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CELEBRATING 80 YEARS As the Paper Of Record For the City Of Malibu
M A LIB U ’S AWA RD W IN NING N E WSPA P E R S I N CE 1 94 6 VOL. LXXX • NO. XXIX
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
Porsche race car driver Doug Baron is shown at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida. Baron was killed March 25 in a head-on collision in Ventura County. Contributed photo
Malibu racing icon Doug Baron killed in Ventura County head-on collision Porsche driver, 66, remembered for championship career and deep ties to Southern California’s racing community Malibu artist Hunter Blaze Pearson was smiling broadly as he put finishing touches on the community art mural at the 25th annual Chumash Day celebration. Photo by Barbara Burke
By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
of the two victims killed Chumash Day brings culture, ceremony, and community to Malibu inOne a violent two-vehicle, head-
Annual gathering honors Indigenous traditions through dance, music, artisan crafts, and shared stories By BARBARA BURKE Of The Malibu Times
As attendees filed into the 25th annual Chumash Day on March 29, an indigenous woman beautifully attired in native dress pointed to the sky and said, “Don’t miss the white feather
cloud in the sky!” Looking up, sure enough — a cloud formation resembling a white feather softly danced across the azure sky, leading one to wonder whether the cloud appearing was merely happenstance or, perhaps, an occurrence that blessed attendees with a teachable moment.
On March 28 and 29, members of several tribes indigenous to California shared their spiritual ceremonies, dancing, singing, and drumming, with many performances emphasizing and honoring local Chumash culture and history as well as those of other participating CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
on collision on Las Posas Road in Ventura County on March 25 was professional race car driver Doug Baron, 66, a Malibuite and a well-known member of the local Porsche racing community. According to accident investigation reports by the California Highway Patrol, Baron was
driving his orange 1971 Porsche 911 coupe northbound on Las Posas Road south of Laguna Road, approximately one mile north of Hueneme Road, just south of Camarillo, at approximately 1:20 p.m. It was then that a white Ford Expedition driven by Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez de Rodriguez, 48, of Oxnard, who was traveling in the southbound lane veered into Baron’s lane, causing an unavoidable two-car head-on collision that killed both drivers. Neither vehicle had any passengers. Both of the men’s deaths were deemed accidental. However, the CHP investigation is reportedly still open. CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
INSIDE
this week
Malibu lifeguard helms new ‘Baywatch’ reboot |B1 Candance Bond (sixth from right) poses with the Malibu City Council and city staff after being honored for her leadership as Malibu’s interim city manager. Photo courtesy of City of Malibu
Malibu honors Candace Bond for leadership during fire recovery Former U.S. ambassador recognized for guiding city through crisis as interim city manager Former second gentleman Doug Emhoff stands with Malibu residents during the “No Kings Day” protest, joined by Gina Muscatel, co-president of the Malibu Democratic Club (second from left), and other members of the Malibu Democratic Club. Photo courtesy of Gina Muscatel
Hundreds rally in Malibu as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests Demonstration draws up to 1,000 participants, highlights debate over executive power and democracy By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor in Chief
Hundreds of Malibu residents gathered Saturday outside the Malibu Library, joining a coordinated nationwide day of protest aimed at what organizers described as grow-
ing concerns over executive power and the future of democratic norms. Carrying handmade signs reading “Power to the People,” “Defend Democracy,” and “No Kings,” participants assembled March 28 in the Civic Center before marching through nearby shopping areas in a peaceful, hourlong demonstration. The event, organized locally by the Malibu Democratic Club and Indivisible Malibu, was part of more than 3,200 rallies held across the CONTINUED ON PAGE A5
Council formally honored Candace Bond for her service as interim city manager during one of the most Malibu city leaders and residents challenging periods in the city’s gathered in a moment of reflection history. Bond, a longtime Malibu and gratitude as the Malibu City resident and former United States By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor in Chief
ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, was recognized for her leadership in the aftermath of the devastating Palisades Fire and her role in helping guide the community through
CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
Exploring America’s divisive political ideological chasm Pepperdine hosts a debate exploring the root causes of America’s growing political divide By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
“In an era marked by deep political divides, rising distrust, and increasingly polarized public discourse, many Americans ask a fundamental question — how did we get here?” Jennifer Schuberten, director of the Steamboat Institute, queried on March 19 at a Pep-
perdine-hosted debate regarding whether America’s students are being equipped with the foundational knowledge needed for civic engagement. “Civic education, once intended to equip students with a shared understanding of democratic principles, institutions, and responsibilities, has, some argue, eroded or fragmented over time,”
Schuberten added. “Without a common foundation in how government works and what citizenship entails, people may be more vulnerable to ideological echo chambers and partisan narratives. However, is the decline of civic education truly the primary driver of today’s partisanship, or is it merely one factor among many in CONTINUED ON PAGE A6
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 • A path to resilient recovery through community microgrids News Briefs . . . . . . . . . A3 • Author of true crime Malibu murder mystery passes away Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . A4 • Easter and Passover Events Real Estate . . . . . . . . . .A8 • Two fatal snakebites in Southern California has experts urging caution Malibu Life . . . . . . . . . B1 • Pepperdine University hires Griff Aldrich to lead men’s basketball program People . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 • Malibu Scene: Vampires and monsters and witches — oh my! Legals . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 Business & Directory . . . . B4 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6 • Pepperdine women’s historic season ends in WNIT third round