Fire management plan available to public
The National Park Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement identifying and evaluating four alternatives for a fire management plan at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. When approved, the plan will guide all future fire management actions in the area for five to 10 years. A meeting will take place at Malibu Bluffs Park on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. so the public can review and comment on the DEIS. The complete DEIS is posted on the SMMNRA Web site at www.nps.gov/samo/pphtml/documents.html. Copies in printed or CD form are available at park headquarters or at local and regional libraries in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. For more information, contact Fire Information Specialist Marty O’Toole at 805.370.2364.
New principal at Juan Cabrillo Elementary
John Davis, former assistant principal at Malibu High School, has accepted the position of principal at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. Davis is replacing Pat Cairns, who retired at the end of this past school year.
Perenchio supports Bush campaign
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that Malibu Bay Co. President Jerry Perenchio donated $1 million to the conservative group Progress for America Voter Fund. The organization is an independent group dedicated to raising funds to help President Bush’s presidential campaign.
Traffic alert
One northbound lane on Pacific Coast Highway, between Big Rock Drive and Corral Canyon Road, will be closed intermittently for fiber optic utility work beginning July 25 through Sept. 2 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Santa Monica Mountains film honored
Discovery Communications and the Travel Channel won a Telly Award, a prize given to cable TV commercials and programs, for a film made for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area called “Mountains, Movies & Magic.” The film won the bronze Telly Award for its category, History and Travel and Tourism. The film is being shown at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to welcome and educate visitors.
West Nile virus treatment trial expanded
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has expanded its clinical trial of an experimental West Nile virus treatment to about 60 sites throughout the United States and Canada, including Los Angeles, Duarte and Harbor City.
The multi center trial, which opened at 36 sites last September, is expected to add about 24 new sites this summer pending internal approval at each institution.
West Nile is spread by mosquitoes, and until recently was limited to West Africa and the Middle East. It arrived in New York City in 1999 and has continued to spread throughout the United States to areas of the West Coast.
The study will test the safety and preliminary effectiveness of using a product containing West Nile infection-fighting antibodies to treat people whose infection has reached or threatens to reach the brain. Most of these antibodies will be taken from Israeli donors who now have acquired high levels of these antibodies. The study will also seek preliminary data about the treatment’s effectiveness on encephalitis, a brain inflammation and severe neurological complication caused by WNV. More information on the trial is located at: www.casg.uab.edu.
New man in charge
Pepperdine University recently named Edwin L. Biggers as the new chairman of its Board of Regents. Biggers was named to the Board of Regents in 1983 and has been active on several civic and professional boards in the community. He retired as vice president of Hughes Aircraft Company in 1994. The university also appointed two new members to the board, Eff W. Martin of Woodside, Calif. and Stephen Stewart of Milan, N.M. Martin is an advisory director of Goldman Sachs & Co. Stewart and is cvice president of Stewart Brothers Drilling Co. Pepperdine’s 40-member Board of Regents is the legal governing body and chief policy-making board of the university.
Yard sale fundraiser
Our Lady of Malibu Church will hold its summer yard sale on July 24, 25, 31 and Aug. 1 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Among the items for sale are clothes, shoes, furniture, gifts, small appliances and antiques. There will be a silent auction on Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. The sale will take place at the church on 3625 Winter Canyon Road. For more information call 456.2361.
Former MHS vice principal receives higher post
Gloria Martinez has been named the new principal at Palisades High School. She is a former Malibu High School vice principal and UCLA professor. Martinez earned her doctorate in education from UCLA and taught at St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey before moving to MHS eight years ago. Martinez will become the first principal in the independent charter school’s new leadership team.
Call to the Wall
Malibu Boardriders will present their annual “Call to the Wall” national longboard surf contest on July 24 and 25. The event raises funds for Malibu Boardriders to host their September event, “Day at the Beach,” a day camp for more than 300 children afflicted with cancer. The surf contest will feature several world-class surfers, a raffle and a silent auction. There is a dinner on Saturday night at Casa Escobar where Councilmember Ken Kearsley and other city councilmembers will award a city proclamation to surfer Dave Sweet. For more information call 457.2366.
Call to Artists
Malibu Arts, a nonprofit community arts organization, is seeking submissions for its “Call to Artists” art contest. Artists are encouraged to create and submit an image or images that represent Malibu. Entries should be able to be adapted to a three-dimensional sculpture. The chosen image will be displayed throughout the city of Malibu. Two-dimensional submissions may be up to 18 by 24 inches in size, though if the image is larger, a photograph of the image is an acceptable alternative. All submissions are nonreturnable and must be accompanied by a rights release, which can be downloaded from the Malibu Arts Web site. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 22 and entries should be mailed to Malibu Arts c/o City of Malibu, 23815 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA 90265. For more information call 589.9967.
Camp Bloomfield at arts festival
The Foundation for the Junior Blind of America will have a booth at the 33rd annual Malibu Arts Festival, which is taking place this weekend. The booth will use nature sounds to create a camp environment to introduce the organization’s Camp Bloomfield to festival attendees.