A searing new documentary captures the devastation of the 2025 Palisades Fire, as residents recount survival without first responders and unite to demand change in wildfire preparedness
“We’ve come back to our apocalypse of a house,” bemoaned Jo Drummond as she grieved while visiting the devastating debris at their family’s Big Rock home in Malibu, which was one of thousands that were obliterated in the horrendous Palisades Fire on Jan. 7. Drummond’s heartaching remark launches “Big Rock Burning: An Untold Story of the 2025 LA Fires,” a searing and intimate documentary chronicling the nearly complete decimation of Big Rock during the Palisades Fire.
Malibu stakeholders asked to dream big
The film captures the raw aftermath of a harrowing night when residents, abandoned by first responders, were left to fend for themselves after officials deemed the area too dangerous to enter. More than 40 members of the Big Rock community who lost their homes were involved in the filmmaking process and the short documentary. They have collectively sought not only to tell the story but to effect meaningful change in how fireprone communities in Malibu and beyond prepare for disasters and in how authorities respond to hopefully be more present while neighborhoods valiantly seek to save their homes.
The film reveals that, with no help coming,
Local business owner questions selection process for post-fire microgrants
Some fire-affected Malibu businesses received much-needed grants, but at least one didn’t City asks for community input on future performing arts center
”Dream big” was the message at a community outreach meeting at City Hall to gather input on what residents want in a new performing arts center identified by stakeholders as a project to be built on cityowned land in Malibu.
Initial outreach for the city conducted by Tripepi Smith Marketing cited a performing arts venue as a needed asset for the creative community in Malibu and a strategy for providing space to families seeking creative outlets for children close to home.
The proposed site for the center has been identified for the parcel formerly known as the La Paz lot, now called Cross Creek Ranch, located on Civic Center Way on the north end of the new commercial development. The City Council authorized staff to work with the developers of that new space, Pacific Equity Properties, Inc., to create a conceptual rendering for a potential
When the Palisades Fire hit Malibu hard in early January, local boutique Pistol & Lucy was directly affected. While most of the La Costa neighborhood surrounding the clothing and gift store burned, luckily Pistol
Fifteen summer events at Trancas approved following concert confusion; Malibu Urgent Care renovation comes with $5 million pledge from Herb Alpert
The Malibu Planning Commission made two decisions on Aug. 4 that will impact many Malibuites. After a somewhat heated colloquy, the commission granted Trancas
neighbors in Big Rock turned into first responders — some fighting back flames with garden hoses, others forced to flee through walls of fire while, tragically, others did not survive, explained Co-Producer David Goldblum of Conscious Contact Entertainment.
Goldblum gifts the film with his well-recognized talent to compellingly communicate with viewers through his impact-focused storytelling, a gift that shined in “Grassland,” a criminal justice system drama, the sex industry film, “Sell/Buy/Date,” which is executive produced by Meryl Streep, and “Uvalde Mom,” which recently premiered
& Lucy and all the other little shops in the old La Costa strip mall on Pacific Coast Highway at Rambla Pacifico survived the flames. Still, the La Costa Post Office, Pistol & Lucy, and Blue Malibu, another boutique next door, were forced to close. PCH was completely shut down for weeks after the fire. Then another blow came in February when a mudslide buried the intersection where the locally run shop has served loyal Malibu customers and visitors for 15 years.
Country Market a conditional use permit going forward that entitles the retail center to host 15 events from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, in addition to the Country Market’s entitlement to apply for up to six temporary use permits each year.
Many may wonder why the scheduled Aug. 1 concert at the Market was abruptly cancelled and by whom. Some planning to attend that concert only learned about the cancellation as they set up their lawn chairs and picnbaskets, anticipatina
Veteran public servant Perez emphasizes teamwork, progress, and resilience
The City Council unanimously voted on June 30 to appoint Ronda Perez as Malibu’s new city manager, effective Aug. 25. Approval of Perez’s employment contract is slated for the Aug. 11 City Council meeting. Perez previously served as Palmdale’s city manager and as Lancaster’s assistant city manager.
“I began my career in public service with the City of Lancaster as a management analyst and worked all the way up to serve as assistant city manager,” Perez said. “I then served as the city manager for Palmdale.”
Readers who search online about Perez will see that Palmdale did not renew her contract in May, and Perez is very candid about the situation.
“I was the sixth city manager in 10 years, and I thought as a local native that I could make things productive there,” she shared, stating that the plethora of acrimony within the Palmdale City Council has resulted in a lot of litigation. “Unfortunately, the level of interactions between the City Council were not conducive to being productive — it’s best to
prioritize only a few things instead of focusing on 10 or more things and ultimately, it was not a fit for me anymore.”
However, Perez also highlighted her accomplishments that benefited the constituents in both Palmdale and Lancaster, noting that her experience there will serve Malibu well.
“Historically, Palmdale and Lancaster have been at war with one another for 40 to 50 years, but I managed to unite them together to form a joint power authority to apply for and obtain a $38 million grant to improve overpasses on the dangerous highway used by aerospace employees who work for Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and NASA,” she said,
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MALIBU’S AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1946
Thirty-year Malibu resident Alexandria Skouras was forced to close her boutique Pistol & Lucy for five months while Pacific Coast Highway was mostly off-limits to the general public.
Photo courtesy of Alexandria Skouras
Arno Koch of Malibu sits in front of his Big Rock home that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire in this scene from “Big Rock Burning: An Untold Story of the 2025 LA Fires.” The documentary recounts the story of the Big Rock area, which was obliterated by the January fire. Photo courtesy of David Goldblum
This is an artist rendering of what the new Malibu UrgentCare Center will look like after renovations approved by the Malibu City Council on Aug. 4. Contributed graphic
By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
RONDA PEREZ
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Still in recovery, Malibu steps up safety efforts as fire season approaches ‘We know fire conditions are coming. Now is the time to prepare’
Remembering Ozzy Osbourne Rock legend and his family lived in Malibu during the height of their fame
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Pepperdine great Chip McCaw set for Athletics Hall of Fame enshrinement A volleyball pioneer shaped by family, grit, and legendary coach Marv Dunphy, McCaw will be inducted into the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame this October
OPINION
On Aug. 9, my daughter Emily would have been 29. Instead, 15 years ago, she became just another statistic on the Pacific Coast Highway. One minute — one devastating moment — and an angry driver, eager to lash out, made my child his victim. No sidewalk. No protection. Just inches between Emily and someone’s rage.
I’ve endured 15 years of that pain. Fifteen years of watching this community wring its hands while more families join the club nobody wants to be part of. Fifteen years of “thoughts and prayers” while we do nothing that saves lives.
I’m done.
Done accepting that 61 deaths over 15 years are just the cost of living in paradise. Finished watching $154 million get allocated for PCH while we keep applying band-aids to a system built to kill. Finished pretending that painted lines on a highway somehow protect human lives.
The truth about our death trap
PCH isn’t just dangerous — it’s intentionally dangerous. We’ve built a highway that forces cars, cyclists, and the few brave souls who dare walk to
In the wake of the Palisades, Franklin, and Broad wildfires, the City of Malibu’s creation of the Rebuild Center was a step in the direction of facilitating the efficient, expeditious and economical rebuilding of residents’ homes lost to the wildfires. Now that the Rebuild Center has been operating for a while, it is time to consider modifications to improve upon Malibu’s provision of wildfire rebuild services. This is my attempt to identify changes I believe worthy of consideration — many of which have been discussed with, and some of which have been suggested to me, by others, including the rebuild ambassador (Abe Roy) and various residents seeking to rebuild their homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire.
To begin, as an organizational matter, the city should formally create a new and self-contained segment of the Community De -
LFrom the publisher HAYLEY MATTSON
“The newspaper is a greater treasure to the people than uncounted millions of gold.”
ast week, I had the opportunity to meet with Malibu’s new City Manager, Ronda Perez. She also joined us at the Malibu Business Round Table. I’m continually inspired by the level of engagement and dedication shown by local residents and business owners who are committed to shaping Malibu’s future.
We are now seven months out from the Palisades Fire, and the effects are still deeply felt. Recovery efforts remain ongoing — from home rebuilds and insurance challenges to sustaining local businesses impacted by the disaster. Driving along Pacific Coast Highway, the physical reminders of the fire are still visible. While progress has been made, there is still a long road ahead. It’s clear that the resilience of this
share the same space. It was designed for vehicles to go 65 mph — a speed that isn’t posted anywhere. Then we act surprised when people die.
PCH was built last century, and instead of embracing the new century and everything it offers, we’re relying on technology from the previous century and hoping we’ll appreciate painted lines and warning signs.
Two weeks ago, I wrote about a man and his companions who walked across PCH as if it were a rural road, unaware of the danger. They had no idea they were crossing a deadly trap. Emily knew the risk — she was being cautious. But it didn’t matter.
Every week, I see visitors risking their lives trying to reach Nobu or Zuma Beach. Every day, cyclists gamble with death because they have no other choice. Every shift, our first responders face scenes that didn’t have to happen.
And we keep telling ourselves: “That’s just PCH. It’s always been dangerous.”
That’s a lie.
Here’s what saves lives
Stop with the painted bike lanes. Stop with the warning signs. Stop with the useless thoughts and prayers. You want to save lives? Here’s how:
Right now: Install smart protection systems that work with our existing roads. Technology and lights — like the lane assist in your car — that alert drivers when they’re drifting into danger zones. Elevated guides that let cars cross for driveways but prevent the deadly wandering that kills people. Smart detection systems at beach crossings that warn drivers
velopment Department responsible for providing dedicated soupto-nuts planning and building review and approval of wildfire rebuilds being pursued on the basis of like-for-like, plus of up to 10% (an “L4L+10% Rebuild”). These are the wildfire rebuilds that qualify for both (i) a blanket exclusion from the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders, and (ii) plan-check planning approval pursuant to the MMC (and the terms of the LIP where the permitting requirements of the Coastal Act have not been entirely eliminated). This new segment of the Community Development Department designated to deal with L4L+10% Rebuilds can be denominated the “Wildfire Rebuild Unit.”
Subject only to narrow specified exceptions, (i) the staff of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit (both in-house and outside consultants) should work exclusively in the Rebuild Center and have no involvement with any development that does not qualify as an L4L+10% Rebuild, and (ii) the balance of the staff of the Community Development Department (other than the department’s Director) should work entirely outside of the Rebuild Center and have no involvement with the L4L+10% Rebuilds. With this division in place, (i) all projects that qualify
when someone’s trying to cross safely.
Cost: $3 million to $4 million instead of $200,000 in paint that drivers ignore.
But what about driveways and buses? Smart infrastructure means barriers that work with reality, not against it. Elevated barriers that cars can cross when they need to access driveways, but high enough to prevent the deadly drifting that kills cyclists and pedestrians. Technology and lights — almost like the lane assist in cars — that alert drivers when they’re veering into protected space. Flexible delineators that bend when buses pull over but spring back to protect people.
We’re not talking about concrete walls. We’re talking about smart design that saves lives without disrupting commerce or emergency access. The space is tight, but so was Emily’s — just inches between her and that angry driver.
This year: Manual barriers that drop flat when fire threatens, but protect human beings every other day. GPS systems that automatically give emergency vehicles green lights.
Cost: $4 million to $6 million.
Before more families lose everything: Fully protected infrastructure spanning 21 miles. Barriers that emergency vehicles can pass through, allowing tourists to feel confident. Cost: $10 million to $18 million total.
You know what that is? A fraction of the $154 million already committed to PCH — money that’s just sitting there while we debate whether human lives are worth protecting.
The blue highway
as an L4L+10% Rebuild would be handled exclusively in the Rebuild Center by the staff of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit, and (ii) any project that does not qualify as a L4L+10% Rebuild would be pursued through the city’s
— Henry Ward Beecher
community remains strong, even as the weight of recovery continues.
On a personal note, this month also brings a milestone in our home. Our son, Mirac, turns 13 on Aug. 8 —officially entering his teenage years. We are grateful every day for the joy he brings to our lives. And as we mark birthdays, we also remember. Emily Shane would have turned another year older on Aug. 9. Her memory continues to inspire meaningful change through the work of her parents, Ellen and Michel Shane, who have dedicated themselves to honoring her life through the Emily Shane Foundation and Driving Change. As always, thank you for reading, supporting, and staying connected. Malibu is a place of extraordinary beauty and even greater strength.
During Woolsey, when PCH turned into a parking lot, the ocean was right there, ready to ferry people to safety while everyone else sat trapped, waiting to burn.
We’d rather spend $154 million repaving the same deadly highway three times than invest in reliable transportation. The ocean doesn’t crash into families trying to reach the beach.
This stops now I can’t bring Emily back. But I can stop watching this community accept preventable death as normal. No one should have to walk in my shoes.
