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Vol. 2, No. 2 • November 18, 2015 Uniting the Community with News, Fe<strong>at</strong>ures and Commentary Circul<strong>at</strong>ion: 15,000 • $1.00<br />
SINATRA’S<br />
WORLD<br />
ON DISPLAY<br />
IN EXHIBIT<br />
See Page 22<br />
Caruso Plans<br />
Challenged <strong>at</strong><br />
Nov. 9 Meeting<br />
By SUE PASCOE and BILL BRUNS<br />
An early November 8 fire below Via de las Olas endangered homes. (See story, page 3.)<br />
<strong>Second</strong> <strong>Fire</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Lombard</strong><br />
Sirens and flashing lights from fire -<br />
trucks cleared the streets around Via<br />
de las Olas near <strong>Lombard</strong> Street after<br />
a brush fire was reported on the hillside<br />
above PCH on November 10 <strong>at</strong> 11:55 a.m.<br />
This was the second fire <strong>at</strong> the loc<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
within two days. (See story, page 3.)<br />
Shortly afterwards, w<strong>at</strong>er-dropping heli -<br />
copters started circling between Temescal<br />
and Potrero Canyons, b<strong>at</strong>tling 35 mph gusts<br />
of wind th<strong>at</strong> were absent in the earlier fire.<br />
After <strong>at</strong>tending an oper<strong>at</strong>ional meeting<br />
with fire officials to discuss the hillside<br />
parkland and the new signs th<strong>at</strong> would be<br />
posted on November 12 (Restricted Entry,<br />
Very High <strong>Fire</strong> Hazard Severity Zone, Trespassing<br />
and Loitering Forbidden by Law,<br />
Presorted Standard<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Pasadena, CA<br />
Permit #422<br />
LAMC 57.4908.81. Fines up to $1,000 +<br />
Penalty Assessments), an inspector was visiting<br />
each transient camp to warn th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
installed signs would be enforceable. It was<br />
then he spotted the fire.<br />
After B<strong>at</strong>talion 9 Chief P<strong>at</strong>rick Butler<br />
had a long convers<strong>at</strong>ion with the arson investig<strong>at</strong>or<br />
who was on site, he spoke to the<br />
Palisades News. He said there were 81 firefighters<br />
on scene, the fire burned less than<br />
an acre of land and had been put out in<br />
about 52 minutes.<br />
Asked if the second fire was arson, Butler<br />
said, “We’re calling it ‘undetermined’<br />
origin. There was no proof it was set, no<br />
witnesses.” He said the arson investig<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
would continue.<br />
Postal Customer<br />
**************ECRWSSEDDM*************<br />
Photo: Cynthia Peterson (cynthiacpphotography.com)<br />
Earlier a transient, Edward Lucis, who<br />
was waiting near PCH, told the News he<br />
was not in the area when the fire broke out.<br />
“They’re allowing me back in there once<br />
this is cleared all out,” he said.<br />
Butler was asked if th<strong>at</strong> was true. “No,”<br />
he replied.<br />
As the News left, the investig<strong>at</strong>or was<br />
speaking to Lucis to see if he could add<br />
anything to the investig<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
—SUE PASCOE<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol has unveiled a new<br />
app th<strong>at</strong> alerts residents to breaking<br />
news on fires, police activity, traffic<br />
accidents and road closures in the Palisades<br />
area. The G<strong>at</strong>es Security app, which is available<br />
<strong>at</strong> the Apple Store, is free to all residents.<br />
One does not have to be a Palisades<br />
P<strong>at</strong>rol client to access it.<br />
In a manner th<strong>at</strong> speaks to the character<br />
of the people who live in Pacific Pali -<br />
sades, 15-year resident Lou Kamer organized<br />
a meeting to discuss the proposed<br />
Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed plans on November 9 in<br />
the Palisades Library community room.<br />
Close to 50 people <strong>at</strong>tended, and although<br />
the planned live streaming did not<br />
work, a recording of the evening is available<br />
<strong>at</strong>: palitown.com/2015/11/10/linkto-audio-from-resident-meeting/.<br />
Before the meeting, participants were<br />
asked to take an online survey to determine<br />
the most important issues raised by Rick<br />
Caruso’s Palisades Village development on<br />
most of north Swarthmore and along Sunset<br />
frontage, plus the existing parking lot.<br />
This survey can be accessed <strong>at</strong> pali -<br />
town.com/survey.<br />
“This is an experiment for us,” Kamer<br />
said about the meeting. “Change is coming,<br />
Caruso is going to build and our downtown<br />
will come back to life. Some people<br />
love every aspect of the plan, and some<br />
people h<strong>at</strong>e it and will do anything they can<br />
to kill it, no m<strong>at</strong>ter wh<strong>at</strong>.”<br />
But, he added, there’s a middle ground.<br />
“Some people see genuine problems with<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> is being proposed,” and these concerns<br />
brought out a cross-section of residents—old-timers<br />
who have been active in<br />
the community for decades, and newcomers<br />
with young families.<br />
Kamer said he had been following the<br />
he<strong>at</strong>ed online deb<strong>at</strong>e on Nextdoor Palisades,<br />
which pitted neighbors <strong>at</strong>tacking neighbors<br />
over differing viewpoints about Caruso’s<br />
plans. He decided it was time for residents<br />
(Continued on Page 15)<br />
Free Security App Will<br />
Alert Palisades Residents<br />
Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol, which oper<strong>at</strong>es under<br />
G<strong>at</strong>es Security, is often first on the scene<br />
of an incident in Pacific Palisades. The<br />
app will provide alerts and is available to<br />
everyone who has a smart phone or tablet<br />
device.<br />
“App users will remain anonymous and<br />
won’t be on an email list,” said Kurt Park,<br />
chief technology officer.<br />
Often when there is a helicopter circling<br />
(Continued on Page 15)
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November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 3<br />
<strong>Fire</strong> Ignites off<br />
Via de las Olas<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
<strong>Fire</strong>fighters had just come to our door<br />
to tell us we were being evacu<strong>at</strong>ed,<br />
but first they wanted to see if we had<br />
done our brush clearance correctly. I<br />
showed the inspector the back of the house<br />
and to my relief, my husband had removed<br />
leaves and dead brush, but w<strong>at</strong>er from fire<br />
hoses was already running everywhere<br />
Then the helicopters grew louder, and I<br />
woke up. I had been having a nightmare. I<br />
got out of bed and checked my cell phone.<br />
It was 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, November 8.<br />
I had recently installed the Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol<br />
app and it said there was a fire <strong>at</strong> Temescal<br />
and Pacific Coast Highway.<br />
I threw on clothes, and a jacket because<br />
it seemed cool, and went out onto Radcliffe.<br />
It was black outside, no streetlights, <strong>at</strong><br />
least none th<strong>at</strong> seemed to be working, and<br />
walked 10 minutes to Mount Holyoke.<br />
There was no fire as I looked over Tem -<br />
escal Canyon, but there was a large cloud of<br />
smoke coming from the area below Via de<br />
las Olas and I began walking th<strong>at</strong> direction.<br />
As I turned the corner onto Via de las<br />
Olas, it suddenly felt warmer. There were<br />
fire trucks lining the entire street with lights<br />
flashing, helicopters with spotlights were<br />
zooming low making w<strong>at</strong>er drops, and the<br />
canyon was lit up with a warm glow from<br />
the fire th<strong>at</strong> eventually consumed almost<br />
three acres. The scene was in sharp contrast<br />
to the blackness around it.<br />
I spoke first to Ken Nelson of the Mountain<br />
Recre<strong>at</strong>ion Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion Authority,<br />
whose truck was parked <strong>at</strong> Beirut. He told<br />
me they was suspected th<strong>at</strong> it was a transient<br />
warming fire. Since I walk my dogs<br />
there frequently, I told him I had seen tents<br />
in the canyon for the past few weeks.<br />
I continued to the command center and<br />
identified myself to B<strong>at</strong>talion 17 Chief<br />
John Drake from Woodland Hills.<br />
He said the call had come in <strong>at</strong> 2:59 and<br />
the fire had started midway up the hill,<br />
above PCH. Thirteen engine companies,<br />
three truck companies, two brush p<strong>at</strong>rols,<br />
one w<strong>at</strong>er tender, four command teams,<br />
two L.A. County hand crews and three<br />
w<strong>at</strong>er-dropping helicopters responded.<br />
Large fire hoses in the streets, made vehicle<br />
traffic impossible, and w<strong>at</strong>er was flowing<br />
down the street. The houses across from<br />
the fire were dark and there were almost no<br />
residents on the sidewalk w<strong>at</strong>ching. I l<strong>at</strong>er<br />
learned th<strong>at</strong> many Via de las Olas and<br />
Friends Street residents had voluntarily<br />
evacu<strong>at</strong>ed around 3:30 a.m. My nightmare<br />
<strong>at</strong> home was wh<strong>at</strong> families were living as<br />
they woke their small children and loaded<br />
their cars to leave their homes.<br />
Below on Pacific Coast Highway, I saw<br />
more fire trucks and emergency vehicles<br />
The absence of wind prevented the <strong>Lombard</strong> fire embers from spreading.<br />
Photo: Cynthia Peterson (cynthiacpphotography.com)<br />
W<strong>at</strong>er-dropping helicopters made numerous drops.<br />
th<strong>at</strong> were blocking the northbound lanes.<br />
As the helicopters made repe<strong>at</strong>ed drops,<br />
Drake explained: “The w<strong>at</strong>er hits the head<br />
of the fire, and firefighters are on the ground<br />
making sure no houses c<strong>at</strong>ch fire. Th<strong>at</strong>’s<br />
our priority. I don’t care if the brush burns.”<br />
The embers were almost magical, spar -<br />
kling and twinkling, as they shot 20 feet<br />
into the air or higher. Clearly th<strong>at</strong> if there<br />
had been a wind, not only the houses adjacent<br />
to the fire, but across Potrero, to the<br />
Huntington could have been in jeopardy.<br />
I told Drake, “I’m glad there’s no wind.”<br />
He responded “Me, too.”<br />
Standing on the edge of the cliffs, I<br />
w<strong>at</strong>ched as the firefighters shot w<strong>at</strong>er over<br />
the top, trying to prevent the embers from<br />
crossing across the street to the eucalyptus<br />
trees and homes.<br />
The flames reached a palm tree, dancing<br />
lazily, like little tongues, and then grew into<br />
a larger fire lighting the entire area, but just<br />
then one of the three helicopters making<br />
repe<strong>at</strong>ed drops flew over. The fire went out<br />
and firefighters continued to hose the area.<br />
Th<strong>at</strong> same scenario was repe<strong>at</strong>ed over and<br />
over in the next few hours.<br />
At the command center, the wind start ed<br />
to pick up, where just moments before the air<br />
had been calm. “As the fire goes up the slope,<br />
it cre<strong>at</strong>es a topographical breeze,” Drake<br />
said. “The fire prehe<strong>at</strong>s the brush as it moves<br />
up the slope and cre<strong>at</strong>es its own wind.”<br />
By 6 a.m., the larger flames had been<br />
doused, allowing crews to go into the brush<br />
to turn over dirt and handle hot spots. The<br />
helicopter continued to drop w<strong>at</strong>er as the<br />
sun was started to lighten the sky.<br />
Transients Asked to Move On<br />
Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol CEO Scott Wagen -<br />
