Waves of Flags returns to Pepperdine as a moving tribute to 9/11 victims
Nearly 3,000 flags now proudly fill Alumni Park once again to honor the lives lost on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001
HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher/Editor in Chief
The rolling green hills overlooking Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus are once again awash in red, white, and blue, serving as a solemn reminder of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. The annual Waves of Flags
display transforms Alumni Park into a sweeping tribute, commemorating the 2,977 victims of the terrorist attacks while offering a space for reflection and remembrance. On Saturday, Sept. 6, members of the Pepperdine and Malibu community planted nearly 3,000 flags, each representing a life lost that fateful day. The display also includes international flags to honor the citizens of other
nations who perished in the attacks. This year, the installation welcomed Seaver alumnus John Bossler (‘80), a 9/11 survivor who emerged from the World Trade Center’s Tower One just moments after the first plane struck, to plant the first flag. Bossler, who has volunteered with the university annually for the Waves of Flags, described the ritual as both personally healing and a meaningful
opportunity to create space for others to reflect.
“The Waves of Flags display is not just a visual tribute—it’s an invitation to pause and remember the human lives behind the headlines,” said Bossler in a statement. Pepperdine’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Alumni Park.
Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins Malibu’s Big Blue
The City of Malibu launched its “Big Blue Beach Crawl for PCH Safety” over Labor Day weekend, welcoming beachgoers with an important message: slow down, enjoy the views, and get home safely. The outreach event brought city staff, volunteers, and community members together — not to clean the beaches, but to connect directly with visitors and residents about safe driving on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
Fraser Bohm denied bail reduction
Defense asks for a reduction from $4 million to $2 million for charges in crash that led to deaths of four Pepperdine students
By JUDY ABEL
Fraser Michael Bohm returned to a packed courtroom in Van Nuys on Sept. 5. The 23-year-old is charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence following the Oct. 17, 2023, crash on Pacific Coast Highway that led to the deaths of Pepperdine seniors Deslyn Williams, Asha Weir, Niamh Rolston, and Peyton Stewart. The four sorority sisters were killed when Bohm, allegedly speeding, lost control of his BMW and, according to court filings, sideswiped a parked car, jumped the curb, and careened into where the young women were walking, killing them instantly.
Kraut with Alan Jackson, whose client roster includes Hollywood actors, NBA
first fire safety liaison shares wisdom
Jerry Vandermeulen says that residents now need to stay ready for fires year-round
When Jerry Vandermeulen became Malibu’s first fire safety liaison in 2019, the idea of a “fire season” still carried weight. Residents braced for the late summer and fall months when Santa Ana winds could whip a spark into a citywide disaster. Today, Vandermeulen says, that framing no longer applies.
“Fire season is pretty much all year-round,” said Vandermeulen, who serves as one of three part-
time Malibu fire safety liaisons.
“A few years ago, we had a lot of rain and moisture in the chaparral. But now we’re in another drought
vember remain the most dangerous months, when Santa Ana winds —
come “the game changer when it comes to wildfires.”
With 35 years of firefighting under his belt, serving with Kern and Ventura County fire departments, Vandermeulen has watched residents grow more engaged in wildfire
preparation since the Woolsey Fire. He stressed that “ember hardening” homes — installing ember-resistant vents, clearing the first five feet around structures, and upgrading roofing — is critical. But he says it’s not enough for one household to act alone. “If one person does ember hardening and their neighbor doesn’t, their house can be just as susceptible as if they never did it. I’ve seen homes with everything done right still lost because the houses next door were not prepared.”
That’s where the Firewise program, explained in The Malibu Times last week, comes in, encouraging neighbors to coordinate mitigation efforts together.
Bohm entered Superior Court on Friday morning flanked by his defense team. Bohm recently replaced attorney Michael
JERRY VANDERMEULEN
Members of Malibu’s Big Blue Beach Crawl pose with a beachgoer during Labor Day Weekend. Photo courtesy of City of Malibu
struck,
(top
Fraser Michael Bohm (left) and defense attorney Alan Jackson (second from left) exit the Van Nuys Courthouse after a pretrial hearing Sept. 5. Photo by Tony Gleason of Pepperdine University
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*Letters to the Editor may not reflect the view, opinion and/or ethics of The Malibu Times. They are however, letters from the people of Malibu. We support your right to express your opinion. Submit your letter to editorial@ malibutimes.com or visit malibutimes.com.
When will Malibu’s Sinclair station get its Apatosaurus?
Dear Editor,
Nice that Malibu has its own Sinclair fuel station. But what makes that brand special is the climbable Apatosaurus dinosaur “Dino” at most locations. When will the Malibu location get theirs? We need our Apatosaurus soon.
Jonathan Toker, Malibu
Build a quality, not a cut-rate, sub-standard, pool at MHS
Dear Editor,
I am the president of the Malibu Township Council. I am including a copy of a letter transmitted to the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District Facilities District Advisory Committee-Malibu on Sept. 8. I urge those who wish a real standard pool for our community and future generations of our kids, as opposed to a cut-rate substandard pool for which we’ll apologize for decades, to attend the meeting at Malibu High School, first floor maker room, on Sept. 16 at 4:30 p.m.
Dear SMMUSD Facilities District Advisory Committee-Malibu (FDAC-M) members and interested parties:
I am the president of the Malibu Township Council, formed Jan. 2, 1947. It was “established to promote, stimulate and further community spirit, to sponsor any project of merit that may benefit any district of Malibu Township, to foster and promote the cultural development of the Township; and in general to do all things that tend to build and uphold the character of this residential area.”
I quote this section of our Articles of Incorporation since sponsoring a 50-meter pool, as opposed to a 40-meter pool, at the new Malibu High School precisely conforms to our purposes, which we at all times do our utmost to honor. I repeat: Malibu Township Council has authorized me as president to advocate for building a 50-meter pool at the new Malibu High School since doing so will benefit the community far more than proceeding with the 40-meter pool suggested by the Facilities District Advisory Committee-Malibu on March 25, 2025. I am a swimmer and a community supporter who, along with every swimmer I know, did not hear of the March 25, 2025, meeting until after it had occurred.
cluded the smaller pool. Such a pool shortchanges our swim community and the students who will attend this school for generations to come.
The competition length of 40 meters would be the equivalent of having an 80-meter dash for running sprinters in track meets. It would be equivalent to 72-foot basepaths in baseball with a 48.8foot distance from the pitcher’s mound to the plate. It would be equivalent to making the limit for lightweight men’s rowers 128 pounds and for lightweight women 104 pounds — that is those of average dimensions would be competing directly against those with NFL physiques. None of these examples would work in sports with which most of us have at least some familiarity.
It is human nature to recognize and appreciate quality. When something is well-built, we respect and value it. When something is subpar, we notice, and it diminishes our experience. A 50-meter pool is the right choice for Malibu High School, and it is what our community deserves — both now and in the future. We have built a new high school to the highest standards with no apparent expense spared. We urge the Advisory Committee to take the necessary steps to ensure that this pool meets similar high standards that our athletes deserve and that our community can be proud of for generations to come.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Bill Sampson, President, Malibu Township Council
Public comment from Monday night re: rebuilding
Dear Editor,
Below is my Public comment on Monday night.
Honorable City Council,
As I stated in my op-ed article in The Malibu Times — It’s now been exactly eight months since the January fire, and in that time, the city has issued just two rebuild permits. One of those was already in motion before the fire. One true permit in eight months is unacceptable. We are hopeful now that this will change.
AFrom the publisher HAYLEY MATTSON
“But we must accept one central truth and responsibility as participants in a democracy: Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.”
— John Lewis
I am including as many interested persons as possible, including representatives of SMMUSD, Malibu High School parents and supporters, and as many members of the Malibu swim community as possible. Recipients of this email are encouraged to invite other interested parties to the meeting of the advisory committee scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2025, at the new Malibu High School. It is expected that SMMUSD will furnish updates on time and place as they become available. [On Sept. 8, the meeting time and place have been confirmed: 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at MHS, first-floor maker space; Zoom: https://smmk12.zoom. us/j/83240279068?pwd=N0rBblNxK3YpGWqA6LELQWVteUWUlo.1.]
Several members of the Malibu swim community, including myself and prominent advocate Steve Hotchkiss, participated in multiple planning sessions regarding the new pool. At no point in these discussions was a 40-meter pool proposed or even considered. The location of the pool and its auxiliary equipment was discussed at length with several proposals postulated — none of which in-
Take a look at the website ca.gov/ lafires/rebuilding-la/ for current rebuild statistics. LA County is at 18% approval with 313 permits, LA City is at 36% with 475 permits issued, but Malibu is under 2% — only two permits issued. That’s troubling. I would hope and encourage our city to research what LA City and County are doing to expedite these permits and compare and contrast our methods.
The Malibu Rebuild Task Force had a productive meeting with Yolanda Bundy yesterday on ways to speed things up and finally get our fees waived. If implemented, these changes should make the process easier. That said, plan checks remain burdensome, as we’ve personally seen in our zones. Artificial Intelligence can and should be part of how Malibu speeds up rebuilding — by exposing those inefficiencies and streamlining the process.
A major issue is that the outside consultants are financially incentivized to create more reviews and corrections. This only adds delays and costs for fire victims, and Malibu has long been taken advantage of financially, and it need not be encouraged. Fire victims are afraid to speak out about delays due to fear of retaliation, not from staff, but from certain in-house consultants. It’s wrong. Last council meeting, one Woolsey fire victim shared her struggle with these consultants for seven years and is still awaiting approval for her special conserva-
s members of a city, we are bound together not only by geography but by a shared responsibility to uphold the principles that allow communities to thrive. This reminds us that when private interests or factions attempt to sway the course of public life, they erode the very foundation of collective progress. True governance — whether of a nation, a state, or a city — depends on the will of the people as a whole, not the loudest voices or the most artful minorities.
In every community, there will always be challenges, disagreements, and spirited debates. That is the nature of civic life, and indeed, it is part of what makes it vibrant. But when those differences harden into obstruction, when individuals or groups aim to direct or counteract the fair deliberations of elected bodies for their own narrow purposes, the result is division rather than progress. The wisdom of the quote is a reminder: we must not allow the voice of a few to outweigh the needs of the many.
