City Council campaign move gets going
The first candidates forum of the 2008 City Council campaign will take place on Saturday at the Paradise Cove Clubhouse, located at 28128 Pacific Coast Highway. The forum is being hosted by the Paradise Cove and Point Dume mobile home parks. It begins at 1 p.m. Although a variety of issues will be discussed, this forum usually has a focus on mobile park issues such as rent control.
Another forum will take place on March 12 at Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School, located at 6955 Fernhill Dr. The Point Dume Community Association-hosted event will begin at 6:45 p.m. A third forum, hosted by the Malibu Township Council, is scheduled for March 15 at 10 a.m.
Thursday is the first deadline for candidate’s financial statements to be turned into the city. Candidates can receive no more than $250 from a single contributor. A person can promote a candidate for an unlimited amount of money if he does not contribute to the candidate’s campaign and conducts his business without any direct connection to the candidate. The Malibu Times will put the candidates’ financial information on its Web site, www.malibutimes.com, as soon as the information is made public.
There are five candidates seeking three seats on the council. Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Conley Ulich is the only incumbent in the race. Mayor Jeff Jennings and Councilmember Ken Kearsley, whose terms expire this year, cannot run for reelection because of the city’s term limits law. The other candidates are John Sibert, Susan Tellem, Jefferson Wagner and Kathy Wisnicki.
There will also be two measures on the April 8 ballot, a proposal for an updated telephone tax and a question of whether residents want the city to create a law on view shed protection.
Any entities hosting candidate forums can call 310.456.5507 ext. 105 to have them listed in The Malibu Times.
Three fire suspects headed back to court
Three of the five suspects accused of starting November’s Corral Fire are scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Los Angeles residents Brian David Franks, 27, Brian Alan Anderson, 22 and William Thomas Coppock, 23, were told last month by Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Leslie A. Dunn to return March 3 so a date for a preliminary hearing can be set to decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial to take place.
The three men are charged with two felony counts of recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury and recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. The District Attorney’s Office has also alleged the fire started during a governor-declared state of emergency, which, if proven, would require a mandatory state prison sentence. The three men pleaded not guilty in December.
The two other suspects in the case-Culver City residents Eric Matthew Ullman, 18, and Dean Allen Lavorante, 19-made their first court appearance on Feb. 14. They did not enter a plea, but are expected to do so on April 2.
The Corral Fire burned 4,900 acres and destroyed 86 structures, including 53 homes. Thirty-seven vehicles and a mobile home were also destroyed. Another 45 structures, including 33 homes, were damaged. Six firefighters were injured, including one who received second-degree burns to the face.
Man killed in Malibu Canyon crash
An unidentified man in his 20s was killed early Saturday morning after his car collided head-on with another on Malibu Canyon Road just south of Piuma Road. The California Highway Patrol said two other people were flown to UCLA Medical Center.
The collision occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m., according to the CHP.
Woman’s Club seeks sponsors for scholarships
The Malibu Woman’s Club is asking for sponsorships by businesses and organizations for its annual scholarships for local fifth-graders and high school seniors. The club will distribute its scholarships at a luncheon on May 21 at Duke’s Malibu.
A committee awards $1,000 scholarships based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service, employment and general fitness as exemplified in an autobiographical statement or personal essay. The fifth-graders also must submit a writing sample for an opportunity to win $150 (first place) or $75 (second place).
Seniors interested in entering the contest can pick up an application at their college advisor’s office.
Those interested in sponsoring a scholarship should contact Christine Rodgerson at crodgerson@coldwellbanker.com.
Artifac Tree announces sale
The Artifac Tree Thrift Shop, located at 3728 1/2 Cross Creek Road, will hold a half-price sale on Monday until Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store, founded by Honey Coatsworth, is also a community helper. It has provided clothing, personal items and other necessities to more than 20 victims from last year’s fire.
PCH closure
The California Department of Transportation closed one lane of westbound Pacific Coast Highway between Corral Canyon and Latigo Canyon roads on Monday. The lane will remain closed for approximately four weeks, according to Caltrans. The closure is due to emergency rock removal needing to be done.
-Jonathan Friedman