Mar. 22: St. Monica Catholic High School Raises Money for Japan Relief

Hi, everyone. Enjoy the sun while it's out, because the forecast is now warning of rain from Wednesday through Friday. More on the weather in a sec, but first, a quick recap of what we posted on Monday:

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Now, as promised, today's weather, followed by event highlights (a few more than usual, as today is an especially busy one):

Weather Forecast

• sunny
• high temperature: 57 degrees
• low temperature: 47 degrees
• chance of precipitation: 10 percent
• humidity: 65 percent
• sunrise: 6:55 a.m.
• sunset: 7:07 p.m.

The Main Event

• The Asian Pacific Club and Japanese classes at are staging a Japan relief fundraiser called "Jam for Japan" during lunch from 12:50 to 1:30 p.m. UCLA's Taiko group, which consists of Japanese drummers, will play a set, and SMCHS students will also perform. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross. In attendance will be a Japanese teacher and three students who are currently being guest-hosted by SMCHS families. (Go to see photos of the relief drive held Friday at the Santa Monica Red Cross.)

The Runner-Up

• Among the topics to be discussed at tonight's meeting is the controversial Bergamot Transit Village, a mixed-use development planned for the site where the Papermate factory used to be (1681 26th St.). Share your thoughts about the project . The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at . Go here for the full agenda.

Other Happenings

• In celebration of Boys & Girls Clubs Week, the will try to break the Guinness record for most people doing jumping-jacks in two minutes. Members of the SMBGC, along with their parents and friends, will participate in the record-breaking attempt, which happens at 3:30 p.m. A half-hour later, awards will be given out to SMBGC teens, while a poetry slam will be held at 6 p.m.
• Actors Neil Patrick Harris and Helen Hunt, along with Broadway composer/performer Jason Robert Brown and  director Dale
  Franzen, will be on hand for a special announcement to be made at the venue at 11:15 a.m.
• In other celebrity-related news, actress Alicia Silverstone will drop by the ’s MLK Auditorium for a "special evening" showcase that begins at 7 p.m.
• Teddy Thompson, the singer/songwriter son of Richard and Linda Thompson, will perform at producer Bob Clearmountain's recording studio in Santa Monica as part of 's ongoing Berkeley Street Sessions series. Only 150 people will be on hand to witness the cozy concert.
• 's Associated Students—the school's student government—and the SMC Eco-Action Club will present a special event in recognition of World Water Day starting at 11:15 a.m. Wells Bring Hope will present the event, showing attendees how women and girls in Africa and other areas of the globe carry water. Also, Wells Bring Hope founder Barbara Goldberg will talk about the importance of safe water; and a video that the organization filmed in Niger, West Africa, will be shown.
• Also at SMC, UCLA faculty member and research scholar Dr. Richard Delerins will give a discussion called “Genes, Peoples & Cuisines,” in which he will talk about the food choices that humans make and what cultural insights those food selections provide. The free lecture will take place in Science Lecture Hall 140 on the college's main campus, beginning at 11:15 a.m. (today's preferred start time for morning events, apparently).
• Matthew Inman, author of 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (And Other Useful Guides), will give a humorous talk and sign copies of his book at at 7 p.m.

Last but Not Least

• The K9s Only Treat Truck will be at from 4 to 6 p.m.

(Go here for more events happening today.)

This Day in Santa Monica History

• On Mar. 22, 1997, that year's Independent Spirit Awards were held in Santa Monica. Fargo and Billy Bob Thornton were the big winners.

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.