A new alert system called Nixle is being used by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to send free geographically-specific e-mails and text messages directly to the public. Please note that this is in addition to, and not in place of, the Calabasas Emergency Notification service which sends alerts to all registered telephones in the City in the event of an emergency and the Alert LA County mass notification system for Los Angeles County. 

Nixle messages from the Sheriff's Department include arrests, neighborhood-specific alerts and advisories, traffic incidents, road closures, wanted persons, missing persons, crime trends, and more.  Alert messages are marked with the color red and are used for Amber alerts, kidnapping and other crimes where immediate public assistance is needed.  Advisory messages are coded with the color yellow and are used for seeking information on crime suspects and public safety messages.   Community messages are coded with the color green and are used to inform residents about safety tips, recent crime trends, and public safety agency special events.  Traffic messages are blue and are sent to alert residents to major road closures and collisions.  To sign up for Nixle notifications, please visit www.Nixle.com and click on the "residents sign up now" button.

Three more free Calabasas Sun Sets Summer Series concerts will be held on Sundays in August at Calabasas Lake.  On August 1, Opa Opa will perform a concert filled with Latin beats perfect for dancing.  Residents who are fans of the music of Frankie Valli or the Four Seasons will want to watch Walk Like a Man perform on August 15.  And on August 29, Fantastic Diamond wraps up the 2010 Sun Sets season with an incredible musical journey through 40 years of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits.
The full Sun Sets concert schedule is available online at www.cityofcalabasas.com/sunsets.html.  No tickets are necessary and all performances in the 2010 Calabasas Sun Sets Summer Series are free to the public.   All concerts will begin at 6:00p.m. and will take place at Calabasas Lake.  Free parking will be available at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center, 23400 Park Sorrento in Calabasas.  A free Park & Ride shuttle service is also available from the Calabasas Inn at 23500 Park Sorrento beginning at 5:00p.m.  Picnics are welcome and light snacks will be available for purchase with cash.   For more information, please call (818) 224-1600.

The Mountains Restoration Trust is holding a 2010 Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Clinic for Dogs with Tracy Jenson-Presson from High on Kennels in San Diego County.  The training sessions will take place on Saturday, August 7, 2010 and Sunday, August 8, 2010 between 8:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. 

Rattlesnake avoidance training is conducted in a safe, humane, controlled environment ensuring the safety of participating dogs and rattlesnakes. The training process is repeated several times to insure that the dog understands the sight, smell and sound of a rattlesnake (rattlesnakes have a distinctive odor that dogs can discern from other snakes).   The cost is $70 per dog and advanced reservations and payment is required.  The training takes place at the Mountains Restoration Trust Masson House at 23075 Mulholland Hwy in Calabasas.  Registration is available online.  For more information, please call (818) 591-1701.

The California Department of Public Health has expanded its vaccination recommendations amid rising numbers of Pertussis (whooping cough) cases throughout the state.  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has reported three deaths due to Pertussis so far this year.

In addition to the usual series of childhood Pertussis vaccinations, the California Department of Public Health now recommends an adolescent-adult pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap) for anyone 7 years and older who is not fully immunized, including those who are more than 64 years old and all women of childbearing age, before, during, or immediately after pregnancy.

Pertussis is spread by the coughing of an infected individual. Typical symptoms in young children include intense coughing accompanied by a whooping sound, and post-cough vomiting. However, some infants infected with Pertussis may not show typical symptoms, but can still suffer life-threatening complications, which can include pneumonia and seizures. Among older children and adults, the primary symptom may be a cough that often lasts for several weeks or longer.

Those who do not have a regular healthcare provider or insurance coverage for vaccines may dial 2-1-1 or visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip for referrals to providers and community sites offering immunizations free or at a reduced-charge.  For more information on preventing the spread of whooping cough or other illnesses, visit the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Spotlight the Arts and the City of Calabasas are pleased to present a “Ten Cent Cabaret: A Jukebox Musical Revue” on Thursday, August 5 at 7:00p.m., Friday, August 6 at 8:00p.m. and Saturday, August 7 at 8:00p.m.  The shows will take place at the Calabasas Amphitheatre, 200 Civic Center Way in Calabasas and are a fundraiser for the Spotlight the Arts Foundation and the upcoming "Calabasas Theatre Company."  

“Ten Cent Cabaret” will feature the music of Glee, Elvis, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Supremes, Queen, Journey and more.  General admission tickets are $15.  Senior and student tickets are available for $10.  Tickets and more information are available by calling (818) 436-0530.

