SEPTEMBER 2003 e.News
	EXTENDED CITY HALL HOURS
	PRESIDENT BUSH VISITS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
	CALABASAS FARMER'S MARKET RELOCATES
	BACK TO SCHOOL
	KEEPING CALABASAS SAFE
	STOP, DROP AND ROLL!
	AHMANSON RANCH PROGRESS
	MARS CLOSER THAN EVER!
	PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
	Traffic Calming Workshops Update
	caLABASAS ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM SEPTEMBER 21ST
	RECYCLE, REDUCE, REUSE
	GAME COURT RENOVATION AT DE ANZA PARK
	PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
	WHAT'S ON CTV?
	CALABASAS TEENS PRODUCE FUN IN THE SUDS
	CITY HISTORIAN TURNS 90
	SCHOOL TRAFFIC
	CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN OLD TOWN
	COMMUNITY CENTER EVENTS
	MEETINGS - PLUS COUNCIL AGENDAS ONLINE!

What do you think of e.News? 
Send us an email to let us know! 

No, this picture was not taken from the old set of a Star Wars movie.  This is, in fact, a real photograph taken on August 27^th, the day that Mars orbited the closest it's been to Earth in the past 60,000 years.  From this picture at Elephant Rock in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada you can see how clearly Mars stands out against the already star-studded sky.  Its relatively close proximity to Earth has made it the biggest object in the night sky next to the moon, and it is certainly the brightest, grabbing your attention at first glance.  Mars will remain obvious to the naked eye throughout the month of September, when it will be gradually moving away from Earth to a more usual distance. This phenomenon is not expected to occur again for at least another 250 years, so grab your telescopes and binoculars and start star gazing!  Read below for more on this historic event.

Photos from e.News are taken by the Media Operations Department except Mars photos which were provided by NASA, and the photo of Ms. Flo Klein which was taken by Michael Coons of the Acorn. 
e.News is developed by the Media Department .

EXTENDED CITY HALL HOURS

The Calabasas City Council has approved a new work schedule that will extend City Hall's business hours to nine hours a day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning on September 15^th.  The public counter will now be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Fridays.  This increases business operations by one hour each day (former hours were from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and will allow citizens to take care of City business before or after regular work hours.  For more information on the new schedule, call (818) 878-4225, stay tuned to CTV3, or check the City’s website for reminders of this update.

President Bush and Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, paid a visit to Thousand Oaks on Friday, August 15^th for a press conference at the Santa Monica Mountains headquarters.  Bush discussed the value and beauty of local parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains, and stressed his commitment to preserving it.  After his speech, the President shook hands with the park personnel and dignitaries who attended the event.  He is seen shaking hands with Calabasas Mayor James Bozajian in the picture to the right. 

Calabasas fARMER'S MARKET RELOCATES

A favorite weekend social and shopping spot is being relocated to a temporary site after 11 years of service in Old Town, Calabasas.  The Farmer’s Market was originally brought to Old Town to increase business in this area, but due to rent changes in that location, the market manager relocated to the future City of Calabasas Civic Center site on August 30th.  The Farmer's Market will be held at this location until construction begins on the new civic center sometime in the next two years. The new site is west of The Commons at the corner of Park Sorrento and Park Centre, across the street from the Calabasas Library, and there is plenty of free parking.  The Farmer's Market is open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., rain or shine.  For more info about the Calabasas Farmers Market call Phyllis Power at (818) 340-1854.

Summer is drawing to a close and that means that school is back in session for students in Calabasas.  School began on Wednesday, August 27^th for students of the Las Virgenes School District, and many of them returned to find renovated facilities.  For residents of the eastern portion of Calabasas, this school year will be a transitional one with the opening of Alice C. Stelle Middle School scheduled for this Thanksgiving.  Until then, about 800 students will attend A.E. Wright before moving over to the new 35-classroom campus near Calabasas High School.  For questions and more information contact the Las Virgenes Unified School District at (818) 880-4000.  Remember to be aware of children and drive slowly.  Also, Creekside Klubhouse is looking to hire preschool teachers.  Please call (818) 222-9791 if you are interested.

