Garth Sanders

A unique Culver City happening, the fourth annual Backlot Film Festival, begins a 4-day run this afternoon at the Vets Auditorium. This is the first year Backlot has been staged in the autumn. Not coincidentally, the opening film, to be screened at 2 o’clock, 1940’s “Strike Up the Band,” stars Mickey Rooney, who will be honored with Backlot’s most prestigious award.

An outpouring of support from more than 100 volunteers thronged through the Culver City streets on Saturday to spread their enthusiastic support of Measure EE, the parcel tax for the School District on the Nov. 3 ballot. Not only did parents turn out with kids in tow and pushing baby carriages, but they were joined by a group of School District employees, administrators, elected officials, principals (both retired and current), and four candidates for the School Board. They all joined in the march to bring accurate information to the nearly 2500 voters who participated in the last election.

With the Culver City-based Backlot Film Festival moving from spring to autumn for the first time this year, founder Ross Hawkins has announced that $5 from every Festival pass and Gala Reception picket will go directly to Culver City High School’s Academy of Visual and Performing Arts program.

School Board candidate Prof. Patricia Siever, who is hosting a Meet ‘n Greet event Sunday afternoon at 1 at Carlson Park, this week won the endorsement of former Mayor Albert Vera, a giant in recent years in Culver City politics and culture.

The YES on EE committee, supporting the proposed $96 a year parcel tax to aid the School District, is promoting a Community Day for EE on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 in the area of Veterans Park, behind the Vets Auditorium Organizers are hoping to attract upwards of 100 volunteers to canvass Culver City with flyers, lawn signs and information on the parcel tax proposal, Measure EE, on the Nov. 3 ballot. Parents, School District employees and community members are welcome to join in to help spread the word about Measure EE.

Joining the steadily expanding list of organizations endorsing the Parcel Tax on the Nov. 3 ballot, Measure EE, City Council on Monday voted unanimously to endorse the proposal designed to bring in approximately $1.2 million annual to Culver City schools.

In an editing error yesterday, School Board candidate Alan Elmont mistakenly was described as a former candidate. He not only is current, but he is among the favorites to win election on Nov. 3.

For the 15th season of the Summer Music Festival, it has been a long and happy journey from the ever-popular Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, with their hot Afro-Cuban salsa sounds, two months ago, down to tonight’s smashing finale at 7 o’clock in the Courtyard of City Hall.

Two chances are left, this evening and next Thursday, to catch the fast-fading, closing notes of the Summer Music Festival’s weekly concerts in the Courtyard at City Hall.

Darkness is arriving noticeably earlier, the early mornings are growing cooler.

As of tonight at 7 o’clock, the weekly Summer Music Festival in the Courtyard of City Hall is down its final three performances of the season.