The Calabasas Community Services Department is hosting a free Movie Night at Juan Bautista de Anza Park (3701 Lost Hills Rd. in Calabasas) from 7:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. on Friday, August 6, 2010.   Enjoy the iconic 1980’s film Back to the Future on the big screen with the whole family!  Attendees are invited to come dressed in their favorite 1980’s outfit for a chance to win the "Best Dressed 80’s Costume" contest.  The movie night will also feature games, face painting and snacks will be available.  Please feel free to bring blankets and lawn chairs. For more information about the August 6 free Movie Night at de Anza Park, please call (818) 880-6461. 

Calabasas Teen Court, a program run by teens for teens, will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 4:30p.m.   The location is at the Founders Hall inside the library, 200 Civic Center Way, Calabasas, CA 91302.

Teen offenders, between the ages of 13 and 17, who have committed a misdemeanor crime have their cases heard by a jury of their peers. A local volunteer judge or attorney presides as Judge and is directly involved in the Court proceedings.  All high school students are welcome to serve on the jury.  For more information about Teen Court jury participation, please call Michelle Lee, Recreation Specialist, at (818) 880-6461.

Animal waste contains disease-causing pathogens that, when left on the ground, wash down local storm drains and contaminate beaches.  Scientific studies have shown that bacteria from domesticated dog waste pollutes local beaches.  Dog waste left on the ground can increase the risk of viral infections, especially after becoming wet due to rain or sprinklers. 

Calabasas Ordinance No. 2009-252 requires the removal of animal waste from public and private properties.  The ordinance states that an owner may not allow his or her animal to defecate on any public or private property, except the property of the owner of the animal, within the City unless the owner immediately removes the animal waste.  This rule also applies to any person who has temporary custody or control of the animal.  Any person who walks an animal on public or private property that isn’t theirs must have in their possession a means to retrieve and dispose of the animal waste.  Failure to remove the animal waste may result in fines issued by the City.  For any questions regarding the animal waste ordinance, please contact Calabasas Code Enforcement  at (818) 224-1600. 

The Calabasas Summer Reading Program, sponsored by the Friends of the Calabasas Library, returns this summer and will feature events for all ages.  Events run until August 15, 2010.  All programs will take place on Wednesdays at 4:00p.m. at the Calabasas Library, 200 Civic Center Way in Calabasas.  A full schedule of events is available online and will be updated throughout the summer.  A special event for preschoolers will also be held on Friday, August 6, 2010 featuring songs, dances and folktales.  All events are free.  For more information on the Calabasas Summer Reading Program, please visit http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/library.html.

Summertime Calabasas Beach Bus runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until August 20, 2010.  The bus drops off and picks up passengers at six convenient locations in Calabasas and at Zuma Beach in Malibu.  The fare is only $1 each way.  There are three bus departures per service day from Calabasas and three departures from Zuma Beach back to Calabasas.  A full schedule and list of locations is available online.  Please note that exact change and a valid picture ID are required to ride the Beach Bus!  There is no beach bus service on Wednesdays, Saturdays, or Sundays.  For more information, please call (818) 880-6461. 

The Calabasas Library has created a story time program specifically designed for children on the autism spectrum. This special story time will take place on August 15, 2010 in the Children’s Reading Room at the Calabasas Library (200 Civic Center Way in Calabasas).   The program begins at 1:30p.m. and includes participatory storytelling, sensory songs, and social support.
 
The story time is free and open to the public!  For more information, please call or email Jill Nevins at (818)224-1757 or jnevins@cityofcalabasas.com.

Two free book clubs for adults have meetings in August at the Calabasas Library.  The Second Thursday Library Book Club will meet on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 6:30p.m.  The August book choice is Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.  Membership in the book club is free however a library card is required to participate.    For more information, please call Caroline Russom at (818) 225-7616 or email crussom@cityofcalabasas.com.

On Wednesday, August 18, 2010,  an additional book club will meet at 10:00a.m. in the Library to discuss the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Stieg Larsson.  Anyone is welcome to participate.

Author Linda Chase will be at the Calabasas Library on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 2:00p.m.  Chase is author of Surfing: Women of the Waves.  She will share stories of women surfers throughout history. Linda will also sign books, which will be for sale at the event.

