George Rieck, 68, prepares his soil before planting his spring tomatoes garden and waters his African daiseis  at the Main Street Community Garden on Tuesday, March 20, 2007,  marking the first day of spring  and the Vernal Equinox. The equinox occurs when the Earth's position on its axis, as it waltzes around the sun, places the sun directly over the Earth's equator. Day and night are of approximately equal length at 12 hours each. The hours of daylight peak around June 20, which is called the Summer Solstice, called the time when the sun stands still. The sun is again directly over the equator around, September 22, marking the Automnal Equinox.

1) Maura McElhone, who hails from Irelend, plays the fidel  at Finn McCool's during the St. Patrick's Day Celebration on Saturday, March 17, 2007. On the guitar is Emil Olguin. 2) Gerri Gilliland, owner of  Finn McCool's, sings "Cockles and Mussels."  3,4) The Celtic Motion Irish Dance Company perform the Irish Jig at Finn McCool's during. 5,6)  Aria Curzon, 19, from the Celtic Motion Irish Dance Company perform the Irish Jig.

1) Eric Gabster, board member of 'Friend of Sunset Park,' talks with Chief Timothy Jackman at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Ocean Park Blvd. on Saturday, March 17, over a cup of coffee during the Chiefs  'Meet and Greet.' Gabster commended the chief for his recent arrests of suspected  gang members, for adding a crossgaurd to Ocean Park Blvd. and 17th Street and for the departments rapid responds to emails and phone calls from the public.  2) Chief Timothy Jackman gives a sticker to second-grader Cyara Pinkos,  8. 3) Chief Timothy Jackman and his two sons, Ryan, 14, (left) and Andrew, 18, visit with shoppers at Virginia Avenue Park's Farmers Market on Saturday. 4)  Chief Timothy Jackman helps Candido Vivanco, owner of Candy's Gourmet Sausage, Inc, grills up some carne-asada  at the Virginia Avenue Park Farmers Market during his 'meet and greet' on Saturday.  Vivanco cutts all his own meat, which is prime in  quality and all nartural. 'Candy's' butcher shop is inside of  Alans Market on 339 Washington Blvd. He has  been there for more than 20 years.

Panpan Wang, a photography mentor  from Venice Arts goes over a composition assignment at Virginia Avenue Park with (left to right) Ezra Dibble, 11, Matt Selbo, 11 and Gabi Bon Dorant on Saturday, March 17, 2007. Venice Arts is an innovative arts center that brings talented artists together with low-income young people to nurture their creativity, imagination, and talent. Their programs focus on those whose access to the arts, as artists or audience, has been limited. Venice Arts' mentor-artists guide young people through experiences with the arts, exposing them to the tools, ideas, and environments that help them express their creativity, build positive interethnic relationships, and improve their academic performance and job readiness.

Reza Marashi and Antonio Urquieta, investigators form the Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner Weights and Measurements, inspect the produce, flowers and plants at the Virginia Avenue Park Farmers Market on Saturday, March 17, 2007. They check to confirm that the produce, flowers and plants were indeed grown on the farmers land; they check to make sure  the produce is organic and that the scales are accurate. Everything was up to code on Saturday.

Santa Monica Police Chief, Timothy Jackman (left) stops to  visit his departments public relations expo table  hosted by Sgt. Rudy Camarena (right)  on Thursday, March 15, 2007 during the Santa Monica Chamber's  Westside Busness Expo at the DoubleTree Guest Suites.