seller sent the following upd<strong>at</strong>e on<br />
Thursday, November 12. “LAPD is in<br />
full force <strong>at</strong> PCH and Porta Marina working<br />
on homeless encampments. The next stop<br />
is the hills on the parkland below Via de las<br />
Olas where the fire was. They are going to<br />
be posting enforceable no camping signs.”<br />
A few minutes l<strong>at</strong>er, Wagenseller sent another<br />
upd<strong>at</strong>e: “Two men arrested <strong>at</strong> Castellammare<br />
and Sunset Boulevard. One had<br />
a gun (.380 pistol) and the other was stealing<br />
from Vons.”<br />
Sgt. Eric Fine of Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol accompanied<br />
Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore<br />
and other LAPD to the area between Tem -<br />
escal Canyon Road and Potrero Canyon<br />
(above PCH, near the burn area) and reported:<br />
“The brush area is more than 8 feet<br />
high.” He said th<strong>at</strong> LAPD was telling transients<br />
they were no longer allowed to stay<br />
Photo: Sue Pascoe<br />
because of the new signage.<br />
Moore said on Thursday th<strong>at</strong> there were<br />
seven active campsites and eight abandoned<br />
ones.<br />
Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer<br />
Michael Moore stands by a tent loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
near the burn site. Photo: Palisades Pa<strong>at</strong>rol
Page 4 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
Marquez Principal Removed<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cor -<br />
tines paid an unannounced visit to<br />
Marquez Charter Elementary on Friday,<br />
November 6, the day after Principal<br />
Albert Hananel was removed.<br />
Shannon Haber, who is in charge of<br />
LAUSD media rel<strong>at</strong>ions, was asked about<br />
the visit and she replied, “He wanted to visit<br />
the school. I have no further inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
than th<strong>at</strong>.”<br />
In a November 5 letter to parents, Cheryl<br />
Hildreth, superintendent for LAUSD Local<br />
District West, st<strong>at</strong>ed: “I am writing to express<br />
my sincere apologies for not having a clear<br />
understanding of the issues the school was<br />
facing. The school community should not<br />
have to deal with concern th<strong>at</strong> families are<br />
now experiencing due to the lack of immedi<strong>at</strong>e<br />
communic<strong>at</strong>ion taken by Dr. Hananel<br />
when an alleg<strong>at</strong>ion of sexual misconduct<br />
in the b<strong>at</strong>hroom between two younger students<br />
[kindergarten] was brought to his <strong>at</strong>tention<br />
<strong>at</strong> the end of September.<br />
“Local District Staff was aware of the<br />
issue, however, all the details were unknown.<br />
When I became aware of the alleg<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
on October 30, I was alarmed <strong>at</strong> the<br />
seriousness of it. Thus, I was compelled to<br />
remove Dr. Hananel as the principal <strong>at</strong><br />
Marquez Elementary School. A full investig<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
of the incident began immedi<strong>at</strong>ely.<br />
Please know th<strong>at</strong> due to confidentiality and<br />
privacy laws, and out of respect to the families<br />
of the young students involved, I am<br />
not able to share specifics of the incident<br />
with the school community.”<br />
On November 11, the Palisades News<br />
asked LAUSD’s Haber if Hananel was fired<br />
or just temporarily removed, and if he<br />
would be coming back to Marquez. She<br />
replied, “All student and personnel m<strong>at</strong>ters<br />
are confidential so we are not able to comment<br />
on your questions. I do know we<br />
have launched a full investig<strong>at</strong>ion into the<br />
m<strong>at</strong>ter and will let you know if I get more<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion to share.”<br />
Currently, Pam Marton, director of Local<br />
District West, who former Marquez Principal<br />
Phil Hollis said inspired him, is running<br />
the school. Marton was a principal <strong>at</strong> Community<br />
Magnet School in Bel-Air, turning<br />
it into a N<strong>at</strong>ional Blue Ribbon School during<br />
her tenure. Reportedly she is guiding<br />
parents in visioning meetings to decide<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> they would like in a new principal.<br />
Hananel came to Marquez in August<br />
2014 after three years in Mexico City as a<br />
middle school academic dean <strong>at</strong> The<br />
American School Found<strong>at</strong>ion, A.C. He<br />
began his teaching career with LAUSD in<br />
South Los Angeles in first and second<br />
grades in bilingual classrooms. He is married<br />
with two sons.<br />
Salute to Veterans<br />
Corpus Christi students joined Vets Dr. Mike Martini and Everett Maguire in<br />
saluting our n<strong>at</strong>ion’s military heroes on Veterans Day. Photo: Bart Bartholomew<br />
Interfaith Thanksgiving<br />
Service Is Monday <strong>at</strong> K.I.<br />
The annual Pacific Palisades Interfaith<br />
Thanksgiving service, a multidecade<br />
tradition, will be held <strong>at</strong> 7<br />
p.m. on Monday, November 23 <strong>at</strong> Kehill<strong>at</strong><br />
Israel Temple, 16019 Sunset Blvd.<br />
Rabbi Amy Bernstein will welcome all,<br />
then Presbyterian minister Eric Schaeffer<br />
will give the first Bible reading.<br />
A New Testament reading will be given<br />
by St. M<strong>at</strong>thew’s Reverend Bruce Freeman,<br />
who will also preach the sermon. Lutheran<br />
Reverend Wally Mees will conduct the<br />
collection, which will benefit OPCC.<br />
A passing of peace will be done by Reverend<br />
Shawn Gendall of Calvary Church.<br />
An additional reading will be provided by<br />
the Self-Realiz<strong>at</strong>ion Fellowship. Methodist<br />
minister Wayne Walters will read the Presidential<br />
Proclam<strong>at</strong>ion of Thanksgiving.<br />
Monsignor Liam Kidney of Corpus<br />
Christi Church will give the benediction.<br />
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November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 5<br />
Parents Ask YMCA to Reassign MacAller<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
YMCA members have started a petition,<br />
asking Metro YMCA CEO Alan<br />
Hostrup to reassign Palisades-Mali -<br />
bu YMCA executive director Beth MacAller.<br />
The petition st<strong>at</strong>es: “If we don’t see a<br />
change in the very near future, we’ve agreed,<br />
one by one, th<strong>at</strong> boycotting our local YMCA<br />
may be our only true power, starting with<br />
the Christmas tree lot. We are aware th<strong>at</strong><br />
the tree lot is the biggest annual fundraiser<br />
for the YMCA . . . We strongly hope th<strong>at</strong> it<br />
does not come to this and we would like to<br />
hear your game plan as soon as possible.”<br />
The petition was posted online on November<br />
10; a day l<strong>at</strong>er there were 100 sign<strong>at</strong>ures.<br />
The move was initi<strong>at</strong>ed after Rashad<br />
Rhodes, the Y’s youth sports coordin<strong>at</strong>or,<br />
was let go while <strong>at</strong> work on October 21 by<br />
MacAller.<br />
After having worked <strong>at</strong> the Y on Via de<br />
la Paz for four years, he was told it was a<br />
budget decision, given a severance check<br />
and asked to sign a paper.<br />
Rhodes, who is a gradu<strong>at</strong>e of Shaw University<br />
in Raleigh, North Carolina with a<br />
bachelor’s degree in recre<strong>at</strong>ion, said he<br />
needed time to look over the paper. He was<br />
told to hand over his keys and leave the<br />
building, which he did.<br />
Beth MacAller<br />
Photo: Bart Bartholomew<br />
On the sidewalk outside, Rhodes was<br />
stopped by a resident who wanted to ch<strong>at</strong>.<br />
But according to a recording (which was<br />
legal), after the resident left, MacAller told<br />
him, “You have to leave right now.” He<br />
replied, “This is a public sidewalk.”<br />
At th<strong>at</strong> point MacAller asked another<br />
employee to call the police. In the phone<br />
call Rhodes was labeled a “disgruntled<br />
black man.”<br />
Rhodes’ lawyer, Mychal Wilson, has listened<br />
to the tape several times and said th<strong>at</strong><br />
his client sounded calm and nonthre<strong>at</strong>ening.<br />
At th<strong>at</strong> point Rhodes did refuse to<br />
move, because if police were coming, he<br />
wanted to speak to them, and didn’t want<br />
to look like he was fleeing.<br />
Initially, resident Sara Marti, after hearing<br />
of Rhodes’ displacement, wrote a letter<br />
of recommend<strong>at</strong>ion for him and asked<br />
other residents if they would do the same<br />
for the beloved coach.<br />
Three days l<strong>at</strong>er, Rhodes, who had been<br />
coaching in the Y’s youth soccer program<br />
and whose son had been on the team, came<br />
to Simon Meadow to w<strong>at</strong>ch his 5-year-old<br />
son play. JoJo had been on the team since<br />
September. He was accompanied by his wife<br />
Donchelle and 8-year-old daughter Niveah.<br />
According to eyewitness reports, MacAl -<br />
ler was <strong>at</strong> the field and told Rhodes he had<br />
to leave, and when he didn’t quickly depart,<br />
she called the police and Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol.<br />
Donchelle asked MacAller why the family<br />
was being asked to leave. She replied,<br />
“I have to protect the kids.”<br />
Said Marti, whose son also plays soccer:<br />
“She [MacAller] forced Rashad off the field.<br />
He stood near the flashing p<strong>at</strong>rol lights,<br />
being questioned, and everyone—the people<br />
<strong>at</strong> the pumpkin p<strong>at</strong>ch, his children and<br />
our children—could see.”<br />
Mark Dengler, COO and executive vice<br />
president <strong>at</strong> Metro Y, released the following<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ement on October 28:<br />
“The former Youth Sports coordin<strong>at</strong>or<br />
<strong>at</strong>tended a Palisades-Malibu Y youth soccer<br />
game and was asked to leave by Ms. MacAller.<br />
Predic<strong>at</strong>ed by direction provided by law<br />
enforcement officers who responded when<br />
this employee originally refused to leave the<br />
branch, she notified local authorities.<br />
“Part of wh<strong>at</strong> makes the Y so special is<br />
the positive rel<strong>at</strong>ionships our staff builds<br />
with the families we serve, so it is understandable<br />
some parents <strong>at</strong> the game were<br />
upset and confused by wh<strong>at</strong> took place.<br />
After careful review, we agree the situ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
could and should have been handled with<br />
much gre<strong>at</strong>er care.”<br />
Kris Nakamur, senior vice president of<br />
Metro Y communic<strong>at</strong>ions and marketing,<br />
said in an October 28 email to the News: “The<br />
employee was not offered a position, but as<br />
his departure was a result of a workforce reduction,<br />
and not a termin<strong>at</strong>ion, he is certainly<br />
eligible for rehire with our Associ<strong>at</strong>ion.”<br />
Residents have nothing but praise for<br />
Rhodes. “Rashad has never been anything<br />
but kind and nurturing to the kids” . . . “He<br />
is a lovely person who has inspired our<br />
kids and he’s inspired us” . . . “He’s been so<br />
wonderful <strong>at</strong> coordin<strong>at</strong>ing the sports program<br />
for my son these past every years.”<br />
Attorney Wilson said, “At this point we<br />
find the YMCA’s conduct egregious and I<br />
intend to bring about justice for the Rhodes<br />
family in L.A. Superior Court.”<br />
MacAller, who was the executive director<br />
of Sojourner House in Rochester, New<br />
York, was hired by the local Y in October.
