OCTOBER 2005 e.NEWS
	DATES TO REMEMBER
	TOPANGA FIRE CLIPS CALABASAS
	PUMPKIN FESTIVAL TO RETURN IN OCTOBER
	CALABASAS CLASSIC 5K/10K RUNS AND NEW CAR RAFFLE
	WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
	CERP MAKES SURE CALABASAS IS PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY
	EQUINE SYMPOSIUM
	CHALLENGER MEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT
	MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
	OUR COMMUNITY CELEBRATES YOUTH FESTIVAL
	FALL RECREATION BROCHURE
	SHERIFF'S STATION OPEN HOUSE
	MOUNTAINS RESTORATION TRUST YOUTH NATURALIST PROGRAM
	TRASH AND RAIN: WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
	FREE BULKY ITEM PICK-UP FOR CALABASAS RESIDENTS & USED PAINT COLLECTION
	CALABASAS WINS WATER QUALITY AWARD
	LOCAL EVENTS IN THE ARTS
	WHAT'S ON CTV
	CALABASAS MEETINGS & HOLIDAYS

Dates to Remember
October:	5 - Walk to School Day 8 - Paint and Oil Collection Event 8 - MRT Youth Naturalist Program 15 - Equine Symposium 17-23 - Challenger Tennis Tournament 22 - Make a Difference Day 22- Sheriff's Open House 22- Free Bulky Item Pick-up Day 23 - Calabasas Pumpkin Festival 30 - Daylight Savings Time ends 31 - Halloween - Safety Tips for Parents

The Topanga Fire, which burned over 24,000 acres, brought the windblown forces of Mother Nature to the doorstep of Calabasas, as well as the nearby communities of Chatsworth, Simi Valley, Oak Park, Hidden Hills, Agoura, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.  

The fire was first spotted at 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 north of 118 Freeway near Topanga Canyon Drive in the Chatsworth area.  Winds gusting up to 50 miles per hour quickly fanned the flames south and west of Chatsworth into the Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve and by 11:00 p.m. that evening, the fire had already consumed over 3,500 acres.  By early Thursday morning, the fire had doubled in size to over 7,000 acres. 

Evacuations were soon issued for areas of Calabasas and Agoura Hills north of the 101 freeway and schools were closed.   By noon on Thursday, September 29, over 3,000 firefighters were working around the clock to contain the blaze and news reports broadcast word of zero to five percent containment well into the night.  A backfire near Las Virgenes Canyon soon grew out of control.  Mont Calabasas was threatened but firefighters battled through the night and kept the fire from crossing the 101 freeway. 

Calmer winds, higher humidity and cooler weather stalled the fire allowing firefighters to get the upper hand on the flames after they had threatened areas north into Simi Valley and west to Thousand Oaks.  By Friday afternoon, all of the area evacuation orders were cancelled.  Full containment of the fire was attained on Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

Remarkably, no lives were lost due to the Topanga Fire and only three single family homes were lost.  The unsurpassed professionalism, bravery, and skill of the firefighters who battled the fire and saved our communities deserve our highest respect and heartfelt thanks. 

CTV has produced a recap show that includes     
footage from the Governor's press conference
at the fire command center.                                                                                   
                                                                                                  Fire Map Courtesy of GEOmac.gov

The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is returning this fall!  The Festival, presented by the City of Calabasas, the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce and the Calabasas Arts Council, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 23, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at de Anza Park in Calabasas.  The family-oriented, fall festival will feature carnival games, arts & crafts, live entertainment, delicious food and beverages, and a fun zone with inflatable rides.  The main attractions at the Pumpkin Festival, of course, will be the pumpkin-related activities.  There will be a pumpkin patch, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, a pumpkin pie eating competition and a seed spitting contest. 

For more information about the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival, please visit the official Pumpkin Festival Website at www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com or call the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce at (818) 222-5680.

The 2nd annual Calabasas Classic 5k/10k runs, sponsored by the Talbert Family Foundation, will take place on Saturday, November 12, 2005.  The races begin and end at the Calabasas Library.  Participants can register online or download a registration form.

The Talbert Family Foundation is also presenting a New Car Raffle and first prize is a 2006 Lexus 400H hybrid SUV valued at $55,000.  Tickets are $100 and are on sale now. The drawing to be held on November 12, 2005 at the Calabasas Classic 5k 10k Runs. 

All proceeds from the Calabasas Classic 5k/10k runs and the New Car Raffle will benefit the Calabasas Gates Canyon Park Project, L.V.S.E.P.T.A., the Celiac Disease Foundation, City of Hope, FG-Syndrome, and the Move Me/Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. 

To get more information on the raffle, please visit the Calabasas Classic homepage or download a ticket form.

Calabasas students and parents will be walking to school together on Wednesday, October 5 during Walk to School Day which takes place between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.   Part of International Walk to School Week, Walk to School Day is an opportunity for parents and their children to take advantage of cooler weather by walking to and from school during daylight hours while reducing traffic and increasing exercise levels.  Participating schools include A.C. Stelle Middle School, Bay Laurel Elementary School, Lupin Hill Elementary School and Chaparral Elementary School.  Green rubber bracelets that say “Walk to School – City of Calabasas” and plastic rulers will be handed out by the City to all walkers.  So make a change, form a walk-pool in your neighborhood and make a healthy decision for your family by walking to school. 