In December, I wrote that it would be nice to go a year without deaths on PCH because we did something to fix it. Now, due to fire damage and construction, we might achieve a death-free year — not because we made PCH safer, but because we made it nearly unusable. What does it say about us that it takes a disaster to make our main street safe?
As this paper reaches you on Thursday, I’ll be preparing for what should have been Emily’s 29th birthday on Saturday — the last year of her 20s. Would she have been married? What career would she have chosen? Would she have been happy? Where would she be living? All these questions I ponder as I miss my sweet girl. Instead, I’m writing this, hoping no other parent has to mark the same kind of anniversary.
Someday — I don’t know when, and I hope it never happens — another parent will receive the call I received 15 years ago. Unless we stop accepting “that’s just how it is.”
Here’s what love looks like: Refus-
normal processes, and outside the Rebuild Center — even if it may start out as a L4L+10% Rebuild. I have been advocating for this division of labor since the Rebuild Center was organized.
As I have explained in the past,
ing to let one more family join The Empty Chair Club and demanding that $154 million in PCH funding — plus Olympic infrastructure money — creates actual protection instead of prettier pavement over the same killing machine.
Love means calling everyone — City Council, supervisors, senators, representatives — until everyone listens. Show up to the next council meeting. Vote for representatives who understand that human life matters more than bureaucratic convenience.
Love means saying: No more Emily’s. Not one more. Not on our watch.
The money exists. The technology exists. The only question is whether we love our community enough to demand better, or whether we’ll keep accepting death as the price of paradise. I know what Emily would want. I know what every family who’s lost someone on PCH would wish to. What about you?
Call your State Representatives — they control PCH, not the city:
State Sen. Ben Allen: (310) 3186994 | ben.allen@sen.ca.gov
Next City Council Meeting: Aug. 11 at 5:30 p.m.. Demand that they pressure the state. Your choice: Accept another death or demand the protection our community deserves.
it is imperative that the staff of the Rebuild Center need to be focused on finding ways to facilitate the efficient, expeditious and economical rebuilding of residents’ homes lost to the wild -
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
MICHEL SHANE COLUMNIST
SILVERSTEIN GUEST COLUMNIST
Michel Shane and his daughter, Emily, are shown in this undated photo. Emily would be getting ready to celebrate her 29th birthday on Saturday, Aug. 9, if she wasn’t killed by an angry driver 15 years ago. Photo courtesy of Michel Shane
The Malibu Times is locally owned by Nic and Hayley Mattson
Law firm hired to audit FireAid
After facing mounting criticism over the distribution of funds raised by FireAid concerts, the organizers of the charity event have hired a law firm to audit its grantmaking process. In response to President Donald Trump, among others, criticizing FireAid as a “total disaster,” that charity has not only hired accounting firm KPMG to report on aid impact after six months and again in December for a year-end review, FireAid also hired the law firm Lathan & Watkins to conduct a review of the grantmaking process and governance. The Annenberg Foundation was tasked with distributing $100 million in funds raised, but said fire victims would not be receiving direct funds through FireAid. FireAid organizers issued a statement: “As a newly formed 501c3, FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals, and that was never the plan. To deliver aid into the community, we partnered directly with trusted local nonprofits who have the capacity to reach the communities in need, to provide food security, housing, and resources for schools.”
A sampling of nonprofits contacted by The Malibu Times confirmed that thousands of dollars were received in two rounds of funding and that those funds were distributed to fire-affected households. The first audit report is expected in just weeks.
MRCA clears brush along Malibu canyon roads
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) has announced it is clearing dry brush from roadsides in Malibu and Topanga in an effort to prevent wildfires. The early action roadside fire prevention program targets historic fire corridors in the Santa Monica Mountains. Vegetation clearance has been completed along Decker, Latigo, and Corral Canyon with an increased roadside clearance from 10 to 30 feet.
The brush clearance was funded by Proposition 4, to perform onthe-ground fire resilience actions in a short and accelerated timeframe to prepare for the 2025 fire season.
According to an MRCA spokesman, “While the MRCA does all of its required brush clearance
every year, the roadside work described, most of which is on public property not owned by MRCA, is not something that is required by law nor has the work been previously funded. Because the governor has made fire prevention activities a priority and provided early action funding for these efforts, the MRCA developed the Early Action Roadside Fire Prevention program to broaden and improve fire prevention tactics in Malibu and Topanga Canyons.”
The MRCA also stated, “Fire prevention is a year-round activity for the MRCA. The MRCA trains and deploys teams across the Los Angeles Basin to perform fuel reduction as well as hiring contractors. With lower-than-average rainfall and warmer weather, fire season is, unfortunately, already upon us.”
Other fire resiliency strategies employed include vegetation management, such as ignition and spread prevention, including native oak planting, fuel breaks, and riparian mitigation to concentrate moisture and prevent fire spread.
The MRCA employs up to 60 full-time, seasonal, and volunteer wildland firefighters trained and certified to National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards in terrain, topography, wildfire suppression, and fuel management. The Los Angeles Conservation Corps is a key partner in workforce development.
There is no word from MRCA on brush clearance plans for 2026 and beyond. Los Angeles County Fire Marshall Richard Stillwagon, however, has stated the Fire Department received permission from the state to perform fuel reduction on state and even MRCA land that abuts Malibu properties. New state website for fire victims seeks engagement on rebuilding efforts
A new online platform is giving fire victims the opportunity to have more say in the fire rebuild process. Engaged California, run by the State of California, is looking for suggestions from Eaton and Palisades fire victims on creating an action plan to rebuild devastated communities.
The site invites users to “Amplify your voice on issues that affect you and your community” and to “Tell your government how you feel about pressing issues” in an effort the site claims to “help us shape policy together.” So far, 8,000 participants have registered on the site where they are invited into the virtual space to share opinions on rebuilding communities, better fire warning systems, having a say in their futures, efficiency, and other topics. The platform, meant to empower Californians to give their honest and respectful opinions on a variety of topics covering fire recovery, was created by the California Office of Data and Innovation. It can be accessed at engaged.ca.gov.
Pricey sale closes on Point Dume
A pricey off-market sale on Pt. Dume has just quietly closed for $80 million, making it one of Malibu’s biggest deals this year. The transaction, recorded on July 29 with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office, involves a multiparcel property at 28719 Grayfox
NEWS BRIEFS
St. The seller is Surfwatch LLC, a Wyoming-registered shell company managed by Wendy Schreiber Fiske. The company is linked to a Santa Barbara address owned by Schreiber Fiske and her husband, Orlo James Fiske, a serial entrepreneur and chief technology officer at energy storage firm Gravity Power, according to SEC filings.
The buyer, PDPG LLC, lists a mailing address in Longview, Texas. The property spans two parcels: one features a modest 1,300-square-foot home on 1.4 acres, while the other lot remains undeveloped. Two other homes on Pt. Dume sold for more than $30 million in 2025.
Gary Busey pleads guilty to sex offense
Actor, reality television star, and Malibu resident Gary Busey has pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual contact. The plea stemmed from several accusations of misconduct and harassment of women he met at a Monster-Mania convention in New Jersey three years ago. The actor admitted he had touched one woman inappropriately during the horror movie event, according to his lawyer. Busey, best known for his 1978 lead role in the movie “The Buddy Holly Story,” was originally charged with four crimes. The 81-year-old’s lawyer said his Academy Award-nominated client is glad to put this incident behind him and “move on.” Blair Zwillman called the allegations, which may have included groping, mirroring “what is considered a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey.”
Motorcyclist airlifted after plunge off Malibu Mountain Road
On Saturday morning, Aug. 2, emergency crews responded to a serious motorcycle accident in the Malibu mountains. Units from Los Angeles County Fire Department, Malibu Search and Rescue (#MalibuSAR), California Highway Patrol (#CHP), and McCormick Ambulance were dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, responders found a motorcycle smashed against a guardrail. After a rapid search of the area, rescuers located the rider several hundred feet down the mountainside. The victim sustained serious injuries, including bilateral leg fractures.
The rider was hoisted to safety by an L.A. County Fire Department helicopter and transported to a local trauma center for emergency treatment. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Supervisors extend anti-price gouging for wildfire survivors through Aug. 30
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved an extension of housing-related anti-price gouging protections for residents still displaced by the catastrophic January 2025 wildfires. The motion, introduced by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger, ensures that these critical safeguards remain in place through Aug. 30.
Initially enacted following the board’s emergency declaration on Jan. 7, the protections restrict
excessive rent and hotel rate hikes and prohibit evictions that lead to units being relisted at higher prices. The latest extension continues these emergency measures under California law, which allows local jurisdictions to renew such protections every 30 days when necessary to safeguard life, property, or public welfare.
“Seven months on, we’re seeing the strength and determination of our communities — and we continue to match that with action,” said Horvath. “By extending these protections, we’re helping ensure that every family has the chance to rebuild without fear of being priced out.”
Barger emphasized the importance of stability during recovery: “It’s essential that we continue enforcing price gouging prohibitions to protect Eaton Fire survivors from unfair rent hikes. No one recovering from disaster should face eviction or be priced out of temporary housing.”
Earlier this month, the board advanced an urgency ordinance designed to strengthen enforcement of price gouging laws during declared emergencies. If passed within the next 30 days, the ordinance would give the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) expanded authority to issue administrative fines, secure restitution for victims, and investigate and penalize violators more effectively.
Officials encourage anyone who suspects price gouging to report it to the DCBA to ensure accountability and support for affected residents.
California State Parks to host public workshop on Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project
California State Parks is inviting the public to participate in a community workshop on the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Pepperdine University. The workshop will offer residents, environmental advocates, and surfers an opportunity to learn about and provide input on key components of the ambitious restoration effort, which includes the proposed removal of the historic Rindge Dam.
The meeting will take place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a specialized surf impact discussion from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lighthouse Room of the Tyler Campus Center. Free parking will be available at Seaver Main Lot B.
The workshop will feature updates on current design and engineering work, including hydraulic and sediment transport modeling, and will explore multiple alternatives for removing the Rindge Dam—an aging structure that has blocked upstream habitat in Malibu Creek for more than a century. The dam and associated upstream barriers have long prevented the migration of native species, particularly the endangered Southern California steelhead trout.
In addition to ecological restoration, the project also aims to improve natural sediment transport, helping replenish local beaches with sand. The first half of the meeting will include presentations by the project team, with time al-
lotted for public questions and comments.
The second portion of the evening will center on the surf break at Surfrider Beach—one of the world’s most iconic surf spots. State Parks will present findings from a surf impact assessment and discuss the modeling process used to evaluate potential effects the dam removal might have on coastal wave dynamics.
The Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project is a joint effort between California State Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An Integrated Feasibility Report with Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed in 2020, and a previous public workshop in June 2023 outlined the study’s results and future direction.
For more information about the restoration project, visit www. restoremalibucreek.org. For questions about the workshop, contact R.J. Van Sant at Richard.vansant@ parks.ca.gov.
Help make PCH safer — volunteer at the Big Blue Beach Crawl on Aug. 30
With public safety on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) remaining a top concern, the City of Malibu is inviting residents and community members to take part in a special outreach event at Zuma Beach on Saturday, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is part of the city’s ongoing campaign to make PCH safer — an effort that has taken on renewed urgency following a tragic accident in 2023 that claimed the lives of four Pepperdine students.
ful yet dangerous highways. The initiative was developed by the city’s PCH Safety Focus Group, a coalition that includes representatives from the City Manager’s Office, Public Safety and Public Works departments, the Media Team, LA County Sheriff’s Department, CHP, Pepperdine students, and local residents with marketing expertise.
The city’s broader PCH safety strategy includes several key components: infrastructure upgrades like the Traffic Signal Synchronization Project; increased enforcement through city-funded CHP patrols; legislative wins such as the passage of SB 1297, which allows Malibu to install automated speed safety cameras; and ongoing public education and outreach efforts — including this Zuma Beach event.
Volunteers are needed to help spread the campaign’s message during one of the most critical times — when beachgoers are preparing to leave Zuma and head onto PCH. Volunteers will wear bright blue shirts, hand out stickers and flyers, engage beachgoers in friendly conversation, and help create a fun and memorable atmosphere with music and bubble guns. Content captured at the event will also support future social media outreach.
Volunteer shifts are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 to 6 p.m., or for the full day. Full-day volunteers will receive lunch, and all participants will get a campaign T-shirt, snacks, and drinks. To volunteer or learn more, contact Robin Cecola at rcecola@ thatsthesound.com.
PUBLIC PUBLIC WORKSHOP WORKSHOP
CALENDAR
breath, light movement, and meditation—guests will learn to synchronize the 12 cranial nerves and activate the vagus nerve to promote calm and balance. Open to all levels, ages, and body types, the session concludes with a soothing Full Moon sound bath, creating space for deep relaxation and renewal. Visit veritas-yoga.com for more information.
