Fatal paragliding accident
A paraglider was killed on Aug. 8 when the parachute-like glider struck a hill near Corral Canyon, a fire department official said.
The crash was reported at 3:41 p.m. at Corral Canyon Road and West Pacific Coast Highway, said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Sam Padilla. Rescuers arrived within 10 minutes and found the victim on the side of the hill.
The victim, who has not been identified, died at the scene.
No further details were immediately available.
PCH paving project to close road
Due to work involving pavement markings and striping, the California Department of Transportation will close northbound Pacific Coast Highway at the McClure Tunnel this Thursday and, if needed, on Friday, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
One lane of the highway, between Malibu and the McClure Tunnel, will also be closed in alternating directions, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., through Thursday this week.
The closures are related to a $7 million, 11.6-mile paving project taking place from the Malibu Lagoon bridge to the McClure Tunnel.
Work consists of removing existing concrete pavement and replacing it with rubberized asphalt concrete, removing and replacing raised pavement markers, traffic striping and markings, adjusting manhole cover heights and modifying loop detectors (speed sensors embedded in the roadway).
Rubberized asphalt concrete, or RAC, overlay is more durable and longer lasting than conventional asphalt and thus requires less maintenance.
The project is expected to be completed this fall.
Red Cross donation
JAKKS Pacific, a Malibu-based, U.S. toy-making company, will present a $54,000 check to the American Red Cross on Wednesday this week in support of those affected by natural disasters in mainland China and Myanmar. JAKKS Pacific’s U.S. and Hong Kong employees rallied together and raised $27,000. As part of the JAKKS Cares philanthropic program, JAKKS then matched each dollar donated.
The funds will be used to aid China’s earthquake survivors through the purchase and distribution of relief supplies, the coordination of logistics and transportation of disaster workers to the hardest hit areas and reconstruction work in mainland China and Myanmar.
Verdict pending on new fire station opening
In less than 40 days, a decision regarding the opening of new Fire Station 56 (to be located in West Malibu, barely within the 90265 Zip code) will be made by Ventura County Planning Director Kimberly Rodriguez.
The fire station would serve areas including Yerba Buena and Deer Creek roads, which technically are in Los Angeles County. However, boundary lines are blurred when natural disasters, such as last year’s wildfire, occur. A dispute of opinions over the communications setup at the potential location is responsible for hindering the opening of the new station. The Ventura County Fire Department employed Motorola to assess the requirements for full range communication, and the assessment includes a 55-foot tower would be necessary.
Topanga Creek Restoration
The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced that it began the restoration of the natural stream channel for Topanga Creek this week.
The project will remove the large berm that deflects the flow of Topanga Creek around the Rodeo Grounds in lower Topanga Canyon.
The removal of the berm was identified as a priority restoration project after the property became part of Topanga State Park in 2001, because of the impact it has had on the hydrology of Topanga Creek. Its removal will restore the natural creek channel and the surrounding 12-acre floodplain, allow accumulated sediments to be naturally carried out by storms and would support a reproducing population of steelhead trout
Wisnicki fails to pull papers for SMMUSD position
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board President Kathy Wisnicki failed to pull papers in time for the November election.
If no other potential Malibu candidate files for the school board race by Wednesday this week, then the city of Malibu will not have local representation on the board.
Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) on Monday endorsed incumbent Jose Escarce for the school board. SMRR leaders said the endorsement was made partially because Escarce received a majority of the membership’s vote, although he had fallen just one vote short of the necessary 55 percent to win the nod. Not all members of the steering committee are satisfied with the decision, and some believe the decision was made in secret.
Newcomer Ben Allen and incumbents Mechur and Maria Leon Vazquez also received support from SMRR.
Chris Bley, who also failed to win SMRR’s endorsement, has qualified for the Nov. 4 ballot.
-Olivia Damavandi