The City of Calabasas  organizes two free monthly electronic waste collection events in addition to the usual monthly water based paint and used oil collection event. On  the first Saturday of each month (Saturday, August 7, 2010), an electronic waste collection will take place at the Albertson’s parking lot, 26521 Agoura Road (at Las Virgenes Road) in Calabasas from 10:00a.m to 3:00p.m.  A second monthly electronic waste event will take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month, August 21, 2010, in the Vons Shopping Center parking lot at 23381 Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Acceptable items include but are not limited to CD players, laptops and personal computers, microwave ovens, printers, radios, stereos, telephones, and VCR’s.

On Saturday, August 14, 2010 there will be a free water based paint and used oil collection event at Calabasas City Hall located at 100/200 Civic Center Way (map) adjacent to the Commons from 10:00a.m to 2:00p.m. For more information, please contact the City of Calabasas Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator at (818) 224-1600.

In addition to monthly roundups, several permanent locations throughout the city accept dry cell batteries and used eyeglasses.  For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, Calabasas served 2,206 patrons at bi-monthly e-waste events and collected 257,898 pounds of mixed electronic waste.  Used oil & water based paint monthly roundups served 514 residents and collected 4,261 gallons of paint and 467 gallons of used motor oil.  The City collected 17,592 pounds of dry cell batteries and 314 pairs of used eyeglasses throughout the year at various permanent locations.  The eyeglasses are shipped to Lions International were they are cleaned, sorted and distributed to people in developing countries who are in need.

Construction activities for the Calabasas Annual Rubberized Overlay Project began in June and will continue throughout the summer.  This year’s street resurfacing program will include rubberized overlay and crack sealing.  The streets to be overlayed are Mulholland Highway (Northern City limit to Paul Revere Rd.), Parkway Calabasas (Park Entrada to Camino Portal), Dry Canyon Cold Creek Road (Mulholland Hwy to 678 ft E/O of Mulholland Hwy), and the Creekside Park gated parking lot/playground area.  The roads that will be Crack Sealed include: Mulholland Highway (Old Topanga Canyon Road to 24325 Mulholland Hwy lot entrance) and Dry Canyon Cold Creek Road from Old Topanga Canyon Road to the main Viewpoint School parking lot entrance.   Traffic control and access will be provided at all times. There will be limited access on days when actual paving occurs, but only for a short period. The Contractor will re-open the streets as soon as it is safe and possible to do so. The streets will be paved one travel lane at a time, therefore, access will be provided when needed.  Residents with questions or in need of special accommodations may call (818) 224-1674.

A Temporary Use Permit (TUP) is a city issued permit for an event or function of a short duration, typically lasting one to four days in length.  Examples include car shows, fashion shows, outdoor holiday festivals, fun runs and other similar athletic events.  Often these events are organized for charity, they typically include catered food and beverage offerings, and attendance can number from several hundred to thousands. 

Calabasas requires issuance of a TUP for these functions because the City is responsible for maintaining community health safety and welfare.  Accordingly, an ethnic food festival (for example) at a local shopping center needs to be planned, organized and executed in such a way that fire safety is not compromised (including emergency access), and that adequate off-street parking may be accomplished (e.g., through use of nearby office park lots and shuttle services).  Similarly, traffic safety must be assured through the development of a traffic management plan, which is reviewed by the City Engineer.  Finally, the Building & Safety Division will make sure electrical circuits are not overloaded, that building occupancy limits are known and adhered to, and fire exits remain free and clear. 

Special events are fun and help make Calabasas the great city it is.   TUPs help to ensure that all special events are safe too.   Residents planning a special event somewhere in Calabasas should give the Planning Division a call at (818) 224-1600 to start the process of securing a Temporary Use Permit well in advance of the intended event date(s).

Conejo Players Theatre - Thousand Oaks
The Women
August 20 - September 11, 2010
Thurs., Fri. & Sat. at 8:00pm
Sun. at 2:00p.m.

Over the River & Through the Woods
August 28 - September 11, 2010
Sat. at 2:00p.m.; Sun. at 7:00p.m.

Madrid Theatre - Canoga Park
     August 2010 Calendar

Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza - Thousand Oaks

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 CTV archive.

Select CTV programming is now available on YouTube!

This month on CTV:

City Spotlight: Fins Creekside Restaurant
(View this program anytime with CTV Archiving)

Host Pablo Pereira visits Fins Creekside Restaurant in Calabasas. Calabasas City Spotlight is televised only on CTV - The Calabasas Channel 3. Check the CTV Guide for days and times. You can watch archived episodes of Calabasas City Spotlight on-line anytime with CTV Archives.

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.  All City Council meetings and commission meetings take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Way in Calabasas. 

Want City Agendas delivered to your email? Sign up at http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/connect.html.

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