Palisades-News-May-6-2015-

Page 10 Palisades News May 6, 2015Tap Water Day Is a MilestoneBy SUE PASCOEEditorEvelyn WendellLos Angeles will celebrate the nation’sfirst Tap Water Day on May 7 and aPalisadian, Evelyn Wendell, is largelyresponsible.The program will take place 9:30 to 10:30a.m. at the Balboa Sports Center, 17015Burbank Blvd. Wendell will be among thedignitaries making a brief speech.When Wendell’s children were at Pali -sades Elementary more than six years ago,she noticed the disdain that most childrenhad about drinking water from a fountainor the tap.Since that generation of kids had grownup with water bottles, they took them forgranted, not realizing the environmentalissues with single-use plastic bottles.“Every year, we had to educate the kidsto trust the tap water,” said Wendell, whoworked on the school’s environmentalteam.When she took her children to City parks,water fountains were hard to find and“many were broken,” she said. “There werebathrooms, but no fountains.” There werefountains along Temescal Canyon Road,but none of them worked.In 2009, Wendell formed the nonprofitWeTap, which advocates ending dependenceon single-use bottles. Wendell starteda crusade to inform people about the environmentalcost of bottled water, which includesmanufacturing plastic bottles (mostare not recycled) and transporting thewater (either by boat or truck, which usesfossil fuels) to grocery stores.“WeTap is all about regaining our accessto public water,” Wendell told the PalisadesNews. “We have to work to protect that. Wealso have to educate the public.”At Palisades High School, Wendell wasresponsible for the installation of a hydrationstation, a drinking fountain equippedto refill reusable bottles.She went to LAUSD and urged them toadd hydration stations at all City schools.Currently, “About a third of the fountainsare capped, another third are broken,” shesaid. “I feel like I’m just getting started.”Next, Wendell took her tap-water campaignto L.A. City leaders, advocating forworking water fountains/hydration stationsin City parks. Mayor Garcetti, LADWP, theState Water Board and the L.A. County Departmentof Public Health came aboard.Now, Tap Water Day will serve to promotethe installation of hydration stationsacross California.After the May 7 ceremony, CaliforniaRecreation and Parks will unveil four waterbottlefilling stations at Balboa Sports Center,one of its heavily-used centers for sportsactivities, jogging, exercises and family activities.Water will be promoted as a healthyalternative to sugary drinks.Wendell, who has also generated interestin getting fountains installed in GriffithPark, is hopeful. “Maybe it will spreadthroughout the City—maybe even Temes -cal,” she said.Visit: wetap.org.Singer NeededFor Race StartAre you a professional singer or want tobe a professional singer? If so, the Will Rog -ers 5/10K race organizers are looking forsomeone to sing the National Anthem beforethe annual run starts on July 4 at 8 a.m.Please send your name and informationto Bob Benton at bentons@earthlink.net.Additionally, if you know someone youthink is tremendous singer, please email aname and relevant information. For thefirst time in the race’s 38-year history, auditionswill be held.Design ReviewBoard to MeetThe Pacific Palisades Design ReviewBoard will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,May 13, at the Chamber of Commerce office,15330 Antioch St.There will be a public hearing for a finaldesign review for the installation of two illuminated,channel-letter wall signs on the881 Alma Read building. Old business mayinclude the DRB Website, Pacific PalisadesVillage Design Guidelines and the upcomingRick Caruso Project.Board members are Barbara Kohn, DavidHibbert, Kelly Comras, Paul Darrall, SarahGriffin, Stuart Muller and Donna Vaccarino.New Listing!17164 Avenida de la Herradura • $1,750,000 • www.17164Herradura.comSOLDRare 1-Story Remodeled View Home on the Rim. 3 Bdrm + 2 Bth + Formal DR.Grassy Yd. Room for Pool. Rec Ctr w/ Pool, Tennis Cts, Playground. 24/7 Security.SOLDCecile Billauer GiffordSelling the Westside Since 1986310.283.8811 cellcecile13@gmail.comfacebook.com/cecile.gifford17152 Avenida de la HerraduraAsking Price: $1,950,00017109 Avenida de la HerraduraAsking Price: $1,595,000*Pocket Listing Available. 4 bdrm fixer at End ofCul de Sac on Lg View Lot. Call For Details.CalBRE #00910997 .....