Body of woman washes ashore in Malibu
The body of 67-year-old Camarillo resident Sarah Jane Koster washed ashore on Carbon Beach last week on Wednesday. Her husband had reported her missing earlier that day, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
The official cause of death has not yet been determined, but a spokesperson from the coroner’s office said the death is being investigated as an accident.
A Carbon Beach resident said Koster’s body washed ashore around 4:30 p.m. on the beach right in front of his house on Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Mesa Road. Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s officials said she was wearing a bathing suit when she was found, indicating that Koster was in the water voluntarily and probably drowned.
The Los Angeles County Homicide Bureau is investigating her death.
Malibu Colony home approval appealed
Pat Healy, head of the Malibu Coalition For Slow Growth, has appealed the City Council’s July approval of a 5,200-square-foot Malibu Colony home. The coastal development permit application will now go before the California Coastal Commission.
Healy wrote in the appeal that the project location was within the 100-foot threshold of a wetland that she says is a state-protected environmentally sensitive habitat area, or ESHA. Healy also wrote that the project would be harmful to nearby native Cypress trees and federally protected migrating birds.
At the City Council meeting last month, the applicant’s representatives denied that the project location was within the 100-foot threshold of any ESHA, including the Malibu Lagoon and the surrounding wetlands.
There was some controversy when this issue went before the City Council. Attorney Frank Angel, who represented a man who had appealed the Planning Commission’s approval of the project, was angered that a 10-page document he had submitted to the city regarding the project was not included in the staff report. Planning Manager C.J. Amstrup admitted that the city had received the document, but said he could not find it.
Judge bans Navy from using sonar use off Southern California coast
A federal judge on Monday said the U.S. Navy could not use sonar during training exercises off the Southern California Coast. U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper issued the preliminary injunction after rejecting the Navy’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the National Resources Defense Council over sonar use. She said the use of sonar could be harmful to marine life, including mammals.
The Navy has also been sued by the California Coastal Commission after it said it would not follow recent sonar restrictions approved by the state agency.
The Navy says it plans to appeal Monday’s ruling.
Portion of PCH closed
The California Department of Transportation is closing one lane of Pacific Coast Highway in each direction from McClure Tunnel to Topanga Canyon Boulevard this week until Friday, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Intermittent lane closures will be limited to one lane in each direction. Caltrans officials say the closure is needed to continue installation of a traffic signal system that adjusts the signal rotation dependent on traffic conditions.
Dodger Blue Comes to Malibu
It’s viewed as one of the most spectacular architectural homes on Carbon Beach, and now it belongs to Frank and Jamie McCourt. The Los Angeles Dodger owners hit one out of the ball field, snagging the John Lautner-designed home called the Segal Residence for close to its asking price. “Friends” star Courtney Cox Arquette and her husband actor David Arquette recently put the home on the market in February for $33.5 million. The couple purchased the home six years ago for $10.2 million. The 5,500-square-foot four-bedroom beach abode has a pool and 80 feet of beach frontage.
Architect Lautner, who died in 1994, was renowned for his modern masterpieces. He designed several other Malibu trophy homes and studied with the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright.
Book fair this weekend
The Friends of the Malibu Library will hold its annual book fair on Saturday and Sunday. The event supports the library’s youth activities, Summer Reading Program and Women’s Month, plus the purchasing of best-sellers, reference books, periodicals and audio-visual materials.
Hundreds of books will be on sale. Hardbacks and oversized paperbacks cost $1. Paperbacks are 50 cents. Videos and book tapes are $1 and up.
The Book Fair takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the Friends of the Malibu Library members allowed entrance at 9 a.m. Membership can be purchased at the door beginning at 8:30 a.m. Sunday is Bargain Day, with the sale taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call 310.456.6438.
State recognizes importance of breastfeeding
Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health this week announced the launching of California’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
“Breastfeeding helps infants and mothers achieve optimal health and wellness and strengthens the maternal/infant bond,” Horton said. “During Breastfeeding Awareness Month-and throughout the year-Californians can acknowledge the importance of breastfeeding by supporting breastfeeding mothers and working to create breastfeeding friendly environments.”
Horton launched California’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month activities at a walk at the State Capitol sponsored by the California Women, Infants and Children Association. The State Capitol event was one of 29 Breastfeeding Awareness Walks occurring throughout the state.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger read a proclamation saying that breastfeeding plays a role in improving the health and well being of mothers and infants. He encouraged all Californians to educate themselves on the benefits of breastfeeding and to become active supporters of breastfeeding mothers.
According to the Department of Public Health, research has shown that both infants and mothers benefit from breastfeeding. For infants, breastfeeding reduces the incidence of obesity, lowers the risks for diabetes, allergies, pneumonia, asthma and some childhood cancers, and enhances cognitive development. For mothers, breastfeeding for six months or longer protects against breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis later in life. Studies also suggest that skin-to-skin contact between mother and child through breastfeeding improves infants’ emotional and cognitive development. The bonding that takes place between mother and child through breastfeeding can help build a loving and solid relationship, fostering a healthy foundation for a new family to grow.
Celebrity-signed surfboard auctioned for charity
Beginning on Friday, people can bid on a surfboard signed by more than 60 celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Kelsey Grammer, Jeremy Piven and Drew Barrymore. The board will be on display at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Malibu Country Mart, with bids being taken through Aug. 17. The money made from the auction will go toward the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
-Kim Devore, Jonathan Friedman and Laura Tate