Welcome to The Santa Monica Star

For years, The Santa Monica Star has been a trusted voice on the Westside – connecting neighbors, celebrating local stories, and fostering meaningful relationships throughout the community. Published monthly in both print and e-newsletter formats, The Santa Monica Star is thoughtfully distributed where life happens – banks, restaurants, medical offices, schools, boutiques, and gathering places across Santa Monica, now extending into Mar Vista and West Los Angeles. Each issue shines a spotlight on the people and businesses that define the area, highlighting our local “celebrities” alongside vibrant coverage of community events. The Santa Monica Star is a platform for connection – helping businesses reach engaged local audiences while keeping the spirit of the Westside front and center.

Wonderful Memories of the 250th Celebration of Our Country’s July 4 Birthday Parade

The U.S. Army Reserve’s 300th Army Band with Mr. Leavy, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Svertson preparing to play in the parade.

Our August Featured Articles

Santa Monica Troop 2 Awards Eagle Scout Rank to Nine Local Youth

By Scoutmaster Mr. John Matise

This year’s Troop 2 Eagle Scouts completed a wide range of public service projects which are goals
for the scout troop. They were: Julian Alexander Grosky – Palisades Charter High School, Class of 2026. “We contributed two outdoor features to the Covenant Preschool in Westchester, Los Angeles: a large planter box and a chalkboard. The concept was to encourage positive experiences for the preschool kids in their outdoor areas.”
Zach Matise – Loyola High School Class of 2027. “We planted 22 eucalyptus trees and five cypress trees, and cleared an overgrown tennis court, restoring areas of Will Rogers State Historic Park that were devastated by the Palisades Fire.”
Oscar Park – North Hollywood High School Class of 2027. “At Kuruvungna Sacred Springs in West Los Angeles we cleared and restored a large overgrown section of land. This included the removal of invasive weeds and vines, and the application of sheet mulching, which helps control weeds.”

FAME Church of Santa Monica Celebrates 105 Years

By Reverend Carolyn Baskin-Bell

The First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Monica (FAME) continues to stand as a representative of faith, hope, and love in this community at large. This AME Church operates as a part of a connectional church founded in 1787 by free slaves led by Bishop Richard Allen with the objective to empower all people. African is merely the heritage of the AME Church but the work, witness, and worship invite all people.
   FAME Santa Monica’s journey launched in 1921 at the home of Richard and Carrie Dumas. As the membership grew, these faithful worshippers moved to the Masonic Hall at 18th and Broadway. Since the late 1920s, the ministry of FAME has provided ministry to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people.

Enter the Community Garden Annual Tomato Competition

By Sarah Caso, California Climate Action Corps Fellow

Calling all gardeners and tomato enthusiasts! Join the Community Garden Program at Ishihara Park’s monthly community breakfast for its annual tomato competition! To pique your interest in tomatoes or just get you excited for the competition, here are some interesting facts relating to tomatoes.
   Tomatoes are a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. Other members of this family include potatoes, peppers, tobacco,and tomatillo. Although tomatillos may look like green tomatoes, they are actually completely different plants. Tomatillos grow in a papery husk and have a tarter and more acidic flavor profile.
Tomatoes also originated in South America, while the tomatillo is native to Central America. And, while tomatoes are botanically a fruit, developing from flowers of the tomato plant, they are legally considered a vegetable by the U.S. Government (ruled in 1893 for taxation purposes)!

Cherishing Summer’s Final Moments

By Cheryl Thode

Every year, August seems to arrive in the blink of an eye. It feels like we were just celebrating the last day of school,dreaming about lazy mornings, family vacations, and all the possibilities that Summer would bring.
   Then suddenly, backpacks are filling store shelves, school supply lists are making their way home, and parents everywhere are wondering where the Summer went.
   If the weather forecasts are right, Southern California is in for some especially hot days this month. While the heat can make us want to stay inside with the air conditioning running full blast, it also brings us some of the best family moments that don’t require elaborate plans or expensive outings. In fact, I’ve found that children usually remember the little things far more than the big ones.

By Lisa Alexander, Esq

 Careful planning for life insurance and retirement accounts (IRAs, 401Ks) can be undone by beneficiary designations gone wrong.
   As a real-world example, father purchased life insurance on his own life, with his son as the beneficiary. When the son died unexpectedly, father attempted to change the beneficiary to his grandson. Forms were submitted to the insurance company but one of the forms was not accepted. The insurance company sent a letter to the father that further action was needed. Unfortunately, the father did not respond and died shortly later. As a result, the life insurance intended for the grandson instead had to be probated. The grandson ended up with only a small share of the insurance money.

