In recognition of the five-year anniversary of the Woolsey Fire and Malibu’s Annual Day of Preparedness, the city’s Public Safety Department will host an Open House Thursday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Public Safety Department’s expanded office area in City Hall. Community members are invited to come by anytime during the Open House hours to meet the Public Safety staff, learn about the city’s wildfire preparedness and resiliency efforts, enjoy refreshments, receive a FREE NOAA weather radio, hear updates on the fire season conditions, schedule a home wildfire assessment, pick up a free print copy of the Malibu Survival Guide and more.
Red Flag Warning for Malibu thru 2 p.m. Tuesday due to Santa Ana winds and very low humidity, be prepared for potential fires, evacuations, power outage
Los Angeles County Fire Department will have augmented staffing in place for Malibu and surrounding areas. The City is coordinating on preparedness with the LA County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments, Caltrans and LA County Public Works.
The Public Safety Team is coordinating with the Sheriff’s Host Team and Malibu Homeless Outreach Team to engage with people experiencing homelessness in Malibu about fire prevention and being prepared for potential evacuations.
The Public Works Team will be patrolling the roads monitoring for road hazards, debris, and downed power lines.
The City and Malibu CERT Team are coordinating to be prepared to use radio repeaters and handheld radios and set up an Emergency Information Station at Zuma Beach in case of widespread power outage to be able to provide emergency information and supplies to the community if necessary. The City and KBUU 99.1 FM are coordinating to post emergency information in the local radio broadcast.
TAKE PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS NOW
Be prepared for potential fires, evacuations, power and traffic signal outages, downed tree limbs and powerlines, hazardous driving conditions.
People who rely on wheelchairs, medical devices or have limited mobility and owners of horses and large animals should consider leaving the area early.
Please check on elderly or disable neighbors.
Remove flammable furniture and materials away from your house, secure furniture.
Check and prepare disaster kits, review emergency plans, fill your vehicle’s gas tank, make sure you can open electric garage doors and gates if the power goes out.
Know your Los Angeles County and City of Malibu Evacuation Zones (MAL-C111 – MAL-C114, the same as Zones 11-14 that the City had adopted) by searching for your home or work address on the City website on Los Angeles County’s new Genasys website at https://protect.genasys.com/search.
Plan your evacuation routes and reunification locations.
STAY INFORMED
Monitor local AM and FM radio (which will work with hand crank, solar, battery-powered and car radios if the power is out) and follow weather information from the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov/lox/.
The City will send out emergency alerts as needed and post all emergency information on the website www.malibucity.org. All current City alerts are posted at www.MalibuCity.org/alerts. Sign up for alerts at www.MalibuCity.org/news (scroll down to “Alert Center”). Sign up for LA County emergency alerts at: https://lacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la/. In case of evacuations, the City will use the Everbridge Disaster Notification System. Most cell and landline phone numbers in Malibu are already entered in the system, but residents and businesses can create a profile at www.MalibuCity.org/DisasterNotifications to change or add additional contact information.
‘Quintessential Malibu’: Pie Festival delights
A host of community figures evaluated each pie’s crust, filling, flavor, and overall presentation
By Barbara Burke
Special to The Malibu Times
Malibu’s 32nd Annual Pie Festival delighted attendees as they gathered on Oct. 21 at Malibu United Methodist Church. Smiling guests mixed and mingled, enjoying the convivial camaraderie on a gorgeous autumn day.
“This event is quintessential Malibu. It’s hometown stuff!” said Heidi Bernard, gazing around appreciatively as the sizeable crowd perused items on show at a silent auction, and visited booths sporting merchandise celebrating the festival and craft tables. They also enjoyed Mexican food cooked by Rosa and Juan Gurrola and their son, Juan Jr., and brats and hotdogs cooked by parishioner Micah Johnson, who manned the grill. Attendees also enjoyed bands and exhibition events on the stage, and of course, pies, pies, pies!
“All the proceeds for the festival will help the church’s outreach programs as well as its twice-weekly community dinners for the homeless,” Church Pastor Rev. Erin Stenberg said.
Musical guests included the Malibu High School and Malibu Middle School combined choir; Devon Meyers, who performed a series of songs from his “Dreamy, celebratory Americana”; and Ukamusic featuring Naomi Louise Warner and Gabe Diebel on acoustic guitar and vocals.
