LOCALmotion – Jozelle Smith

We are beginning this week on Leap Day, February 29! This day only occurs once every four years (with a few exceptions). It used to be considered a day without legal status and therefore a day when tradition and convention could be thrown out the window. In Ireland, February 29 is Bachelor’s Day – a traditional holiday when women propose to men. Scotland began the tradition in 1288 by passing a law permitting women to propose and if refused, the man had to pay a fine. Now, the tradition is just a fun historical tidbit. The chances of having a birthday on a leap day are about one in 1,461, and leap year babies, called leaplings, are said to have unusual talents by astrologers. So just enjoy this bonus day, and if you want to try something unorthodox, this could be the day to do it!
From Ballona Creek Renaissance (BCR) comes a look at their upcoming activities, including joining in with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands’ Habitat Restoration Volunteer Day this coming Saturday, March 5, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and/or The Bay Foundation’s Stone Canyon Creek Restoration at UCLA on Saturday, March 12, 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy learning about our coastal ecosystems while exploring the wonder of nature in urban Los Angeles. For additional information visit Ballona Creek Renaissance on facebook or go to www.ballonacreek.org.
Along the same lines, Culver City’s Public Works Environmental Programs and Operations Department now has a newsletter “Think Green, Think Culver City” that offers exciting ways we can help our environment, to wit: The Culver City Rain Gardens Cleanups: Our Rain Gardens capture rain and surface runoff and filter noxious contaminants that would otherwise flow into the Ballona Creek, but if monitored beautify our urban landscape. Your help is needed to weed, water, and maintain the gardens to give the newly-planted natives time to take root and thrive. Community Service hours will be given along with plenty of feel-good vibes for a job well done in helping to keep our waterways clean. Bring water, sunscreen, and a snack if desired. Please wear closed-toed shoes. Tools and gloves will be provided. Cleanups run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on March 12 the site will be at the South Creekside Location – Commercial area, at the end of Pearson Ave., 500 feet from Jefferson Blvd. Park on Jefferson Blvd., on either side of Pearson Ave. For more information, call site supervisor Mark Abramson at (310) 490-0279.

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March 12, 2016 Winter Session II classes at the Culver-Palms Family YMCA have started, but there is still time to sign up for swim lessons or for other popular classes: wet tots, youth dance, itty-bitty sports, and mommy and me. Winter Session II runs through Sunday, March 27. Encourage your children to be active and to develop their skills. You can contact Mario Jovel, Senior Program Director Aquatics/Facilities/Sports at (310) 437-3699 or by emailing [email protected]. The Y is located at 4500 Sepulveda Blvd.
Here’s something fun – the Culver City Elks Lodge #1917 is presenting a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament on Friday, March 11 at the Lodge, 11160 Washington Place. Dinner/drinks begin at 5:30 p.m. and the Tournament at 7:00 p.m. The buy-in is a $50.00 contribution to the Lodge, with prizes to winners. It will take $10.00 to reserve your spot – for more information contact Beto Benitez at (310) 386-2054 or Hector Flores at (213) 999-6303.
It’s not too early to start thinking about Spring Break and what activities you’d like to plan for the kids when school is out. School spring break arrives toward the end of March this year and both the City of Culver City and the Culver-Palms Family YMCA are offering Day Camps. The Y is offering three weeks of Spring Day Camp to accommodate both the LAUSD and the CCUSD schedules. Week 1, “Hopping into Spring”, March 21–25, will be held at Palms Elementary School and features, in addition to the basic curriculum, a Find the Golden Egg Scavenger Hunt and Friendship Picnic at Kenneth Hahn Park. Week 2, “Animal Planet”, March 28–April 1, will be held at Culver-Palms Family YMCA and will offer a walking trip to Veteran’s Park, a bus-shuttled trip to Starplex Cinemas, and a dancing celebration at Barnyard Boogie. Week 3, April 4–8, will also meet at the Y and features a bus-shuttled trip to the California Science Center and a walking trip to Lindberg Park for an exciting 3-Legged Race and Obstacle Course. The week will end on a tasty note, a Build-A-Bug Fruit Bar combined effort. Contact Crishawna Mitchell, Program Coordinator, at (310) 390-3604. The Culver City Recreation Department is featuring a Spring Day Camp based at the Culver City Teen Center; Spring Camp Sunshine at Lindberg Park; YSE Spring Sports Camp at El Marino Park; Spring Clay & Art Camp at El Marino Park; and Coast2Coast Spring Soccer Camp at Blanco Park. For more information and registration for the City’s Spring Camps, call (310) 253-6650 or visit www.culvercity.org and go to Parks, Recreation & Culture, where you can visit the brochure.
Leaping into March are birthday celebrants Evan Miller, Joanie Maines, Carol Hayes, Maggie Johnson, and Christian Burke. If you’d like your (or a friend or family member’s) birthday mentioned here, just send the information to [email protected] and we’ll be happy to post it!