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Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts


On Saturday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cardboard Yacht Regatta kicks off a bucket list of summer fun at the Annenberg Beach House!

SAIL, ROW, PADDLE OR SINK YOUR WAY INTO SUMMER! Be a part of the 11th Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta!

Have you ever dreamed of setting sail across the waters in your very own yacht? Now you can build your own cardboard yacht and test its seaworthiness in a race across the Beach House Pool. Build a yacht using just corrugated cardboard and duct tape, decorate it, cross your fingers and hope you can make it to the other side.

Two people must be in the yacht during the race. All boats must be human-powered (no motors).People's Choice Awards will be given in a variety of categories, including "Most Likely to Sink", "Best Use of Theme", and "Most Spirited". The Beach House Courtyard will open for yachts to be on display beginning at 9am. Races will launch beginning at 11am. Please read attached information sheet for more details on the Cardboard Yacht Regatta, including appropriate yacht building materials, regatta rules and an event timeline.

For questions or more information, call the Beach House at 310-458-4904.

Preregistration required to race your yacht. Register early and enjoy building your boat with friends and family! $20 entry fee per yacht. Payment is NOT required for each sailor who will be in the yacht. This is a team registration. Please register once per yacht that will be entered in the event.

You will be asked for the names and ages of sailors in the registration process.

For more info, Click Here


From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A tragic incident unfolded today at Santa Monica Beach as authorities responded to a distress call concerning an individual in distress near Tower 17. Santa Monica Police Officers and the Santa Monica Fire Department rushed to the scene after receiving the report shortly after 11:00 a.m., May 27, 2023. Sadly, despite their swift arrival and efforts, the woman was declared deceased upon their arrival.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the authorities did not reveal any visible signs of drowning or physical trauma, leading them to suspect that the woman's passing may have been the result of an accidental overdose. In accordance with established protocols for public deaths, the Santa Monica Police Department requested the expertise of the Los Angeles County coroner, who arrived at 2:40 p.m."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

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City of Malibu Prepares for Busy Summer Season with Annual Messaging Campaign to Help Keep PCH, Canyons and Beaches Safe and Clean for All to Enjoy.

With the upcoming Memorial Day weekend signaling the start of the busy summer season, Malibu can expect large numbers of visitors, and the City is working with partner agencies to help keep Pacific Coast Highway, (PCH), canyon roads, beaches and trails safe and clean for all to enjoy.

“We urge all visitors who come to enjoy Malibu’s natural beauty to help keep our roads and beaches safe and clean and honor our efforts to protect our community’s safety, peace and quality of life,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein.

The City encourages residents and visitors to help keep PCH, canyon roads, beaches and trails safe and clean with these messages on social media, with the hashtag #SafeSummerMalibu:

- Don’t drink and drive - designate sober drivers and use rideshares or taxis.
- Keep your eyes on the road - don’t text and drive.
- Slow down and watch for pedestrians and cyclists on PCH and cars pulling in and out of beach parking.
- Pack it in, pack it out – dispose of your trash in trash containers, and if you see litter, please pick it up and throw it away in a trash container.
- Alcohol, dogs and fires are prohibited on beaches in Malibu.

The City coordinates every annually with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, California State Parks, Mountains and Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to prepare for summer crowds.

The City funds the LASD Beach Team every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The beach patrols are an important way to address alcohol consumption on the beaches, which is illegal, and contributes to drunk driving on PCH and canyon roads. Extra traffic officers are also in place to address safety issues on the road.

The MRCA double patrols in its parks from Memorial Day to Labor Day. State Parks will have seven-day coverage and will put extra effort into addressing litter. Beaches and Harbors will increase staffing to assist with parking, maintenance, and trash on the beaches and beach parking lots.

Every summer, the City also requests additional patrols by LASD and the Sheriff’s Volunteers on Patrol (VOPs). The VOPs are crucial for parking enforcement to ensure beach access and keep the roadways safe, they monitor and report crime and emergencies, and they help direct traffic and ensure safety at accident sites.

