People and Events

And now for some good news.

Malibu Joe, the slain hermit of that beach community, will have a private funeral and memorial service, thanks to a group of residents and a Santa Monica mortuary.

After learning that the 96-year-old victim was indigent--none of his rumored bank accounts were uncovered by county investigators--the Gates, Kingsley and Gates mortuary agreed to cremate him at no charge on Wednesday. Then, on Sept. 30, the colorful old-timer’s ashes will be scattered at Malibu Lagoon State Park, where local restaurateur Dolores Walsh has scheduled a 10 a.m. memorial service.

Joe, an Italian immigrant who gave his last name as Costello or Castello, had roughed it in the outdoors of Malibu for more than 30 years until he was attacked and beaten last month. He died a few days later.

“We thought an outdoor service would be appropriate because that’s where he lived,” said Anne Soble, the publisher of Malibu Surfside News. Her paper raised more than $2,000 toward the installation of a bench and bronze plaque in the lagoon park.

An anonymous donor has also pledged to install a 5-foot-high boulder with plaque near Joe’s home of the last few years--aside an oleander tree behind a gas station off Pacific Coast Highway.

The boulder may be in place by Sept. 30, but the bench will not be ready until next month.

“We decided it’s kind of fitting that the bench is going to appear the way he did,” Soble said. “It’ll just be there one day.”

She was the winner of the the state’s Toughest Female Cop competition. So what’s this muscular, well-conditioned officer’s beat? Talking to the media.

“I got some kidding about that,” admitted Jill Angel, 31, the CHP spokeswoman who is heard daily on several radio stations, alerting motorists to freeway traffic jams. “It’s a desk job, that’s for sure.”

Public relations people--not to mention members of the media--have never been famous for staying in shape. But Angel competed for eight hours in eight back-to-back events, including a 3-mile run, shot put, pull-ups, 100-yard swim, rope climb and obstacle course.

Setting a state record with 24 pull-ups, Angel edged out six other finalists, including Los Angeles Police Officer Terry Lopez, the defending champ.

Angel noted that her daily regimen of four-hour workouts wasn’t wasted because within a year she’ll be exercising more than her vocal chords on the job.

“I’ll be going back out on the road,” she warned. “Competitions like these help keep me in shape in the meantime.”

The Olympic shooting competition it wasn’t, but that’s undoubtedly OK with Robert Tavares, a 19-year-old Hawaiian Gardens resident.

Sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop Tavares early Sunday for a traffic violation when, suddenly, he sped away. In the ensuing pursuit, they learned that the car had been linked to a residential burglary in Anaheim, Deputy Richard Dinsmoor said.

The chase ended in Artesia when Tavares drove over a curb, disembarked and allegedly pointed a gun at the officers.

They fired 17 shots at Tavares. All 17 missed. Tavares fled but was later captured hiding in a back yard.

Always read the small print--and that goes for lawyers, too.

A letter sent out by the City Attorney’s Assn. of Los Angeles County announced that the group’s September luncheon would be held at Julie’s Restaurant on South Flower Street, near USC. Price: $10 per legal eagle. “No better bargain exists,” the letter said. “Find one and your money is cheerfully refunded.”

A notation at the bottom of the letter added:

“Offer limited to bargains within a 10-foot radius surrounding 3730 S. Flower St. Offer may be revoked at any time. Offer is hereby revoked.”