Community News Brief:

Pepperdine University Dedicates 73 Acres of Open Space for Preservation Located on approximately 830 acres of land in the greater Malibu area, Pepperdine University’s campus covers only a small fraction of the land with around 3/4 of the property remaining in pristine open space. Comprehending the delicate ecosystems of the Santa Monica Mountains, in 2000 Pepperdine University offered to dedicate a 72.7-acre property known as Little Las Flores Canyon, located approximately eight miles from the Malibu campus, for conservation and preservation in collaboration with government agencies. A ceremony took place on Friday, May 1, to mark the ambitious conservation plans becoming a reality. The Little Las Flores Canyon site is a critical part of the habitat and ecosystem of the adjoining Tuna Canyon Significant Ecological Area (SEA). Los Angeles County defined the area as contiguous tracts of core habitat in the mountains with the goal of providing multiple ecologically sound habitat linkages between them. Little Las Flores Canyon’s on-site water resources are integrally connected, via its stream course and canyon-bottom habitats, to other mapped Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs). To help preserve the balance between habitat protection and public access, a designated trail route – ascending to Backbone Trail – is the only available public access to the land.* * * *Dom DeLuise Dies at 75 Dom DeLuise, actor, chef, and TV personality died at the age of 75. DeLuise passed away at approximately 6 p.m. at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. DeLuise checked into St. John’s on Friday with his wife and three sons. There has not been a cause of death released yet. A family statement was released saying, “It’s easy to mourn to his death but easier to remember a time when he made you laugh.”* * * *Free Ferris Wheel Rides For All Moms On Mother’s Day At Pacific ParkPacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will treat all moms to a free ride on the Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. To enjoy the free ride, a mother simply needs to go to the Pacific Wheel entrance and notify the attraction’s operator and Pacific Park will provide a complimentary ride for the guest.