July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica History Museum Elects New Board Members:

The Santa Monica History Museum’s Board of Directors has elected a new chairman: Ricardo Bandini Johnson. Johnson’s family has lived in California since 1810. His great-Aunt, Arcadia Bandini de Baker, was the wife of Colonel Robert S. Baker – the man who established Santa Monica in 1875.

Johnson is the President of the Bandini Foundation, a non-profit organization that runs the Heroes Golf Course and Japanese Gardens at the West Los Angeles Greater VA Healthcare Center for the past 3.5 years with 90 percent of their employees being veterans.

Johnson has been associated with the museum from its beginnings, according to Santa Monica History Museum president Louise Gabriel.

“He is the curator of the museum’s John P. Jones and Bandini Collections with over 50,00 photographs and records which he helped catalogue from 2004 to 2009,” Gabriel said.

Three other professionals have also been added to the board: Jeffrey H. Haskett, Dr. Michelle Chrisie, and Annette Doss.

Haskett is a partner in Cohen & Bender Accountancy Corporation. He attended UCLA and University of Redlands where he graduated with honors in 1977. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Haskett is active in the local community, volunteering in youth sports programs and assisting local charities.

Dr. Christie, Ed. D., is the Founder and Executive Director of No Limits For Deaf Children. She earned a master degree in education, with distinguished honors from USC-John Tracy Clinic Program. She has been featured on OPRAH, The Learning Channel, NBC, CNN, PBS and numerous local news station throughout the nation.

Doss, MLIS, is an Arts and Information professional with extensive experience in museum, archives and libraries. She began her career at the Santa Monica Museum of Art before working at the Getty Research Institute. Most recently, she worked as a consultant at the Broad Art Foundation. Currently, she is the head cataloger at UCLA Film and Television Archive. Her education and museum experience have fueled her passion to preserve cultural history. She is an active member of the Society of California Archivist.

These new board members have joined current distinguished board members, Rob Schwenker, Vice Chair, Santa Monica Daily Press; Susan Gabriel-Potter, Secretary, Bob Gabriel Co. Insurance; Eddie Guerboian, past chair, Readers Fine Jewelers; Judi Barker, Barker-Hangar; Becky Upchurch, Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club; Terri Decker, Chase Bank; Kristina Andresen, Andresen Associate, AIA; Larry Balmagia, Television Writer, Producer, Teacher; Misti Kerns, Santa Monica Convention Business Bureau; Richard Lawrence, National Bank of California; James Parr, jr., Certified Public Accountant; Mary Ann Powell, Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier; Kathleen Rawson, Downtown Santa Monica and Laurel Rosen, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.

in News
<>Related Posts

Proposed Rebuilding Authority for Wildfire Recovery Sparks Local Control Debate

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Plan Aims to Streamline Rebuilding but Raises Questions Over Community Input A proposed “Resilient Rebuilding Authority” to oversee recovery from...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...

(Video) ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Champion Pulls Big Blue Bus for 30 feet

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

World-class strongman Martins Licis pulled a 34,680‑pound, 35-feet long, battery electric bus through the Pier to set off Pier 360...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

More Commercial Uses Could Be Coming to RAND Building

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Amendment Unlocks New Opportunities, Secures $5.5 Million in Community Benefits The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to...

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...