PAGE 10 Christine Chang [email protected] LOCAL LEGEND: Stacy Peralta stands in front of a ledge dotted with metal knobs to prevent skaters from skating in the 2901 Ocean Park Plaza. Local group "Isn't it sad that kids are now prevented from doing something healthy [such as skating]," Peralta said. assails Trump From Dogtown to Hollywood BY SAMANTHA YOUNG Associated Press Legendary skater WE SKATED LITERALLY NOT KNOWING IF SACRAMENTO Billionaire Donald Trump makes wide impact ANYONE ON THE PLANET SKATEBOARDED.” gave $10,000 to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to help pay off his cam- BY MELODY HANATANI Stacy Peralta , legendary skateboarder paign debts, a little more than a month after Daily Press Staff Writer the governor guest-starred on Trump’s TV for a revolution.