Mulholland Highway is one of the most famous roads in the state. Most of us know where it begins – at Leo Carrillo Beach in Malibu. But do you know where it ends? It ends at Cahuenga Boulevard beside the Hollywood freeway near Barham. It is 45 miles of scenic beauty, which excludes a large unpaved portion that must be detoured between Topanga Canyon and near the 405 Freeway.
Sunset Highway is one of the most famous roads in the country. Most of us know where it begins-at PCH. It ends at the Pasadena Freeway near Dodger Stadium, where it becomes Cesar Chavez Avenue and continues east, eventually becoming a residential street that terminates south of Monterey Park.
Kanan, Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon roads all terminate in Oak Park, Calabasas and Chatsworth, respectively.
One hundred years ago, the bluffs along Paradise Cove looked different than they do today. Many of the faces were steep, slanted sand dunes like those you see on the drive north heading to Point Mugu, on the right just past Sycamore Canyon campground. Old photos reveal white dunes that reached 100 feet high to the bluffs edge. The dunes were removed in the 1920s to allow for the Rindge railway, which ran along Escondido Beach and the beach below the bluffs of Paradise Cove.
At the Malibu Middle School graduation June 20, there were 170 students graduating 8th grade, with 147 different first names. There were four Emmas, three Jordans and Madisons, and several pairs of other names. One hundred twenty-eight children (more than 75 percent), otherwise, had their own name, not shared by anyone else at the graduation.
Latigo Shore Beach and Malibu Cove Colony are both very sleepy, quiet cul-de-sac beach enclaves in the middle of Malibu. But they were once connected. The original coast highway passed through both locations from 1929 to 1939 until it was washed out by a September storm. Then, for about a decade, it was rerouted through the area where Tivoli Cove and Gulls Way are now. In 1949, the current coast highway passed by all the above locations.
Two streets in Malibu have changed names in the last year or so. Debutts Terrace near Winding Way became Murphy Way. Mildas Drive up on the Saddle Peak ridge became Moonrise.
Addresses along PCH run from 18000 to 43000. The location of 20000 is near Big Rock light, 25000 on the bluffs across from Puerco Canyon, 30000 along Zuma Beach, 35000 near Decker Canyon, and 40000 just past county line.
Concluding with Malibu election trivia:
-The 2008 election marked the 10th election for city council in Malibu history, excluding one special election.
– 65 different individuals have run for local office during the years, although 40 of them originally appeared on the 1990 and 1992 ballots when Malibu became a city and elected the first council of five members (three spots came up for re-election in ’92).
– Nine different candidates have been leading vote-getters: ’90 Walt Keller, ’92 Carolyn Van Horn, ’94 John Harlow, ’96 Joan House (and ’00), ’98 Harry Barovsky, ’02 Sharon Barovsky, ’04 Ken Kearsley, ’06 Andy Stern, ’08 Pamela Conley Ulich.
– Jeff Jennings’ name does not appear above, but he has run for city council a record five times (winning a co-record three times), as did Walt Keller (winning twice), though Jennings beat Keller all three times they went head-to-head.
– They have never lost, ever: Larry Wan, Jeff Kramer, John Harlow, Harry Barovsky, John Sibert, as well as Ken Kearsley, Sharon Barovsky, Andy Stern, Pamela Conley Ulich (the last four all going two-for-two).
– Over the years, the difference between a winning and losing spot has been a matter of 4 votes (’90), 24 votes (’08), 29 votes (’98), 51 votes (’94), 69 votes (’04), and 70 votes (’06).
– Zuma Jay Wagner took the most time off between campaigns. After losing in 1990 and 1992, he was back again this year and won.
– Including the special election in 2000 after Harry Barovsky died while in office, 10 citizens have ran at least twice without winning. One person ran three times, finishing hopelessly behind each time. All shall remain nameless.
– Mr. & Mrs. Barovsky and Mr. & Mrs. Harlow all ran, though Emily Harlow is the only one amongst them to ever lose, finishing 11th out of 20 candidates in 1992.
– As long as term limits are in place, Joan House and Jeff Jennings will share the record of most years in office, 12 each. (And now, both are on the Planning Commission).
– 17 different individuals have served on the council over the years.