Mandatory water conservation measures to begin next month
In response to the state and local water supply shortage, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District board of directors has adopted mandatory water conservation measures that will carry penalties for noncompliance beginning March 4. The measures apply to Las Virgenes Municipal Water District customers.
The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District serves a population of 65,000 in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and adjacent unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
The mandatory measures prohibit irrigation between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., during periods of rain and within the 24 hours used to clean or sweep hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, parking areas and driveways.
The measures allow car washing only with the use of a nozzle having an automatic shutoff. Additionally, restaurants will only serve water upon request, and hotels and motels will offer multinight guests the option to use the same towels and linens during their stay.
Violations of the adopted measures will escalate for repeat instances of noncompliance within a 12-month period. The first violation results in a warning letter, the second through fourth violations result in fines of $50 to $250, and the fifth violation results in restriction or termination of water service.
More information can be obtained by calling 818.251.2150.
Little League season kick-off day
Malibu Little League will kick off this year’s baseball season with its opening day festivities Saturday at Bluffs Park.
The event starts at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Optimist Club. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes baseball and softball games, a coconut tree climb, an inflatable obstacle course and food.
The honorary opening pitch will be thrown by second grade Webster Elementary School student Buckley Ventress, who has been battling cancer for several years. This is his first year playing Little League.
There will be a grand raffle prize of $500. Raffle tickets can be purchased on Feb. 28 for one dollar and all proceeds benefit Malibu Little League.
Opening day attendees must park at Webster Elementary School and take a free shuttle to Bluffs Park.
More information can be obtained by visiting www.malibulittleleague.org.
MHS journalism trip hindered by economy
Approximately 15 Malibu High School journalism students are looking to the community to aid in the funding of their trip to New York City in March to attend a journalism convention at Columbia University. The worsening of the economy has eliminated some of the previously arranged funding for the trip.
The students are contributors to Malibu High School’s newspaper, The Current, which has been in production for nearly 14 years, and is the recipient of national awards. The students say they wish to broaden their horizons by meeting with their peer journalists at the convention.
More information can be obtained by calling 310.457.6801.
School district seeks to fill Proposition 39 committee vacancy
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is seeking to fill a vacancy on its Prop. 39 Bond Oversight Committee with a qualified candidate who meets the criterion, in accordance with Section 5.1 of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Bylaws.
The deadline for applications is March 13 and the appointment is scheduled to be made at the March 19 Board of Education meeting at the Santa Monica City Council Chambers, 1685 Main St., in Santa Monica.
Application forms are available through the district Web site: www.smmusd.org.
Bench warrant issued for son of Malibu actor
Malibu City Court issued a bench warrant last Friday for Redmond O’Neal after the 24-year-old missed his arraignment in connection with a September 2008 drug bust at his father Ryan O’Neal’s Malibu house.
Los Angeles District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said in a public statement on Friday that the warrant will be dismissed if Redmond “comes to the next court date,” which is set for March 25.
Redmond was arrested Sep. 17 for possession of methamphetamine after officers turned up at the O’Neal house for a routine probation sweep stemming from his past drug offenses.
At the time, Redmond was on three years’ probation for drug possession and misdemeanor driving under the influence.
His father, actor Ryan O’Neal, was also arrested and charged with felony drug possession after a vial of methamphetamine was found in his bedroom. After pleading guilty, he was ordered into an 18-month drug-deferment program, which, if successfully completed, will see his charges dismissed.
NASA to investigate satellite launch failure
NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite failed to reach orbit after its 1:55 a.m. Pacific standard time liftoff from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in Ventura County on Feb. 24.
The observatory is the first spacecraft dedicated to the study of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere. The goal of the satellite is to increase scientific understanding of not only where carbon dioxide comes from, but also where it ends up.
Preliminary indications state the fairing on the Taurus XL launch vehicle failed to separate. The fairing is a clamshell structure that encapsulates the satellite as it travels through the atmosphere.
A Mishap Investigation Board has convened to determine the cause of the launch failure.
-Olivia Damavandi