Holiday closures
The Malibu Times office?s will be closed Thursday, New Year?s Eve, beginning at 3 p.m. and Friday, New Year?s Day.
Dick Clark hosts 37th New Year?s Eve bash
At 80, TV legend and Malibu resident Dick Clark will celebrate New Year?s Eve in New York?s Times Square for the 37th time.
Clark, who suffered a debilitating stroke five years ago that impaired his speech and put him in a wheelchair, will cohost ?Rockin? New Year?s Eve? Thursday night alongside Ryan Seacrest. The show will air on ABC.
?Having been given the opportunity to ring in the New Year for the last 37 years, I look forward to doing it again,? Clark told The New York Post. ?Though I wish my speech was clearer, I must admit the encouragement I?ve received from so many people inspires me because apparently my appearance serves as a good motivation for others who have suffered a stroke. Obviously, a majority of the on-air work is handled by Ryan, but I?m given the chance to join in and most appreciate it.?
Last year?s bash in the 11:30 p.m. to 12:33 a.m. time slot attracted an average audience of 17.61 million viewers, and out delivered the combined audiences of NBC?s ?New Year?s Eve with Carson Daly? and Fox?s ?New Year?s Eve – Times Square? by some 19 percent in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research (via ABC). About half of those viewers were in the much-prized 18-49 age demographic.
Except for New Year?s Eve 2004, when Regis Philbin stepped in a few weeks after Clark suffered his stroke, Clark has been overseeing the countdown-to-midnight bacchanal. The show has been an American tradition since Richard Nixon was in the White House and Bobby Vinton?s ?Sealed With a Kiss? was a ?lady?s choice? on ?American Bandstand.?
City offers Christmas tree recycling program
The City of Malibu, participating in a green waste recovery program sponsored by Los Angeles County, is encouraging residents to recycle their Christmas trees after the holidays.
Trees will be accepted through Jan.13, and may be dropped off at one of two Malibu locations: Pacific Coast Highway at Heathercliff, and at Civic Center Way (across from the Malibu Library). The trees can also be cut up and placed in green waste recycling bins for pick-up on regular trash pick-up days.
Trees must be free of metal/plastic stands, as well as all ornaments, lights, and plastic wrap (including tree bags) before drop-off or they cannot be treated as green waste. Trees treated with fire retardant or flocking are not acceptable.
More information can be obtained by calling 310.456.2489 ext. 286.
City requests proposals for parks maintenance, library renovation
The City of Malibu has issued two requests for proposals for services to maintain landscaping at city parks and to provide construction management services for the library remodel project.
The Parks and Recreation Department is requesting proposals for landscape maintenance services at all the city?s parks, including those owned by the city, as well as those where the city has joint usage. All proposals must be submitted by Jan. 7 at 4 p.m.
The Public Works Department is seeking proposals for construction management services for the city?s Library Renovation Project. Proposals must be submitted by Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.
More information about the Parks Landscape Maintenance RFP can be obtained by calling 310.456.2489 ext. 225. Information regarding the Library Renovation Construction Management RFP can be obtained by calling 310.456.2489 ext. 254.
Jakks Pacific settles litigation
Video game publisher THQ Inc., World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and toy maker Jakks Pacific Inc. on Tuesday of last week settled lawsuits over game and toy licenses and a joint venture, according to the Associated Press. As a result, THQ will pay a total of $33.2 million to the two companies, end its joint venture with Jakks, which is based in Malibu, and enter a license deal directly with WWE.
THQ will pay WWE $13.2 million as part of the settlement. The two companies signed an eight-year video game license that starts on Jan. 1. THQ will also pay $20 million over the next four years to Jakks. The joint venture between the two companies ends on Dec. 31. With the eight-year licensing deal, THQ has exclusive rights to make video games based on WWE content. Its most recent such game is ?WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010.?
WWE shares rose 22 cents to $15.44 in morning trading Tuesday of last week, while Jakks rose 10 cents to $12.41. THQ shares added 14 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $4.95.
-Olivia Damavandi