Local News Briefs

Moomat Ahiko Way Rehabilitation

Project

The City of Santa Monica will commence roadway rehabilitation on Moomat Ahiko Way between Ocean Ave. and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). This work was necessitated by the deteriorating condition of the roadway pavement. Work will start at 7:00 AM on September 15th and will require full closure for approximately 21 days. The street is scheduled to reopen at 7:00 AM on Monday October 6th.

During construction PCH can be accessed via the California Incline as well as State Route I-10. The downtown area can also be accessed using Lincoln Boulevard from the eastbound I-10. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes whenever possible and some delays should be expected.

Know Before You Go! Thousands of notices have been mailed out to local residents and businesses, Changeable Message Signs have been deployed several weeks in advance, and there will be more updates available on the City Website as the construction date approaches.

For weekly construction impacts and project updates, visit smgov.net/bebp or facebook.com/smconstructs.

What’s Next for the Civic Auditorium?

On Saturday, September 27th from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the community is invited to join the Civic Working Group , for an interactive workshop. “We hope a very wide cross section of residents will join us to experience the historic Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, explore its site and discuss the many potential uses proposed by the community” said Civic Working Group Chair Nina Fresco. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and refreshments will be offered throughout the morning.

This event is the first of three community workshops that will be held in September 2014, January 2015 and March 2015, as part of a community planning process to explore ways to fund capital upgrades at the aging facility and to assess the feasibility of various programming ideas and operating models.

Led by a City-Council appointed Working Group, the community planning process is bringing together a broad array of stakeholders to explore options for the future of the facility that will ensure the Civic Auditorium remains a signature cultural resource for Santa Monica.

No reservations are required for the workshop, which will be held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, East Wing, 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401. For disability-related accommodations or language interpretation requests, please call 310-458-8350. Free car and bike parking will be available.

Maria Shriver Erased from

Schwarzenegger Portrait

An endearing gesture by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to include an image of his wife Maria Shriver in his official portrait has been erased with a splotch of blue paint.

Former Schwarzenegger aide Clay Russell confirmed Friday that the portrait of the former governor once featured a lapel button showing the face of his estranged wife.

The realist-style painting by Austrian Gottfried Helnwein was finished during Schwarzenegger’s first term then sat on an easel in Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions office in Santa Monica.

After Schwarzenegger left office, embarrassing revelations emerged about an affair he had with his maid that produced a son. Schwarzenegger and Shriver are now separated.

It was not clear when the button was painted over or who did it.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Adam Mendelsohn did not immediately respond to a telephone message left Friday.

The painting was unveiled on Monday.