MALIBU COUNTY MART 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
The Malibu Country Mart invites the community to celebrate its 50th birthday with a festive afternoon of sun, style, and local spirit. Taking place on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 12 to 4 p.m., the event will feature food, live music, games, and crafts for all ages. Join the celebration and help mark five decades of Malibu memories at this iconic shopping and dining destination.
TUE AUG 12
MALIBU LIBRARY SPEAKER
SERIES: BRIAN MUIRHEAD
THU AUG 14
CONNECTIONS BREAKFAST AT MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL
Join local business professionals for a morning of networking, community building, and inspiration at the Connections Breakfast on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the brand-new Malibu High School campus. Enjoy delicious catering from Howdy’s Malibu while mingling with fellow attendees and hearing a special presentation from Karin Al-Hardan and Ian Roven of the Malibu Education Foundation. The event will be held at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu. For more information, contact Connections Director Anthony McDemas at Connections@ Malibu.org or (805) 603-6267.
ONGOING
MALIBU FARMERS MARKET | SUNDAYS
multaneous Zoom option for those unable to attend in person. Guests are encouraged to check in or join the mailing list for the latest updates on upcoming meetings, CBC events, member performances, and more.
KNITTING | MONDAY AND FRIDAY
Join Malibu’s Community Services Department and Sheila Rosenthal for a knitting workshop that takes place on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. This program is a welcoming gathering space for fiber artists that fosters community through open stitch. Make a scarf, hat, blanket, or homemade gift. No experience necessary. Please bring size 8 needles and one skein of yarn. This is an ongoing, dropin program. Instructed by Sheila Rosenthal. Visit malibucity. org for location.
of the upper and lower body with special attention to form, stabilization, core strength, and balance. Please bring your own hand weights and yoga mats. Instructed by Jackline Daneshrad. The classes are Tuesdays from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. Cost is $5 per class. Pre-registration is recommended. At the Michael Landon Center at Malibu Bluffs Park.
SENIOR CHOIR | TUESDAYS
Learn the fundamentals of singing and performing different styles of music. Every Tuesday, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Malibu City Hall Senior Center. This is a great opportunity for socialization, self-expression, and learning through music. All levels are welcome. Instructed by Laura DeMieri Fercano.
VOLUNTEER WEEDING DAY AT POINT DUME NATURE PRESERVE | WEDNESDAYS
FRI AUG 8
DREAMLAND MALIBU PRESENTS LOODS
Dreamland Malibu invites guests to a high-energy night of music on Friday, August 8, featuring headliner Loods with support from axxa*. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and the show begins at 9:00 p.m. This event is strictly
General Admission (GA) tickets grant access to the standing-room floor and bar areas, while VIP Tables offer an upgraded experience with prime views of the iconic Dreamland stage and dedicated seating for you and your guests. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of dance music and Malibu energy at Dreamland. Visit aviatornationdreamland.com for more information.
SAT AUG 9
FREE FULL MOON NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET & SOUND BATH
Join a free 30-minute ses sion that offers participants a gentle yet powerful opportu nity to reset and regulate their nervous system. Through sim
The Malibu Library Speaker Series continues with a fascinating evening featuring Brian Muirhead on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. at Malibu City Hall. Muirhead is a pioneering leader in deep space exploration and currently serves as Chief Architect for the Mars Sample Return campaign at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is known for his award-winning leadership and played a key role in the historic Mars Pathfinder mission, which successfully
The Malibu Farmers Market takes place every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a wide range of fresh, local produce and artisanal goods. Currently located at Legacy Park, the market provides a great opportunity to support local farmers and vendors while enjoying the scenic beauty of Malibu. For updates and more information on the market, visit malibufarmersmarket.net. Make sure to stop by for a vibrant shopping experience this Sunday!
MONDAY COMPOSERS BREAKFAST | MONDAYS
The Monday Composers Breakfast takes place weekly at Dreamland Malibu, located at 22969 Pacific Coast Highway, in Malibu, every Monday
KUNDALINI YOGA CLASS | MONDAYS
Join us every Monday at 6:30 p.m. for a special 90-minute Kundalini yoga class with live Kirtan music, featuring local guest musicians. This unique experience combines movement, breathwork, and sound to create a deeply uplifting and meditative practice. The class is $28 per person or included with your yoga membership. After class, enjoy complimentary herbal tea grown in Malibu and stay for a relaxing Kirtan — a guided song circle to close out the evening in community and connection. Visit veritas-yoga. com for more information.
TOTAL BODY WORKOUT | TUESDAYS
A comprehensive low-impact strengthening class targeting all the major muscles
Join every second Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a hands-on volunteer event at the stunning Point Dume Nature Preserve. Help protect Malibu’s natural beauty by hand-pulling invasive plant species and restoring native habitat. This is a great opportunity to give back to the environment, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with fellow nature lovers. Be sure to bring gardening gloves, a hat, sunscreen, and water. Free two-hour parking is available at the Point Dume entrance (space is limited), with additional parking at the Westward Beach County lot (hourly rate) and along Westward Beach Road (free). Sign-ups are encouraged. Get your hands dirty and feel great doing your part for local conservation!
at SXSW.
Goldblum’s co-producers include Julie Parker Benello (”Athlete A,” the Oscar-winning feature documentary “American Factory”) and James Costa (”The Dating Game,” “Welcome to Chechnya”). Executive producers include Mark Hamill (“Star Wars,” “The Life of Chuck”) and Bryan Fogel (the Oscar-winning feature documentary “Icarus”).
Goldblum noted that his longtime girlfriend, Andrea Perez Martinez, who serves as an associate producer for the documentary, “was there for me every night when I came home from the set while we lived in a hotel room for four months and she has watched every cut of the film and supported me throughout.”
The message is loud and clear
The film’s seminal thesis is simple, Goldblum notes: The fire’s devastation did not have to happen and such a catastrophe should never occur again.
“I made this film as a resident of Big Rock who lost everything,” Goldblum said. “This is a call to witness — for my community, and for all communities.”
Parker Benello noted that Goldblum reached out to her even as the fire burned, seeking support for developing a film that candidly shared how the tragedy unfolded. “We hope that this film helps to make things change with regard to how we all prepare for fires and how first responders respond,” she emphasized.
“I watched the fire from my balcony and our community lived on the edge, not knowing what would happen,” Costa remarked. “I hope the film sends a strong message that fire
Malibu hosts 7th Annual Safety and Preparedness Fair on Sept. 6
As part of National Preparedness Month this September, the City of Malibu invites residents of all ages to attend the 7th Annual Safety and Preparedness Fair on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Malibu City Hall. This free, family-friendly event is designed to help community members and local businesses prepare for emergencies such as wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and other disasters that may impact the region.
doesn’t care who you voted for and it clearly mandates that we all need to stop pointing fingers and blaming others. Rather, we all need to clear all brush that needs clearing to help prevent fires — we are all in this community together and nobody wants to live through this trauma again!”
The film is releasing at the optimal time, Costa noted and it clearly communicates that “it’s not fun to live through fires again — January is coming and we all have to prepare for fires better.”
A peek at the film’s content — but not a spoiler
The film is heart-wrenching, thrusting viewers into the throes of ash-strewn skeletal ruins of mangled steel, wooden frames, and concrete that were once loving homes in what was once a thriving neighborhood. However, the picture’s greatest strength lies in its We the People ethos demanding change. And now. An introductory statement in the film recounts, “As the fires raged, the hydrants ran dry, emergency resources stretched thin, and communication systems failed. In many neighborhoods, NO HELP CAME. Big Rock was just one of many communities left to face the fires alone.”
Despite Malibu’s fame, it’s a small town, those in the film recount. “Normal regular people live here!” Drummond notes. “We love this community!”
Another fire victim, Wade Major, stated as he surveyed the ruins of his destroyed residence, “This is the home that my parents built in 1962. We’ve been raising my daughter in the house that I was raised in.”
Gesturing to the rubble before him, he added, “I have a 12-year-old daughter — this destruction was her greatest fear.”
Standing tall and brave, resident Arno Koch surveys the ruins of what was once
Mayor Marianne Riggins emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “The Safety Fair is a fun, hands-on way for people of all ages to learn about life-saving skills, products and services, and build relationships with the emergency responders that keep our community safe.” She added, “Malibu knows what it means to endure disasters, and as we continue to recover from the devastating Broad, Franklin, and Palisades Fires, we must continue to look ahead and constantly strive for community-wide preparedness. When we all come together and do our parts, we can be ready, strong, and resilient for our next disaster.”
The city is highlighting the
his home in a telling moment in the film. Koch notes, “In Big Rock, there are a lot of people that inherited homes that were purchased by their grandparents for less than the cost of my property insurance. A lot of other people spent everything they had to purchase a home — we did. A lot of other people were in a difficult financial situation already before this — we were.”
After pausing to reflect, Koch added, “Big Rock is the most beautiful community that I have ever known — just the people on the street. I don’t think that you get that very much anymore.”
The neighbors in Big Rock want that community back and they demand that tragedies such as the Palisades Fire never happen again, Koch added.
When asked what his vision is regarding the impact that the film might have, Koch reflected and then responded, “What I would hope is that there will never again be excuses from the fire department to the effect that it is unsafe to come help us fight a fire — stating that it is too hard for the fire trucks to drive up to our neighborhood is not acceptable!”
In a righteously indignant yet imploring tone, he added, “NO MORE EXCUSES! I don’t want to see fire trucks staying on PCH while we residents are fighting a fire to save our homes!” Continuing, the shared, “My big hope is that residents won’t be alone during a fire! There needs to be more deference given to the firefighters in a firetruck stationed nearby — they should be able to make the call whether to drive up and fight a fire, as opposed to a command center telling them they cannot do so from a remote location. The authorities have to trust the on-site firefighters to make a good decision.”
Had that happened, Koch noted, his
theme of “shared responsibility,” encouraging every member of the community — residents, businesses, city officials, and emergency partners — to play an active role in disaster readiness. Whether someone is just beginning their emergency preparations or looking to enhance their current plans, the Safety Fair offers valuable resources and interactive experiences for all.
Attendees can expect a wide variety of activities and attractions, including emergency preparedness vendors and informational booths, fire extinguisher training, an earthquake simulator, and guidance on brush clearance and home hardening. The City’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) will be on hand to provide information, and kids can enjoy a Safe Moves bike and scooter safety rodeo, a rock climbing wall, and the ever-popular “Touch-a-Truck” experience featuring fire and rescue vehicles. There will also be volunteer opportunities, a free raffle with safety and preparedness prizes, and food available for purchase from Original Tommy’s Burgers and Tikiz Shaved Ice.
The Safety Fair is part of Malibu’s broader efforts during National Preparedness Month, which will also include weekly emergency alert tests to ensure residents are equipped to receive vital updates during a crisis. For more information about the Safety Fair, visit MalibuCity.org/SafetyFair. To learn more about pre-
neighbor would not have perished in the fire.
Janet Fulk and Peter Fulk-Monge, longtime Big Rock residents, noted that they had lost their home in the 1993 wildfire.
The couple shared that they prepared for wildfires and hardened their homes with brush clearance, defensible space, embers protection and all logical strategies. However, they also have a back-up plan if necessary while being besieged by a fire.
“We have gallons of water and 600 feet of fire hose and are as ready for a fire as we can be,” Fulk-Monge noted.
Chiming in, Fulk shared, “We also have scuba tanks if necessary — we will put our scuba tanks into the pool which allows you to breathe underwater — you can stay underwater for under an hour.”
Malibuites get a free sneak preview of the film
“We are excited to announce that we
paring for wildfires, earthquakes, and other emergencies, contact the Malibu Public Safety Office at 310-456-2489 or email PublicSafety@MalibuCity.org.
Malibu Rebuild
Survey open through Aug. 15
The City of Malibu is inviting residents to participate in the Malibu Rebuild Survey, now open through Aug. 15, to help improve services offered through the Malibu Rebuild Center.
Whether you’ve recently visited the Rebuild Center or simply want to share your thoughts on the city’s fire rebuild efforts, your feedback is welcome. The brief, confidential survey is designed to gather insights that will help the city enhance its support for homeowners and community members navigating the rebuild process.
Your voice matters — take a moment to share your experience and help shape the future of Malibu’s recovery.
Take the survey at malibucity. org/rebuildsurvey
Governor applauds new rebuilding plan, but questions remain about execution
On Tuesday, Aug. 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom praised Los Angeles County leadership for releasing
will be doing the Oscar-nomination-qualifying theatrical run from Sept. 12-18 at the Laemmle in Santa Monica in for their Shorts by the Sea program,” Goldblum shared.
Fortunately, Malibuites are able to view the film beforehand.
