Walking for a cure
A group of people from Malibu Fitness will participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day, beginning Oct. 7. The event includes people walking and crewing in Huntington Beach and Long Beach to raise money for breast cancer research. Calling themselves Team Dance Debbie, the group’s members are participating in the event in response to the death of their longtime friend, Debbie Feldman, who last month lost her third bout with breast cancer.
Mindy Heydon, who has participated in other walks for breast cancer research and this year is joining with Team Dance Debbie, said she sent a letter out to everybody she knew to raise money for the walk. She has already raised $3,500.
“With the death of my friend eight years ago, I realized how people are affected by this hideous disease,” Heydon said. “I know I can walk, so that is what I can do to help.”
That people would be motivated to participate in this event in the name of their friend does not surprise Heydon. She said that Feldman was a vibrant person, full of energy, who inspired many.
Those interested in supporting Team Dance Debbie can contact Heydon at 456.2065. A donation can be made to the event itself at www.The3Day.org.
BRUIN football results
The Malibu 7- and 8-year-old “Band of Brothers” team lost a tough game on Sept. 25 to the Crenshaw Cougars 7-0. The defensive play of Bryce Beaton, Winston Churchill, John Keach, Garrison Finley, John Kramer, Tony Sall and Spenser Silvers shut down Crenshaw’s vaunted offense until late in the fourth quarter.
Despite losing a game on Saturday to a strong North Valley Golden Bear team, coach Tim Parker said this was their best effort to date. He commended the team for crisp tackling and sure blocking. Connor McMahon, Michael Novak, Colby Parker, Tony Rogari, John Schaar and Spenser Silvers showed major improvement.
Coach Parker is assisted by John Jonstone, Greg Beason, Richard Silvers and Carl McMahon. The team manager and assistant manager are Carol Levy and Lori Silvers.
In other divisional play:
The BRUIN Conference champion midget team (3-0) continued its record setting string of 14 victories over three seasons with its third win this year, defeating the Reseda Buccaneers 6-0. Quarterback Dex Lucci’s streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass in each of the 23 games came to an end.
In an anticipated rematch of last year’s Mity Mite division championship game, the BRUIN Pee Wees still couldn’t find a way to score in their 12-0 loss to the North Valley Golden Bears. They’ll be tested again on Saturday as BRUIN quarterback J.P. O’Fallon and all-conference running backs Zack Davis, Jordan Benton and Vincent Lawrence will lead the team against the N.W. Pasadena Ponies.
Coach Baker’s Tiny Mites continued to serve notice that they intend to be conference playoff contenders with a 30-0 win over the L.A. Sheriffs. The team is led by Malibu’s Lawrence Villansenor at quarterback. Speedster running backs Jared Baker and D’Anthony Thomas have combined for 12 touchdowns in their first 3 games.
Mel Gibson gets court order against homeless man
Actor Mel Gibson has obtained a temporary restraining order against a homeless man who allegedly showed up at his Serra Retreat home and the chapel he attends. Gibson said the man, 34-year-old Zack Sinclair, demanded the two pray together.
According to the Associated Press, Sinclair was arrested on Sept. 20 for disorderly conduct and loitering. An Oct. 6 hearing was scheduled to take place after The Malibu Times went to print.
The restraining order prohibits Sinclair from coming within 150 yards of Gibson, his wife or their seven children, their home, Gibson’s work, the children’s school and the chapel. He also cannot contact the actor.
Marijuana find turns up no suspects
In a joint operation, National Park Service Rangers and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies removed 1,800 marijuana plants from a quarter-acre site in the central Santa Monica Mountains. This is the second marijuana field removed from the Santa Monica Mountains in one week.
According to the National Park Service, the raid was completed without incident and multiple weapons were found on site; however, no arrests were made and there are no current suspects. The recovered plants range in height from four to six feet and have a street value of more than $2 million.
Documentary to show life of local grizzly activist
The life and death of amateur bear expert Timothy Treadwell will be documented in a film produced by the Discovery Channel’s theatrical documentary unit. The film will be based on the 46-year-old Malibu resident’s life, which was cut short in October 2003 when he and his girlfriend, 37-year-old Amie Huguenard, were killed by a bear in Alaska.
Treadwell was an author and videographer who devoted himself to saving grizzlies after, he said, he had near-fatal experiences with illegal drugs. He said close encounters with bears inspired him to give up drugs, study bears and work for their protection.
An American James Bond
In order to vote for Sen. John Kerry in the upcoming presidential election, actor and Malibu resident Pierce Brosnan decided to become an American citizen. He took the oath for citizenship last week in Los Angeles. Brosnan, born in Ireland, will retain a dual citizenship.
Britney comes to Malibu
Britney Spears, who wed dancer Kevin Federline on Sept. 18, has bought a Serra Retreat home for just under $6.9 million.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the 9,000-square-foot home has eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The 1.5-acre property also includes a tennis court, pool, spa, gym, gardens and outdoor kitchen.
Topangans protest use of toxic weed killer
A mass demonstration is planned for Saturday to protest the use of herbicides in Lower Topanga State Park land.
Topanga residents and supporting organizations plan to meet at “high noon” Oct. 9 at the corner of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway to show their disapproval of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority’s plans to use the chemical glyphosate to remove the invasive plant arundo donax in lower Topanga, states a press release from the Santa Monica Mountains Coalition for Alternatives to Toxics.
A community volunteer crew has been hand-chopping the arundo the past year but needs two to three years to successfully complete the job of eradicating the cane. The community had received a one-year hiatus to allow for manual removal; however, State Parks and MRCA officials said delaying removal of the arundo would jeopardize $180,000 in Proposition 12 funding for the project to remove the cane.
“The use of the herbicides in the watershed violates the intentions of Proposition 12,” claims the alliance of community and mountain organizations opposed to the use of the herbicide, “and is inimical to the health of Topanga Creek and Santa Monica Bay, not to mention the 28 residents currently living within the park.”
A Topanga volunteer crew will be begin cutting the cane starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Rodeo Grounds before hiking up to Topanga Canyon Boulevard at PCH, carrying banners, to be joined by rallying supporters.
More information can be obtained by calling 310.455.1709.