Page 6 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
Heard<br />
About Town<br />
Plane Noise Increasing?<br />
Regarding your article in the November<br />
4 issue (“FAA Will Implement New<br />
System”), when you realize you are hearing<br />
nearly constant buzzing, droning and<br />
roaring, just look up to the sky. You will<br />
see jet planes of all sizes cutting across the<br />
Palisades sky. This began in October. In 20<br />
years of living here, this has never been the<br />
case. Your article st<strong>at</strong>ing th<strong>at</strong> the new FAA<br />
system would not result in significant or<br />
reportable noise impacts could not be<br />
more untrue. The LAX noise complaint<br />
number is (424) 64-NOISE. Maybe if<br />
enough people call, something will change.<br />
(Editor’s note: We contacted Ian Gregor,<br />
the public affairs manager for the FAA Pacific<br />
Division after we received the query.<br />
Gregor responded the next day, “Absolutely<br />
nothing has changed.”)<br />
Motorcycle Noise Gone<br />
Thank [Senior Lead Officer] Michael<br />
Moore and the LAPD for tackling the<br />
motorcycle noise. We haven’t heard them<br />
roar down Sunset Boulevard for weeks<br />
now. I was told th<strong>at</strong> the police started<br />
checking out the leaders and anyone who<br />
had a warrant or problem was taken care<br />
of and with no leaders the rest of the pack<br />
isn’t driving through. If everyone expressed<br />
their thanks about the situ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
it would be a good thing to do.<br />
A Traffic Fantasy<br />
Imagine the two center lanes of Sunset<br />
Boulevard through town put underground<br />
in a trench-tunnel, with one entrance-exit<br />
in the vicinity of Drummond<br />
and the other in the vicinity of Temescal.<br />
Think Alameda Corridor. Above ground<br />
there could be generous side lanes for<br />
local traffic and buses, with sections of<br />
wider sidewalks. I’d guess th<strong>at</strong> maybe 90<br />
percent of Sunset traffic would choose<br />
the express-underground route, especially<br />
in peak traffic. The remaining surface<br />
traffic would then be local, and<br />
slower. Less noise and chaos. Lots of options<br />
to ponder, e.g. partial financing via<br />
a modest Fast Trak toll (perhaps time-<br />
&-traffic dependent). A pipe dream?<br />
<strong>Fire</strong>fighter Praise<br />
I know they’re just doing their job, but<br />
we need to send out a huge shout of<br />
thanks to all of the firefighters who came<br />
to the rescue on the <strong>Lombard</strong> fire below<br />
Via de las Olas on November 8. After the<br />
second fire in the same area on November<br />
10, they stayed up all night to w<strong>at</strong>ch<br />
for other possible flareups.<br />
———————<br />
If you’d like to share something you’ve<br />
“heard about town,” please email it to<br />
spascoe@palisadesnews.com<br />
ANN CLEAVES<br />
VIEWPOINT<br />
My Milkshake Comes First!<br />
By GAYLEN DUCKER<br />
Special to the Palisades News<br />
After having lunch with a friend near the<br />
Brentwood Country Mart, I stopped to<br />
pick up ice cream <strong>at</strong> Sweet Rose<br />
Creamery.<br />
When I walked inside, there was a f<strong>at</strong>her and<br />
son sharing an ice cream cone <strong>at</strong> a table, and a<br />
tall red-haired young man standing behind the<br />
counter. I ordered two pints: apricot sorbet and<br />
rose geranium with pistachios. The red-haired<br />
young man started filling the first pint when a<br />
woman dressed in a black dress, high heels<br />
and a long, silvery necklace rushed in.<br />
“I want a vanilla milkshake!” she said. “Can<br />
you make me a vanilla milkshake while I go<br />
next door for my dry cleaning?” The red-haired<br />
man said, “Sure” and continued to fill the pint<br />
with rose ice cream for me.<br />
The woman rushed out. A few minutes l<strong>at</strong>er,<br />
she returned. “Where’s my milkshake?” she<br />
demanded. She sounded frantic. I looked <strong>at</strong> her.<br />
“I ordered a vanilla milkshake!” she repe<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
The red-haired man looked <strong>at</strong> her, too. He had<br />
just finished putting a sheaf of waxed paper<br />
over the rose ice cream, and was writing the<br />
name on the lid of the pint. “I’ll make your<br />
milkshake as soon as I’m finished with this<br />
customer,” he said. Meaning, me.<br />
“I don’t understand!” the woman said, her<br />
voice rising. “Where is my milkshake? I ordered<br />
a milkshake! I told you I was going next door<br />
for my dry cleaning and would come back for<br />
my milkshake!”<br />
The young man handed me the pint of rose<br />
ice cream and said, “I’ll start on the apricot<br />
sorbet now.”<br />
A woman walked in wearing a blue Sweet<br />
Rose Creamery t-shirt and carrying more red<br />
and blue balloons. “Good afternoon, everyone!”<br />
she said.<br />
“I want my milkshake!” the woman told<br />
her. Her voice had become shrill and loud.<br />
The toddler sharing the cone with his f<strong>at</strong>her<br />
started to cry. Everyone became very still. Then<br />
the woman in the blue t-shirt handed the little<br />
boy a balloon and tied the rest to the back of<br />
another chair, walked behind the counter and<br />
said, “I can help you.” She spoke quietly.<br />
The red-haired man said, “I’m finishing up<br />
with this customer.”<br />
“I just don’t understand wh<strong>at</strong> happened!”<br />
the woman said again. “I was here, I ordered the<br />
milkshake, and I went next door. Where is it?”<br />
I didn’t understand either. When did I become<br />
invisible? When did this entire city BECOME<br />
INVISIBLE to everyone else living in it? When<br />
did each of us become more important than<br />
the person standing next to us? Did this<br />
change, this shift, happen a decade ago, two<br />
decades ago? Will it ever . . . shift back?<br />
I walked to my car, carrying my two pints<br />
of ice cream, wondering about this. It was a<br />
beautiful day. Of course, other things were<br />
happening in the world, worse things—<br />
thousands of refugees are struggling in Europe,<br />
others are displaced in Chile. Did th<strong>at</strong> woman<br />
enjoy her milkshake? Was it worth it?<br />
Oops!<br />
In the October 21 issue (“L.A. City Passes<br />
Beekeeping Ordinance,” p. 4), it was st<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong><br />
the Pacific Palisades Community Council <strong>at</strong><br />
an April meeting opposed the proposed<br />
ordinance. President Chris Spitz pointed out<br />
th<strong>at</strong> although there were draft motions in<br />
the minute opposing it, no vote was taken.<br />
Thought to Ponder<br />
“Educ<strong>at</strong>ion is the ability to<br />
listen to almost anything<br />
without losing your temper<br />
or your self-confidence.”<br />
― Robert Frost<br />
Founded November 5, 2014<br />
———————<br />
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Pacific Palisades, CA 90272<br />
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www.PalisadesNews.com<br />
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swag@palisadesnews.com<br />
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Sue Pascoe<br />
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Fe<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
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Digital Content and Technology<br />
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Palisades News<br />
November 18, 2015 A forum for open discussion of community issues<br />
Page 7<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
Let’s Keep Swarthmore a Two-Way Street<br />
By BILL BRUNS<br />
Palisades News Adviser<br />
When Palisades Village developer Rick Caruso<br />
met with the Community Council’s land-use<br />
committee on October 29, he referenced his plan<br />
to convert Swarthmore into a one-way street from the alley<br />
<strong>at</strong> City N<strong>at</strong>ional Bank to Monument. He argued th<strong>at</strong> this<br />
would increase available parking by having angled parking<br />
and would make the street safer and more walkable.<br />
Fortun<strong>at</strong>ely, Council member and longtime resident<br />
Sue Kohl recalled an ill-f<strong>at</strong>ed experiment in the 1980s<br />
and asked Caruso, “You are aware th<strong>at</strong> Swarthmore was<br />
one-way and it didn’t work?”<br />
“I didn’t know th<strong>at</strong> past,” he replied, and l<strong>at</strong>er when<br />
asked the same question he said, “If the community<br />
wants it to go two ways, let it.”<br />
As a 43-year resident of the Alphabet Streets<br />
neighborhood, I think we should take Caruso up on<br />
his offer, and get his one-way Swarthmore idea erased<br />
from his plans to redevelop most of the street (along<br />
with Sunset frontage and the outdoor parking lot).<br />
There are drivers in well over 1,000 households in the<br />
Alphabets—from Via de la Paz over to Chautauqua—<br />
Happy Anniversary to the News<br />
I want to wish you and the entire staff a very happy<br />
first anniversary! In an age when print media is becoming<br />
less read, you had the courage to start a brand new<br />
newspaper in November 2014.<br />
Not only th<strong>at</strong>, but it is incredibly wonderful, inform<strong>at</strong>ive,<br />
well researched and open to reader contributions<br />
(Viewpoints). Your articles are timely and contain<br />
accur<strong>at</strong>e inform<strong>at</strong>ion. The Homes & Gardens section<br />
in the November 4 issue was gre<strong>at</strong>. I found the article<br />
on artificial turf really valuable. It’s especially timely<br />
with many of us replacing our w<strong>at</strong>er-hungry lawns.<br />
Thank you again and keep up the gre<strong>at</strong> work!<br />
Barbara Gould<br />
Caruso Project Observ<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
First and foremost, our community is very fortun<strong>at</strong>e<br />
to have the investor/ developer, Rick Caruso, pursue the<br />
re-gentrific<strong>at</strong>ion of the Palisades, and here are three key<br />
reasons to consider:<br />
1. He is a local, a resident of our neighboring<br />
community, Brentwood.<br />
2. Caruso has taken on all the risk, his money, his time<br />
and effort, for all of our benefit.<br />
3. Let’s say it doesn’t work, perhaps five to seven years,<br />
or 10 years from now, well, gee we are back to wh<strong>at</strong> we<br />
have now.<br />
Let’s play the “wh<strong>at</strong> if game,” where we consider<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>e realities and real possibilities:<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> if he did not invest, and instead a consortium<br />
from another st<strong>at</strong>e, or another country had purchased<br />
this property? Bet they could care less wh<strong>at</strong> any locals<br />
thought or wanted.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> if there are 54-60 new businesses in our<br />
neighborhood? Our budding adults could grow with<br />
and up into the hills who would be sorely inconvenienced<br />
by losing Swarthmore as an access street into the village<br />
beyond Sunset. And by having only two options—Via<br />
and Monument—we would add to the congestion on<br />
these streets <strong>at</strong> their Sunset intersections, once Palisades<br />
Village opens.<br />
The l<strong>at</strong>est Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed press release continues to<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e “No traffic impacts,” reiter<strong>at</strong>ing Caruso’s belief th<strong>at</strong><br />
removing the Mobil st<strong>at</strong>ion will equal the traffic impact<br />
of perhaps 54 new businesses, including a specialty<br />
grocer, numerous restaurants and a 300-se<strong>at</strong> movie<br />
the<strong>at</strong>er. This simply makes no sense. If Palisades Village<br />
doesn’t gener<strong>at</strong>e more traffic than a Mobil st<strong>at</strong>ion, I<br />
fear for the project’s economic success.<br />
Given the fact th<strong>at</strong> Via de la Paz <strong>at</strong> the DWP corner<br />
will be more congested when the Shell st<strong>at</strong>ion is replaced<br />
by a busier Mobil st<strong>at</strong>ion and its large convenience store,<br />
and th<strong>at</strong> the Monument-Sunset intersection will be a<br />
nightmare with cars departing the new underground<br />
parking structure, we shouldn’t add traffic to these streets<br />
by elimin<strong>at</strong>ing Swarthmore as an artery into town.<br />
Let’s also consider wh<strong>at</strong> a one-way Swarthmore would<br />
force drivers to do from the Alphabet side of Sunset. If,<br />
for example, they are driving their kids to Village School<br />
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR<br />
the responsibility of having part-time jobs.<br />
Our budding adults, new drivers, would not have to drive<br />
Sunset or PCH to Malibu, Santa Monica, Brentwood,<br />
or Beverly Hills—their entertainment would be here in<br />
our back yard.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> if the restaurants have a liquor license? They<br />
would finally secure a profitable item to sell, making the<br />
business proposition affordable for our growing taxes,<br />
business and regul<strong>at</strong>ion fees, and employee benefit costs.<br />
They could stay in business longer than a couple of years.<br />
It may encourage residents to walk to drink and<br />
dine—gre<strong>at</strong> for reducing traffic and pollutants.<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> if there is a parking structure? Oh my gosh, no<br />
more buzzing round and round seeking somewhere to<br />
park—the businesses on Via de la Paz cannot survive with<br />
foot traffic only. Our neighborhood streets would not be<br />
so packed with employee cars parked all day, every day.<br />
Bottom line, to read and hear of any complaints by<br />
folks unwilling to invest and develop this business district<br />
themselves is a bit of folly.<br />
Marjorie “Boofie” Graham<br />
Letter from Councilman Bonin<br />
