Project Save Our Surf returns to Tower 26 to clean the beach. Buckets, gloves and light snacks will be provided.

Come join Project Save Our Surf for a fun afternoon of music and refreshments cleaning the beach. Buckets and gloves will also be provided for the cleanup. Connect with others in Los Angeles working to support our environment.

Sat, January 14, 2023,
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST

Santa Monica Beach Tower 26
2559 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90405

For more info and to register, Click Here

Jacks Surfboards⁠ ⁠

Learn how to protect our environment, advocate for clean water, reduce plastic pollution, and take climate action!

Thursday, Jan 12, 2023
Thu, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM PST

Heal the Bay Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica, CA 90401

For more info and to register, Click Here

Join us at the beach to witness the King Tides. As a community, we will observe and capture photos for the California Coastal Commission.

We will gather at 8:15 am by Heal the Bay's aquarium to prepare to fan out across the beach. The main focus will be to capture great photos of the ocean's tide at its peak. This will help scientific research on sea-level rise and its effect on our local beaches and infrastructure. When we are finished, we will head over to Heal the Bay's aquarium for educational demonstrations. We will learn about the planetary forces that cause the King Tides to occur. We will have a community-based discussion about the effects of climate on our oceans. Light snacks and coffee will be provided to the community.

This is a collaboration with the California Coastal Commission, which is gathering King Tides photos along the California coast for their research. This is a joint project between Heal the Bay and Climate Action Santa Monica. Everyone is invited to join!

Please remember to exercise caution whenever you are by the water. Tides will be extra high on this day.

Sun, January 22, 2023,
8:15 AM – 10:30 AM PS

Heal the Bay Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90401

For more info and to register, Click Here

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"The Chabad in Simcha Monica Menorah Parade rolls down the Santa Monica Pier on Monday, December 26, 2022."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

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Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A Santa Monica Police Officer issues an advisal to a man at Muscle Beach for public camping on Saturday, December 24, 2022."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

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From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Technicians from South West Aircraft Transportation and Recovery Inc. haul away the crashed Cessna airplane from Santa Monica Beach on Friday, December 23, 2022."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

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I was there, saw the whole thing.

A couple of things to dispel and set straight. First off myself and about 100 other people ran towards the plane as we saw it going down. So the idea no one went to help is false, we all went to help.

The landing attempt was excellent, but as soon as it touched down on the sand the front wheel dug into the sand and the plane flipped over and slammed into the ground, this all happened in about 3 seconds.

As everyone was running towards the plane the lifeguard truck blew past us and was first on the scene. The lifeguards extracted the unconscious man in about four minuets and then the other man. The unconscious man was placed in the back of a lifeguard truck and transported to the boardwalk where an ambulance was waiting. As he was being transported CPR was attempted and continued for a few minuets at the ambulance but there was no luck and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

I imagine this wasn’t reported instantly as the authorities had to inform the family of the victim. As this has now been publicly reported I am posting this now.

The other man was conscious but in total shock. That had him sitting In the back of another lifeguard truck. Once they did a preliminary check of him he was transported.

Myself and all the other bystanders that were close were pushed back by the police who arrived about 2 minuets after the lifeguards.

The whole thing was crazy (surreal seeing a plane come down in front of me), amazing (the pilot landing on a spot where there were no people on a fairly crowded beach) and very sad (a man lost his life). I imagine his general age had the most to do with it. The plane slammed down extremely hard.

About 6 minutes in take-off clearance (they changed from requesting special flight rules to right turn shoreline).

12:53 frequency change approved but 32X elects to “keep ears on” as they’re just going to Malibu and back.

14 minutes in, 32X calls up wanting to return. Tower clears them for right traffic 21, asks if they need assistance, 32X responds: “Not at this time.”

Tower is routing traffic around the Cessna as it’s inbound at 900, abeam the Palisades (around 15 minutes).

15:45: “Emergency.”

Tower: Can you make the field?

“I’m going to try.”

Tower solicits and the Cessna states: Two souls on board, the engine is running very very rough.

Tower clears him left base for 3, gets traffic TF out of the way.

Comms with the Cessna drop off after about 16:30.

Comes back, 17:20.

Tower: “Can you make runway 3?”

32X: “I don’t think so, I think I may have to put it on the beach.”

Tower: “Roger, landing on the beach will be at your own risk.”

32X: “I wish I had another choice.”

Tower: “Wind 230 at 4.” Starts coordinating with Police 29.

