The facility hopes to open a new emergency medical center at site of old post office

By Barbara Burke

Special to The Malibu Times

​Malibuites often complain, “Ugh, I have to go over the hill to get a CT scan or an MRI!” Locals pledge allegiance to the city’s mission statement to keep Malibu as rural as possible, but bemoan the lack of locally available and often-needed diagnostic testing services. 

Doctors Dan Katz and Lauren Pike, the partners in the Malibu Urgent Care, want to change that by opening an emergency room-like care center at the old Colony Station Post Office at 23648 Pacific Coast Highway next to the urgent care.

“Our goal is to be able to provide medical services that are as close as possible to an emergency room,” Katz explained, noting that their proposed care center will provide state-of-the-art MRI and CT-scan diagnostics, but will not include paramedic or ambulance services. 

“The closest emergency room to Malibu is 15 miles away in Santa Monica,” Katz said. “Getting there can take between 30 and 60 minutes depending on traffic unless a patient is airlifted from Pepperdine’s helipad.” When a patient needs help urgently, time is of the essence, he stated, adding that the town’s doctors could provide more comprehensive diagnostics and faster care if they had an available MRI and CT scan facility. 

To launch the campaign, the Friends of the Urgent Care arranged “Adam Sandler Rx: Humor,” a star-filled, sold-out fundraiser event recently held at a private residence. 

The event also featured Rob Schneider, David Spade, and other comedians. The highly successful function raised some of the money needed to support the effort to build an emergency facility. However, more funds are needed, Katz stated. 

He noted that the lease for the old post office location has been signed with the landlord, an entity owned by Stan Kroenke. Doug Burdge and Associates is the architect, and bids from specialized healthcare space designers for the new emergency center’s interior are being evaluated.

Malibu’s physicians support having a local emergency center

Other doctors in Malibu applaud the effort to have local MRI and CT-scan services.

“I support the goal of bringing a state-of-the-art radiology imaging center to Malibu because it will provide both residents and visitors to Malibu the same quality of diagnostic imaging as they get when they have to drive to Camarillo, Santa Monica or go over the hill,” Dr. Jeff Harris said. “Having such services locally will be both quicker and more convenient for patients. I will work with Dr. Katz and others to help make this effort succeed.” 

Local concierge physician Dr. Lisa Benya of Malibu Medical Group and CURE agrees. 

“Malibu is in a unique situation with regard to diagnostic services because of our somewhat isolated location,” she said. “As a primary care doctor, having an emergency room offering MRI and CT-scan services would be great because it would allow our team to obtain imaging and review it quickly without our patients having to leave town, both for emergencies and routine care.” 

At the fundraiser for launching the effort to build an emergency care center, Pike spoke about her working at the Urgent Care Center as a teenager. Pike noted that her mother, Dr. Jill Furgurson and her partner, Dr. David Frankle, founded the Malibu Urgent Care in 1984.

Pike announced the launch of a new children’s health initiative that will focus on providing safety lectures to younger kids who play soccer so they play safely. That effort will also provide free cardio AI brainscope scans for high school athletes who participate in contact sports. The scans will provide baseline neurological assessments that will assist physicians in screening for any concussive events. The fundraising effort includes obtaining the necessary equipment to conduct those evaluations. 

When asked when the new emergency care center will open, Katz responded, “I want it to open today! However, we will have to go through the process of obtaining the necessary permits and we are hopeful that we can break ground in 2024.”

Malibu Planning Director Richard Mollica said as with all new businesses in Malibu, Katz and his team will need to obtain the necessary permits and permission from the City of Malibu before the new facility can be opened. 

“The urgent care next to the Chevron is Community Commercial-zoned and health care facilities are a conditionally permitted use just like an urgent care, but, I am guessing their legal and medical matters outside of the city’s scope would apply as well,” Mollica said. 

For More Information: Visit the Friends of Malibu Urgent Care Website, http://www.friendsofmuc.org. Email: info@friendsofMUC.org.

Onlookers honk and wave as they enjoy the procession that honors Malibu’s surf culture

By Barbara Burke

Special to The Malibu Times

​Commemorating wonderful times in the 1950s and ’60s, when radios played Surf City, Little Deuce Coupe and Mustang Sally, and surf culture was at its apex, a cheerful convoy of 20 classic Woodies, all decked out with holiday wreaths and ornaments and, of course, sporting a panoply of car bumpers and stickers, gathered on Dec. 17 at the Paradise Cove parking lot for the 20th Annual Malibu Christmas Woodie Parade.

“I’ve never seen anything so special and celebratory of the holiday season,” Jane Seymour exclaimed. “This parade honors surf culture and Christmas and it’s amazing to see the people who built, preserved, cherished and decorated the Woodies.” 

Seymour, accompanied by her two granddaughters, Willow Simon, 10, and Luna Simon, 8, joined Woodie Parade organizer John Zambetti in his 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie bearing the license plate MLBZ RUL, honoring his longtime local band, Malibooz.

