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"Snow Snow Snow Day" returns on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas.  As always, between 11:00a.m. and 1:30p.m., TONS of snow will be on the ground for frolicking by children of all ages.  Admission is only $5 per child ages 2-12 and children under 2 are free!  The mid-day event will also feature refreshments, pictures with Santa, and arts & crafts (available for purchase).  Bring an innertube, sled or saucer and get ready for snow-filled fun in southern California!  For more information, please call (818) 880-6461.

Calabasas is pleased to announce the launch of Connect CTY™, a new city-to-resident communications service. With Connect CTY™, City administrators can send emergency voice messages to residents within minutes. The Connect CTY™ service will be used to complement the City’s emergency preparedness procedures and to inform residents of pressing and important.

Residents can currently add cell phone and email addresses to the system and view a list of frequently asked questions by visiting www.cityofcalabasas.com. 

The Calabasas Drive-Thru Flu Clinic on Saturday, November 3, 2007 was a great success.  940 free flu shots were given out to participants in 555 cars during a clinic that lasted almost three hours.  The exercise exceeded County expectations by over 50% and will serve as a model for future emergency POD (point of distribution) exercises throughout Los Angeles County.

The flu clinic used an innovative "drive-thru" format in which participants must arrive and proceed through the clinic in a vehicle.  This format allowed flu vaccine participants to receive vaccine in an efficient and orderly fashion.  The City would like to thank the  Department of Public Health, all the City Staff Volunteers and the public for participating in this invaluable exercise.

The Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center will be holding a Winter Community Garage Sale on Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 7:00a.m.  to 12:00p.m.  Shoppers and sellers are welcome to participate and admission is free to the public.  For more information, please call Jenna at (818) 880-2993 or visit the Center website at www.ahccc.org. 

HARRY POTTER MOVIE AND FUN AT THE CALABASAS LIBRARY

The Calabasas Library is proud to present a free Harry Potter event at noon on Saturday, December 15, 2007.  Kids from 6th grade and up are welcome to mix candy and sugar potions in a "potions class" for wizards and witches.  Participants are then welcome to stay and watch the fifth movie of the Harry Potter series beginning at 2:00p.m.  Please note that the movie is rated PG-13.

Admission to the entire event is free and complimentary refreshments will be served.  A DVD will also be given away for the Friends of the Library fundraiser.  Please contact librarian Karilyn Steward for more information at 818-225-7616. 

The Calabasas Environmental Commission received 120 entries for the 2007 recycling coloring contest.  All entries were carefully reviewed by the commissioners during the November 6, 2007 public meeting at the Calabasas City Hall.  Thirteen winners were chosen based on the creativity and theme of their illustration.  The winning drawings will be printed in the 2008 City of Calabasas Community Recycling Awareness calendar. 

CALMONT SCHOOL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE IN CALABASAS

The Calmont School, a 30 year old not-for-profit, non-denominational school that is moving from Topanga to Calabasas in 2008, is hosting a Holiday Boutique on Thursday, December 6, 2007 from 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.  The Boutique features premium clothing and accessory designers, artisans and will take place at the future Calmont School location at Cottontail Ranch, 1666 Las Virgenes Canyon Rd. in Calabasas.  The event will also feature a special performance by the lower-school Calmont Chorus.
 

The Boutique is a fund raiser for Calmont's "Greenovation" plans for Calmont in Calabasas.  The school purchased the 22 acre Cottontail Ranch site in Calabasas with plans to "greenovate" the campus for the 2008-09 school year. Construction and landscaping will be done with earth-friendly materials and by recycling or reinventing materials that are no longer useful, and planting an organic garden.  Classes will begin at the Calabasas campus in September 2008.  Calmont families have already donated about $1.5 million to help the school purchase the property, but the fundraising effort isn't complete. 

For more information about Calmont or the Holiday Boutique, please call (310) 455-3725.

