The 9th Annual Calabasas Classic, benefiting the Talbert Family Foundation, will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2012 in Calabasas on a scenic course that is certified and sanctioned by USATF. The event will feature a 5k run that begins at 8:00 a.m., a 10k run that begins at 9:00 a.m. and the Family Fun Run that starts at 10:30 a.m. All finishers will receive a commemorative medal. The Calabasas Classic also features an official Expo with a number of local businesses and health information. Baby joggers and 4-legged family members are always welcome. For more information about the Calabasas Classic, please visit www.calabasasclassic.com.

Cities in California are required under State law to include as part of their official long-range plans a chapter pertaining to future housing needs. Accordingly, the City of Calabasas has begun updating the Housing Element of the Calabasas General Plan for the 2013-2021 planning period, as required by State law. The Housing Element establishes policies and programs to address existing and projected housing needs, including the City’s “fair share” of the regional housing need. If you are a Calabasas resident, please complete the following short survey (approx. 5 min.) to provide us with your input: www.surveymonkey.com/s/2Y8F38W. We greatly appreciate your participation!

Viewers of Calabasas City Council meetings on CTV, The Calabasas Channel now have the option of using closed captioning to see a subtitled transcription of the meeting audio. Closed captioning was first officially used during the October 24, 2012 City Council meeting. Having closed captioning during City Council meetings will allow the Calabasas deaf community, those who are hard of hearing, and those who just want to watch Council meetings with the sound off gain a richer understanding of the issues in our city.

CTV staff has been working with the National Captioning Institute, who provides the subtitles, to make sure that viewers can read the meeting graphics as well as the closed captioning during meetings. CTV is available on Channel 3 to Charter and Time Warner cable customers in Calabasas. CTV is also streamed live on the internet where closed captioning will also be available at www.cityofcalabasas.com.

Students are encouraged to vote reusable! Join the Plastic Bag Drive contest on Saturday, November 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 22277 Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. The winning school that collects the greatest number of bags (by weight) will receive a $1,000 check. Additionally, for every 10 single-use bags that a student brings in, he/she will receive a free TRUE Reusable Bag (www.truereusablebags.com) made from plastic recycled locally through a closed loop program. The contest is open to elementary and middle school students in the Woodland Hills, Calabasas, and Topanga areas. For questions, call (818) 906-5772.

Oops! The November “Nuts for Mutts” event at the Agoura Hills / Calabasas Community Center has been postponed-- however an upcoming “Dog Walk” will be held in April 2013. Stay connected as more details will be “un-leashed” as the date approaches!

A reminder that Tuesday, November 6, 2012 is Election Day, so remember to cast your ballot and make your voice heard! In addition to being a Presidential Election, a number of important state and local issues will be decided - and every vote counts. If you don’t know your polling place, please visit http://www.lavote.net/LOCATOR/. The right to vote is a cornerstone of democracy so on November 6, 2012 stand up and be counted!

Mark your calendar for fun, food, and Mah Jongg! Find three buddies and create your own team of four to play for points in a tournament scheduled for Thursday, November 8 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center. Teams will play and compete under the National Mah Jongg rules. Each team will bring their own tile set. A continental breakfast and light lunch will be served. The team with the most points will win a prize. Space is limited, so sign up today! Registration fees ($100 per team) are non-refundable. For additional information, contact Kathy at (818) 222-2782. 

On Saturday, November 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the National Park Service, along with the Santa Monica Mountains Fund and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, invites you to improve habitat for local wildlife by planting native trees and shrubs.

Native plants grown in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's nursery will be on hand for a $5 donation to the Santa Monica Mountains Fund. Attendees can choose to plant their own or ask a volunteer to plant it for them. All proceeds from the tax-deductible donations will benefit park-wide restoration projects and education.

Stokes Creek is a tributary of Malibu Creek, which is the largest and most critical watershed in the Santa Monica Mountains. Riparian plant communities, which are plants in or near water, are often the only refuges for wildlife during and after fires. Organizers’ goal is to create a buffer of native plants around the creek, which will keep weeds out and invite wildlife in.

All ages and abilities are welcome to participate. The event will take place near the new interagency visitor center at King Gillette Ranch at 26876 Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. For more information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/samo/parknews/stokes-creek-restoration.htm

We celebrate Veterans Day on Sunday, November 11 (please note that City Hall will be closed on Monday, November 12 in observance of the holiday). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance and November 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation.

For more interesting facts and statistics about veterans, visit http://alturl.com/53ivo. Don't forget to thank a Veteran today!

Calabasas High School Theater is proud to present the theatrical production of “Charley’s Aunt.” Widely regarded as one of the most sensational and entertaining farces of all time, Charley's Aunt centers on two Oxford undergraduates in search of a chaperone for a proper visit from their girlfriends. Jack and Charley manage to persuade fellow undergraduate Fancourt "Babbs" Babberley to impersonate a millionaire aunt in this hilarious tale of young love and preposterous deception.

Shows will be November 13-16 at 7:00 p.m. and November 17 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Student admission is $10, adult admission is $15 and reserved admission is $20. To purchase your tickets and for more information, visit www.chstheater.com.

An estimated five hundred Boy, Girl, Cub, Venture, Varsity and Sea Scouts will volunteer their time at the first annual "Food Drive-Thru" event to be held Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Calabasas Commons, 4799 Commons Way. Scouts and adult volunteers will be on hand to accept non-perishable food donations, which they will then deliver to the West Valley Food Pantry to help feed the hungry during the holiday season. The event is supported by the City of Calabasas, the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, Caruso Affiliated, Fresh Brothers Pizza, Rent-It Trucks, Wells Fargo Bank, and other local merchants.

For more information, please contact:

Jeff Rudner, Event Coordinator
Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 333 of Calabasas
Ph (818) 515-5837
JRudner@CubPack333.com

Michelle Faulkner, Event Coordinator
Girl Scout Troop Leader / Advisor
Ph (818) 591-7164

The Carl Gibbs Environmental Excellence Award is a symbol of commitment to California's environment. The award honors a wide array of individuals, businesses, municipalities, government agencies, organizations, and institutions, all working to benefit our environment. The award recognizes voluntary activities by companies and organizations, big or small, private or non-profit, that are either located or have done work in the City of Calabasas and in surrounding communities that result 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, etc. Furthermore, the award honors those organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment or innovation above and beyond their primary mission.

Nominations for the Carl Gibbs Environmental Excellence Award are welcomed from individuals, companies, government agencies, consultants, educators, researchers and students. Nominations are due by Friday, November 30, 2012. For additional details and to download a nomination form, visit http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/environmental/pdf/nomination-form.pdf.