To be part of a city means accepting both the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. It means embracing open dialogue, respecting due process, and engaging with our neighbors in good faith. It means recognizing that while we may not always agree with every decision, the health of our community depends
tion property rebuilds — we hope she’s now being prioritized. Several homeowners are too scared to speak out, and council needs to be aware of this. That is why I am so grateful to Al Broussard for speaking up last night. Al — in his 80s, driving back and forth far in the dark to attend — is the only fire victim to go through the process from start to finish, and the only one with a permit in hand. We are truly grateful that Al and his family can finally begin rebuilding! His case is a complete study of the rebuild experience, and it was entirely appropriate for him to share what he endured. He should have been celebrated, respected, and heard, not cut off and chastised. This is Al’s second time losing his home to wildfire. His previous home, rebuilt after the 1993 fire, was fully hardened for wildfire — yet it still burned because of systemic failures outside his control. With no resources and no water, his son Shea was the only community brigade member on site, joined only by neighbors with shovels trying to help, but to no avail. His wife, Arlene — an accomplished artist — nearly lost her life from the stress of the Palisades aftermath and has been hospitalized multiple times. Their family’s resilience is extraordinary, but no family should have to suffer like this. Council asked for examples of where the city needs improvement. Al offered them, and it is vital that his experience be
on our collective willingness to move forward together. A city is more than an address or a backdrop — it is a living organism shaped by every choice we make and every action we take. When we resist the pull of faction and embrace collaboration, we create an environment where consistent, thoughtful plans can take root — plans that honor both tradition and progress, shaped by shared interests rather than isolated agendas. Our greatest strength is not found in buildings or streets, but in people—neighbors willing to listen, leaders devoted to fairness, and citizens committed to placing the common good above personal gain. As we continue to rebuild our city, let us renew our commitment to those ideals. May we stand beside those who are still hurting, offering support and compassion, and work together to shape a city that reflects not the clamor of factions, but the harmony of shared vision— where every voice is valued, and every contribution helps build a future that belongs to us all.
Our hearts are forever with the lives lost on Sept. 11, and I am deeply grateful to Pepperdine University for keeping the memory of all who were lost at the forefront with such a moving tribute. It warms my heart every year to sit among the flags and reflect on the lives remembered, the families honored, and the enduring spirit of unity that continues to inspire us all.
taken seriously — for his sake and for all of ours.
He didn’t get to finish his detailed information at the meeting. I have encouraged his family to write to you all about the arduous process, with its many unnecessary components and roadblocks, and I do hope they will be heard — for their sake, and for all of ours.
Adopting self-certification — or at the very least, trusting licensed professionals’ reports and recommendations — would eliminate the endless cycle of reviews and corrections. LA City already uses this approach successfully — Malibu must do the same.
Personally, I’m still waiting for my soils report after almost three months, and I won’t call out that independent consultant as I’m afraid of their retaliation, frankly. It’s frustrating, but I find being vocal about everything has kept our family’s process moving. No fire victim should have to fight this hard just to move forward — especially when the governor has guaranteed fire victims the right to rebuild up to 10%. Yet, many here are not even being granted that.
Yolanda has instructed consultants to reduce corrections and will clarify to the public what these corrections can encompass to avoid future delays. Every roadblock makes rebuilding slower and more expensive, allowing out-oftown investors to circle and push out long-time Malibu families.
We appreciate the Task Force’s
efforts and Yolanda’s regular engagement. I hope this leads to faster progress.
A special thank you to Haylynn Conrad and Planning Commissioner John Mazza for attending the “Big Rock Burning” documentary screening. Your presence showed the empathy and care we so badly need. That same empathy is required from every member of this Council if we are to rebuild and bring our community home. I urge all of you to attend future screenings — to see firsthand not only the devastation and human cost, but also the extraordinary resilience our community continues to show in the face of these losses. Because when the conversation shifts to “no net loss of property taxes,” it reveals just how far we are from empathy. That language dehumanizes us. We are not numbers on a spreadsheet. We are families who lost everything. Rebuilding quickly is not just about restoring houses — it is about restoring safety, stability, and the very fabric of Malibu. Governing responsibly means leading with compassion, not accounting. We are doing our part. But rebuilding will not happen without your empathy guiding the process. The question is: will you show that empathy, empower staff, confront the roadblocks, and finally bring Malibu families home?
Hayley Mattson
Hayley Mattson
Cami Martin
Michael Chaldu
Judy Abel
Jen Rodman, Anthony Atkins, Ebers García
Judy Abel, Barbara Burke, McKenzie Jackson, Burt Ross, Benjamin Marcus, Michel Shane
Anthony McDemas
Karen Kagan
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.” — Abraham Lincoln
Stokers
Malibu communities embrace Firewise program
‘We’ve been battling like Don Quixote with windmills!’
Dick Van Dyke fans treated to high tea at Vandy Manor
Area chefs showcase their best for Malibu in the ‘Little Chili Cook-Off’
Jo Drummond, Malibu Rebuild Task Force
Why soil testing matters
Malibu Sharks girls volleyball gains insight from Long Beach State visit
Marcel Fontijn and Jamie Barron on the off-site intentions of Zuru Tech and two Kiwi billionaires
Historic Reel Inn faces uncertain future after Palisades Fire
The road to recovery after the devastating Palisades Fire has been anything but smooth for a group of historic business owners on the eastern edge of Malibu. Once-bustling landmarks along Pacific Coast Highway — longtime favorites for locals, surfers, and visitors alike—are now reduced to rubble, with little clarity about what comes next.
Among the most heartbreaking losses is The Reel Inn, a seafood shack at Topanga Canyon Boulevard that for nearly 40 years served up fried fish baskets, clam chowder, and quirky seafood puns to generations of loyal customers. Its colorful sign now sits in ruins, and the future of the restaurant appears bleak.
Last week, The Malibu Times reported that The Reel Inn, which greeted drivers with a dose of humor and the smell of fresh seafood for more than 36 years, will not be allowed to rebuild at its longtime location. The rustic fish shack burned to the ground in the Palisades Fire, which tore through the area earlier this year. Owners Teddy and Andy Leonard, who leased the land from California State Parks, had initially hoped to rebuild once the disaster subsided.
In January, Teddy Leonard told The Malibu Times the couple was awaiting a meeting with State Parks regarding their lease. That meeting, delayed by fire recovery efforts, finally took place in August—only for the Leonards to learn that their lease would not be renewed. “It was devastating,” Leonard said. “We wanted nothing more than to bring the Reel Inn back to life, but the decision was taken out of our hands.”
The couple has since shifted focus to helping their nearly two dozen employees who lost their jobs in the blaze, including launching a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial relief. Meanwhile, the former Reel Inn site has been repurposed as a staging area for utility restoration—work that could continue for as long as two years.
California State Parks has indicated it will issue a request for proposals for new concessions at the site once recovery work is complete. But those leases may last only two to three years, a restriction that makes it nearly impossible for small busi-
ness owners to invest in long-term rebuilding. “Operating the Reel Inn somewhere else would be too expensive,” the Leonards said in a statement. “The only way we were able to provide high-quality seafood at a reasonable price was through our unique lease agreement with the State Parks.”
The Reel Inn isn’t alone in its struggle. Other iconic businesses destroyed in the fire—including the Topanga Ranch Motel, Wylie’s Bait and Tackle, Cholada Thai, and Rosenthal Wine Bar—face the same legal and logistical roadblocks to reopening. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which is using the fire-ravaged land for infrastructure restoration, recently confirmed to business owners that their leases have been terminated, effectively preventing any chance of rebuilding in the near future.
For now, what was once a colorful gateway to Malibu stands silent. Longtime patrons mourn not only the loss of food, drink, and surf culture, but also a sense of community rooted in these coastal businesses.
“It wasn’t just about the fish,” one customer shared on social media.
“The Reel Inn was part of Malibu’s soul.”
On Monday, The Malibu Times received a statement from a State Parks spokesperson:
“State Parks will explore all viable options to continue our long-term relationships with The Reel Inn and the other businesses at the Topanga Ranch Motel Complex site that were tragically lost in the Palisades Fire.”
As the Pacific Coast Highway corridor continues its slow recovery, the question remains: will the beloved businesses that defined this stretch of coastline ever return—or will their absence mark the end of an era?
Malibu to Host Protect Your Home Workshop with LASD
The City of Malibu, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), is inviting residents to attend a Protect Your Home Workshop on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Malibu City Hall.
The workshop will provide community members with valuable information on how to secure their homes and properties against trespassing and squatting. Residents will hear directly from law enforcement about best practices, ask questions, and complete a Letter of Agency with the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
A Letter of Agency authorizes LASD Deputies to take immediate action to remove or arrest trespassers from private property. This proactive step helps deputies respond more effectively to theft and trespassing incidents.
The City emphasized the importance of this workshop as Malibu transitions away from its temporary private security contract. Covered 6, the firm hired to provide supplemental patrols in the Palisades Fire burn area, will conclude its contract soon. With this change, residents are strongly encouraged to file a Letter of Agency to help strengthen LASD’s ability to protect properties.
NEWS BRIEFS
The event is free, open to the public, and requires no RSVP.
For more information, visit the City of Malibu’s website or contact the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Malibu Community Blood Drive Set for Sept. 15 at City Hall
The City of Malibu is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive on Monday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Malibu City Hall, located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road.
The Red Cross has reported an extreme blood shortage nationwide, making local donations more critical than ever. Blood is needed daily for surgeries, emergencies, and routine medical procedures, as well as for large-scale crises such as natural disasters or mass-casualty events.
“Donating blood is one of the simplest and most powerful ways we can support one another,” city officials said in a statement encouraging residents to participate. “Every donation can help save a life.”
Community members are urged to register in advance at the Red Cross website using the sponsor code “CityofMalibu.” Donors are reminded to bring a photo ID, drink plenty of water, and eat well before and after giving blood to ensure a safe and successful donation experience.
Appointments are recommended to reduce wait times and help maintain social distancing, but walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.
For more information, call (818) 200-3445.
Will Rogers’ Learning Community unveils new early education building
Will Rogers’ Learning Community will celebrate the completion of its newly constructed early education building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 12, at 9:30 a.m. on the Rogers’ campus at 2401 14th Street. The project was made possible through the support of the Santa Monica community via the voter-approved SMS bond measure in 2018, and it brings a modern, student-centered facility to the campus. The new building includes three transitional kindergarten classrooms and four kindergarten classrooms, designed specifically to support the educational development of 4- and 5-year-old students.
Each classroom features abundant natural light and opens directly to outdoor learning and play areas, creating an environment that encourages exploration, engagement, and hands-on learning. The campus’s synthetic turf playfield, which students have enjoyed over the past year, now integrates with new basketball courts and additional outdoor play areas, providing expanded opportunities for physical activity and recreation.
