News Briefs

By The Malibu Times · Wed Sep 10 2003

C.E.R.T. training comes to Malibu

Following a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to fully meet the demand. People will have to rely on each other to meet the immediate life saving and life sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads for a period of time.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was developed to provide basic training in safety and life saving skills for the general public. The course is now recognized nationwide, and to date more than 50,000 citizens have been trained.

The City of Malibu will present the training for members of the public and city employees. The course will be presented as a series of classes on Saturdays, Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

There is no charge for these classes. For more information, visit the CERT link on the Emergency Preparedness page of the city Web site at www.ci.malibu.ca.us, or go to www.cert-la.com.

To sign up for the classes contact Brad Davis at 310.456.2489 ext. 260, or by e-mail at bdavis@ci.malibu.ca.us.

Democratic clubs unite in 'No on the Recall' campaign

In a first for several longtime Democrat clubs, a coalition has been formed to campaign for "No on the Recall" of Gov. Gray Davis. Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica and Topanga Democrat organizations will jointly be opening a campaign office to assist voters in securing their mail ballots, registering new voters and providing information on the issues related to the recall and propositions for the Oct. 7 election.

There will be an open house signup of volunteers on Sunday from noon until 3 p.m. The headquarters is located at 408 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.

For more information, call 310.393.7370 or e-mail NoRecall@aol.com.

New commander for Malibu's 'adopted' Gators

First Sgt. Brent Holman of Malibu's adopted Alpha Company, the Gators, is turning over the company to First Sgt. Brett Oden from Sacramento. Holman will be returning to Fort Campbell to retire after 20 years of service. He was presented a Bronze Star for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. To symbolically welcome Oden to the adopted unit of Malibu, Holman presented him with his Malibu T-shirt.

There are many new Gators in Iraq now who need Malibu pen pals. Please call Leslie Schwarz at 456-3739 to "adopt" a soldier or order a T-shirt for yourself or your pen pal. Holman asks that we keep our cards, letters and care packages coming, especially through the holidays.

Beach sand bill signed by governor

Gov. Gray Davis signed AB 1212, authored by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills). The bill (Chapter 285) provides that no coastal development permit for sand replenishment can be issued unless and until the project applicant provides a plan for onsite monitoring and for supervision during the implementation of the permit.

Periodically, California's beaches must be replenished because of sand that is washed away in the normal ebb and flow of the tides. In October, Will Rogers State Beach became the dumping ground for construction rubble and debris that a contractor replenishing that beach allowed to be mixed in with the clean sand, which should have been used. Similar situations have occurred in San Diego and elsewhere. Concerned residents in Pacific Palisades brought this incident to the assemblymember's attention. This bill will become effective Jan. 1, 2004.

'Green' trash service being negotiated

In an attempt to solve a problem of too little "green" trash pickup in Malibu, especially regarding brush clearance, a representative from Solid Waste Solutions said negotiations are underway to address the concern. One of the issues is that debris from required brush clearance, which can be considerable on large properties, is a fire hazard and should be picked up as soon as possible. Additional containers are currently available for a charge. The consultant handling the negotiations was in Sacramento at press time and unable to offer further information.

Charmlee Park docent training begins

Charmlee Wilderness Park is in need of docents. Training begins on Sept. 25 and runs through Dec. 7. The cost is $50. To participate, call 310.779.7023.

-Cortney Litwin