ZERO WASTE FARMERS’ MARKET: 100% ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY

Ever eaten a meal and then eaten your utensils? Enjoyed cold water in a cup made from sugar cane, or coffee in a cup with a soy-based lining instead of the standard petroleum lining? While we don’t recommend eating your fork (even though it is made from corn), we do recommend giving these biodegradable items a try at the “Zero Waste” Farmers’ Market each Sunday on Main Street.

To help reduce the waste normally shipped to and buried in landfills, the Sunday market has implemented this new program with some assistance from the city’s Solid Waste and Environmental Programs divisions. In April, participating market vendors agreed to switch their food packaging from Styrofoam® and other non-renewable, resource-based products to all biodegradable or recyclable packaging and utensils.

Along with these innovative changes, market shoppers will find eleven “Waste Stations” positioned around the site for separating biodegradable items—food waste and packaging, paper napkins and biodegradable utensils—from recyclable products such as cans, plastic, glass and newspaper. The former eventually become compost, the latter are used in a wide variety of recycled-content products. Shoppers are asked to pack out any items such as diapers and non-biodegradable food packaging or items they may have brought with them.

With help from diligent visitors and Sustainable Works volunteers, we have successfully diverted three cubic yards of waste from landfills each market day. Though small compared to the vast tons shipped daily from Santa Monica to the Puente Hills landfill, we’re confident this is just the beginning of a significant contribution toward building a sustainable future! Please join the market’s 5,000 visitors next Sunday and see for yourself—you’ll want to become a Zero Waster, too!

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CLEAN THE AIR, PARK FOR FREE—FOR AWHILE!

If you have a “Clean Air Vehicle” decal affixed to your alternative fuel, hybrid or electric vehicle, the Santa Monica Municipal Code (3.16.120) allows you to park in any metered parking space in the city without charge for the maximum amount of time allowed by that meter. In other words, if you’re at a 2-hour meter, you can park there free for 2 hours—but beyond that, you’re subject to ticketing for overstaying your welcome. And, remember, ALL vehicles—clean air and otherwise—are subject to ticketing and towing if parked illegally in metered or unmetered spaces, such as those posted for street cleaning or permit-only parking. (Clean Air Vehicle decals are issued by the state to those vehicles which meet rigorous standards. For more information, visit driveclean.ca.gov.)

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CITY TV: “BEST GOVERNMENT CABLE CHANNEL” CityTV, the City of Santa Monica’s government cable channel, was recently honored by the States of California and Nevada Chapter (SCAN) of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) with first place in the Overall Excellence Category for its quality programming. This is the sixth time in eight years that the channel has won the award, besting a number of larger jurisdictions with much bigger budgets. In addition to winning the overall programming category, CityTV also won a first place award for its popular “Downbeat Showdown” youth program in the performing arts category. “Santa Monica Update” won second place in the news category, while “Legal Help Live” took second in the talk show category. CityTV is available on channel 16 to all Adelphia cable TV subscribers in Santa Monica.

ENJOY PERFORMANCES INSPIRED BY THE CITY

In A Sense: Santa Monica Live
 

The ancient Greeks had nine Muses, inspirations to mere mortals striving for perfection in the arts and sciences. While some believe these immortals have long since vanished from our world, surely Calliope, Erato and Polyhmnia, the muses of poetry, have paid visits to our beaches and palisades, whispering encouragement to local poets.

Proof of their existence and inspiration here may be found in a series of three spoken word performances by contemporary poets, to be presented beginning June 29 as part of “Creative Capital,” the city’s cultural planning process to explore the future of culture and arts in Santa Monica. Together with Paul Lieber, well-known host of Why Poetry? on KPFK, the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division and the Santa Monica Public Library are proud to present modern-day bards who will bring Santa Monica to life through their lyrical vision. They include Marjorie Becker, Noah Blaustein, Sarah Maclay, Holaday Mason and Sherman Pearl. Please join us for this inspirational program!