KEEPING CALABASAS SAFE

STOP, DROP, AND ROLL!

Summer and early fall are known as "fire season" in Calabasas and its surrounding areas.  For this reason the Los Angeles County Fire Department hosted a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, August 21^st at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center.  Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky spoke about citizens working in cooperation with the Fire Department; and Los Angeles County Assistant Fire Chief Reginald Lee (pictured) gave a presentation on fire safety and explained combat fire fighting.  For information on fire preparation, brush clearance and how to stay safe in the event of a fire, contact the LA County Fire Department at (323) 881-2411.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy authorized negotiations to purchase the Ahmanson Ranch land on Monday, August 25^th, confirming the rumors that the ranch could still be preserved. The conservancy board voted unanimously to authorize Executive Director Joseph Edmiston to enter negotiations to acquire the Ahmanson Ranch property.  The land has been a source of conflicting visions since its purchase in 1992. Washington Mutual had planned to develop a housing/golf course project on the property which much of the local community and environmentalists hoped to preserve as open space.  After a ten-year rally against development by many high-profile celebrities and environmentalists aiming to preserve the land, and numerous lawsuits also stalling the project, recent discussions hint at a strong possibility that the land may be saved from from development.  “If all goes well, a purchase agreement could be reached by late September,” said Rorie Skei, Chief Deputy Director of the conservancy, which buys and oversees land in the mountains surrounding the San Fernando Valley.

With Mars closer to Earth than ever before, the night sky in the month of August provided the perfect backdrop for close-up views of the Red Planet.  This image was taken around 3 a.m. on the morning of August 27^th, when Mars was the closest, from the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit around the Earth. This image is the most detailed view of Mars ever taken from Earth.  Since Mars has not been this close to Earth in almost 60,000 years, this record event was celebrated all over the world, making Calabasas another prime place from which to view this spectacular sight that lit up the night sky.

On Saturday, September 6^th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., the City will conduct a Public Scoping Meeting at de Anza Park (3701 Lost Hills Road in Calabasas).  The focus of the meeting will be to provide an opportunity for citizens to comment on the Environmental Impact Report scope of analysis prepared for the proposed Liberty Canyon 49-unit residential subdivision and the proposed Malibu Valley Inn equestrian resort.  Both oral and written comments will be considered.  For questions or comments, please contact Jasch Janowicz, City of Calabasas Environmental Coordinator, at (818) 878-4225 x 235.

Traffic Calming Workshops Update

CALABASAS ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM SEPTEMBER 21ST

The Calabasas Orchestra will perform an evening of Austrian Music on September 21st at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center.  The following pieces will be performed:

- HAYDN Symphony No. 6 in D major (Le Martin)
Adagio-Allegro
Adagio-Andante-Adagio
Menuetto and Trio
Finale: Allegro
- SCHUBERT Rondo in A major for Violin and Strings
Intermission
- MOZART Symphony No. 29 in A major (K201)
Allegro moderato
Andante
Menuetto and Trio
Allegro con spirito

For more information visit the Calabasas Orchestra website or call (818) 594-4011.

RECYCLE, REDUCE, REUSE

If you have old computer parts that you’re looking to dispose of, your answer is here.  The next LA County run collection of e-waste will occur on September 13^th at the Burbank Fire Department Training Center (1845 Ontario St.) in Burbank, and at the John F. Kennedy High School Parking Lot (11254 Gothic Ave.) in Granada Hills.  The time for these Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  They will accept all of your e-waste and appreciate your participation in this safe and productive way to get rid of computer machinery.  More information can be obtained at Household Hazardous Waste.  As always there is also regular household waste collection at City Hall every 2^nd Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Click here for more information.  In addition, you can recycle your washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, stove, TV and dishwashers for free with Major Appliance Recycling service.  Call (800) 960-2125 to schedule a pick up, but there is a cost for pick up according to what kind of appliance you are recycling.  Click here for more information on this service.