“This new building reflects our commitment to creating dynamic learning spaces where every child can thrive, explore, and grow,” said Principal Lila Daruty. “Will Rogers’ Learning Community has a long-standing tradition of excellence and community pride, and this milestone continues that legacy.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will feature speeches from district leaders, a student-led performance, and guided tours of the new building. Street parking will be available for attendees. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP at bit.ly/WRLCRibbon-CuttingRSVP2025. For more information about Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District facility improvements, visit https://bit.ly/ FIPHomepage, or learn more about the Rogers campus plan at smmusd. org/Page/5598
Senate Republicans launch new investigation into deadly Palisades Fire
Two Senate Republicans, Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, announced on Monday, Sept. 8, a new congressional investigation into the devastating Palisades fire that tore through Malibu and Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, 2025. The probe aims to uncover whether local officials adequately prepared for the emergency, with a particular focus on the critical water shortages that hampered firefighting efforts. The fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed large swaths of the coastal communities, has sparked intense scrutiny and multiple ongoing investigations into its causes and the response.
The Palisades Fire, fueled by hurricane-force winds, overwhelmed firefighting resources almost immediately after it broke out. On the same day, the Eaton Fire erupted in Altadena, claiming 19 lives and devastating the foothill community. Together, these twin wildfires marked one of California’s deadliest fire events in recent history, displacing thousands and causing billions in property damage. The congressional investigation, led by Sens. Scott and Johnson, will zero in on the Palisades Fire, examining why critical water resources were unavailable and whether emergency preparations were sufficient.
“Families in this community deserve answers and accountability,” Scott and Johnson said in a joint statement. “We need to uncover and expose the truth about how state and local governments responded to this tragedy.”
A key focus of the investigation is the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water storage complex in Pacific Palisades that was empty when the fire broke out. The Malibu Times reported that the reservoir had been offline for nearly a year for repairs to its cover, leaving firefighters grappling with dry hydrants and severe water pressure issues. This critical failure forced crews to rely on limited water sources, delaying their ability to contain the fast-moving blaze.
The water shortage has become a flashpoint for criticism. Governor Gavin Newsom, in a January press conference, ordered a separate state investigation into Los Angeles’ water system and its impact on firefighting efforts. Local residents and officials have expressed outrage over the empty reservoir, with some alleging negligence by the city. Among the critics is former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the fire and has since filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming it failed to maintain adequate water supplies and infrastructure.
The Palisades Fire left a trail of destruction, leveling hundreds of homes, businesses, and historic landmarks in Malibu and Pacific
Palisades. The fire scorched over 15,000 acres, forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents, and caused widespread power outages. The environmental toll has been significant, with coastal ecosystems and wildlife habitats suffering extensive damage. Air quality in the region plummeted for weeks, exacerbating health issues for vulnerable populations.
The human cost has been profound. Families are still grappling with the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their homes. Rebuilding efforts have been slow, hampered by bureaucratic delays, insurance disputes, and the high cost of construction in the fire-prone region. Community advocates have called for stronger wildfire prevention measures, including better vegetation management and infrastructure upgrades.
The fire has also strained local economies. Malibu’s tourism industry, a cornerstone of the region’s economy, has taken a hit as visitors stay away from the fire-ravaged areas. Small businesses, already struggling from the economic fallout of recent years, face an uncertain future. Meanwhile, the emotional toll on survivors remains palpable, with mental health services in high demand.
The response to the Palisades Fire has been a polarizing issue, with residents and officials clashing over the causes of the disaster and the adequacy of the response. Questions linger about how the fire started—early reports suggest a possible electrical malfunction, though investigations are ongoing—and why firefighting efforts were delayed. The lack of water has emerged as a central point of contention, with critics arguing that the city’s failure to maintain the Santa Ynez Reservoir was a preventable catastrophe.
This new congressional investigation adds to a growing list of probes. In addition to the state’s inquiry into the water system, federal and local agencies are examining how California utilized federal wildfire management funds. In an August letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sen. Scott suggested that the state and the city of Los Angeles may have mismanaged these funds, failing to prioritize critical infrastructure like water systems.
The investigation also has a personal dimension for Sen. Scott, who recently toured the fire-damaged areas with Pratt. Pratt, a vocal advocate for accountability, has been pushing for a congressional probe since the fire destroyed his home. After their meeting, Scott pledged to ensure the investigation would move forward, a promise he reiterated with Monday’s announcement.
The Palisades Fire has reignited debates about California’s preparedness for increasingly severe wildfires, driven by climate change, prolonged droughts, and urban sprawl into fire-prone areas. Experts warn that the state’s aging infrastructure, including water systems and power grids, is ill-equipped to handle the growing intensity of wildfires. The empty Santa Ynez Reservoir has become a symbol of these broader systemic issues, raising questions about how cities can better prepare for future disasters.
As the congressional investigation unfolds, it is expected to scrutinize not only the immediate response to the PalisadesFire but also the longterm policies and funding decisions that shape wildfire resilience. For
now, the communities of Malibu and Pacific Palisades are left to rebuild, mourning their losses while seeking answers to prevent another tragedy.
California battles wildfires amid federal funding cuts
As wildfires rage across California, consuming over 350,000 acres of federal lands in 2025 alone, Governor Gavin Newsom has accused the Trump administration of exacerbating the crisis by slashing critical U.S. Forest Service budgets and diverting resources away from wildfire prevention. Meanwhile, critics argue that Newsom’s own policies, particularly his administration’s handling of vegetation management, have contributed to the severity of devastating fires like the Palisades Fire, which has become the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
California has faced an unprecedented wildfire season in 2025, with at least 15 major fires scorching national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands, which account for 57% of the state’s forestland compared to just 3% under state control. In response, California has taken on a leadership role in wildfire response, deploying billions in funding, thousands of personnel, and the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet to compensate for what Newsom calls a “retreat from environmental stewardship” by the federal government.
The Trump administration has cut U.S. Forest Service funding by 10% and reduced 25% of non-direct firefighting support staff, moves that Newsom claims have left communities vulnerable. Additionally, the administration’s proposed reorganization of the Forest Service, including shuttering the Pacific Regional office, has further strained federal wildfire response capacity. In a pointed critique, Newsom stated, “It’s a bitter irony that California taxpayers are funding both state and federal wildfire protection while the federal government that owns the burning land cuts funding and diverts resources to political theater.”
To counter federal inaction, California has fast-tracked over 100 vegetation management projects spanning more than 25,000 acres under a state of emergency declared in March 2025. These projects aim to reduce wildfire fuel through forest thinning, prescribed burns, and other mitigation strategies. The state has also invested heavily in its firefighting infrastructure, nearly doubling CAL FIRE’s personnel from 5,829 in 2018-19 to 10,741 in 2024-25 and expanding its aerial fleet with additions like a second C-130 Hercules airtanker.
Despite these efforts, Newsom has faced sharp criticism for his administration’s handling of wildfire prevention, particularly in the wake of the Palisades Fire, which has destroyed over 5,300 structures and claimed at least 12 lives. Critics, including prominent Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump, argue that Newsom’s policies have failed to adequately address vegetation management, allowing dangerous fuel loads to accumulate on state-managed lands.
Reports from 2021 revealed that Newsom overstated the success of his administration’s wildfire prevention efforts by as much as 690%, claiming 90,000 acres were treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns when far less had CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
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Only events with a connection to Malibu will be considered. Calendar events are scheduled in advance and subject to change.
FRI SEP 5-21
THE WISDOM OF EVE OPENS AT THE BLUE DOOR
PLAYHOUSE
Theatre Palisades is proud to present its second production of 2025, The Wisdom of Eve by Mary Orr, running Sept. 5–21 at The Blue Door Playhouse in Culver City. Adapted from the classic film All About Eve, this riveting play peels back the curtain on the cutthroat world of Broadway, following the seemingly devoted fan Eve Harrington as she becomes the assistant to legendary actress Margo Crane. But beneath her innocent façade lies relentless ambition, leading to manipulation, betrayal, and the unraveling of friendships and careers.
Directed by Sherman Wayne and produced by Martha Hunt-
er, this sharp, witty drama brings to life timeless themes of envy, power, and the ruthless pursuit of success. Performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 5–7, 12–14, and 19–21 at The Blue Door Playhouse, 9617 Venice Blvd., Culver City. Tickets are on sale now, with a special $5 early bird discount available using promo code WISDOM5. Don’t miss this unforgettable theatrical experience—visit TheatrePalisades.org for tickets and details.
SAT SEP 13
THE NATTY PROPHETS AT MALIBU MUSIC
On Saturday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m., enjoy an evening of California Rastafari with live music from The Natty Prophets. Formed in 2018 in Southern California, this reggae band has shared the stage with artists like Wyclef Jean, Rebelution, Iration, The Expendables, and Pato Banton. With multiple albums and singles available on all platforms, their latest releases include the 2024 album “Crowns of Gold” and the March 2025 single “Made Out of Love.” This free, all-ages event offers an unforgettable night of
CALENDAR
uplifting rhythms and good vibes. Space is limited, so arrive early to secure your spot. Visit malibumusic.com.
SAT SEP 13-14
ZUMA BEACH TRIATHLON
On Sept. 13–14, the Zuma Beach Triathlon returns to Malibu, bringing hundreds of athletes together to swim, bike, and run along one of California’s most iconic stretches of coastline. Known for its sparkling waters, sweeping ocean views, and high-energy atmosphere, the annual event attracts elite competitors, first-time triathletes, and weekend warriors alike.
This year’s race carries added significance as Malibu and surrounding communities continue to recover from the devastating Palisades Fire. In a show of unity and resilience, the Zuma Foundation is offering complimentary entries and training programs to those who lost homes, while also supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu through athlete donations and a matching fund of up to $10,000. Visit zumabeachtriathlon.org for more information.
SUN SEP 14
CITY OF MALIBU ARTS COMMISSION PRESENTS THE ART OF JIM “TAZ” EVANS
Experience the electrifying art of Jim “Taz” Evans at the free opening reception for Malibu’s next public art exhibition, hosted by the City of Malibu Arts Commission on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 12 p.m. at Malibu City Hall.
No tickets or RSVPs are required—just come and enjoy an afternoon of creativity and community.
Guests will be treated to live music by Farmer Dave and the Wizards of the West, refreshments, and a special Q&A with the legendary artist himself. Known worldwide as TAZ, Evans helped define the visual identity of punk, rock, and alternative music with his bold, high-energy poster art and album covers for iconic bands such as Foo Fighters, U2, Pearl Jam, Green Day, and Metallica.
Following the reception, his exhibition will be on display at the Malibu City Gallery from Sept. 15 through Oct. 24.
ONGOING
MALIBU FARMERS
MARKET | SUNDAYS
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 from 9 to 11 a.m., with a simultaneous 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
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.
SENIOR TECH HELP | TUESDAYS
Receive one-on-one tech help with your laptop, tablet, or cellphone. Seniors can receive assistance using social media, Google Drive, Skype, Microsoft Word, email, and more. RSVP required. Instructed by Community Services Department staff. Tuesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Malibu Senior Center.
VOLUNTEER WEEDING DAY AT POINT DUME NATURE PRESERVE | WEDNESDAYS
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.
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, drop-in program. Instructed by Sheila Rosenthal. Visit malibucity.org for location.
TOTAL BODY WORKOUT | TUESDAYS
A comprehensive low-impact strengthening class targeting all the major muscles 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.
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!
TOPANGA FARMERS MARKET | FRIDAYS
The Topanga Farmers Market is a Certified Farmers Market held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Topanga Community Center. With 45 exceptional vendors, the market offers a diverse selection of fresh, locally grown produce and handcrafted artisanal goods. It’s a wonderful way to support local farmers and makers while soaking in the natural beauty of Topanga Canyon. Whether you’re shopping for seasonal fruits and vegetables or one-of-a-kind crafts, the Topanga Farmers Market has something for everyone.
Local winemaker being sued by Swedish company over the word ‘Malibu’
Dispute over the use of a local name emerges after rum maker The Absolut Company claims trademark
By all accounts, the word “Malibu” has been in existence long before a Swedish company trademarked the name for use in advertising its flavored rum products. Now a legal battle is brewing over the use of the word “Malibu” in the branding of wine grown locally in the Malibu Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA). Malibu Wine Company (MWC), a boutique wine producer based in the hills of Malibu, is facing threats of a federal lawsuit from The Absolut Company (TAC), the maker of Malibu Rum, a coconut-flavored rum first produced in Barbados in the 1980s and now manufactured and marketed globally. TAC holds the U.S. trademark for “Malibu” in connection with alcohol products and has repeatedly threatened litigation against Malibu Wine Company, according to MWC owner Dr. Steven Ruths. Ruths says the New York-based law firm Cown, Liebowitz & Latman intends to file suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York this month, for trademark infringement for prominently displaying Malibu Wine Company on his website and packaging. TAC claims MWC’s branding could confuse consumers. But Ruths rejects that argument, writing, “Someone in the market for a bottle of ultra-premium Rhone-style wine would not confuse that with a bottle of flavored rum from a foreign country. One look at the packaging, whether it be the glass, label, or closure, makes it apparent that they look nothing alike.”
The Role of the Malibu Coast AVA Malibu Wine Company operates in the Malibu Coast
athletes, and corporate CEOs.
Jackson is the former Los Angeles district attorney who successfully prosecuted music producer Phil Spector on murder charges and earlier this year won an acquittal for accused murderer Karen Read in a highly-publicized Massachusetts case. Bohm was joined by his family and many supporters. The courtroom was also filled with victims’ family members and friends from the Pepperdine community. Bohm spoke little at the pretri-
AVA, a federally recognized grape-growing region established by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in 2014. The designation encompasses the Saddle Rock-Malibu AVA and Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA, covering dozens of vineyards across the Santa Monica Mountains. AVA status allows winemakers to identify their products with a specific region whose geography and climate shape the characteristics of the wine. According to the TTB, AVAs are meant to help consumers “identify wines they may purchase” and provide accurate information about origin.
For Ruths, this distinction is at the heart of his argument. “The word Malibu in Malibu Wine Company refers to a geographical winegrowing area, which is not able to be trademarked since descriptive geographic
al hearing, but under questioning by Judge Thomas Rubinson, who will preside over his trial, waived his right to a speedy trial. At the pretrial hearing, Rubinson denied a defense motion requesting a bail reduction from $4 million to $2 million. Jackson argued that his client’s family had sold their home and drained their finances in order to mount a defense and make bail. Jackson did not request any concessions beyond the bail reduction, meaning Bohm’s passport would remain confiscated and he would remain without driving privileges. In response, prosecutor Nathan Bartos argued that the ini-
tial $8 million bond had already been reduced to $4 million and its posting demonstrated that Bohm was capable of raising the necessary funds. Rubinson remarked, “There are many, many defendants sitting in the county jail right now who would love me to reduce their bail so they can hire Alan Jackson or other private counsel. That’s not the way it works.” That comment elicited some laughter in the courtroom. Rubinson argued that Bohm was free to hire another lawyer or use a court-appointed public defender. According to public records, Bohm’s family’s Big Rock home was listed for sale in June 2023 for
terms remain in the public domain,” he explained. By contrast, Malibu Rum has no ties to the area, he argues.
The history of Malibu wine Wine has deep roots in Malibu. The first documented vineyard was planted in 1824 by José Bartolomé Tapia on land that later became part of the Malibu Rancho. Since then, viticulture in the region has grown steadily, with Malibu emerging in recent decades as a producer of high-quality, small-batch wines.
Today, Ruths describes MWC as a boutique producer of “ultra-premium” wines. He argues that the association between Malibu and wine is inseparable and that denying local winemakers the right to use their region’s name would undermine the entire AVA system.
close to $10 million. It was eventually sold in February 2024 for $7.25 million.
The prosecution and defense lawyers are still working out some discovery issues, including getting access to Bohm’s phone to scan it for any calls or texts leading up to the deadly collision. Both sides have indicated that Bohm was not driving under the influence of alcohol.
Bohm’s first attorney, Michael Kraut, claimed Bohm was the victim of road rage and that his car was clipped by another speeding driver. Kraut also argued that Bohm should not face murder
A broader industry concern
Ruths also points out that his winery is not the only business to use “Malibu” on its alcoholic beverages. Several other wines and beers reference the city’s name as a nod to their place of origin. He argues that allowing a foreign company to monopolize the Malibu name through trademark law, while producing none of its products in California, sets a dangerous precedent.
“If a company in a foreign country can trademark a California city and area name and then ban residents from using that name prominently on a product produced in and intimately tied to the area,” Ruths warned, “then surely it will greatly compromise the potential of that California industry to survive and flourish.”
Trademark law prohibits the registration of purely geographic terms if they are merely descriptive of a product’s origin. But it also allows marks that acquire distinctiveness in the marketplace. That legal tension has led to disputes across industries, particularly in the food and beverage world, where place-based identity carries marketing power.
What’s next
Ruths called the impending lawsuit a bullying tactic that puts local wineries in jeopardy if small producers can’t afford to defend against expensive jury trials brought by multi-national entities. Malibu Wine Company will defend itself, but he also hopes lawmakers, regulators, and consumers will recognize what he sees as a larger threat to California’s wine industry.
“Malibu wines speak to the climate, geography, and soil of our particular mesoclimate in the Malibu Coast,” he said. “The same cannot be said about the TAC Malibu products.”
Over a two-week period, The Malibu Times reached out to the New York law firm representing TAC. Our calls were not returned.
charges when other recent fatal crashes on Pacific Coast Highway involving alleged alcohol abuse did not result in murder charges, such as the July 4, 2024, case involving Summer Wheaton. Wheaton faces vehicular manslaughter and DUI charges stemming from a head-on collision that occurred shortly after the closing of the Red White and Bootsy party at Nobu Malibu, resulting in the death of rideshare driver Martin Okeke.
In court filings, Kraut cited other “dry cases” where the accused driver was not charged with murder. Prosecutors responded that “during the last five years, the People have charged murder in traffic fatalities 39 times where there was no evidence of DUI. In an additional 19 cases, murder was charged in circumstances where DUI was suspected, but there was insufficient evidence of intoxication, however evidence of implied malice existed. Thus, in 48 [sic] cases in the last 5 years the prosecution has filed murder charges arising out of traffic fatalities.” The defense’s motion to dismiss the murder charges on this basis was denied by Judge Diego Edber in March. Bohm has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The next court date is set for Oct. 8.
Vineyards for the Malibu Wine Company (MWC) are shown. MWC is the target of legal action from a Swedish beverage company over use of the name “Malibu.” Photo courtesy of Malibu Wine Company
By JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
emphasized that the event was focused on education, aiming to increase awareness of roadway safety as the city wrapped up the busy summer season.
“It wasn’t a beach cleanup — it was more an education project,” Riggins explained. “The plan was to actually connect with beachgoers and talk to them about safety on PCH and safety when they’re coming out to enjoy Malibu’s beaches. We want people to be aware of their travel plans, stay mindful on the road, and, most importantly, make sure they get home safe.”
The Big Blue Beach Crawl is part of the city’s broader “Slow Down for PCH” campaign, which encourages safe driving through education, signage, and community engagement. With millions of visitors traveling into Malibu each year, the city faces ongoing challenges in balancing tourism with safety on one of California’s most iconic highways. PCH, while scenic, has also been the site of tragic accidents. Riggins acknowledged that eliminating deaths and serious injuries along the route remains a top priority for city leaders.
“We want to eliminate fatalities on PCH if possible,” Riggins said. “People can do that by following the rules of the road — observing the speed limit, not making unsafe U-turns, being cautious around pedestrians, and remembering that everyone is coming out here to enjoy our public spaces.”
By meeting people “where they’re at”— on the sand and at the shoreline — the city hoped to make its safety message more approachable. Volunteers spent the day walking the beaches, engaging in friendly conversations, and distributing information to remind drivers that
been accomplished. Additionally, the 2024-25 state budget, signed by Newsom, included $101 million in cuts to wildfire and forest resilience programs, including $46 million from a biomass-to-hydrogen pilot project and $28 million from state conservancy projects. These cuts, made to address a $55 billion budget deficit, have fueled accusations that Newsom neglected critical prevention measures ahead of the 2025 fire season.
The Palisades Fire, which erupted in Los Angeles County in January 2025, exposed further vulnerabilities. Firefighters reported water shortages due to an empty Santa Ynez Reservoir, which was undergoing maintenance, and low water
the road into Malibu is as much a part of the coastal experience as the surf and sand. Riggins noted that the response from beachgoers was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was a gorgeous day, and people were open to talking,” she said. “The feedback was great — very positive interactions with people, just talking, having a good time, and meeting people where they’re at.”
Although the mayor was unable to stay for the entirety of the event due to other commitments, she un-
pressure in fire hydrants, hampering containment efforts. Trump seized on these issues, claiming Newsom’s refusal to sign a “water restoration declaration” exacerbated the crisis, though Newsom dismissed this as an “outlandish” connection unrelated to Southern California’s water availability.
Newsom has repeatedly called on the Trump administration to match California’s wildfire prevention investments, urging the adoption of a model executive order dubbed “Make America Rake Again.” The proposed order would compel federal agencies to expand prescribed burns, forest thinning, and workforce investments to mirror California’s efforts. The state has treated nearly 1.9 million acres since 2020 and invested over $350 million in projects on federal lands,
despite managing only a fraction of the state’s forests.
In contrast, the Trump administration has been accused of diverting resources, including pulling eight of the California National Guard’s 14 firefighting crews (Task Force Rattlesnake) to Los Angeles for what Newsom calls “illegal federalization” to address protests and immigration enforcement. This has left Task Force Rattlesnake operating at just 40% capacity, further straining California’s firefighting resources.
In response to escalating wildfire risks, Newsom declared a state of emergency in March 2025 to fasttrack forest management projects, suspending bureaucratic hurdles like the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Coast-
derscored the importance of the city’s ongoing efforts to spread awareness and promote roadway safety. While no immediate plans for another Beach Crawl have been announced, Riggins encouraged residents and visitors to stay connected with city staff for future updates.
“If you contact Richard Rojas or Susan Duenas at the city, they can let you know if another one is scheduled,” she said. “This one really tied into the end of the official summer season, with Labor Day being such a
al Act. Since then, the state has approved 103 vegetation management projects covering over 25,000 acres and allocated $135 million for new wildfire prevention initiatives, with an additional $72 million disbursed for ongoing projects.
California has also joined the Northwest Wildland Fire Fighting Compact, partnering with Western states and Canadian provinces to share firefighting resources, technology, and expertise. This move, announced on Sept. 5, aims to bolster the state’s capacity to respond to fires that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
high-traffic holiday.”
As Malibu continues to draw visitors year-round, the city remains committed to creating safer conditions on PCH. Events like the Big Blue Beach Crawl are just one piece of the puzzle, alongside enforcement, infrastructure improvements, and public education campaigns. For Riggins, the message is clear: Malibu is a destination for all to enjoy, but safety must come first.
“Everybody wants to come to Malibu, and we want to make sure they don’t hurt us and that they get home safely,” she said. “It’s really about awareness — slowing down, following the rules of the road, and remembering that this community is home to families, children, and neighbors, not just a place to visit for the day.”
The mayor also expressed appreciation for the community’s role in helping amplify the city’s message.
“We truly appreciate everything people are doing to get the word out,” she said. “At the end of the day, we all want what’s best for the community, and it shows in different ways. Events like this help us remind people that safety is something we can all work toward together.”
While the Big Blue Beach Crawl may have been just one afternoon of outreach, the effort reflects Malibu’s ongoing dedication to keeping PCH safe for residents and visitors alike. By blending education with community spirit, the city is making sure that the beauty of Malibu’s beaches can be enjoyed without tragedy on the roads that lead to them.
“Malibu is a special place,” Riggins said. “We want everyone to enjoy it, but we also want them to remember to drive safely. That way, we can all share the beauty of this community — and make sure everyone gets home to their loved ones.”
record will likely remain under scrutiny as California fights to contain the flames.
California celebrates 175 years of Statehood
California marks its 175th anniversary of statehood, commemorating its admission to the Union on Sept. 9, 1850. From the Gold Rush to Silicon Valley, California has grown into a global cultural, economic, and technological powerhouse, fueled by its diverse population and pioneering spirit.
ed the challenges Californians have faced in 2025, including one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Hurricane-force winds in January devastated communities across Los Angeles, Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, yet first responders and volunteers demonstrated extraordinary courage. Federal, state, and local agencies coordinated quickly to clear debris, provide relief, and plan to rebuild homes and businesses.
As California continues to battle the several blazes, the state’s robust response — bolstered by a $3.8 billion CAL FIRE budget and advanced technologies like AI-powered fire detection and drone-assisted burns—stands in stark contrast to federal cuts. However, critics argue that Newsom’s administration must address its own shortcomings, including past exaggerations of prevention efforts and recent budget reductions, to fully protect communities.
With wildfire season far from over, the tension between state and federal leadership underscores a broader challenge: balancing immediate firefighting needs with long-term prevention in a state where climate-driven fires are increasingly severe. Newsom’s call for federal accountability may resonate, but his administration’s
To honor the milestone, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a keynote address accompanied by his 2025 State of the State letter to the Legislature. In his address, the Governor underscored California’s role as a cultural driver, leader in innovation, and defender of democratic values, emphasizing that the state’s diversity is its greatest strength.
“Today, as California celebrates the 175th anniversary of its admission to the Union, our country faces an uncertain future and pernicious threats to the foundation of our democracy,” the Governor wrote. “But California, this uniquely blessed state, is standing up… The state of the state is strong, fully committed to defending democracy, and resolved to never bend.”
The Governor’s letter highlight-
Beyond disaster recovery, the Governor outlined California’s ambitious programs in education, workforce development, and innovation. From universal transitional kindergarten and free community college programs to AI-powered tools, clean energy investments, and the California Jobs First initiative, the state is reshaping opportunity for its residents while maintaining its position as a global innovation hub.
“Our economy now exceeds $4.1 trillion, powered by a culture that rewards risk, attracts capital, and welcomes new ideas,” the Governor said. “We lead the nation in startups, venture capital, IPOs, manufacturing, and emerging sectors such as space technology and green innovation.”
The letter also emphasized California’s commitment to affordability, healthcare, and environmental stewardship, citing major investments in housing, childcare, clean transportation, and water management. Programs like CalRx for generic drugs, universal meals for students, and the Climate Action Corps showcase the state’s approach to combining social responsibility with economic growth.
Reflecting on California’s 175year history, the Governor celebrated the state’s pioneering spirit, which has produced Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and countless innovations that have reshaped the world. “Over 175 years, we have drawn pioneers in thought and industry, oddballs and intellectuals who were given the capital and freedom to create new worlds from their own imaginations,” he wrote.
As California looks to the future, the Governor concluded with a message of resilience and unity: “Each time we have endured darkness, we have created our own light and forged our own path toward a better place. Just as we have before, we will emerge stronger, smarter, and more unified… because of the indelible, audacious spirit that defines us.”
Across the state, communities are celebrating California’s 175th birthday with educational programs, historical exhibits, and events honoring the Golden State’s rich culture and achievements, while reflecting on the resilience and creativity that have defined California for generations.
REAL ESTATE
“The targets of these attacks — the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Capitol — symbolize commerce, military service, and democracy. Out of grief, unity emerged, and the message that we can rise above adversity continues to endure.”
Actor Dennis Quaid, known for narrating the documentary “Twin Towers: Legacy” and supporting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, will deliver the keynote address as the distinguished honoree. Remarks will also be offered by Pepperdine President Jim Gash (JD ’93) and Chancellor Sara Young Jackson (’74), alongside reflections and readings by other members of the university community. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for seating and to visit the Reflection Station, where they can write messages on “We Remember” cards and attach them to any flagpole. Faculty and students alike emphasize the importance of this annual ritual for preserving collective memory. Loretta Hunnicutt, professor of history at Seaver College, explained that the attacks of Sept. 11 marked a profound shift in American values and continue to shape contemporary culture. “With Pepperdine’s Waves of Flags ceremony, we honor the innocent lives who, in a sense, became martyrs for American values,” Hunnicutt said in a statement.
The display also resonates deeply with student veterans. Kleo Edgell, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Pepperdine graduate student, recalls being only five years old on 9/11, yet the event influenced her decision to serve, following a family legacy of military service. “Each flag represents a life, a family, and a story that still matters,” Edgell said. “Remembering is more than looking back — it is taking responsibility to carry those stories forward.”
Since its inception in 2008, the Waves of Flags has become a beloved Pepperdine tradition. More than 300 volunteers, including students, faculty, and staff, participate annually in raising the flags on the Malibu campus, located at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road. The installation remains on display through September 26, when volunteers lower the flags in a closing ceremony. Visitors are encouraged to walk among the flags and reflect on the lives commemorated.
get out, it creates chaos.”
Still, Vandermeulen urges Malibu residents to stay ready year-round by keeping “go bags” at the ready to be filled with medication, important documents, and pet supplies. Maintain vehicles with enough fuel or charge for a quick escape. Have at least two planned exit routes because you may not know in advance where a fire is coming from. Set up out-of-town contacts and monitor disasters on apps such as Watch Duty or Pulse Point. And in an evacuation, the fire expert stressed, “Leave early. If you wait too long, your exit route may be blocked off. Once emergency vehicles are trying to come in while people are still trying to
Vandermeulen addressed the debate that divides many in the firefighting community, and a recent shift in messaging by Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. On a Sept. 2 CBS television broadcast, Marrone acknowledged that in a major conflagration, firefighting resources may never be sufficient to protect every home, as was seen in the Woolsey, Palisades, and Eaton fires. On the broadcast, Marrone stated, “We’ve always told people that when the evacuation order comes, you must leave. We’ve departed from that narrative. With the proper training, with the proper equipment, and with the proper home hardening and defensible space, you can stay behind and prevent your house from burning down. There simply aren’t enough
In addition to the Waves of Flags, Pepperdine is home to the Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Heroes Garden, a permanent tribute to those who lived heroic lives, including Burnett, a Graziadio Business School alumnus and passenger on United Flight 93. Burnett and other passengers attempted to thwart the hijackers’ plans, sacrificing their lives in a heroic act of courage. A plaque in the garden reads: “Dedicated to freedom’s heroes of September 11, 2001, and the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, among them Pepperdine alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., who sacrificed their lives to overcome terrorists’ intent on destroying American lives and landmarks in our nation’s capital. We shall never forget.”
The Waves of Flags and the Heroes Garden together provide a space for remembrance, reflection, and education. Through these traditions, Pepperdine ensures that the lessons and legacies of Sept. 11 endure for future generations.
For more information on Pepperdine’s annual 9/11 commemoration and to register for the Remembrance Ceremony, visit pepperdine.edu/waves-of-flags.
firefighters or engines to defend every home.”
It’s an approach Vandermeulen doesn’t agree with, countering, “We don’t recommend that people do that as individuals. I get the idea in concept. However, there’s a couple of problems with it, and one thing that people may be using as a justification is we do have some community fire brigades now, which did an outstanding job during the Palisades Fire and the Franklin Fire, but the thing with them is that they’ve received some training. They are endorsed and backed by the LA County Fire Department. They’re trained. They have what we call PPE or personal protective equipment. They work together and they have a leader that has communications with somebody on the incident so there’s accountability for where they’re at
and what’s going on, and where they’re allowed to go and where they can’t go, so that’s different from somebody staying by themselves. A lot of times, you think you’re good until you’re not good, and once a wildland fire goes from a wildland fire into homes, it becomes what we call an urban conflagration, and it gets hotter. It gets more intense, and then one house goes to two homes, and it just grows and grows, and it just becomes untenable and unsafe to be there. If you’ve never experienced or faced it firsthand, it’s pretty scary. It’s pretty overwhelming.” Vandermeulen concluded, “We want to hit home that we’re all a part of being prepared. We encourage residents to be proactive. Make defensible space, do home hardening and have a plan.”
On Saturday, Sept. 6, members of the Pepperdine and Malibu communities came together to plant nearly 3,000 flags, each commemorating a life lost on 9/11, including flags representing citizens from other nations who also perished that day. Photos courtesy of Pepperdine University
An epic eclectic epicurian experience
By BARBARA BURKE
The Malibu Food & Wine Festival, a three-day destination event beginning on Friday, Sept. 5, offered something to please every palate as it united celebrated chefs, acclaimed vintners, local legends, and visionary culinary creatives, all of whom offered deliciously intriguing tastes and sips. Some proceeds of the event
will benefit the Malibu Boys & Girls Club. Delighted diners attending each of the three-day eclectic, epicurean experiences set within the majestic Santa Monica Mountains noted that each chef, some of whom were representing Michelin and James Beard acknowledged restaurants, ingeniously interpreted innovative recipes, yielding bursts of tastes that motivated guests to delve deeper and inquire about recipe details.
COMMUNITY SPTLIGHT
The first evening featured Chef Nick Devries of San Diego’s Kettner Exchange, who served a summer tomato salad to die for. “This dish features a combination of tahini, Calabrian tomatoes, a chile tapenade and sunflower flaxseed crisps with pumpkin seeds,” Devries explained. “We make the crackers in-house so they yield the most crispy, crunchy tastes.”
Guests who experienced the celebrity-chef VIP dinners were delighted with
the private, six-course, dining experience and wine pairings. On Friday evening, Marcel Vigneron, winner of “24 in 24: Last Chef Standing,” and Roy Yamaguchi, a Japanese American chef renowned for his Roy’s Restaurants and for his spearheading the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement, provided an elevated dining experience par excellence. On Saturday, Vigneron collaborated with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs Michael and Bryan Voltaggio to serve a sen-
sational savory experience. For other attendees, it was all about the tasting and sip stations, with offerings from local restaurants and vintners delighting every attendee’s whims. The Mulholland’s Chef de Cuisine Michelle Carter of the Barbara Lynch collective showcased a tasty tempura featuring mushrooms and a nori aioli that brought attendees back for seconds and even thirds. Jay Kumar featured
Walking together for children’s health
Mending Kids’ 8th Annual Hike to Mend to take place Sept. 27 at Chesebro Canyon
FBy JUDY ABEL Special to The Malibu Times
or more than two decades, Malibu has been home to one of the strongest community presences of Mending Kids, the nonprofit that provides life-saving and life-changing surgeries for children in
joined overseas missions, and countless residents have volunteered their time and Since its founding, Mending Kids has provided more than 5,800 free surgeries across 78 countries. Operations have ranged dic repairs, urology procedures, and complex colorectal surgeries. But the impact doesn’t
Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu Food & Wine Festival, hosted by Lauren Rae Levy and Marcel Vigneron (shown in far left photo with their son Kingston, 4) offered three days of chefs, vintners, and culinary creations at Saddlerock Ranch. Photos by Dana Rubin and Malibu Food & Wine Festival
PEOPLE
Random notes and numbers ... Dude so random
SEEN
By Benjamin Marcus, Entertainment Editor
Goings on around town for the start of fall
This week’s column was meant to be Part Two of the interview with Marcel Fontijn and Jamie Barron of Zuru Tech — to further divine their intentions with the nine-plus lots purchased by the Brothers Mowbray, those mysterious Kiwi billionaires. The first interview inspired howls of derision and comments from a variety of builders, developers, architects, and other interested/ knowledgeable parties, which Marcel and Jamie were keen to answer.
But then Marcel was stricken by a 9-millimeter kidney stone and wasn’t up to it for this week.
Anyone who has had a kidney stone knows the agony of that searing meteorite of pain moving with excruciating slowness through your guttiwuts, and a snarky person might suggest that dealing with the slow agony of a kidney stone might prepare one for the pain of dealing with all the building and planning regulations of the City of Malibu, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California.
But let’s not be snarky and we’ll hope the Zuru Tech guys will answer Part Two next week.
As summer transitions into fall, it’s safe to say the cleanup of the Palisades Fire is transitioning into what a history dork might call The Reconstruction.
When USACE Public Information Officer Jeffrey Henon was asked for some numbers to sum up the effort, he responded with this: “All Malibu properties have been cleared of debris. We expect to complete the debris removal for the five remaining Pacific Palisades parcels by mid-to-late September.”
He also sent these quotes and numbers:
Lt. Col. David Weart, commander of the Recovery Field Office for the US Army Corps of Engineers: ”This has been the fastest wildfire debris removal mission in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ distinguished history. In a little over six months, we’ve cleared more than 3,976 properties and removed over 1.1 million tons of debris from the Pacific Palisades wildfire area. This progress was possible because of strong interagency coordination and the trust and support of the communities we serve. As we approach mission completion, we intend to treat every parcel with the same care and expertise as the first property we cleared.”
6: USACE debris removal crews working in the Pacific Palisades as of Aug. 20.
444: Malibu properties cleared. The last was cleared on Aug. 15.
9,934: Truckloads of debris removed from Malibu properties.
33,573: Gallons of diesel used by the trucks hauling debris from Malibu. This doesn’t include the fuel used by the heavy equipment such as excavators.
By Burt Ross, Contributed Column
Ilove the sound of certain words. Serendipity is one of those words. Strange that the word “pity” is in the word “serendipity.” It really doesn’t belong there, but when preceded by the letters “di,” the “dipity” gives the word its special sound. I have, of course, completely forgotten the purpose of this column. Oh yes, a strange thing happened to me back in 1980. Strange things happen to me all the time. I ran in a primary for Congress and
95,492: Truckloads of debris removed from the Pacific Palisades area; this includes 9,934 truckloads for the Malibu properties.
97,306: Tons of debris removed from Malibu wildfire area. [Editor’s note: Doing the math, that’s 194,612,000 pounds of ash, twisted steel, shattered glass, melted concrete and other detritus.]
201,441: Miles, the total distance traveled by the trucks hauling Malibu debris.
1,147,024: Tons of debris removed from the Pacific Palisades wildfire area; this includes the 97,306 tons for the Malibu properties.
It’s a bit harder to hip hip hooray for SoCal Edison, who many blame for having a hair trigger to turn off power at the first puff of wind. But according to Jeffrey Monford, speaking for SoCal Edison, they are doing their best to put it all underground.
Here are the most recent figures for the Palisades area:
• Poles set — 788
Transformers installed — 214
Lines strung — ~276,000 feet, or about 85 miles
In Malibu and surrounding neighborhoods served by SCE and affected by the Palisades Fire, SCE is undergrounding 90 miles of distribution lines.
SCE has already begun undergrounding 16 circuit miles, including in the Big Rock and Topanga Canyon areas, and along Pacific Coast Highway, with expected completion in the coming months of 2025.
Once constructed, these hardening plans will translate into substantially reduced frequency and duration of Public Safety Power Shutoffs for these communities.
So now we’re into the Reconstruction of Malibu, and who knows how long that will take? Certainly longer than it takes to pass a kidney stone, but no less painful. It’s a history dork act to compare the Reconstruction of Malibu to the Reconstruction of the South after the Civil War: That took 12 years, the Army Corps was involved and the total cost of the Reconstruction in modern dollars was $200 billion to $300 billion.
Likewise, it’s probably gonna be 12 years until every scar of the Franklin and Palisades fires are gone from this earth and the projected total cost for that mess is also between $200 billion and $300 billion.
The Civil War and the Reconstruction brought significant changes to the shaping of America, so you have to wonder what Malibu is going to be like in 12 years?
Will there be a wastewater pipeline taking hundreds of homes off septic and AOWS and flushing that all down to Hyperion?
Will there be a safe and sane bicycle lane connecting Malibu and Santa Monica that the whole world will use?
Will that wall of homes and apartments rise again and once again deny access to all that scenic beauty?
Will the speed limit on PCH be reduced to 25-35 mph permanently?
Will those long-awaited speed cameras finally go up?
Who knows, but it’s starting to happen now.
Those Reconstructive issues are being covered in depth by one of many excellent podcasts emanating from Malibu: “ReBUild and Chill” is a podcast by five Malibu bros — Abe Roy, Danny Smith, Luis Tena, Darren Graves and Arno Koch — sorting out the reBUild process and chilling along the way. Weekly releases on YouTube and Spotify: https://youtu.be/tkJaT1sVS3c
And the latest podcast comes straight outta Point Dume. The charming and glamorous Zoe Scott — aka Human Champagne — is hosting “Confessions from the Cabana” featuring Malibu movers and shakers. The first one is with Strider Wasilewski, who details the twisted path that led him from a dysfunctional youth in Dogtown, to the pro surfing tour, to sitting in the channel at Pipe and Teahupoo, dodging bomb sets with a microphone in his hand, interviewing adrenalized surfer dudes and chicks as they come flying out the barrel.
And within “Confessions at the Cabana,” there is “Woman on Top,” which is: “a bold new series within ‘Confessions at the Cabana’ that does the opposite. These are the raw, radiant, and unfiltered stories of women who rose — on their own terms.
From boardrooms to birth stories, heartbreak to healing, these conversations celebrate female power in all its forms. Our guests are trailblazers, truth-tellers, rebels, artists, founders, and visionaries — women who’ve carved their own paths and now hold the torch for others.”
The first one is up now, (Feat. Strider Raspberry Wasilewski) at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/confessions-at-the-cabana/ id1836785232
Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/confessionsatcabana/
Who’s next to confess? Tune in!
There are a number of cool podcasts emanating from Malibu. Barry Katz has launched dozens of comedy and entertainment careers and his insider knowledge can be mined on “Industry Standard,” which can be found at barrykatz.com/industry standard
Lisa Cypers Kamen’s “Harvesting Happiness” can be found at harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com/ episodes
Pamela Conley Ulich hosts “The Malibu Real Estate Market and More from An Insider’s Perspective,” which can be found at https:// creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/ malibulocalbroker/ “Vintage Church Malibu” focuses on Spiritual teachings, com-
munity, belonging, and faith-based conversations and can be found at https://vintagechurchmalibumedia. podbean.com/
Likewise, the Chabad of Malibu podcast is hosted by Rabbi David Levin and can be found at https:// creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/ malibu-chabad/
“Lost Hills: Dark Canyon” is hosted by New Yorker writer Dana Goodyear and focuses on true crime, investigating unusual — and often unsettling — stories set in and around Malibu. That can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-hills-darkcanyon/id1549249596
And for more Malibu real estate scoops, “The Malibu Podcast” is hosted by Tony Mark and Justin (or Russell) Grether of Mark Real Estate Group, focusing on real estate, lifestyle, local news, community updates, and notable locals. That is at: https://malibuluxuryrealty.com/ malibu-podcast/
And speaking of real estate. Here are some of the latest sales of mostly “burn-out” lots listed in chronological not sales price order:
$5.65 million: Sept. 3 sale price for a 7,217.89 square foot lot at 21468 Pacific Coast Highway. This is three lots west of La Costa Beach Club and more than likely one of the Zuru Tech homes.
