Final PCH safety meeting Thursday
The City of Malibu is conducting its fourth and final Pacific Coast Highway Safety Study meeting Thursday at City Hall to gather public input about safety concerns on the highway.
The meeting will cover the entire stretch of PCH through Malibu. Each of the previous three meetings focused on a different section of the highway.
According to the City, the study examines the entire PCH corridor in Malibu, and looks at road conditions, accident patterns and other factors that may be unique to Malibu. The public meetings are intended to help the city identify the safety issues and find solutions to the problems.
The city has also put together an interactive website where the public can share how they use the highway, explain their safety concerns and suggest improvements. The website, malibu.metroquest.com, will be available for residents to share their observations until Oct. 12.
The safety study meeting takes place Oct. 4 at Malibu City Hall, 2382 Stuart Ranch Rd., at 6 p.m. For more information, call 310.456.2489.
Man arrested for groping student
A 29-year-old man was arrested last week for allegedly groping a female Pepperdine University student near the Terrace Parking Lot on the Malibu campus. According to Pepperdine University Emergency Information, the suspect, Isaac Yasharal, has no affiliation with the university and was taken into custody by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He has since been released. Pepperdine said the suspect was warned he is prohibited from coming onto the campus and Public Safety officers are watching out for him.
Power outage planned near Malibu Canyon Road
A Southern California Edison project will require a controlled power outage in the area near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road on Friday. The traffic signal at the intersection will remain in operation during the outage.
SCE is replacing a utility vault at PCH and Malibu Canyon. The work began Sept. 24 and will continue until Oct. 12. Work hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Additionally, periodic lane closures on the highway and on Malibu Canyon Road will be required during the project’s work hours. Motorists should expect some traffic delays as a result of the work-related closures.
Board of Education meeting taking place in Malibu
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education meeting will take place Thursday at Malibu City Hall’s Council Chambers. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. There will be an opportunity for public comments, when residents can address the board about issues of concern. For more information, visit smmusd.org.
Ellison buys $37 million Carbon Beach estate
Former Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Terry Semel and his wife, Jane, have sold their Carbon Beach estate to Oracle head Larry Ellison for nearly $37 million. Ellison already owns a number of homes along the stretch of beach.
The beachfront compound sits on a three-quarter-acre lot and features a main house, guest house, gazebo and swimming pool. The combined 10,000 square feet of living space includes nine bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.
Malibu Stage Co. artistic director resigns
Rick Johnson has resigned from his post as artistic director at the Malibu Stage Company, and the group is now accepting applications for the position. Johnson has served as artistic director at the company for the past five years and has produced or acted in many productions, including plays “Shadowbox,” “Looking for Normal” and “A Soldier’s Play,” and musicals “Victor Victoria” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”
“It is with great regret that we have received the resignation of Richard Johnson as Malibu Stage Company’s artistic director,” Geoff Ortiz, MSC Board Chairman, said in a release. “Richard has done a phenomenal job of injecting so much life and five great seasons, since taking over in 2008.”
The company has formed a search committee to find the next director and is taking applications for the position. A successor is expected to be named by Dec. 1. Qualified candidates interested in the position can email MSCADsearch2012@gmail.com.
Governor vetoes bill regulating how cars pass bicyclists
California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill Friday that would require drivers to provide at least three feet of space between their vehicles and bicyclists riding on the road when passing them. The Los Angeles Times reports Sen. Alan Lowenthal said the bill was intended to reduce accidents involving drivers hitting bicyclists. The governor said he vetoed the bill because it allowed motorists to cross the center line in an effort to leave more space between him or her and the bicyclist. Brown explained crossing a double yellow line was too dangerous and would result in more accidents and lawsuits against the state.
Fire Prevention Week focuses on escape plans
Fire Prevention Week is taking place from Oct. 7 through Oct. 13 and officials are stressing escape plans and urging residents to “Have Two Ways Out” of their home.
“Our focus for Fire Prevention Week this year is on the importance of fire escape planning and practice,” Ventura County Fire Department engineer Steve Swindle said. “Fire is unpredictable and grows faster than most people realize. Having a tried-and-true escape plan with two ways out could save your family’s lives.”
To develop an escape plan, the fire department says to make a map of the home and mark a door and window that can be used to get out of every room. Next, choose a meeting place outside near the home where family members can meet after they escape and mark the meeting place on the map. Finally, check smoke alarms regularly and have practice escape drills.
“We recommend that people keep their escape plan on their refrigerator door where it’s easy to find,” Swindle explained. “It’s also important to remember to call 9-1-1 after you escape. Call from outside of the house or have a neighbor call. Don’t waste precious seconds. Get yourself and your family out.”
For more information on escape plans, contact the fire department’s Community Education office at 805.389.9748.