Missing woman possibly spotted in Las Vegas
Local and national media were abuzz late last week when reports came out that Mitrice Richardson, the 25-year-old women who went missing shortly after visiting a Malibu restaurant in September, might have been spotted in Las Vegas. Authorities announced at a news conference that a man who knew Richardson when they were younger had spotted her at a hotel bar. Since that time, additional sightings have been reported.
Richardson, a Cal State Fullerton graduate, vanished after being released from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station after midnight. She had no car, no purse and no cell phone. Richardson had been arrested at Geoffrey’s Malibu for not paying a dinner bill. Authorities, family and supporters have searched Malibu hills and canyons several times without finding her.
Memorial for Emily Shane
Emily Shane, the Malibu resident who was killed in April when a vehicle struck her on Pacific Coast Highway, will be honored at a ceremony at Zuma Beach on Monday, which would have been her 14th birthday.
Local surfer and Shane family friend Mike Downing created a memorial surfboard in Emily’s memory called Emily’s Board. It will be presented at the ceremony. A paddle-out will follow. The event is open to anybody wishing to remember Emily, and surfers are encouraged to bring their boards.
As part of the “pass it forward” concept that is the basis for the good deeds Web site created to honor Emily at www.emilyshane.org, Emily’s Board will be “passed forward” from surfer to surfer. A photo will be taken of each person riding the board, and then the board will be passed to the next surfer.
“The idea is to create an album (which will be online) of photos of surfers riding Emily’s Board to honor her and remember her,” Ellen Shane, mother of Emily, wrote in an e-mail to The Malibu Times. “The goal is for the board to circle the globe. Each surfer will give their name and where they were riding Emily’s Board.”
The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Tower 13, which is painted purple, Emily’s favorite color. Those who attend are asked to wear purple.
Local showbiz legend sings to ‘Save Our Schools’
Show business legend Dick Van Dyke and singer Leslie Bixler will perform songs from their new CD “Rhythm Train” on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. during a book fair at the Westlake Village Promenade Barnes & Noble, which is located at 160 S. Westlake Blvd.
The all-day event will benefit the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation’s Save Our Schools, or SOS, campaign. Other features will include a 10:30 a.m. reading by author Kathryn Hewitt, a children’s scavenger hunt and performances throughout the day by student singers and musicians from local Malibu schools.
During the book fair, up to 20 percent of purchases at the store will be donated to the SOS campaign. This campaign’s goal is to raise as much money as possible to bring back at least some of the school district teachers and other employees who lost their jobs due to budget cuts.
More than $1 million has been raised through the campaign, which began in June.
Residents who are unable to attend the event in Westlake Village can also participate in the book fair at any Barnes & Noble through Saturday by presenting the cashier with the code 10249506.
The code also applies to online purchases at www.barnesandnoble.com through Aug. 12.
For more information about SOS, go to www.savesantamonicamalibuschools.org.