“Our group, Uka Music, @zumasongcatchers, celebrates Malibu as a Phoenix emerging from the flame,” said Warner, who founded the band. “We started the band after the Woolsey Fire and our mission is to help people heal themselves through interacting with the Earth, music, other treatment modalities, and of course, through eating pies today!”
U.S. 99 Blues & Rock Band performed old favorites, delighting onlookers who sang along, harkening back to simpler times.
“This is awesome for the community to gather,” exclaimed Aron Marderosian, adding, “My most important job today was to get my friend Kim Retts here so she could help judge the category of pies baked by kids from 9 to 14!”
Visitors wandered in, joining in the fun and finding Malibuites very welcoming.
“We just stumbled upon the pie festival,” said Pam Coats of Sherman Oaks, who visits Malibu’s beaches regularly. “Everyone’s super nice here!”
Attendees attentively watched as Rick Meltzer’s students competed in the Hawaiian Kempo style of martial arts, which incorporates a mixture of jiu jitsu and karate.
“That’s Sharine Meltzer, the first female black belt promoted from Malibu Martial Arts and Fitness,” Meltzer announced proudly, beaming widely as he celebrated the accomplishment of his spouse, who is a preschool teacher at the church.
Volunteers scuttled about cutting, arranging, and serving pies.
“I think it’s amazing that all the people come together here, whether they worship at this church or not,” Londyn Johnson, a Pepperdine Ambassador volunteer said. “It is really touching to see many people from the community together, especially after the tragic accident that killed four Pepperdine students and we Ambassadors coming from a campus that has been solemn for all students, even if they didn’t know the victims.”
Johnson was finding healing salve in the attendees’ sheer joy as they indulged in pie.
Grinning ear to ear, MHS sophomore Nick Ortiz critiqued the pie he had carefully selected.
“It’s a delicious cream pie that has a great crust and it reminds me of a s’more,” Ortiz said admiringly. “It has an awesome graham cracker crust, chocolate, marshmallow, and walnuts. “
There were so many pies! Apple pies, other fruit pies, chocolate pies, seasonal pies, meringue pies, savory pies, and cream pies, as well as special children’s categories for pies submitted by kids 8 and younger and contestants ranging from ages 9-14.
Someone had to win the honor of having the best pie in each category. The 22 judges were delighted to oblige!
A host of elected officials, community volunteers, board members who volunteer with various community organizations, and physicians and veterinarians all evaluated each pie’s crust, filling, flavor, and overall presentation.
In the end, Linda Pingatori won first place in the apple category with her entry, Golden Opal Apple Custard. Susan Johnson Fox’s Thanksgiving Feast pie took second place, and Beth Milliken’s Croton Falls Apple Pie took home the bronze in that category.
Alex Bodrero’s Cranberry Orange Pie placed first in the fruit pie category, while Jeremy Walker’s Sweet and Sour Spiral Pie placed second and Beth Milliken’s Blueberry Ginger Pie placed third.
Pecan with a Twist brought home the gold for Fox in the cream pie category, while Patti Scroggins’ chocolate cream pie placed second and Pingatori’s chocolate fudge pie placed third.
In the seasonal pie category, Heidi Amundson’s mushroom bacon tart with gruyere hit a home run, placing first, while Milliken’s butterscotch pumpkin pie placed second, and Teri Sturges’ pecan pie took third place.
For the meringue pies, Scroggins’ coconut cream pie won first place and Pingatori’s Meyer lemon pie placed second. Third place remained unclaimed.
Malibu Methodist Preschool Teacher Cheryl McDonald’s class of 4 to 5-year-olds won the pumpkin cookie drop pie for the littles, while Molly Regan took both first and third places for competitors vying in the ages 9 to 14 category. Bennett Shurgot and Lucas Doyle proved to be a dream team, claiming second place for their Campfire Pie.
It’s not a pie festival without a pie-eating contest and competitors obliged, delighting onlookers who cheered for their favorite contest. In the end, Ortiz won handily.
Attendees slowly filed out of the event, rubbing their bellies and looking forward to a lazy afternoon nap during which they no doubt began one of many dreams they’ll have as they await next year’s pie festival.
