Dolphin Ball arrives
The Eighth Annual Dolphin Ball takes place on Oct. 16 at the Saddlerock Vineyards. The event raises money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year’s theme is “Under the Tuscan Moon.” Actress Linda Hamilton will be the honorary chairperson, as she has been since the ball’s inception in 1997. Guests will be treated to an evening of gourmet food, auctions and entertainment. Also, Robyn Gibson and Laure Stern will be recognized as the first recipients of the Annual Champions for Kids. Since the event’s inception, more than $850,000 has been raised.
The cost is $225 per person. Corporate sponsorships are available. For more information and tickets, contact the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 323.655.8525 or via e-mail at zsolero@cff.org.
Choppin’ and protestin’
On Saturday, protestors chopped fields of giant cane in Lower Topanga in hope that the state Department of Parks and Recreation and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority would not spray herbicides. The activists say chopping the cane is safer and more effective than using chemicals.
Later in the day, the protestors stood on Pacific Coast Highway carrying banners and signs in support of their cause.
Flu vaccine not available in Malibu
Like many nationwide, Malibu residents must look outside their home city this season if they want to receive a flu vaccine.
The Malibu Urgent Care Center has yet to receive any of the 500 vaccines on order and the prospect of them arriving anytime soon, if at all, is doubtful, said Urgent Care physician Dr. David Frankle. Health officials were notified recently that the England-based Chiron Corp., a major supplier of the flu vaccine to the American market, has suspended all production of the vaccine due to constraints imposed by the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom. As a result, the anticipated number of doses in the United States has plunged from an expected availability of 100 million doses to about 54 million.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued interim recommendations that specify who should receive the vaccine this year. Among those listed are all children ages six through 12, adults 65 and older and those suffering from chronic medical conditions. People not included in those categories are advised to forego their vaccination this season.
The mating that almost wasn’t
The recent birth of four cougars in the Santa Monica Mountains would not have occurred had property owner Brian Sweeney taken advantage of a California Fish and Game permit he was granted late last year. Sweeney, who owns a 612-acre property between Pepperdine University and Malibu Creek State Park, was granted a 10-day permit to shoot what is believed to be the last male mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains. This came after the cat had allegedly killed some of Sweeney’s sheep. But Sweeney later called off the hunt, saying he only intended to scare the animal.
CEPS issues SMMUSD endorsements
The parents group, Community for Excellent Public Schools, has endorsed three candidates for this year’s Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education election. The group gave its support to incumbents Jose Escarce and Maria Leon-Vazquez and Malibu resident Kathy Wisnicki. Wisnicki is the only candidate from Malibu running for a seat on the board.
Major v. Silna still on
A state appellate court has denied property rights advocate Wade Major’s Sept. 15 request for activist Ozzie Silna’s lawsuit against him to be thrown out. Silna is seeking attorney’s fees after Major unsuccessfully attempted to get a temporary restraining order placed on Silna to prevent him from spending money on the 2004 City Council election campaign.
PCH lane closure
One southbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway, between Corral Canyon Road and Malibu Canyon Road, will be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Oct. 17 for up to two days so fiber optic cables can be installed.
Helpful horse lovers needed
Volunteer riders and horses are needed for the “A Day With Horses” event on Oct. 23 at Malibu Equestrian Park. The event is put on by local nonprofessional horse people and showcases different breeds of horses with a celebrity announcer talking about the animal’s history and contributions to mankind. The entertainment is for children who have been taken away from their parents, made wards of the court and placed in foster homes.
Those interested in helping with the event should contact Chris Kowalewsky at 457.5280.
Pierce Brosnan hosts USC luncheon
The USC University Hospital Guild is hosting a luncheon with Pierce Brosnan on Oct. 27 at Town and Gown on the University Park Campus to raise money for the Cassandra Brosnan Celebrate Life Scholarship. Dr. Stephen Ryan will also be recognized at the event.
The scholarship is being established in memory of Brosnan’s wife. It will provide financial assistance to a medical student at the USC Keck School of Medicine specializing in oncology. The reception begins at 11:30 a.m., with the luncheon taking place at 12 p.m. The cost is $80, $40 of which is tax deductible. RSVP by calling Darlene Reid at 310.456.9773 or 323.906.1084.
L.A. Water Quality names new officers
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board has named Jonathan Bishop as its executive officer and Deborah Smith as its chief deputy executive officer. Bishop, who has worked for the board since 1984, has been serving at his new position on an interim basis since July. He was previously the assistant executive officer. Smith has worked with the board for the past 15 years.
SMMUSD fills two key positions
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education appointed Winston A. Braham to the position of chief financial officer and assistant superintendent for fiscal and business services. Also, Gabriel Soumakian was appointed Human Resources director.
Braham previously served as business manager at the Los Angeles Unified School District. Soumakian was previously an assistant principal and principal in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District.
SMMUSD accepting applications for financial committee
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is seeking candidates to fill two vacant positions on the Financial Oversight Committee and positions on the District Advisory Committee. Application forms are available through the superintendent’s office or on the Web site at www.smmusd.org. The deadline to apply is Oct. 18, with appointments scheduled to be made at the Oct. 21 Board of Education meeting.
The Financial Oversight Committee meets approximately once a month in Santa Monica.
Mel Gibson gives $10 million to UCLA children’s hospital, Cedars-Sinai
Actor and director Mel Gibson, a Malibu resident, has donate $10 million to the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The donation is to be split evenly between the two hospitals, according to a UCLA press release issued Tuesday.
The gifts will provide reimbursement to the hospitals for medical care given to children from foreign countries who are unable to afford medical care in their own countries. The organization, Healing the Children, under the direction of founder Cris Embleton, will locate and recommend which children will receive care paid for by the donation. To qualify for the program, children must have serious medical conditions and be unable to be treated in their own countries.
“For the past several years, the Gibson family has quietly supported Healing the Children’s efforts to help sick and injured children around the world,” Embleton said. “Not only have they given financial support, they also have given their time and hearts, and as a result have seen first hand how people working together can give a child the future they deserve.”
The Mattel Children’s Hospital surgical and medical teams, working through Healing the Children, successfully separated the formerly conjoined twins from Guatemala, known as the “little Marias,” in 2002.