“We’re tentatively set for Friday, Aug. 29 to showcase the worldwide debut showing of ‘Big Rock Burning’ at City Hall,” Scott Tallal of the Malibu Film Society said. “We’re delighted that we will be joined by co-producers with David Goldblum and Mark Hamill, and perhaps one or two others involved in the film as guests for our question and answer session.”
Tallal added that there will be a reception at 7 p.m. and show time is at 8 p.m. followed by Q&A. “Reservations must be made at MalibuFilmSociety.org,” He added, noting that admission is free for Malibu residents who complete the onetime registration process on the website.
“LA County Forward: Blueprint for Rebuilding,” a new plan aimed at guiding long-term recovery efforts in unincorporated communities impacted by the devastating January wildfires.
First announced by the governor on the six-month anniversary of the fires, the “Blueprint” outlines a broad framework for how the county intends to support displaced residents, rebuild essential infrastructure, and create conditions for an equitable and resilient recovery. “As we turn the page from recovery to rebuilding, we’re doing it with a clear plan, strong partnerships, and the urgency this moment demands,” Newsom said in a public statement.
The plan emphasizes coordination among city, county, state, and federal agencies, and outlines priorities such as identifying community needs, accelerating permit processing, and ensuring that rebuilding remains affordable. It includes a 120-day roadmap to guide near-term efforts.
While the announcement has been welcomed as a positive step forward, many residents and local advocates are cautiously optimistic — hopeful that the plan will deliver results but mindful of the challenges ahead.
Carmen Ortega, whose family lost their home in the January fires, said the rollout gives her some reassurance, but she remains concerned about delays in permitting and access to financial assis-
tance. “It’s encouraging to see a plan in place,” she said, “but we’re still waiting to see action on the ground.”
Some observers have also raised questions about how the “Blueprint” addresses environmental resilience and long-term fire mitigation. While the document speaks to “equitable reconstruction,” it offers limited detail on how rebuilt structures and infrastructure will be adapted to future climate risks.
Incorporated cities also remain largely outside the scope of the plan, prompting concerns that some impacted communities may fall through the cracks. County officials emphasized that the plan is just one piece of a broader recovery effort and acknowledged that ongoing collaboration with local jurisdictions will be essential.
Ultimately, the “Blueprint” represents a starting point— one that sets the tone for the next phase of recovery but will need to be followed by consistent, transparent implementation in order to meet the needs of those still waiting to return home.
For more information or to read the full plan, visit: ca.gov/ LAfires/
State Route 166 remains closed between U.S. 101 and Perkins Road near New Cuyama. Non-emergency traffic is prohibited east of Tempusquet Road and west of Perkins Road.
Jo and Colin Drummond of Malibu embrace as they survey the remains of their home that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire in January, in this scene from the documentary “Big Rock Burning: An Untold Story of the 2025 LA Fires.” Photo David Goldblum
The tiny boutique, owned by 30-year Malibu resident Alexandria Skouras, was forced to close for five months while PCH was mostly off-limits to the general public. During that long period with absolutely no business, Skouras continued paying rent. Although her landlord offered a little rent relief, her beloved business was on the brink. “I felt powerless, just powerless,” Skouras said. “It’s a frustrating feeling. You’re paying rent and no income is coming in.”
While Skouras was eventually able to reopen after PCH did so before Memorial Day, her business is still struggling. Initially with limited hours due to the unpredictable traffic on the reopened highway, Skouras remained the solo employee. The proprietor hires part-timers when she can afford it. This summer season, which typically accounts for the bulk of her sales with tourist traffic, has been difficult without the usual throngs of tourists coming into town, although she said her loyal clientele “has been in to support. I get one or two people a day, nothing like it used to be.”
A few months ago, when the city of Malibu announced microgrants for fire-affected businesses, Skouras applied to help keep her business afloat. When the grants were recently announced, the shop owner was shocked that Pistol & Lucy did not receive anything. Skouras is now trying to get a direct answer as to why her business, locally owned and directly impacted, did not receive any relief funds from the city. She’s also questioning exactly how those funds were distributed and why some businesses located on the other side of town that may have been impacted by lack of business, but not forced to close as she was, received funds. Skouras is asking for a clear understanding of the selection criteria and decision-making process.
The city states: “The need exceeded the amount of funding allocated, which demonstrates the impact on small businesses in our community, and we’re committed to continuing our local business support through both regional partnerships and direct assistance. Additional consideration was given to small businesses with more than two employees.”
The city received a total of 157 applications requesting $2,816,762 in funding. The Malibu Ad -
performing arts center. That developer has not secured a contract on a new center, however.
The site was identified for use in part because some of the other civic center area Malibu-owned parcels are currently being used to support fire recovery efforts, staging, and essential services.
The proposed project is situated adjacent to the new development that already includes a spacious underground parking lot that could be shared or used for evening performances and events when office workers in the development are off-site. Tenants, including restaurants, are said to be ready to sign leases, which could possibly accommodate food service needs to the arts constituency.
A 20,000-square-foot center is being proposed for the site, an idea some questioned as problematic due to the footprint of the parcel that includes a large hillside outcropping that will not be demolished. But, with so much square footage to play with, there were plenty of suggestions on how to develop the space.
The Malibu Arts Commission and area residents met July 30 at City Hall to voice their suggestions on what amenities a newly built art-focused center should include.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts
ministration and Finance Subcommittee was only able to award 46 grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 through the City’s Small Business Micro Stabilization Grant Program, totaling $300,000. A list of businesses that were awarded grants can be found on the City of Malibu website at malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/7523?fileID=80961
The largest grants, totaling $15,000 each, went to restaurants OLLO, The Sunset, and Howdy’s, followed by Geoffrey’s and Malibu Seafood, which each received $12,500.
Skouras received an email stating: “We truly understand the significant impact on small businesses in our community, and we remain deeply committed to supporting businesses through both regional partnerships and direct assistance. It was clear that every applicant was deserving, and it saddens us that we couldn’t extend help to everyone at this time.”
Skouras acknowledges that all Malibu businesses were affected, but said some Eastern Malibu sites like her business were affected more than others due to a complete closure of PCH for five months and that she’s still impacted. “I’m still in disbelief. I would like an explanation. Was there a problem with my application?” she questioned. A city staffer said her application was not faulty, but that there just wasn’t enough funding to go around.
Skouras insists that if she had received financial help and her neighboring business next door did not, she would have shared the relief money. “If I had received the money and my neighbor Roxy at Blue Malibu didn’t, I would have given her half,” she said.
The MalibuRebuild.org website states: “The City is working closely with partner agencies such as Los Angeles County Supervisor Horvath, Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), United States Small Business Administration and other local partners to bring additional resources to Malibu. We encourage you to explore additional funding opportunities, such as the Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund and others listed on our website at MalibuRebuilds.org/Small-Business-Resources. Please sign up to receive business-specific updates.”
and Sciences voting member Julie Carmen suggested some essentials, including a wood sprung floor for dance performance, a child safe space with glass windows for parents to observe, boys and girls locker rooms with restrooms, and a larger space that can be used for community serving organizations such as the Malibu Film Society or the Young Actors Project that lost their former home at the Malibu Playhouse.
“Please reserve theater and rehearsal space for vetted local nonprofits to use, but not be forced to pay fair market rent,” Carmen implored.
Arts Commissioner Dennis Smith said he’d like the center to include an art gallery or possible museum space for local and visiting exhibits. Others agreed and asked for a sculpture garden to be incorporated into the design.
Malibu Film Society Board President Scott Tallal asked, “Is this space going to be local-serving or visitor-serving? If it’s visitor-serving and you want concerts and really big events to come in, then you need to keep a 300-seat theater. If you want to be local-serving, you have to look at the experience of the two largest venues that we have in Malibu.”Tallal cited Smothers Theater at Pepperdine University, which he said can be hard to fill at 400 seats. The other is the Malibu Film Society, which he said rarely sells 200. “The reason I’m ask-
ing this question is that if you reduce the size of a large room, that frees out space for rehearsal halls, and recital halls, and other spaces that can be utilized or to create community as well as for the audience.”
Others were skeptical about building entirely, calling it a redundancy to the auditorium space already available at City Hall, and questioned whether the city would be able to fund such an ambitious project. Former Councilmember Paul Grisanti answered that query saying, “There are other people in this community who are raising children here. They’ll do anything to get what they want. They’re working with us on the schools. They’ll work with us on building things that work. If you give them a project, they will want to sign on and be sponsors of it. And it’s as simple as that…You don’t accomplish anything by insisting that you really want to have all the financing lined up right now before we draw the first thing. If you draw something that people like and want, they will find a way to help the city pay for it.”
The Arts Commission will review the feedback and form recommendations for City Council to consider. More information is set to be discussed at a future City Council meeting.
Go to MalibuCommunityLands. org for more.
sion did not cancel them.
lovely evening of music, dancing, and camaraderie.
Unbeknownst to many locals or visitors, on Aug. 1, Vintage Grocers issued a statement saying, “Guests — unfortunately, due to the City’s continuance of a hearing for more permanent permits for events at Trancas Country Market, we do not have proper permitting to proceed with tonight’s event. We hope for a resolution of this matter on August 4 so we can continue to move forward with the remainder of the summer’s concerts and additional events at the Center.”
The continuance was attributable to the Planning Commission being unable to hold a July 21 hearing for lack of a quorum.
“We thought that we were going to be heard regarding our CUP application on July 21, when it was originally calendared, but the commission could not get a quorum on that date and couldn’t meet,”
Ken Ehrlich, attorney for the Market explained.
“Because we were hopeful that the commission would favorably consider our CUP application on July 21, we didn’t think we needed to get TUPs for Aug. 1 and 8 because our CUP would be in place.”
Ehrlich explained that the Market decided to cancel the scheduled concerts out of respect for the permit application process, realizing that the commission could not decide about the CUP application until Aug. 4. He emphasized that it was the Market that cancelled the concerts and the Commis-
On Aug. 4, the commission considered whether to grant the Market a CUP. “Please keep Malibu fun!” Paul Grisanti implored, noting, as did many, that the concerts were enjoyable and community-serving.
Patt Healy, speaking on behalf of The Malibu Coalition for Slow Growth, emphasized the need for the city to ensure compliance with all of the proposed CUP provisions and asked the council to monitor compliance so as to ensure safety and that the peace of those living in Malibu West was respected.
In the end, the commission decided to approve a permanent CUP to allow 15 annual events in the form of amplified live music performances to include the music performances that entertain up to 350 people, noting that the applicant Market had established that it had adequate security, an approved traffic plan and had met all other criteria. Commissioners stated that advertisement of concerts or other events be limited to the community level, such as flyers being posted at area businesses and newspaper ads, and there be no postings on social media, including Nextdoor, because too much advertisement could lead to too many attendees. Commissioners also decided to require the Market to ensure that it complied with all conditions of the CUP and that city staff review compliance every two years. They also noted that citizens can complain about the con-
certs and such complaints could end up being considered by the commission. In his presentation, Didier Murillo, the city’s senior planner, noted that there have been no formal complaints regarding the concerts reported to the city.
The current status of concerts for the rest of this season
The Malibu Times asked Ehrlich to provide some clarity concerning how many concerts will occur for the rest of this concert season.
“The Aug. 8 concert is unfortunately up in the air as we are dealing with the city attorney to figure out if we can have that concert applied to the new CUP,” he explained. “There is no TUP applied for regarding the Aug. 15 concert. However, Aug. 15 is more than 10 days after the Commission’s Aug. 4 approval of the CUP. Aug. 15 occurs after the appeal period ends, so it is quite likely there will be an event on 15th pursuant to the CUP that was just granted on Aug. 4.”
Therefore, alas, as to the scheduled concerts on Aug. 8 and 15, readers must wait and wonder.
Ehrlich had good news about the two remaining concerts for this season, noting that, “There are TUP’s in place for Aug. 22 and 29. Trancas is allowed to host its Aug. 22 and 29 concerts!”
As did many who spoke before the commission last night, Ehrlich stated that he attends the concerts and that they are enjoyable and community-serving.
“I go to the events myself to see how our permits
are being implemented and they are fun and enjoyable,” he said.
Commission approves the expansion of the Malibu Urgent Care
At the meeting, no one voiced opposition and many, including a few of the commissioners, lauded Malibu Urgent Care’s constantly supplying much-needed medical care to locals. Many Malibuites spoke in strong support of the Malibu Urgent Care’s request to renovate the old public post office adjacent to the current urgent care.
Noting that the Malibu Urgent Care has never closed since it was established in 1974 and that many times, the Urgent Care can stabilize patients for transport to other medical facilities, thus often saving lives, Dr. Dan Katz asked for the commission’s approval. He noted that the new facility will have state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, ensuring that many patients who need diagnosis may not have to travel out of Malibu to obtain care.
The commission unanimously approved the Malibu Urgent Care project. Katz noted that local Herb Alpert has pledged to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $5 million and the Friends of Malibu Urgent Care, a 501(c)(3) organization, is coordinating donations. Readers can call (310) 456-0512 or go to the nonprofit foundation’s website to donate. The Malibu Times will keep readers informed regarding when construction of the new urgent care facility begins.
Audience members gather for a concert at the Trancas Country Market. File photo (The Malibu Times)
REAL ESTATE
RONDA PEREZ
noting that she hopes to use that acumen in helping Malibu obtain federal and state funding for infrastructure projects.
When one meets her, they realize that Perez is obviously very bright, affable, and optimistic. She candidly notes that she will approach her new position with humility — she knows she has not previously served as city manager for a disaster-prone California coastal community with unique topology, characteristics, and challenges that desert communities that she has worked for don’t face. She’s also very confident, and she says she’s a quick study.
“I have a lot to learn, but I will bring my prior experience with me, and I note that all cities have issues with disaster preparedness and recovery and public safety experience, so I have dealt with those issues in my prior positions,” Perez said. “I am impressed by this council, which is working for the good of all, and I think that their dedication speaks volumes. It is up to me to develop good relationships and build a consortium of people who serve as a supportive team so that we can make good decisions for the people of Malibu — it’s Go Time!”
The City Council greets Perez with optimism. “With Malibu recovering from the devastating impacts of recent wildfires, consistent and capable leadership is essential,” Mayor Marianne Riggins stated as she welcomed Perez’ appointment. “Ronda’s expertise will help accelerate the rebuild process while honoring and preserving the rural character and spirit that makes Malibu so special. We sincerely thank Interim City Manager Candace Bond for her service to the community and we look forward to Candace assisting in the transition to Ronda assuming her role as city manager.”
Who is Ronda Perez?
The daughter of an aerospace industry executive, Perez moved to northern Los Angeles County when she was 6 years old. She earned an undergraduate degree in criminology and political science from UC Irvine and a criminal justice master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach. She also earned a leadership certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. Perez’s husband, based at Pt. Mugu, has served in the Air National Guard for 25 years. Her son just graduated from high school, and her daughter is a junior in high school.
Emphasizing that she is very honored to serve as Malibu’s city manager, Perez said, “I’m definitely a servant leader as I’ve been in the field of city government for a very long time and community service is my life’s passion.”
BRUCE SILVERSTEIN CONTINUED
fires, while the balance of the staff of the Community Development Department needs to remain focused on pursuing Malibu’s vision and mission of constraining development to preserve Malibu’s fragile rural nature. In my experience, it requires a rare intellect to pursue steadfastly and concurrently both of these facially contrary and conflicting objectives, and the best course is to task different staff to accomplish these conflicting tasks – all the while headed by the Director of the Community Development Department (the “Community Development Director”) who does possess that rare ability, The Wildfire Rebuild Unit should be managed by a full-time employee designated as the Deputy Wildfire Rebuild Unit Building Official (the “Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy”), who should have an office in the Rebuild Center, and who should report directly to the Community Development Director. The Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy should have authority to approve plan check and building permit applications for all L4L+10% Rebuilds, subject to some level of prescribed oversight by the Community Development Director, whose authority should include the ability to override the decisions of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy. In addition to the current staff of the Rebuild Center, the Wildfire Rebuild Unit also should include, among other things, (i) a Wildfire Rebuild Unit Plan-Check Manager, and (ii) an in-house Wildfire Rebuild Unit Geotechnical Engineer.
If it is not already the case, each L4L+10% Rebuild should be assigned to specific members of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff who will be responsible for handling all aspects of the L4L+10% Rebuild assigned to them that is within their area of expertise. Because L4L+10% Rebuilds in different areas of Malibu will present different challenges, consideration should be given to dividing up the work among members of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff by the area in which the L4L+10% Rebuilds are being pursued — i.e., on the beachfront, on a landslide area, on a stable hillside, on relatively flat property along the landside of PCH. It also would be helpful for the city to employ or contract for the services of “case managers,” who can be tasked with the assignment of following all L4L+10% Rebuilds from the time of initial submission to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, and whose responsibilities will include interfacing with the member(s) of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff working on the projects being followed by the case managers. There needs to be a comprehensive checklist of items that staff of
the Wildfire Rebuild Unit is required to consider and address in the first pass of a completed plan-check or building permit application — such that an applicant will not be met with successive requests or qualifications(other than those created by changes made by the applicant following a review that does not result in an approval). There also needs to be a measurable time period between submission of a completed plan-check or building permit application and approval or denial thereof, and any denial should be accompanied by a written explanation of all reasons for the denial.
Applicants for an L4L+10% Rebuild should be permitted to obtain plan-check planning approval for the structures on their property separate from and prior to the submission and approval of a landscaping plan, geotechnical studies, drainage plan, and/or erosion control plan. They also should be able to obtain a building permit (but not a certificate of occupancy) separate from and prior to landscaping, Dark Skies, and other matters that do not impact the plan and construction of the main residence and other structures that predated the wildfires. For properties on the beach, applicants for a L4L+10% Rebuild should be permitted to obtain a plan-check planning approval and a building permit (but not a certificate of occupancy) without accounting for whether the rebuild will utilize an OWTS or a sewer connection, so long as the addition of either will not alter the plan and can be accomplished after the rebuild is otherwise completed.
In the ordinary course of development applications in the city, an applicant is able to obtain planning approval before seeking to obtain a building permit. It is my understanding that these two stages of the permitting process have been combined for purposes of the approval of L4L+10% Rebuilds. There are pros and cons of both approaches, and I believe that applicants for L4L+10% Rebuilds should have the option of seeking to secure plan-check planning approval before or concurrently with seeking to secure a building permit. I understand that option to be available with the consent of the building official, but I believe the option should be available upon the request of any applicant pursuing an L4L+10% Rebuild.
If there should be insufficient L4L+10% Rebuild work to occupy the full time and attention of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff, the Community Development Director may exercise her discretion to assign specific staff members, on a case-by-case basis, to assist with other matters within the Community Development Department that fall within their expertise, but with the understanding that any increase in the L4L+10% Rebuild workload of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff will cause such staff members to abandon such other work
they may be assigned to address so that they are able to provide the time and attention needed to address all L4L+10% Rebuild work within the Wildfire Rebuild Unit. In the event that Community Development Director should exercise her discretion to make a specific assignment of a Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff member to a project that is not an L4L+10% Rebuild, care must be taken to ensure that the Wildfire Rebuild Unit staff member understands and appreciates the contrasting approach to the consideration of development in Malibu that does not qualify as an L4L+10% Rebuild.
All applicant complaints respecting the work of the Wildfire Rebuild Unit shall be referred, in the first instance, to the Rebuild Ambassador, who shall seek to determine the validity of the complaint. If the Rebuild Ambassador should determine that a complaint respecting the Wildfire Rebuild Unit is valid, the Rebuild Ambassador should raise the issue with the Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy. If the complaint is not resolved by the Rebuild Ambassador and Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy, the complaint should be elevated to the Community Development Director. If the complaint is an isolated matter, resolution of the complaint shall end with the Community Development Director — subject only to whatever appellate or legal recourse the applicant may have. If the complaint is of the type that widely impacts all applicants and/or a material subset thereof, the City Council shall be advised of the issue if the Rebuild Ambassador and Community Development Director are unable to agree upon a solution.
Given the number of crucial decisions that need to be made corresponding to L4L+10% Rebuilds, the Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy should provide a progress report to the City Council at each regular meeting of the City Council and identify all outstanding issues of significance until they are resolved to the satisfaction of the City Council. The Wildfire Rebuild Unit Deputy should establish targets, goals, and metrics for reviews that are published and tracked to identify areas of continuous improvement.
I am confident that other councilmembers, city staff, the rebuild ambassador, area captains, residents and building professionals can identify other ways in which the Malibu Rebuild Center can better serve residents seeking to accomplish an L4L+10% Rebuild, and I suspect that some of my suggestions may be counterproductive for reasons I lack the experience to appreciate. The purpose of this column is to spark a conversation about how the process can be further improved upon so that we might help our friends, neighbors and community members rebuild their homes more efficiently, expeditiously, and economically than otherwise.
Newly appointed Malibu City Manager Ronda Perez, shown here with her family, is looking forward to assuming her new position Aug. 25, after stints with the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster.
Photo courtesy of Ronda Perez
Malibu Life
Rosenthal Estate reopens with a toast to resilience and renewal
Guests gathered under the oaks for the soft opening of Malibu’s historic vineyard, savoring award-winning wines, salvaged treasures, and the triumphant return of a beloved estate nearly lost to
By BARBARA
The harmonious and uplifting verses of “California Dreamin’” performed live by Erinn Alissa set the perfect tone on Aug. 3, warmly welcoming guests beneath the majestic oak trees of the Rosenthal Estate. The sunlit afternoon marked a long-awaited moment of celebration as the 250-acre property opened its gates for a soft reopening, inviting patrons to rediscover its bucolic beauty, storied vines, and the spirit of resilience that defines this treasured Malibu vineyard.
Once threatened by the devastating Woolsey Fire, which scorched much of the property’s grounds, the Rosenthal Estate has returned — reimagined and reinvigorated. Though the fire left parts of the estate scarred, the tasting rooms were miraculously spared, allowing the heart of Rosenthal to beat on. Now, after years of recovery, the estate is once again pouring wines and welcoming visitors for weekend tastings.
Guests at the soft opening were treated to a variety of Rosenthal’s elegant and expertly crafted wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Merlot, and Chardonnay. As glasses clinked and conversations flowed, the experience was elevated by both the estate’s meticulously curated indoor tasting rooms and the expansive outdoor lawn, which offered sweeping views and the calming presence of nature.
Planted in 1987, the Rosenthal Estate was the first vineyard in Malibu. Its 28 acres of vines sit 1,450 feet above sea level in a microclimate uniquely suited for viticulture. So distinctive is this terrain, it led to the establishment of the Malibu-Newton Canyon American Viticulture Area (AVA), a designation separate from the broader Malibu AVA. No other wines in the world are produced from grapes grown solely in the Malibu-Newton Canyon
MALIBU’S BEST SHT
AVA, giving Rosenthal’s wines a terroir that is truly one-of-a-kind.
As part of the relaunch, tastings are now available on Saturdays and Sundays with two sittings offered each day. Guests are also encouraged to explore vineyard tours that provide a closer look at the estate’s historic vines and scenic landscape.
For longtime fans of Rosenthal, the
event was not only about wine — it was also a celebration of meaningful artifacts that were saved from destruction. Patrons marveled at two iconic elements that survived the fires and now symbolize the estate’s endurance.
“It is amazing that Rosenthal could save the piece of the Berlin Wall that once was showcased in their PCH tasting room,”
said guest Catherine Schubert. The historic fragment was purchased by Mr. George Rosenthal at a private auction and had long been a conversation piece and symbol of strength.
Equally symbolic was the return of the beloved oversized chair that once stood outside the original tasting room on Pacific
Malibu Food & Wine Festival debuts
Malibu’s culinary scene is getting a major new spotlight next month with the debut of the Malibu Food & Wine Festival, a three-day celebration of food, wine, and community at the picturesque Saddle Rock Ranch.
Running Friday through Sunday, Sept. 5–7, the event, created by locals, promises to bring together top celebrity chefs, award-winning wineries, local artisans, and families for an immersive tasting experience.
An exciting feature of the event includes interaction between attendees and celebrity chefs, including host Adam Richman, Duff Goldman, Jet Tila, Neal Fraser, Ricardo Zarate, Celestino Drago, and Malibu’s own Helene Henderson, just to name a few, who will be cooking and serving in the scenic setting. Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard winners, and Food Network personalities will cook and serve their own dishes on-site, offering a rare opportunity for attendees to meet and interact with culinary greats. Friday and Saturday events run from 6 to 10 p.m. (with early access at 5 p.m. for
premium ticket holders), while Sunday’s family-friendly day runs 1 to 5 p.m. (12 p.m. early admission). “Sunday is for all ages,” said Lauren Rae Levy, co-founder.. “We’re parents, too, and we believe in making space for families.”
“This is the kickoff year,” said Malibu resident Levy, who cofoundedthe festival along with her husband, celebrity chef Marcel Vigneron, winner of TV’s “Last Chef Standing.” The Malibu resident of 11 years, is also a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, the festival’s charity partner. A portion of proceeds will
Festival created by Malibu residents promises star chefs, local flavor, and community spirit
BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
(From left) Rob Pausmith, Lauren Rae Levy, and Marcel Vigneron toast to their upcoming Malibu Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Sidney Paiva
Visitors to the newly reopened Rosenthal Estate hang out on the huge chair that’s been a landmark of the property. Photo by Scott Crawford
Protect Yourself: Part Two
SEEN
By Benjamin Marcus, Entertainment Editor
Bobby Milstein on responsible landscaping and home hardening
Part two of a conversation with Bobby Milstein, owner of So Cal Fire Supply, a heavy-duty fire protection system that saved Calamigos Ranch during the Woolsey Fire, and several houses during the Palisades Fire. Milstein believes that citizens of the Santa Monica Mountains and the urban interface must face the reality they can’t rely on city water, city power, or city or county fire departments to save every house under overwhelming conditions. Citizens have to take responsibility to protect their homes, and he and his company are geared up to enable that.
A grateful and relieved homeowner said, anonymously: “I had investigated several fire suppression systems and when I met Bobby Milstein, I knew he was the real deal. Once I hired him, I felt much more at ease living in Malibu. Bobby was a joy to work with, and I respect him immensely. I was still very vigilant with my home hardening. I took courses in fire hazard home mitigation with Jack Cohen and Pat Durland and am certified to give home inspections. The house that survived next to us was more than likely saved due to the wind blowing water from our system in their direction and in turn saved the home next to them.”
I poked around on Google Earth — which has been updated to show how many lots have been cleared — and I saw one of the homes that was saved by your system. There is a lot of landscaping that is still there, and the home appears to be unscathed, while all around it is destruction. Can you detail all the equipment you had there, and the PSI, and what it cost? Because you saved that citizen millions of dollars and many years of headaches and heartaches.
That property has a system we refer to as a First Defender Estate Series System. We designed the pump system solely for our wildfire threat which, as you know, is wind-driven. It’s a scaled-down version of the primary pump we used to save Calamigos Ranch.
The system was built to induct gel or foam, but neither was used for this fire. The water is dispersed through eight large, agricultural-style sprinklers that we refer to as RainGuns.
The unit and its operating system are completely proprietary and only available through us. The engine is 35HP coupled to a pump that flows around 350GPM @ over 100PSI.
The unit is powered by propane and runs off of two deep-cycle automotive batteries.
Isn’t it dangerous to have propane in a fire environment?
Not really; every house has natural gas or propane.
Just for comparison, Chat GPT says the typical PSI for a home is 40 to 60. Are those the heavy-duty water dispersers you would see in Idaho or somewhere irrigating fields?
Yes, exactly, and they are separated into two zones, so four are on at a time. The RainGuns are strategically placed to take advantage of not only the prevailing winds but also accounting for fire-driven winds.
Can you say what it cost or is that classified? I’m guessing around $250,000? As far as cost, the Estate Series systems start at around $200,000 plus the ground trenching and pipes, which is something we don’t do, and the clients’ pool will also need to have a draftline possibly added so we can access the water.
What is a draftline?
A draftline is a pipe cored and waterproofed into the deep end of the pool to feed the water supply to our pump system. Our Estate Series requires a 4-inch draftline to achieve the flow we designed it for.
What inspired them to look into home protection, and when was that installed?
Their inspiration was due to knowing the history and the high frequency of fires in and around Malibu, as well as surviving the prior fire of 1993 that decimated Big Rock and eastern Malibu, and the cold, hard reality of the certainty of it happening again.
As to that property, the owners have been super-vigilant about hardening that home and exploring every option currently available to protect it from possible destruction in a wildfire. They actually called and got quotes from every company in the country that builds wildfire defense systems. When they found out I was the one who designed the Calamigos system they reached out to me.
How long did it take, and were there any barriers?
We installed the system in 2019 after the Woolsey Fire. Every system is custom-built and designed for the individual property. Between the trenching, piping, coring for the draftline, and fabrication of the system: several months.
There was a lot of landscaping before the fire and a lot after. How did you protect it all?
As far as their fuel load from the landscaping, which you noticed, the system we installed is a complete property system, not just the house, which enables our clients to have fuels in a closer proximity to the home then they could without it. Irrigated vegetation is full of water so it’s harder to ignite, soaking wet vegetation extinguishes the embers as they land on it.
Do you know how many gallons of water you used over what length of time? Was his pool drained and were you able to refill it while the fire was raging?
We used approximately 45,000 gallons of water to save the property over a 12-hour period. When the system is operating, it’s always doing the maximum flow. We program the system to cycle so after a thorough drenching, it cycles to keep the hydration and moisture level up. The system was triggered when the fire got to the base of Big Rock, and yes, by the time the threat was over, very little water was left in the pool. As far as refilling, unfortunately, the municipal water system and its standby power failed — so no.
I also looked at the aerials of the Calamigos Ranch after your crew fought to save it during Woolsey. Again, destruction on all sides but Calamigos looked unscathed. I’m starting to think
you’re onto something here. Have you gotten many calls since Palisades?
We’ve gotten calls. We were more than busy prior to the Palisades Fire, and now we are inundated.
How many people do you employ? Just a handful.
Can you point to homes using your system that were still damaged, and explain what the limits of your system are?
Any home that was truly saved by a system due to threat of a wildfire will have some damage on the property. Be it landscape damage, smoke damage, pool cover damage — if there is nothing damaged in my eyes it’s not a legitimate save. Our systems are limited by two things: the amount of water stored on site, and the client’s willingness to adhere to strict home hardening protocols.
Going back to some people in Palisades feeling they weren’t threatened by a firestorm. Like in the alphabet streets you could feel removed and not threatened there. Closer to the ocean than the mountains. But it was all an accident no longer waiting to happen.
I don’t know if you put that solely on them or the real estate agents and brokers that sold them their homes. But that was an urban conflagration that happened there. That’s just bad planning. That’s homes built too close together, and you cannot defend homes when they’re built that close together.
Not everyone’s built to be in that kind of environment, and not every home is actually savable and defendable. It’s really up to homeowners, and the whole dynamic has to change. When you have people building homes more concerned about some architecture thing or vegetation or look than building to suit the environment they live in and what’s going to keep them safe — you’re gonna have an issue.
Well people with money want to do what they want and not be limited by anything, including force majeure.
I’m one of the team leaders in the LA County Fire Brigade, and our biggest mission is educating homeowners about home hardening. Keegan and Tyler regularly go out and evaluate homes for hardening. It’s all just science.
Zone zero is the first 5 feet around the house. It’s been proven zone zero is the most important, and it’s going to make or break you in a fire. All the science was done by Dr. Jack Cohen, so a properly hardened home should be able to survive without any firefighters present. I go inspect homes all the time, and I have to tell people: “You know what? There’s a new law, and you’re going to have to remove every bit of vegetation within 5 feet of your walls.”
People say: “What do you mean?” I mean all that there needs to go. And you can do it now to get ahead of the law, or you can wait till someone tells you to do it: Five feet is zone zero.
It seems like 5 feet isn’t enough. When you have flying embers, don’t they do a majority of the damage? So it could be a Zone Hundred Foot. Embers burn 90% of the homes with no direct flame impingement at all near the house. I’m on the Fire Safe Council of Malibou Lake. The first meeting I went to, all the members were really excited, because the MRCA gave us a $50,000 grant for brush clearing and a big chipper. So they’re all super excited, and I start laughing. They ask, “Why?”
I said, “You know, I love nature. That’s why I live here. I hate cutting things down, and I believe in reasonable brush clearance. But clear a mile if you want. These winds can carry an ember up to 5 miles.”
Fire breaks don’t matter when the embers are flying. I tell them I’d be more concerned with what’s on your neighbor’s deck than the brush out there on the hillside.
That’s right, because the firefighters showed me along the beach, that what lit up a lot of houses, was the wood pilings underneath. The fire just jumped from wood piling to wood piling and burnt from underneath. And there was also no separation between the houses. If you can put down a sheet of water that might protect the house next door, you have a chance. That’s all going to be different now, too. New regulations. Live and learn.
On PCH between LA County Fire and the Community Brigade,so much water was being pumped trying to save the homes. But trying to save something once it’s on fire is next to impossible in these conditions.
Yes, I have videos of homes directly across from Station 70 at Carbon Beach and they’re burning up even with tsunamis of water being dumped on them by multiple engines.
It’s only going to change when the people living there make the change. They need to accept ownership of their choice of where they decide to live, and accept the reality that the municipal infrastructure will never exist to be able to protect every home in a wildfire urban interface.
It’s on the homeowner not the fire department, because the fire department probably doesn’t want to admit it, but once a fire is burning at a thousand degrees plus in 80-mileper-hour-plus wind, there is nothing they can do about it. Water just dissipates and evaporates.
On the record, I think LA County Fire is maybe the best fire agency in the world. And I’ll give them props that we could not be more blessed. After the Woolsey Fire, I was invited out on the fire boat, and there were probably 35 of us: some state senators, LA County and Ventura County heads, state parks, sheriffs, all these people, City Council members, just to look at the footprints
of the Woolsey Fire and share thoughts. My comments were directed straight to LA County Fire: “Here’s the deal. I know you guys don’t want homes to burn and lives are more important. As I also know that if you had every soldier, all the armed forces on the ground, it wouldn’t make a difference.
“I think you guys need to be brutally honest with the residents, and you need them to be your partners. And if you were honest with them, then maybe they would harden their homes and mitigate the vegetation and look into stuff like what I do to change the dynamic of what’s going on.” We should throw some props to the current LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, who held a press conference after the Palisades Fire and said exactly what I’m saying. He was brutally honest.
Here it is in People Magazine: “During a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone … said the city does not have enough personnel to handle the evolving situation on its own. ‘No, L.A. County, and all 29 fire departments in our county, are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster. There are not enough firefighters in L.A. County to address four separate fires of this magnitude,’ Marrone said. ‘We’re doing the very best we can, but no we don’t have enough fire personnel. The LA County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four, especially given the sustained winds and low humidities.’”
Here we are in August already, and fire season is just around the corner. Correct. Let’s hope this is a wake-up call for citizens of the Santa Monica Mountains and they will take responsibility for the hardening and protection of their homes.
By Burt Ross, Contributed Column
This screenshot from Google Earth shows a home (red marker) in the Palisades Fire area that had one of Bobby Milstein’s fire protection systems installed and is still standing after the blaze. Note the empty lots around the home, where buildingshad been destroyed. Screenshot courtesy of Ben Marcus
MALIBU
go directly to the nonprofit to help make up for the cancellation of its annual Chili Cook-Off, BGCM’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The Chili Cook-Off has also long been considered Malibu’s signature social gathering. “This is a moment for the community to come together again,” Levy commented. “There’s been so much disruption — between fires, evacuations, and events being canceled. We need that feeling of togetherness. And food is a universal language. What better way to connect than over a great meal? When that event was canceled, I asked if our festival could step in as a solution. The answer was yes, and we’ve rallied ever since.”
“As our community continues to heal from the Franklin and Palisades Fires, BGCM is proud to be part of an event that brings hope and connection to Malibu while supporting long-term recovery through our Community Recovery Services,” said Kasey Earnest, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.
Each day of the festival includes seven to eight wineries, a champagne and caviar lounge, and multiple spirits activations. There are three tiers of tickets (excluding Family Day), with general admission starting at $300. All tastings, beverages, parking, and live DJ entertainment are included. For an exclusive experience, guests can purchase a VIP six-course tasting dinner with wine pairings. On Friday, the dinner will be hosted by chef Vigneron and Hawaii’s Roy Yamaguchi. Saturday’s dinner features Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, well-known from television and
their acclaimed restaurants.
Vigneron commented, “For me, food has always been the catalyst for community, and with tourism slowing in the aftermath of the fires, this festival is a celebration of Malibu and the spirit and flavors of California. I am grateful we are able to bring our community together, as I believe events like this are the best way forward.”
That sentiment was echoed by another partner in the event. Rob Pausmith said, “As a proud Malibu native, I’m beyond thrilled to be a partner of Malibu Food & Wine… bringing this incredible opportunity to celebrate flavors and spirit and to bring our community together in a truly meaningful way.”
While the chef lineup draws national and international names, supporting the local community remains a core value. “We didn’t want to create a separate ‘support local’ area,” said Levy. “Instead, local businesses are integrated with our star chefs, shoulder to shoulder. They’re marked with a ‘Taste of Malibu’ banner so guests can give them the extra love they deserve.”
About 8–10 vendors are from Malibu, with one from nearby Topanga. All were selected in part because they were impacted by recent fires and evacuations.
With an extensive background in PR, branding, and hospitality — as well as partnerships in two major cookware brands — Levy is no stranger to the culinary world. Her connections helped bring in top-tier talent, while her Malibu roots keep the focus close to home.
“Our hearts and bellies should be full,” she stated.
“That’s the goal.”
For more information, tickets, and a full lineup of chefs and wineries, visit malibufoodandwine.com.
Coast Highway. “Just as amazing is that we were able to save the iconic large chair that was outside the tasting room,” Clayton Glenn said as he shared his harrowing story of helping to excavate the large chair from the cement outside what once was the PCH tasting room. Just as Rosenthal aficionados have done for years, guests at the soft opening climbed up on the large chair, raising their wine glasses as they toasted the new beginnings for the Estate. As others looked on, they shared a magical moment, celebrating not only the opening of a favorite Malibu venue, the fact that the vines will soon yield more glorious grapes, but also that the event marked Rosenthal’s victory over disaster - a message most welcome as we all rebuild Malibu. The afternoon was more than just a reopening — it was a homecoming.
