Local News Briefs

Campus-Wide Lighting and Energy

Upgrade Completed at SMC

Los Angeles-based company, ReGreen, has successfully completed a campus-wide lighting and energy upgrade at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California and its satellite campuses.

This project will save the college over $250,000 annually in utility expenses, reduce lighting-related energy consumption by 40%, and increase safety across the campus. The project also features the installation of controllable LED luminaires in the campus gym. The use of intelligent LED technology combined with an advanced lighting control system is the first of its kind to be installed on a project of this type.

Metro Line to Close 26th Street

Expo rail installation. From 1:00 a.m., Monday, June 23 to 11:00 p.m., Friday, June 27, 26th Street south of Olympic Boulevard will be closed. Santa Monica drivers will once again be inconvenienced, but hey, in 6 months you can dump your car and take the train. Whooppee!

Pico Branch Library to Open

Santa Monica, California – The Grand Opening of the new Pico Branch Library, 2201 Pico Boulevard, will be celebrated on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ready, Set, Read! is the theme of this free, fun-filled day for the entire family and highlights the strength of the library’s contribution to literacy and life-long learning.

The celebration begins at 11 a.m. with an opening drum call and welcome by Mayor Pam O’Connor. Keynote speaker, Carol Muske-Dukes, former Poet Laureate of California, joins City officials, the new Director of Library Services, Board and Commission members, and Pico Neighborhood representatives in welcoming this valuable new resource to the Virginia Avenue Park campus. Following the program is a processional walk to the entrance of the new branch for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

Designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture of Santa Monica, the Pico Branch Library, which opened to the public in late April, is a two-building, state-of-the-art facility. Tours of the branch will be offered every half hour. Docents will be standing by to demonstrate the branch’s hi-tech, self-service features; highlight the brand-new “opening day” collections for adults, teens and children; reading and computer areas; and group study rooms as well as talk about its sustainable, LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum rating features.

Family Bike Ride this Saturday

Join the City of Santa Monica for a fun family bike ride, this Saturday, June 28, at Douglas Park. The theme is “4th of July” so come dressed in your patriotic finest - there will be a prize for best dressed! Participants will get to take part in bike decorating, a fun ride, snacks and much more! RSVP to Peter.Dzewaltowski@smgov.net.