Woodies are fascinating vehicles. In the 1960s, one could pick one up for a few hundred bucks. Their commodious interiors proved practical for surfers to haul surfboards, and soon, a wonderful surf music and culture was born. 

These days, the classic cars fetch high prices at auction. Southern California has proven one of the best locations to own a Woodie because its temperate climate has helped to preserve their wood. 

“I’ve been participating all 20 years of the Malibu event because the Woodies are reminiscent of the great days,” said David Franklin, owner of a ’49 Woodie Ford, as he queued in the line for the parade. “I used to own a Rolls Royce Woodie, which took a full five years to restore.”

Smiling, David’s wife, Susan, chimed in, “Our Rolls Royce Woodie won the best in show one year. The Woodie parades are always a lot of fun, and we’ve made very good friends participating in these events.”

Soon, the jovial cavalcade left Paradise Cove and slowly drove east on Pacific Coast Highway, accompanied by horns honking appreciatively and thumbs up from curious and delighted passersby. There were long Woodies, with surfboards on their roof, shorter Woodies stuffed with smiling and waving occupants, one Woodie with a beautifully crafted canoe on top, and yet another — a ’67 Volkswagen Woodie convertible — with a small, charming Christmas tree nestled in its back bed. 

The parade procession hung a right at the Ralphs Center, briefly traveled along Malibu Road, and made its way winding through the circuitous roads in Serra Retreat, finally arriving at AviatorNation Dreamland and being warmly greeted by an excited crowd of fans. 

​Little Woody Holden, 3, was wide-eyed as he saw the Woodies pull into the parking lot. “Woody loves cars,” his mom Caileen Holden said. “So, of course, I had to take him to the Woodie parade.”

​Art Sanders, KNX Radio announcer, and his wife, Candy Kayne, brought Candy’s famous cookies for all to enjoy.

​“Dreamland is a very good friend of John Z’s and we want to help continue the tradition of the Woodie Parade in Malibu,” said Sergio Torres, general manager of Dreamland as attendees filled the venue to enjoy coffee and tea. “It’s great for the participants to exhibit their beautiful cars and share the holiday spirit.” 

Malibuite Bill Sampson, who proudly drives his ’48 Mercury Woodie, said,“Many thanks to John Zambetti for arranging and hosting the Woodie Parade for so many years!” 

​For his part, Zambetti was beaming, saying, “We are so happy to celebrate 20 years of the Malibu Christmas Woodie Parade! Having so many people participate this year in our local Malibu tradition is terrific and we are hoping for many more parades!”

​The Malibu Times asked some attendees why they are so intrigued by the Woodies and Malibu’s annual holiday parade.

​“We love the cars, the company and the ambiance,” said Françoise Desrochers, who, along with her husband, Norman own the ’67 Volkswagen showcasing the Christmas tree. As she spoke, Norman went all out, arranging a depiction of a car race and sprinkling it with white snow. 

“I love the Woodie Parade because it’s like time travel to 1953 Mayberry.” said Jannie Cercone, who was accompanied by Theordore, an animated Irish Setter who was entranced with the whole affair. Cercone added, “It’s just so fun!” 

Families enjoyed a free Photo Booth with Santa and Mrs. Claus and learned a thing or two about reindeer 

The Malibu Country Mart held a series of holiday events for the entire family to enjoy, including a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, holiday carolers, and a visit from two of Santa’s reindeer, Winter, 5, and Frosty, 2. 

Families and visitors were delighted for the second annual Malibu Locals Night with complimentary treats and drinks. 

The shopping center held three separate dates, on Sunday, Dec. 3, Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 16. 

Carolers also brought smiles and Christmas cheer to visitors while they shopped around for Christmas presents. 

While families waited in line to take their photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Melanie Hroziencik was answering questions about reindeer. 

“Yes! That’s real reindeer, I’m pinching you,” she said while people smiled and took photos of Winter and Frosty from outside the gate. 

“We’re here introducing reindeer and showing that reindeer are real and they’re beautiful animals that are really wonderful, they’re not petting zoo animals, and they do deserve our respect and our adoration and I love seeing first timers see the reindeer,” Hroziencik said. 

While the reindeer were safe inside the gate, visitors were able to feed them graham crackers, their favorite treats. Hroziencik was with California Reindeer Rentals and is a registered veterinarian technician. 

“We care for these animals, we take good care of them; we introduce people to animals so they can respect animals and they can keep on living,” she said.

While people weren’t able to touch the reindeer antlers, Hroziencik brought an antler that had fallen off so people could touch and feel. Hroziencik said it’s common for reindeer to shed their antlers; they immediately start growing new ones. 

“People may say this is cruel, but we’re introducing people to animals so they can learn how to respect them and help keep them going, we need to love them and appreciate them, otherwise they won’t be here anymore,” she said. 

To see upcoming events, follow @malibucountrymart on Instagram.