Where would our world be without mothers who form the backbone of human society? Without them, none of us would exist, but the role of a mother reaches far beyond simply creating more humans for the world: mothers infuse care, resilience, and life into both the people they raise and the world as a whole. In an ideal world, every day would be set up to celebrate the world’s mothers, but the yearly observation of Mother’s Day serves as a small taste of that necessary celebration  – setting aside a day for mothers to be honored by everyone whose lives they have helped shape. This ..read more

California Climate Action Corps From October 2023 to February 2024, the California Climate Action Corps Fellows planted 32,849 native plants, diverted 8,025,897 pounds of food and organic waste from landfills, and treated 1,197 acres for wildfire resiliency.        Let’s back up. California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is a program that drives climate action by placing Fellows at public agencies, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to work on various climate initiatives. During their full-time term of service, Fellows mobilize volunteers and ..read more

The Social & Emotional Wellness Initiative (SEWI was originally created at a local Boys & Girls Club ten years ago. Founder and Executive Director Sarah Young-Sheppard, a social worker, saw a need for mental health services for youth, and an increased need for young people to learn about social and emotional wellness.     On Saturday, May 4 from 1 p.m. -3 p.m., SEWI will be hosting a spring fundraiser in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The fundraiser, Croquet & Cocktails, will be held at Blackberry Creek Farm in Topanga. There will be delici ..read more

If you are a fan of Elton John’s music and would like to attend a wonderful concert where parking is not an issue, save the date of May 17. At 8 p.m. talented pianist Michael Sobie will present ROCKET MAN: A Live Orchestral Experience for one night only at our local St. Monica Catholic Church. Tickets can be secured at rocketmanorchestra.com.    An avid fan of Sir Elton John, pianist Michael Sobie has been following the legend’s storied career for over 30 years. Primarily studying classical piano as a child, Michael would read Elton John sheet music to learn the songs after he fini ..read more

Becky Lantry was a member of the Commission on the Status of Women several years ago when I was tasked with staffing this important group for the City of Santa Monica. I watched Becky and other strong, determined, powerful women from a wide variety of backgrounds and careers come together to make decisions that advanced women’s issues in our city.   When I spoke to Becky for this story, I learned so much more about her. She and her daughter moved to Santa Monica in 1979 from Pennsylvania. Her father owned a mechanics shop on Hill and Second. Becky worked there fixing cars and even helpe ..read more

Usually in our Love Links column we run stories about couples and their weddings. But, we want to include all aspects of a wedding celebration. And, what is worn at the wedding is important.    This month we are highlighting the work of Hanna Hartnell. She is a well-known local designer whose couture gowns have great appeal to the mothers and grandmothers of members of the bridal party.    She explains that her dresses have “styling that is classic and will always have an easy, glamorous look.” A special creation of hers is the floral combination silk chiffon coat that wo ..read more

Have you thought ahead to what kind of entertaining you would like to do in the next few months? Here are some ideas to consider as our weather gets warmer. 1. Colorful Tablescapes. Present the food and drinks attractively by adding a lot of color to the table. You might use a variety of flowers, decorative ribbons, or seasonal decorations such as seashells and starfish or confetti strewn across the table. 2. Vary the Height of Serving Dishes. Serving dishes at different heights is more appealing to the eye than all foods at the same level. Use pedestal cake plates for many desserts, or a ..read more

A solo ager is an older adult living independently. The solo ager has no spouse or partner, and no children to rely on. One statistic says that nearly one-third of seniors live by themselves. Solo agers, in particular, need to plan for their future living, health, and legal circumstances. Solo agers need to build a team that may include extended family, trusted friends, and professional advisors. This may mean building relationships with nieces and nephews, making friends with younger people, assessing your housing situation, and finding available community resources to enable you to "age in ..read more

One of the most popular forms of cannabis consumption has become vape pens. These small, inconspicuous devices allow for quick, discreet dosing, without the mess and smell. However, to the general public, this tends to be the gist of knowledge regarding vapes. It’s important to know what to look for in order to get the effect you are looking for.    A vape cartridge is a glass tube filled with cannabis infused oil or concentrate. These are attached to a battery which, when activated, heats up an atomizer in the cartridge which heats the oil, providing a “hit” of the product. Not al ..read more

Life in our nation’s capital comes with many perks. Every Spring, when the cherry blossoms peak, we never have to travel far to get to the Tidal Basin and visit the city’s iconic buildings draped in their yearly pink glory.     Washington, D.C. also happens to be one of the nation’s great art centers with spectacular exhibitions that, thankfully, don’t come with the hefty admission costs that are becoming all too common everywhere else. As a matter of fact, most museums here are free, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world.    While visiting larg ..read more