Skate park relocation talks continue
The Skate Park Committee is meeting Dec. 15 in the Zuma Room at Malibu City Hall.
At the meeting, the committee will hear about the City of Malibu’s plans to open up a temporary park in addition to discussing potential sites for a permanent park.
The skate park committee meeting takes place Thursday at City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd., at 5 p.m.
For more information call 310.456.2489.
Additionally, the Roman Helmets, Made in Malibu and Duke’s Malibu are hosting a holiday family night to raise funds for the Malibu skate park. The event will feature music by the Roman Helmets, food and drink specials, and a raffle with goods from local vendors. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Skate Park Fund.
The event takes place Friday at Duke’s Malibu, 21150 Pacific Coast Highway, at 6 p.m. Suggested $5 donation at the door. For more information contact Josh Morgan at josh@dukesmalibu.com or Chris Hanson at chanson310@charter.net.
Violent crime down in L.A. County
Violent crimes are down 13 percent from this time last year in Los Angeles County, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Property crimes are down about 2 percent.
In the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction, Part I crimes, including violent and property crimes, are down 6 percent from this time last year, and down just over 8 percent from the end of November 2006. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery and assault; property crimes include burglary, larceny theft, grand theft auto and arson.
In Malibu, violent and property crimes are down nearly 25 percent from this time last year. By Dec. 1, 2010, 345 Part I crimes had been committed and by the first day of this month 259 such crimes have been reported.
To see the statistics in full, visit sheriff.lacounty.gov or go to file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf.
Sheriffs, firefighters collecting toys
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station and the Los Angeles County Fire Department are each hosting toy drives to collect gifts for children in need this holiday season.
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station’s toy drive is taking place until Dec. 16. New, unwrapped gifts for children and teens ages one to 16 can be dropped off at the station, 27050 Agoura Rd., in Agoura. Donations will be given to less fortunate children in the community and aid military families in need.
For more information, contact Deputy Edwin Tamayo at 818.878.1808, extension 7867.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has partnered with ABC 7 for the 19th annual Spark of Love Toy Drive. Fire departments throughout Los Angeles County are collecting new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment to give to children in need. Gifts can be dropped off at fire departments throughout the county until Dec. 24. Toys can also be dropped off in the collection box at Malibu City Hall.
The Spark of Love drive is taking place at fire stations in Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
For more information, visit www.fire.lacounty.gov.
Legacy park earns fifth award
Legacy Park has been awarded the 2011 Engineering Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Basin Section of the California Water Environment Association, according to a press release from the City of Malibu. This is the fifth award the City of Malibu has received for Legacy Park, which was completed about a year ago.
The award will be presented at a banquet on the Queen Mary in Long Beach Jan. 21.
“The City of Malibu is extremely proud to have the Los Angeles Basin Section of the California Water Environment Association recognize Legacy Park with the 2011 Engineering Achievement Award,” said Malibu Mayor Laura Rosenthal. “This park is an environmental gem engineered to improve ocean water quality and promote a sustainable community and lifestyle for generations to come.”
The city was also recently awarded the inaugural Sustainable City Award from Senator Fran Pavley for its creation of Legacy Park. Other prizes Legacy Park has received include the 2011 award for Outstanding Stormwater Best Management Practice Implementation presented by the California Stormwater Quality Association, two 2011 Outstanding Sustainability Project Awards on the branch and regional levels from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the 2011 Project of the Year Award presented by the American Public Works Association’s Southern California Chapter.
“Completed last year, the environmental project transformed 15 acres in the heart of Malibu into a central park that is one of the most ambitious and innovative stormwater and urban runoff projects in California,” the release from the city states. “The state-of-the-art project is an environmental cleaning machine capable of capturing up to 2.6 million gallons per day of stormwater and urban runoff for treatment and disinfection. The clean stormwater is then reused for irrigation of the park.”
Weekend visits from St. Nick
Two Saturday events at the Malibu Country Mart and the Malibu Colony Plaza feature unique visits from Santa Claus.
Both Santa and his reindeer are making an appearance Dec. 17 at the Malibu Country Mart. Elizabeth Maulhardt, Director of Marketing for the Malibu Country Mart, said the inspiration to host the event came from the idea that it was something that hadn’t been done before.
“We researched and saw that this was something that had never been done in Malibu or even any surrounding areas,” Maulhardt said. “We wanted to bring the spirit of Santa’s Village to Malibu and have a visit from these furry friends.”
At the shopping center, Santa will be taking photos with children from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the reindeer will hang around from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, strolling carolers will be entertaining the crowd between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The Malibu Country Mart is located at 3835 Cross Creek Rd. For more information visit www.malibucountrymart.com.
The Malibu Colony Plaza hosts a holiday party this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the event, children will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa Claus, take part in face painting and storytelling with Mrs. Claus, and watch performances by Mr. Magico, carolers and jugglers.
“The Annual Holiday celebration has been done for many years at Malibu Colony Plaza,” Donna Salo of the Malibu Colony Plaza said. “We have found that the photos with Santa are very popular and children seem to enjoy interacting with the additional holiday characters that are part of the event.”
The Malibu Colony Plaza is located at 23755 W. Malibu Rd., at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way. For more information visit www.malibucolonyplaza.com.
Wednesday marks first day of winter
The winter solstice occurs Dec. 21, marking the first day of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also the shortest day of the year.