Community Corner

Apr. 18: Happy Passover (Almost)

Also today, MoveOn stages a tax-day demonstration, and a historian recalls the screen-worthy story of a legendary bootlegger.

Hello, and thanks for stopping by. Happy Passover (almost; it starts tonight).

While the weekend saw temperatures rise into the high 70s (and even the low 80s), expect the weather to cool off a bit for the next four or five days. From the looks of it, it'll start warming up again just in time for Earth Day on Friday.

If you spent all weekend enjoying the heat at the beach, we won't hold it against you for not checking out Santa Monica Patch. Take a gander at what you missed, though:

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But enough dwelling on the past. Here's what's up today:

Weather Forecast

  • mostly sunny
  • high temperature: 66 degrees
  • low temperature: 55 degrees
  • chance of precipitation: 10 percent
  • humidity: 76 percent
  • sunrise: 6:19 a.m.
  • sunset: 7:28 p.m.

The Main Event

  • In recognition of the Jewish holy day, will serve up a special Passover dinner this evening and on Tuesday night as well. On the menu is chicken soup with matzo balls and organic vegetables; gefilte Fish made with pike and house-cured salmon; roasted leg of lamb with flageolet beans and lamb jus; and an assortment of house-made sorbets and macaroons. The dinner costs $48 per person and will be served from 6 p.m. until closing.

The Runner-Up

  • At least 75 MoveOn.org members are planning to stage a "Make Them Pay" tax-day action in front of the Bank of America at Fourth and Arizona at 4 p.m. "Bank of America paid $0 in taxes in 2009 and is one of the 10 biggest tax evaders not paying its fair share, while we are paying ours the very same day" organizers said. "Let's protest and make [BofA] pay." (In case , the income-tax deadline is Apr. 18 this year, not Apr. 15.)

Other Happenings

  • Santa Monica history buffs are no doubt aware of one of the city's most action-packed sequences of the last century: law-enforcement officials' battle with bootlegger Tony Cornero, who set up a floating gambling hall three miles off the coast. Historian and author Ernest Marquez will share his 30 years' worth of research into the subject when he speaks at the this evening. The discussion takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Garden Terrace Room.
  • The Arts Commission convenes tonight in proper form for the first time this year. (Special meetings were held in January and February.) The gathering begins at 6:30 p.m. at the .
  • At the same place, the Task Force on the Environment meets a half-hour later.

Last but Not Least

  • The Architectural Review Board meeting previously scheduled for tonight has been canceled.

This Day in Santa Monica History

  • On Apr. 18, 1926, three people drowned off the coast of Santa Monica. They were trying to secure a loose boat caught up in a rough storm. (Source: Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier.)

Did you take a great pic of SM in the early morning? Want to see it in The SM AM Report? Drop a note to Kurt.Orzeck@patch.com.


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