Community Announcements/ Ongoing Events:

Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) is looking for individuals to work as Community Representatives, who will find host families for international students and will work with them and their families. Call Anne Ring, 866.462.3423.Adapted Gentle Restoratives for Seniors, yoga classes for seniors with Bea Ammidown, 310.358.3558.Ammidown Yoga Studio Santa Monica is offering therapeutic special needs classes for all levels; Wednesdays, 7-8pm, Thursdays, 10-11am, Fridays 10:30-11:30am & (Writing Workshop continuing until 12.45pm) & Saturdays 9:30-10:30am. Please call Bea to register, 310. 358.3558, beayoga888@verizon.net; www.yogability.org. AFS-USA’s YES program (Youth Exchange and Study) is looking for host families for exchange students in the Santa Monica area. This program is designed to build bridges of understanding through high school student exchanges between the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. In addition to host families, AFS needs people who are interested in becoming volunteer liaisons to work locally with families and their hosted students. Anyone interested in learning more about hosting or volunteering with AFS should visit afs.org/usa/hostfamily or call 1.800.AFS.INFO.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-Thursday. Ananda LA offers free Thursday Night Lectures, every other Thursday at 7:30pm, anandala.org. The Annenberg Community Beach House is partnering with the Santa Monica Conservancy to offer docent tours of the facility. Recruitment for Beach House docents is underway and training will be provided by noted experts and authors. Information on the training schedule and application forms for docents are available at smconservancy.org or by calling 310.496.3146.Art Experience Group Expanding the Limits meets weekly. Participants don’t have to be practicing artists but only need be open to a most daring examination of themselves through a visual experience. The groups meets 3-4:30pm, Wednesdays, at 502 Rialto Ave., Venice. Cost: $320 a month. Call 310.450.6685.Baha’i Center in Santa Monica is located at 3102 Colorado Avenue, 310.394.7971 or go to santamonicabahai.org.Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8pm, Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8pm, Wednesday night poetry, 8pm, Thursday night alt screenplay, 8pm, Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30pm, and 4th Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11am. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006. Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th St. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR.Film submissions are now open for the Broad Humor Festival of Films by Women taking place June 12-14, 2009 at the Electric Lodge Performing Arts Center in Venice, California. Comedy screenplays written by women are also being accepted. Contact Susan diRende, 310.403.2882, or susan@broadhumor.com.Forget your troubles with Free Salsa Dancing Nights after 9pm!!! Salsa Wednesdays at Club Main, 2941 Main St, also Salsa fun fiestas Fridays, & Sundays at Isabelle’s Dance Club Atmosphere Academy at 1334 Lincoln Blvd. Salsa Lessons available at both locations at 7:30pm for Beg & Intermediates with Isabelle and/or Ricky. $15.00 for a 90 minute class. For details isabellesalsa.com, 310.392.3493.Mt. Olive Film Night, entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on the second Saturdays of each month, supper at 6pm, films start at 7pm, free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116.Open Poetry and Prose Readings, every Thursday, 8-10pm, Novel Café, 212 Pier Ave. Come Read, Listen, and Enjoy! Everyone welcome, all genres (poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc). 1000 word max per reader. Hosted by Forth Magazine. Forthmagazine.com. Pacific Jewish Center-The Shul on the Beach, has started a free lecture series, “Monday Night Connections,” at 8pm with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, who will explore connections between Torah concepts. The class takes place at the synagogue’s “annex,” 726 Rose Avenue, Venice, 310.392.8749.Relaxation Study: Relieve Stress, Tension, and Anxiety. Participate for free relaxation therapy in Santa Monica.Call Grant: 310.399.8982.Relaxation & Visualization for Cancer Patients & Family, intended to help improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their loved ones. Every Wednesday, 6:15-7pm, The Wellness Community_West LA, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Boulevard, Ste. 1040.Stay Fit in the New Year! Flow Yoga Wednesdays 5:30 -6:30pm, Flow Yoga Saturdays noon-1pm. Classes are ongoing. Drop-ins welcome. Classes are taught by Sarah Bergman, a Certified Yoga Instructor known for her life-affirming teaching style. Suggested donation: $5 per class. Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116. Swing Brazil Kids is a one hour class designed to build confidence and self-esteem through the magic and creativity of Brazilian dance – movement, story telling, songs and drums. The class is taught by cultural educator Vida Vierra, Artistic Director of Swing Brazil Dance Company. Mondays from 3:30-4:30pm at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. Class fee is $10. 310.828.1489.Take a walk through Santa Monica history! The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10am. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org.Yappy Hour, ongoing social event, every Thursday dogs and people can meet and greet each other, 6-8pm, free, Tails of Santa Monica, 2912 Main St., 310.392.4300.Yoga Prose™, a therapeutic journaling process in a gentle and empowering Yoga class, 10:30am-12:45pm, $45. Beginners & non-writers welcome. Facilitated by certified Yoga therapist/journalist Bea Ammidown. Santa Mweigh-ins, 310.392.1130.