OPA Happy Hour THIS Wednesday @ Lula’s: Our first community happy hour of the year is this Wednesday (3/4) from 4:00-6:00pm @ Lula's back patio (2720 Main St.). Come enjoy FREE appetizers and GREAT company. Member's get a free drink. See you there! Click here to add it to your calendar.

March OPA Monthly Meeting Next Monday (March 9): It's a great time to check out the organization and help set our 2025 priorities. The meeting is at the Ocean Park Library @ 2601 Main St. starting with food and mingling at 6:00pm. We will also be hybrid on Zoom. Click here to add the OPA monthly meeting and Zoom link to your calendar. Here's the zoom link, here’s the full agenda, and here's the schedule:

Women's History Month 2026 kicks off with “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”: Since 1987, the month of March has been federally recognized as Women's History Month, with all Americans encouraged to observe the month, and acknowledge and honor the achievements of women. More details here on its history and a list of events for the month.

The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap - February 8-14: Here is the weekly police activity recap. Of note, "Year-to-date, Calls for Service total 16,415, reflecting an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. Arrests are also significantly higher, up 71% year-to-date. The Department has made 636 arrests so far this year, compared to 371 during the same timeframe in 2025."

LA Metro Reports Violent Crime Drops to New Low Since 2021: The agency reported a 6.7% drop in violent crime compared with 2024, bringing incidents to their lowest level since 2021. Crimes categorized as “against society,” including trespassing, narcotics and weapons violations, fell 33% year over year. Property crimes such as theft and vandalism remained largely unchanged, though officials said copper wire theft continued to pose challenges. More details here.

Santa Monica Council Unanimously Backs Study of Restaurant Fee Reductions: The council directed the city manager and city attorney to analyze options for a pilot program that would waive, defer or reduce fees for businesses seeking to transform empty storefronts into restaurants and hospitality venues in areas including downtown and the Third Street Promenade. More details here.

Santa Monica Forward Opposes Airport Housing Initiative: "Santa Monica Forward has long championed building more housing at all income levels to address the city’s acute housing shortage; it is a bedrock principle on which our organization operates. However, we believe the Airport Housing Initiative ballot measure is the wrong approach at the wrong time. It risks jeopardizing the conclusion of a decades-long fight to close Santa Monica Airport, and could delay community serving uses on the site." More details here.

30 New Acres Added to Santa Monica Beach Dunes: "The city of Santa Monica and The Bay Foundation (TBF) today launched an expansion of their dune restoration project, the Santa Monica Beach Dunes, that will see nearly 30 additional acres of beach along local shorelines returned back to a natural, wild state." "This new installation will stretch from the Santa Monica Pier to the sands along the Venice border." More details here.

Councilmember Dan Hall's Newsletter: Here's his latest update that includes details on the Santa Monica Boulevard Safety Study, the Seascape magazine relaunch, reduction of illegally parked RVs, and more.

The Street Seen: Appian Way Apartments (3 Vicente Terrace @ Appian Way): In 1927, a brick exterior, 3-story apartment building is constructed at 3 Vicente Terrace on the northeast corner of Appian Way and Vicente Terrace. More details here.

Founders Club plans to propel entrepreneurship in Santa Monica and launch The Forum at COSM: The three-year-old founders community will convene over 600 entrepreneurs at COSM for its largest Forum to date on March 3, nearly three times the size of last year’s gathering in New York. Founded to address the emotional and strategic loneliness of entrepreneurship, Founders Club positions itself not as a traditional business network, but as what Meade describes as a "life club." The organization is built around mind, body, and business, with the belief that when people become better humans, stronger companies naturally follow. More details here.

Lifelong reading & writing linked to 40% reduction in dementia risk: The conclusion is both simple and profound. In the face of a daunting epidemiological forecast, one of the most powerful tools at humanity's disposal may be the enduring act of engaging curiosity. Turning pages, putting pen to paper and embracing the challenge of learning are not just pastimes; they are the exercises that build the mind's fortress, offering millions a tangible hope of preserving their cognitive world for years to come. More details here.

Padel courts are coming to Downtown Santa Monica: Brand-new courts are under construction at 1318 4th Street, the first public padel courts in the city. And on Thursday, March 5, Fernando Belasteguín — widely considered the greatest padel player of all time, with 16 consecutive years at world No. 1 — is traveling from Spain for the grand opening. If you haven't heard of padel, think tennis meets squash in a glass-walled box. It's one of the fastest-growing sports globally, and it's landing right in the heart of Downtown. instagram.com/smpicklenpadel

Film Santa Monica is running an Oscars contest: Simply follow @filmsantamonica, like the post and fill out the SurveyMonkey ballot link in the post for your chance to win an $800 gift bag celebrating Hollywood’s biggest night! More details here.