Archives for July 3, 2026

Plastic-Free July Cleanup Challenge with LA Waterkeeper: Decentralized

Sunday, July 5, 9a-12p

Did you know that July 5 is often deemed the “Trashiest Day of the Year” because of the waste left behind from Fourth of July festivities?

Join LA Waterkeeper in making a positive impact in your community by removing plastic and other trash from your neighborhood, local park, or nearby beach. Together, we can help prevent pollution from entering habitats like the LA River and our beautiful coastline.

Please complete this registration form and review our cleanup manual before getting outside! Need help finding a location to make an impact? Check out our cleanup manual for a list of suggested locations. 

Los Angeles Waterkeeper: https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/

Plastic-Free July Cleanup Challenge with LA Waterkeeper: Santa Monica

Saturday, July 11, 9a-11a

Free event

9a at Santa Monica Beach, Tower 20, 20 Bicknell Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Event link: https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/events/july-2026-c2c 

What: Community beach cleanup as part of Plastic Free July

Region: Los Angeles County

Description:

Join LA Waterkeeper at our Santa Monica Beach Cleanup to celebrate Plastic Free July! Plastic Free July is a global movement that challenges folks to refuse single-use plastics for one month.

This family-friendly event is a great way to build community, learn new ideas for reducing plastic intake, and help create a safer and cleaner environment for all our marine friends.

Please register at https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/events/july-2026-c2c

Los Angeles Waterkeeper: https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/

Plastic-Free July Cleanup Challenge with LA Waterkeeper: North Atwater Park

Saturday, July 18, 9a-11:00a

Free event

9a at North Atwater Park: 3900 Chevy Chase Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Event link: https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/events/july-2026-c2c-raft

What: Community river cleanup as part of Plastic Free July

Region: Los Angeles County

Description:

Join LA Waterkeeper for our Plastic Free July Cleanup at North Atwater Park as part of our Creeks to Coast Cleanup! Take a vital step toward preserving life and safeguarding the beauty of our riparian ecosystems.

We will also spend part of the event looking at the water quality of the LA River that runs next to North Atwater Park. As part of our River Assessment Field Team, volunteers will learn about the LA River’s history and current challenges and use field kits to determine the river’s health and biodiversity.

This family-friendly event welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds. Get ready to have some fun and learn lots!

Please register at https://www.lawaterkeeper.org/events/july-2026-c2c-raft  

Supergirl * Brings A Classic Hero Storyline With Tons Of Action And Fighting Scenes

When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice. Supergirl is a 2026 American superhero film based on the DC Comics superheroine Kara Zor-El / Supergirl. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, it is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU). Milly Alcock stars in the title role, alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, and Jason Momoa. In the film, Kara Zor-El travels across the galaxy on a murderous quest for revenge. The film is produced by Peter Safran and James Gunn of DC Studios.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sydney S. comments, “Supergirl brings a classic hero storyline with tons of action and fighting scenes. While it has some exciting moments and performances, the storyline is predictable and overused, and therefore lacks the surprise element.” See her full review below.

Supergirl

By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Supergirl brings a classic hero storyline with tons of action and fighting scenes. While it has some exciting moments and performances, the storyline is predictable and overused, and therefore lacks the surprise element.


The storyline follows Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), known as Supergirl, who is Superman’s cousin. She is trying to figure out her life before coming across an unlikely person who needs her help to fight a battle against Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts). The constant fighting creates both allies and enemies. 


The main characters are Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), Superman (David Corenswet), Krem, and Lobo (Jason Momoa). Milly Alcock wonderfully represents Kara’s determination and emotional side, especially in scenes where she struggles to balance her Kryptonian past with her life on Earth. It addresses people finding themselves throughout life. This is something a lot of people struggle with and I like that Kara’s journey can help viewers not feel so alone. Kara isn’t a glamorous superhero. She’s different from others in that she isn’t really well put together, which I think makes her character interesting. On the other hand, the other characters don’t feel well developed and their roles don’t enhance the backstory very much. They aren’t really connected and lack interaction. The costumes, however, are extremely well-made – the aliens look very realistic, as close to what I imagine aliens actually look like! It definitely has an outer space mood. The visual effects are impressive, and the battle scenes are filled with fantastic sound effects. However, at times, the CGI is not very convincing, especially when Supergirl is flying. Also, the soundtrack is disappointing, especially when sad pop songs play during a huge battle scene – it’s a complete mismatch. For the most part, the plot feels very expected and I could guess exactly what would happen next. It’s similar to every superhero movie without extra things to spice it up. My favorite part is when Kara embraces her powers during a huge battle scene. The camera rotates in a circle while everything is in slow motion. It’s definitely an impactful scene.


The film’s message is about choosing the right thing to do, even when it may be difficult. Ruthye wants to avenge her family’s death and kill Krem, but Supergirl assures her that it won’t make her life any better. Revenge isn’t always the answer, but the right decisions do matter. Be forewarned that there is some intense action and fighting, but nothing too extreme for most older kids.

I give Supergirl 3.5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Supergirl releases in theaters June 26, 2026.