100% contained: Community faces long road to recovery
After nearly a month of devastation, the historic wildfire leaves over 6,800 structures destroyed
By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor In Chief
In a remarkable effort by firefighters and first responders, the Palisades Fire — California’s most destructive wildfire in history — has been officially declared 100 percent contained. Igniting on Jan. 7, the blaze tore through 23,448 acres, leaving a path of destruction and devastation. With the fire finally under control, residents and business owners can now begin the long road to recovery as this wind-driven catastrophe comes to an end.
The Palisades and Eaton fires, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, tormented Southern California for nearly a month, making this one of the state’s most challenging fire seasons. In a significant step toward recovery, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) has begun reopening to essential traffic, offering hope to coastal
Final reports filed in November city election funding
Outside money supported Paul Grisanti, but not as much as some Malibu residents speculated
By JUDY ABEL Special to The
Final expenditure reports from Malibu’s November municipal election have now been filed with a Jan. 31 deadline.
Back in October before the Nov. 5 election, The Malibu Times uncovered required campaign finance reports showing outside money supporting candidate Paul Grisanti, but not to the extent speculated by many Malibu residents.
Although hundreds of thousands of dollars was raised in support of a political action committee (PAC) that appears to advocate for development with support in Riverside County, that PAC supported Grisanti with only a fraction of its war chest. The PAC, called Moving California Forward, spent at least $6,338.69 on two separate mailers in support of Grisanti’s campaign. Now in the PAC’s latest 460 expenditure report filed Dec. 2, 2024, it is revealed MCF also spent $3,169.35 on mailers in opposition to reelect incumbent Bruce Silverstein who won reelection to the Malibu City Council in a hardfought campaign. Late filings also reveal for the first time that MCF spent the same amount on a mailed
for their outstanding volunteerism and bravery.
Empowering community members to act as resource multipliers and provide crucial support to professional first responders during wildfires is the objective of Malibu’s Community Brigade. Instrumental in fighting the cataclysmic Palisades Fire and preventing further tragedy, 50 members of the volunteer initiative were recently honored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Spearheaded by Malibu native Keegan Gibbs, who lost his family home in the Woolsey Fire in 2018, Gibbs, a Malibu safety commissioner realized the necessity for community involvement in emergency situations. “The brigade program was born out of Woolsey and the acknowledgment that we as a community need to do better to bridge the gap between capabilities of the response from agencies and
the preparedness of the communities,” said Gibbs, who along with other members have been working nearly nonstop since the fire broke out Jan. 7.
The brigade, which has proven essential in saving lives and property, was made official after five years of working with county leaders and then voted on unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2023.
“The Community Brigade is a little like CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), but
more focused on fires,” Gibbs explained. “That’s the primary threat here in the Santa Monica Mountains.”
The program’s goal is to educate and train community members to be prepared for, and capable of responding to fires. The initial cohort of just over 40 volunteers started training on Sept. 14, 2024, with members from seven local community brigades participating. These groups are spread across various
The Malibu City Council convened a special meeting on Feb. 3 focusing on the Palisades Fire Phase 1 household hazardous materials removal. A large group of Malibuites gathered, ready to express concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to removing such materials, which includes paint, cleaning products and solvents, oils, pesticides, and batteries, including lithium batteries, which are particularly vulnerable to spontaneous combustion after being damaged in a wildfire.
The state of California granted the EPA authority to access properties within the fire scar on Jan. 15. Michael Montgomery, director of the Superfund and Emergency Management Division for the EPA’s Region 9 office; Rusty Harris-Bishop, a site cleanup section manager; and
Those in Malibu’s surfing community are paradigm rugged individualists who highly value independent surf-related businesses.
With a heavy heart, Becker Surf Shop Manager Mitch Taylor has announced that the store he has managed for 31 years is closing its doors.
“The store is a victim of corporate operations,” Taylor explained, noting that a conglomerate named Liberated Brands took over ownership of Becker in 2011.
“Approximately 70 to 80 Becker stores across the mainland and Hawaii are all shutting down like my store,” he said.“These developments have all occurred within the last three days and I already have a closing sale sign up.”
On Sunday, Feb. 2, Costa Mesa-based Liberated Brands filed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the surf industry
trade publication Shop Eat Surf (SES) , because it lost licensing agreements for surf and skate brands. In December 2024, Authentic Brands Group, a New York-based brand management company, pulled its licenses from Liberated, brands such as RVCA, Honolua, Quicksilver, Volcom, Billabong, and Roxy.
The filing follows Liberated closing its corporate office last month, triggering 363 layoffs per a posting in January by California’s Employment Development Department. According to SES, unsecured creditors include a variety of clothing manufacturers worldwide and other entities that license a few former Boardriders brands that Authentic assumed control of in 2023, including the O5 group. Readers may recall that the Boardriders store in Malibu closed that year.
Taylor aims to open an independent surf store in Malibu
“As I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, surfers wanted nothing to do with the corporate world,” Taylor recalled. “The trend is to return back to independent surf shops, and so I am reopening my
MALIBU’S AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1946
Malibu Times
By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
By BARBARA BURKE Of The Malibu Times
OPINION
Letters to the Editor In Case
You Missed it
The top stories from last week you can read at MalibuTimes.com
confront officials with urgent pleas for swift rebuilding, improved disaster preparedness, and sustainable recovery plans
Letters to the Editor may not reflect the view, opinion and/or ethics of the The Malibu Times. They are however, letters from the people of Malibu. We support your right to express your opinion. Submit your letter to us at malibutimes.com or email editorial@malibutimes.com
Fiddling with a $130,000 contract while Malibu and the Palisades burn
Dear Editor,
One of the reasons that thousands of homes in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu burned is because our elected leaders and the bureaucrats they hired took 10 months to sign a “single bid” $130,000 contract, which was then going to take another six months to repair.
The Pacific Palisades’ Santa Ynez Reservoir required repairs to a torn floating cover that compromised its water quality safeguards. Installed in 2012 to comply with federal regulations, this protective membrane prevents contamination from debris, animals, and bacterial growth. Key details about the repairs include:
Cause of damage: A tear was first detected in late January 2024 after rainstorms weakened the cover. The tear expanded over subsequent days, prompting the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) to immediately begin draining the reservoir to facilitate repairs that
would not begin until some remote unknown future date.
Repair process: Draining the 117 million-gallon reservoir took almost two months due to environmental concerns about erosion from rapid water release. This left the Palisades with only three 1 million-gallon reservoirs. A common-sense approach would have been to hold off draining the reservoir until work was ready to begin, expedite repairs, and then get the reservoir back on line as quickly as possible. Instead, repairs were delayed by a lengthy competitive bidding process required under the city charter.
Only one contractor, Layfield Group (the original installer of the cover), submitted a bid. The $130,000 repair contract was finalized in November 2024, eight months after the reservoir was drained and nearly 10 months after the tear was discovered — with work projected to finish by April or May 2025. This was 13 to 14 months after the reservoir was first drained.
You can’t make this up. This is what
Dear Visitors,
From the publisher HAYLEY MATTSON
Malibu Strong: A message to visitors after the Palisades Fire
As you drive through our community on PCH, please remember that the devastation you see is not just scenery — it is our reality. We are real people, and some of us have lost everything. What may appear as debris and ashes were once our homes, our friends’ homes, and the places where our children grew up.
We know that Malibu is an iconic destination, but it is also our home. Right now, our community is hurting. As we work to clean up the aftermath of the Palisades Fire and rebuild, we ask for your respect and understanding. While you’re here, please support our local businesses and restaurants — they are the heart of our community and vital to our recovery. Your kindness and patronage will help us rebuild and preserve the spirit of this place we call home.
Thank you for your compassion and support.
we get when we elect incompetent career politicians to run a city! It is time to vote out these incompetents and vote in competent leaders like Rick Caruso!
Lawrence Weisdorn, Malibu
In praise of Jefferson Wagner Dear Editor, Living in Latigo Canyon for 38 years (and, unfortunately, losing our home in the Woolsey Fire), I am well
The empty chair: Reimagining Malibu’s future
By MICHEL SHANE
Our community is facing a moment of reckoning after the Franklin and Palisades fires. Throughout Malibu, metal chairs sit alone amidst charred foundations, silent sentinels marking where families once gathered, where lives were lived, and where memories were made. These empty chairs, twisted by heat yet somehow still standing, have become powerful symbols of loss and resilience in our community.
Seven years after the Woolsey Fire forever changed Malibu’s landscape and displaced 2,000 residents, we face another pivotal moment. The Woolsey Fire taught us harsh lessons about evacuation routes, communication systems, and infrastructure vulnerability — lessons that essentially went unheeded. I’ve witnessed five fires ravage our community, each leaving behind shattered lives, broken dreams, and promising changes that never materialized. After each disaster, we rebuilt what was rather than what could be. But this time must be different.
The scenes before us are heart-wrenching — a testament to nature’s raw power and a stark reminder of our vulnerability. Walking
through our devastated neighborhoods, past homes where children once played, and families shared meals, we’re confronted with both devastating loss and an extraordinary opportunity for transformation. Each fire has taken something from us — homes, memories, security — but each has offered a chance to rebuild stronger. We’ve missed those chances before. We cannot afford to miss this one.
This moment is different because, for the first time, we have immediate access to the nation’s premier engineering and disaster response organization. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) stands ready not just to help with cleanup but to spearhead a revolutionary rebuilding effort that could protect our community for generations to come. When they rebuilt after Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, communities emerged stronger, more resilient, and better prepared. We have that same opportunity now — but only if we act decisively. Their track record in disaster recovery speaks to technical excellence and a deep understanding of community needs. After Hurricane Sandy, they transformed New York’s coastal infrastructure while preserving neighborhood character. In New Orleans, they revolutionized the levee system after Katrina, creating one of the most advanced flood protection systems in the world. Each project demonstrated their ability to rebuild not just stronger but smarter.
USACE brings more than just engineering expertise — it brings hope for real change. Its teams understand that every fallen power line represents a family in darkness, every blocked road a community cut
off from help, and every delayed response a potential tragedy. Thus, it has pioneered techniques for buried utility systems that survive natural disasters, smart traffic management systems that adapt to emergencies, and innovative drainage solutions that prevent landslides.
Picture a transformed PCH — rebuilt and reimagined for the challenges ahead. Learning from the chaos of past evacuations, where families were trapped on gridlocked roads as fires approached, USACE
aware of Jefferson Wagner’s yeoman’s efforts over the years, from fighting fires and his distinguished community service, to taking his kids to clean up trash along Latigo. I am especially impressed with his recent efforts in organizing a team of residents who collectively saved the Malibu Canyon Village condominium complex.
It may not be known to many Malibuites that Jefferson and Candace lost their Latigo home during the Woolsey Fire of November 2018.
He fought that fire to the best of his ability, and, in the process, was hospitalized due to smoke exposure. In spite of his previous injury, he valiantly fought the fire this time and saved the homes of others, while exposing himself to the possibility of smoke exposure once again. Thank goodness, Jefferson came away unscathed: a true hero!
David and Denise Pepper, Malibu
through the ashes
could help create a lifeline that protects our community through:
• Underground utility networks impervious to fire and wind, eliminating the power outages that plagued previous evacuations
• Advanced emergency response stations strategically placed to save precious minutes during evacuations
Smart evacuation systems that adapt to changing conditions, preventing the bottlenecks we’ve
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seen too many times
• Natural drainage systems that prevent the erosion and flooding that have repeatedly compromised our escape routes
Dedicated safety lanes ensure emergency vehicles can always reach those in need
• State-of-the-art fire detection and suppression systems that give us precious extra minutes to evacuate The partnership between USACE
Neil Schumaker, Jen Rodman, Anthony Atkins, John Nygaard
Samantha Bravo
Judy Abel, Barbara Burke, McKenzie Jackson, Burt Ross, Mary Abbott, Anthony McDemas, Kaleb Rich-Harris
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.” — Abraham Lincoln
Community demands accountability at Palisades Fire Town Hall Over 600 attendees
Malibu public schools finally get generators Persistent push from parents results in alternate energy sources after frequent power shutoffs
Residents begin returning home as Malibu evacuation zones open Proof of residency required and safety precautions in place as recovery efforts continue
Malibu heroes: Residents like Brian Rapf and Jefferson ‘Zuma Jay’ Wagner From battling flames to feeding responders, Malibu residents and businesses showed resilience
Lawsuit
filed over fatal Malibu shortterm rental
A Malibu homeowner has filed a $100 million lawsuit againstthe travel website Tripadvisor, its subsidiaries Flipkey LLC and Holiday Lettings Limited after a fatal short-term rental. Erin Hughes is also seeking a judgment against renter Holly Seeler, alleging breach of contract, negligence, and unfair business practices related to a fatal fire in 2021.
The incident occurred on Jan. 17, 2021, when Seeler rented Hughes’ Rambla Pacifico Street home through Tripadvisor’s platforms. The rental agreement permitted only two occupants, with a $100 charge for each additional guest. However, Seeler hosted a “Celebration of Life” event for her late son, Jack Fisher, which was attended by over 25 people, with 20 guests staying overnight, violating the agreement. The gathering allegedly involved loud noises, indoor smoking, and the use of flammable devices, including fireworks and sky lanterns. A sky lantern allegedly ignited the fire around 3:30 a.m., destroying the property and resulting in the death of 22-year-old San Diego Mesa College student Grant Schneider. Hughes contends that Tripadvisor and its affiliates were aware of the extra guests and refused to cancel the booking. In a related case, Brad Schneider, Grant’s father, filed a lawsuit against Hughes and Tripadvisor, alleging negligence
such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, at the property.
Mayor Doug Stewart criticizes last-minute PCH reopening confusion
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) has officially reopened as of Monday, Feb. 3, with one lane open in each direction in Malibu and unincorporated areas. However, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart expressed frustration over last-minute communication from the City of Los Angeles regarding the reopening process.
In a statement, Stewart noted that despite an announcement delaying the reopening, PCH itself remains fully accessible, with only neighborhood turn-offs facing checkpoints. He criticized the late-night decision, questioning its purpose if enforcement was not in place.
“As of 8 a.m. today, Feb. 2, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu and the unincorporated areas is open to regular traffic, with one lane in each direction,” Stewart’s statement read. “Like Supervisor Horvath, we were surprised by last night’s announcement from the City of Los Angeles delaying the reopening – only to now learn that while neighborhood turn-offs have checkpoints, PCH itself remains fully open.
“What was the purpose of this late-night decision if it was not going to be enforced? Our residents are trying to reclaim some sense of normalcy, and our businesses are trying to bring back employees who need to get to work. These last-minute, uncoordinated decisions create unnecessary confusion and disruption.
“We urge the City of Los Angeles to work collaboratively with all affected jurisdictions in the future to ensure clarity, consistency, and thoughtful communication. Our communities have a hard enough road ahead — these moments require coordination and leadership, not confusion. Malibu remains focused on recovery and ensuring our residents and businesses have the stability they need.”
Malibu continues to focus on recovery efforts, urging clarity and leadership in future decision-making to support residents and local businesses.
NEWS BRIEFS
PCH Update as of Tuesday, Feb 4:
Caltrans announced it would close PCH on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m., out of an abundance of caution to prepare for the upcoming storms that may cause mud and debris flows in the hills above due to slopes that have been made bare from the recent fires. Closure points will be Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu in both directions, 8.5 miles.
Law enforcement will be manning the closure points and will not allow access to the public, only to essential workers who have work along PCH related to recovery. Caltrans geotechnical engineers will assess the slopes and canyons on Friday to determine if the highway can be safely reopened to all motorists.
Malibu Public Works mobilizes for storm preparations amid fire recovery
Malibu Public Works crews are working around the clock to repair damaged retaining walls and place K-rail barriers and sandbags in neighborhoods affected by the Palisades Fire. The recent rainfall has heightened concerns about mudflows and debris hazards, prompting emergency efforts to protect roadways and homes.
With more rain expected beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4, residents in and around the Franklin and Palisades Fire burn areas are urged to take precautions. Resources, including general fire disaster information and mudflow protection tips, are available at LA County Public Works at pw.lacounty.gov/ explore-public-works/fire-disaster-information.
Sandbag Distribution Locations:
La Costa Post Office Parking Lot
– 21229 Pacific Coast Highway (pre-filled and empty bags)
• Fire Station #70 – 3970 Carbon
Canyon Road (empty bags)
Fire Station #88 – 23720 Malibu Road (empty bags)
• Malibu officials remind residents to stay alert, monitor weather conditions, and only travel if necessary while cleanup efforts continue.
Ocean water closure issued due to sewage release in Malibu
No one said so, but it was apparent that her mother chose to have her child well north of Santa Barbara because Sheila was born out of wedlock. She would later be told that her father was a man named Keith Johnston.
Johnston, whose family owned the San Ysidro Ranch hotel in Montecito, was only a figure in the hazy distance. He never met his daughter or acknowledged her during his life. But Sheila’s family would later connect with Keith’s two son’s, particularly Harleigh Johnston of La Jolla, beginning to heal an old wound.
Sheila attended Marymount School in Santa Barbara, where she met the Brooks sisters – Hope, Whitney, Blue and Meredith (Ky) –who would become her lifelong friends. They bonded over many things, including art, as Hope Merryman, Whitney Hansen, Blue Butler and Ky Abbott went on to robust careers as artists.
Sheila learned to swim in the tranquil waters near the Miramar Hotel. She recalled when she was barely a teenager, that she had gone to dances with the soldiers who were furloughed to the landmark Santa Barbara hotel.
gulps.
You could hear it in the silly, actor-y accents she would affect, falling into some unnamed character and in the way she would lighten a drive home from the doctor by singing snippets of “Mack the Knife,” or “I Got the Horse Right Here.”
In her later years, she also perfected the persona of a shrunken, bent over old lady. She would fall into that character without provocation. Then she would suddenly stand up straight and smile at her companion, to make sure they were in on her act – the vagaries of growing old were no joke.
Sheila was born on July 28, 1932 in Carmel. She was the second daughter of Faith Trumbull Hayden, a stylish and witty New Yorker who spent most of her life in Santa Barbara.
She also found her first calling, acting, in Santa Barbara. She was part of a series of local stage productions. Her budding career continued at the Pasadena Playhouse, where she studied for two years. Among her classmates were Harry Dean Stanton and a guy named Chuck Buchinsky, later known as Charles Bronson.
Back in Santa Barbara, she met Ford Rainey, already a veteran actor who had been in movies like James Cagney’s “White Heat.”
The two fell instantly and completely in love, as they performed together, both on stage and in real life. They were featured in “Playboy of the Western World,” and in George Bernard Shaw’s “The Showing Up of Blanco Posnet.” A News-Press photograph from 1953 shows Sheila as Feemy Evans (“the Wild West Town’s Lady of Pleasure”) giving a “tongue-lashing” to Ford, as Blanco Posnet. He seems to be relishing her verbal salvo.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued an ocean water closure for the area from Encinal Canyon to 31250 Broad Beach Road in Malibu due to the release of 1,000 to 10,000 gallons of untreated sewage.
The spill, which began on Jan. 30, was reported to Cal OES at 10:42 a.m. and was stopped by 11:20 a.m. The sewage discharge impacted asphalt before reaching the beach, affecting both ocean water and sand.
Health officials advise the public to avoid contact with ocean water and wet sand in the affected areas. The closure will remain in effect until water testing confirms that bacterial levels meet safety standards.
Additionally, an Ocean Water Quality Advisory remains in place from Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach and from Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way due to potential fire debris runoff, which may contain harmful chemicals. Beachgoers should avoid any fire debris on the sand.
For updates, call the advisory hotline at (800) 525-5662 or visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/ beach
SMMUSD Board Meeting Location Changed to District
Office
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education has announced a change in location for its regular board meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Originally scheduled to take place at Malibu High School’s Arlene and Dick Van Dyke Theater, the meeting will now be held at the district office (1717 4th St., Santa Monica, CA).
The decision follows the Department of Transportation’s planned closure of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from January 4 through January 7 due to forecasted rainstorms. The closure, which restricts access to first responders, recovery agencies, and utility companies, is a precaution against potential mud and debris flows in fire-affected areas of Pacific Palisades and eastern Malibu.
The closed session will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the open session at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public may attend in person at the district office or participate via Zoom webinar. The meeting will include a continuation of the study session update on the Franklin and Palisades Fires (Item No. F.1), scheduled for 6 p.m.
Meeting details, including the agenda and Zoom information, can be found on the SMMUSD website: smmusd.org/domain/2977.
SMMUSD sees surge in enrollment as LAUSD students relocate after wildfires
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is experiencing an influx of students displaced by the recent Pacific Palisades wildfires, many of whom were previously enrolled in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) campuses. As of late January, 145 requests for enrollment have been submitted, with 77 of those requests approved and 46 students already enrolled across the district’s 15 schools.
Despite the sudden surge in enrollment, no new tax revenue will accompany the new students. This is due to SMMUSD’s status as a “basic aid district,” meaning the district receives a flat percentage of local property taxes collected in Malibu and Santa Monica from the state. While this funding model allows the district to receive more money than if it were funded based on average student attendance, it also means there will be no immediate increase in funds to cover the rising number of students.
Officials are actively working with local state senators and representatives to secure additional funding to support the new enrollees, many of
OBITUARIES
PHILLIP W. BAILEY 1953-2024
Long-time Malibu resident Phillip Bailey passed away at home on December 30, 2024, after a beautiful Christmas with his family. Phillip was born in LA
to parents Fred and Jo Bailey on November 17, 1953. He grew up in Encino, where he went to Buckley School 1-12. The family moved in 1969 to Broadbeach Road in Malibu, and he attended UCLA in 1970.
Phil married Pamela LeGrand, and they had a son, Michael. Watching his son grow up was the greatest joy in his life. Phil was a proud dad of all his accomplishments and adventures but mostly of the man he had become.
He is survived by his son Michael, brother Glenn, sisters Linda, her partner Walt, Anne Cole, her partner David, his niece Bailey, and husband Alex Pesterev, son Rory, former wife Pamela, and all whom he called his “Shark Brothers.”
Phillip was an avid fisherman from a young age and passed that
passion down to his son Michael. He loved the Pacific Ocean dearly. Phillip was the life of the party, a big personality telling his stories and loved by all who might have just met him.
He started his Real Estate career in the late 70s with Prichett Real Estate, a family-owned business in Malibu. He was president of the Malibu Board of Realtors in 2007. You could always get a great story from him about the celebrities he had sold homes to.
A paddle out for Phil will be held February 22, 2025, from 10 AM to 11:30 at Zuma Beach Tower 10, with a reception from 12 PM to 4 PM at the Point Dume clubhouse, 29500 Heathercliff Malibu, CA. Please bring a flower for the paddle out.
*The Malibu Times publishes any local obituary under 300 words with one photo at no cost. Anything over 300 words with additional images will have a fee to run in the paper. Please contact our office for more details on how we can help honor your loved ones. office@malibutimes.com (310)456.5507
Sheila and Ford married on March 4, 1954, and for their honeymoon, drove around Spain in a two-cylinder Citroen.
The couple soon settled on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, as Ford pursued roles on Broadway and in the nascent television industry. Robert was born there in 1958 and James (Jamie) arrived the following year.
By 1960, the family had followed the entertainment business back to Southern California. Kathleen (Kathy) was born in October of that year and the family soon settled in Pacific Palisades, just off Sunset Boulevard. In 1969, the family moved to a ranch house in Malibu, less than half a mile up Carbon Canyon from the beach. Raising children and tending to a variety of dogs soon became Sheila’s central mission, along with providing relentless support to her husband. Although Ford was that rare Hollywood actor who made a living in the business, there were the slow weeks and months, when his spirits would dip. Sheila devoted her life to bucking him up and assuring him that the next big break was just around the corner. It usually was.
Sheila and her older sister, Faith Moran Heinemann, had always had artistic tendencies and their painting flowered during the 1970s and beyond.
Sheila’s favorite medium was the woodcut. She carved many images into wood. Her favorite subjects were Jesus, her husband and a variety of animals.
“I love the textures, the surprises, the ‘gift’ of the wood itself,” she once wrote. In the 1990s, she had a show at a Los Angeles gallery of her woodcuts. Many of them were of homeless people she met, who agreed to let her draw them. She continued to create as she grew older. Among other things, she wrote and drew a picture book based on her life with her last dog, Ruby. In one version, Sheila was transformed into Donna Quixote and Ruby became her faithful sidekick, Sancho.
By these later years, she had reclaimed all the names from her life, including the last name of the father she never knew. So she would sign her writing and her paintings “Mary Sheila Johnston Hayden Rainey” or “MSJHR.”
It was merciful that Sheila died months before the great Palisades wildfire of 2025. She and the house on Carbon Canyon had survived many fires over more than half a century. But this year’s fire destroyed the place where she had spent more than half her life. Her family agreed it was better she did not live to see it.
Sheila is survived by Kathleen and James and by her two daughters-in-law, Alison Bell Rainey and Peg Regan Rainey and five grandchildren: Hayden and Sam Bean and Cole, Libby and Hank Rainey.
Up until her sudden death of heart failure in May, one of Sheila’s greatest gifts was the care and love she delivered to her two
surviving children, Kathy, a writer and former teacher, and Jamie, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
As life’s fortunes waxed and waned, she never stopped telling her children they were great and that the future promised big things. That was her gift, one she wrote about in the poems she scratched in her drawing pads.
“Waves cracking, crashing. Speaking in voices of love,” she wrote in one. “I will return and sink my feet into the wet sand. And dream on.”
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 11 am at Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church. Sheila’s friends and neighbors are all invited.
ONGOING
The LA County Disaster Recovery Center is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at the UCLA Research Park, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Visit recovery.lacounty. gov for more information.
All small businesses impacted by the Palisades Fires of January are invited to join this weekly webinar, that started Friday, Jan 31, to learn the latest resources to support small business and economic recovery from the wildfire disaster we are facing in LA County. This meeting will focus on current funds and resources available from SBA and other funds designated for fire-impacted small businesses.
The City of Malibu Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at City Hall to consider code amendments to facilitate the rebuilding of structures damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster and provide relief for victims of the fires.
Link to notice: malibucity.org/ DocumentCenter/View/35471/Palisades-Fire-Rebuild-Code-Amendments---Planning-CommissionHearing-22024
MALIBU ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HOSTS RE-BUILD EVENT AT PEPPERDINE
The Malibu Association of Realtors (MAR) is hosting a Re-build Event, Community Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Elkins Auditorium, Pepperdine University. This free symposium offers Malibu residents the opportunity to connect with experts in architecture, con -
whom are dealing with the trauma of losing their homes and schools. According to SMMUSD Director of Student Services Dr. Frank Dussan, the enrollment process for displaced students is ongoing, and the numbers may fluctuate as families continue to adjust their living arrangements.
There are three main pathways for displaced students to join SMMUSD. First, students who were attending charter schools within Santa Monica can transfer into the district. Second, students may be enrolled under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law designed to assist children who lack a stable residence due to economic hardship or similar reasons. Finally, displaced students can be enrolled due to a
struction, structural and geological engineering, septic systems, planning, legal matters, and more.
Moderated by Marcus Beck, the event will feature a panel of professionals ready to answer community questions about the rebuilding process. This is a valuable opportunity for those navigating reconstruction challenges or seeking guidance on their projects.
All are welcome to attend. Save the date and join the conversation.
SEPTEMBER 13-14 THE ZUMA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DATE FOR 2025 INAUGURAL ZUMA BEACH TRIATHLON
The Zuma Foundation is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated Zuma Beach Triathlon will officially take place on Sept. 13-14. The event will feature the first-ever Triathlon for Kids in Malibu on Sept. 13, as well as the Zuma Distance and Olympic Distance Triathlons on Sept. 14.
The Zuma Foundation is a Malibu-based nonprofit organization formed to create athletic, health, and wellness initiatives and events, including triathlons for all ages. Their local funding mission is to directly benefit Malibu’s youth-serving nonprofits focused on character development, healthy lifestyles, and mental health and wellness.
The foundation has selected Boys & Girls Club of Malibu to support locally, and will encourage participants to donate to the BGCM Emergency Relief Fund supporting local families affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires while matching up to the first $10,000 of athlete donations.
“Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastating impact of the wildfires affecting our beloved community,” said Kasey Earnest, chief
recent executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom, which temporarily suspends state rules to allow students to attend schools outside their districts and ensures they are provided immediate access to education.
With the wildfire recovery ongoing, SMMUSD officials remain committed to helping displaced families and students find a stable educational environment. As the situation evolves, the district continues to monitor the influx of new enrollments and coordinate resources to meet the needs of both its current students and those affected by the disaster.
Gov . Newsom signs executive order to accelerate firestorm recovery in Los
EVENTS
executive officer at BGCM. “Boys & Girls Club of Malibu is committed to providing critical support to families affected by the devastating Palisades Fire through loss of home, displacement, or loss of work.”
Additionally, The Zuma Foundation is proud to announce their partnership with Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), an organization dedicated to empowering individuals with physical disabilities by providing opportunities and support to help them embrace active lifestyles through fitness and competitive sports. CAF will be the exclusive and premier beneficiary of the Zuma Beach Triathlon’s Corporate Challenge. Executive Director Michael Epstein created a Corporate Challenge concept in Malibu over 25 years ago and has raised millions of dollars for causes that resonate with all involved.
“We are thrilled to join forces with renowned race director Michael Epstein and the Zuma Beach Triathlon,” said Bob Babbitt, co-founder of The Challenged Athletes Foundation and inductee into the Ironman Triathlon Hall of Fame.“CAF was founded 32 years ago with triathlon at its core, and this partnership is a natural extension of our mission to empower athletes of all abilities. This partnership represents a perfect synergy, and I couldn’t be more excited for what is ahead.”
Additional information about the Zuma Beach Triathlon including registration opening mid-February, event updates, and more can be found by visiting zumabeachtriathlon.org
“We are incredibly excited and honored to welcome athletes, spectators, celebrities, and corporate teams to the shores of Zuma Beach in our beloved city of Malibu this September while also giving back after an extremely challenging time for many Los Angeles residents,” Epstein said. “With its crystal-clear waters
Angeles
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new executive order on Feb. 4 aimed at cutting red tape and expediting recovery efforts.The order suspends regulations and extends deadlines to ensure impacted families and businesses can rebuild and access critical services as quickly as possible.
The executive order eliminates regulatory hurdles that could slow recovery efforts, providing relief across multiple sectors:
• Child Care & Education: Extends deadlines for families to submit documentation for state-funded preschool and child care programs while also suspending caps on administrative costs for these programs.
• Health Care: Grants more time
and one of the safest bike courses in triathlon, completely closed to vehicle traffic, this event promises to be unforgettable.”
OCTOBER 25-26
MALIBU MOVES COMMITS TO DONATING ALL NET PROCEEDS TO REBUILDING EFFORTS
Malibu Moves, a beloved community event that celebrates fitness and connection, is taking on a greater mission in 2025. In response to the devastating fires that have ravaged Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and surrounding areas, the event will donate 100 percent of its net proceeds to relief and rebuilding efforts.
The recent fires have caused destruction far beyond the loss of homes, displacing families, shuttering businesses, and crippling essential infrastructure. As the community faces the long road to recovery, Malibu Moves aims to raise $100,000 to provide both immediate relief and support for long-term rebuilding initiatives.
“It’s moments like these when we must unite — not just as individuals, but as a collective community,” said Erica Segel, founder and race director of Malibu Moves. “This year’s event is about more than running or walking; it’s about coming together for a bigger cause and showing our neighbors that we stand with them in their time of need.”
The IPS Malibu Moves 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Kids Run, presented by UCLA Health, will return for its second annual event on Oct. 25 and 26. Participants will not only enjoy a scenic course along the iconic Malibu coastline but also have the opportunity to contribute to a cause that directly supports their neighbors and community.
Aaron T. Jones, CEO and chairman of the board of International Protective Service, Inc. (IPS), the event’s Title Sponsor, expressed his unwavering support.
for health care providers to submit necessary documentation to the Department of Health Care Services, ensuring continued care for those affected.
• Support for Individuals with Disabilities: Allows the Department of Developmental Services to waive certainlegal requirements to prevent service disruptions for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Public Assistance: Extends deadlines for families applying for CalWORKs, easing access to financial support during recovery.
• Government Reporting: Provides more time for Los Angeles County public officials to submit required FPPC reports.
Tax & Financial Relief: Extends deadlines for claiming disaster-related tax relief, with three additional ZIP codes now eligible. It also
“Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, and all the affected areas; we see you,” Jones said. “The entire world sees you. We will now come together, not only as a community, but as a country. We will have your backs. We will do everything in our power to support you all morally, spiritually, and financially. Together, we can work to rebuild and try to become whole again. To the souls lost; we will always remember you, and cherish your memories and your contributions to this world. Malibu Moves. Malibu Strong.”
How you can get involved
Whether you’re a runner, a local resident, or someone looking to make a difference, there are multiple ways to support Malibu Moves and its rebuilding mission:
• Register for the event: Participate in the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, or Kids Run. Every registration directly supports the cause.
• Charity entry : Commit to raising $500 for the Malibu Community Relief Fund and gain access to exclusive VIP perks.
• Donate directly: Contributions of any size will aid relief and rebuilding efforts.
Segel added, “This is an opportunity to not only challenge yourself physically but also to make an impact that truly matters. By uniting for this cause, we can help rebuild Malibu and strengthen the bonds that hold our community together.”
Malibu Moves was founded to bring people together through movement, connection, and a commitment to the community. Beyond the physical challenge, the event serves as a platform for resilience and unity, reminding everyone of the strength that comes from standing together.
For more information or to register for the event, visit MalibuMoves.com
halts speculative real estate practic
es that could exploit fire survivors.
• Rental Protections: Expands rent-gouging protections to all lease lengths, preventing landlords from bypassing restrictions by offering slightly extended leases.
Accelerating rebuilding efforts
Newsom’s executive order also prioritizes the reconstruction of homes and businesses by suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Coastal Commission has been directed to refrain from issuing any guidance that conflicts with these orders.
Financial relief for survivors
To alleviate the financial burden on fire victims, the state has postponed the individual tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County residents to Oct. 15. Additionally, the sales and use tax filing deadline has been extended to April 30,for businesses in affected areas. Penalties and interest on late property tax payments have been waived for a full year, and mortgage relief programs have been launched in partnership with state and federal banks.
Housing and tenant protections
Temporary housing solutions are being fast-tracked, including expedited approval for accessory dwelling units, additional mobile home parks, and fee waivers for temporary shelters. Landlords are also prohibited from evicting tenants who are sharing their homes with displaced fire victims.
Debris removal and disaster prevention
Efforts to clear debris and mitigate future disasters have been accelerated, with expert federal hazmat crews deployed to begin cleanup. Measures are also being taken to stabilize hillsides and reduce the risk of mudslides and flooding in fire-ravaged regions.
Preventing price gouging and real estate exploitation
To protect fire survivors from financial exploitation, restrictions on price gouging have been expanded to cover rent, hotel stays, and construction materials. Newsom has also taken action against aggressive real estate speculation, ensuring that disaster victims are not pressured into selling their properties under duress.
Directing immediate state relief
The state has committed over $2.5 billion to emergency response and recovery initiatives, with a dedicated website (CA. gov/LAfires) serving as a central hub for information and resources. The newly launched LA Rises initiative also brings together private sector leaders to support long-term rebuilding efforts.
Supporting students and small businesses
To ensure displaced students can continue their education, the governor has signed an order facilitating their enrollment in local schools. Small businesses will also receive aid through deferred licensing fees and waived regulatory barriers to expedite their reopening.
Accessing disaster assistance
Firestorm survivors can apply for federal disaster assistance through the following channels: Online: DisasterAssistance.gov
• Phone: 800-621-3362 FEMA Smartphone Application: Available for download
Assistance is offered in over 40 languages, and individuals using relay services can provide FEMA with the appropriate service number for communication.
Newsom’s decisive actions underscore California’s commitment to rapid recovery and rebuilding, ensuring that those affected by the Los Angeles firestorms receive the support they need without unnecessary delays.
the highway can safely reopen.
communities still reeling from the devastation.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath had confirmed last week that PCH would reopen as scheduled on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 8 a.m. One lane in each direction would be open. The Carbon Beach checkpoint would be deactivated, though travel conditions will remain challenging. “This will not be the same PCH as before the fires,” Horvath noted, acknowledging the lengthy road to full restoration.
While initial plans called for a full reopening, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a delay on Saturday, confirming that access checkpoints in Pacific Palisades would remain in place until Monday, Feb. 3. Bass stated that this delay allows for the transition of security duties from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the National Guard, with checkpoints still required for access to Pacific Palisades.
Then after all that, Caltrans announced the closure of PCH on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. as a precaution against potential mud and debris flows from fire-damaged slopes. The 8.5-mile closure will extend from Chautauqua Boulevard in Los Angeles to Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu in both directions.
Law enforcement will carry out the closure, permitting access only for essential recovery workers. Caltrans geotechnical engineers will evaluate the stability of slopes and canyons on Friday to determine when
flier opposing the reelection of incumbent Steve Uhring, who also retained his seat.
The MCF PAC shows $27,500 in its coffers. There were eight contributors in MCF’s latest filed California 496 form with contributions starting at $100 ranging all the way up to $10,000 given by Proficiency Rubidoux LLC that does not have a Riverside address, but one out of Irvine. Coming in second in contributions to MCF was an outfit out of North Palm Beach, Florida, called NextEra Energy Resources Development LLC and its affiliate NextEra Energy Resources LLC ID with a total gift of $9,000. The group’s latest filing Dec. 2 claims it spent money on a final push mailer supporting Grisanti on Oct. 29, one week before the election, but fails to include what that cost was leaving the description on the expenditure line reading “mailers and postage” with an amount listed as “0.00.” The other mailers in opposition of Silverstein and Uhring and in support of Grisanti totaled $3,169.35 each.
The scale of devastation caused by the Palisades Fire is staggering. The blaze destroyed 6,837 structures, including 5,419 homes, 135 multi-family residences, and 158 commercial buildings. In addition, 1,017 structures were damaged, displacing thousands of residents and leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. The firefighting effort involved more than 5,000 personnel from across the nation, as well as international support from Mexico and Israel. The resources mobilized included 476 engines, 58 water tenders, 44 helicopters, 48 bulldozers, and 113 hand crews, all working tirelessly to contain the relentless flames.
Despite the heroic efforts of first responders, the fire’s cause remains under investigation. Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 has transitioned command back to the Los Angeles City Fire Department, while Cal OES will oversee recovery efforts and the restoration of services to affected communities.
Preliminary data from Cal Fire indicates that the Palisades Fire ranks among the most destructive wildfires in California history. With over 6,800 structures destroyed, it surpasses the Tubbs Fire of 2017 and falls just behind the Eaton Fire of 2025, which obliterated over 9,400 structures. In comparison, the devastating Camp Fire of November 2018 remains the most destructive, with nearly 19,000 structures lost.
Amidst the collective grief, frustration continues to mount over the perceived mismanagement of parklands by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Au-
Another PAC that ran attack ads against Silverstein and Uhring on Facebook is the shadowy California Families for Progressive Leadership, previously known as Truth & Dignity Municipal Leadership. That PAC may also have been behind aggressive attack ads distributed on fliers throughout Malibu. The funding behind that PAC also includes individuals outside of Malibu with its largest contributor a Castro Valley entity identified in FPPC filings as Public Safety For All. A Google search of Public Safety For All did not identify any organization by that name. It does not show up on the Secretary of State website as a registered PAC. No required financial expenditure filings have been made on its behalf in noncompliance with California rules and regulations.
Truth & Dignity Municipal PAC and its treasurer, Gary Crummitt of Long Beach, has been fined by the FPPC for more than a dozen state reporting violations. Crummitt, of Crummitt & Associates, a self-described “nonpartisan political reporting firm,” is the current treasurer of California Families for Progressive Leadership. It is still
thority (MRCA). Many residents attribute the rapid spread of the fire to the MRCA’s failure to properly maintain its land and prepare for the predicted high winds.
At the Palisades Fire Town Hall meeting on Jan. 27, Malibu resident Wade Major voiced his outrage: “Living next to MRCA-administered land is like living next to a hoarder who stacks yellowing newspapers in the house and stores rusting canisters of gasoline in the backyard for decades. We’ve repeatedly warned that we need controlled burns, fire maintenance, and responsible resource management. In return, we get nothing but condescension and neglect from the slumlord of the Santa Monica Mountains. Joe Edmiston ’s unchecked appetite for land acquisition — without accountability — has done unspeakable harm to these fragile hills. They will take years to recover.”
Major continued, “The MRCA has had its day. It’s time to turn these lands over to state parks and their experienced, professional leaders. We welcome their leadership and look forward to working with them. Not just Malibu strong — Malibu stronger.”
The community’s call for accountability is growing louder, with many advocating for MRCA lands to be transferred to California State Parks for better oversight. Jo Drummond, who lost her home in the Big Rock area, urged state officials to reallocate resources, stating, “Senator Allen, you said that California Parks doesn’t have any money. They don’t have any money because the governor isn’t giving them any. MRCA has
uncertain who ultimately pushed the attack ads advertised on behalf of CFPL.
The other candidate who was successfully elected to the council was Haylynn Conrad, who self-funded her campaign. The first-time candidate contributed $66,200 to her campaign with total expenditures of $59,875.28.
Dr. Channing Frykman also did not take contributions to her unsuccessful campaign for City Council. Frykman contributed $5,000 and spent $3,873.46, leaving a balance of $1,126.64.
Silverstein who was successful in winning a second term, received $19,112.33 in contributions from a majority of Malibu residents. His campaign spent $19,374.79. His final expenditure report shows money spent on Facebook ads, mailers, and other media.
Uhring, also successful in his bid for reelection reported receiving $9,120 in campaign contributions and a nearly 40 percent self-loan to his campaign that only spent $4,632.48.
Grisanti received cash contributions totaling $39,323.26 and spent the bulk of those funds, plus a little
plenty—disband them and give the funds to State Parks.”
The devastation has sparked a fierce debate over land management practices. Residents argue that the MRCA’s alleged negligence — failing to close park gates and clear brush despite forecasts of hurricane-level winds — contributed significantly to the rapid spread of the fire. Major’s impassioned plea at the town hall resonated with many: “We’ve warned that we needed controlled burns, fire maintenance, and robust resource management. In return, we get nothing but condescension and vitriol from the MRCA.”
In response, the MRCA has defended its efforts, stating that it maintains its own fire division and collaborates with local fire departments and state agencies to prevent and manage wildfires. Despite this, the damage is done, and the community’s trust in MRCA’s stewardship is deeply shaken.
The reopening of PCH marks a significant milestone in recovery efforts, achieved through coordinated efforts by the LA County Sheriff’s Department, LAPD, California Highway Patrol, and Caltrans.
Supervisor Horvath acknowledged the teamwork, saying, “Los Angeles County has worked diligently to reopen PCH in a way that is safe and allows our residents, businesses, workers, and students to more easily navigate our coastal communities.”
As rain is forecast for this week, LA County Public Works, alongside other agencies, will continue to monitor road conditions closely. Sandbags are now available for residents, and right-of-entry
forms for debris removal must be submitted by March 31. For ongoing road closure updates, residents are urged to visit pw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures.
As Malibu residents begin the arduous process of rebuilding, they face a landscape forever altered by the flames. From La Costa Beach to Pacific Palisades, the 14-mile stretch of burn zone is a stark reminder of nature’s fury. But amidst the charred remains, a spirit of resilience endures. “Malibu is strong, and we will come back stronger,” declared one resident, echoing a sentiment felt across the community. Looking ahead, the City of Malibu resumed regular business hours at City Hall on Monday, Feb. 3. While City Hall will be open, counters will remain available by appointment only to ensure personalized service for all visitors. The Development Portal will also reopen and be accessible Monday through Friday. Residents and businesses are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance for in-person assistance. For further information and to schedule appointments, please visit the city’s official website or contact City Hall directly.
As the community moves forward, questions remain unanswered. Who will be held accountable for the catastrophic loss? How will the region prepare for future wildfire threats? One thing is certain: Southern California will never forget the lessons learned from the Palisades Fire. In the face of unimaginable loss, the community is determined to rebuild, recover, and prepare for a safer future.
more, ending with a negative cash balance registered on the 460 form as -$6,765.23. Last minute write-in candidate Andy Lyon did not accept campaign donations.
Scenes of devastation remain in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, as the community begins the long journey of rebuilding and recovery. Far left photo by Cal Fire, all other image by Hayley Mattson/TMT PALISADES
neighborhoods in the Santa Monica Mountains, including Malibu West, Point Dume, Corral Canyon, Big Rock, Topanga, Ventura County Line, and Hidden Hills. 2024 was spent recruiting and training volunteers from “table top to infield exercises,” Gibbs explained of the 60 hours of education and training required. “Our program was lightly tested with the Broad Fire in November, then pressure-tested with the Franklin Fire in December and then it’s not easy to put into words what happened with the Palisades Fire.”
It’s not easy to explain the devastation caused to Malibu and adjacent areas, but without the brigade, it could have been even worse. The brigade put in roughly 5,000 hours evacuating residents even as some members’ own homes were at risk.
“Our members were in their own community, knocking on their neighbors’ doors to encourage evacuations and that was time they could’ve been spending on their own homes,” Gibbs described. “Encouragement from a neighborly voice as opposed to an authoritive voice, I think, was extremely valuable because there were several people that initially refused to leave because they didn’t believe the fire was coming or they were under the impression that they were going to be able to fight it by themselves. I think our team did a really good job of being very methodical about encouraging neighbors to take necessary steps prior to leaving.”
The brigade then conducted structure triage by pulling combustibles away from homes, but soon, the event “quickly became a life, safety priority where it was not just about trying to protect
Tara Fitzgerald, the on-scene coordinator, explained that the EPA will remove lithium-ion batteries from vehicles, homes and other products such as home alarms, digital cameras, drones, and some electric devices. The EPA also will remove visible asbestos and inspect pressurized fuel cylinders such as propane tanks.
Officials explained that after the EPA certifies that a property has been cleared, Phase 2 debris removal will be managed by Los Angeles County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with property owners having the choice to opt in and haveArmy Corps of Engineers conduct the process at no charge or to opt out and have private contractors perform that function in accordance with relevant local and county laws.
Some express grave concerns about Civic Center Way location
After attendees patiently listened to the presentations by FEMA and the EPA, Mayor Doug Stewart opened the proceeding to public comments. And many commented at length.
The main concern of many in attendance focused on EPA’s and FEMA’s proposal to place a staging area to temporarily house hazardous materials right in the center of Malibu on Civic Center Way on a parcel known as the Bell property, noting the proposal had been thrust upon the city only one day earlier without any input from city officials or the community. City Councilmember Bruce Silverstein pointed out that no formal decision could be made by the council at the meeting because the item had not been properly agendized. Many attendees also expressed consternation that the EPA had established a temporary hazardous waste collection area at Topanga and Pacific Coast Highway on California State Parks land on the site of the former Malibu Ranch Motel, a proposal that instigated a protest by citizens on Jan. 31, noting that the EPA failed to provide advance notice and expressing concerns about health and environmental risks associated with the site’s operations.
own shop which will be in a smaller space.” Will Taylor still be a go-to guy for purchasing or renting surfboards and maybe even for getting a bro-deal? For surfing apparel? For all those
structures, it was trying to prevent people from dying,” Gibbs said.
For his part Gibbs hasn’t slept much in days while volunteering since the fire broke out, and he has a family with young children. There are 50 men and women in the brigade with similar stories spread out in seven area communities throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. “You get a glimpse of what it’s like to be a full-time firefighter and a lot of appreciation for the sacrifice that firefighters and even more so their families make,” Gibbs emphasized. He’s also proud that no one in the brigade suffered injuries.
And the Board of Supervisors is proud, too. Brigade members were honored Jan. 22 at the Kenneth Hahn Building in downtown LA. Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath,
Further, State Parks approved the EPA’s request for a temporary use permit without consulting Malibu officials or any residents
Officials acknowledged that the site is operational, but explained that it was rapidly filling up and more land is needed to perform Phase 1.
Harris-Bishop explained that the Bell lot is “ideal to serve as a staging area as it has enough space — we need more than 20 acres to perform the process, and further, it is flat,” he added. “We need a place to safely handle materials and there are no large trucks used — we only use F-150’s and trucks of that size.”
When asked about whether the EPA needed a permit to conduct operations on the Bell property, he responded that, “the city has emergency authorities and this may not require a full hearing — we have a sense of urgency as the residents want their property back to begin the building process.”
Fenton chimed in, stating that “we are here to help you, and we want to do it quickly and safely.”
Harris-Bishop emphasized, “It is important for the hazardous substances, which are currently in an uncontrolled environment and pose a public health emergency where they sit — they need to be removed as soon as possible.” He also noted that President Donald Trump has ordered EPA to complete Phase 1 in 30 days, a process that often takes up to six months to perform.
After removal to a staging area, officials organize the material by substance type and ship them on for storage at an accredited facility. They emphasized that the hazardous materials are wrapped in plastic during transit and stated that they did not present a danger beyond their fenced area and that there would be perimeter air monitoring.
When Harris-Bishop tried to equate the fire-related hazardous materials he was suggesting be temporarily stored in mid-Malibu with household materials the city sometimes collects, he received a lot of pushback.
“Don’t the fire-related hazardous materials have a different composition?” City Councilmember Haylynn Conrad queried. “Also, what routes are you proposing to take the materials through as they go to the storage
cool sunglasses and other fun surfcelebrating accessories?
“Yes! We will have rentals and sales of surfboards,” he said. “We’ll also be carrying all the same items.” Will the new store still offer the wonderful, particularized services surfers have come to enjoy when dealing with Taylor?
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, and Assistant Chief Drew Smith, who was instrumental in organizing and authorizing the brigade honored the group for the impact they
made saving lives and property in the program’s first year. “I wish there was more we could do. It was absolute mayhem,” Gibbs said. “It was an immense honor for us to be a part of
facilities — our mountain canyon roads have slopes and curves.”
Fitzgerald explained, “When the materials are processed, we transport them in smaller trucks, and then they are placed on large commercial trucks before being taken on larger roads. The routes we will take depend on what kind and what amount of materials we are shipping. We will be shipping daily.”
The conversation then focused on the possible risks of transporting the debris into Malibu, which is well outside the burn area and, to use EPA phrasing, “co-locating debris into larger groups of the same substance.”
Silverstein and others honed in, seeking clarity and asking whether the EPA representative could assure the council and community that there would be no hazards possible to the environment or to people. They could not do so.
Former Mayor Skylar Peak and others noted that there were no good solutions, the hazards had to be mitigated, forthcoming rains can cause mudslides in the burn scar, and fire victims need to start the rebuilding process as soon as possible. “Get out of the expert’s way,” Peak suggested to the attendees.
Other locations discussed
“Wouldn’t it be better to clear sites that are in the burn area and use those sites instead of in the middle of Malibu?” Silverstein asked.
Stewart stated, “The Bell area sits within one-quarter mile of two schools, homes, and shopping areas.” He also noted that an integral principle in the city’s mission statement is to protect the environment.
Several citizens who testified noted the site abuts areas where both children and adults run for exercise, is near the public library, and is between Santa Monica College and Pepperdine.
Carolyn Day, who lives in Topanga, asked whether the EPA needed to use the Topanga location, quoting Steve Canalog, deputy incident commander for EPA Region 9 who told the Los Angeles Times that the efforts to remove hazardous materials from the fire scar is “probably going to be the biggest lithium-ion battery removal activity
“Yes! I would never sell anyone anything that I knew wasn’t good for them — I’d rather not sell anything,” Taylor declared. Simply stated, his planned new venue will be old-school Malibu and area surfers wouldn’t have it any other way. The new store’s location and name will be announced soon.
these efforts, having a small of an impact that we did, but for them to honor the program was especially in our first year and having these three fires already happen, it’s a true honor for all of us.”
that’s taken place in this country, if not the world.” Day stated, “I hope that Malibu protects its city and citizens!”
Andy Lyon queried, “Why don’t you set up your area at Big Rock? No one is living there. It’s our Civic Center, not an EPA toxic dump.”
Talk turned to the feasibility of using Will Rogers State Beach, which sits at the bottom of where the Palisades Fire raged. Responding, Harris-Bishop stated that authorities had refused the EPA’s request to do so. “That location would be our first choice,” he said.
Former Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich proposed that the officials “look at this situation using common sense and use that beach.” She noted that the number of structures affected by the fire in Palisades is 7,000 versus Malibu’s toll of 700.
“Be creative and do what’s right,” she implored. “We have experienced enough trauma in Malibu — why expose kids to these materials?”
Noting that he lived within a mile of the Bell property, Michael Lynn implored the EPA team, “Please stop! The health and safety risks of using that property include ocean winds taking hazardous materials airborne, possible seismic activity — why would I want this a block from my house where my 2-week-old son is? What you’re proposing is 400 yards from an elementary school and 100 yards from our pediatrician. The solution is simple — pack and sort the materials in the fire burn.”
The takeaway In the end, Harris-Bishop stated he appreciated the city’s offer to intercede with county and city of Los Angeles authorities to have them revisit the Will Rogers beach location. Ultimately, he agreed that the EPA “would continue to pursue the Will Rogers location and other potential sites.”
Stewart stated that the city will do all it can to help him do so.
The Malibu Times was informed that a decision would be made on Wednesday morning; however, since the newspaper goes to press on Tuesday, the decision was not available at the time of press. You can read the update online at malibutimes.com.
Reflecting on his tenure at Becker, Taylor stated, “It’s been the biggest pleasure of my life to help people so they can get the right boards for their individual needs — it’s been very fun. I wouldn’t change a thing!” Pausing to reflect, he added, “This is the only job I have really liked. I woke up every day for 31 years, and
I was excited to talk to people in our community.”
Therefore, local and visiting surfers fear not — soon, Taylor’s new surf shop will welcome you with open arms. In the meantime, Taylor invites customers to come catch some terrific deals at Becker. The store will be open from 10 to 5 every day of the week.
and Caltrans could revolutionize how we approach infrastructure in fire-prone coastal areas. While bureaucracies typically move slowly, USACE’s emergency response capabilities could dramatically accelerate this project, turning plans into protection for our community. We have their attention and resources now — a rare alignment of opportunity and expertise that may not come again.
Climate change isn’t a distant threat — it’s our present reality, written in the ashes of our homes and the tears of our neighbors. Each fire season brings greater dangers
than the last. The new PCH must be designed for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s certainties: more potent storms, higher seas, and more intense fire seasons. The Corps’ expertise could help create a highway system that protects our community when we need it most.
We can start with the destroyed portion and then move forward, creating a model for coastal communities worldwide. The economic benefits would be substantial, but the real value lies in what cannot be measured: peace of mind for parents driving their children to school, se-
curity for elderly residents during evacuations, and the knowledge that we did everything possible to protect our community’s future. I beg you — no, I plead with you — we must join together to ensure our survival. This isn’t just about rebuilding a road or replacing infrastructure. It’s about preserving the community we love, protecting our way of life, and ensuring that future generations will know the real beauty of who we are. It is time for our elected officials and community leaders to step up and show why they are in their positions. We
cannot afford another rebuild that restores what was lost — not when we have the resources and expertise to create something better.
Those empty chairs that dot our landscape today need not remain monuments to loss. Let them instead become beacons guiding us toward what we can become — symbols of a community that faced devastation and chose not just to rebuild but to revolutionize. The road ahead is long, but the opportunity is unprecedented. Our community deserves nothing less. The time for bold action is now.
The question isn’t whether we can rebuild — it’s whether we have the vision and courage to rebuild better. With USACE’s expertise, Caltrans’s understanding, and our community’s determination, we can create a legacy of resilience that will protect our children and their children for generations to come. Let’s not let this moment pass us by. Our empty chairs are waiting to be filled again with life, laughter, and hope — but only if we seize this moment to create the future our community deserves. You can reach me at 21milesinmalibu.com
Malibu Life
Malibu Seafood battles back after Palisades Fire
MBy HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor In Chief
alibu Seafood has long been a cornerstone of the local community, offering fresh fish, breathtaking ocean views, and a welcoming atmosphere. However, in the wake of the devastating Palisades Fire, the family-run business faces unprecedented challenges.
Alette Ridgway, junior partner at Malibu Seafood, has been vocal in urging the Malibu City Council to support local businesses struggling to recover.
Sitting on the back patio of Malibu Seafood, Ridgway spoke passionately about the importance of sustaining small businesses during difficult times. “My parents founded Malibu Seafood, so they’re the owners,” she explained. “Right now, I own a small percentage, but over the next 10 years, my ownership will gradually increase. I’m a junior partner right now.”
Malibu Seafood has been a staple in the area since 1972. Originally operating from the end of the Malibu Pier, it began as a humble fishing business. “Back in ’72, we had a boat at the pier and sold fish right there,” Ridgway recalled. “By the mid-tolate 70s, we started steaming seafood on the pier, got a fryer, and eventually moved to our current location.”
However, just six months after securing their new home, a severe storm damaged the Malibu Pier, forcing its closure for years. This pivotal moment led to Malibu Seafood transforming into the beloved restaurant it is today. Though the business no longer engages in commercial fishing due to restrictions, it continues to source high-quality seafood from trusted vendors. “We get our fish from
a lot of different places,” Ridgway explained. “For example, our swordfish comes from between San Diego and Hawaii, while our snapper could be from Northern California,
Oregon, or Washington, depending on the season.”
Like many local businesses, Malibu Seafood is facing severe financial setbacks in
Sharks overcome fire delays to claim back-to-back league titles
Malibu High girls water polo win three games in three days to capture the
TBy MCKENZIE JACKSON Special to The Malibu Times
he Malibu High Sharks girls water polo team began last week as a team who had practiced only once in the previous 21 days due to the Palisades fire. However by the end of the week, they were backto-back Tri-Valley League champions.
The Sharks won three games in three days at the Malibu High pool over league competitors to win the league crown and garner a home pool matchup in the first round of the CIF playoffs. Sharks head coach Hayden Goldberg was proud of the 12-member group he described as close-knit.
“This is like a fairy tale,” he explained. “The girls worked their asses off and played tough. They understand things happen in life and sometimes you have to go through it. These girls had hardship to overcome. They have some strong, positive parents, but it was the girls bonding together, making sure everyone is ok, staying positive, and chopping us down if egos got too big.”
Malibu center Ceylon Zappa, a junior, said winning the league championship was an amazing accomplishment since the team only practiced a handful of times since their last game on Dec. 16.
“I enjoy winning and winning a league title — to share that with my team is
fun,” she said. “Its great. It makes everyone so happy.”
The Sharks
the opening round of the
the aftermath of the Palisades Fire. The closure of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) has disrupted both employees’ commutes and customer access to the restaurant.
“We have about 25 employees,” Ridgway shared. “Some are driving over an hour and a half from North Hollywood or Culver City
hosted Yorba Linda in
CIF-Southern Section Girls Water Polo Division 4 Championships on Tuesday. The winner
The Malibu High girls water polo team pose together in the pool after winning the Tri-Valley
after the Palisades Fire. Photo by Hayley Mattson/TMT
Is MRCA a four-letter word?
MALIBU SEEN
By Benjamin Marcus, Entertainment Editor
A conversation with Rorie Skei,
chief deputy director
for the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy
Pitchforks and lanterns at the Malibu Town Hall on Saturday, Jan. 25. An alphabet soup of agencies were on the dais, catching flak, answering questions from a standing-room-only alchemy of anger, fear, frustration, anxiety — need: ACE, FEMA, EPA, LASD, LACOFD.
The one agency that wasn’t there was the Mountains Resource Conservation Agency (MRCA) which was maybe a good thing because that pitchforks-and-lanterns mob could have morphed into a lynch mob. Every time the words MRCA left someone’s lips — or Joe Edmiston’s name was mentioned — the crowd would erupt in boos, hissing, oaths. A lot of people hold the MRCA responsible in part for the Palisades Fire, and the Franklin Fire, and the Broad Fire, and the many brush/firestorms that have plagued Malibu over the last several decades.
Is that fair? An email to MRCA connected with Rorie Skei, the chief deputy director for the Santa Monica mountains conservancy.
I have to get up to speed on this rapido, so let me ask: How long have you been with MRCA?
Well, let’s see. I was a board member in the ‘80s and came on staff in 1990, so I’m actually a Conservancy employee. So about 40 years.
And your expertise is?
I’m a biological sciences major with a Master’s degree, and then I’ve been working on these fire issues and fire response issues since the late 1980s.
At the town hall last Saturday, Jan 25, MRCA was a four-letter word, and people looked down and spit on the ground every time Joe Edmiston’s name was mentioned A lot of pointed fingers at your organization I’m aware there was some calumny.
Do you think that’s fair?
No. We did not start the fire: The fire start wasn’t even on our land. We do brush clearance. It’s a long-standing thing in Malibu to not like us, that’s for sure, mainly re public access.
The vibe was that the MRCA’s refusal to do brush clearance has been a source of some of these fires So MRCA does do brush clearance?
Oh absolutely: the 200 feet of clearance from structures that’s required by Los Angeles County. That’s done every year. LA County assists in some areas. I think what people want when they refer to brush clearance is the mountain’s landscape — manicured. That’s not how it works.
That’s not possible, is it? On Google Earth I made a rough rectangle with Decker Road: a straight line down to the east, then under Point Dume, through Pepperdine and along PCH to Will Rogers then north to a point in line with Saddle Peak, then through Saddle Peak to Decker Road — that’s about 40,000 acres of vegetation that threatens everything from west Malibu almost to Brentwood Is it possible to denude all of that, or responsible? It wouldn’t be physically, economically, or even ethically or ecologically warranted. No fire scientist promotes that. It makes no sense at all.
From what I saw on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, I think the Franklin Fire possibly saved central Malibu because that fire created a mile-long fire break up and over Sweetwater Mesa Saddle Peak is basically rock now, there’s nothing up there, is there? But that was like one when within a year, actually within a month. And of course, that was State Park land.
How much land does MRCA control and how much does State Parks control?
We have about 19,000 acres in the whole Santa Monica Mountains, and I don’t know how to break it down but just in Malibu, I think it might be about 3000. California State Parks owns more — about 35,000 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains and the National Park Service has several thousand acres.
Saddle Peak is State Park land? Yes, the Franklin Fire started just near the tunnel.
I wrote a long story called “Sedimental Journey” about the Army Corps’ plan to remove Rindge Dam and all the
sediment I say it’s a shame the Franklin Fire didn’t do the Army Corps of Engineers a favor and torch all the trees and jungle and scrub on top of the sediment behind Rindge Dam I’ve climbed down to that sediment, and it’s a jungle down there I don’t know how they intend to remove all that, but a well-placed brushfire would have saved time and money
Although that would be more sediment coming down and ruining the steelhead habitat. Nonetheless, the problem is with prescription — not controlled burns, prescription is the word for it. It’s a big deal. MRCA or the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy would not initiate those, nor State Park or National Park Service. That would be LA County or Cal Fire, and if they basically … almost every square foot of the mountains has had multiple fires, the natural fire return interval really should not be any more than 30 years to maintain the habitat.
A big fire every 30 years is natural and normal?
That’s what the scientists say, so putting more fire on the Santa Monica Mountains doesn’t really achieve protection.
On the website you sent me, it states that the frequency of fires used to be every 30 to 120 years, and now it’s like every
My pile of debris Burt’s Eye View:
PERSPECTIVE
By Burt Ross, Contributed Column
Normally, I’m annoyed when somebody says,
“I know how you feel.” None of us can fully put ourselves in another’s shoes, but at least we can try to relate and empathize. As somebody who lost his house to the Woolsey fire, long suppressed feelings have recently resurfaced. Although I almost never republish one of my columns, I thought it might serve some purpose to resubmit the following column, which I wrote after returning to where my home once stood. I remember crying when I wrote it, and I am emotional as I read it again some six years later: “I am drawn — magnetically pulled — back to my pile of debris, which not that long ago was my beautiful home. As if by staring at the rubble long enough, somehow I believe my home could miraculously reassemble like a film seen in reverse. The toppled chimneys would rise upright again to their rightful places on top of the roofline, and the fire would return to where it came from. Each time I survey the ruins, I notice something
new. For the first time, I observed that only the skeleton of the refrigerator stands upright, and I can see the rectangular opening where the ice maker once froze water.
I am strangely reminded of “Schindler’s List,” shot in black and white. As I look at the mound of destruction, I see no color — just black and brown. And then, out of the depths I see for the first time the damaged ceramic tabletop that adorned my parents’ home for much of their lives. Just like the girl in “Schindler’s List” who introduced color where none had existed, so this multi-colored object reaches out to me as if asking to escape its burial place — help I cannot provide.
Dad told me that each color of this custom-made piece meant a separate treatment in the kiln, and there were 17 visits to the kiln. There is something so ironic that this piece created in fire ultimately succumbed to fire.
I have mixed feelings about the upcoming removal of debris. Of course, I understand that only by taking the rubble away can I start the rebuilding process, but I also feel that I am desecrating a burial site. With the removal will come the final recognition that what was will never be again.”
five years We had two and a half fires in three months
Yeah, and it’s type-converting the shrubbery, more fire-resistant vegetation to non-native grass, flashy fuels, which is not good.
You say controlled burns would be LA County and Cal Fire, but would they be allowed on MRCA land?
It would depend. I mean, obviously, we work very closely with both entities, especially with the county, if they identified a senescent strategic area that had not burned in years. And in fact, in the past they had proposed a small prescription burn. I think it was at Big Rock in a ravine that’s next to the road, and they had a Cal Fire grant to do it. It’s partly on our land and we said: “Go ahead.” But Malibu residents created a huge objection to it, so the county supervisor said “no.”
There are some detailed arguments about Big Rock in the long version of this on my website
The same with goats. They said no to the goats also? Yeah.
Well if I can riff off Gordon Gekko from “Wall Street”: “Goats, for lack of a better word, are good Goats work ” Brush-eating goats are one of the most effective things I’ve ever seen I had a friend in Watsonville who ran goats They’ll go through 8 feet deep and 4 feet high of blackberry and poison oak like locusts
No question and that’s one of the reasons why we would love to use it more on our defensible space — the 200 feet required by Los Angeles County. But there are problems. First of all, goats aren’t cheap, they’re pretty expensive like $1,500 an acre. The other problem is, they can eat up everything — desirable native plants as well.
Well they do a thorough job on poison oak and blackberry And if they can eat that, they can eat anything
We found goats also are very picky. We’d love them to take on mustard, but if things have dried out, they don’t really like it very much. So they’re not very effective on dried areas. And then the goat herders actually have to have good access.
There really isn’t a solution, is there?
The real solution is really actively trying to do ignition pre -
vention. And more, even more, is the structure hardening — with house out measures, including a zero zone of nothing next to the house 5 feet out, not even rose bushes. And the attic vent ember screens, they really are effective, a simple measure but total home hardening can be an expensive proposition. It has to be entire neighborhoods that do it. Because, you know, if one house ignites, it can ignite all the rest of the houses. I refer folks to defensiblespace.org for excellent advice.
Ember screens?
Yes, in the attics. You know how you have those attic vents? Really fine mesh screen applied there can absolutely save the house, because those wind-blown embers can go in doggy doors.
A lot of houses are about to be rebuilt and I’m sure those regulations will be there They need to analyze those houses that are unscorched and still standing in the middle of devastation Saw them with my own two eyes Hope so, I really hope so, with non-combustible materials and real diligence about keeping leaves out of gutters and furniture, overhanging wood decks, open eaves, all those things just become a problem. We’re also investigating the new fire retardants that can be sprayed and last, apparently, up to a year. It’s called Fortress: apparently pretty benign. If you spray it on the roadsides along the brush, it may prevent ignitions.
On Saturday, Jan 25, I did a ride along with Cal Fire through Palisades Have you been up there yet?
I’ve only seen it from the air. I know our rangers have all been up there. And it’s just … devastating.
It’s unbelievable, like, I call it satanic — not a natural but a supernatural, evil force just went out and roasted the whole town and then every five or six blocks there will be a house that’s just sitting there, pretty as a picture, untouched in the middle of… Devastation.
I said it’s what the people of Gaza must feel like returning home right now, but that got
cut When the fire alarm went out we knew, because we have Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades, which is a more than 100-year-old conference and retreat center in this beautiful
park that has lots of structures and lots of vegetation. Our MRCA fire division deployed there immediately, and they were there 30 straight hours, but they managed to save the most important historic structures. There’s still a lot of devastation there. We’d already done a lot of pre-work in there — structure hardening and removing eucalyptus trees …
My mom had a phobia about eucalyptus trees She didn’t like ‘em And during the Franklin Fire I watched eucalyptus and palm trees go off like Roman candles . The firefighters call them California candles We didn’t get them all, but removing a number did help. And then the MRCA crews had to go deploy up to the San Vicente Mountain Park — the Nike missile site — the Palisades fire swapped over into Mandeville. They managed to save that too. So the MRCA has a firefighting team with engines? Brush engines and patrols … rangers and the fire division responded there. We’re just sick that Will Rogers State Historic Park burned. It’s really too bad they didn’t have anybody helping there.
Just from that ride I did last Saturday with the PIO — I don’t think a lot of the Santa Monica Mountains are controllable Too much of it, too steep, too deep It’s rugged, very rugged. And then it goes back to the efficacy. You can’t hope to try and transform the entire fuel load in the Santa Monica Mountains. It wouldn’t work, it would be too expensive with no ecological integrity whatsoever. Animals would be gone and that’s not what we do. When we’re talking about brush clearance, we’re dealing with the defensible space, which is 200 feet from structures. Also on every Red Flag Day, we have a 24-hour patrol on Mulholland Drive and some of the other problematic areas. My final thought is, I know that emotions are super elevated. After the Woolsey Fire, there was a lot of recrimination. But the attacks are not fair. The executive director of SMMC lost his house in the Palisades. We’re not immune to fires. So the point is to try and be proactively fire resilient.
There is a lot to say about this from both sides. To read more, go to https://www.benmarcusrules. com/MRCA
just to get here. PCH being closed has hit us hard, and we really need it to reopen fully.”
Ridgway described how staffing has been affected.
“Normally, we have about 11 to 12 people on staff daily, and on busy weekends, up to 15. Right now, we’re down to 10. That just shows how much we’re having to cut back.”
At a recent City Council meeting, Ridgway argued that the current situation is even worse than the COVID-19 pandemic. “During COVID, at least there were PPP loans and grants to help small businesses,” she pointed out. “Now, there are very few financial relief options. Small business loans are available, but at a 4.5 percent interest rate, they’re not a feasible solution for many of us.”
Despite these hardships, she remains hopeful that Malibu Seafood employees can receive some financial aid. “The city recently posted a $2,000 grant that our employees can apply for starting on the 3rd,” she noted. “We’re hoping that can help in some way.” Ridgway emphasized the crucial role the
community plays in helping small businesses survive. “Just support all of the local businesses,” she urged. “Shop local, eat local. Try to go to small businesses instead of chains whenever possible. If you can, buy your fish and meat from small vendors instead of the big supermarkets. It really
makes a difference.”
In an effort to give back to the community, Malibu Seafood is currently offering a 10 percent discount to Cal Fire firefighters, police officers, and sheriff’s deputies. “It’s our way of thanking them for their hard work during the fires,” Ridgway said.
The one practice was all Malibu needed.
The Sharks beat Villanova 16-3 on Jan. 27. The next day, they downed rival Foothill Tech 16-6.
As the city works toward full recovery, the resilience of businesses like Malibu Seafood will be crucial. “We just need people to remember that we’re here and open,” Ridgway said. “This has been our home for over 50 years, and we plan to be here for many more.”
games, said it was great to be in the pool again with her team.
of the matchup advanced to face Louisville in the second round at Crespi High School in Encino on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The quarterfinals are on Feb. 12, and the semifinals are on Feb. 18. The title match is Feb. 22 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.
Malibu had played in only 10 games this season before last week. The Palisades blaze sparked on Jan. 7. Its wind-fueled spread put a stop to sports activities in Malibu. Four of the Sharks’ games were cancelled, but Goldberg said the Sharks wanted to finish their 2025 campaign. The Tri-Valley League’s other coaches agreed to let Malibu still contend for the league title, so the three games were scheduled for last week. The Sharks practiced for the first time since Jan. 6 on Jan. 25.
Malibu closed the three-game stretch on Jan. 29 with an 18-2 win over Cate to secure the Tri-Valley League title.
Goldberg was confident his team would win all three matches.
“This was more of a mental season for the girls,” he noted. “The girls began the season in great shape with great senior leadership, great junior leadership. They really used the hardship of the fires and came together. They are a calm and collected group.”
Goldberg said before each contest, he mentioned a “Trust the Process” banner that hangs in the Malibu pool area.
“No matter what is going on,” he recalled telling the team. “Trust your process. It will be alright.”
Zappa, who scored over 15 goals in the three
“We wanted to continue the season and play as hard as we could to keep going,” she said. “We played great as a team in our league games.”
The victory over Foothill Tech occurred on Malibu’s senior night. Twelfth-graders Brienna Brandau, Izzy Morris, Raya Israel, and Tallula Murphree were recognized.
Goldberg said the four girls have a special place in his heart.
“There was a time when we only had five girls on the team, and it was almost to the point where we were not going to have a season,” he said. “Then, these four sophomores walked on the pool deck and said they wanted to play. It was those four seniors. They saved the program. Now, they have grown the sport. We have girls coming in every season because of girls like them.”
LEGAL NOTICES
above on: 01/2025
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Case No. 25NNCP00014
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Petition of: GALUST KHACHIKYAN, AVETIS KHACHIKYAN BY AND THRU PARENTS ARAYIK KHACHIKYAN, OUSANNA MELICOAYAN
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:
Petitioner: GALUST KHACHIKYAN, AVETIS KHACHIKYAN a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
Present Name: a. GALUST KHACHIKYAN b. AVETIS KHACHIKYAN Proposed Name: a. GALUST CHRISTOPHER KHACHIKYAN b. AVETIS KEVIN KHACHIKYAN
The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Notice of Hearing:
Date: 3-12-2025 Time: 8:30 AM, Dept.: 3
The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ALHAMBRA COURTHOUSE, 150 W. COMMONWEALTH AVE., ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county (specify newspaper): The Malibu Times
Date: JAN 06, 2024
ROBIN MILLER SLOAN, Judge of the Superior Court
DAVID W. SLAYTON Executive Officer/Clerk of Court
PUB: 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6/2025 The Malibu Times MALIBU 13
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
OSKO G. KARAGHOSSIAN CASE NO. 25STPB00490
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of OSKO G. KARAGHOSSIAN.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by YERAN KARAGHOSSIAN, BERGE KARAGHOSSIAN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that YERAN KARAGHOSSIAN, BERGE KARAGHOSSIAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Es-
tates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/20/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 44 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner
ROBERT R. BOWNE II - SBN 179960
ROBERT R. BOWNE II, ATTORNEY AT LAW
4421 W. RIVERSIDE DR., SUITE 200
BURBANK CA 91505
Telephone (818) 846-0170
1/23, 1/30, 2/6/25
CNS-3888485#
MALIBU TIMES
MALIBU 15
2025015377
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS
AS:
MALIBU WASTEWATER
16755 HALSTED ST, NORTHRIDGE, CA 91343, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): Registered Owner(s):
MARTIN SALGADO BATRES
16755 HALSTED ST, NORTHRIDGE, CA 91343
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization
This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL
The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed, MARTIN SALGADO BATRES, OWNER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 1/23/2025 NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE).
Publish in The Malibu Times: 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20/2025 MALIBU 17
2025014534
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS:
GREEN DEPOT BUILDING SUPPLY GREEN DEPOT 25019 PACIFIC COAST HWY, MALIBU, CA 90265, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): Registered Owner(s): SUITE MODULAR MANUFACTURING LLC 996 E RIVERPARK LANE, BOISE, ID 83706 If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization
ID
This business is conducted by: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed, SUITE MODULAR MANUFACTURING LLC, PIERCY ROBINSON, MEMBER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 1/23/2025 NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW
With its rich history, strong community ties, and commitment to serving high-quality seafood, Malibu Seafood remains a cherished part of Malibu. As recovery efforts continue, supporting this local gem will ensure that it remains a vibrant part of the city for years to come.
Zappa enjoyed celebrating the seniors. “I love those girls,” she said. “It was cool to see the team rally around them.”
The Sharks entered the season with lofty expectations since they advanced to playoff’s quarterfinals last February. They did have a few losses in their first 10 games, though.
“Some of the girls realized they had to work harder, and they were ready to do so,” Goldberg explained. “The girls all put one foot forward. Nothing got in their heads. They practiced hard. They swam all the swim sets. There was no pushback. Then, we got handcuffed because of the fires.”
Zappa said to be successful in the postseason, Malibu must play hard.
“Having a positive attitude changes the game,” she said. “When you are having fun, you play better. Keeping the energy up and keeping the momentum will help.”
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish in The Malibu Times: 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20/2025 MALIBU 18
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE UNDER DEED OF TRUST LOAN: SP1549 / ROBBINS OTHER: 91232640
T.S.#:24148-RT YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 11/8/2022. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE is hereby given that REDWOOD TRUST DEED SERVICES, INC., as trustee, or successor trustee, or substituted trustee pursuant to the Deed of Trust executed by BRIAN ROBBINS and ALEXANDRA ROBBINS, husband and wife as Joint Tenants, recorded on 11/18/2022 as Instrument No. 20221090208 in Book —, Page -- of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, California, and pursuant to the Notice of Default and Election to Sell thereunder recorded 10/22/2024 in Book Page —, as Instrument No. 20240719018 of said Official Records, WILL SELL on 2/28/2025 At The Courtyard located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 at 11:00 AM AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH (payable at the time of sale in lawful money of the United States), all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State hereinafter described: As more fully described on said Deed of Trust. A.P.N.: 2017-023-023 The property address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 23951 Eagle Mountain Street, (West Hills Area), Los Angeles, CA The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the undersigned within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. The property heretofore described is being sold “as is”. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $1,221,148.53. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. In the event tender other than cash is accepted, the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s Deed until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. Said sale will be made, but without
SHARKS WATER POLO
In an effort to give back to the community, Malibu Seafood is currently offering a 10% discount to Cal Fire firefighters, police officers, and sheriff’s deputies. Photos by Hayley Mattson and Malibu Seafood
covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust, advances thereunder, with interest as provided therein, and the unpaid principal balance of the Note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust with interest thereon as provided in said Note(s), fees, charges and expenses of the trustee and the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. Dated: January 24, 2025 REDWOOD TRUST DEED SERVICES, INC., as said Trustee ATTN: ROBERT CULLEN P.O. BOX 6875 SANTA ROSA, CA 95406-0875 By: ROBERT CULLEN, President NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (800) 683-2468 or visit this Internet Web site: www.servicelinkASAP.com, using the Trustee Sale number assigned to this file, T.S. #24I48-RT. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (800) 683-2468, or visit this internet website www. servicelinkASAP.com, using the file number assigned to this case 24148-RT to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid, by remitting the funds and affidavit described in Section 2924m(c) of the Civil Code, so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder”, you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. A-4833622 02/06/2025, 02/13/2025, 02/20/2025 MALIBU 21
2025017482
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: PILLARS OF CREATION REKORDS
GENUFLUX.MUSIC
SUSPIRIUM ART SPACE
SUSPIRIUM TACTILE GOODS
4314 DUQUESNE AVE, CULVER CITY, CA 90232-2904, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): Registered Owner(s): GENUFLUX LLC
4314 DUQUESNE AVE, CULVER CITY, CA 90232-2904
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization CA
This business is conducted by: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/2025
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed, GENUFLUX LLC, COLLYN MCCOY, PRESIDENT
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 1/28/2025
NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE).
Publish in The Malibu Times: 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27/2025
MALIBU 22
2025017475
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS
AS:
VMAX PACKS AND COLLECTIBLES
22601 CALVERT ST, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable):
Registered Owner(s): DILLON ZOHAIR SHAMMA
22601 CALVERT ST, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization
This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL
The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed, DILLON ZOHAIR SHAMMA, OWNER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 1/28/2025
NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE).
Publish in The Malibu Times: 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27/2025
MALIBU 23
2025018774
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS
AS: BLUE BIRDIE PLUMBING
18632 LANARK ST, RESEDA, CA 91335, LOS ANGELES
COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable):
Registered Owner(s):
JEFFREY GUTIERREZ
18632 LANARK ST, RESEDA, CA 91335
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization
This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL
The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime). Signed, JEFFREY GUTIERREZ, OWNER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 1/29/2025
NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT
GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish in The Malibu Times: 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27/2025 MALIBU 24
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Notice is given that proposals for the On-Call Inspections, Maint., Repair, and Certification of Airport TCTE and AWOS (BRC0000532) contract will be received per the instructions listed on the RFP until 5:30pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2025. There will be an optional Proposers’ Conference on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 2 pm via Microsoft Teams Meeting Online Events. Estimated total contract amount is $400,000. An RFP may be obtained by accessing the link at http://pw.lacounty.gov/brcd/ servicecontracts or may be mailed to you upon request by calling(626) 458-4069 orTDDat(626) 282-7829. 2/6/25
CNS-3890929# MALIBU TIMES MALIBU 25
POPPY’S PAL
want the whole world (or at least Malibu) to marvel at their magnificence?
To submit a Poppy’s Pal photo of your pet, please email to: office@malibutimes.com. 200DPI image as jpg or pdf file. Include pet’s name along with a clever caption, and/or their name, breed and age. Poppy’s Pall photos are published in the order in which they are received.
Visiting Hours Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed on Sunday and holidays. www. animalcare.lacounty.gov
THE MALIBU TIMES reserves the right to refuse the publishing of any advertisement(s) and to delete any objectionable word(s), phrase(s) and/ or image(s) from such advertisement. If there is an error or omission in the printing and/ or publication of an advertisement, The Malibu Times’ liability is limited to only one incorrect insertion or omission.
Advertising Packages DO YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS KNOWN IN MALIBU! .We can make it happen with our SPECIAL ADVERTISING PACKAGES. . Our low discounted rates will save you up to 50%. *Billing on monthly basis. *Get in 2-3 sections of the paper + online. *Your ad will be seen weekly in print & 24/7 Online at MalibuTimes.com Call 310456-5507
Animals AGOURA ANIMAL SHELTER 29525 West Agoura Road, Agoura, CA 91301 (west of Kanan Road) 818-991-0071.
“NOTICE TO READERS: California law requires that contractors taking jobs that total $500 or more (labor and/or materials) be licensed by the Contractors State License Board. State law also requires that contractors include their license numbers on all advertising. Check your contractor’s status at www.cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-CSLB (2752). Unlicensed persons taking jobs that total less than $500 must state in their advertisements that they are not licensed by the Contractors State License Board.” ALL REAL ESTATE advertised herein are subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, ancestry or national origin or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertisements for real estate in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
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Contractor
KANEROY and ASSOCIATES has been proud to serve Malibu & the Westside for the past 20 years, and look forward to putting it’s broad experience, creativity and craftsmanship to work for you on your next construction project. Kane Sickner 310-456-6841, www.kaneroy. com. Lic.#569337-Bonded/ insured.
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3-bedroom oceanfront condo for rent in Malibu, fully furnished, available immediately. Call 310266-7545. CHANNEL
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Malibu Volleyball Club’s 16U girls triumph at SCVA Tournament last month
Team overcomes fire disruptions to secure victory in Irvine
By McKENZIE JACKSON Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu Volleyball Club’s 16U girls squad won their division at the Southern California Volleyball Association’s Event 1 tournament at the Momentous Sports Complex in Irvine last month.
The team of Malibuites strung together a 3-0 record at the Jan. 18-20 volleyball spectacle despite not practicing since early January due to the Palisades fire.
Malibu Volleyball Club operator and coach Derek Saenz said the girls, a group of knowledgeable and skilled volleyball players, wanted to compete in the SCVA event, which featured volleyball clubs from across Southern California.
Middle blocker Mayeeda Wang, a 10th-grader, said it felt remarkable to be on the volleyball court with her teammates again.
“Of course, winning the tournament felt
great, but being a team again after such devastating times was an amazing way to overcome the challenges we all faced together,” she said.
The devasting Palisades blaze, which sparked on Jan. 7, charred 23,400 acres and destroyed more than 6,800 structures, including homes in Pacific Palisades and
Malibu. The inferno’s destructive, wind-fueled spread put a stop to sports activities in Malibu.
On Jan. 11, members of the some of the volleyball club’s boys and girls teams participated in a scrimmage in Carson. The next day, they played in an event at Long Beach State.
The next weekend, the team coached by Liam Moore, a former Malibu High boys volleyball standout, won its group at the SCVA event.
Evelyn Garvin, a sophomore on the squad, said the team was confident despite not practicing before the tournament and that their confidence grew each game.
“We stayed positive and decided we shouldn’t give up,” she said. “We wanted to be together again to just play volleyball.”
Wang, a volleyball player of two years, said the teenagers’ excitement in being able to compete together fueled their winning play.
“We were collected,” she said. “We played together. I knew we were playing well when we won our second game.”
Saenz said participating in events allowed the volleyball club’s members, some who lost their homes to the wildfire, to take their mind off stress they have off the volleyball court.
“It comes up, it comes up,” Saenz said of the team discussing the impact of the fire.
He noted that playing volleyball was so important to one player that the player packed volleyball gear when evacuating to ensure participation in club tournaments.
“The kids really wanted to play,” Saenz added.
Garvin said winning the tournament was secondary.
“I originally didn’t arrive with the mindset of winning everything,” she said. “It was just something good that came along with playing with my team and getting to reconnect both on and off the court. It felt great to see my team again.”
Waves men’s hoops falls to Portland; Todorovic having standout season
Despite scoring just six points in the loss, Pepperdine’s leading scorer stays focused on the next game
By McKENZIE JACKSON
Pepperdine Waves men’s basketball player Stefan Todorovic completed a fast break by scoring a tough layup around a defender in the second half of the Waves home matchup against the Portland Pilots on Feb. 1.
On the very next Pepperdine possession, Todorovic, normally a steady shooter from three-point range, clanked a shot from long distance. It just wasn’t his or the Waves’ evening. The squad lost 84-64, and Todorovic, Pepperdine’s leading scorer this season, finished the game with only six points.
The 6-foot-8 senior said the Waves have to forget about the loss, keep their enthusiasm up, and practice hard.
“Everything will fall into place after that,” he said after the loss. “Bad games happen to even the best teams in the world. It’s our job to pick it up now and start a win streak with the next one.”
Todorovic, a transfer from the University of San Francisco, hasn’t had too many subpar scoring nights during
H H H THIS
WEEK AT
Pepperdine’s 2024-25 campaign. Heading into their matchup against Washington State in Pullman, Washington, on Saturday, Todorovic is averaging 18.4 points a game on 46 percent shooting. The forward is also pulling down six rebounds a contest.
Todorovic scored in double figures in all but two of Pepperdine’s first 23 games. He opened the season in November by dropping 25 points on Western Illinois and then 33 points against UC San Diego. Todorovic scored 32 points against Long Beach State in December and 29 points, including seven three-point makes, against Pacific in early January. He scored 25 points against San Diego on the last day of January.
All this from a player who averaged 3.8 points a game for San Francisco last season. Todorovic averaged 4.3 points a contest his two previous seasons at SMU.
He isn’t surprised at all about his ball-scoring prowess as a Wave, though.
“It was a little tough after not playing too much last year,” Todorovic recalled.
He was prepared for this season.
“My work gave me confidence,” Todorovic said. “Never giving up. Working with coaches, sports psychologists, and in the weight room. When you put everything into one place, good things come.”
He decided to transfer to Pepperdine because of his belief in first-year Waves head coach Ed Shilling and the coaching staff that includes assistant coaches Jeremy
THE AGOURA SHELTER H H H
The Agoura Shelter is at 29525 Agoura Rd., Agoura Hills. Occasionally pets have already been adopted. To check availability, call 818-991-0071 or visit animalcare.lacounty.gov Meet Luna!
Say hi to Luna A5672799, a gorgeous six-year-old husky mix. Luna was surrendered to Agoura with Pyometra. She was immediately brought to the private vet, where she underwent emergency surgery. Now that she’s on the mend, her spunky personality is beginning to emerge.
Luna’s a bit reserved when you first meet her, but she absolutely craves human affection and quickly becomes a velcro dog once she knows you. She’s the kind of girl who opens up at her own pace and loves to hang with her volunteer friends and walk
on Sunday and holidays 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 agoura@animalcare.lacounty.gov
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Paradise Painting
We’re a Family-owned & Operated Painting Contractor business that still has that personal touch. We go the extra mile, from preparing surfaces the right way, to the courtesy of our vetted highly-skilled crew we make sure the job is done right on time. When it’s done right, paint will protect your property from the elements and last for years to come. When it’s rushed or prepped improperly it can begin to bubble and peel, leaving it once again vulnerable to pests and weather. Our Proven system will protect your property for years
Josh
Mike Doig, Scott Rigot, and Tyus Edney.
“I like the program,” he said. “Some very good individuals have come out of this program. I saw myself somewhere where I was going to play and showcase my talent.”
The Waves only shot 39 percent from the field and 23 percent from three-point range in their 20-point loss to Portland. Sophomore swingman Dovydas Butka scored 16 points and snagged 12 rebounds for Pepperdine, while freshman guard Jaxon Olvera scored 14 points and chipped in three assists, two rebounds, and a steal.
Max Mackinnon scored 24 points for Portland, while Chris Austin scored 20 points. Austin Rapp scored 12 points.
The Pilots jumped out to a big lead early in the game thanks to four three-point splashes. The Wave got in a rhythm when Olvera splashed a triple and then big man Boubacar Coulibaly flushed a dunk. However, when the Waves scored — a driving bucket by Olvera to cut the Pilots lead to 12 points — the Pilots answered, in this case with back-to-back threes to make the score 43-25.
The Pilots hit consecutive triples and a two to take a 53-35 lead at halftime. Portland splashed 11 threes in the first half.
Spurred on by Olvera — a three here and slippery shimmy and then scope shot in the post there — and Butka, who swished a smooth turnaround jumper while being fouled, the Waves made a run but never cut Portland’s lead to under double digits.
The Waves had a 9-14 record at presstime with eight regular season games left on their slate.
Todorovic said the team wants to put together a winning streak and be ready for the West Coast Conference tournament in next month.
When asked what his best game of the season has been, the Belgrade, Serbia native had a direct answer.
“The next one,” he said.
Grubbs,
Calbert,
Special to The Malibu Times
Pepperdine forward Stefan Todorovic drives the lane against Gonzaga in a West Coast Conference game earlier this season. Todorovic is the Waves’