Turn Manic Mornings into Marshmallow Mornings

By Frances Barry

It’s only 8 a.m. as you drive away from the school drop-off and you are already exhausted. Yes, you just pulled off the “got to school on time” battle – but it was a victory earned through a dozen small standoffs.
   Mornings serve as a launch pad for the whole day. Calmer mornings can bolster a child’s ability to focus, engage with peers, and shake off small stressors. Taking concrete steps to convert manic mornings into marshmallow mornings can benefit everyone in the family.
Here’s where the ORCA framework – Observe, Reflect, Connect, Act – can help you get started.
O – OBSERVE: Write down every task completed between waking up and school drop-off, for every family member, no matter how small (brush hair, eat breakfast, walk the dog, etc.)
R – REFLECT: Review your list. Can any tasks be eliminated entirely or only done on weekends (make the bed)? Which ones can move to the night before (gym bag by the door)? Can the tasks that cause the greatest friction be simplified?

Making Life’s Endless Decisions

 By Qin Sun Stubis

No matter who we are or how confident we feel, we’re all familiar with the experience of arriving at a crossroads in search of answers to life’s too many questions. Whatever we choose is a result of our decision-making, be it ever so trivial or earth-shakingly important. Sometimes by opting not to make a choice or take a side, we still have made a decision.
   What should I have for breakfast? What should I wear today? Should I accept this new job offer? Who should I hang out with this weekend? The minute we wake up, we are faced with questions. We ponder over the possibilities before we even get out of bed, and before we know it, many of our decisions have already been made.

Welcoming Guests to Your Home

By Maureen Molé

Often, Summertime is when friends and family who live at a distance visit overnight and we also host friends and family at our own homes. Overnight hosting means anticipating your guest’s needs for meals, daily activities, and sleeping arrangements. It’s much trickier than hosting a meal or party, but hopefully the following suggestions will help you.
Hosting Overnight Guests
• When extending the invitation, be sure to determine the day and time they will arrive and also the departure date and time.
• Additionally, give the guests an idea of the activities you plan, such as swimming in the lake, playing golf, or visiting a fancy restaurant, so they know the appropriate clothes to bring.
• Let guests know any others who are invited for the same time. Tell your guests if family members will be present, if your spouse is leaving that weekend or if your grandkids are visiting. Most people don’t like surprises.

We Need to Talk About Ageism

By Tim Petlin

Did you know there’s a form of discrimination that almost everyone will experience? It’s called ageism – the stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination people face because of their age. Unfortunately, it often goes unnoticed.
   Ageism appears in jokes, greeting cards, television, movies, workplaces, and even healthcare. Over time, these attitudes can influence how society treats older adults – and how older adults see themselves.
• Ageism Is More Common Than You Think
Research shows children begin forming ideas about aging as early as age 3. Those beliefs often persist into adulthood, shaping how we interact with older people.
   One common example is “elderspeak” – speaking to older adults in a slower, louder, or childlike voice. While usually well-intentioned, it can come across as disrespectful and suggest that older adults are less capable than they really are.
   Ageism also affects employment. A 2025 AARP survey found that nearly two-thirds of workers over 50 have witnessed or experienced age discrimination, and 22% felt they were being pushed out of their jobs because of their age.

The World Came to the Westside

By Richard Lombari

I am not a soccer fan. At least, I wasn’t when the FIFA World Cup arrived in Southern California.
Like millions of Americans, I knew it was the world’s biggest sporting event, but I couldn’t explain the offside rule or name more than a handful of international players. Yet, over the course of a few weeks, I found myself eagerly looking for places to watch matches – not because I had suddenly become a soccer expert, but because I wanted to experience what the tournament was doing to our community.
   My first World Cup experience came during my church’s men’s night out at Santa Monica Brew Works. Mexico was playing South Korea, and the brewery was overflowing with energy.
   One thing immediately stood out. There wasn’t a single South Korean jersey in sight. The crowd was overwhelmingly cheering for Mexico, reflecting Southern California’s deep ties to our Mexican neighbors and the passion their fans bring to the sport. Every scoring opportunity produced cheers, groans, and high-fives among people who had never met one another.

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