SEPTEMBER 2005 e.NEWS
	DATES TO REMEMBER
	HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF EFFORTS
	PUMPKIN FESTIVAL TO RETURN IN OCTOBER
	CALABASAS CLASSIC 5K/10K RUNS AND NEW CAR RAFFLE
	CALABASAS QUESTION OF THE WEEK
	EQUINE SYMPOSIUM IN OCTOBER
	CALABASAS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WORKSHOP
	FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
	SCHOOL BUS FALL SEMESTER REGISTRATION
	NEW CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE
	SMART GARDENING WORKSHOP
	WASTE DISPOSAL REMINDER
	SCHOOL AREA TRAFFIC SAFETY REMINDER
	PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY REGARDING WEST NILE VIRUS
	"PIRATE" THE MOUNTAIN LION HEALTHY THANKS TO WILDWORKS WILDLIFE CENTER
	CALABASAS LIBRARY ADDS FARSI BOOKS, VIDEOS AND CDS
	RECYCLE YOUR TIRES
	LOCAL EVENTS IN THE ARTS
	WHAT'S ON CTV
	CALABASAS MEETINGS & HOLIDAYS

Dates to Remember
September:	5 - Labor Day - City Hall Closed 10 -  Friends of the Library Book Sale 13 - CERP Meeting 15 - Teen Court 17 - Tire Recycling Event 24 - Smart Gardening Workshop "My favorite poem is the one that starts 'Thirty days hath September' because it actually tells you something."                                     - Groucho Marx

Many Calabasas residents have expressed a desire to help victims from Hurricane Katrina.  According to officials dealing with the tragedy, the best thing residents can do is give a cash donation to a reputable charity focusing on hurricane relief.  A comprehensive list of charities can be found on the Network for Good website. 

The California State Office of Emergency Services has been alerted that trapped victims on the Gulf Coast are calling family, friends, loved-ones, or anyone they can get a call out to in California asking for someone to rescue them. These requests need to go as soon as possible to the US Coast Guard's Rescue Line at (800) 323-7233 and immediate assistance will be sent. 

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. 

A new website has been created for the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival and can be found at www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com.  The site features general information about the festival, a section for vendors to apply for exhibition space at the event, an antique car show page with an application for interested car show participants and a contact page for general festival inquiries.  For more information about the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival, please 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.

Visit the City of Calabasas website and take part in the new "Question of the Week" feature located on the bottom of the front page.  Each week a new question will be posted with topics ranging from life in Calabasas to the various services offered by the City to residents and visitors.  There will also be trivia questions that will test knowledge of City life and history.

So make sure to visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/home.html to give us your best answer each week!

Equestrian Trails Corral 26 will be holding an Equine Symposium for horse owners and everyone interested in horses on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 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.

A Calabasas Housing Affordability Workshop focusing on senior and workforce housing needs and opportunities will be held on Saturday, October 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Calabasas City Hall Council Chambers.  Participants will hear from an array of speakers on topics such as California's affordable housing crisis, the State Housing Element and RHNA requirements, housing challenges and opportunities in Calabasas and existing quality senior and workforce housing developments.  Suggestions will be taken from the public on how the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars should be spent. 

Refreshments will be provided.  Due to seating limitations of the Council Chambers, participation is limited to the first 80 persons to RSVP by calling (818) 878-4242, ext. 304.  Please leave a message including your full name, address and phone number.   

The Friends of the Calabasas Library have announced that they will be holding a book sale at the Library on Saturday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Please come to the book sale, browse and buy a few books to support the Calabasas Library!

Residents attending Calabasas public schools can still register for school bus service.  Applications are available online and can be mailed to the address on the form or dropped off at Calabasas City Hall.  The cost is $99 per student per semester for round-trip service and $65 per student per semester for one-way service. 

Please note that this school bus registration is only available to Calabasas residents and participating students must be currently attending a public school in Calabasas

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 from September 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! 

Residents should be aware that the City of Calabasas began enforcement of the new California Electrical Code requirements for projects with applications filed on or after August 1, 2005.  The 2004 California Electrical Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3) applies to all occupancies that apply for a building permit on or after August 1, 2005, and remains in effect until the effective date of the next edition.

Residents can examine a copy of the 2004 California Electrical Code at depository libraries located throughout the state.  Residents can also purchase the code from various book stores which carry technical books as well as from the International Code Council.

Attend a free Smart Gardening Workshop on Saturday, September 24, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Gates Canyon park in Calabasas.  The workshop will include information about composting, grass recycling, water-wise gardening and fire-wise gardening.  Discount composting bins will be available for purchase at the workshop.  And all workshop attendees will have the chance to win a free composting bin or a worm bin.  For more information, please call the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works at (888) CLEANLA or visit www.smartgardening.com.

As a reminder, lawns and gardens are over-watered more than more than 150,000 gallons each month causing fertilizer and pesticides to flow into storm drains ending in the ocean.  Please use fertilizers and pesticides wisely and water carefully.

The Calabasas Public Works Department would like to remind residents that the following companies are the only permitted haulers allowed to operate within the City.  Residents are urged not to hire any other companies/haulers. 