$7 million: Sept. 3 sale price for a 7,553-square-foot lot at 21922 Pacific Coast Highway. This is on Carbon Beach, about 10 lots west of where Carbon Canyon Road meets PCH. A Zuru Tech purchase? Maybe.
$14,797,000: Aug. 22 sale price for a non-burn-out four-bedroom, four-bath stately home way out in West Malibu, just east of Station 99.
$5 million: Aug. 15 sale price for a 6,812-square-foot burn-out lot. This is also on La Costa Beach, seven lots east of the La Costa Beach Club. And yep, it has that 40 feet of beach frontage so was probably one of the nine lots bought by You Don’t Know Who.
$5.05 million: Aug. 15 sale price for a 6,573.2-square-foot lot at 21500 PCH. Is this one of the nine mystery lots? Could be. It’s about four lots west of the La Costa Beach Club, and has that necessary 40 feet of beach frontage.
$1.5 million: Aug. 14 sale price for a three-bedroom, three-bath condo at 20464 PCH. This is the westernmost of eight buildings still standing but kind of isolated on Big Rock Beach -between the Maritime Rocks Accessway at Big Rock and The Burn Out Lot Formerly Known as Moonshadows..
$5 million: Aug. 6 sale price for a 4,881-square-foot burn-out lot with that 40 feet of beach frontage, so probably one of the nine that the Kiwidude or whoever swept up for $65 million. There are three homes still standing east of the Carbon/ La Costa access and then this is the second burn out lot.
MENDING KIDS
Continued from B1
stop with the children directly treated.
$14 million: Aug. 5 sale price for a .29-acre lot at 22102 PCH on Carbon Beach. This is directly to the east of the Home Formerly Owned by David Geffen. Not sure if this is one of the mystery nine, but it could be. It has 60-plus feet of beach frontage.
There are other numbers, like for that wastewater pipeline that everyone seems to want but isn’t going to happen soon or cheaply.
$124 million: According to an Aug. 19 story in westsidecurrent. com, the sewer pipeline that would take hundreds of homes off potentially leaky, stinky septic and Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems (AOWS) is inching closer to reality, under the title Malibu Council Moves Forward With $124M Sewer Project Study Despite Cost
Concerns: “The council authorized Mayor Marianne Riggins to sign a coordination letter with Los Angeles County requesting funding partnership and technical support for the Pacific Coast Highway Wastewater Project.” Here are numbers and quotes pulled from that article.
7.1: Miles from Carbon Canyon Road to Topanga Canyon Road.
461: Properties connected by the sewage project between Carbon Canyon Road and Topanga Canyon Road to Los Angeles’ Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant.
2025-27: Preliminary design work for the wastewater project is expected to conclude by fall 2025, with final design and permitting targeted for 2026–2027
2027-30: Construction span.
$70,000 to $115,000: Some residents suggested this range of cost for an Advanced On-site Wastewater System.
$269,000: Estimated per-property cost: $269,000 x 461 = $124,009,000.
$750,000: Other estimates for combined costs for septic systems and seawalls on narrow beachfront lots. If this is true, then saving homeowners half a million dollars and allowing them to plug into a trouble-free wastewater pipeline is good value.
+$9 million to -$6 million: Critics, however, questioned the financial logic. Councilmember Doug Stewart pointed to the city’s swing from a $9 million surplus to a $6 million deficit and said he couldn’t “justify spending $128
million when the cost, the total cost for just septic systems and a few seawalls, it’d be far less.” Officials emphasized the city is not yet committed to construction. “I would request that we would agree that whatever letter goes to the county would make crystal clear that we’re not committed to this and that we’re simply asking for this so that we can better explore its practicality,” Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Silverstein said. during last Tuesday’s meeting. So Reconstruction of Malibu has begun. What will the town look like, 12 years and $200 billion to $300 billion from now? Important decisions are still being made. At this point, we don’t know. In other news: There was a meeting between the CholadaThai Beachpeople and the Surf Canyon people — translated by Crossfit Michael who just happens to speak fluent Thai thanks to 2.5 years in the Peace Corps there. All sides are looking to find a way to relocate the beloved Thai restaurant to a food truck at Surf Canyon — a place with excellent Rio de Janeiro/Tuscany-class atmosphere from Golden Hour to moonrise: Stars, crickets chirping, hooting owls, yipping coyote, the crash of the surf, passenger jets and satellites overhead, the broad shoulders of Saddle Peak, cold breezes off the ocean mixed with luscious warm breezes out of the canyon. Come for the food, stay for the vibe: Cholada at Surf Canyon could be as relentlessly popular — sit down and take out.
Fingers crossed. Now it’s up to the City of Malibu. Oi. Along those lines, Haylynn Conrad just sat down at the bar at Zinqué and she is moving and shaking to find a home for all the businesses displaced at the bottom of Topanga Canyon Road that apparently will not be allowed to return: Feed Bin, Reel Inn, Rosenthal Winery, and what about Oasis Imports?
Wylie’s Bait and Tackle in a trailer out on the pier selling shrimp and anchovies and hooks and lead weights and other accoutrement? I’ll buy that for a dollar! Is there a place in Malibu for all of these businesses? At this point, we don’t know. That’s all the news that’s print to fit for now. Ciao.
narrowly lost. Being a nice guy, I held a fundraiser at my home for the person who beat me. The event was held in my backyard, and the city’s mayor brought a young woman to the event. There might have been sixty or so people attending, but only one caught my attention — that young woman. There was something about the way she held herself, her smile, and, of course, those eyes. Now, this former observation would be meaningless, if not
downright tactless, were this woman anybody other than the person who became my bride. Since I do not intend to be meaningless or tactless, I can attest that woman did become my bride and continues to be my bride these past 43 years.
Occasionally, when you think you lost, as in an election, it turns out you actually won. That’s the way I look at serendipity.
Happy Anniversary to my bride! I have now spent more than half my life with her, and it’s been by far the better half.
“Our teams train doctors on the ground,” Fox explained. “So, when a local surgeon learns a new procedure and goes on to perform it for hundreds of kids, that ripple effect reaches thousands. We estimate more than a million children have been impacted by the training we’ve supported.”
While most volunteer surgeons come from the United States, missions often include practitioners from Europe and beyond. A November mission to Mauritius, for example, will bring together doctors from the U.S., specialists from the U.K., and a surgical team from Italy.
While Mending Kids’ international missions often draw attention, the organization also works close to home. On Nov. 15, it will host its next Hometown Mission in Long Beach, offering free surgeries for underserved children in the U.S. This year’s focus will be on children with special needs who require full sedation even for routine procedures — care that is often difficult for families to access.
“In the U.S., the barriers look different,” Fox said.
“It might be underinsurance, lack of transportation, or the risk of losing a day’s wages. We had a mom who almost lost her job because she took time off for her child’s surgery, even though it was free. Everyone has unique obstacles.”
This year’s Hike to Mend is sponsored by the Malibu Conrad family, which means anyone can participate free of charge.
“Of course, we always welcome donations to fund our programs, but thanks to the Conrads’ generosity, the most important thing is for people to simply come out and walk with us,” Fox said. “Bring your kids, bring your dogs — just be part of it. Whether it’s in Guatemala, Tanzania, or right here in California, families are struggling to get their kids the care they need. This hike is about raising awareness of those challenges and about taking a step together — literally — for health equity.” Fox stressed that the event is welcoming to all ages and abilities. “People hear the word ‘hike’ and get nervous,” she said with a laugh. “But really, it’s a short, family- and pet-friendly walk. Everyone can do it.”
The Hike to Mend takes place Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Chesebro Canyon in Old Agoura. For more information, or to donate, visit mendingkids.org
“Confessions from the Cabana,” hosted by Zoe Scott (right photo) and which had pro surfer Strider Wasilewski as its first guest, is one of several podcasts discussing local issues in Malibu. Contributed graphic
MALIBU
fermented dosa with masala potatoes, coconut, and confite chutney and dal, a dish that immersed one’s taste buds in a fantastic savory journey.
Crispy shrimp cakes featuring a Sauce Louis, piquillo peppers, parsley and fennel, compliments of the Inn of the Seventh Ray, garnered high compliments. Diane Minas’ homegrown blends offered impressive Bloody Marys as servers highlighted the fact that there are no additives in either her garden-rendered spirits or her spirit-free Mary.
“It’s sooooo good!” Kearran Givanni exclaimed. “It’s the most perfect Bloody Mary I have ever had as it is tangy, savory, spicy, and sweet all at the same time. The charcuterie garnish includes olives, pickles, salami, peppers, and cheese — it’s wonderful!”
Many attendees stopped by Malibu’s Summer Somewhere Wines for sips. Winemaster and owner Billy Dim beamed as attendees enjoyed the array of wines offered at his tasting booth. “Come to Malibu for more!” he joked as an entourage of satiated customers segued to languorously lingering at Wally’s Lounge. There, Michael David, president of Wally’s Wine and Spirits, chatted with excited locals who noted that they are eagerly anticipating Wally’s opening in Malibu at Cross Creek Ranch and that Wally’s Beverly Hills location, a cheese, wine and spirits retail store, won Wine Spectator’s Grand Award. Wally’s soon-to-open Malibu locations will consist of both a retail store and a restaurant.
“The venue here is stunning and this event is all for a good cause,” David Feau, who will serve as head chef at Wally’s Malibu, noted. “We are excited to open up in January, and this event provides us with a great way to meet some of the community’s locals.” Feau, who earned his classical cuisine degree at L’Ecole Hotelier in Paris and learned to cook in his hometown of Le Mans, France, instantaneously garnered quite a few loyal fans as they enjoyed his tastings.
Malibu’s Broad Street Oyster Company tempted many tasters to come back for tasty samples, whetting their appetites.
Steven Fretz, the culinary mastermind behind the Michelin-starred Coast Range Restaurant from Solvang, shared his savory creations and, as soon as attendees had experienced that, they indulged in Sea Fresh Channel Islands’ “Leche de Tigre,” featuring coconut, chilies, cilantro, and avocado bites immersed in a serrano pepper emulsion. That tapas features a proprietary spice blend with no sugar, according to taster Gus Peterson, who exclaimed, “This is the best ever!”
