Dolphin Awards nomination deadline extended
The deadline for nominations for the annual Malibu Times Citizens of the Year Dolphin Awards has been extended to Jan. 21.
The purpose of the Dolphin Awards program is to recognize outstanding efforts of individual Malibu citizens and, by acknowledging and publicizing their contributions, inspire others.
Readers are invited to submit nominees worthy of being considered for a Dolphin Award: individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving one or more aspects of Malibu’s community life.
Dolphins are a very diverse group. Some Dolphins may have many years of achievement; others have only recently found an important way to serve. Some have been involved in multiple activities; others have focused on one or two. Some are business professionals, politicians or educators, while still others are retirees, retailers, restaurateurs, homemakers or students. Their interests are as diverse as they are and range from environmental protection to wildlife rescue to education, literacy, the arts, health and safety, teen programs … the list goes on and on.
To submit a nominee, write at least one page describing your nominee’s contribution and why you think they should be considered. Please include enough information (several paragraphs at least) for the editorial/publishers board to be able to make an informed decision. Be sure to include his/her contact information. Mail or e-mail by Jan. 21; agyork@malibutimes.com; 3864 Las Flores Canyon Rd., Malibu, CA 90265.
BB Committee decision revisited
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Dianne Talarico said Tuesday although nothing illegal occurred, there was a “procedural error” in the Jan. 7 vote by the Measure BB Advisory Committee. Talarico said the vote “was not forwarded.” She declined to explain what “forwarding the vote” meant.
“The district is currently looking into how to remedy the situation,” Talarico said.
At the committee meeting, Malibu resident Laura Rosenthal made a motion for Measure BB money to be used for middle school projects, including one at Malibu High School, but no vote was ever taken. Instead, committee member Dennis Crane, a Santa Monica resident, made what he called a “substitute motion,” that called for making no new bond money allocations.
Committee co-Chair Gleam Davis, a Santa Monica resident, said the proper procedure was that the committee voted on a substitute motion, and only addressed the original motion if the substitute motion were rejected.
City Councilmember Andy Stern wrote a letter to Talarico last week against Davis’ decision. Talarico said that was the reason for the district’s review of the vote.
Final day approaching to register prior to presidential primary
Tuesday is the final day to register to vote prior to the Feb. 5 presidential primary election. The ballot also includes seven state measures (although the four involving Indian gaming are related) and a $346 parcel tax for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Voter registration forms can be found at City Hall, the Malibu Library and the post offices.
City offering emergency response training
A new city-sponsored Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training session begins on Tuesday. The free seven-session course headed by Emergency Services Coordinator Brad Davis teaches a variety of skills, with graduates becoming certified to be part of the official CERT effort during an emergency. All sessions must be attended to graduate.
The opening day lesson is on disaster preparedness. The rest of the schedule is fire suppression (Jan. 24), disaster medical triage and rescue (Jan. 29), first aid and medical organization (Jan. 31), light search and rescue (Feb. 5), team organization disaster psychology and terrorism (Feb. 7) and disaster simulation exercise (Feb. 12).
Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Malibu Performing Arts Center, located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd. To sign up, contact Davis at 310.456.2489 ext. 260 or by e-mail at bdavis@ci.malibu.ca.us.
Water district reduces rates for fire victims
At its Jan. 8 meeting, the Board of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District voted to grant full forgiveness of charges for the billing period during which a home was destroyed in the recent Malibu fires. Also, partial credits will be allowed for customers in the fire-impacted area who used an extraordinary amount of water during the billing period. The Las Virgenes district includes a portion of unincorporated Malibu.
Customers seeking fire-related rate adjustments should contact the district at 818.251.2200 on or before Feb. 29.
“Las Virgenes Municipal Water District understands the difficult tasks that lay before fire victims,” said John Mundy, district general manager. “The board’s action authorizes staff to make adjustments and help reduce some of the impacts of the fire.”
Mundy said more than 50 of the structures in the district were destroyed, and many more damaged. Also, there were reports firefighters often used customer water supplies to fight the fire and refill trucks.
Cooking class for teens
The Cornucopia Foundation is offering a five-session cooking class for teens with chef Diana Temple beginning on Friday. Titled “Survivor 2008: Cooking for College & Beyond,” the course will offer youngsters an opportunity to learn how to make a variety of foods, concluding with a European family style dinner on the final day.
On the first day, students will make pizza and Caesar salad. The rest of the lineup includes macaroni and cheese and teriyaki chicken (Feb. 1); roast potatoes, roast vegetables and roasted chicken (Feb. 15); coconut shrimp, empanadas, bruschetta bar and phyllo tartlets (Feb. 29) and the final dinner where students can bring two guests (March 13).
The classes will take place at the Malibu Riding & Tennis Club, located at 33905 Pacific Coast Highway. The course is $70. For more information, call 310.457.9107.
City Hall to close Monday
City Hall will be closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It will reopen on Tuesday. The Malibu Times Building will be open on Monday.
-Jonathan Friedman