The City of Westlake Village today announced that it's accepting nominations for the City's Annual Citizen and Youth Recognition programs. See below for full details.

"The purpose of the Citizen Recognition Program is to identify and recognize outstanding individuals who have made a difference in enhancing and improving the quality of life in the community. The purpose of the Youth Recognition Program is to identify and recognize an outstanding youth, both on an individual and organizational basis, encompassing elementary to high school ages.

Disclaimer: Westlake Revelations is a sponsor of Soap Box Derby.

Triunfo YMCA Announces 2010 Soap Box Derby & Healthy Kids Day
- Soap Box races again open to the public to enter
- Healthy Kids Day to promote healthy living for the children
- Boy Scout BBQ, attractions for the whole family, and more

February 21, 2010 -- Westlake Village, CA -- Triunfo YMCA has announced the return of Soap Box Derby and Healthy Kids Day in Westlake Village. Sponsored by the City of Westlake Village, Farmers Insurance, and others, the event is set for Sunday, April 18th, 2010.

The CHP has reported North Bound Topanga Canyon Blvd. at Pacific Coast Highway is open to north bound traffic. Topanga Canyon Blvd. is now open to traffic in both directions.

Both directions of Malibu Canyon at Piuma Road are now open to north and south bound traffic.

The LA County Sheriff has released the following as of 2:30pm today. As a result, if you are planning on taking canyon roads, you should check to see if they are open first.

"Malibu Canyon Road, southbound lanes only, has been shut down by the California Highway Patrol due to rocks and mud just south of the tunnel near Malibu.

Topanga Canyon Road remains closed and monitored by the California Highway Patrol in both directions due to rocks and mud. No estimated time has been given for the road’s reopening."

Sheriff urging peoplle to sign up for Emergency Alerts

For those of you that live and work in Los Angeles County, the below announcement just came from the LA County Sheriff Dept.

Residents/Businesses Urged to Sign Up For Emergency Alerts

With the renewed threat of rainstorms, Los Angeles County officials today urged residents and businesses to sign up for emergency alerts by registering their cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the Alert.lacounty.gov website.

Carole Nussbaum of the Cabrillo Music Theatre (one of the two major theater groups that put on shows at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza) has been named one of six finalists for a national award -- the 2010 event Solutions Spotlight Award, Creative Director of the Year.

If you would like to vote for Cabrillo, go to:

http://www.event-solutions.com/spotlight/vote/
- Enter your email address, click "Submit"
- Click "Click Here To Vote" (in blue)
- Go to "Creative Director of the Year" category (3rd category from top)
and select "Carole Nussbaum of Cabrillo Music Theatre"

The City of Westlake Village released this press release:

Westlake Village City Council to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss Community Wide Survey Results

During the last two months, the City of Westlake Village conducted a telephone and online survey of residents about community issues, programs, and projects. As part of the survey process, residents were either contacted by phone or were able to participate via the City’s website.

Synopsis

In a move to save taxpayer money on both lower interest rates, and lower construction costs, the Las Virgenes Unified School District has issued bonds a year earlier than planned.

While this move will save taxpayers $3.2 million over the life of the loan (according to LVUSD), none of this savings can be used towards operation expenses including personnel costs (teacher and classified employee salaries, benefits and taxes). Why? Because the bonds relate exclusively to capital items that can be depreciated over time (e.g., buildings, construction, computers, etc...)

Full press release from the District below.

Courtesy of Tanya Fox and other sources, here's some things around town that you may want to know about:

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10th Annual Triunfo YMCA Christmas Tree Lot
Corner of Kanan & Agoura Roads
Opens December 3rd, M-F: 3pm-9pm, Sat/Sun: 10am-9pm
Proceeds to benefit Triunfo YMCA High School Programs
Triunfo YMCA 818-707-YMCA

__________________

FREE
Calvary’s 2nd Annual Christmas Lights  (Westlake Village)
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village

Synopsis

Compared to recent years, LVUSD is facing revenue cuts of 16% due to California's fiscal crisis. To put this in perspective, approximately 85% of the school district's budget (about $90 million total) goes to labor costs including wages, benefits and taxes. With that in mind, the school district has been looking at whatever cuts it can possibly make to avoid layoffs, and wage cuts.