Your safety is my paramount concern and I take<br />
yesterday’s incident (November 8) extremely seriously.<br />
I am pleased to inform you th<strong>at</strong> we have already made<br />
progress str<strong>at</strong>egically improving the way we protect your<br />
neighborhood. As you know, a few weeks ago, we began<br />
installing no camping/no trespassing signage th<strong>at</strong> allows<br />
enforcement in the area. Earlier today, I spoke with LAPD<br />
Deputy Chief Be<strong>at</strong>rice Girmala, Commanding Officer of<br />
Oper<strong>at</strong>ions West Bureau, and asked th<strong>at</strong> she work with<br />
the <strong>Fire</strong> Department to increase p<strong>at</strong>rols of the canyons<br />
so we can ensure people are not illegally camping and<br />
we can prevent the next fire before it starts.<br />
or Palisades Elementary, they would have to take<br />
Monument across Sunset to La Cruz, navig<strong>at</strong>e an always<br />
crowded street to the Swarthmore intersection, and then<br />
turn left <strong>at</strong> this busy intersection to order to reach their<br />
school drop-off loc<strong>at</strong>ions. The same problem exists in<br />
the afternoon. If people from the Alphabets wanted to<br />
shop or run errands in town below Sunset, they could<br />
only use Monument or Via as they tried to try to find a<br />
place to park in the Antioch/Swarthmore area.<br />
Bottom line: a one-way Swarthmore would prove<br />
inconvenient to hundreds of drivers every day, and it<br />
would increase traffic congestion on Monument and<br />
Via, above and below Sunset. Caruso’s one-way plan<br />
would indeed add parking spaces on Swarthmore with<br />
angled parking, but the same increase could be achieved<br />
with angled parking on a wide, two-way Swarthmore.<br />
And safety issues? I can recall only one serious<br />
car/pedestrian accident on the street in recent decades.<br />
I will appreci<strong>at</strong>e many of the improvements th<strong>at</strong><br />
Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed will bring to Swarthmore and Sunset—<br />
walking to a good movie, having a variety of restaurants<br />
to enjoy, seeing many more residents enjoying the<br />
business district—but let’s keep one tradition from the<br />
1950s: a two-way Swarthmore.<br />
Deputy Chief Girmala sprung into action and working<br />
with West LA Division Captains Tina Nieto and Darryl<br />
Ito, as well as Los Angeles <strong>Fire</strong> Department Chief P<strong>at</strong><br />
Butler, LAPD is immedi<strong>at</strong>ely taking the following actions<br />
to better protect our community:<br />
• LAPD’s Air Support Division’s Special Flights Unit<br />
will photograph the area in detail so we can track<br />
enforcement efforts and develop actions plans.<br />
• LAPD will p<strong>at</strong>rol the area a minimum of twice daily.<br />
Deputy Chief Girmala has committed to me th<strong>at</strong> she<br />
will personally review p<strong>at</strong>rol logs to ensure these p<strong>at</strong>rols<br />
are taking place.<br />
• LAPD will prepare and distribute inform<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
flyers warning of increased enforcement efforts to come<br />
and the LAPD’s intent to conduct a robust cit<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
arrest program for viol<strong>at</strong>ors.<br />
• LAPD West Division’s transient detail will increase<br />
focus on the area.<br />
• Planning has begun for several LAPD Task Force<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions to be conducted in conjunction with the<br />
Department of Recre<strong>at</strong>ion and Parks, Park Rangers, the<br />
<strong>Fire</strong> Department and social service providers. These<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions will help connect people illegally camping in<br />
canyons with available resources.<br />
In addition to these immedi<strong>at</strong>e actions by LAPD, I<br />
am also working with LAFD Deputy Chief Butler, the<br />
Pacific Palisades Homelessness Task Force, park rangers<br />
and priv<strong>at</strong>e security to develop an even more robust<br />
system to p<strong>at</strong>rol and keep these areas clear.<br />
Councilman Mike Bonin<br />
Palisades News welcomes all letters, which may be mailed to<br />
spascoe@palisadesnews.com. Please include a name, address<br />
and telephone number so we may reach you. Letters do not<br />
necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Palisades News.
Page 8 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
Kilbride Named Citizen of the Year;<br />
Sparkplug Honors Earned by Three<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
The Pacific Palisades Community<br />
Council announced the town’s Citizen<br />
of the Year, three Sparkplug<br />
recipients and this year’s Pride of the Pali -<br />
sades award <strong>at</strong> its November 12 meeting.<br />
Sharon Kilbride will receive the Citizen<br />
award for her long-time advocacy for Santa<br />
Monica Canyon, her educ<strong>at</strong>ion efforts regarding<br />
her family’s history in Pacific Pali -<br />
sades, for keeping the two pedestrian<br />
tunnels under PCH clean and working with<br />
police and transients to keep the canyon<br />
and beach area safe for residents.<br />
Kilbride has been working with Caltrans<br />
to keep the tunnels accessible to residents.<br />
In an earlier Palisades News story, we reported<br />
th<strong>at</strong> “Kilbride is aware of the tunnel<br />
issues, because she weekly sweeps and sanitizes<br />
them.<br />
“Neither the City nor Caltrans will clean<br />
them,” she said. “We painted one last year.”<br />
Many homeless are in the area, but “I gave<br />
them a broom and now they’re helping to<br />
clean. They seem to enjoy it.”<br />
Also, some people run across PCH from<br />
P<strong>at</strong>rick’s Roadhouse and the Chevron gas<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ion instead of taking one of the tunnels<br />
to access the beach. Kilbride and fellow SM<br />
Canyon resident George Wolfberg urged<br />
new signage for the area.<br />
Typical is Kilbride’s June 23 correspondence<br />
to Senior Lead Officer Michael<br />
Moore. “Could you please keep the homeless<br />
encampments away from the tunnel access?<br />
The citizens are afraid to use the access<br />
and are being harassed by large groups storing<br />
their bikes and smoking dope in the<br />
tunnel and near the tunnel wall.<br />
“Could you p<strong>at</strong>rol this hot spot in l<strong>at</strong>e<br />
afternoon when it seems to be a problem?<br />
Photos were taken yesterday by neighbors<br />
and me. The last photo shows the guy smok -<br />
ing weed near the kids volleyball camps.<br />
Not good!!”<br />
* * *<br />
Laurel Garver, Laurie Sale and Doug<br />
Suisman will each receive a Golden<br />
Sparkplug Award.<br />
Suisman has spearheaded two beautific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
projects in Pacific Palisades. First, he<br />
collabor<strong>at</strong>ed on a project <strong>at</strong> Canyon Charter<br />
School when his children, Claire and<br />
Teddy, were enrolled. The renowned urban<br />
Ernest Marquez, Sharon Kilbride and Canyon fourth grader Graham Coven particip<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
in a question and answer period <strong>at</strong> the La Señora Research Institute in the Jose Mojica<br />
Hacienda on Dryad Road in Santa Monica Canyon.<br />
Photo: Credit<br />
designer conceived a new image for the facility<br />
th<strong>at</strong> included a vibrant paint scheme,<br />
graphics th<strong>at</strong> highlight the coastal canyon<br />
setting, and historic photos th<strong>at</strong> depict the<br />
history of the 121-year-old school, bringing<br />
its past and present together.<br />
Now th<strong>at</strong> his oldest child is <strong>at</strong> Palisades<br />
(Continued on Page 9)<br />
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November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 9<br />
Awards<br />
(Continued from Page 8)<br />
High, he has been leading a three-phase renov<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
of the campus. His goal has been to<br />
make the campus more aesthetically pleasing<br />
and welcoming, while cre<strong>at</strong>ing a gre<strong>at</strong>er<br />
home-away-from-home <strong>at</strong>mosphere for<br />
students and faculty alike. Around campus,<br />
banners and large-scale graphics now illustr<strong>at</strong>e<br />
the history of Temescal Canyon, building<br />
surfaces have been repainted in blues<br />
and soft browns, and two new landscaped<br />
gardens have been completed <strong>at</strong> the main<br />
entrance to the school and along Bowdoin.<br />
Awaiting final approvals and sufficient<br />
funding, Suisman and his committee will<br />
next construct a G<strong>at</strong>eway Garden and a<br />
widened walkway <strong>at</strong> the Bowdoin/Temescal<br />
corner th<strong>at</strong> will provide safer passage for<br />
the hundreds of students who arrive and<br />
leave campus <strong>at</strong> peak hours <strong>at</strong> this corner.<br />
The project’s website is palig<strong>at</strong>eway.com.<br />
Laurie Sale has led the pursuit of a Business<br />
Improvement District (BID) for Pacific<br />
Palisades since 2011. It finally was r<strong>at</strong>ified<br />
by the City of Los Angeles on June 23, 2015<br />
with 80 percent of the commercial property<br />
owners who voted casting a yes vote.<br />
Sale, who was on the BID Board for the<br />
Fashion District downtown, said in a 2012<br />
interview: “I’ve seen how merchants and<br />
property owners can benefit from having<br />
an umbrella organiz<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> oversees a lot<br />
of the day-to-day issues and problems.”<br />
Doug Suisman<br />
Photo: Don Flood<br />
She acknowledged th<strong>at</strong> “the City of Los<br />
Angeles should be paying for the services<br />
the BID will provide, but it is a fact th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
City doesn’t have the money.” Some of the<br />
services the BID will provide include sidewalk<br />
sweeping and pressure washing, graffiti<br />
ab<strong>at</strong>ement, handbill and trash removal,<br />
landscaping, tree trimming and lighting—<br />
plus marketing campaigns.<br />
“Merchants AND property owners have<br />
worked diligently together to form this BID,<br />
which is a wonderful st<strong>at</strong>ement of how<br />
everyone, pulling together in the same direction,<br />
can make positive things happen,” Sale<br />
said. “With all of the new development and<br />
the implement<strong>at</strong>ion of the BID, this is a very<br />
exciting time for the Palisades community.”<br />
When the Pacific Palisades lost its only<br />
bookstore, Village Books, in 2011, many residents<br />
tried to figure out a way to bring one<br />
back. Friends of the Library board member<br />
Laurel Garver came up with one altern<strong>at</strong>ive.<br />
Noting th<strong>at</strong> the Palisades Branch Library<br />
had an unused p<strong>at</strong>io facing the park, she<br />
met with Friends President Alice Inglis and<br />
suggested using th<strong>at</strong> space to sell gentlyused<br />
books, which would augment the<br />
Friends’ financial support of the library.<br />
The “new” used bookstore opened on July<br />
1 this year, and thanks to volunteer workers<br />
and book don<strong>at</strong>ions from residents, the<br />
store now offers a wide variety of books for<br />
purchase <strong>at</strong> hugely discounted prices six days<br />
a week. The Friends use the proceeds to purchase<br />
new books and audio-visual m<strong>at</strong>erials<br />
for the library and provide maintenance<br />
support (gardening and trash pick-up).<br />
* * *<br />
2015 Pride of the Palisades award<br />
The will be given to the Pacific Palisades<br />
Task Force on Homelessness. In announcing<br />
the selection, President Chris Spitz<br />
praised the group for its efforts and accomplishments<br />
this past year. Growing out of<br />
a need in the community, members have<br />
<strong>at</strong>tacked the homeless problem from two<br />
fronts: enforcement and social services.<br />
The group is responsible for enforceable<br />
“no camping” signs and for raising more<br />
than $100,000 towards hiring two OPCC<br />
social workers for a year to speak with and<br />
hopefully reloc<strong>at</strong>e those in need.<br />
Recipients will be honored <strong>at</strong> Gladstone’s<br />
<strong>at</strong> 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 10.<br />
Space is limited. E-invites will go out shortly.<br />
Woman’s Club<br />
To Give <strong>at</strong> Least<br />
$10,000 in Grants<br />
The Pacific Palisades Woman’s<br />
Club (PPWC) will award <strong>at</strong> least<br />
$10,000 in grants this coming year to<br />
community and charitable organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
th<strong>at</strong> work in the areas of educ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
beautific<strong>at</strong>ion, arts and recre<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
All applic<strong>at</strong>ions must be submitted<br />
in final form by December 10.<br />
The applic<strong>at</strong>ion is available online:<br />
ThePPWC.org.<br />
To be considered for a grant, applicant<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ions must be based in Pacific<br />
Palisades and/or provide services<br />
th<strong>at</strong> benefit the Palisades community.<br />
The PPWC also offers an altern<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
to the cash awards by providing a free<br />
four-hour use of the clubhouse facility.<br />
The PPWC’s primary fundraiser is<br />
the annual Home Tour (November<br />
22) and Holiday Boutique (November<br />
21 and 22), with proceeds going<br />
to charitable and service organiz<strong>at</strong>ions,<br />
and also towards refurbishing<br />
the clubhouse.<br />
Contact club administr<strong>at</strong>or Roberta<br />
Donohue <strong>at</strong> (310) 454-9012 or e-mail<br />
rndonohue@yahoo.com.