19:45 FD, EMT, PD already on scene where the Cessna stopped, 400' south of the pier.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A single-engine Cessna airplane crash landed at Santa Monica Beach on Thursday, December 22, 2022. Los Angeles Lifeguards and Santa Monica Firefighters extricated the two occupants and transported both to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown. The plane took off from Santa Monica Airport. "

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

BREAKING- New video of a small plane crashing into the shore next to Santa Monica Pier. 2 people onboard reportedly suffered injuries but are alive
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Contact newsdesk@trafficnewsla.com for licensing pic.twitter.com/rQjoOQfkDo

— Traffic News Los Angeles (@TrafficNewsLA) December 23, 2022

Venice Healer Daisy talks to a sanitation superhero and thanks him for making it beautiful outside.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

Another homeless overdose death, this one on a sidewalk in Santa Monica as filmed and narrated by @videomattpresentsofficial - I can feel the frustration in his voice, I think we all can. 📷 @videomattpresentsofficial on IG pic.twitter.com/UZD1otVusZ

— STREET PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES (@streetpeopleLA) December 21, 2022

Sean Malto and Eric Koston take a trip to Santa Monica and Venice to yell ‘Do A Kickflip!’ at willing…and unwilling pedestrians.

ZJ Boarding House will be hosting Surf Without Borders to sell used boards in store. All proceeds will go to their LA camp that helps youth get in the water that may have not had the opportunity. Event starts at 12! Come by for a hang, maybe find a gem

ZJ Boarding House
Sunday 12 - 3pm
2619 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405

The annual Polar Bear Swim at the Annenberg Community Beach House will take place on Sunday, December 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Beach House Polar Bear Swim has become a tradition just as cold water swims have been for centuries across the globe.

The Polar Bear Swim is a no-judgment zone with all ages and abilities welcome. Participants can choose to dip their toes in the ocean, take a quick plunge, or go for the 300-yard swim around the buoy. After the ocean experience, attendees can warm up with a hot chocolate, take a dip in the Beach House historic heated pool, or take a selfie with the event's very own polar bear mascot. Creative swimwear is encouraged.

Registration includes admission to the Annenberg Community Beach House heated pool and hot showers as well as hot chocolate on the pool deck. Regular pool rules apply at this event. Youth under the age of eight and under four feet tall must be accompanied by an adult in the pool at all times.

Admission: $10/adults, $5/senior adults 60+, $4/youth ages 1-17. In-person registration will be available but may be limited on the day of the event.

For more info and to register, Click Here

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"An unhoused man built a homeless encampment from three public benches at the Santa Monica Muscle Beach on Saturday, December 3, 2022. A sanitation worker from Crysalys tried to clean-up the area. Santa Monica Police officers arrived and tried to get the unhoused man to clean-up the area. No arrests were made and no citations were issued. This man has been camping in this same spot for more than a week."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Santa comes to the Promenade for the annual lighting of the official City of Santa Monica 24-foot-tall holiday tree. Join us for performances by local school groups, FREE photos with Santa, and a snowy surprise.

Thursday, December 1, 6-8 pm
Third Street Promenade @ Santa Monica Boulevard

For more info, Click Here

Around 3:00 PM on Tuesday, police closed off the the area near an apartment building on the 2500 block of Kansas in Santa Monica, because of reports of a "domestic issue involving a man who was armed with a gun".

The man who was apparently having a mental breakdown, fired off 2 shots before the police were able to take him into custody. No one sustianed any injuries and the police have not made any statement about the shooting other than Lieutenant Flores stating he had shot "a round or toe".

Another officer told a witness that "the perp had fired at officers".

Here's what happened according to the witness:

"I live almost right across the street and heard it all go down. There was an armed individual who was having what sounded like a psychotic episode. There was some kind of verbal altercation around 2:45. It just have escalated because around 3:00, there was another loud exchange and I heard a man yell, “drop the gun” (or something like that) and then there were two shots fired.

Shortly thereafter there was a back and forth between the belligerent man and a female voice yelling, “Michael, no one wants to hurt you. They just want to help you,” etc.

About 5-10 minutes later, after a lot more yelling and glass breaking, there was a rush of police/SWAT into the apartment building and someone yelled, “take him into custody!”

The whole block has been locked down ever since.

The Sergeant who escorted my son and me back to our building after I picked my son up from school said, when I asked if everyone was ok, that the perp had fired at officers and was taken for medical evaluation. I took that to mean that there were no other injuries. I didn’t see any ambulances, so I assume there were no injuries."