Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association

Newsletter - Fall 2003, additional articles

Our own Graffiti Buster

Joan Graves, Queen of the Graffiti Busters
You may not realize it but our Canyon is home to one of the original Pacific Palisades Graffiti Busters. Joan Graves was the overall coordinator for the Palisades anti-graffiti project that began in the early 1990s. The project was the brainchild of Wally Miller who divided the entire Palisades area into neighborhood sections with volunteers to help clean up the graffiti that marred our neighborhoods. The area extended from Chautauqua up PCH to the Getty and then all the way up into the Highlands, Temescal Canyon, and Will Rogers hiking trails. This dedicated group of over 25 volunteers cleaned graffiti from public signs, walkways, benches and walls. If they noticed graffiti on private property they would approach the property owner and offer to remove it. They were seldom turned down!
Although the group disbanded over time, Joan continues to remove graffiti from our Canyon. Most recently she was seen cleaning traffic signs at Amalfi and Entrada and a wall on East Channel Road [see photo]. The Palisades Chamber of Commerce continues to supply Joan with graffiti removal supplies, also available at Norris Hardware.
We salute Joan and her dedication to the maintenance and beautification of our Canyon.
Want to get involved in Graffiti Eradication? Send us an email, info@smcca.org, or write a note to PO Box 3441, Santa Monica, CA 90408-3441. You also can report graffiti to a hotline - 800.611.2489.

Canyon Charter School Marks Its 109th Year

Canyon Charter School welcomed nearly 340 students to class on September 2. All 18 teachers returned this year as well as our librarian, enrichment, building and grounds, cafeteria and office staff. We also welcome back our volunteer Math instructor, Peter Garrett, who lives in the neighborhood and donates his time to enrich the math experience of Canyon students. Carol Henderson, Canyon’s principal, begins her 6th year as campus leader.
The hills and stairways surrounding the school are filled with the joyful sound of children as an increasing number of neighborhood children attend the school. Additionally, Canyon warmly welcomes out of area students and their families.
The goal of Canyon Charter School is to be a place where students learn to cherish the past, empower the present, and build for the future. Instilling a lifelong love of learning has been a key tenet of Canyon since the school first opened it’s doors in October 1894.
The coming year will mark the 110th Anniversary of the famous Canyon Fiesta. The 110th Fiesta and Silent Auction will take place on April 25th on the school grounds. Mark your calendars now! We will have fun, food, festivities and of course, help to achieve our goal of funding to keep the rich legacy of Canyon superior education alive for this generation of students and those that follow.

Why is there brown foam at the beach?

ver the summer, Heal the Bay has gotten a number of calls about brown foam washing ashore at Santa Monica Bay beaches. The foam, while it looks like sewage or another type of pollution, actually is a natural occurrence. It’s most likely caused by a bloom of diatoms—a type of algae found in phytoplankton, or plant plankton. These diatoms bloom or reproduce rapidly, and inevitably die, leav-ing a large amount of organic matter decomposing in the surf. The unusually warm water we’ve been having probably encourages these blooms, and they might also be partially caused by excessive amounts of nutrients from human pollution. The foam is not dangerous to people—it’s just not a pretty addition to your favorite beach!
reprinted and used by permission from Currents, the newsletter of Heal the Bay (800 HEAL BAY/www.healthebay.org)