Page 10 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
Rotary Club Seeks 2015<br />
Business Person of Year<br />
The Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades<br />
is seeking nomin<strong>at</strong>ions for Business<br />
Person of the Year. The person must<br />
hold a senior-level management position<br />
in his/her company; must live or work in<br />
Pacific Palisades; and a must have demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
leadership within the Palisades, the<br />
nominee’s own industry, and exhibited a<br />
character of “Service Above Self.” (Members<br />
of the Rotary Club are ineligible.)<br />
The winner will receive a $500 don<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to the charity of their choice and a one-year<br />
honorary membership to the Rotary Club<br />
Arnie Wishnick and Jackie Maduff.<br />
Trying to keep his wedding low-profile<br />
was not easy for Arnie Wishnick,<br />
longtime executive director of the<br />
Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce.<br />
“We ran off and got married. Well, we<br />
didn’t exactly run off . . . we briskly walked<br />
off and exchanged vows,” he said.<br />
Arnie and his bride, Jackie Maduff, have<br />
known each other for 50 years. Jackie and<br />
Arnie’s first wife, C<strong>at</strong>hie, met <strong>at</strong> UCLA in<br />
1965. When C<strong>at</strong>hie and Arnie married in<br />
1968, Jackie was in the wedding party.<br />
Arnie was married to C<strong>at</strong>hie for 40 years<br />
until she succumbed to her devast<strong>at</strong>ing illness.<br />
Meanwhile, Jackie was married to a fellow<br />
named Bernie Maduff, not to be confused<br />
with the infamous Bernie Madoff. Arnie<br />
actually introduced Jackie to Bernie. Jackie<br />
Proudly<br />
Serving the<br />
Palisades for<br />
Over 35<br />
Years!<br />
of Pacific Palisades. Additionally, he or she<br />
will be honored <strong>at</strong> a Rotary breakfast on<br />
January 14 and <strong>at</strong> the Chamber of Commerce<br />
Install<strong>at</strong>ion Dinner TBD.<br />
Nomin<strong>at</strong>ions must be received by December<br />
9 <strong>at</strong> the Chamber of Commerce<br />
office, 15330 Antioch St., or mailed to Rotary<br />
Club of Pacific Palisades, P.O. Box<br />
114, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. In order<br />
to obtain a form, e-mail Tom Welch<br />
tjwelch83@gmail.com or call Welch, (310)<br />
930-4448, or Perry Akins, (310) 459-8551.<br />
Photo: Luis F. Pazos (Cadet3Studios.com)<br />
Wishnick and Maduff Wed<br />
and Bernie’s marriage ended in divorce, but<br />
it wasn’t a complete loss. Jackie has a wonderful<br />
daughter, Wendy, a food safety officer<br />
for Subway. She lives with her husband<br />
Daniel and daughter Bella in Omaha.<br />
Jackie and Arnie exchanged their nuptials<br />
in the presence of Rabbi Amy Bernstein<br />
and Cantor Chayim Frenkel of Kehill<strong>at</strong><br />
Israel on Tuesday morning, October 20.<br />
“In Jewish tradition, Tuesday is a lucky day<br />
to get married,” said Arnie, who proposed<br />
on Valentine’s Day 2014.<br />
He must have realized th<strong>at</strong> marriage is<br />
important. He gave up an Optimist Club<br />
meeting on a Tuesday morning to wed.<br />
It’s hard to keep a secret in Pacific Pali -<br />
sades, especially when this newspaper story<br />
is distributed to the entire town.<br />
<br />
Follow<br />
us on<br />
Facebook!<br />
HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONAL WORKMANSHIP<br />
• Re-piping Specialists • Sewer, All-Drain Cleaning • Earthquake Shut-off Valves<br />
• Repair Work • Sprinkler Systems • Install<strong>at</strong>ion of Sub Meters & Tankless W<strong>at</strong>er He<strong>at</strong>ers<br />
16626 Marquez Ave. Ray Church, owner<br />
email: PalPlum1@aol.com (310) 454-5548 INCORPORATED — CA Lic. #385995<br />
Paul Bowinkel, who owns property on Swarthmore, introduces himself to Rick Lemmo,<br />
senior VP of community rel<strong>at</strong>ions for Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed. Photo: Luis F. Pazos (Cadet3Studios.com)<br />
A Chamber Networking Breakfast was<br />
held on November 5 <strong>at</strong> Gladstone’s Restaurant<br />
with 52 people in <strong>at</strong>tendance. Rick<br />
Lemmo, Michael Gazzano and Ryan Hawley<br />
from Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed shared plans for<br />
its proposed Palisades Village project.<br />
Lemmo said th<strong>at</strong> when Rick Caruso originally<br />
bought the property on Swarthmore<br />
and Sunset, the plan was to “refresh the<br />
fronts of the buildings and then rent them.<br />
The community wanted no part of it. They<br />
wanted a movie the<strong>at</strong>er and different stores.”<br />
Gazzano explained to business owners<br />
th<strong>at</strong> Caruso is building less than half the<br />
square footage of wh<strong>at</strong> is allowed and th<strong>at</strong><br />
a study shows there will be no net increase<br />
in traffic because the Mobil st<strong>at</strong>ion will be<br />
removed. Asked whether a stoplight would<br />
be needed <strong>at</strong> Bashford and Monument,<br />
Gazzano said: “All of the intersections were<br />
studied and we’re not close to tripping a<br />
need for a signal.”<br />
New Chamber of Commerce members<br />
were introduced. They are Paul Bowinkel<br />
(who owns commercial property on<br />
Swarth more and Sunset), Nancy Drobnis<br />
(The L.A. Organizer) and Buzz Park (Light -<br />
year Marketing Group, which offers website<br />
development).<br />
BID Upd<strong>at</strong>e: The Palisades Business Improvement<br />
District, which was r<strong>at</strong>ified by<br />
the L.A. City Council on June 23, has<br />
elected a board of directors. It includes Rick<br />
Pacific Palisades, Brentwood,<br />
Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Venice<br />
CalBRE#01437780<br />
BUSINESS NOTES<br />
Ninkey Dalton<br />
Your Local Neighborhood Agent<br />
The Agency<br />
(424) 400-5921<br />
www.TheAgencyRE.com<br />
Lemmo (Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed), Elliot Zorensky<br />
(UDO), Lee Ford (Lee Ford Assoc.), Susan<br />
Carroll (Gift Garden Antiques, representing<br />
Dale Van Vlack), Lynn Borland (representing<br />
Methodist Church), DeDe West (TOPA<br />
represent<strong>at</strong>ive), Dr. Shaun Malek (Triwell<br />
Properties), Joyce Brunelle (Chamber of<br />
Commerce) and Peter Scolney (PRIDE).<br />
The BID has been pursued since 2011 by<br />
a committee of residents, business owners<br />
and property owners as a way to ensure effective<br />
maintenance programs in the Pali -<br />
sades business district.<br />
At the November meeting, assessments<br />
on current property tax bills, selecting a<br />
BID logo and colors and the e-mail address<br />
(laurie@palisadesbid.org or Elliot@pali -<br />
sadesbid.org) were discussed. A December<br />
meeting will be held, d<strong>at</strong>e to be determined.<br />
Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed: Michael Gazzano was<br />
<strong>at</strong> the Swarthmore Farmers Market on Sunday<br />
to answer questions about the Caruso<br />
Affili<strong>at</strong>ed Village project. He said th<strong>at</strong> either<br />
he or a represent<strong>at</strong>ive will be there every<br />
Sunday starting <strong>at</strong> 10 a.m. to answer questions<br />
for the next few months.<br />
Chamber Mixer: The next Pacific Pali -<br />
sades Chamber of Commerce mixer will be<br />
held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday,<br />
December 2, <strong>at</strong> Studio K, 15207 Sunset Blvd.<br />
It will be hosted by Studio K owner Susan<br />
Howard.
