Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area selects new superintendent
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has selected David Szymanski as its new superintendent, according to an announcement released by the National Park Service. Szymanski will replace Woody Smeck, who served as superintendent for 10 years before recently transferring to Yosemite National Park.
Szymanski is currently the superintendent of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. He has nearly 20 years of experience working with communities, parks and protected areas, including 14 years of service with the National Park Service.
“David is an excellent leader, manager and supervisor,” said Pacific West Regional Director Chris Lehnertz. “David excels in maintaining and developing sophisticated partnerships with all entities, which will be instrumental in continuing to shape the future of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.”
After accepting the position, Szymanski said, “I am very excited about working with our neighbors, partners and park staff in the Santa Monica Mountains. I look forward to joining them in their mission to sustain the mountains and serve all residents of greater Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.”
Szymanski will begin his new duties as superintendent this fall.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the largest urban national park in the U.S., with over 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.
Earthquakes shake Southland
Two Los Angeles-area earthquakes rattled Southern California last week. The first, a 4.6 magnitude quake, occurred around 11:30 p.m. last Tuesday night 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles near Yorba Linda. The second hit the next morning at about 9:35 a.m. on Aug. 8 at a magnitude of 4.5. Its location was also 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, near Yorba Linda.
The quakes were felt throughout the Southland, including in Malibu, and were followed by a series of small aftershocks. There have not been any reports of significant damage or injuries.
Coastal Commission votes to allow lagoon project to continue
California State Parks can continue with the Malibu Lagoon restoration project, denying a request for the project’s permit to be revoked, the California Coastal Commission voted at its Aug. 8 meeting in Santa Cruz. Following the recommendation by the executive director, the commission voted unanimously there was not any evidence showing state parks had submitted inaccurate, erroneous or incomplete information, a press release from the California Department of Parks and Recreation stated.
Mr. Chow coming to Malibu
Upscale eatery Mr. Chow will open a new location in Malibu in Nobu’s former space at the Malibu Country Mart, owner Michael Chow told The Hollywood Reporter. The Chinese restaurant is expected to open in about three months.
Mr. Chow has locations in Beverly Hills, New York, Miami and London. A Las Vegas location is also slated to open soon.
Nobu moved from the Malibu Country Mart, where it operated for 12 years, to its new Carbon Beach location last month. A soft opening took place July 30, and a grand opening is expected to be held in the fall.
Arrests made, vehicles impounded at DUI checkpoint
Five people were arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence during a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in Malibu Friday night. During the checkpoint, 11 drivers were given sobriety tests, 14 driver’s license citations were issued and eight vehicles were impounded, according to a release from Traffic Sgt. Philip Brooks. A total of 1,174 cars passed through the checkpoint, which took place at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and John Tyler Drive from 9:30 p.m. until 3:30 a.m.
The checkpoint was conducted by the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department with help from 10 Disaster Communication Volunteers. It was supported by a California Office of Traffic Safety grant for the City of Malibu.
Malibu reps set to meet with transportation officials
Mayor Laura Rosenthal, Mayor Pro Tem Lou La Monte and City Manager Jim Thorsen plan on meeting with members of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency in Sacramento on Thursday.
Sheriff Lee Baca plans on joining Rosenthal, La Monte and Thorsen in their meeting with Brian Kelly, the state secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing. Kelly manages 12 state departments including Caltrans.
“We’re going to discuss funding for a lot of projects on PCH,” La Monte said. “There’s a lot of grant funding available for those projects and we want to get what we think is right for Malibu.”
One of the hot-button issues up for discussion is traffic along Pacific Coast Highway, especially at Paradise Cove.
After receiving dozens of complaints about left-turn backups and general congestion at Paradise Cove during the summer season and on weekends, the City of Malibu requested more County Sheriff’s Department officers work at the site to help with weekend traffic control.
Officers worked 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. There was not much of an improvement in traffic, Thorsen said.
“I know conditions were still extreme, but hopefully having trained professionals at the facilities is a little better than the [Paradise Cove workers] that were there before,” Thorsen said.
Malibu Jewish Center to start pre-k program
The Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue is now accepting applications for its new pre-kindergarten program beginning this September. The center’s early education programs will now provide a newly expanded pre-k program for four-year-old children.
Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue offers preschool, pre-k and mommy and me programs, in addition to its popular Friday afternoon Tot Shabbat program, “I’m Jewish Too.”
Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue is located at 24855 Pacific Coast Highway. For more information, call 310.456.2178 or visit mjcs.org.
City to host school board candidate forums
The City Council obliged a request from the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica to hold a school board candidate forum at city facilities in late September.
Council members decided to waive the facilities fee cost if the forum is held during business hours. If candidates prefer to hold the forum during the evening, they will have the option of covering facility costs out of their own pocket.
Three Malibu residents and education activists are vying for three open seats on the board: Craig Foster, Seth Jacobson and Karen Farrer. They will face off against incumbents Jose Escarce, Maria Leon-Vazquez and a returning candidate from 2010, Jake Wachtel.
City recognized in Strong Cities, Strong State campaign
The City of Malibu has been profiled in the ongoing “Strong Cities, Strong State” campaign that highlights successful local governments. The campaign is a project of the League of California Cities and the California City Management Foundation, a release from the city states.
The campaign’s profile for the city highlights the city’s Sustainable City Award, the Malibu Library grand opening and the design and development of three new city parks.
“We are proud to be a part of the ‘Strong Cities, Strong State’ campaign,” Malibu Mayor Laura Rosenthal said. “The City of Malibu is a community at the forefront of environmental and educational innovation. This campaign will serve as a valuable resource in furthering public knowledge of Malibu’s continuous achievements in environmental preservation and public health improvement.”
To see the full profile on the city, visit strongcitiesstrongstate.com/city/malibu.
Air Force tests hi-tech drone near Pt. Mugu
The United States Air Force on Tuesday tested an unmanned experimental aircraft off the coast near Point Mugu that is reportedly designed to fly at six times the speed of sound, or about 3,600 mph. The X-51 WaveRider was expected to reach Mach 6 after being dropped by a B-52 bomber, according to the Washington Post. Created by Boeing Co., the aircraft is designed to allow the Pentagon to deliver strikes around the world within minutes.