Although the City does not control access to the state and county beaches in Malibu, the City wants to reassure the Malibu community that it is working with its partner agencies on messaging to visitors to Malibu about the importance of keeping PCH, canyon roads and beaches safe and clean for all.

Residents can request assistance from CHP with street racing by calling 323-259-3200. Report suspected intoxicated drivers by calling 9-1-1. Residents may sign up for the City’s emergency and traffic alerts (scroll down to “Alert Center”).

In an effort to streamline its emergency communications processes, and in light of the abundance of traffic news and information readily available to the public, the City will now be providing traffic alerts only during business hours for full road closures (not lane closures); in case of emergencies; or in case of planned or extended closures (such as road or utility projects).

The City will also discontinue the Nixle alerting service, which is redundant since Nixle was bought by Everbridge, the system that Malibu uses for disaster notifications. All Nixle subscribers have been merged into the Everbridge system, and will still receive alerts from the City. Eliminating the Nixle system will reduce the time and number of steps it takes to put out emergency messaging.

The City will continue to use the website alert system for lower-level emergencies, traffic incidents, utility advisories, and beach advisories by text and email to subscribers when necessary. To sign up for website alerts, or add or remove alert subscriptions, visit the webpage and scroll to “Alert Center.”


A drunk driver hits a pole on Speedway early in the morning in Venice Beach, then proceeds to blast his car horn complaining about the pole needing to be removed.



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"In an effort to tackle the persistent homeless encampment issues along the Ocean Front Walk and Venice Beach, Councilwoman Traci Park's office has announced the establishment of a dedicated multi-department task force. Councilwoman Traci Park herself made a special appearance at a recent cleanup operation to extend a warm welcome and express gratitude to the task force members. The occasion was marked by the provision of donuts and coffee as a special thank you gesture by Park's office. Notably, Los Angeles Park Ranger Chief Joe Losorelli was also present at the event."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

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As with all upcoming holidays, LA County issues thier usual health warning about the beaches, this 3-day weekend is no exception.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning residents who plan to visit local beaches to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the ocean water due to high bacteria levels. The ocean water warnings are for the following beaches:

Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu
Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach
Escondido State Beach
Dan Blocker County Beach
Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach
Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
Las Tunas County Beach
Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach
Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
Santa Monica at Pico Kenter Storm Drain
Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach
Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey
Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

Laboratory results from three local agencies are displayed on the map. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Environmental Health Recreational Waters Program, collects ocean water samples from the mainland, once a week throughout the year. DPH collects an additional five samples from Avalon on Santa Catalina Island beginning in April through October. The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (SD) collects ocean water samples at selected sites on the mainland, once each week throughout the year. The Beach Cities of Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes (BC) jointly collect water samples within their cities, once a week throughout the year. DPH, SD, and BC also resample sites that have exceeded State Standards for bacteria in ocean water. The City of Los Angeles, Environmental Monitoring Division, LA Sanitation (HYP) collects water samples from various sites, one to five times per week, all year round. LA City also collects samples at some DPH sites as required by their State NPDES permit.

The public is notified when a site has exceeded State Standards for bacteria in ocean water on this website, by telephone hotline, and by signs posted at the impacted beaches.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.




LAPD Pacific reports that on Thursday, Patrol Officers arrested one Assault with a Deadly Weapon suspect armed with this firearm in the suspect’s possession. The 50-round drum magazine was fully loaded.

No info on whether or not this was connect to the Possible Shooting involving a Surfer at Venice Beach yesterday..



Community members are invited to give the gift of life by donating blood at the City of Malibu and American Red Cross Community Blood Drive Thursday, June 8, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at City Hall (23825 Stuart Ranch Road).

“Giving blood saves lives, and the Red Cross reminds us that donated blood is always needed nationwide and here in our own community,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein. “I encourage everyone in Malibu to join this important effort.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, blood donations and blood supplies had fallen due to facility closures, stay-at-home orders and other impacts. Donated blood is still badly needed every day for surgeries, emergencies and regular medical procedures. Blood supplies are also used during major emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, shootings or terrorist attacks.

