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Read the January issue now!
The Santa Monica Star Newspaper and online edition publishes monthly in addition to E-missives we send out to connect you with local businesses and community.


The 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Takes Place January 16 - 19
Bonnie Boswell, an award-winning producer, reporter, and talk show host will be the keynote speaker for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s celebration on Monday, January 19. All community members are invited to attend the special events beginning with the MLK Freedom Celebration and Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, January 16, sponsored by the Santa Monica Area Interfaith Council at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Ocean Park Blvd. and 14th Street. On Saturday, January 17, at 3


Palisades: The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
Thousands of neighbors turned out for the Christmas tree lighting on December 6. Saturday, December 6 may very well go down as the most wonderful day of the year in Pacific Palisades – and without question, the best day of 2025. Not because of the lights, music, or celebrations themselves, but because, for the first time since the wildfire reshaped our landscape and our lives last January, the entire community seemed to breathe again. The day unfolded from warm afternoo


Luxe Homecare Provides Services to Help Seniors Maintain Their Independence
Several members of the office staff pose for a photograph with Fay and Ben (pictured in center) before going into a meeting. Managing a home health care agency is a continual challenge with rewards for Luxe Homecare owners Ben Adel and Fay Vahdani. About 15 years ago, Ben finished working on his MBA at UCLA. Fay, a young mother of one daughter, was not sure what direction she would move in. Her background had been in fashion and marketing. She and her husband were tol


Kahunas Patrol of Troop 223: Resilience, Service, and Brotherhood in the Face of Adversity
The Kahunas Patrol took a tour of the office of HGA Architects. This past year, the Kahunas Patrol of Troop 223 in Pacific Palisades has faced challenges few could have anticipated. In January 2025, deadly wildfires swept through the community, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. Many members of Troop 223 lost their homes, while others saw their neighborhoods and routines upended. For the Scouts, these were not just news stories – they were personal losses, etched i


Let’s Goal Together at the Santa Monica Family YMCA
As we turn the page into a brand-new year, the Santa Monica Family YMCA is inviting the community to embrace 2026 with purpose and achievable goals. Our January membership promotion, proudly themed “Let’s Goal Together,” is all about inspiring individuals and families to take meaningful steps toward healthier, happier living. Whether your focus is fitness, connection, stress reduction, or simply trying something new, we’re here to help you set those intentions… and to st
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