The Rosenthal Estate, with its rich history, unique wines, and vibrant community, has returned to offer a place of gathering, reflection, and celebration. As Malibu continues its own journey of recovery, the reopening of Rosenthal is a poignant reminder that from the ashes, beauty — and great wine — can rise. Rosenthal Estate Wines is located at the intersection of Kanan Dume Road and Newton Canyon Road. Reservations for weekend tastings can be made at rosenthalestatewines.com For more information, email tastingroom@rosenthalestatewines.com or call (310) 456-1392.
Patrons of the Rosenthal Estate celebrate the soft-opening of the long-dormant property on Aug. 3. Photos by Scott Crawford
Saddlerock Ranch, nestled in the rolling hills of Malibu, where stunning views and rustic charm create the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments. Photo by Sidney Paiva
MALIBU FOOD & WINE Continued from B1
2025113754
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: AIR TEKNICA
14914 HAMLIN ST #101, LOS ANGELES, CA 91411, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): Registered Owner(s):
BRIAN POTRA
14914 HAMLIN ST #101, LOS ANGELES, CA 91411
GEORGE POTRA 7063 VINELAND AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91605
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization
This business is conducted by: A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 06/2025
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, BRIAN POTRA, GENERAL PARTNER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 6/4/2025 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: 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7/2025 MALIBU 163
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE TS No. CA-24-1002545BF Order No.: 3301766 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 9/10/2004. 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. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 to the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, will be held by duly appointed trustee. The sale will be made, but without covenant or
LEGAL NOTICES
warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. BENEFICIARY MAY ELECT TO BID LESS THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE. Trustor(s): PAMELA G. SONNENBLICK, A MARRIED WOMAN AS HER SOLE AND SEPARATE PROPERTY AS TO AN UNDIVIDED 66.67% AND ROBERT SONNENBLICK AS TRUSTEE OF THE SONNENBLICK IRREVOCABLE TRUST 2 UTA DATED 1/11/200 AS TO AN UNDIVIDED 33.33% AS TENANTS IN COMMON Recorded: 10/12/2004 as Instrument No. 04 2609717 of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, California; Date of Sale: 8/14/2025 at 10:00 AM Place of Sale: Behind the fountain located in Civic Center Plaza, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $1,573,594.25 The purported property address is: 1422 CUESTA LINDA DRIVE, PACIFIC PALISADES, CA 90272 Assessor’s Parcel No.: 4431-034-004 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 800-7588052 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-24-1002545-BF. 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 website. 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
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CITY OF MALIBU
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Malibu has received an application for the following:
MALIBU TRIATHLON
Temporary Use Permit No. 25-008 – An application for the Malibu Triathlon, a two-day event at Zuma Beach, which will include amplified announcements, background music, food vendors, and activities at Zuma Beach. The triathlon route will consist of a swim along Zuma Beach, an out and back run along Westward Beach Road, and a bike ride along Pacific Coast Highway from Zuma Beach to Point Mugu and back. Street closures and parking restrictions for each day of the event are to be determined. A detailed event schedule is provided below.
Location: Zuma Beach, 30050 Pacific Coast Highway
Applicant: Zuma Foundation Inc
Property Owner: Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors
If there are any questions regarding this application, please contact Analise Nash, Planning Technician, at (310) 456-2489, extension 294.
Copies of all related documents are available for review at City Hall during regular business hours.
By: Yolanda Bundy, Community Development Director
Date: August 7, 2025
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 619-645-7711, or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-24-1002545-BF 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 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. NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE OWNER-OCCUPANT: Any prospective owner-occupant as defined in Section 2924m of the California Civil Code who is the last and highest bidder at the trustee’s sale shall provide the required affidavit or declaration of eligibility to the auctioneer at the trustee’s sale or shall have it delivered to QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION by 5 p.m. on the next business day following the trustee’s sale at the address set forth in the below signature block. NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE POST-SALE OVER BIDDERS: For post-sale information in accordance with Section 2924m(e) of the California Civil Code, use file number CA-24-1002545-BF and call (866) 645-7711 or login to: http://www.qualityloan. com. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or 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 beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary’s Agent, or the Beneficiary’s Attorney. If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holders right’s against the real property only. Date: QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION 2763 Camino Del Rio S San Diego, CA 92108 619-645-7711 For NON SALE information only Sale Line: 800-758-8052 Or Login to: http://www. qualityloan.com Post-Sale Information (CCC 2924m(e)): (866) 645-7711 Reinstatement or Payoff Line: (866) 6457711 Ext 5318 QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION TS No.: CA-24-1002545-BF IDSPub #0249335 7/24/2025
7/31/2025 8/7/2025 MALIBU 164
2025142714
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. THE BAKKE GROUP
7367 WARING AVE., LOS ANGELES, CA 90046, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): Registered Owner(s): BRYAN BAKKE
7367 WARING AVE., LOS ANGELES, CA 90046
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: 07/2025
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, BRYAN BAKKE, OWNER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 7/14/2025 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: 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14/2025
MALIBU 165
MALIBU, CA 90265
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization
This business is conducted by: A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
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, MAUREEN GANZ, GENERAL PARTNER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 7/15/2025 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: 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14/2025 MALIBU 168
2025143778
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. SHANTI 11601 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 2150, LOS ANGELES, CA 90025, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable):
Registered Owner(s): RENEGADE HAPPINESS, LLC 11601 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 2150 LOS ANGELES, CA 90025
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: 07/2025
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, RENEGADE HAPPINESS, LLC, ALEXIS STEIN, MEMBER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 7/15/2025 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: 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14/2025 MALIBU 169
2025143720
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: 1. JDIAZFIT
22228 VICTORY BOULEVARD H111, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91367, LOS ANGELES COUNTY Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): Registered Owner(s): JESSE E DIAZ
22228 VICTORY BOULEVARD H111 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, JESSE E DIAZ, OWNER
2025143763
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS:
1. MALIBU THEATER COMPANY
29160 HEATHERCLIFF RD #6584, MALIBU, CA 91403, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if appli-
cable):
Registered Owner(s):
CASSANDRA COPPERFIELD-SLOSSER
29160 HEATHERCLIFF RD #6584
MALIBU, CA 90265
MAUREEN GANZ
29160 HEATHERCLIFF RD #6584
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 7/15/2025 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: 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14/2025 MALIBU 170
WEST QUARTER AND THAT PORTION OF THE SOUTH HALF OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 6, TOWNSHIP 1 SOUTH, RANGE 16 WEST OF THE SAN BERNARDINO BASE AND MERIDIAN, IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL PLAT MAP OF SAID LAND FILED IN THE DISTRICT LAND OFFICE ON OCTOBER 5, 1896, THE CENTERLINE OF WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS; BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE NORTH LINE PARCEL 1 OF EXHIBIT “B” AS SHOWN IN THE EASEMENT AND GRANT DEED AGREEMENT RECORDED SEPTEMBER 5, 2007 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 20072059577, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY, SAID POINT BEING NORTH 79° 42’ 40” EAST 20.75 FROM THE POINT OF BEGINNING AS DESCRIBED IN SAID DOCUMENT; THENCE SOUTH 2° 47’ 03” EAST 127.27 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE NORTHWESTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 40.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY AND WESTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 94° 33’ 07” AN ARC LENGTH OF 66.01 FEET; THENCE NORTH 88° 12’ 36” WEST 55.04 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 75.00 FEET; THENCE WESTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 30° 22’ 44” AN ARC LENGTH OF 40.71 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 54° 17’ 42” WEST 45.30 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE NORTHWESTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 100.00 FEET; THENCE WESTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 17° 13’ 02” AN ARC LENGTH OF 30.04 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 71° 3A 46” WEST 83.60 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 40.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 36° 12’ 27” AN ARC LENGTH OF 25.48 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 33° 56’ 42” WEST 23.10 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 40.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 20° 27’ 18” AN ARC LENGTH OF 14.40 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 53° 23’ 39” WEST 98.09 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 100.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 31° 48’ 30” AN ARC LENGTH OF 55.46 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 21° 37’ 39” WEST 61.53 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 40.00 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY AND EASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 95° 08’ 40” AN ARC LENGTH OF 66.40 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 73° 22’ 07” EAST 79.09 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 40.00 FEET; THENCE EASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 05° 3’ 49” AN ARC LENGTH OF 3.93 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 67° 4’ 48” EAST 68.33 FEET TO THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 40.00 FEET;THENCE EASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE THROUGH A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 28° 52* 35” AN ARC LENGTH OF 20.15 FEET; THENCE NORTH 83° 24’ 38” WEST 51,27 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF SAID PARCEL 1 DESCRIBED IN THE FOURTH COURSE OF SAID PARCEL 1 AS SOUTH 00° 23’ 49” WEST 535.99 FEET, SAID POINT BEING SOUTH 00° 23’ 49” WEST 87.70 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING OF SAID FOURTH COURSE. SAID 30 FOOT EASEMENT SHALL BE INCREASED AN ADDITIONAL 10 FEET SOUTH OF THE CENTERLINE FOR THE LAST TWO ABOVE DESCRIBED COURSES. THE SIDELINES OF SAID 30 FOOT AND 40 FOOT EASEMENT SHALL BE PROLONGED OR SHORTENED SO AS TO BEGIN ON SAID NORTH LINE AND END ON SAID WEST LINE OF SAID PARCEL 1.Assessor’s Parcel Number: 4440-007-068 APN 4440007-068 The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 21420 Hillside Drive, Topanga, CA 90290 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. 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: $3,820,104.31 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. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned caused a Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. Dated:7/28/25 Prime Recon LLC Prime Recon LLC. may be attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained maybe used for that purpose. By: Devin Ormonde, Assistant Vice President Prime Recon LLC 27368 Via Industrie Ste 201 Temecula, CA 92590 (888) 725-4142 FOR TRUSTEE’S SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: (844) 901-0998 OR VIEW OUR WEBSITE: https://salesinformation.prime-recon.com 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 (714) 730-2727 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this Internet Web site - www.servicelinkASAP.com - for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case: TS#182624. 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 (714) 730-2727 for information regarding the trustee’s sale, or visit this internet website www.servicelinkASAP.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case TS#182624 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 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-4849103 08/07/2025, 08/14/2025, 08/21/2025
MALIBU 178
2025152786
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS:
PALACE TECHNOLOGIES
30721 RUSSELL RANCH RD SUITE 140, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): B20250124964
Registered Owner(s): PALACE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
30721 RUSSELL RANCH RD SUITE 140, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362
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: 05/2025 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, PALACE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, JUAN ANDRADE, CEO
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on JUL 25 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: 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28/2025
MALIBU 160
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Los Angeles County Hearing Officer will conduct a public hearing to consider the project described below. A presentation and overview of the project will be given, and any interested person or authorized agent may appear and comment on the project at the hearing. The Hearing Officer will then consider to approve or deny the project or continue the hearing if it deems necessary. Should you attend, you will have an opportunity to testify, or you can submit written comments to the planner below or at the public hearing. If the final decision on this proposal is challenged in court, testimony may be limited to issues raised before or at the public hearing
Hearing Date and Time: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Hearing Location: Hall of Records, 500 W. Temple Street, Room B4 (Board Room C), Los Angeles, CA 90012. Virtual (Online) at bit.ly/ZOOM-HO. By phone at (669) 444-9171 or (719) 359-4580 (ID: 824 5573 9842).
Project No.: PRJ2024-002859-(3)
Project Location: 23629 Zuniga Road, Malibu within the Santa Monica Mountains Planning Area
CEQA Categorical Exemption: Class 4 – Minor Alteration to Land
Project Description: Minor Conditional Use Permit request to authorize exploratory testing consisting of drilling up to ten test holes and four trenches for use in preparation of a geological and onsite wastewater treatment system report for a future proposed residential development.
More information: Jerry Hittleman. 320 W. Temple Street, 13th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012. (213) 974-6411. jhittleman@planning.lacounty.gov. planning.lacounty.gov.
Case Material: https://bit.ly/PRJ2024-002859
If you need reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids, contact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator
at (213) 974-6488 (Voice) or (213) 617-2292 (TDD) with at least 3 business days’ advanced notice.