Please register in advance at www.RedCrossBlood.org and enter “CityofMalibu.” For more information, call 818-200-3445. Bring a photo ID, and drink plenty of water and eat well before and after giving blood.


A vehicle traveling southbound on PCH was stopped in the left turn lane at Temescal Canyon Road across from Will Rogers State Beach, when it suddenly caught on fire. The driver and his daughter, who he was driving to school, were able to exit the vehicle and cross over safely off the highway, along with their dog. A witness who was jogging through he crosswalk at the intersection saw the fire start, she said flames started in the passenger side wheel well.


On Thursday, a shooting was confirmed along Rose Ave near the beach, and then another alert came in of an incident where a deadly weapon was shown fron a vehicle (described as a pickup with a surfboard in the back).

Then another call comes in of a person pointing a gun from a vehicle after a crash, and the vehicle was a Toyota Tocoma with a red surfboard in the back.





"So there was a small fire at the troublesome encampment at North Venice and Pacific" reports Jonathan Alcorn on Wednesday.





For more information on LA Fleet Week and a complete schedule of entertainment and activities, visit Click Here


In 1975 the Z-Boys came to life in Dogtown. That same year in Northern California, the N-Men were formed. The Z-Boys only lasted 3 years. The N-Men and women have never stopped and have had a global impact on the world of skateboarding. Their story has never been told.

LOS ANGELES WORLD PREMIERE SAT, MAY 27TH @ LA LIVE
Click Here for tickets.

In 1975 in downtown Sacramento, California, a diverse crew of young skateboarders met at a paved embankment under the I-5 freeway. They had no idea that their underground movement would have a global impact on the world of skateboarding.



What sets them apart?

They’ve stuck together for almost 50 years and they’ve never stopped.

Unless you were a pro skater visiting Northern California, you might have never heard of them.

One of the N-Men, Don Bostick went on to create the skate and snowboard events for the X-Games for ESPN. Don Bostick even had a hand in helping Tony Hawk and others get skateboarding into the 2021 Olympics for the first time ever. The N-Men have influenced many of the best pro skateboarders in the world and they have continued to remain relevant to the sport and to the industry.

They kept their pools, pipes and ditches secret.

They were inclusive, never exclusive.

If you could find them, keep up with them and charge hard, you became one of them.

It was never about fame or fortune, just the pure soul of hardcore skateboarding.

It was and still is a movement.


Grant Brittain will be in Downtown LA at Hauser & Wirthon Saturday, May 27th at 3pm signing his book, “PUSH” and doing a Q&A.

One of the most widely-recognized skateboard photographers in the world, Grant Brittain has been at the epicenter of California skateboarding since landing a job at Del Mar Skate Ranch in 1978. From shooting Kodachrome at Del Mar in 1979 to becoming photo editor at TransWorld Skateboarding magazine, Grant Brittain has become an icon and mentor to so many in the skate community.

This Saturday, Hauser & Wirth will be hosting a signing and slideshow of Grant’s work.

Hauser & Wirth
Downtown Los Angeles
917 E. 3rd Street
LA, CA

For more info, Click Here



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"In a prompt display of emergency response, Los Angeles County Lifeguards and Santa Monica Firefighters sprang into action following a cycling accident on the Santa Monica Beach Bike Path on Sunday, May 21, 2023. The incident occurred when a person unexpectedly darted onto the bike path, causing a cyclist to lose control of their bicycle and crash. Fortunately, the cyclist's use of a helmet minimized the severity of their injuries. "

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz


Caltrans plans emergency storm repairs on sections of Route 27 (Topanga Cyn Blvd ) that requires lane closures with alternating traffic between Cezanne Ave to Route 1 (PCH) beginning MON, June 5. Expect delays.




International Jury Awards First Blue Flag Beach Sites in Continental United States.

Blue Flag USA is proud to announce the first Blue Flags in the continental United States have been awarded to beaches in California and Florida. Westward Beach between the Zuma Lagoon and Birdview Avenue in Malibu and Delray Beach Municipal Beach between Casuarina Road and Laing Street in Delray received the recognition from the Blue Flag International Jury this month.