2008 WINTER RECREATION BROCHURE & WINTER HOLIDAY WORKSHOP

Stumped about what recreation activities are available in the City of Calabasas? Make sure to check out the 2008 Winter Calabasas Recreation Brochure that will be mailed to all Calabasas residents in December.  The brochure features detailed information about adult and youth classes, senior citizen programs, community news and information, sports activities and much more. 

The 2008 Winter Calabasas Recreation Brochure will also be available online and paper copies will be available at City Hall, the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center and the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center beginning December 1, 2007.   Classes will run  from January to March 2008 so make sure to register early!  

A Winter Holiday Workshop will be held at De Anza Park on December 15, 2007 from 9:30a.m. -12:00p.m. This fun morning features numerous winter-themed foods and arts and crafts including chocolate dip pretzels, snowflake and snowman pictures.  The fee is $40.00.  For more information, please call (818) 880-6461.

The City is holding a free electronic waste collection on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at Calabasas City Hall, 26135 Mureau Road in Calabasas from 10:00a.m - 3:00p.m. Acceptable items include but are not limited to CD players, laptops and personal computers, microwave ovens, printers, radios, stereos, telephones, and VCR’s. 

Also on Saturday, December 8, 2007 there will be a free water based paint and used oil collection event at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center located at 23400 Park Sorrento from 10:00a.m - 2:00p.m. For more information, please contact the City of Calabasas Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator at (818) 878-4225. 

Donated eyeglasses may be placed in the collection box at the Calabasas City Hall or at a number of City facilities.  In partnership with the Lions international, Calabasas collected and recycled 240 eyeglasses during the past year.  The recycled eyeglasses will eventually be shipped to developing countries and will be distributed for free to those in need of reading glasses. Please recycle by dropping off dry cell batteries, old cell phones and empty inkjet cartridges at designated locations throughout the City.

Conejo Players Theatre - Thousand Oaks
      You Can't Take it With You
     By Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman
     Through December 15, 2007
     Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00p.m.
     Sunday December 9 at 2:00p.m.

Madrid Theatre - Canoga Park
     December 2007 Calendar

Scherr Forum Theatre - Thousand Oaks
     December 2007 Calendar

Stage Door Theatre - Agoura Hills
28311 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills
     The Fourposter
     November 30 - December 15, 2007 & January 4 - 19
     By Jan de Hartog
     Directed by John Barker
     Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00p.m.
     Sunday December 2, 9 & January 6 at 2:00p.m.
     For reservations, please call (818) 889-5209.

The Calabasas Emergency Response Program (CERP), the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department, and Disaster Communications Service (DCS) would like to invite the public to attend an Amateur Ham Radio Study and Exam Session for an Entry Level FCC License on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at the Lost Hills Sheriff's Department at 27050 Agoura Road.   The class will take place from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. and the exam will begin at 2:00p.m. and last one hour.  There is a $4.00 charge for taking the exam but the download of study materials is free.  Please note that registration is required and walk-ins will not be accepted.  Register today or direct questions to Debbie Larson at (818) 878-4225, ext. 294 or dlarson@cityofcalabasas.com.

The Calabasas Environmental Commission is  accepting nominations for the 2007 Carl Gibbs Environmental Excellence Award until December 3, 2007.  The Award is a symbol of commitment to California’s environment and honors a wide array of individuals, businesses, municipalities, government agencies, organizations, and institutions.  The Award recognizes voluntary activities by companies and organizations, big or small, private or non-profit, for work done in California that results in cleaner air or water, less waste, less traffic, conservation of energy and natural resources, efficient and water conserving landscaping, or reduced use of hazardous materials. Furthermore, the Award honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment or innovation above and beyond their primary mission. In selecting the recipients, the awards committee will consider:
 

• Measurable improvements to environmental quality

• Ongoing or long-term environmental benefits

• Creativity and innovation in technology or approach

• Model achievements

• Demonstrating a solid commitment to protecting the environment.

• Involving employees, governmental officials and/or community members in an environmental project.