8/7/25
CNS-3953509#
MALIBU TIMES
MALIBU 179
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: SOPHIA HUTCHINS CASE NO. 25STPB08569
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of SOPHIA HUTCHINS.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by LEE GREENFIELD in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates 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: 08/28/2025 at 8:30AM in Dept. 62 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
Jack Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald Monroe Flynn PC 2341 Jefferson St., Ste. 200 San Diego, CA 92110
619-215-1741
MALIBU 180
2025155158
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: BIZ FLUUNT
1561 N GREENBRIER RD, LONG BEACH, CA 90815, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable):
Registered Owner(s): AUTO FLUUNT LLC
1561 N GREENBRIER RD, LONG BEACH, CA 90815
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: 07/2025
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, AUTO FLUUNT LLC, RYAN MILLER, MANAGING MEMBER
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 7/30/2025
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: 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28/2025 MALIBU 181
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF MALIBU PLANNING COMMISSION
The Malibu Planning Commission will hold public hearings on TUESDAY, September 2, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA on the projects identified below.
Public comment can be submitted ahead of the public hearing to planningcommission@malibucity.org for inclusion in the public record. To participate during the public hearing, please review the meeting agenda posted at MalibuCi-
ty.org/AgendaCenter and follow the directions for public participation.
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT NO. 15-070, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 16-006, DEMOLITION PERMIT NO. 25-006, AND CODE VIOLATION NO. 18011 - An application for the installation of a new OWTS and abandonment of the existing OWTS, demolition of the existing driveway and access, removing site retaining walls, and demolition of the pool and spa, installation of new landscaping, and construction of a new shared driveway and fire lane with 29140 Cliffside Drive; including a conditional use permit for the cross-lot conveyance of wastewater disposal between 29150 to 29140 Cliffside Drive
Locations: 29150 and 29140 Cliffside Drive
APNs: 4468-001-004 and 4468-001-005
Zoning: Rural Residential-One Acre (RR-1)
Applicant: Mabante Development Inc
Owners: Nabisco LTD and Setara Limited
Appealable to: City Council and California Coastal Commission
COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT NO. 24-057, SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 24-028, AND MINOR MODIFICATION NO. 25-001 - An application for the construction of a new two-story, single-family residence with attached garage and associated development; including a site plan review for construction above 18 feet in height up to 24 feet for a flat roof, and a minor modification for a reduction in the front yard setback
Environmental Review: Categorical Exemption CEQA Guidelines Sections 15303(a) and 15303(e)
Application Filed: October 18, 2024
Case Planner: Alexander da Silva, Assistant Planner (310) 456-2489, extension 314 adasilva@malibucity.org
For the projects identified above with a categorical exemption for environmental review, pursuant to the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Community Development Director has analyzed these proposed projects and found that they are listed among the classes of projects that have been determined not to have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the projects are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. The Community Development Director has further determined that none of the six exceptions to the use of a categorical exemption apply to these projects (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2).
A written staff report will be available at or before the hearing for the projects. All persons wishing to address the Commission regarding these matters will be afforded an opportunity in accordance with the Commission’s procedures.
Copies of all related documents can be reviewed by any interested person at City Hall during regular business hours. Oral and written comments may be presented to the Planning Commission on, or before, the date of the meeting.
LOCAL APPEAL – A decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council by an aggrieved person by written statement setting forth the grounds for appeal. An appeal shall be filed with the City Clerk within ten days following the date of action (15 days for tentative maps) for which the appeal is made and shall be accompanied by an appeal form and filing fee, as specified by the City Council. Appeal forms may be found online at www.malibucity.org/ planningforms or in person at City Hall, or by calling (310) 456-2489, extension 246.
COASTAL COMMISSION APPEAL – For projects appealable to the Coastal Commission, an aggrieved person may appeal the Planning Commission’s approval to the Coastal Commission within 10 working days of the issuance of the City’s Notice of Final Action. Appeal forms may be found online at www. coastal.ca.gov or in person at the Coastal Commission South Central Coast District office located at 89 South California Street in Ventura, or by calling 805-585-1800. Such an appeal must be filed with the Coastal Commission, not the City.
IF YOU CHALLENGE THE CITY’S ACTION IN COURT, YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO RAISING ONLY THOSE ISSUES YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE RAISED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE, OR IN WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE DELIVERED TO THE CITY, AT OR PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Yolanda Bundy, Community Development Director Publish Date: August 7, 2025 MALIBU 182
POPPY’S PAL
To
and age. Poppy’s Pall photos are published in the order in which they are received.
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By McKENZIE
The Pepperdine Waves women’s soccer team grabbed a share of the West Coast Conference crown a season ago when they won their final regular-season match.
Waves head coach Tim Ward said his squad is eager to score another WCC championship this season, which would mark the fifth in the program’s 32-year history.
“We want to win the WCC backto-back for the second time in school history,” said Ward, Pepperdine’s head coach since 1998. “Just like last year, there are going to be some twists and turns along the way, so we must be resilient. It’s a little bit of a marathon and not a sprint. It’s going to be fun.”
The Waves finished their 2024 campaign with a 12-4-5 record. After Pepperdine clinched the conference crown with a victory over San Francisco last November, they were defeated by California in the first round of the NCAA Championships.
Pepperdine opens the 2025 season Saturday at 2 p.m. with a home exhibition against Cal Poly. Their first regular-season game is at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, on Aug. 14. Three days later, the Waves will host Hawai’i.
Ward said Pepperdine lost skilled players such as two-time WCC Player of the Year Tori Waldeck Zierenberg from last season due to graduation.
The roster still brims with talent and experience.
“We like our team a lot,” Ward said. “Our staff has goals for the team; we have goals for players who now get to step up and knock in some of the goals that Tori was doing for us. In terms of the quality and depth, we have a really good team.”
The coach emphasized that Waves’ seniors — defender Erin Zeile, reigning WCC Co-Midfielder of the Year Karina Gonzalez, 2024 All-WCC Honorable Mention midfielder/forward Tabitha LaParl, 2024 All-WCC Second Team mid-
fielder/forward Tatum Wynalda, and forward Melina Livadas — and redshirt junior midfielders Cadee Borg and Kyra Murphy, a 2024 All-WCC Honorable Mention player, are the team’s leaders.
“They are ready to rock ‘n’ roll,” Ward said. “They have had success, and they have also known disappointment. They are doing an amazing job setting the tone of our culture.”
Other players, such as junior defender Peyton Leonard and her classmate, forward Julia Quinonez, who is fresh off an offseason in which she took part in two U.S. U20 National Team training camps, are expected
to excel.
The Waves, according to Ward, are dedicating their season to people impacted by the Palisades Fire, which blazed destructively through Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu in January.
“We want to make sure to honor them with everything we do,” he said. “Sport in college is full of adversity. All these young people are used to being high-level alpha achievers. They are almost perfectionists. They are used to being the best, but in a short three, four-month season, a lot of stuff goes on. What we love about our program is everybody must work for it. Hopefully
through that process, they can rise from the ashes as something stronger, more beautiful, more powerful, more purposeful.”
The Waves’ 19-match schedule, which stretches until early November, is “vicious,” explained Ward.
“We aren’t competing against teams that are average,” he stated. “You don’t want to compete against good. You want to compete against great. You can’t get great results, unless you play great opponents.”
Ward noted that playing tough non-WCC competitors such as UCLA, USC, Georgetown, and Harvard last season helped Pepperdine qualify for the NCAA
Tournament.
Along with the season’s first two games, the Waves’ non-conference slate includes a match at USC in Los Angeles on Aug. 21 and a game at Cal in Berkeley three days later. The Waves host Columbia on Aug. 28 and then head to the Grand Canyon State to play at Arizona State in Tempe on Sept. 4 and at Arizona in Tucson three days afterwards. Pepperdine will host San Diego State on Sept. 11. Pepperdine still has a bitter taste from their loss to Cal in the NCAA Tournament.
“Cal has an excellent team,” he added. “They are perennial NCAA
tournament participants — like us. We have a great rivalry with them. We are looking forward to that opportunity again.”
The Waves, Ward stated, are proud of what they did in 2024 but are striving to build on that success.
“We have a lot of really competitive women,” he noted. But, he added the team’s mission extends beyond the win-loss column.
“Our purpose is much higher than winning soccer games,” Ward said.
Malibu grad Tallula Murphree reflects on a multisport journey
After trading cleats for a swim cap her sophomore year, future UC Berkeley student emerged as a force in water polo, cross country, swimming, and track
By McKENZIE JACKSON
Tallula Murphree didn’t pick up a water polo ball until her sophomore year in high school, after she left the soccer field, traded cleats for a swim cap, and dove into the deep end with the Malibu High Sharks girls water polo team.
“I’m happy I decided to do it,” Murphree, a 2025 Malibu High graduate, recalled. “My whole high school experience would have been different without it.”
The teenager, a longtime swimmer and soccer player, was a newcomer to water polo, so the sport challenged her mentally. Its physicality caught her off guard, also.
“I was like, ‘Why is everyone so aggressive?’ until I realized it was part of the game,” Murphree recalled. “Since I was a swimmer, I tried to outswim people rather than battle them underwater.” She also had to adjust to the constant whistle blasts from referees.
“In water polo there are so many whistles,” she said. “That was tricky, so I was confused.”
But Murphree adapted quickly. By the end of her three-season stint, she was an attacker with a knack for scoring off sprints, helping Malibu rack up victories and secure postseason berths.
Murphree helped lead the Sharks to two consecutive Tri-Valley League championships and three straight CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoff appearances, including a quarterfinal run last season. She was named to the All-Tri-Valley League second team in 2023 and first team in 2024.
Malibu head coach Hayden Goldberg said Murphree’s quick swimming skills and determination were essential to the team’s success.
“She was our fastest body in the pool, and we always relied on her speed,” he said. “She has a never-quit attitude, and she had all the girls wishing they had ‘Tallula speed.’”
That mindset was forged during her years with the Malibu Seawolves swim club.
“You work hard, and it pays off,” Murphree said. “I also learned patience — don’t get mad if you had a bad meet.”
She added a line Goldberg often
preached: “You just have to trust the process.”
Murphree’s athletic success extended beyond the pool.
In cross country, she was named the Citrus Coast League’s Most Valuable Runner in 2022 and 2024, qualifying for the CIF-SS Division 5 Finals all four years.
Last season, she notched six top-five finishes, including a third-place run in the CIF-SS Preliminaries 3-mile race with a time of 20:22.7 — beating 79 other competitors. She placed 16th out of 117 runners in the final, clocking a time of 20:28.1.
Murphree qualified for CIF-SS Division 4 track and field competitions in the 3,200-meter race her sophomore and senior years. As a 10th-grader, she also qualified in the 1,600 and was part of a 4x400 relay team that reached CIF. She earned Citrus Coast League second-team honors in track that season.
Murphree competed in the CIF-SS
Division 3 Championships as a member of the Sharks swim team for three years. Her junior year was especially strong. She placed seventh in the 200yard freestyle finals (1:58.26) and 10th in the 500-yard freestyle finals (5:24.43). She also reached CIF preliminaries in both events as a sophomore and placed 11th and 15th in the finals as a freshman.
Murphree kept a balanced mindset in all the CIF competitions she competed in, despite the high stakes.
“I never put too much pressure on myself,” she said.
Murphree played soccer in ninth grade but switched to water polo the following year.
Goldberg welcomed the multisport athlete and other novices to the team, noting Murphree’s swimming background made her an instant starter.
“She learned the game more and came back with more skills in the pool,” Goldberg said, referencing her offseason training with South Coast Aquatics. “I’m
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beyond proud of her and her improvements every season.”
Murphree said her soccer experience helped her adapt to water polo’s strategic play.
“It’s kind of like soccer in the water,” she said.
One of her favorite memories was Malibu’s 10–9 victory over frequent foe Thousand Oaks during her junior season.
“It was awesome,” she said.
Murphree credited Seawolves coach Jenna Sanchez, a former Pepperdine champion swimmer, for her successful campaigns in cross country, water polo, and swimming as an 11th-grader.
“Besides teaching me advanced swim techniques, she always believed in me more than I did,” Murphree said. “She pushed me to become a better version of myself every day.”
She also leaned on her brothers, Ranger and Wiley, for support. Ranger was a fellow distance runner and swimmer, while Wiley competed in discus and is
a black belt in karate.
The siblings’ upbringing in athletics also played a role.
“Since I started club swimming at a young age, I didn’t think about going to practice or meets — I just went,” Tallula explained. “My brother was going too. We went to practice every single day and didn’t think too much about it. When we got to high school, it was our routine. We didn’t dread going to practice every day.”
Murphree, currently working as a state lifeguard, plans to participate in club swimming or water polo at Cal, where she’ll also keep running for fitness.
She said her high school sports experience taught her that specialization isn’t necessary.
“I loved playing water polo,” she said. “Some of my closest friends were on the team, and the coach was awesome. I just hopped into it and was surprised by how well it went. Water polo feels like the most me.”
Special to The Malibu Times
Malibu High School graduate Tallula Murphree is shown competing in a swim meet for the Sharks. Murphree, headed to
