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DECEMBER 24-25, 2011
Volume 11 Issue 37
Santa Monica Daily Press
LOCALS LOOK BACK ON GIFTS SEE PAGE 3
We have you covered
THE MAKE MERRY ISSUE
Atheist to pass on PETA overture to get in on religious scenes BY DANIEL ARCHULETA Managing Editor
OCEAN AVENUE The battle over the longtime nativity scenes and their upstart atheist counterparts in Palisades Park is attracting a crowd. Adding to the national media attention and public outcry on both sides, animal rights group People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals wants in. PETA has designs on placing a billboard emblazoned with the message “Give peas a chance: go vegan” on one of the coveted spots. The billboard features religious symbols made out of peas and adds “Kindnest is the best religion of all.” Damon Vix, the face of 11 atheist groups that won 18 of 21 spots in a lottery to earn the right to erect displays, said that he would
have to pass on their offer because it’s too late for him to consider putting in the diligence to physically install it and win approval from City Hall to have the new billboard OK’d. “I’d love to have them involved,” Vix said. “But maybe we’ll have to wait until next year.” He said that PETA fits in with the message his group is trying to send, but the short
window between now and when the scenes have to come down on Jan. 4, 2012 was just too narrow. Vix would have to submit a site plan for any new display and that if differed with what he already has in place it would have to be reviewed by city inspectors. He wasn’t sure if it was too late to actually have City SEE SCENES PAGE 10
Santa Monica will keep Santa mighty busy Neighborhoods want fixes on parking, transportation and politicians for Christmas BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
CITYWIDE It’s the season of big requests and even bigger dreams, a time where we reflect on the year behind us, make plans for the one ahead and hope that somewhere along the way, we can get a little help with some of our pie in the sky hopes. Not to leave anyone out, the Daily Press staff reached out to leaders of neighborhood groups with a simple question: If you could get anything, absolutely anything, to benefit your neighborhood in the coming year, what would it be? Some of their responses consist of the traditional fare — parking problems, airport traffic and a shake up in local politicians — but others used their brand-new pogo sticks to jump out of the box. Happy holidays! OCEAN PARK ASSOCIATION
Individual members of the Ocean Park Association board requested a reduction in airplane flights buzzing overhead, a halt to traffic and improvements in alternative transportation infrastructure. Dave Auch, the vice president, wanted schedules and maps at every bus stop for his stocking, and hoped to overcome objections SEE WISH LIST PAGE 8
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EVERYBODY’S BUDDY: Santa Claus made a visit to the Santa Monica Pier last weekend to meet with families and spread holiday cheer.
Santa Claus remains popular as ever CONNIE CASS Associated Press
WASHINGTON Why do kids believe a chubby guy in a flying sleigh can deliver joy across America? Because their parents do. A whopping 84 percent of grown-ups were once children who trusted in Santa's magic,
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and lots cling to it still. Things are changing fast these days, with toddlers wishing for iPads, grade schoolers e-mailing their Christmas lists and moms wrestling over bargain toys at midnight sales. Despite all the pressures on the rituals of the season, an AP-GfK poll confirms that families are sticking by old St. Nick.
"It's important for kids to have something to believe in," says great-grandmother Wanda Smith of Norman, Okla. And so they do. Year after year, Santa Claus survives the scoffers and the Scrooges and the 6-year-old playground skeptics. He SEE SANTA PAGE 9
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