If you need to have a refuse bin placed on the street, please apply for an Encroachment Permit at the public counter prior to bin delivery.  If you have any questions, or to report non-permitted hauling, please contact the Calabasas Solid Waste Coordinator at (877) 797-4744.

Residents are reminded that a school bus stopped with flashing yellow lights means to prepare to stop because children are preparing to leave the bus.

When you come to a school bus stopped on the side of a road with the flashing red lights, you must stop, and remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing. These laws are strictly enforced.  The flashing red lights are located at the top, front and top rear of the bus.  Schoolchildren will be crossing the road to or from the school bus.  Cars must remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing. Failure to do so is a violation of VC §22454.

California school buses are immediately recognizable.  The flashing red and yellow lights on the bus mean that children are getting on or off the bus and are likely to try to cross the road near the bus, in front or in back of the bus.  Please be aware and careful to ensure a safe trip to and from school for children this year.

In 2004, West Nile Virus activity was detected in all 58 counties in California and 830 human infections were identified.  Through the first six months of 2005, surveillance efforts have shown that the virus remains active in all areas of Los Angeles County and that the likelihood of becoming infected is expected to remain similar to that of 2004.  In 2004, there have been 309 human cases of West Nile Virus reported from Los Angeles County, including 13 fatalities.

West Nile Virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.  Most individuals who are infected with West Nile Virus will not experience any illness.  Others will have only mild symptoms, such as fever, headaches and body aches.  Less than one percent of individuals, primarily the elderly and those with lowered immune systems, will develop serious illness that will require medical attention. 

Since it was first detected in the United States in New York in 1999, West Nile Virus has spread to 48 states.  Nationwide, 2,470 human cases of West Nile infections were reported last year, including 88 deaths.  In comparison, there are 20,000 to 35,000 deaths annually in the U.S. as a result of the common influenza virus.  Individuals can reduce their risk of mosquito-borne diseases by taking these precautions:

• Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk;

• When outdoors, wear long pants and long sleeved shirts;

• Apply insect repellent according to label instructions;

• Make sure doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes; and

• Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property that can support mosquito breeding.

Birds play an important role in maintaining and spreading West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes acquire the virus from infected birds and then transmit the virus to people.  Evidence of the virus in dead birds is often the first indication that West Nile Virus has been introduced into a new region.  Individuals should take note of the bird’s location and its condition before calling for further instructions.  The bird should show no sign of decomposition or maggot infestation.  While there’s no evidence that people can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds, individuals should not attempt to catch or handle them.

The public can become part of the state’s monitoring effort for West Nile Virus by reporting any crows, raven, magpies, jays or hawks that may have been dead for less than 24 hours to the California Department of Health Services (1-877-WNV-BIRD).  If residents are bothered by mosquitoes, need assistance with eliminating breeding sources on or around your property, or if you would like to obtain mosquito fish, please contact the Los Angeles County West Vector Control District at (310) 915-7370.

"Pirate," a cougar at the Nature of Wildworks Wildlife Center in Topanga, recently had a diseased eye removed and is being cared for by the skilled workers at the Center.  Born with eye problems (see picture at right) that caused premature severe glaucoma, Pirate had his first eye removed soon after arriving at the Center due extreme pain caused by his condition.  Due to blindness and for Pirate's health and comfort, his other eye was recently removed.  The surgery was a success and Pirate is recovering very nicely.  Thanks to the efforts of Wildworks Director Mollie Hogan and her staff, Pirate is in a safe and secure environment.  The Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, takes in and cares for non-releasable wild animals while working to build awareness and respect for native wildlife.   For more information about the Nature of Wildwords Wildlife Center, or to make a donation, please visit their website.

Barbara Lockwood, the Director of the Calabasas Library, did some research and found that after English, Farsi is the second most spoken language in Calabasas.  Farsi is spoken in one out of every twenty Calabasas households.  Thanks to a California State Library Grant, the Calabasas library has purchased 160 Farsi books, videos and CDs.  The items are available for checkout to all patrons.  Library visitors can view the Farsi catalog under the call number FAR for a list of Farsi items.

Los Angeles County residents can bring used tires to a special Waste Tire Recycling event on Saturday, September 17, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The event will be held in Inglewood at the Hollywood Park Race Track parking Lot #7 at 1050 South Prairie Avenue.  Please note that tires from businesses and oversized tires will not be accepted.  A drawing will be held for four free tickets to an upcoming auto race at the Irwindale Speedway.  Please call (888) CLEANLA for more information.

Conejo Players Theatre - Thousand Oaks
     Once Upon A Mattress
     Through September 24
     Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the box office at
     (805) 495-3715 or at the theatre prior to the show.

Madrid Theatre - Canoga Park
    September 2005 Calendar

Scherr Forum Theatre - Thousand Oaks
     September 2005 Calendar

Stage Door Theatre - Agoura Hills
     The Cemetery Club
     By Ivan Menchell/Directed by Aileen Scott
     Through September 17 - Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.
     September 11 - 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 Hall will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. 

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
September, please visit our Calendar Page.