• Showing a commitment to the public's best interests.

• Reaching out in an effective manner to stakeholders.

• Taking definitive steps to prevent pollution.

• Minimizing costs or demonstrating a payback on investments

Nominations for the Award are welcomed from individuals, companies, government agencies, consultants, educators, researchers and students.  When selecting recipients, the awards committee considers measurable improvements to environmental quality, creativity, environmental achievements, commitment to protecting the environment, promoting community involvement and other core values of the Award.
 

Nominations are due by December 3, 2007. Nomination forms are available on City of Calabasas website.  Please mail the nomination form to City Hall or fax it to Alex Farassati, Environmental Services Supervisor, at (818) 878-4205.

Home owners in Calabasas enjoy keeping their properties well-maintained and often embark on projects to further improve, enhance, or enlarge their homes.  Residents considering a home improvement project that will involve either an addition to a home, a new out building, gazebo or patio cover, outdoor fireplace, deck, or swimming pool, should do their research before proceeding with the work.

One of the most important things to do in the early planning stages is to confirm property lines preferably with the aid of a certified and registered civil engineer or land surveyor.  Assuming that existing fence and/or wall locations coincide with the property lines is often a mistake because persons who originally built the walls or fences may have paid little attention to the actual property line location.  Also, reliance upon a pseudo-survey from a builder (often accomplished with the aid of GPS units) can be troublesome as the builder is not necessarily trained in surveying techniques.

The type of survey required will depend on the extent of improvement work, the degree to which property lines seem to be unclear, and the project budget.  A basic topographic survey will still establish the appropriate written documentation, such as a drawn to scale plan reflecting the true and accurate locations of all existing structures, easements and utilities on a property.  A staked survey will be more expensive, and it will result in not only a well documented assessment of the property, but it will also include monuments of key endpoints and line locations (the literal placement of stakes in the ground to represent the boundary line in the field).  A staked survey will cost more, but it may be worthwhile in certain situations where a particular boundary line or easement location is in dispute.

Most small, simple projects limited to the interior of a lot only, where property line setbacks will not be an issue, should not require a boundary line survey.  But residents expecting to construct an improvement at a location near or on the minimum allowable setback line, or if there are questions about an easement, are strongly encouraged to rely on a professionally prepared land survey to ensure home improvements will conform to local zoning laws.

The City of Calabasas Community Services Department is offering a fun excursion on Friday, December 14, 2007 to the Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade.   Enjoy a dinner at the renowned Five Crowns Restaurant featuring Prime Rib, creamed spinach, salad, Yorkshire pudding and strawberry trifle. The excursion next heads to Balboa Pavilion for the boat parade joining hundreds of other boats decorated with thousands of lights and displays. 

The excursion bus will leave from De Anza Park on Friday, December 14 at 2:00p.m. and is expected to return at 10:00p.m.  The fee for the trip is $76.00 per person.  For more information on this program or other recreation activities please call the Community Services Department at (818) 880-6461 or stop by De Anza Park which is located at 3701 Lost Hills Road in Calabasas.

Southern California Edison and The Gas Company are currently offering energy efficiency rebates in the Calabasas area.  Before buying a new natural gas furnace, call (888) 431-2226 to see if it’s eligible for a $200 rebate on certain ENERGY STAR qualified models with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 92% or higher. Participating retailers offer instant rebates on qualifying high-efficiency natural gas storage water heaters ($30), and ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers ($35) and dishwashers ($30).

For qualifying models and participating retailers, visit www.socalgas.com/residential/savemoney/.

To find more tips and rebate information, visit: www.socalgas.com/energyefficiency/.

For more information, visit: http://www.sce.com/RebatesandSavings/incomequalified/EMA/ or call (800) 736-4777.

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.

New this month on CTV:

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

Calabasas City Hall will be closed  on Monday, December 24, Tuesday, December 25, Monday, December 31 and Tuesday, January 1, 2008. 

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
December, please visit our Calendar Page.