Word on the Street: Arnold’s friends, Shrynes design, Judge Rice, attorney Bird honored

Skechers’ green giant

Manhattan Beach-base Skechers will celebrate the LEED Gold Certification of its 1.8 million square-foot distribution center in Rancho Belagio tomorrow. The solar powered facility makes extensive use of parabolic skylights to increase natural lighting, low water-use fixtures, and recycled water for irrigation. It is the largest building of its kind to receive the top green building designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The facility’s automated storage and retrieval system can process 17,000 pairs of shoes per hour. The system requires approximately 300 employees, or one-quarter the number previously required.

Pilates and juices in Manhattan

formu+La pilates & juice, a lifestyle studio offering pilates classes and organic cold-pressed juices pressed on site, using fruit and produce from locals farms and farmers markets, has opened in Manhattan Beach.  Juices include the  tree hugger cocktail (celery,pear,golden beet,lemon grass, jimica, fennel,ginger) and Rosy Cheeks (watermelon, mint and goji berry).

2403 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach. (310)-546-2880 TheFormulaLife.com.

Metro opens electric vehicle charging station

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers are now able to charge their vehicles for a nominal fee at the El Segundo Metro park and ride stations. Metro anticipates that the EV charging stations will encourage EV owners to combine public transportation with driving. EV drivers will be able to charge their vehicles while using Metro to run errands, go to events or while commuting the rest of the way to work.

EV drivers need to subscribe online at metro.net/ev to use the charging stations. The cost to charge a vehicle is $1 per hour and caps at $3. EV drivers will receive a text notification when the vehicle battery is fully charged. The program is funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission.