Issue 27 Michael Madsen - The Local Malibu by The Local Malibu

MICHAEL

MADSEN

MR BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN

FROM THE CREATORS OF

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THE VOICES OF MALIBU Founder, Editor in Chief, Creative Director

FROM THE CREATORS OF

90265

CECE S. WOODS Co-Founder, Executive Editor STEVE WOODS Senior Editors CLAUDIA TAYLOR, ROB TAYLOR, JEN WISER Media Director JOSEPH MC DOUGALL II Executive Editor ADDISON ALTENDORF

EDITOR’S

Arts Editor

LYNNE SHAMASH

Travel Editor

LESLIE WESTBROOK

Editor at Large

M A G A Z I N E

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CHRISTY CALAFATI

NOTES

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Editors

ISSUU

DAVID STANSFIELD KANDACE MURPHY DIANA NICHOLSON ERIC ABRAMIAN KELLY COLLINS BRIAN TIELEMAN DANIEL BRALVER LORY MAYOTTE LIZA UTTER JEN BEL GUS JOHANSON ANNEMARIE STEIN KIM LEDOUX

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ON THE COVER:

MADELINE MARY DANIEL MC GRATH

MICHAEL MADSEN

Contributing Photographers

TIM HORTON NICK CALAFATI JEN BEL EMILY SCHER GOODMAN DIANNE SCHALLERT BRIAN O’DELL

Malibu High School Interns LILY CASTRO JOSEPHINE MARSHALL ABBY DROEGER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

JOSEPH MC DOUGALL II Mr. Blonde ( a.k.a. Michael Madsen ) having fun at our cover shoot on Thursday February 11, 2016. The exceptional horse property we had the privilege of shooting at is Rancho Escondido and is listed for $7,495,000. For more information call Audrey Ruth, CalBRE 01882976, 310-924-4282.

ISSUE 27 FEB./MARCH 2016

MALIBU’S ORIGINAL JUICE AND SMOOTHIE BAR Serving the community for over 20 years

HERBS VITAMINS SPORTS NUTRITION 23823 Malibu Rd., Ste. 600 Malibu, CA. 90265 310.317.4833

NEWSWORTHY

COASTAL GOES POSTAL BY STEVE WOODS

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) dropped a proverbial guillotine on its Executive Director, Charles Lester, during a late night hearing in Morro Bay Feb. 10. Almost 1,000 people packed the Morro Bay Community Center for eight hours to support Charles Lester in retaining his position and to question the CCC commissioners before they made their closed meeting decision to axe him from the commission. The California Coastal Commission is a state agency overseen by a panel of political appointees charged with upholding the 1976 Coastal Act and has had broad authority over development, public beach access and natural resources along California’s 1,100-mile shoreline. The Commission received over 14,000 letters supporting Lester’s retainment, and newspapers throughout the state ran editorials in support of him. Hundreds of people filled the public hearing hall ( date ) with printed signs reading “MORE LESTER” and handwritten placards on pieces of cardboard and even a surfboard begging the commission to protect the remaining undeveloped coast. Representatives from just about every environmental group in California joined in and voiced their support. A Los Angeles Times reporter on the scene described 100 supporters bursting into tears and angrily reacting as the decision was announced that Lester’s termination would be effective immediately. The ousted director was photographed with his head leaning back, his eyes closed, as the defeat washed over him following a long battle shrouded in rumors of subterfuge. Commissioner Carole Groom, who voted to keep Lester, had suggested the commissioners debate Lester’s fate in public, and Lester had given his consent to such a proceeding. Her motion was crushed as was meeting attendees who heard the decision. Dr. Charles Lester became executive director in 2011 and has worked with the CCC since 1989. He was hailed by supporters during the meeting for vigorously protecting California’s coastline and achieving a great deal during his career.The agency, overseen by a panel of political appointees charged with upholding the 1976 Coastal Act has long clashed with developers, local governments and property owners over the constraints it places on some of the most valuable real estate in the nation. Governor Brown’s executive secretary, Nancy McFadden said that Brown had no plans to influence the upcoming decision, however ALL four of Brown’s appointees to the 12-member panel later voted to dismiss Executive Director Charles Lester from the powerful land-use agency. More than 200 people spoke in support of Lester an at all-day hearing before the 7-5 vote Wednesday, joining elected officials from coastal cities and counties as well as federal and state officeholders who had written the commission urging it not to go through with the firing. Supporters touted Lester with a list of the following accomplishments in accordance with the CCC’s mission quest “To protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the environment of the California coastline”. *Creation of a database so the public can get information on projects in the works. *New penalties for those who illegally deny beach access. *A massive blueprint for helping local communities plan for sea-level rise. *The updating of local coastal plans up and down the state. *Reduced process times for permits and appeals. *Treating beach access for low-income and minority residents as a civil rights issue.

PHOTO BY TIM HORTON “We’ve made tremendous progress under Dr. Lester,” said lawyer Robert Garcia of the City Project, which has fought for beach access in Malibu and other areas where private property owners have used guards, bogus signs and parking restrictions to keep citizens off public beaches. “The beach belongs to everybody. Not just the rich and famous and the mainstream enviros.” The agency’s database indicates that since Lester took his job in 2011, he and his staff’s expert opinion to deny coastal projects has often been pummeled by commissioners. The trend is troubling. In 2006 alone commissioners denied 26 projects, whereas in the last four years commissioners denied a total of 24 projects.Brown signed the coastal protection into law in 1976, and yet his appointees are the ones said to be leading the charge against Lester. It’d be nice to know if he’s behind the ouster, or at least what he thinks about it.All that’s at stake is the future of the world’s greatest 1,100 miles of coastline, but the Governor has remained silent. “Considering the outpouring of public support, the commission is tone deaf and out of touch with the will of the people,” Surfrider Foundation coastal preservation manager Stefanie Sekich-Quinn told the LA Times. “The public trust has been broken, and I believe a fundamental change is needed to restore public confidence in the Coastal Commission.” The decision comes as the commission faces a vote next month on the development of 1,100 acres at Banning Ranch in Newport Beach, a luxury housing project said to be worth over $1 billion. It’s one of the largest construction projects ever brought before the commission, making many fear that several members were swayed by contractors to unseat Lester, who the commission claimed was slow to approve development projects and whom they accused of a lack of transparency. In an interview the day after his dismissal, Lester echoed his supporters’ concerns, saying there had been a shift on the commission to be more receptive to the concerns of developers and exert greater control over agency staff. Lester said he suspected he was fired for being too independent and worried that his removal might mark a “fundamental shift in direction” for the coastal watchdog agency whose shift benefited property owners rather than the public. “This was about the commission trying to take more control of the process,” said Lester, who figures he was too independent for the tastes of some commissioners.

NEWSWORTHY

For Mr. Lester and his supporters, the commission’s action reflected a move to make things easier for developers and open the way for more construction along the coast. In an interview, Mr. Lester said that he had offered to take steps to address some of the concerns, and had been rebuffed.“I’ve seen a lot of commissions over the years,” Mr. Lester said. “Relative to commissions of the past, this commission has been more interested in things that the development community raises as problems — as opposed to the policies of the Coastal Act. Several Commissioners who voted for his firing said Mr. Lester had been dismissed because he and his staff had been unresponsive in providing information to commissioners, had nitpicked developers’ legitimate projects and had failed to take steps to ensure that the coastline was accessible to people of all income levels. More important, they said, the commission needed to become more accepting of change and more aggressive in righting shortfalls like an absence of affordable hotels near the coastline. Tom Steyer, the president of NextGen Climate, an environmental group, who is considering a run for governor, also denounced the decision. “Behind closed doors, the Coastal Commission defied the will of the people and acted to weaken the protection of California’s iconic beaches,” Mr. Steyer said. “This is a wake-up call for all who care about preserving California’s majestic coastline for future generations.” Mel Nutter, a Long Beach attorney and former chairman of the commission who has represented environmentalists and developers in front of the panel, said the move to replace Lester was reminiscent of a fight two decades ago over Douglas. The politically connected Douglas fought back that attempt in 1996, aided by hundreds of environmentalists and other supporters who came to his defense at a public hearing after Republicans on the commission, including then-Gov. Pete Wilson’s appointees, had moved to oust him. “I’m troubled by the direction of the commission if a professional like Charles Lester is fired and replaced by a political hack,” Nutter said Wednesday. Lester stated, “It’s been a privilege to serve the Commission as the Executive Director for the last four years… I want to thank the public for your participation and engagement and as I said at the beginning of the day… it’s a real testament and it’s a celebration of the vitality of the California Coastal program to all Californians. So if there is any silver lining, I am so energized by all the people who came together for this…. This was a spontaneous expression of commitment to the coast of California and we should all be proud of that.” Steve Lopez of the LA Times has been following Coastal shenanigans for years and had a few questions about the five-mansion Malibu compound that David Evans — a.k.a. U2’s the Edge which managed to get approved in mid-December after years of high-powered lobbying. The project had been scaled back and recommended for approval by staff despite lingering opposition on many fronts including the Sierra Club who is now suing to put a stop to the Edge Development. Steve Lopez is wondering why Coastal commissioner Mark Vargas, a few weeks before the unanimous approval of the project, happened to meet with Dave Evans in Dublin, Ireland? Agency rules require “a complete, comprehensive” account of such meetings. But when Times writer viewed the document filed by Vargas, the word “comprehensive” did not come to his mind. Vargas gave only a two-sentence explanation of his meeting. He discovered that the ever-busy go-between Susan McCabe (Governor Browns commission appointment) , had set up the meeting between Vargas, Evans and Evans’ wife, and that the applicants told Vargas they believed they had addressed commission concerns about the Malibu proposal. OK, fine. But why Dublin? Did Vargas catch a U2 concert while he was there? Did he pay all his own expenses? Steve Lopez followed Vargas out of the CCC meeting Wednesday during the lunch break and shadowed him, asking a half-dozen times if he’d answer his questions. He didn’t acknowledge the reporters questions He tried again later and he dashed off for a break. Vargas then marched into secret session, ignored the pleas from hundreds of committed stewards of California’s greatest natural wonder, and lodged one of the votes that cost Charles Lester his job.

NEWSWIRE BY SAM HALL KAPLAN Of course, to call a scattered city hall and library, a user-unfriendly earthen roof of a water treatment plant. labeled a park, and four disconnected suburban shopping malls, soon to be six, a civic center is a misnomer. It is frankly a mess. And what it says about the city’s planning efforts and political acumen to date is less flattering. It is indeed an embarrassing screw up, big time in a little city flaunting its singular natural beauty, and so I declare in my latest commentary for KBU, radiomalibu.net and select websites. ...Let’s just label it municipal mismanagement, and not the most meritorious item on the resumes of departing city manager Jim Thorsen and soon to be termed out council members. This is not to say they haven’t learned from their mistakes, and from the message sent to them by 60 per cent of the citizenry in the recent city referendums, whatever the legal fate of Measure R that wrenched from them the power to approve or disapprove select commercial developments. To add a positive note, there is very much an opportunity for the city to correct some of these mistakes, and plan an appealing civic center that meets the true needs of Malibu and not the conceits of commercial interests. That opportunity is in a fresh approach to what is known in government as a Specific Plan, and was the conclusion of a recent joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission and their entourages.. They had met ostensibly to review the status of the Civic Center Design Standards study, which a gaggle of select residents led by a conscientious consultant team have been pursuing for the last two years while the battle over Measures R and W raged. However, in its quest for a quote “walk able coastal village with rural characteristics “unquote, the study exceeded the usual scope of design standards by including the need for a traffic and pedestrian circulation plan, mixed uses, and senior and local work force housing. These are elements generally addressed in a Specific Plan, and call for land use changes that involve zoning amendments, consistent with the city’s general and coastal plans. That in turn would most likely need voter approval, and in essence would lend residents actually broader and more positive powers than what they had sought in Measure R. That would be ironic. It also would be a triumph of hope over experience, the city having failed in several past attempts at crafting specific plans. Nevertheless, the Council and Commission were enthusiastic that the city moves toward drafting the plan, but were not sure how to do it. Noted was the problem how the general public can be more involved, and in turn become the needed advocates for a new plan, especially in light of its distrust of the city stemming from the battles to date over the civic center. The poor turnout for the joint meeting was not encouraging. The city’s lack of transparency and outreach has not helped. No motion was considered, as the staff was directed to somehow facilitate the study needed for a specific plan, preferably with resident participation. The well compensated consultant team seemed enthused. It remains to be seen if residents will be.

LOCAL

COURT UPHOLDS EFFORTS TO REDUCE POLLUTION IN MALIBU CREEK

GOODFORNEWS

BY STEVE WOODS

MALIBU SURFERS

Surfers who paddle in the ocean near the mouth of Malibu Creek at Surfrider Beach will be relieved to hear that a district court Judge has rejected a lawsuit brought against the EPA by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District-Triunfo Sanitation District.

PHOTOS BY JEN BEL

The February 1st decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division, addressed a September 2013 lawsuit brought against the EPA by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District-Triunfo Sanitation District. Las Virgenes is a joint powers authority that is the owner/operator of the Tapia Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which discharges into Malibu Creek. The ruling upheld the EPA’s establishment of pollution-reduction targets under the federal Clean Water Act that will help ensure that Las Virgenes will better treat its sewage discharge before releasing waste water into Malibu Creek. Los Angeles-based environmentalists, such as Heal The Bay, LA Waterkeeper and the attorneys for the Natural Resources Defense Council, celebrated the ruling, which rejected the lawsuit. The water agency that directs Tapia sewage Treatment facility had pushed back against EPA actions, which identified necessary pollution reductions to protect Malibu Creek from excessive sediments, nitrogen and phosphorus. Too much sediment can clog habitat within the creek, and nitrogen and phosphorous can cause dense algal growth, making it difficult for aquatic life to live in the creek. The case ties back to a 1998 Heal the Bay and Los Angeles Waterkeeper filed lawsuit against the EPA over California’s failure to establish pollution targets ( known as Total Maximum Daily Loads or ‘TMDLs’ ) for waterways in the Los Angeles region that were not meeting water quality standards. “One of the Clean Water Act’s most important provisions is the requirement to establish pollution targets to improve contaminated waterways through TMDLs,” said Heal the Bay Vice President Sarah Sikich. “We are incredibly proud that sound science, including data collected by Heal the Bay, was used to inform these new cleanup goals for nutrient pollution that has caused algal growth and excessive sediment in Malibu Creek.” The efforts of the Clean Water Act along with the Regional Water Board Mandate to reduce Onsite Waste Water systems ( Septics ) in the Civic Center will further improve water quality for wildlife and surfers who have suffered health problems for decades from upper watershed sources along with pollution sources from our local lower watershed. Part of the Clean Water Act also provided funds to restore, reconfigure, and improve the water quality in the Malibu Lagoon/Wetlands. The low lying wetlands had been disturbed in the 1930’s when the Highway Department in conjunction with the Marblehead Land Company developers filled in the so called ‘cheap swamp land’ (now considered important wetlands) in order to build a summer beach home subdivision for Hollywood Celebrities. In 1983 a partial and poor restoration attempt to remove the hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of clay highway fill, failed due to inadequate scientific studies which resulted in poor circulation. Bacteria and viruses became trapped in the stagnant back channels where high water tables had hydraulic connections to adjacent septic leech fields and when the Lagoon did breach Surfers often succumbed to health problems. The EPA deemed the Lagoon dysfunctional which helped provide funds from the Clean Water Act to improve water quality at the State Park. Many biologist and wildlife experts have proclaimed the improvements at the lagoon a success. Water quality in the Santa Monica Bay is improving year by year as multi pronged efforts have been addressing the various pollution sources. The City of Malibu must also be commended by surfers for diverting street run off from flowing directly into the Malibu Creek and Lagoon and filtering it through the cleansing process of Legacy Park. Surfers can look forward to a healthier water quality with the completion of the 3 phases of Regional Water Board Mandate is fully functioning throughout the Civic Center.

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LOCAL

SEEING RED BY STEVE WOODS

It is that season again when whale watchers are scanning the horizon for Gray Whales but at several locations between Topanga and Point Mugu whale watchers are also watching their backs with an increased population of Red Foxes along Los Angeles County and Ventura County coastal bluffs.Though a non native to California, Red Foxes are very adaptable and can be a found in 36 of California’s 58 counties. Unless you are a chicken rancher most people see the furry Red Fox as cute and cuddly, capable of arousing a strong emotional response in some people, never the less, the non-native Red Fox can be a threat to some native wildlife populations. In a constantly changing and evolving world, local human populations could be also considered un-natural as we all try to adapt to new environments. John Mc Henry, a Biology professor who has called Malibu home since 1950, submitted these photos of the recent siting to The Local and has been excited to watch these little mischief makers. He and his wife have traveled all over the world and settled in Malibu to take advantage of all the outdoor activities Malibu has to offer including photographing nature for various publications. As development pressures continue to reduce and degrade coastal wildlife habitats it becomes ever more important to preserve the last few remaining coastal ecosystems that are still undeveloped. Wildlife biologist know that maintaining at least a patch work of undisturbed habitats that native species have a better shot at survival and that healthy coyote populations will keep Red Fox populations in check. Are rodenticide poisons reducing native coyotes populations to the point of fostering Red Foxes to become more established ? Bluffs Park is home to many species of native wildlife under assault and one of those few remaining Malibu coastal bluff parcels that was initially purchased and set aside by State Parks to preserve for all Californians, not just for local needs, however a land swap deal with the City of Malibu may forever disturb this area with plans to grade roads, build parking lots, a swimming pool with building structures and ball fields. Any Bluffs Park development will negatively impact the habitats of so many species of animals, birds and plants in the area deemed ESHA, and will forever degrade the pristine coastal view shed for local visitors as well as those from around the world. Before the City of Malibu can proceed with developing it’s Bluffs park amenities it must go through the Coastal Commission for final approval. Though the Coastal Commission seems to be siding more and more with developers up and down the state they may still listen to those who expect the Coastal Commissioners to uphold their mission quest “To protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the environment of the California coastline”. If you want one of the last remaining Coastal Bluffs in LA County to stay pristine and undeveloped .let them know that wildlife also needs to access it’s native turf.

POISON FREE

PLEAS

The Malibu Local Coastal Program amendment banning anticoagulant rodenticides passed the Malibu Planning Commission on Tuesday, February 16 with a 3 to 2 vote! This was a very frustrating meeting as the planning staff changed the wording of the amendment language on the day of the meeting itself! The language was very confusing and required quite a bit of knowledge of the present Malibu Local Coastal Plan. The planning staff did a poor job of explaining the amendment language to the Planning Commission. Commissioner David Brotman voted against it because of the confusion. He voted yes for the amendment in previous meetings and he would probably have this time too if the language had been clearer. Jeff Jennings was definitely against the amendment. He claimed that if it passed, then the California Coastal Commission could also make prostitution legal in Malibu. To date, Jeff Jennings confusing. The City Council is the last step before this LCP amendment goes to the Coastal Commission, who wrote a letter endorsing the ban. Our City Council lead the way with this process December 2014 by unanimously recommending the amendment. When it goes through, this method of banning anticoagulant rodent poisons will be promoted throughout the whole Coastal Zone!!! Some may recall that there is a State law preventing localities from regulating pesticides, however, development in the Coastal Zone is regulated by the Coastal Commission, a STATE (not local) agency. Because the Coastal commission is the State regulatory agency, cities and counties can ban anticoagulant rodent poisons in the Coastal Zone. At least our community can make a safe refuge from poisons for animals somewhere! -POISON FREE MALIBU

Autopsies are revealing high levels of rodenticide poisoning in local mountain lions. The Ghost Coyotes of Los Flores are suffering from mange and internal bleeding before they die due to eating poisoned rats and mice.

LOCAL FROM

EL NINO EL FUEGO TO

BY STEVE WOODS

A stubborn, hot, dry ridge of high pressure dug its heels in around the Four Corners area, hyperventilating unseasonable volumes of hot devil’s breathe towards the hordes of February beach visitors in Malibu. The many North Pacific lows that were supposed to line up to drench Southern California could not penetrate the heat with temperatures that reached into the high 90's on the coast and winds up to 70 mph in the canyons which did not do any favors for Ski resorts. Like last year’s La Nina, the same high pressure systems that were diverting storms north and then dropping cold arctic air masses, called the Arctic Vortex whomping the East Coast with record breaking cold and snow accumulations. Again, while we were sweating it out with epic bumper to bumper beach traffic, the east coast was slammed by snow and frigid temps . The White Mountains of Upstate New York recorded a wind chill of minus -114 degrees. Meanwhile, the long weekend saw record of numbers beach visitors for a February that was impersonating a hot, 4th of July holiday weekend.

Malibu Seafood was cashing in on the unseasonaly warm weather with lines stretching out onto PCH.

After 45 minutes of bumper to bumper to bumper traffic to Zuma, finding a parking spot was the next challenge.

Fourth of July crowds took lifeguards off guard but their saving grace was the cold water tempertures that kept most high and dry.

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OPINION

ISIS

WANTS YOUR

HEAD

CHAPTERS 7 & 8 BY DAVID STANSFIELD EDITED BY ALLEN WALDMAN

OPINION

THE

PILLSBURY DOUGH BOYS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO COMMUNITY BANK BY DAVID STANSFIELD

OPINION

AMERICA UNITES TOWN HALL MEETING WITH PCB EXPERT AMERICA UNITES WILL BE HOLDING A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH PCB EXPERT DR. DAVID CARPENTER. TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST AT 7PM PEPPERDINE SCHOOL OF LAW, ROOM C, 24255 PACIFIC COAST HWY, MALIBU,CA. 90263. MR CARPENTER WILL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE PUBLIC.

COVER FEATURE

MR.BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN BY AMELIA FLEETWOOD, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE MC DOUGALL II PRODUCED BY TARA OWENS

“I’VE BEEN A MUCH BETTER RULE BREAKER THAN A RULE MAKER! I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE TIMES I PROGRESSED IS WHEN I BROKE THE RULES. WHEN I TOOK RISKS IN LIFE I ACTUALLY LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF, AND WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING DECENT.” I’m not your typical moviegoer. Usually I prefer a chatty, lingering meal with friends over sitting in a large, dark room eating popcorn and not talking to anyone. But I bit the bullet and ducked into a movie theatre to give myself an heroic dose of Chicago-born actor, Michael Madsen, Hollywood’s most beloved, infamous psychopathic killer. Sure, he played the nice dad in Free Willy, but it is his startling performances in such box office hits as Reservoir Dogs, Thelma and Louise, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Donnie Brasco, Sin City, and The Getaway that made his reputation. I came to the interview, eyes blinking in the bright, afternoon sunlight, after three hours immersed in The Hateful Eight, Madsen’s latest collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino. Half dazed still from the darkness and bloodshed of the film, I come once again, face to face with cold-blooded gang member, Joe Gage. Only this time he is smiling as we sit at a picnic table, under a canopy of shady sycamore trees at one of Malibu’s most beautiful ranches. We chat about Madsen’s new film, the recent loss of his father, his love for his wife, six sons, and Malibu, and the joy to be found in life’s simple pleasures. MM: Amelia, you have to see The Hateful Eight more than once to understand it. Things move quickly and just when you start to think you know who everyone is, you realize it’s all a lie. Things get pretty cold-blooded. For me, it’s interesting because it’s my fourth film with him (Tarantino), and if you look at the other three, they are filled with me making little comments. I am always adding something. Quentin has traditionally left them in the edit. But in this film, man, he cut me down to the bare bones. I am just a guy. He really made Joe Gage one-dimensional, but he knows what he’s doing. I don’t know why he cut me the way he did in The Hateful Eight, but I’d rather be a fly on the wall in that movie than not be in it. He picked me for one of the eight, and I’m honored. I get to kill poor Charlie and poison the coffee. And you know, oddly enough, those things won’t be mentioned for four or five years. Just like when I did Reservoir Dogs, no one said anything about cutting the cop’s ear off! It was five or eight years later. Then I’m the guy who cut off the ear. What about being the dad in Free Willy? No one ever comes up and says, “Oh, man, you were great in Free Willy!” I don’t have much to say in The Hateful Eight. I don’t say anything funny or smart, and I don’t know if I like that or not. AF : What about your other films? Do you like any of them? MM: I didn’t like Reservoir Dogs when it first came out, but then, three years later, I started to realize it was a great film. It’s very funny. But man, it’s hard to enjoy watching myself, because I have too many memories of what it was like to do them. The whole time, I’m thinking that I’m going to see something and then it’s not there. It’s been cut in a different way than I expected. But then, you look at a film like Hell Ride, a motorcycle movie I did with Dennis Hopper and David Carradine, that Quentin produced. That movie is one of my personal favorites. It’s a great picture and part of the reason it works is that Quentin re-cut the entire movie so that you come away really thinking about The Gent, the character I play. And Tarantino, he did that for me. AF: How did you and Tarantino first meet? MM: I got the script for Reservoir Dogs and I was flat out offered the part of Mr. Blonde. I never heard of Tarantino, nobody had. I read this script and I thought, ‘My God! Criminals all named after colors and they all die and I was like, what the f@#k is this about?’ My agent, of course, told me not to do it because of the small budget and a first-time director. But Harvey Keitel, who I was so fond of after doing Thelma and Louise with him, was going to be Mr. White. I thought ‘Holy sh@t, man! I don’t care what anybody says, I going to do it.’ And I’m glad I did. I told Quentin that I wanted to be Mr. Pink because he was relatively nice and he gets the diamonds at the end. So he let me come in and audition for Mr. Pink and try to convince him, even though I already had Mr. Blonde. That was the very first time I met him was when I was going in to read for that part. I did my reading and I thought, yup, I nailed it! But he just stood there arms folded and shaking his head and he said,“ Nope, you’re Mr Blonde or your not in the movie.”

COVER FEATURE AF: Talk to me about Malibu, the idyllic life? MM: I have five sons and one stepson, so that’s six I’m raising in Malibu. I didn’t grow up like this. I grew up in Chicago and I didn’t have f@#k all. I was working in a car wash when I was fourteen, so you can’t teach your kid that stuff when they grow up in Malibu wanting for nothing. I thought that I was doing the right thing giving them the idyllic life. I don’t regret it - but at the same time, certain things in life you can only learn by suffering and by having to find your own way. AF: How old are your sons? MM: My sons range from twenty-seven to ten. One is going into the Airborne Rangers to fight for his country, one is a scientist, another an actor and writer,another graduated from film school and is in Berlin now, and I still have the little ten year old at home. AF: How much of your life have you not followed the rules ? MM: Ha! I’ve been a much better rule breaker than a rule maker! I would have to say that the times I progressed is when I broke the rules. When I took risks in life I actually learned something about myself, and was able to accomplish something decent. If you accept your circumstances in life and don’t do anything about it - you are never gonna go anywhere. AF: And your times of excess? MM: I mean I’m not running around like a lunatic anymore, but you know the 80’s and the 90’s was the age of cocaine and alcohol, that was my abusive time. I’m over it but I don’t regret it. The biggest thing I’ve learned in the last two years is that it’s a big world out there and as soon as you leave L.A. no one gives a flying f@#k about the Kardashians and no one cares about all this celebrity worship that goes on in L.A. The rest of the world is really so much more fun, Paris, London, Thailand, anywhere is. I just came back from Rome! Talk about culture and art, I went to an exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci’s where they built all the stuff that he drew and most of the inventions worked except the flying thing, but what hit me was that, at the end of his life, the last sentence he uttered was “I let myself down, I let down mankind and most of all my good Lord because I never reached my full potential.” It was such a sad thing to read. I couldn’t believe it.

AF: We are all so hard on ourselves, I guess it’s a relief to know even Leonardo was, too. MM: I’m my own worst enemy, I can never do enough, I evaluate myself every morning: “ How can I be the best father that ever lived?” And then every night, when I go to bed I ask myself: “Did I do a good job ?” AF: Parenting is the ultimate test. MM: That’s become the biggest thing for me, I just want to be a good dad. I’m a film maker of course but, I also want to be a good dad. I haven’t been perfect that’s for sure, I screwed up many times along the way, but at least I tried - that’s what the difference is, that I keep trying. That’s what they will write on my tombstone: “He tried ! The guy that cut of the cop’s ear … he tried.” You know I met Robert Mitchum years ago. I was introduced to him by my sister who was nominated for her role in Sideways. I hadn’t done anything and I sat down and Robert wouldn’t even look up at me and there I was, he was eating french toast and I figured I should just get up and leave because he was ignoring me. I started to get up and he said in a booming voice, “What are you going you do with yourself son? What is your plan?” I say …. stammering “Ah …” I was an auto mechanic I fixed cars for a living. But I told him I wanted to be Richard Petty, the NASCAR racer but since it costs too much money to race cars, that I wanted to be an actor. And he goes:“WHY? Why would you ever want to do something like that?” When Robert Mitchem passed away I read this interview where he summed it up …. ‘Well,being an actor is an embarrassing and humiliating profession.They pay you to do nothing and in the end it all means absolutely nothing.’ Did he really mean that or was he just trying to sound like a bad ass? AF: How would you sum it up?

COVER FEATURE MM: Oh my God, I’m a long way away from summing up anything! But I’ve got clarity now from my issues with my father. He died last December. It’s so strange when someone dies. They become immortal because memories are there in your mind forever. Hey, you can’t get them on the phone anymore but they are here forever and its the strangest thing. I rehearsed it in my mind so many times but it never feels how you think it will. He was 89 and he was still smoking and drinking! He was a tough old bugger who came from a different era. AF: What kind of father was he? MM: Well, he did the best he could in the circumstances, but my dad was an extremely unhappy guy. He became a firefighter right after I was born for the pension and the security, he was a hero in the world. He just wanted to be loved and be a hero in his own home. He wanted to enter his home justified. I remember once my dad slid me down the pole in his arms as a small child. AF: That is an incredible image. MM:My parents divorced when I was ten because my mom always wanted more out of life. She was the artist. He got his pension, he got what he wanted. The part of me that is him is pretty strong, it’s that Danish blood, that Viking Nordic stuff, and it’s heavy. I was pretty dangerous when I was younger for a lot of different reasons. Obviously I have matured now, but my dad was a very big influence on me. AF: And your mother? MM: Thank God for my mom, otherwise I probably would have never become an actor. I was going to school to be a paramedic when I got my first acting job.I mean it could have gone either way. Mom is the artist, self taught, she has read every book you can imagine you can call her and ask her any thing and she will know the answer. She turned me on to a lot of poets and she opened up my world. Mom is an Emmy winner and accomplished writer and director. I learned big lessons from both of my parents. AF: Do you still write poetry? MM:I wrote all that stuff when I was loaded and really depressed and in a bad state of mind. It was a way of getting a lot of stuff off my chest. I cover my childhood and very personal biographical stuff. It’s what came from having a lot of down time, sitting in trailers on movies or on airplanes. I would just start writing stuff. I’d write on napkins and match books but I was not intending to write a book. It was my wife, Deanna’s idea to gather all the stuff I had written and put it into a book. I haven’t written a word in three years - it doesn’t come over me any more. I don’t have those thoughts any more. Maybe I’ll start doing it again someday? AF: How long have you and your family lived in Malibu? MM: Its been about twenty-two years. I had moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I had been crazy filming The Get Away - I was a lunatic - so I moved away from L.A. and my plan was not to come back. But then I met Deanna and it changed everything.Also, I wanted to see my boys, so I rented a house in Malibu. We never wanted to leave so I bought the house and that was it. I mean who wants to leave Malibu? It’s like being on another planet.

“I’M MY OWN WORST ENEMY, I CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH, I EVALUATE MYSELF EVERY MORNING: “ HOW CAN I BE THE BEST FATHER THAT EVER LIVED?” AND THEN EVERY NIGHT, WHEN I GO TO BED I ASK MYSELF: “DID I DO A GOOD JOB ?” Michael Madsen with wife Deanna

AF: What’s in the pipeline? MM: I have been working on a TV series for Sony called Powers. I play a super hero called Super Shock. I have a cape and I can fly! And I have a movie coming out next month called Death In The Desert, directed by Josh Evans. It’s about Ted Binion, which is cool. AF: What makes you happy? MM: Happiness is when I am with my ten year old and we go to the grocery store and buy tons of bread and we feed the ducks at Pepperdine. It’s so peaceful. There are a bunch of turtles in the pond too, and they fight the ducks for the bread and it’s really really funny. We also swim together a lot, and I love to read to him. I like driving him to school and picking him up. I know that day will come when I can’t hold his hand and it’s over, f@#k. He knows it too. He said to me, “Dad I’m gonna hold your hand for a lot longer. I promise I will hold your hand for another fifteen years.” These things make me happy, that, and knowing that I got to see my dad’s tiny smile one last time before he died. You just can’t top that. Now how about a glass of Chardonnay?

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BUSINESS

LISTING YOUR PROPERTY FOR SALE 101 BY KANDACE MURPHY For over 20 years now, as a mortgage broker, I’ve worked with hundreds of realtors. Choosing the best realtor for your listing is extremely important. Staging, advertising in the proper places, and brokers opens, have continued to be proven for positive and quick results to sell. In my interview today, with Ren Smith, an associate partner with Partners Trust Malibu, he gave me some insight as to what he’s currently experiencing in today’s market. Ren Smith: Right now we are in a perfect storm scenario for listing your home. Low inventory, aggressive buyers, and low interest rates make it a great time to be a seller… that being said… when the market is good, everyone seems to be an agent… when your Uber driver is pitching for your listing you know it’s hit critical mass. Finding the right agent for your home is crucial. Every home is different and working with someone that is going to employ the correct strategy for your specific home will net you the results you deserve… the maximum value, the shortest time on market, the most downside protection, with the least anxiety and best experience. Personally, I treat every listing like it’s a new business I’m launching. Every property gets its own custom business plan and launch strategy tailored to its unique attributes. Before we even think about going to market, we work with the homeowner to identify the best strategy. For example; what are the key attributes of the home and area? Who are the prime targets/demographics? How are we going to reach them? Where and how we should we advertise? What is the best timing for the launch? What pricing strategy should we employ? After all, your home is often one of your largest and most valuable assets. You want to make absolutely sure you work with someone that is going to treat it as such. We are currently in a unique market. Statistics have found that a home should sell within 4 months of a listing, in an eager market. Many applying factors today argue those statistics. The uncertainty of the stock market creates anxious buyers, watching their saved income being depleted. Buyers today have also been unable to follow through with a secured loan, within the escrow required period. Unfortunately, borrowers have eaten up an entire escrow period, to find their loan was declined. Now, you the listing client, has to start over again with a new buyer. I recommend to listing agents, to have a mortgage broker nearby to look over your offer. This alone could solve many problems delaying your sale. Best of luck on your new listing!

Kandace P. Murphy NMLS #352659 Kandace@priorityfinancial.net

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REN SMITH

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LIFESTYLE

THE REAL

CLUB MB

RETURNS!

Our Malibu SOUL family rejoiced last week when one of our fave instructors, MB Regan, returned to the podium after an 8 week hiatus. MB is now back on the regular schedule at the Malibu Country Mart studio located behind Lululemon. Wanna see what all the fuss is about? Sign up for The Real Club MB on Fridays at 8:30 and 9:30 or Sundays at 9:30 and 10:30. #loveatfirstride! -CeceWoods 3874 Cross Creek Rd, Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 973-7685

GOT THE BIRKIN BLUES?

The Bu Crew celebrates MB’s return Tuesday, February 16th.

THE PERFECT TURMERIC LATTE

PUT DOWN THE TISSUES! LEVON’S GOT YOUR BACK!

Are you singing the blues because your Birkin’s got some serious wear and tear? Are you hesitating sending your beloved handbag to the Hermes Spa for repairs? Are you game to give up a bucket full of coin and weeks - maybe months - waiting for it’s return? If your Hermes has you frazzled over giving it a facelift - fret no more. Put down the tissues, we have a solution. Levon, owner of European Shoe Repair and longtime Malibu local, is the king of “what’s old is new again” and is ready and willing to renew and repair even the most coveted of carry-alls. If you’re not hung up on the Hermes Spa policies, Levon is your guy. Rue De Fauborg ( the Hermes Paris flagship ) is a really nice place to visit, but I personally wouldn’t want to repair there ( or anywhere but Levon’s for that matter ). -Cece Woods EUROPEAN SHOE REPAIR, 3882 CROSS CREEK RD. MALIBU, CA. 90265 301.456.2795

Photo: Portero.com

The mystical magical power of turmeric anti-cancer, anti-inflamatory and so many more benefits - and now you can enjoy turmeric in this delicious latte recipe: Combine one part coffee, one part almond milk ( or milk of choice ), one teaspoon of vanilla, one tablespoon of turmeric ( more or less depending on taste ) and a tiny drop of essential oil ( our choice is doTERRA - this is powerful stuff, use an easy hand when adding to your cup. ) What a delicious and heathy way to start your day!

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WELLNESS

My wife’s name is Lauren and she is a rockstar. It’s that simple. A figurative rockstar of course, but nonetheless, she continues to impress. She decided, after 8 months of being pregnant, that she was going to amp up her commitment to her health for the final 4-8 weeks of pregnancy. She committed to showing up at yoga 3-4 times a week, hiking 3-4 times each week, meditating once if not twice daily, and oh, throwing in a plyometrics routine that includes air squats, wall squats and more lunges than I want to mention. And this is coming from yours truly, an endurance athlete who loves to run, bike and swim for hours on end. I was pleasantly surprised and in total support of her commitment, of course, but what I’ve witnessed over the last month and a half is something far beyond what I ever imagined. Lauren’s due date was February 8 and the photo(s) include lunges on Feb 9, strenuous hiking on Feb 7 among other miraculous events. This is just a small sample of what she’s done to stay fit. She’s been an inspiration to me and many others. Our friends and families are all routing for her and our baby to make her grand entrance into this world. I’ve heard so many stories of how uncomfortable pregnancy can be and how so many women just want that baby out! I totally understand (as much as I possibly can), I’m sure I would be complaining about the discomfort 8-10 times every hour. Sometimes we men can be such wimps, for me, this is one of those times. Before we decided to have children, Lauren wasn’t sure how it would feel to be pregnant. She thought it might be too uncomfortable, she might gain too much weight, get stretch marks, all the common fears most women have and probably a few uncommon ones. While she definitely watched her diet, lathered her belly with oils, and worked out like a mad woman, she also evolved into the most beautiful pregnant woman I’ve ever seen. Now, obviously I’m biased, but I share all this because there are so many stories out there about the horror, pain, and discomfort of pregnancy. My wife has had times of discomfort, but for the most part this has been a relatively easy pregnancy. She’s already developed a dialogue with our baby. Lauren tells me whether the baby likes or dislikes something. “It’s just something she feels,” she tells me. Something that us guys will never know. Maybe not never, but not for the moment. Lauren’s intuition has increased. She’s been forced to slow down, which was difficult for her. She has grown to understand that pregnancy is such a short time that it should be cherished. She has already felt a bond with our baby growing inside her. It’s nature at it’s finest and it’s one of the most beautiful things we get to do, should we choose to have children. I believe it’s important for men to know and their wives, that pregnancy doesn’t have to be terrible. Every woman has a unique experience. That’s one thing I can tell you for sure. There was not one story remotely similar to another when it comes to pregnancy. So if that’s the case, why not create your own story like Lauren has done. At least put as much of your own magic touch on those precious 9+ months together as possible. I know, if there are difficulties, you may have to be on bed rest or have monitoring, etc. Obviously, if you have complications, make sure to take the advice of your doctors and your medical team. It was her choice to get out of bed when she was tired, though sometimes she stayed in bed to rest. She met up with her girlfriends for a hike, and sometimes she had to cancel. It was her choice to get to yoga class, though sometimes she would leave a little early if she felt uncomfortable. It was the showing up that mattered. Many times she would nap in the afternoon and it took a while, but she made that okay in her own mind, another difficult decision. As I write this, Lauren is in her 41st week of the pregnancy and taking a 2 hour walk. She’s still showing up to yoga, hiking, and exercising. We’ve officially been prescribed daily sex and those two hour walks, among a few other things to help natural child birth. Kudos to my wife for stepping up, in this 4th quarter of her pregnancy and being an incredible example to our baby, to me and to many others out there who can see what is possible! I’ll let you know how it goes! Catch me on twitter, Instagram, Facebook. Originally published at teddymcdonald.com

THE

GREATEST 4TH QUARTER

PERFORMANCE

I’VE EVER WITNESSED! BY TED MCDONALD

BEAUTY THE POWER OF

VITAMIN C BY BEAUTY EDITOR TARA OWENS

Think of Vitamin C as one of your best friends when it comes to skincare. There are so many benefits; it boosts collagen and also increases the effectiveness of skin’s natural defenses. Vitamin C also increases the effectiveness of your sunscreen. Topical vitamin C serums for the face can help get rid of hyper-pigmentation and dark circles under the eyes. It has a gently bleaching effect giving the skin a brighter appearance. It’s been a staple beauty secret dating back to the Tang Dynasty in Tibet, as women who wanted to fight the outward signs of aging would rub sea buckthorn on their face and hands. The golden orange berries contain a deep colored oil that is a major source of vitamin C. MAD HIPPIE VITAMIN C SERUM This award winning serum is a harmonious blend of antioxidants that work wonders on sun damaged, aging skin. madhippie.com $33.99

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FOOD

STEAMED/FRIED ORGANIC DUCK EGGS- IN BUTTER BARN’S HERB BUTTER AND ROASTED GARLIC BUTTER WITH SOURDOUGH TOAST BY LISA STALVEY

Serves 2 4 organic local farm duck eggs, or chicken eggs if you prefer 2 tablespoons BBB rosemary butter, divided 2 tsp. BBB roasted garlic butter, divided 2 slice sourdough bread, or other bread to sop up the creamy yolk Black pepper, to taste Pink Himalayan salt to taste, if needed 1 cup oyster mushrooms 2 handfuls Chinese Tasoi spinach, or regular spinach Directions: In an 8-inch fry pan, heat 1 tablespoon BBB Rosemary butter on medium to high heat. Sauté half of the mushrooms for 4 minutes and add the spinach and cook another 30 seconds. Break 2 eggs carefully into the pan on top of the spinach and mushrooms, as you don’t want to break the yolk. Cook for about 1-2 minutes and cover with a lid. Top with 1 tsp. of the BBB garlic butter and turn off the heat to let the steam cook the yolks and melt the butter. But don’t let them overcook, as you will want to dip the toast in the yolk. Slide the eggs with the mushrooms and spinach intact onto a beautiful plate and repeat. If you are skilled, use 2 pans to cook thee at the same time. Toast the bread while you are cooking the eggs and cut into 1-inch slices.

BUY BUTTER BARN BUTTER HERE: Congrats to Lisa Stalvey and Frank Coady on not only getting their brand new butter brand into Erewhon in Calabasas, but to also having great success selling their flavorful, grass fed bars of organic goodness. Look for flavored coconut butter coming soon from Butter Barn Butter - vegans rejoice! 26767 Agoura Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302 818.857.3366

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LIFESTYLE

LEARNING TO LIVE WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

Whether you need first aid remedies, therapeutic personal care products, or chemical-free cleaning solutions, essential oils are a wonderful choice to turn your home into a holistic haven. Essential oils as a whole are easily accessible to anyone who wishes to purchase them, but he bigger question is which brand is the best, in the purest form and how do learn about the oils and their various uses? Malibuessentialwellness.com is co-hosting a series of classes with Diana Nicholson of Malibu Beach Pilates and Brad Norris of Malibu Health Club to educate new users on the many ways to benefit from using essential oils. Our first classes will be on Wednesday March 16th at 11:30 and Saturday March 19th at 11:30 at Malibu Health Club, 22917 Pacific Coast Hwy #220, Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 456-7721. Classes are free to the public. Please email us at malibuessentialwellness@gmail.com to guarantee your space.

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WELLNESS

A FORK & KNIFE THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON?

PHOTOS BY TIM HORTON

BY DIANA NICHOLSON I had the opportunity to interview a real life HERO, Dr.Neal Barnard, at a fundraiser hosted by Malibu resident Bobi Leonard (long time animal activist dedicated to animal rights and protection). Dr. Barnard is one of the founding members of the Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine (“PCRM”), which promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical studies, and encourages higher standards in research including ending the last vestiges of federally supported chimpanzee experimentation. This past November, Dr. Barnard marked his place in history by opening the nation’s first Vegan Medical Center in Washington DC. The Barnard Medical Center works with physicians, nurse practitioners, and dietitions to help thousands of patients every year with weight loss, heart health, diabetes, cancer prevention, and childhood nutrition. According to Dr Barnard people need to be educated not medicated with pharmacuetical drugs. The average American carries 23 extra pounds, clearly our diet is takling it’s toll, and every special occasion seems to include food and feasting. But, could some of these same foods be causing illness? We spend 2.2 trillion dollars in health care costs a year in our country. Yet we are sicker than ever from diet related afflictions, which require medications such as lipitor (the most prescribed drug worldwide). Dr. Barnard’s solution can be as simple as adopting a whole food plant-based vegan diet. Here is the interview with Dr. Barnard for The Local Malibu:

Dr. Neil Barnard ( far right ) with host Bobi Leonard and staff members of PCRM.

LM - What inspired the creation of the Barnard Medical Center? DB - Over the years, we have done research studies establishing the surprising power of nutrition to tackle health problems. And we have heard from many people who are eager to work with doctors who understand nutrition. At most medical centers, there is an overemphasis on medications, while nutrition is neglected, despite the fact that weight problems, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol problems are caused by our eating choices, for the most part. We aim to change that, because it gives us much more power to improve and sometimes reverse these conditions. LM - As Barnard Medical Center is one of the first to address some the country’s most chronic health issues through nutrition and preventative medicine, (a) do you think it will have an impact on other facilities and (b) does your vision include opening other facilities? DM - Yes, we work with our parent organization, the Physicians Committee, to make our methods available to all clinicians. We train nutrition instructors and encourage them to work with doctors and medical centers everywhere, and we have an annual conference to spread the word.

Dr. Neil Barnard

As our Washington, DC, center gets established, we are already looking at the possibility of a center in California. We would love to expand here. LM - The prospect of opening a Barnard Medical Center in California is exciting news! Can you share some specifics and statistics for our readers on how a plant based diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, and improve childhood nutrition and weight loss? DB - Back in 1990, Dr. Dean Ornish showed that a low-fat, plant-based diet, along with other healthful lifestyle measures, could reverse heart disease. We have taken a similar approach to weight control and many other conditions. Why does it work? Plant-based diets have virtually no “bad fat” and no cholesterol, so they are ideal for healing the heart. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that have anti-cancer effects. They help control the appetite and boost after-meal metabolism, so they are great for weight loss. The effect can be very powerful. LM - How substantial would this paradigm be in reducing health care costs? And, can you provide some examples?

Cindy Landon, Dianne Burnett, host Bobi Leonard, Betsy Wason and Diana Nicholson.

DB - If everyone followed a low-fat plant-based diet, health care costs would plummet. There would be less need for diagnostic tests, medications, surgery, chemotherapy, and other medical interventions. When people with diabetes join our studies, they are often taking medications for blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and many other conditions. But in a recent study we found that the vast majority of people treated with insulin reduced or eliminated the drug when they began a healthy diet. In turn, that means less expense and, of course, fewer side-effects. LM - The National Institute of Health (“NIH”) shows that a low fat vegan diet can have a substantial impact on blood sugar levels and diabetes. Can you provide some specific examples? DB - Yes, in 2003, NIH funded our research team to test a vegan diet for type 2 diabetes, and the results were later published in several journal articles. We found that the blood-sugar-lowering effect of the diet was stronger than any oral diabetes medication. LM - Can you explain how this protocol helps with pain management? DB - Women with menstrual pains often feel much better when they adopt a low-fat, plant-based diet, because it has a balancing effect on their hormones. Also, many people with migraines or rheumatoid arthritis improve, because the diet has what I might call an anti-inflammatory effect. LM - If there is anything else you feel will be compelling to our readers, in support of your work please feel free to share.. DB - What is often surprising is not just the physical benefits of a diet change but also how nice the foods themselves are. Imagine a dinner of angel hair pasta with wild mushrooms and artichoke hearts, grilled asparagus, garlic spinach, and finished off with an espresso. You are free to eat these foods and many more—with no calorie limits. I hope people will try our free, online Kickstart program. You’ll find it at www.PCRM.org.

Philanthropist Cindy Landon Pilates instructor Diana Nicholson trained under Master Teacher, Marie Jose Blom Lawrence at “Long Beach Dance and Conditioning” She is a certified “Health Coach” from “The Institute for Integrative Nutrition” and a graduate of the California Healing Arts College”, as well as Yoga Certified through UnityOneYoga. malibubeachpilates.com @malibubeachpilates

LOCAL

SPRING CLEANING... WITH A TWIST!

Mother Nature changes constantly. She clears herself of her leaves and grows new ones. She is ever-changing, clearing and letting go of the past to create new beauty again and again.

BY MARIE K’NOOS

With the fresh and beautiful energy of spring just around the corner, now is an ideal time to start clearing out the corners of our lives…and create brilliant new possibilities for ourselves! We have all felt the difference between being in a dirty space and being in a clean space…or how great we feel after a shower. Cleaning is clearly essential and beneficial for all of us…not to mention healthy! On a physical level, we can see dust and dirt accumulating...but on an energetic level, emotions and adverse energies accumulate as well. We may not actually see the “dust and dirt” of human emotions such as sadness or anxiety…but they can absolutely be felt on a subtle level. On that note, aside from simply cleaning your house, here are a few other ways to further clear your space of impurities or any other unwanted energies that may be lingering in your space...and allow the beautiful new energies of Spring to take root and blossom in your life! 1.) OPEN UP: Windows represent the eyes of the house…and symbolize seeing life clearly. Too many people keep their curtains closed and rarely open their windows. Open your curtains, open the windows…let fresh air and light in for at least a few hours a day. Light clears energy immensely! 2.) LET IT GO: Walk through your space and ask yourself how you feel about the things in your space: Do they make you remember bad things? Are they broken? Are they piled up in a corner? If so, why not let them go…donate, recycle, simplify! Be inspired by the things you look at daily and let go of the things you haven’t used in ages or that bring you down. 3.) SMUDGE IT: In almost every culture, purifying an environment with some form of smoke is a bridge to the higher realms…bringing in good energy and dispelling negative energy. White sage, cedar, sweet grass, lavender and Palo Santo are all wonderful herbs to use. You can use a shell or clay bowl for this. Fan the smoke using the hand or a feather, and direct it clockwise throughout the living space. 4.) CLEAR THE AIR: Many people may be reluctant to smudge their place with smoke. In that case, essential oils can do the trick! Simply buy or make spritzer of pure essential oils) and water (Please note: synthetic oils will not have the same purifying effect as pure oils). Spray the mister around your house in a clockwise direction. Sage, cedar, lavender, tea tree, or frankincense are all perfect for this type of clearing. 5.) TWIST OF LIME: Another wonderful way to bring spring to your home is to make your own citrus splash: Take a lemon, orange or lime and squeeze it into a bowl of water. Walk around clockwise, while gently flicking the citrus water from your fingertips towards the corners of your space. You do not need to go overboard with this and drench your house…just go lightly. It welcomes freshness, clarity, and happiness into your space. 6.) THE BIG KAHUNA of clearings: a very ancient clearing called “Ceremony of the Phoenix” clears the past from the space in a very big way. You only need to do this seasonally because it very powerful: Burn the sea salt and rubbing alcohol in a small pie tin in the center of your house, while setting your positive intentions for the future 7.) BRING NATURE IN: flowers and plants without spiky points are natural clearing tools for homes and offices. They clean the air and bring health and prosperity. Make sure they stay healthy…dying or sick plants must be removed right away. Another feng shui trick to bring in nature is to position your mirrors to be reflecting the trees or views from outside. 8.) CRYSTAL BATHS: Perfect time to clean your crystals and your crystal jewelry. An ideal way to clear stones is to bring them to the ocean and dip them in the salt water. You can also give them a salt water bath at home and leave them in the sunlight for a day. After they are clear, it is ideal to place your stones in the middle of rooms, on coffee tables etc. Crystals ground and exude energies so they and are most effective in the center of rooms. 9.) BE A FOUNTAIN, NOT A DRAIN: Get a massage or a sound bath, mediate or dance…whatever allows you to Release, Replenish, and Reinvigorate yourself! Then go back out into the world with a beautiful, renewed energy! 10.) REFLECT: Placing a small mirror outside your home facing a busy road, etc. can help deflect harsh energies. Wearing a mirror near your solar plexus can also help you “observe instead of absorb” the busyness of others around you. . There is much subtlety to all of the practices mentioned above, but its potency reveals itself in the experience as you work with it.

Open windows and door allow in light - a great energy cleaner!

Placing a small mirror outside your home helps deflect harsh energies.

May you spring into this new season with clarity, harmony and happiness…ready to manifest beautiful realities! Oceans of blessings to you! Marie K’noos Feng Shui Consultant

Clean crystals and clear stones in the ocean or give them a salt bath at home.

For more info on the clearing ideas mentioned in this article, go to: http://www.devoceandesign.com http://www.TheHomeClearers.com

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