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 11<br />
Sex Offender Returns<br />
A48-year-old transient, William Har -<br />
ry Bullock, was arrested on an outstanding<br />
warrant on October 29 <strong>at</strong><br />
the liquor store on Entrada. He threw another<br />
man’s phone onto the highway and<br />
then chased him to the liquor store.<br />
The 205-pound, 5’10”, white male thre<strong>at</strong>ened<br />
the store owner, ACS security and<br />
Canyon resident Sharon Kilbride.<br />
“I don’t know wh<strong>at</strong>’s going on, but he<br />
has gone off the deep end,” Kilbride said.<br />
“He told me th<strong>at</strong> my days are numbered.<br />
I can only hope th<strong>at</strong> he does not return to<br />
the canyon after spending time in jail.”<br />
Kilbride, who knows most of the local<br />
transients, discovered six months ago th<strong>at</strong><br />
Bullock is a registered sex offender. He did<br />
time for lewd or lascivious acts with a<br />
child under 14 years of age. Kilbride reports<br />
th<strong>at</strong> many of the nice homeless individuals<br />
are afraid of him.<br />
According to the Megan’s Law website,<br />
“this sex offender has been in viol<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
registr<strong>at</strong>ion requirements since<br />
09/04/2011.”<br />
On November 5, Senior Lead Officer<br />
Michael Moore alerted Kilbride, “FYI . . .<br />
I have received reports th<strong>at</strong> William Bullock<br />
has possession of a handgun, although<br />
this has not been confirmed.<br />
Warrants have limited effect and it is very<br />
likely Bullock will return to the area, so be<br />
careful.”<br />
Bullock, who has brown hair and blue<br />
eyes, often camps in the hills above<br />
Temescal and PCH. He has a pit bull.<br />
Final 2015 Book Sale Is Dec. 5<br />
The Friends of the Palisades Branch<br />
Library will hold the last parking lot<br />
book sale of the year from 8:30 a.m.<br />
to 1:30 p.m. on S<strong>at</strong>urday, December 5.<br />
Hundreds of nearly-new art books, coffee<br />
table books, craft and hobby, fiction<br />
and nonfiction books, DVDs and CDs<br />
will be sold.<br />
As an added convenience to shoppers,<br />
credit cards will be accepted, as well as<br />
cash and checks. In case of inclement<br />
we<strong>at</strong>her, the book sale will be postponed<br />
until the following S<strong>at</strong>urday.<br />
Proceeds help purchase books, research<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials and other items the branch<br />
would not otherwise be able to offer.<br />
Please note: “Book don<strong>at</strong>ions will not<br />
be accepted during December and January,”<br />
said organizer Wendy Edlen. “We will<br />
begin accepting don<strong>at</strong>ions the first Tuesday<br />
in February 2016.”<br />
Visit: friendsofpalilibrary.org.<br />
Oceanaires to Perform<br />
The Oceanaires will offer a special holi day show <strong>at</strong> 7 p.m. on S<strong>at</strong>urday, December<br />
5, <strong>at</strong> Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Blvd.<br />
The show will fe<strong>at</strong>ure Christmas and Chanukah favorites, with special numbers<br />
by a variety of quartets. Many of the songs are children’s favorites, such as “Rudolph<br />
the Red-nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Novelty songs will<br />
include “Man with a Bag” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”<br />
Tickets are $15 and little ones are free. Se<strong>at</strong>ing is open. Doors will open <strong>at</strong> 6:30.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, call (323) 247-7464.<br />
Turkey Trot Signups Ongoing<br />
Registr<strong>at</strong>ion for the third annual Banc<br />
of California Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot<br />
5/10K is now open. The race begins and<br />
ends on the Palisades High School football<br />
stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November<br />
26. Street closures in the Asilomar bluffs<br />
area begin <strong>at</strong> 6:30 a.m. and the race starts<br />
<strong>at</strong> 8 a.m. Adults (18+) are $35 pre-race and<br />
$40 race day, children are $25 pre-race and<br />
race day. Proceeds from the race support<br />
Hearts of Hope and the Los Angeles Food<br />
Bank. To register visit: paliturkeytrot.com/<br />
Are you ready for the Holiday Season?<br />
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Page 12 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
NO ONE SELLS<br />
MORE<br />
HOMES<br />
IN<br />
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA<br />
THAN COLDWELL ®<br />
BANKER<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
FEATURED PROPERTIES<br />
1<br />
P ACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
$5,995,000<br />
Remodeled Traditional in Huntington 6+5<br />
Amy Hollingsworth orth & Jamie Leff (310) 230-2483<br />
2<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
$5,950,000<br />
Blks to Vlg. Stunning design & quality.<br />
Michael Edlen (310) 230-7373<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
3<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
$4,495,000<br />
New Construction w/ Ocean Views - 5+5.5<br />
Am y Hollingsworthorth<br />
(310) 230-2483<br />
4<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
$3,895,000<br />
Grand with in/out flow & ocean views.<br />
Michael Edlen (310) 230-7373<br />
5 PACIFIC PALIS<br />
ADES $3,349,000<br />
New-Just Completed 5+4½ www.858Fiske.com<br />
Craig N<strong>at</strong>vig (310) 573-7721<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
6<br />
7<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
5,300+ sq ft, pl/ /spa, pvt yrd, mtn vus.<br />
Michael Edlen (310) 230-7373<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
$3,226,000<br />
$2,995,000<br />
Mid-century 3+4 with gre<strong>at</strong> opportunity.<br />
Fran Flanagan Properties (310) 801-9805<br />
8<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
Over 3,000 sq ft. w/ /some ocean views.<br />
Michael Edlen (310) 230-7373<br />
$2,595,000<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
9<br />
10<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
Gorgeous g<strong>at</strong>ed & priv<strong>at</strong>e 3+2 Traditional<br />
Lisa Morrin (310) 230-2450<br />
PACIFIC PALIS<br />
ALISADES<br />
ADES<br />
Lexie Brew (310) 804-9081<br />
$2,440,000<br />
$2,395,000<br />
Wonderful 4+3 remodel in El Medio Bluffs<br />
11<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
One story view home. Remodel or upd<strong>at</strong>e.<br />
Dori Ollestad (310) 230-2425<br />
$2,185,000<br />
13<br />
14<br />
15<br />
12<br />
13<br />
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Ocean view 4+4 & loft CalleJermaine.com<br />
Lauren Polan (310) 573-7776<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
Lauren Polan (310) 573-7776<br />
$2,100,000<br />
$1,749,000<br />
3+2 HW FLRS LRG lot. 16571Livorno.com<br />
14<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
2+2.5 Contemporary 1592MichaelLane.com<br />
Aberle/Convey (310) 230-2452<br />
$1,200,000<br />
15<br />
PACIFIC PALISADESADES<br />
Stylish & Chic 2+2 www.1401palisades.com<br />
Nicolas Beauvy (310) 573-7473<br />
$819,000<br />
PACIFIC PALISADES<br />
15101 W SUNSET BLVD (310) 454-1111<br />
facebook.com/ColdwellBankerPacificPalisades<br />
PALISADES HIGHLANDS<br />
1515 PALISADES DRIVE<br />
(310) 459-7511<br />
facebook.com/ColdwellBankerPalisadesHighlands<br />
Connect With Us<br />
VIEW MORE LISTINGS AT<br />
CALIFORNIAMOVES.COM<br />
®<br />
©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Est<strong>at</strong>e LLC. All Rights Reserved.<br />
Coldwell Banker Real Est<strong>at</strong>e LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered<br />
service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Est<strong>at</strong>e LLC.<br />
Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage,<br />
lot size or other inform<strong>at</strong>ion concerning the condition or fe<strong>at</strong>ures of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources,<br />
and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of th<strong>at</strong><br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion through personal inspection and with appropri<strong>at</strong>e professionals.<br />
* Based on inform<strong>at</strong>ion total sales volume from California Real Est<strong>at</strong>e Te echnology Services, Santa Barbara Associ<strong>at</strong>ion of REALTORS,<br />
SANDICOR, Inc. for the period 1/1/2013 through 12/31/2013 in Los Angeles, Orange,<br />
Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego,<br />
Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Due to MLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy,<br />
this d<strong>at</strong>a is only inform<strong>at</strong>ional and may not be completely accur<strong>at</strong>e.<br />
Therefore,<br />
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the d<strong>at</strong>a accuracy. D<strong>at</strong>a maintained by the MLS’s may not reflect all real est<strong>at</strong>e activity in the market.
Palisades News<br />
November 18, 2015 Page 13<br />
Mr. Technology Has the Answer<br />
By LAUREL BUSBY<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Ramis Sadrieh is Pacific Palisades’ personal<br />
geek squad. The former Mr.<br />
Palisades with an MBA from Pepperdine<br />
has devoted his work life to helping<br />
Palisadians with technology problems of all<br />
types, including iPads, iPhones, Macs, PCs,<br />
surround sound, home the<strong>at</strong>ers, and wireless<br />
systems. If it’s technology-rel<strong>at</strong>ed, Sad -<br />
rieh is ready to work.<br />
“I love solving problems and challenging<br />
myself,” said Sadrieh, 40, who is the owner<br />
of his one-man company, Technology for<br />
You!. “I leave a hero after every job. Th<strong>at</strong>’s<br />
the most rewarding part I would say. Not<br />
only solving the problem laid in front of<br />
me, but leaving the hero.”<br />
Sadrieh, who charges $125/hour, addresses<br />
a wildly diverse range of issues.<br />
Sometimes people need help connecting<br />
their various devices so the machines work<br />
seamlessly together. Sometimes, they have<br />
a sprawling house th<strong>at</strong> requires a wireless<br />
system th<strong>at</strong> will reach every distant section<br />
of their home. Other times, they have computer<br />
issues, which may be rel<strong>at</strong>ively simple<br />
or unusually complex.<br />
For example, Sadrieh once had a client<br />
whose computer had been hacked in such<br />
a way th<strong>at</strong> the password no longer worked,<br />
and when he finally was able to get into the<br />
system, expletives were printed repe<strong>at</strong>edly<br />
on the screen. Despite the bizarre n<strong>at</strong>ure of<br />
the problem, Sadrieh was able to get the<br />
hacking erased, so his client regained control<br />
of the computer.<br />
“Some of the challenges laid in front of<br />
me are so mind-boggling, once we solve<br />
them, not only does the client get so excited,<br />
but so do I,” Sadrieh said.<br />
A problem th<strong>at</strong> has affected a number of<br />
his customers l<strong>at</strong>ely involves an overseas<br />
scam whereby computer users receive a call<br />
from someone claiming to be from Micro -<br />
soft. The callers ask for money to repair the<br />
computers and also ask for inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
allowing them to take control of the computer<br />
remotely.<br />
Most of his jobs take about an hour, so<br />
he schedules between 5 to 8 clients each day.<br />
He lives in Century City, but prefers to work<br />
in the Palisades for many reasons. Traffic is<br />
light so he can quickly go from customer to<br />
customer. Also, he remains active socially in<br />
the Palisades. He is a member and former<br />
JUMBLE SOLUTION<br />
president of the Palisades Chamber of<br />
Commerce. He was the Fourth of July parade<br />
president for two years, a violinist in<br />
the Palisades Symphony and is a current<br />
a member of the Optimist Club.<br />
His parents, Shaheen and Khowrow,<br />
still live locally in the house he grew up in,<br />
and the style of the town continues to appeal<br />
to him.<br />
“It’s very family-oriented,” said Sadrieh,<br />
who is now married to his wife, Sara, and<br />
has two children, Layla, 7, and Aria, 4. “I<br />
find th<strong>at</strong> th<strong>at</strong> reson<strong>at</strong>es with everyone who<br />
lives in the community. Everyone is so family<br />
oriented and down to earth and easy to<br />
work with. I enjoy it.”<br />
Sadrieh has worked with some of the<br />
community’s more famous citizens,<br />
including the past honorary mayors, Steve<br />
Guttenberg and Gavin MacLeod, whom he<br />
met through his Chamber work. “These<br />
two have been a joy to work with,” he noted.<br />
Sadrieh also had his own moment of local<br />
fame when he played the violin to win the<br />
honor of Mr. Palisades in 1993. He gradu<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
from PaliHi th<strong>at</strong> year, earned a degree<br />
in m<strong>at</strong>h and computer science from UCLA<br />
in 1997, and received his MBA from Pepperdine<br />
in 2003. He also developed the concept<br />
for his business as part of his MBA program,<br />
and throughout his 12 years in business,<br />
he’s been gr<strong>at</strong>eful to his hometown.<br />
“If it wasn’t for the Palisades Chamber<br />
[of Commerce] and the Palisades commu-<br />
Ramis Sadrieh is owner of Technology for You!<br />
Photo: Bart Bartholomew<br />
Downsizing Issues for Senior Citizens<br />
By MICHAEL EDLEN<br />
Special to the Palisades News<br />
When interviewing with seniors to<br />
list their home, I ask them wh<strong>at</strong><br />
their most important consider<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and concerns are about selling their<br />
home. Most are looking for an agent they<br />
feel they can trust and with whom they<br />
have the right “chemistry.”<br />
They often feel overwhelmed <strong>at</strong> the<br />
thought of dealing with decades of accumul<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
“stuff” and associ<strong>at</strong>ed memories.<br />
Many are anxious about open houses, security,<br />
disclosures, liabilities and the emotional<br />
stress caused just by thinking of all<br />
the rel<strong>at</strong>ed issues.<br />
A major issue for most seniors is where<br />
they can move. Sometimes th<strong>at</strong> is resolved<br />
by finding single-level living in a lowmaintenance<br />
context, ideally near family<br />
or friends.<br />
As property taxes often pose a concern,<br />
nity, I wouldn’t have my wife and my home<br />
and my two girls,” Sadrieh said. “I’m living<br />
the American dream because of the Pali -<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>ive loc<strong>at</strong>ions can be narrowed down<br />
by considering the counties th<strong>at</strong> enable carrying<br />
their current property taxes forward<br />
to the new residence.<br />
Seniors may need assistance in getting<br />
their property ready for the most effective<br />
marketing to reach the buyer who will pay<br />
the highest price. This can include handling<br />
minor repairs, offering the services of an est<strong>at</strong>e-sale<br />
expert, and/or possibly enlisting<br />
a packing and organizing company to help<br />
them sift through their belongings.<br />
The desire to sell and move is usually<br />
complic<strong>at</strong>ed by their emotional <strong>at</strong>tachment<br />
issues. Therefore, it can take seniors much<br />
longer to adjust to the changing reality of<br />
their situ<strong>at</strong>ion, and an experienced agent<br />
will be able to p<strong>at</strong>iently help them work<br />
through the process.<br />
The downsizing process can be both energizing<br />
and anxiety-cre<strong>at</strong>ing <strong>at</strong> the same<br />
time. One way to allevi<strong>at</strong>e some of this anxiety<br />
is to map out the entire prepar<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
sades community.”<br />
Contact: (310) 597-5984 or visit technologyforyou.com<br />
marketing, showing, negoti<strong>at</strong>ing, escrow<br />
and moving process for them. It makes it<br />
easier and less overwhelming when seniors<br />
can clearly see and understand how well<br />
each phase can be managed and <strong>at</strong> a pace<br />
th<strong>at</strong> is comfortable for them. A resourceful<br />
agent who has handled dozens of senior<br />
moves is often able to help maintain a calm<br />
and positive <strong>at</strong>mosphere from the beginning<br />
to the conclusion of the move.<br />
Although the process may not be entirely<br />
stress-free, it can be most helpful for the<br />
agent to be emp<strong>at</strong>hetic, supportive and reas -<br />
suring. It requires gre<strong>at</strong> p<strong>at</strong>ience and under -<br />
standing and making every effort to provide<br />
wh<strong>at</strong>ever level of service will make the<br />
process as easy as possible for the seniors.<br />
Michael Edlen has been ranked in the<br />
top one percent of all agents in the country<br />
with nearly $2 billion in sales. He has<br />
tracked Pacific Palisades sales since 1987.<br />
Michael can be reached <strong>at</strong> (310) 230-7373<br />
or michael@michaeledlen.com.