Game Court Renovation at De Anza Park

The multi-use game court at Juan de Anza Park will remain closed until September 15, 2003 for renovation.  Construction includes resurfacing the court, painting the fences, and replacing some of the equipment.  The renovation is almost complete, but in the meantime, basketball players can continue to play at Grape Arbor Park where two new glass backboards have been installed.  Grape Arbor Park is located at the corner of Canwood Street and Parkville Street.  For more details, contact Dan Huncke at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center at (818) 222-2782.

The Calabasas Environmental Commission is hosting a photography contest for amateur photographers to capture the natural beauty of our city.  All entries depicting the natural environment within the City of Calabasas will be accepted from September 1st to October 10th.  8”x10” photographs will be accepted, and judged in three age categories including youth, teen, and adult.  The winning entries can be viewed on the City’s website and will be displayed at the Environmental Commission’s booth at the Pumpkin Festival on October 18^th and 19^th.  Please send or deliver all film prints to Jasch Janowicz, the Environmental Coordinator at the City of Calabasas, which is located at 26135 Mureau Road.

Be sure to tune in to CTV on cable channel 3 in Calabasas or online to watch your favorite CTV programs:

Your City, Your Issues - This month host John Loesing meets with local musician Tony Kissane. Kissane conducts the annual Calabasas POPS Concert and discusses how his musical background has lead him to teaching music and conducting the orchestra.

Calabasas Teen Forum - Calabasas and Agoura High School students talk about how they spent their summers, getting ready to go back to school, and what they are looking forward to this school year. Tune in to find out what the upcoming school year has in store for these LVUSD sophomores and juniors.

Visit the CTV Channel Guide for a complete listing of programming.

CALABASAS TEENS PRODUCE FUN IN THE SUDS

The Parks and Recreation Commission recently approved a change in the name of the Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) to Teen Activities Council.  TAC now operates exclusively as a programming board for teen activities in the Calabasas community.  The TAC's first event, a foam party at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center, will be held on Saturday, September 13^th from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  This is a non-toxic, safe way to give a dance a new twist.  There will be a DJ, swimming, games, and refreshment sales.  Call (818)878-4225 ext. 302 or email  aeastman@cityofcalabasas.com for more information. 

Calabasas City Historian, Flo Klein, celebrated her 90^th birthday last month.  The Calabasas City Council  paid tribute to her at her birthday party on August 17^th.  The Council announced at the party that a historical wing of the new Calabasas Library will be named for Ms. Klein.  In the picture to the left, taken by Michael Coons of the Acorn newspaper, City Councilmembers Dennis Washburn and Barry Groveman congratulate Ms. Klein who wiped away tears after hearing the news.  The City Council will announce their decision to name the wing after Ms. Klein at their meeting of September 3rd.

Help reduce school traffic congestion and pollution by signing your kids up to ride the school bus.  Durham School Services provides safe and efficient transportation for your children to schools in the Las Virgenes School District.  For more information contact Durham at (818) 880-4257 or visit Durham School Services.

The third annual Calabasas Cultural Festival in Old Town will take place on Saturday, October 4^th at Leonis Adobe.  The event is free and will be catered by the Sagebrush Cantina.  There will be different types of music and cultural dancing, including flamenco dancers, classical guitarists, a Gypsy Kings style band, farm animal exhibits and even fine arts classes.  Also, the theme is Western, so don’t forget your hat and boots for the western costume contest!  Visit the Arts Council webpage for more details or call (818) 878-4225 ext. 270. 

City Council Agenda Items are now available online, the Monday morning prior to a City Council Meeting.

Agendas for all commissions are available online the Friday prior to the commission meeting.

For a complete calendar of events and meetings during September, please visit our Calendar Page.