With reserve levels now below the minimum required by the County, the District must present a plan to cut millions of dollars from the budget, voted on by the Board of Education, to the County of Los Angeles to avoid compliance issues that could lead to the County deciding the cuts themselves.

One of the many cuts being looked at was the closure of the pools at the high schools -- Agoura High School and Calabasas High School. AHS's pool is the home to the school's successful Water Polo team. Both schools have a number of Aquatics programs.

Over the past days, the community came together to voice support for the pools, and explore ideas. Their web site is at http://www.keepthepools.com

Synopsis

Earlier this morning, a Bank of America in Agoura Hills was robbed. The suspect and his wife were later arrested after a short standoff at the suspects' apartment in the complex on the northwest corner Kanan Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. There were no injuries.

The bank is not far from LVUSD schools (Agoura High School in particular). AHS made announcements throughout the day to parents, students and faculty including how to avoid streets that were affected by Sheriff activities, students who may live in the apartment complex where the arrest took place, etc. An all call by AHS explained how the school would go into "lock down" mode if the administration perceived danger.

It's the time of year for the city council to vote for a new mayor. As covered in earlier Westlake Revelations articles, the residents elect the city council for four year terms. The city council, in turn, once a year elects a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. This past week, a new Mayor was selected.

For the City of Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Hidden Hills, the only item on the election ballot was the seats for the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education.

Three four year seats were open, and the unofficial results (which are certified in about a month) have the count as:

Lesli Stein - 2425
Gordon Whitehead - 2008
Dave Moorman - 1936
Diane Combes - 994

which counts the votes from both Los Angeles and Ventura County. (LVUSD includes Bell Canyon which is in Ventura County).

Last Thursday, October 22nd, Westlake Revelations and the League of Women Voters joined together to bring the community a forum of the four candidates running for the three seats being elected on the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education.

The debate lasted less than 90 minutes, and covered a wide range of issues submitted by the community.

Courtesy of the City of Calabasas, this debate was video taped, and is now available to view in the CTV archives at:
http://calabasas.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=27&clip_id=2498

Don't forget to vote on November 3rd.

Just a couple of quick reminders about the LVUSD Board of Education member election.

Thu, Oct 22, 6:30pm
Debate: LVUSD Board of Education Candidates
The League of Women Voters and Westlake Revelations have joined together to bring you a Candidates Forum (aka 'debate') with the LVUSD Board of Education Candidates. The event will be moderated by Neil Ticktin of Westlake Revelations.
The debate will be Thursday, Oct 22, 6:30pm at the LVUSD District Office in the Board Room located at 4111 N. Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302.

Synopsis

The Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation will be hosting a free event on Sunday November 15th that will include workshops on efficient irrigation design, drought-resistant landscaping, and fire-wise landscaping.

See below for full announcement.

Just a reminder.

The last day to submit questions for the LVUSD Board of Education Candidates' Forum is Mon, Oct 19th. (Submit your questions at: http://www.westlakerevelations.com/phpq/fillsurvey.php?sid=13). The debate itself will be Thursday, Oct 22, 6:30pm at the LVUSD District Office in the Board Room located at 4111 N. Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302

REMINDER :If you have not registered for vote by mail, you can do so in a matter of seconds. To obtain a vote by mail ballot, complete the form at:
https://lavote.net/SECURED/AV/Default.cfm?election=%23%23%5C%5CJ%0A

Westlake Village City Celebration Kicks Off
With a Special Screening of Classic Horror Films
Just For Teens

On Saturday, October 24, the City of Westlake Village and the Triunfo YMCA are teaming up to offer a free screening of two classic horror films for local teens. This outdoor movie experience kicks off the 7 th Annual Westlake Village City Celebration. The 1931 version of "Frankenstein" will be shown at 6:30 pm followed by "The Mummy" from 1932.

Last night, the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education met in a well-attended study session to discuss the proposed LVUSD Technology Strategy. After a 20-minute presentation giving an overview of the strategy, the Board discussed the strategy, and in particular, the Chief Technology Officer position at the heart of the strategy.

Synopsis

The City of Westlake Village has announced the details of the upcoming 7th annual City Celebration on October 25th, from 7am-2pm. This year's event includes:

- Pancake Breakfast
- White Oak PFC Fun Fair
- 5 and 10 K plus 1 mile run and walk
- Pet and Family Costume Parade
- Harvest Boutique
- Social Services Fair
- Magic Show

See full announcement below for details.