Making it in Tough Times

With unemployment at an all time high of 10 percent nationally, one organization is working to lower that number.

Chrysalis, a non-profit organization, is helping the homeless and economically challenged find jobs. The office located in Santa Monica has seen an increase of 40 percent over the last year. With the tough economic times, and the rise in unemployment, Chrysalis has been seeing a different type of customer recently.

While the homeless and economically disadvantaged are still their primary customers, Chrysalis has seen an influx of customers who have either been recently laid off, or are under employed.

The customers they aide are not the only victims of the economy though. Donations to the organization have dropped, showing that the economic troubles are wide spread.

Chrysalis will be holding a fundraising dinner at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel on Tuesday, November 10^th.

Pico Man shot in ‘Brazen’ Attack

Residents of the Pico Neighborhood were shocked by the public and brazen attack that left one of its residents dead Tuesday night.

On Tuesday, November 3^rd, 20-year-old Richard Juarez was gunned down in an apparently gang related incident.

While leaving the Virginia Park Teen Center, Juarez and two of his friends were approached by two men. After a short exchange of words, one man opened fire on the group, but only hitting Juarez. Santa Monica Fire Department responded to the call but Juarez was pronounced dead on arrival.

The victim’s uncle, Frank Juarez, said that Richard was leaving an art class at the park when the incident occurred. He also went on to say that, “Richard liked people, and people liked him.” He also went on to say that while the police believe it may be gang related, Juarez’s family says that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Four suspects were arrested immediately following the attack. Patrick Birdsong, 18 of Los Angeles, Norman Cole, 33 of Los Angeles, Sean Mermer, 29 of Lancaster, and an African American juvenile were arrested by Santa Monica PD just minutes after the attack. Birdsong, the primary suspect, has had his bail set at 1.05 million dollars.

Tree People Bring the Cool

A non-profit organization, Tree People, was on campus Friday at Grant Elementary in Santa Monica planting trees in the children’s playground.

Kindergarteners and parents planted Australian Willows in a portion of the playground that as a whole has been undergoing renovations starting in 2008.

Originally, there were plans to add artificial shade to the playground, but when estimates for cost came back way over budget, the school scrapped those plans. But soon after, Kindergarten parent Jessica Luck, contacted the Tree People.

Luck had been working with the organization and was familiar with their work. The Tree People came to Grant Elementary in order to do more than plant some trees to provide shade. They also mean to educate the children. Not only did the children learn how to plant a tree, they also learned their environmental importance.

The Tree People have made Grant Elementary a little bit cooler, while helping the environment and educating students.