The following incidents were reported between Sept. 27 to Oct. 3
9/27
Grand Theft
A vehicle parked on Malibu Road was broken into and ransacked. The victim left a bag full of recently purchased clothing in the vehicle, left the vehicle unlocked, and when they returned about an hour later, the bag of clothing was missing from their vehicle. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
9/28
Burglary
A vehicle parked near Topanga State Beach was broken into and ransacked. The victims left the key in the front passenger side wheel, walked away from the vehicle, and upon return, the key was missing and their vehicle was locked. The victim said their wallet, phones and $160 in cash were stolen. The key was estimated to cost $200 to replace. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
10/2
Burglary
Pinnacle Estate Properties on Trancas Country Market, was broken into and ransacked. The victim said they accidentally left the door unlocked for two hours unattended, and upon return, they noticed a laptop and paperwork were missing from the property. The laptop was estimated to cost $360 to replace. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
10/3
Burglary
A vehicle parked near Surfrider Beach was broken into and ransacked. The victim said they secured the key in the lockbox, went surfing, and upon return, the lockbox was broken into, and a designer bag worth $500 and designer sunglasses worth $300 were stolen. There were no security cameras available for evidence.
Power restored on Cuthbert circuit; Nicholas and Serra circuits still out; several traffic lights out in Malibu
SCE sent out notifications that power has been restored to the Cuthbert circuit. Power is still out on the Serra and Nicholas circuits. Cuthbert circuit is from Latigo Cyn Rd to Bonsall Dr, and from PCH about one mile inland. Serra circuit runs through Malibu Canyon from Seaver Dr inland to Mulholland Hwy. Nicholas circuit is from Malibu Lagoon eastward to Getty Villa and about 4 miles inland.
When hazardous conditions have subsided, it could take several hours to restore electricity because SCE must inspect lines to ensure they are safe to reenergize.
Traffic signals are out at several locations in Malibu, be prepared for traffic signal outages at any location throughout the area. Malibu Sheriffs Volunteers on Patrol (VOPs) assisted law enforcement with managing intersections. Under CA law, approach any malfunctioning traffic signal as an all-way stop sign.
SCE implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on Serra, Nicholas and Cuthbert circuits on Sunday, Oct. 29 due to the Red Flag Warning, high winds and hazardous fire conditions to prevent their equipment from starting a fire.
If you see a downed power line, stay away, warn others, and call 911.
SCE to shut off Nicholas and Cuthbert circuits due to Red Flag Warning
Update on 11:35 a.m. Serra circuit is also shut off. Serra – Runs through Malibu Cyn approximately from Seaver Dr inland to Mulholland Hwy
Due to the Red Flag Warning, with high winds and low humidity creating hazardous fire conditions for Malibu Sunday, 10/29, 3AM – Monday, 10/30, 10PM SCE has shut off power to the Nicholas and Cuthbert circuits in (Public Safety Power Shutoff – PSPS) in order to prevent its equipment from starting a fire.
The Cuthbert Circuit area is approximately Latigo Cyn Rd to Bonsall Dr, and from PCH approximately one mile inland.
The Nicholas Circuit area is from Malibu Lagoon eastward to Getty Villa and about 4 miles inland).
Be prepared for potential power outages, fire, evacuations, hazardous road conditions due to branches in the road and malfunctioning traffic signals. Under CA law, come to a complete stop at any malfunctioning traffic signal. Move flammable furniture and materials away from your house, secure furniture. Check on elderly or disabled neighbors. Seniors, people who rely on wheelchairs, medical devices, or are otherwise not mobile, and owners of horses and large animals should consider leaving the area early. Ensure that you know how to open your garage door or electric gate when the power is out.
Once the hazardous conditions have passed, it could take 24 to 72 hours to re-energize circuits because SCE must first inspect all power lines in the affected area to ensure they are safe to re-energize.
The City and the LA County Fire Department will continue to monitor the situation and the City will provide updates as needed, on the website, via alerts, on social media and the Emergency and Traffic Hotline (310-456-9982).
Letter to the Editor: Caltrans, must slow down traffic
Dear Editor,
I am heartbroken for the families of the four beautiful young women killed on PCH. Their vibrant young lives, as shiny as a newly minted penny, gone in an instant.
And I am angry that this happened. Again. Why?
In my opinion, Caltrans. It’s called Pacific Coast Highway, but it’s not really a highway. It’s a lively neighborhood road full of walkers, beach-goers, cyclists, and young students leaving a party.
These deaths won’t stop until Caltrans lowers speed limits. And they need to be enforced by speed cameras and/or the Sheriff’s Department. And the fine for speeding through high pedestrian neighborhoods like this should be high.