Malibu chef Thomas Drury has long hosted delighted diners in Malibu with farm-to-table cooking at Malibu Fig Farm and as a private chef under his moniker Cooking for the Planet. The line was long as he provided a delicious dish with roasted leg of lamb and tomahawk steak immersed in an accompaniment he characterized as a “celebration of corn with Jimmy Nardello peppers.” “I invite all attendees to enjoy healthy, conscious cooking using ingredients grown with a regenerative farming method,” Drury said. “I source seasonal ingredients from Weiser Farms and other regenerative farms.”
What a delightful date night!
Guests who were wined and dined at Saturday evening’s experience were equally impressed, with many commenting that
the event provided for an ideal date night. Siugen and Freddy Constanza stood amidst a myriad of culinary and libation booths, amazed at the offerings and the crowd’s vibe.
“They’re offering everything!” Siugen exclaimed. “Whisky, food, and other libations — and it’s all set amidst these gorgeous grounds within the Santa Monica Mountains!”
Chiming in, Brandon Sanchez wholeheartedly agreed, noting, “This is a great experience for a great cause — the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu serves our community and our kids — it’s all about the next generation.”
Ricardo Zarate of The Hummingbird Ceviche House beamed as he saw his guests enjoy his Amberback Ceviche and he noted, “I am originally from Peru and it is very important to me to support the community as I am living the American Dream with my own restaurant that employs 20 people — it’s all about community!”
John Freeman of Colcanyon Estate Wines in Latigo Canyon smiled broadly as he shared samples of the estate’s classical Bordeaux varietals. Tastings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc all intrigued attendees. Freeman noted that his wines are served at Cornell Winery and Tasting room, and he invited customers to visit the vineyards located 2,000 feet above Malibu, where the cool morning mists that rise over the Pacific are followed by the warmth of afternoons that are full of sun,
providing the perfect conditions for growing robust red grapes.
The best way to end the Saturday experience was to stop by Supercool Creamery, where servers showcased the brand’s nitro-artisan delights. When the nitrogen is poured onto the ice cream, it freezes on contact. The dramatic smoke that surrounds the process is attributable to evaporation, and its effect thoroughly impressed guests who came back to try another flavor.
Family Day featured kids’ meals and activities
On a warm and invigorating Sunday, kids of all ages enjoyed delightful bites. Tasting booths hosted by Prago, which served delicious pasta bites, and Drago, which served a delightful beef dish, enticed many. Malibu Farm’s delicious ceviche was enjoyed by many. Elizabeth Falkner, co-founder of Chief Innovations, distributed her shakes featuring fermented dates and her booth obliged many repeat tasters.
Poppy and Rose served ceviche options, one with cauliflower, pineapple, cukes, radishes, avocado, chili, and a pearl crisp. Chef Michael Reed chatted about those appetizers as well as his pork dish samples. “We used chives, shallots, paprika, and peppers for my crisps — it’s a takeoff on chicharron which is a Spanish dish of fried pork belly or pork rinds that often accompany such dishes,” he said.
Chef Marcel Vigneron ensured that the kids had a culinary activity. Under the prop-
erty’s majestic oak trees, little ones were immersed in making their very own creation at the doughnut station, which proved to be a big hit for kids of all ages.
Spoiler alert — Malibu’s restaurant sector is set to surge If one listened carefully to chatter at each vendor’s booth, he would learn that participating Malibu chefs have big plans for Malibu.
As he and his family served a tasty lamb dish infused with herbs, fennel salad, and tahini with delighted attendees, Chef Oren Zroya, co-owner of Pita Bu in Malibu, announced, “I’m opening Paparazzi Pizza where D’Amore’s pizza used to be in Point Dume. We hope to open in five weeks!”
Several people were delighted to hear that.
A few booths down, a server at Hall Pass, a vendor offering artisanal ice cream, said, “Hopefully, we will be opening in Malibu soon in the small bar area next to Prince Street Pizza!”
Several people were delighted to hear that.
Before one left the last day of the delightful three-day experience, it was time for a coffee. At Sunnyday, a company owned by Malibuites Bryan and Ashley Spunt, guests enjoyed delicious espressos and matcha lattes. “We have been supplying clean coffee that is regeneratively grown and certified organic to local stores such as Sea N Soul,” Bryan said. “We’re hoping to
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Publish in The Malibu Times: 8/21, 8/28, 9/4, 9/11/2025
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THE FOLLOWING PERSON IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS:
INGRAM GENERAL
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ARTTCON INC.
3412 OCEAN FRONT WALK #201 MARINA DEL REY, CA 90292
If Corporation or LLC- State of Incorporation/Organization HI
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Signed, ARTTCON INC., MICHAEL INGRAM, PRESIDENT
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 7/29/2025 NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF
be opening up a flagship venue in Malibu next year.”
Several people were delighted to hear that.
The events featured more than food and wine
The first annual Malibu Food and Wine Festival was a hit with all attendees and, importantly, the event founders, Lauren Rae Levy and Marcel Vigneron, consciously and thoughtfully included an area in the venue for vendors from Malibu who experienced great hardship in the recent fires.
Dane Skophammer, a Malibu-based bladesmith who creates custom, handforged knives under his brand, Iron Sand Malibu, showcased his line of knives. A former executive chef at Malibu Farm, he knows a thing or two about knives, and he is excited to share his wares with customers.
Crown Boutique, a small Malibu boutique that has weathered through all the store closures attributable to fires, landslides, and closures of Pacific Coast Highway, piqued the interest of many an onlooker.
When customers visited The Coconut Haus, a brand spearheaded by Malibu native Barbie Herron Conkling, whose family’s roots have been a part of Malibu since the 1940s, they learned that her lifelong love of global, eclectic textiles has helped her to create her brand and also motivated her to provide veterans as well as pediatric hospital patients with comforting blankets through her Cozy Courage nonprofit foundation. Herron Conkling and her husband, Rich Conkling, were delighted to share part of their sales proceeds with the Malibu Boys & Girls Club.
“We would do anything for the Club as it serves our community constantly,” she said. “We’re a local mom and pop business and with our nonprofit organization, we operate on grassroots donations as we serve pediatric cancer patients and other sick kids as well as veterans. We provide them with our Kantha quilts and blankets that have been stitched in India by the same family since we began our efforts.”
Guests were also impressed and appreciative that one of the sponsors was the CCAP, the Careers through Culinary Arts Program, a national nonprofit organization that helps high school students who are interested in culinary and hospitality careers. One such student smiled broadly as she distributed burgers from Irv’s Burgers. “The opportunity to be a part of this food festival and apprentice for Irv’s is a phenomenal experience for me,” Alexandra Lester stated. “I’m still in high school but it is wonderful to get a taste of what it is all about.”
“Saddlerock Ranch and the Semler family loved hosting the Malibu Food and Wine festival!” Shane Semler said. “We look forward to the future of the event while supporting the Boys & Girls Club and bringing together local food and wine purveyors for our community.”
Many chefs and restaurateurs were most mindful of their journey through area wildfires and mudslides. Several local restaurants supported the cause as the community strives to rebound.
“We couldn’t be more excited to join the very first Malibu Food & Wine Festival — Broad Street Oyster started right here in Malibu, and this community has always been at the heart of what we do,” Broad Street Oyster proprietor Christopher Tomkins said. Reflecting for a moment, he elaborated, saying “To be able to celebrate incredible food and wine alongside our neighbors feels like a full-circle moment.”
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).
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The first annual Malibu Food and Wine Festival, hosted by Lauren Rae Levy (top photo center) and her husband Marcel Vigneron was a hit with all attendees last weekend. Photos by Dana Rubin and Malibu Food & Wine Festival
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Sharks sink Panthers, score three wins at Malibu Water Polo Tournament
Malibu High boys’ water polo squad defeats Newbury Park 13-6, capping a 3-1 run and showcasing championship potential
By MCKENZIE JACKSON Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu High Sharks boys’ water polo team aimed to play well against the Newbury Park Panthers, a talented team that beat the Sharks once last season, when they dove into the 24th annual Malibu Boys’ Water Polo Tournament at the Malibu High pool on Sept. 4.
The squad did just that — defeating the Panthers 13-6 on the last day of the three-day event.
Sharks head coach Hayden Goldberg said his team executed their game plan of stopping the Panthers’ top three scorers.
“We had to pressure them every time they touched the ball,” he said. “If they scored, we tried to score on them. We wanted to mentally drain them out. If
we can get the game within the game, we are good.”
Malibu edged Newbury Park 13-12 in the 2024 season opener, but the Panthers bounced back and downed the Sharks 10-2 in last year’s tournament.
Goldberg said Malibu’s dominant win this season revealed how talented the Sharks are.
“We are pretty sound right now,” he said.
Malibu senior captain Ryder Lippman said many of the Sharks are familiar with Newbury Park’s playing style, since many of the athletes compete together on the same club team.
“It was good being able to win,” he said.
Eleven teams from across the region competed in the three-day tournament.
The win over Newbury Park capped a strong 3-1 showing for Malibu in the tournament.
Taj Petretti led Malibu to a 9-2 victory over Pali-
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sades on the first day of the tournament. Later that day, Malibu lost 13-5 to Carpinteria, although junior Nikau Webb had a standout performance.
Sophomore Luke Trujillo led the Sharks to a 16-4 victory over Oxnard on the final day of the tournament. Lippman was Malibu’s top player when the Sharks defeated Newbury Park later in the day.
Lippman, along with fellow senior team captains Petretti and Costes Jensen, said their team showed strong chemistry, effective communication skills, and good passing during the tournament.
The Sharks entered Tuesday’s home match against Rio Mesa with an 8-2 record. Malibu plays at Brentwood School on Thursday. They face Beverly Hills on Sept. 16.
Throughout the tournament, Goldberg said, his team played to their “all out, always” mantra.
“If you are tired, you can rest on the bench,” he said. “Whenever I looked to see if they needed a sub — looking for eye contact — they looked away from me. They wanted to stay in the game. That is a great mentality.”
Goldberg wants Malibu to continue to improve daily.
“Every practice,” he said. “We don’t want to think just because we had a win, we are good. We want to train as hard as we can, we want to play the best of the best, and we want to be at a place where we can play for a championship.”
Petretti said Malibu is a championship-worthy bunch.
“Our team is very strong,” he said. “Our chemistry is great. By the end of the season, we will get to where we want to be.”
The Malibu High boys’ water polo team hosted 11 teams in the Malibu Water Polo Tournament from Sept. 4-6, with the Sharks winning three of its four games. Photos by Steven Lippman
