Malibu native attends State of the Union as Obama guest
Sgt. Ashleigh Berg of Malibu attended President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night as one of the first lady’s guests.
Berg, who has been in the U.S. Army for seven years, met Vice-President Joe Biden’s wife, Jill, while she was stationed in Iraq. After the meeting, Berg and Biden became acquainted, and Berg was invited to attend the speech. “I was a little nervous at first, but definitely excited for sure,” Berg told NBC Los Angeles. “It feels like I just won an Oscar.”
Berg grew up in Malibu. She has served two tours of duty in Iraq and has also been stationed in South Korea and Germany. Her husband, Matthew Berg, is currently deployed on his third combat tour in Afghanistan. She is currently stationed in Hawaii. Her father and stepmother live in Malibu.
City council candidate field finalized
The deadline to submit nomination papers for the upcoming April 10 municipal election passed Jan. 18, with seven candidates entering the race. The candidates are John Sibert, Missy Zeitsoff, Joan House, Skylar Peak, Hans Laetz, Andy Lyon and Hamish Patterson. There are three open seats on the council. Councilmember John Sibert is running for re-election, Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich is term-limited and Councilmember Jefferson Wagner announced he will not run for re-election. Check next week’s Malibu Times for an overview of the field, followed each week thereafter by a profile of each candidate.
Calabasas to end controversial septic tank program
The Calabasas City Council on Jan. 25 was expected to get rid of a controversial septic tank inspection program after a two-year battle with residents living in the city’s rural areas.
The program, known as the On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems ordinance (OWTS), began in mid-2010.
Controversy arose when many homeowners complained about inspectors entering their property unannounced and citing them for expensive building code violations. Many of the residents were seniors who live in historic homes built in the early twentieth century. The homeowners complained that paying the citations would cost tens of thousands of dollars and require destroying parts of the historic buildings.
The decision was made after The Malibu Times went to press Tuesday evening. Check The Malibu Times website for updates on this story.
EIR complete for high school improvements
The final Environmental Impact Report for improvements to the Malibu High School and Malibu Middle School campus was released Jan. 23. The project includes a two-story replacement building for classrooms, a library and administration offices, along with the renovation of existing classrooms in Building E and outdoor spaces. The project also includes a new drop-off/pick-up lane, a new 150-space parking lot and access road, two new tennis courts, synthetic turf for the athletic field and improved wastewater systems.
The school district Board of Education will consider certifying the final EIR at its Feb. 2 meeting at Malibu City Hall.
The final EIR can be viewed online at malibucity.org. Hard copies are available at Malibu City Hall, the Malibu Public Library, the Malibu Middle and High School Library and school district headquarters in Santa Monica.
Pepperdine denies LGBT group
The Pepperdine University administration in December rejected an application by gay-straight alliance group Reach OUT to be recognized as a student organization, according to the Pepperdine Graphic. The student paper reported it was the fourth time the group has been denied by the university or discouraged from applying.
In response, group leaders Alexander Cooper or Lindsay Jakows started a petition last week titled “Pepperdine: Overturn Your Decision to Deny Recognition to LGBT Students” on the website change.org. As of Tuesday, the petition had received 4,185 signatures.
Pepperdine’s administration and Reach OUT had been negotiating for more than a year and the university had established a Building Bridges Committee in response to the group’s concerns. On Nov. 9, 2011, the gay-straight alliance group applied to become an official student organization and the application was rejected by the university Dec. 13.
“Pepperdine students often struggle to be honest about their sexual orientation because they fear rejection from their peers as well as the risk of losing their scholarships and leadership opportunities,” the petition states.
“Until now, the university’s policies have created an atmosphere of silence and anxiety that alienates not only the LGBT student population but also anyone concerned for their well-being.”
The group says it does not endorse sexual activity, but rather seeks to provide students an open forum to discuss LGBT issues and dispel negative LGBT stereotypes.
Dean of Students Mark Davis said the school, which is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, believes in the biblical conviction that sexual activity should be reserved for a husband-wife relationship.
“Pepperdine seeks to be faithful to this teaching because we believe it is God’s will,” Davis said, “and therefore we cannot endorse another view or take a neutral position on sexual morality. Although Reach OUT stated in its application that it has no position on sexual activity, we do not believe it is possible for a LGBT student organization to maintain a neutral position.”
City compiling free Wi-Fi list
The City of Malibu’s Telecommunications Commission is compiling a list of local Malibu establishments that offer free public Wi-Fi service, a press release from the city states. The business names and addresses will be included on a map that will be featured on the city’s website. Business names and addresses can be sent to media information officer Olivia Damavandi at odamavandi@malibucity.org.
State of our Schools report Jan. 30
The seventh annual Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District State of Our Schools Community Report is taking place Monday at Malibu City Hall.
During the report, district superintendent Sandra Lyon will discuss student achievement, educational initiatives and the district’s financial situation.
Additionally, principals will share information about educational programs at their schools. Educators in attendance will include Malibu High School principal Mark Kelly, Juan Cabrillo Elementary School principal Barry Yates, Point Dume Marine Science School principal Rebecca Johnson, Webster Elementary School principal Phil Cott and Judy Abdo of SMMUSD Preschools.
The State of Our Schools report takes place Jan. 30 at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd., from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The presentation continues Jan. 31 at Virginia Avenue Park’s Thelma Terry Building, 2200 Virginia Ave., in Santa Monica, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
For more information, email swahrenbrock@smmusd.org