When we first bought our house in 2012, we didn’t know that any time we left our house — turning on or off PCH — it would be a harrowing, death-defying exercise. No joke. It truly is. When I spoke to neighbors about petitioning Caltrans to slow down traffic, I was told that Caltrans said they won’t slow down traffic because it will … slow down traffic.
The area where the four women were killed is a lawless thoroughfare. Our house is right above it. The speed limit is too high, and I’ve never seen sheriff’s [deputies] patrolling there in the 11 years we’ve been there. So people come around that Carbon Beach bend and gun it like it’s a racetrack.
Year after year, there are multiple deaths on PCH. Twenty-five people have died since 2018 — mostly pedestrians. But instead of Caltrans doing something — anything — to protect human lives, they wanted to widen PCH and push more traffic through Malibu near the shopping center where there are the most pedestrians. It’s unconscionable.
To the higher-ups at Caltrans who refuse to slow down traffic, I call on you to go to the funerals of these four young women and feel the pain of these families. They are not statistics. They have real mothers and fathers and siblings and friends experiencing unimaginable grief.
I looked up the time difference between driving 21 miles at 50 mph and 35 mph. The difference is only 11 minutes. At the very least, traffic should be slowed down to 25 mph where there’s beach access, where front doors are 10 feet from traffic — like around Moonshadows, where these four college students were killed, and at all the shopping centers.
I truly believe that if speed limits are lowered with big consequences for violators, lives will be saved.
Caltrans, please slow down traffic.
Katy Ballard, Malibu
‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dies
Actor who struggled with addiction once operated a sober living facility in Malibu
Beloved “Friends” actor Matthew Perry has died. Law enforcement sources said the 54-year-old was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles area home Saturday. Perry suffered for years from addiction to drugs and alcohol. He had been in and out of rehab many times and even opened his own sober living house in Malibu overlooking the pier. He eventually sold that location in 2015, saying he would rather help people looking to recover from substance abuse in a less expensive area.
He once claimed he spent a fortune on his road to sobriety. Perry detailed his substance abuse in a recent memoir. The actor also had numerous serious health issues, including a gastrointestinal perforation requiring emergency surgery. Two years ago, Perry sold a Malibu beach house for $13.1 million. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the actor’s death, but so far, there appears to be no indication of foul play.
Senior Resource Fair returns to Malibu
Over 50 seniors and 18 vendors attended the event last week
Over a dozen local service providers and organizations attended the Senior Resource Fair on Thursday, Oct. 19, and provided information on medical doctors, health and wellness businesses, and senior care providers. The last resource fair was before the pandemic.
Seniors were also able to participate in a raffle with gifts such as headphones and safety gear provided by each vendor.
Information such as where to get resources and flyers with upcoming events was provided by each vendor. It was also a day for seniors to reconnect with others in the community.
Organizations such as the Malibu Boys & Girls Club were also at the event. BGCM Director of Community Affairs and Outreach Siugen Costanza thanked the city for holding a successful and informative event.
“The fair was well attended; we had a lot of seniors asking questions, and they were so excited and grateful,” Costanza said. “One of the seniors told me, ‘You know, we’re so alone, we don’t socialize, but this is a way for us to socialize,’ but also to find out resources. Kudos to the city and kudos to Amanda [Rigali] because they put a really good fair and it was well attended.”
Costanza said the seniors did the Kindness Pledge and were able to take a kindness card created by the BGCM students.
“They did the kindness pledge and they were lovely to take the kindness cards the teens did, some seniors said, ‘Can I take two?,’ so they really enjoyed that,” Costanza said. “They didn’t know that we had a wellness center at the Boys and Girls Club, that we provide social services and mental health for them and they were really glad that we were here and I think all the vendors were really excited because it was a really good turnout and I think Amanda and the city did a really good job.”
BGCM raffled off a 2023 Malibu Chili Cook-Off sweater and hat at the event.
Community Service Department Recreation Coordinator Amanda Rigali said a little over 50 participants attended the event.
“It went great today; we had 18 vendors come out, we had caregiver services, at-home care, the California Department of Insurance, some of the city public safety department, so it was really great, it just shows the seniors that they have other resources and other organizations that are here to support them,” Rigali said. “We had a lot of new seniors join the senior center since we reopened last year, so a lot of them have not experienced a resource fair before, so they were very surprised by it, and they loved coming, checking out the vendors, having a lunch which was great, sitting out in the patio with their friends it was like an extra event for them.”
