The American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop is giving 10% and 25% discounts to all customers who donate $10 or $25 to the “Gift of Hope” campaign during the month of February. For $25, a Gift of Hope bouquet of fresh daffodils will be delivered anonymously to a cancer patient at a local treatment center. The Discovery Shop is located at 820 Wilshire Blvd., 800.acs.2345.
The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Ananda LA offers free Thursday Night Lectures, every other Thursday at 7:30pm, anandala.org.
The Assistance League of Santa Monica is celebrating their 70th anniversary, Assistance League Bargain Bazaar, 1453 14th St., 310.395.2338.
Back on the Beach Café at 445 PCH is closed for renovations as part of the 415 PCH construction project. The adjacent Beach Parking Lot 10 North will be closed through May 20. Until the lot reopens, beach patrons are advised to carpool, ride a bike, or use Beach Lot 9 North. For more information, go to 415pch.smgov.net.
Baha’i Center in Santa Monica is located at 3102 Colorado Avenue, 310.394.7971 or go to santamonicabahai.org.
The 2008 Broad Humor Film Festival is looking for submissions of comedic films and screenplays written and directed by women. Feature entries must be over 60 minutes running time or 60 script pages. Medium length entries cover 20-60 minutes/pages. Short entries must be under 20 minutes or pages. Early bird deadline is February 29, standard deadline is April 11, and late deadline is May 2. Download submission form from broadhumor.com.
Competitive landscape grants of up to $20,000 are being offered by the City of Santa Monica. To qualify for a grant, the landscaping plan must include water-efficient irrigation, plus one or more of the following: California native plants, water-efficient plants, storm-water management systems, graywater systems, and/or other innovative water-saving features. Applications will accepted through March 27, and are available by calling 866.728.3229 or at smepd.org org.
Experience Works, the nation’s largest training and employment organization for mature workers, is searching for California’s outstanding older workers for the Experience Works Prime Time Awards. Nominees or applicants must be 65 years of age or older, a resident of California, currently employed, and working at least 20 hours each week for pay. Deadline is June 1. The online nomination form is available at experienceworks.org.
Inside Out Community Arts After School Theatre Arts program is enrolling middle school students for its spring program, Wednesdays 3:30-5:30pm, beginning February 27, at the Venice Center for Peace and Justice with the Arts, 310.397.8820 x104.
The St. Jude Heroes Charity Athlete program has openings for Los Angeles Marathon racers who run as St. Jude Heroes. To reserve your Los Angeles Marathon race bib, and to register as a St. Jude Hero, go to stjudeheroes.org or call Mariana Vargas at 800.227.6737.
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11am-1pm, Mondays-Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Tuesdays, 6:30pm, Bandroom, Paul Revere Middle School, 1450 Allenford Ave., Brentwood, 310.829.3149.
Nominations are now being taken for the 2008 Green Prizes in Sustainable Literature. Books from publishers and authors, or titles suggested by the public, must be submitted by March 31. The winners will be announced at a presentation in October. For information go to smpl.org/green prize.htm.
Organic Gardening classes are enrolling now. Classes include The Basics 1: Soil, Soil Amendments, and Fertilizers; The Basics 2: Small Space and Container Gardening; The Basics 3: Seed Starting, Transplants, and Heirlooms; and The Basics 4: Pruning, Tools, and Tool Care. Classes begin February 23 and run through March 22. Location is in Mar Vista near Palms and Centinela, $25 per class, register at 310.391.3949.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each Tuesday, 7-10pm, Church of Christ, 9733 Venice Blvd., WLA, oceanaires.org, 310.202.1380.
The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation is accepting submissions for the 24th Annual Twilight Dance Series annual poster contest. The artist who creates the winning design will receive $750 and a VIP package for the summer including a backstage pass to the Series. All entries are due by March 7. Contest rules, design specifications, and entry forms are available at santamonicapier.org under “What’s Happening.” For more information, call 310.458.8901.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division’s website answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to set up recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators, and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm.
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1-4pm Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., WLA, and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th St., 310.434.3400.
Soroptimist is a service organization available to help women and children, meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 310.395.6168.
Surfing instruction for compensation as well as all instructors conducting youth camps with more than 20 children entering the water must now by authorized by the City of Santa Monica. Parties interested in conducting surfing instruction or youth camps either as a City contractor or as an independent provider during the period of June 2008 through May 2009 must submit a proposal to the City by 5pm on February 19. For more information, call 310.458.8573 or go to smgov.net/osm.
Sunset Magazine’s Dream Gardening Awards competition is open to both home and professional gardeners (categories judged separately). Enter in one of four categories: Regional Style, Incredible Makeover, Outdoor Living, or Small Space. Apply by March 12, 650.324.5632, or go to sunset.com/gardencontest.
UCLA Creative Writing Program has short, one and two-day writing workshops during the spring semester. Courses include The Art of the Lie: Life Stories into Fiction; Plotting the Compelling Story: A Two-Day Workshop for Aspiring Novelists; It’s All About Love: A One-Day Workshop on Writing and Selling Your Romance Novel; and Learning from the Best: Cloud Atlas, 310.825.9415.