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the Topanga Fire, the Calabasas Emergency Response Program (CERP) is re-doubling efforts to prepare for a natural or terrorist disaster. 

Every Saturday morning in Calabasas, while their neighbors sleep in, CERP Sector Leaders perform a test of the city's emergency radio network.  The radios connect the various sectors of Calabasas to the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which is in contact with Lost Hills Sheriff Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County EOC.  Chief Engineer Roy LaViolette recently received a new, improved set of radios and is in the process of setting them up for service.

Calabasas already has five first-aid caches in place to provide doctors and trained CERP volunteers with the supplies they'd need in case of a disaster. Dr. Albert Katz, head of the group of CERP volunteer physicians, is in the process of inventorying the caches to see what needs to be replaced or added to them. City Risk Management Analyst Debbie Larson has added 60-gallon water barrels to each cache. Larson is also set to order two more caches, 8' wide X 20'  long, for Gates Canyon Park and Calabasas High School.  The other caches are at Grape Arbor Park, De Anza Park, Calabasas Tennis and Swim Club, and Calabasas Hills Park.  

CERP needs more trained volunteers and block captains.  CERP block captains in Sector Three, where most of the CERP volunteers are new, will soon be going door to door to hand out the city's big, orange, disaster preparation manual and to introduce themselves to their neighbors.  For more information, please call Debbie Larson at (818) 878-4225 x294.

Equestrian Trails Corral 26 will be holding an Equine Symposium for horse owners and everyone interested in horses on Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the historic King Gillette Estate/SOKA University, Las Virgenes campus, Minute Man Hall, 26800 West Mulholland Hwy. in Calabasas.  Admission is $25.00 with lunch included ($20.00 without lunch).

Guest speakers include Richard Stevens, DVM of the Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic, Rod Bergen and  Dale Filkins on the topic of trucks and trailers, Aleta McCormick on deep tissue body work, Art Carvalho and Gerald “Gary” Peters on legal responsibilities for horse ownership, Christopher Windisch on horseshoeing and Edward Rote on how to “read” a horse.

For further information, please contact Jeanne Wallace at (818) 222- 2566, Melissa Austin at (818) 224-2983 or Debbie DiMascio via email Debbie@malibuoaks.com.  Interested participants can mail their check for registration to ETI Corral 36, c/o Saul Berman, 551 Mountain Green Dr., Monte Nido, CA 91302.  Please make checks payable to ETI Corral 36, Equine Symposium.

The Calabasas Men's $50,000 Challenger Tennis Tournament is taking place on Monday, October 17 - 23 at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center.  All matches from Monday through Thursday are free of charge.  Tickets are necessary to view the quarterfinal, semi-final and final matches which take place over the weekend and are currently available at the Tennis & Swim Center! For more information about the Challenger Men's Tennis Tournament, please call (818) 222-2782.

"Make a Difference Day," which takes place on Saturday, October 22, is an annual celebration of "neighbors helping neighbors."  This year, volunteers will come together to help restore and enhance the natural habitats of birds and animals at Headwaters Corner and Malibu Creek State Park.  The Mountains Restoration Trust invites all individuals, families and groups to help at either project site.  Volunteers will need water and gloves and registration is required.  Habitat restoration volunteers will receive credit for community service hours.  To register or for more information, please call (818) 591-1701 x186.

The 3rd annual Our Community Celebrates Youth (OCCY) Festival will take place on Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Juan Bautista de Anza Park.  The family-friendly festival will feature an "old-fashioned" BBQ along with live music, family fun and games, a Western stunt show, a Deputy dunk tank and safety programs presented by the Las Virgenes Sheriff's Department and other health and service organizations.  For more information, please call (818) 878-1808 x4653.

The 2005 Fall Recreation Brochure is available online. The brochure features detailed information about adult and youth classes, senior citizen programs, community news and information, sports activities and much more.  Classes run  through December and a wide variety of activities are available for all age groups.

Classes include:

TOT CLASSES
Parent & Tot Build a Name Train 2 ½ - 4 Years
Kindermusik Newborns – 5 Years
Broadway Babies-Hip Hop 3 -4 Years

YOUTH CLASSES
Broadway Babies-Hip Hop 5-7 Years
Beginning Fencing 6-14 Years
Guitar Boogie 7-12 Years

TEEN CLASSES
Junior Golf 10-16 Years
Blue Angels Youth & Ski Snowboard Program 7-16 Years

ADULT CLASSES
Wild & Crazy Dog Obedience
Beginning and Intermediate Level Watercolors
Yoga/Stretch
Pilates Made Simple

SENIOR PROGRAMS
Gentle Yoga for Seniors
Laughlin Excursion (3 Days & 2 Nights) 10/16-10/18
Brown Bag Bingo

Remember, you can also easily register for classes online! 

