Garth Sanders

Twelve-year-old Stephanie Finley just passed through one of the most exciting weekends of her life, according to her mother.

Stephanie Cheyenne Findley, the daughter of Ms. Natasha Butcher, is entered in Saturday’s National American Miss pageant in Garden Grove, open to girls between the ages of 4 and 18 in five ages groupings. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash award and an invitation to the national finals at Disneyland.

Before presenting the eulogy that Pini Herman, the leader of the Movable Minyan, delivered on Sunday at Joey Luutz’s funeral, at Hillside Memorial Park, here is some background:

State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City) said yesterday that his recent talks with the California Public Utilities Commission, specifically discussions with Commissioner Timothy Simon, have yielded a commitment on the part of the commission to hold the Monday, Aug. 11 Expo Light Rail Line evidentiary hearing in Los Angeles­.

Every Sunday afternoon, the intrepid World War II veteran Col. Michael Schirm (U.S. Army, ret.), 85 years old, drives from his Burbank home across the hill to Brentwood to stand with his fellow veterans when they rally, from 1 to 4 every Sunday, in front of the National Veterans Home, to save it from outside interests. Col. Schirm is Commander of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of California.

In a special Sister City Committee ceremony, Culver City Vice Mayor Gary Silbiger, second from right, foreground, presented a welcoming proclamation to His Worship Mayor Bob Tarleck, who led a 26-person Sister City delegation here last week from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. In the background, from left, are Culver City Sister City President Kathleen McCann, City Councilman Mehaul O'Leary, Mayor Scott Malsin and City Councilman Christopher Armenta.

The 14th annual city-sponsored Summer Music Festival of Thursday night concerts in front of City Hall — perhaps City Hall’s most popular ongoing promotion— unfurls one month from tomorrow.

Cuban vocalist Iliana Rose will open the eight-week schedule that is liberally peppered with new attractions.

The third annual ­Artwalk Culver City, a self-guided tour of a dazzling necklace of 45 art galleries and exhibition spaces — many of which have opened in recent years — will unfold on Saturday.

Sponsored by the city of Culver City, the tour, on what is expected to be a perfect late spring day, extends from 12 noon until 8 o’clock.

Galleries will be open from noon to 6, and selected galleries will remain open until 8..

The Board of Directors of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce today has endorsed state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City) for the 2nd District seat on the County Board of Supervisors in next Tuesday’s election.

Additionally, the Chamber is urging a no vote on both Prop. 98 and Prop. 99.

State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City) today announced he has won the unanimous endorsement of the Los Angeles Assn. of Deputy District Attorneys, a criminal justice organization comprised of 1,000 prosecutors serving the people of Los Angeles County.

Steve Ipsen, president of the group, said, “Our association’s vote to endorse Sen. Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor over his principal opponent Bernard Parks was not even close. Our members were highly impressed with Sen. Ridley-Thomas’ passion for seeking justice.