Page 14 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
This Dry Bar window, painted by Marquez Brownie Troop 12885, took first in the<br />
third- and fourth-grade group.<br />
Photo: Credit<br />
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Halloween Window Painting<br />
Contest Winners Announced<br />
The annual window painting contest<br />
sponsored by the Palisades Woman’s<br />
Club, was held the last week of October.<br />
Winners were announced <strong>at</strong> a special<br />
reception <strong>at</strong> the Palisades Library community<br />
room on October 30.<br />
The contest, now more than 50 years old,<br />
allows youth the opportunity to paint local<br />
store windows with tempera paint. Ribbons<br />
are awarded to the winners.<br />
Taking first place in the kindergarten division<br />
was Finn Fuchs, with support from<br />
siblings Calla (third grade) and Weston<br />
(fourth grade). His cre<strong>at</strong>ion of ghosts and<br />
ghouls filled the window of the Chinese<br />
restaurant C<strong>at</strong>hay Palisades.<br />
First place in the first- and second-grade<br />
division was Vanessa Masterson, who paint -<br />
ed the Carpets West window with a happy<br />
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ghost and a sad moon.<br />
The third-grade Marquez Brownie Troop<br />
12885 took first place in the third- and<br />
fourth-grade group by painting the Dry<br />
Bar windows. The eight-year-olds who<br />
particip<strong>at</strong>ed in the winning entry included<br />
Eleanor Lee, Kylie Ross, Elise P<strong>at</strong>ton, Ivy<br />
Woolenberg, Annika Johansson, Ally Eastland,<br />
Morgan Davidson, Casey Scaduto,<br />
Amanda Wexler and Piper Lohse.<br />
The Palisades Garden Café window received<br />
the artistic touches of the Village<br />
School sixth-grade Girl Scouts. The window<br />
was a delight with colorful pumpkins, gray<br />
tombstones and ghosts flo<strong>at</strong>ing in the sky.<br />
Winning in the c<strong>at</strong>egory of grades 5 and<br />
higher included Amanda Mintzer, Gabby<br />
Wolf, Ashley Beal, Grace Sauter, Cami<br />
Broumand and Sophie Schwartzberg.<br />
Palisades Garden Club to Host Succulent Expert Christianson<br />
The Pacific Palisades Garden Club will<br />
meet <strong>at</strong> 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 7,<br />
<strong>at</strong> the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Ave.<br />
The fe<strong>at</strong>ured speaker will be Nels Christianson,<br />
editor of Dry Times, the Sunset Succulent<br />
Society newsletter in Santa Monica.<br />
His talk, “Introduction to Succulents and<br />
Those More Commonly Grown,” will explain<br />
why the coastal areas of Southern California<br />
are excellent places to have a succulent garden.<br />
This area duplic<strong>at</strong>es the n<strong>at</strong>ural conditions<br />
of regions rich in succulents, such as<br />
South Africa, Chile, coastal Peru, the Canary<br />
Islands, Morocco and much of Mexico.<br />
Christianson may show photos from<br />
his travels to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia,<br />
Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, Gu<strong>at</strong>emala,<br />
Haiti, Honduras, Portugal and Spain. He<br />
also has pictures of plant life from the<br />
southwestern United St<strong>at</strong>es and his personal<br />
garden of more than 500 succulents.<br />
The Garden Club is a charitable membership<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ion started more than 50<br />
years ago. Funds gener<strong>at</strong>ed from grants,<br />
membership income, don<strong>at</strong>ions, bequests<br />
and the Spring Garden Tour enable it to<br />
help cre<strong>at</strong>e or maintain “edible gardens” in<br />
schools, civic beautific<strong>at</strong>ion projects, and<br />
plant conserv<strong>at</strong>ion and restor<strong>at</strong>ion efforts<br />
in nearby mountains.<br />
E-mail: pacpalgardenclub@yahoo.com<br />
or visit: pacpalgardenclub.org.<br />
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Dan was recently congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ed by John Closson, Vice President and Regional Manager of Berkshire H<strong>at</strong>haway<br />
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Luxury Property<br />
Specialist
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 15<br />
Security App<br />
(Continued from Page 1)<br />
overhead, or a traffic accident causes road<br />
closures, residents call Palisades P<strong>at</strong>rol,<br />
which is based in the Village, to ask wh<strong>at</strong><br />
is happening.<br />
“With our 24-hour monitoring and p<strong>at</strong>rol<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions in our various p<strong>at</strong>rol communities,<br />
this app will help provide community<br />
awareness,” said G<strong>at</strong>es Security CEO<br />
Scott Wagenseller (Palisades News owner).<br />
“It will also lessen calls to our office for inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
in emergency situ<strong>at</strong>ions.”<br />
“The app goes out directly to everyone<br />
who has signed up and they will get inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
immedi<strong>at</strong>ely,” said G<strong>at</strong>es Oper<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Manager Denise Montelongo.<br />
Park said the app will send out an initial<br />
alert st<strong>at</strong>ement, “G<strong>at</strong>es Security Community<br />
Alert,” and inform<strong>at</strong>ion will include<br />
time of occurrence, type of incident and<br />
loc<strong>at</strong>ion. For example, one posting might<br />
read: “11:07 am, traffic accident, 300 blk of<br />
Toyopa Drive.”<br />
Additional inform<strong>at</strong>ion may also be<br />
available such as photos and video, estim<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
time th<strong>at</strong> the incident will affect the<br />
area and a narr<strong>at</strong>ive: “2 car t/c, firefighters<br />
on scene, dur<strong>at</strong>ion 2 hours.”<br />
Park and Montelongo said the app will<br />
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be used only for serious breaking news th<strong>at</strong><br />
affects the quality of life.<br />
“The fire department is constantly rescuing<br />
people from our local mountains from<br />
hiking and biking accidents. These incidents<br />
do not impact our commute or whether an<br />
evacu<strong>at</strong>ion is necessary and will not be included<br />
in our alerts,” Wagenseller said.<br />
To add the app, go to the Apple Store and<br />
search for G<strong>at</strong>es Security, cre<strong>at</strong>e a user name<br />
and profile and choose an area (G<strong>at</strong>es Security<br />
covers Brentwood, Pacific Palisades,<br />
Malibu and Conejo Valley (Agoura Hills to<br />
Thousand Oaks).<br />
Users can select one or all areas to receive<br />
notific<strong>at</strong>ions and must press “select notific<strong>at</strong>ion”<br />
to receive notific<strong>at</strong>ions on the phone<br />
or tablet device.<br />
Asked how many alerts residents should<br />
expect, Park said: “One weekend was busy<br />
and there were three alerts in the Palisades<br />
alone. Some weekends there are none.”<br />
If you have trouble setting up your<br />
iPhone or Android, Montelongo can help.<br />
Call: (310) 454-7741.<br />
Under-Age Drinkers<br />
A Problem for Owner<br />
A.C. Chaudhry, owner of St<strong>at</strong>e Beach<br />
Liquors <strong>at</strong> Pacific Coast Highway and Entrada,<br />
and a member of the Santa Monica<br />
Canyon Board, reported th<strong>at</strong> he is having<br />
issues with under-age youth <strong>at</strong>tempting<br />
to obtain alcohol.<br />
Several teenagers have <strong>at</strong>tempted purchases<br />
using fake identific<strong>at</strong>ion from other<br />
st<strong>at</strong>es.They were turned away when they were<br />
unable to show a California driver’s license.<br />
Additionally, under-aged youth are asking<br />
transients to purchase alcohol for them. One<br />
transient who <strong>at</strong>tempted to buy beer, was<br />
turned away. Th<strong>at</strong> same transient was listed<br />
in the crime report on November 7, <strong>at</strong> 12:05<br />
a.m., because he entered the business, pulled<br />
out a knife and thre<strong>at</strong>ened “I will get you.”<br />
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Caruso<br />
(Continued from Page 1)<br />
to form an organiz<strong>at</strong>ion (named PaliTown)<br />
th<strong>at</strong> can focus on the common concerns,<br />
research each issue and then try to reach<br />
consensus on solutions “th<strong>at</strong> work for our<br />
community and Caruso.”<br />
“Caruso has been very good <strong>at</strong> reaching<br />
out to the community and sitting down<br />
with people,” Kamer said. “But everybody<br />
has a different perspective, so when people<br />
raise an issue, his usual response is, ‘We’ll<br />
look <strong>at</strong> it.’ Our answer should be, ‘We have<br />
looked <strong>at</strong> it and we have some ideas. Let’s<br />
see how we can work together.’”<br />
Kamer’s initial survey found th<strong>at</strong> more<br />
than 70 percent of the respondents were<br />
concerned about traffic—specifically its<br />
impact on Sunset and the Alphabet Streets<br />
neighborhood. They believe th<strong>at</strong> Caruso’s<br />
argument doesn’t ring true when he st<strong>at</strong>es<br />
th<strong>at</strong> because gas st<strong>at</strong>ions are the numberone<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>or of traffic, removing the<br />
Mobil st<strong>at</strong>ion on Swarthmore will balance<br />
out the traffic gener<strong>at</strong>ed by 54 businesses<br />
in his development.<br />
Several audience members expressed<br />
skepticism about Caruso Affili<strong>at</strong>ed’s required<br />
traffic study, which has been conducted<br />
by an independent contractor and<br />
should soon be available to the public.<br />
One person asked, “If the traffic study<br />
concerns us, and doesn’t go far enough,<br />
wh<strong>at</strong> do we do?” Another person asked, “If<br />
we don’t believe this d<strong>at</strong>a, we need to get<br />
d<strong>at</strong>a from another source. Can the community<br />
fund a second report?”<br />
Kamer asked for volunteers who can<br />
analyze Caruso’s traffic study and explore<br />
hiring a traffic consultant. Local architect<br />
Randy Jefferson will head this committee,<br />
joined by Linda Andrews.<br />
Parking is also seen as a major problem,<br />
according to almost 70 percent of the people<br />
who took the survey.<br />
Members of the audience said they feared<br />
th<strong>at</strong> despite Caruso’s insistence th<strong>at</strong> his<br />
project is “overparked” (going beyond the<br />
code requirement), his underground, twolevel<br />
parking structure will prove insufficient<br />
if Palisades Village is successful, and<br />
this will cause shoppers and employees to<br />
park on various Alphabet streets.<br />
“[Parking projections] have to be based<br />
on use,” one person said. “Restaurants require<br />
a higher number of parking spaces.”<br />
Another person noted th<strong>at</strong> the proposed<br />
specialty grocery store “will gener<strong>at</strong>e heavy<br />
