LOCALmotion – Jozelle Smith

Know of anyone with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)? Want to find out more about it and experience a really heart-warming film too? The Culver City Disability Advisory Committee will host a screening of the documentary “The Lucky Man” next Sunday, July 29 at 4 p.m. at the Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Avenue. “The Lucky Man” is a   biographical movie produced by a young Culver City man who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).  Brian Murphy shares his inspirational story while fighting a terminal illness, and his wife and young children add energy and wisdom to the film.  This movie has been described as thoughtful, compelling, and inspiring. The screening is free and open to the public, and may be of special interest to healthcare providers wishing to learn more about ALS, students seeking education regarding chronic illness, individuals living with ALS and their families and filmmakers or film studies students. There will be a Q & A with medical professionals immediately following.

Part of the Culver-Palms Family YMCA’s mission is to teach kids to be water safe year round, and the small student/teacher ratios in their swimming classes help kids get the most learning out of their time in the water. Registration for Summer Session  #2 (Monday/Wednesday beginning July 30 and running through August 29, Tuesday/Thursday beginning July 31 and running through August 30, and Saturday classes beginning August 4 and running through September 1) starts this week. Call the Y at (310) 390-3604 for additional information, or drop by the branch, located at 4500 Sepulveda Blvd.

Former mayor and current President of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce Steve Rose was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the third time in the last couple of weeks (translation: he drove himself, despite the heart issues he was experiencing) but is now at home resting and looking good. By the time you read this he should be up and driving himself around town. Note: don’t get between him and Cedars in case he takes off again…

There’s no time like the present for Culver City Emergency Response Team (CERT) members: Their next Mass Care/Mass Shelter training class by the Red Cross is coming fast (July 28^th) and will prepare CERT members to respond after a major disaster, either here or nearby, assisting the Red Cross in opening and staffing shelters in Culver City to take in and care for people displaced by the disaster. The training will take place from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Culver City Fire Department Training Classroom, 9275 Jefferson Blvd.

The excitement is building for this year’s Fiesta La Ballona, and in a VERY big way: the Culver City Rotary Club will be challenging the Exchange Club to a number of “athletic” events such as a tug-a-war, rock wall climbing competition, and Sumo wrestling on Saturday of the Fiesta.  Rotarians will also be resurrecting the old “Pokey” and will have it ready in time for the festival.  The “Pokey” is a rolling jail of sorts that used to be a big part of the Fiesta…

Appearing at this Thursday eve’s Boulevard Music Festival in the City Hall Courtyard is dynamo Brenda Lee Eager, featuring Motown and Soul (we can vouch for Brenda, fellow member of Agape International Spiritual Center, who really rocks – and in a great way!)  This will be the third in the 2012 summer series, produced by Gary Mandell of Culver City’s Boulevard Music. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for those who want to set up their picnic early, and the music starts at 7:00 p.m.

Who’s getting better (not just older) this week? How about Leilani Smith, Grace Elliott, Norman Auslander, Addison Myers, Stefanie Tepley, Ann Easley, Kareen Garcia, Mary Karen Tiller, Holly Angel, Dereje Ejigu, Sarah Hursley, John Keating, Roy Amemiya, Shalimar Gonzales, Yoko Hayakawa, Ana Palacios, Jessica Forgeng, Kimberly Gibson, Brian Lloyd, Sandra Barnard, Karen Chen, Julia Souza Abreu, Liberty Bradford, Danielle Pierce, Jennifer Rockwell, John Mandeville, Sean Markham, Kevin O’Sullivan, Asaka Ogihara, Erin Shaver, Evalon Witt, Phyllis Shield, Kim Donaldson, Marion Friend, and Audrey Simoes. If you’d like your or a friend’s birthday mentioned in LOCALmotion, let us know at [email protected].