The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station will hold their annual Open House on Saturday, October 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  There will be displays and demonstrations by many of the specialized Sheriff's units.  The Malibu Search and Rescue Team will also be on hand to let people experience first hand what it's like to ride a "high line." 

This year, the Open House will also include an emergency preparedness fair, with representatives from local City emergency response teams.

The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's station is located at 27050 Agoura Road in Calabasas, on Agoura Road between Lost Hills Road and Liberty Canyon.  Free parking will be available. 

The Mountains Restoration Trust Youth Naturalist Program is holding a "Nighttime in Nature" event on Saturday, October 8 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Headwaters Corner, 23075 Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. 
Children from ages 8-12 will be able to discover the nightlife of mountain wildlife and learn why some animals stay up all night and sleep in the daytime. The kids will then enjoy a pizza dinner before an evening hike and craft activity.  For more information or to make a reservation, please call Susan Haugland at (818) 591-1701 x181.

Did you know that when it rains, trash, litter, debris and pollutants in the streets
flow through the storm drains straight into the ocean?  Unlike the sewer system,
water traveling through the storm drain system is not treated, so the pollutants
and debris end up in our rivers, and the Pacific Ocean.  In addition to polluting
the ocean, this can cause flooding by clogging the storm drain system and
allowing water to back up into the streets.

October 1 is the official start of the rainy season and with Southern Californians
gearing up for the rainy season in general, the Calabasas Environmental Services
Division is asking residents and businesses to remember basic tips to keep
the storm drains clear of trash, litter and debris. 
 

It’s easy to forget that everything in the street (trash, cigarette butts, pet waste, oil that leaks from our car) washes into the ocean when it rains.  The first real rain of the season is the perfect time to think about what each of us can do to improve the quality of our waters and protect the environment.  Everyone can do their part by following a few simple steps.  Here are some tips to prevent flooding and reduce storm water pollution:

• Don’t throw litter and debris into the street.  Not only does it look bad, it ends up contaminating the ocean.  The quality of life in our neighborhoods suffers and trash can clog gutters and cause street flooding when it rains.

• Pick up after your dog.  Animal waste contains disease-causing pathogens that, when left on the ground, wash down the storm drains and contaminate beaches.  It can increase the risk of viral infections, especially after it rains.  When taking your dog for a walk or to the park, don’t forget to bring a bag or other container for clean up.  Most communities have an ordinance against leaving dog waste on the sidewalk or street.   Some carry a fine.  Here in Calabasas, we rely on residents’ responsibility.

• Reduce pesticide and fertilizer use.  Excessive fungicides, insecticides and fertilizers can run off your property when you water and flow into the storm drains contributing to storm water pollution.  Follow the directions on the container carefully, and use sparingly as the products include toxic and synthetic chemicals such as cadmium and phosphorus. 

Storm water pollution occurs as trash and other pollutants travel through the storm drains and contaminate the beaches, the ocean and waterways.  Each year, the County Department of Beaches and Harbors removes more than 4,500 tons of trash from area.  When it rains the volume of water flowing through the storm drain system can increase up to 10 billion gallons making it impossible to use the nets.

To report spills into storm drains, clogged storm drains, illegal dumping or for more information on how to prevent storm water pollution in the County of Los Angeles, call 1 (888)CLEAN LA.

On Saturday, October 22, there will be a free bulky item pick-up by Calabasas permitted haulers for Calabasas residents ONLY.  Furniture, mattresses, carpet, refrigerators and other appliances can be picked up through appointment only.  Appointments must be made by noon on Friday, October 21 with the waste hauler serving your residence.  To make an appointment with GI Industries/Waste Management, please call (800) 675-1171.  To make an appointment with Las Virgenes/Consolidated Disposal, please call (818) 889-9400.  For more information about either the bulky item pick-up or the paint and used oil collection, please contact the Calabasas Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator at (818) 878-4225.

The City of Calabasas and Mountains Restoration Trust have jointly been selected to receive a 2005 Water Quality Award from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB).  The award is for excellence in storm-water management as demonstrated by Headwaters Corner.  The Water Quality Award honors individuals, organizations, businesses and public agencies that have worked tirelessly and successfully to protect or restore water quality in LA and Ventura Counties.  The RWQCB Board will present the Award during its 2005 Water Quality Awards Dinner to be held on October 20, 2005 at the Aquarium of the Pacific.  

Conejo Players Theatre - Thousand Oaks
    Children's Theatre presents
    Peter and Wendy
     October 8 & 9 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

Madrid Theatre - Canoga Park
    October 2005 Calendar

Scherr Forum Theatre - Thousand Oaks
     October 2005 Calendar


Stage Door Theatre - Agoura Hills
     Hay Fever
     By Noel Coward/Directed by A. J. Schuermann
     Through November 19 - Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.
     October 16, 30 & November 13 - Sunday Matinee at 2:00 p.m.
     For reservations, please call (818) 889-5209.

Be sure to tune in to CTV on cable channel 3 in Calabasas, through live online web-streaming, or watch any meeting or CTV program at ANYTIME through the new CTV archive. 

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

City Council Agenda Items are available online, the Thursday 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
October, please visit our Calendar Page.