Rigali said all the vendors provided much-needed information but said the at-home care was one they weren’t expecting to receive positive feedback.
“They don’t think they need that, but it’s great to plan for something like that,” Rigali said.
Each month, Community Services Department staff leads participants on an exciting day trip to a location within Los Angeles County for their monthly excursions.
“We just went to the zoo on Tuesday, and that was really fun,” Rigali said. “Coming up we have the Peterson Automotive Museum [on Tuesday, Nov. 28] so we choose places around Southern California to go and explore and the seniors love having a day trip to escape their little paradise.”
“We just want to keep growing next year and hopefully have more vendors,” Rigali said. “We had people [vendors] trying to reach out to us to get in, but we want to keep growing next year and see what more we can do.”
Participants will meet at Bluffs Park at the time they are told and then take a bus to the location. To learn more about the senior programs and upcoming events, visit malibucity.org/calendar.
Waves soccer’s Quinonez nabs second WCC weekly honor
Pepperdine players have now won the recognition four times this season
Heading into her freshman campaign, Pepperdine Waves women’s soccer player Julia Quinonez aimed to be a starting forward for her squad.
The 18-year-old accomplished that when Pepperdine’s coaches tapped her to be one of the team’s 11 starting players in their second game of the season, a 2-2 tie with Michigan, on Aug. 19.
Quinonez, a substitute in Pepperdine’s first game, said getting the starting nod was a great feeling.
“I knew it was going to take a lot of hard work and time and just practice,” she explained. “That was my mentality coming into the season. I really want to help my teammates as much as possible.”
The freshman has started 10 of the 11 matches she has played in and become one of Pepperdine’s major scoring threats. Quinonez was named the West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Oct. 9.
She credited her teammates and coaching staff with helping her to receive the weekly honor.
“They are all amazing,” Quinonez stated. “From the start of the season, they have taken me under their wings and showed me how to be a Wave. I’m so honored to be a part of this team.”
She won the honor after kicking two goals and an assist in Pepperdine’s victories over Pacific on Oct. 4 and Saint Mary’s three days later.
Quinonez booted the Waves’ first goal in their 2-1 win over Pacific. She assisted her team’s first goal in its defeat of Saint Mary’s. Quinonez headed the ball into the back of the net to score Pepperdine’s final goal of their 3-0 triumph.
The freshman is second on the Waves with four goals.
Quinonez secured the WCC offensive accolade for the first time on Aug. 28 after she kicked the contest-winning goal in Pepperdine’s 2-0 win over CSUN and scored in the Waves’ 1-1 tie with San Diego State.
Quinonez was sitting in a first-year seminar class each time she found out she received the conference honor.
“My phone was blowing up,” she recalled.
Waves players have now won the weekly recognition four times this season. Pepperdine sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Rath won the conference’s Defensive Player Of The Week honor the same day Quinonez garnered the offensive accolade for the first time. Waves sophomore midfielder Tatum Wynalda seized the offensive player of the week title seven days before.
Quinonez said her strengths on the soccer field include providing scoring opportunities and her fleet feet.
She relishes having the ball between her cleats and taking on an opponent one-on-one.
“Taking players on is helpful because it creates chances for me or my teammates,” Quinonez said. “I like running onto a ball or one-v-ones. I’m happy when I’m in those spots because I am pretty successful.”
The Torrance native has played soccer since she was 5 years old. Quinonez played other sports such as basketball and baseball, but running and kicking on the pitch was her favorite activity.
“I found myself really happy on the field,” she remembered.
Quinonez played club soccer for LA Galaxy Girls Academy teams as a youth. She starred for two years on Torrance High School’s team. Quinonez was the 2023 Pioneer League MVP and the 2023 Daily Breeze Player of the Year. She was also an All-Pioneer League player her senior and junior years.
The transition to college soccer was tough, Quinonez said, but fun. Her high school and club coaches helped her prepare to play the sport on a higher level.
“This is a true blessing,” Quinonez said. “This does take a lot of hard work and time but that is what I enjoy. I enjoy the challenge, giving it my all at practice, and being with my teammates and having fun. I love playing the game.”
Pepperdine had a 5-3-5 record heading into their contest against Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Waves hosts Portland on Sunday at noon.
Quinonez said her team is playing good soccer.
“We are giving it our all and working hard,” she noted. “Having coaches that are passionate about us is really helpful. It’s a winning culture.”