The Blue Flags will fly over Westward Beach from May 25 through September 30, 2023, and over Delray Beach Municipal Beach from May 19, 2023, through April 30, 2024.

The 36-year-old International Blue Flag program awards beaches, marinas, and tourism boat operators annually based on a significant but attainable set of operations criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, and safety and services. The International Jury awarded over 5,000 sites for the first time in 2022.

“Our sites have worked hard for several months to implement and maintain more than 30 diverse criteria to achieve award status. Their staff and communities can raise their flags with pride for going above and beyond US standards to receive international recognition for sustainable management practices,” said Annie Mercer, program coordinator for the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). As a National Operator for the international Blue Flag program, ASBPA administers the program in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii, as well as supports sites in reaching criteria compliance.

Staff from the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors started with the program in 2020 as a beach management entity advising ASBPA on feasibility information, and officially entered the program as a pilot site in 2021 when the international jury reviewed their Gap Analysis. “We’re thrilled and honored that the Westward Beach portion of world-famous Zuma Beach will fly one of the first Blue Flags in the United States. The Blue Flag will provide visitors with extra assurance that we are responsibly caring for our coast.” said Gary Jones, Director for the County of Los Angeles’s Department of Beaches and Harbors.

The City of Delray Beach entered the program as a candidate beach in early 2022 and submitted its full application in the same year. “With the Atlantic Ocean at our doorstep, Delray Beach is proud to have a beautiful, world-class beach to call our own,” Delray Beach Mayor Shelly Petrolia said. “I am especially grateful for the dedicated individuals who have put so much effort into ensuring that our natural beach is safe, accessible and that beachgoers are educated about our conservation initiatives.”

As part of the international program’s mission of sustainable development through environmental education, awarded sites will be offering educational activities to the public. Programming details for local activities will be posted on their respective sites’ information boards.

Sites in the Blue Flag USA program participate in four stages of engagement between the host location and the USA program: Interest, Candidate, Applicant, and Award. Interested beaches engage in Blue Flag presentations and conversations with staff. Candidate sites have submitted their Self-Assessment Questionnaire for staff review and are working to meet criteria through partnerships, educational webinars and toolkits, and one-on-one meetings with staff. Applicant sites meet all the criteria and are ready to submit a full application in the next award cycle. Applications for the Blue Flag USA program open in September and close in December. Finally, Awards are issued to sites by the International Jury each year and audited by staff. Learn more at blueflag.us


Nick Gabaldon Day is always an incredible time. Filled with joy, history and the future. Definitely get out there if you can!

Hosted by The Black Surfers Collective, his year is even more epic with their partnership with Jamal Hill!

Jamal Hill, the founder of Swim Up Hill, has created an innovative teaching method that promotes restorative justice through swimming for underserved communities with little access to this essential life skill. We are pleased to have Swim Up Hill as our swimming lesson partner and grateful for their support.

Furthermore, we are thrilled to welcome the LA28, the organizers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, who will be celebrating our community's diversity and creativity.

All participants will have the chance to meet and listen to inspiring stories from Olympic athletes, making the celebration even more special.

If you wish to take free surf lessons please Click Here

If you're interested in volunteering for the event, please Click Here to sign up. Please feel free to share this with anyone you think would be interested in attending and supporting the event. Thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at Nick Gabaldon Day.


Summer Board Swap is upon us! Join Bay Streets Boards on Sunday, May 28th for some wicked deals and bomb food!

No registration needed, just pull up and make a deal. A little later than the typical board swap for the Sunday sleepers or early morning shredders. Freshly baked Neapolitan pizza provided by Citrea Bakery

Come by from 11am-3pm for a good time!

For more info, Click Here



From Santa Monica Close Up:

"The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works carried out a cleanup operation of homeless encampments at the Venice Beach restrooms on Friday, May 19, 2023. Sanitation workers were donned in white hazardous materials suits as part of the safety protocol for the cleanup. LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) was on site and provided homeless outreach during the cleanup operation."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz Hulu