traffic <strong>at</strong> busy times of day.”<br />
Attorney Ted Weitz volunteered to head<br />
a committee on parking issues, assisted by<br />
Reed Saxon and Ron Dean.<br />
The next issue for discussion focused on<br />
defending the community’s Specific Plan,<br />
crafted by a committee of residents and approved<br />
by the City of L.A. in 1985. The plan<br />
establishes criteria regarding building<br />
heights, building mass, setbacks, signage<br />
and landscaping. Caruso is seeking a subarea<br />
applic<strong>at</strong>ion, which allows for variances<br />
from specific plans.<br />
“He’s asking for exceptions to our Specific<br />
Plan,” said <strong>at</strong>torney Ron Dean, who<br />
served on the original committee. “We need<br />
to see exactly wh<strong>at</strong> his plan looks like, when<br />
compared to the Specific Plan. Get the<br />
facts, then we can deb<strong>at</strong>e the exceptions.”<br />
Dean will lead the Specific Plan committee,<br />
joined by Joan Graves, another member<br />
of the original committee.<br />
A fourth group, the CUP/alcohol license<br />
committee (consisting of Robin<br />
Weitz, P<strong>at</strong>ty Detroit and Lisa Hay Morrin),<br />
will seek more specifics regarding Caruso’s<br />
effort to obtain 10 alcohol licenses with one<br />
blanket applic<strong>at</strong>ion. This would include<br />
three existing licenses, one license for the<br />
movie the<strong>at</strong>er, one for the grocery store and<br />
five for e<strong>at</strong>ing establishments.<br />
The fifth and final committee, focused<br />
on aesthetics, will be chaired by Rick Leslie.<br />
During the evening’s discussion, when<br />
Kamer asked for a show of hands, audience<br />
members clearly opposed Caruso’s proposal<br />
to make Swarthmore a one-way street. And<br />
nearly everyone raised a hand when Kamer<br />
asked, “How many feel we should get rid of<br />
the market?” This reflected the group’s belief<br />
th<strong>at</strong> concerns about traffic and parking<br />
would ease if Caruso could scale back the<br />
overall size of his project and have far fewer<br />
storefronts than the current 54.<br />
The fact-g<strong>at</strong>hering process will continue<br />
tonight (November 18) <strong>at</strong> 6:30 <strong>at</strong> the Pali -<br />
sades Recre<strong>at</strong>ion Center when the Commu -<br />
nity Council hears a report about Palisades<br />
Village from its Land-Use Committee.<br />
The public is invited.<br />
NEXT ISSUE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2<br />
Send us your comments and suggestions to<br />
spascoe@palisadesnews.com<br />
Get Your Advertising in Place Now!<br />
Contact Jeff: (310) 573-0150 • jeffridgway@palisadesnews.com<br />
Grace: (310) 454-7383 • gracehiney@palisadesnews.com<br />
THANK-YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS!<br />
Please p<strong>at</strong>ronize them, and tell them<br />
you saw their ad in the News!<br />
310.230.7377<br />
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Page 16 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
Conductor<br />
Stoyanovich<br />
Joins PaliHi<br />
By LAUREL BUSBY<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Ayear ago, Elizabeth Stoyanovich and<br />
her husband happened to drive by<br />
Palisades Charter High School<br />
while on vac<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Stoyanovich was immedi<strong>at</strong>ely taken with<br />
the campus and thought the school probably<br />
had “a gre<strong>at</strong> music department.” This<br />
summer, while back <strong>at</strong> home on Bainbridge<br />
Island, Washington, she saw a PaliHi job<br />
posting for an orchestra/jazz band director<br />
and applied. She interviewed via Skype and<br />
felt an “immedi<strong>at</strong>e connection with the<br />
music staff.”<br />
Then “when I came here and saw them<br />
teach, I knew I was in the right place. Mr.<br />
[Joshua] Elson and Ms. [Arwen] Hernandez<br />
were amazing,” Stoyanovich said. “This<br />
place is exciting to work <strong>at</strong> and teach in—the<br />
kids and the area . . . They’re just really, really<br />
good sweet kids. They want to learn. You<br />
want to share th<strong>at</strong> excitement of educ<strong>at</strong>ion.”<br />
Stoyanovich now leads two orchestras <strong>at</strong><br />
PaliHi—one with about 50 experienced<br />
players—plus a jazz band th<strong>at</strong> has about 18<br />
Blood Drive<br />
November 22<br />
Dr. Mike Martini is organizing a community<br />
blood drive, sponsored by Providence<br />
St. John’s Health Center. The event<br />
will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on<br />
Sunday, November 22, <strong>at</strong> the American<br />
Legion Hall, 15427 La Cruz Dr. For an appointment,<br />
call (310) 829-8886 or e-mail<br />
sherry.arroyo@providence.org.<br />
Donors are reminded to e<strong>at</strong> a nutritious<br />
meal beforehand, drink plenty of<br />
fluids and bring a photo identific<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Donors will receive a coupon for a pint of<br />
Baskin-Robbins ice cream.<br />
Elizabeth Stoyanovich is the new orchestra/jazz band instructor <strong>at</strong> Palisades High School.<br />
members, including a jazz singer. In addition,<br />
she is teaching music to two classes of<br />
ninth graders who are learning the basics of<br />
not<strong>at</strong>ion and rhythm. “My days here are so<br />
full and rich working with the kids,” she said.<br />
An experienced conductor and former<br />
oboeist who has spent much of her life immersed<br />
in music, Stoyanovich has enjoyed a<br />
vast array of musical positions, ranging from<br />
guest conducting the Paris Conserv<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra<br />
to spending nine years as the music/artistic<br />
director of the Orchestra of Saint Cecilia.<br />
She has also taught <strong>at</strong> both CSU Fullerton<br />
and UCLA and studied under Leonard<br />
Bernstein <strong>at</strong> the Tanglewood Music Center.<br />
“Some people like to do the same thing<br />
for 20 years,” Stoyanovich said. “I like to<br />
build programs and take on challenges.”<br />
Like Bernstein, teaching and conducting<br />
have always called to Stoyanovich, and she<br />
found her time with Bernstein inspiring.<br />
He was a “n<strong>at</strong>ural teacher—a gre<strong>at</strong> performer—but<br />
he loved teaching. You could<br />
see th<strong>at</strong> in him, every part of him.”<br />
Stoyanovich has numerous plans to help<br />
PaliHi’s music program and its students.<br />
She aims to raise money to hire coaches to<br />
work with the kids and intends to enter them<br />
in competitions. “I don’t care if we come in<br />
last place. It’s vital to listen to other kids your<br />
age and see wh<strong>at</strong>’s wh<strong>at</strong>. Th<strong>at</strong>’s how they<br />
really learn—going into those situ<strong>at</strong>ions.”<br />
Stoyanovich is also working to connect to<br />
the students <strong>at</strong> Paul Revere Middle School,<br />
“so they know they have a home here. I want<br />
them to know we care about them, and if<br />
they want to continue, there’s a place for<br />
them here.” She added th<strong>at</strong> she is seeking out<br />
local music teachers, musical families in the<br />
area, and people who support the arts to<br />
help the program grow and flourish, but she<br />
noted, “nothing will grow a program faster<br />
than the kids being happy about it.”<br />
As a conductor, she toils with the kids to<br />
“break things down and clean things up—<br />
99 percent of our time together is refining<br />
a work.” She describes it as visiting “dingy,<br />
dark places. It’s like going to the coal mines<br />
to turn on electricity. It takes time and effort,<br />
and th<strong>at</strong>’s okay. We’re all doing it together.<br />
We’re growing together.”<br />
A long-term goal for her and the department<br />
in general involves building a visual<br />
and performing arts center for the school to<br />
house the cramped music, arts, dance, photography<br />
and ceramics programs. “I’m looking<br />
forward to being part of the team th<strong>at</strong> is<br />
going to help realize th<strong>at</strong> in this area,” said<br />
Stoyanovich, who noted th<strong>at</strong> there are about<br />
400 students enrolled in the music program.<br />
A passion for music and the arts runs in<br />
her family. Her husband, P<strong>at</strong>rick, is a composer<br />
and pianist, while one daughter,<br />
Antonia, studies photography <strong>at</strong> Cooper<br />
Union, and the other, Sophia, is a violinist<br />
<strong>at</strong> Juilliard.<br />
“We e<strong>at</strong> and bre<strong>at</strong>he it 24/7,” Stoyanovich<br />
said. She added, “I think music is a really<br />
honorable profession. I love music. I think<br />
it’s n<strong>at</strong>ural th<strong>at</strong> I would want to share my<br />
love of music with others.”<br />
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November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 17<br />
Kalea Power: To Russia with Love<br />
By LAURIE ROSENTHAL<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Palisades High School alumna Kalea<br />
Power is in her junior year <strong>at</strong> Princeton,<br />
studying Slavic languages and<br />
liter<strong>at</strong>ure.<br />
Through Princeton’s Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Internship<br />
Program, the 20-year-old spent<br />
this past summer doing an internship for<br />
the Russian Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Affairs Council in<br />
Moscow. She is interested in possibly pursuing<br />
a career in intern<strong>at</strong>ional rel<strong>at</strong>ions, and<br />
felt the summer program gave her an introduction<br />
to wh<strong>at</strong> th<strong>at</strong> p<strong>at</strong>h would look like.<br />
“My main responsibility as an intern<br />
was to conduct my own research, working<br />
closely with my supervisor,” Power told the<br />
Palisades News. “I focused on the current<br />
trends in Russia’s foreign energy policy and<br />
presented my research in two articles: ‘On<br />
Both Sides of Turkish Stream’ and ‘Russia-<br />
China Energy Rel<strong>at</strong>ions: A Long-Awaited<br />
Partnership Develops.’”<br />
This was Power’s third time in Russia.<br />
She is enthralled with the country’s language,<br />
liter<strong>at</strong>ure and culture.<br />
Her interest in Russia stems from her<br />
childhood ballet teacher, Yuri Grigoriev,<br />
who hails from Moscow. Power began danc -<br />
ing when she was about five, and is currently<br />
in two student-run dance companies <strong>at</strong><br />
Princeton, one ballet and one modern.<br />
In 2013, sponsored by the St<strong>at</strong>e Department’s<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Security Language Initi<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
for Youth, Power’s trip to Russia included<br />
training <strong>at</strong> the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in<br />
Moscow.<br />
In 2014, she finished her second year<br />
studying the Russian language in St. Petersburg,<br />
through Princeton’s Department of<br />
Slavic Languages and Liter<strong>at</strong>ures. She is<br />
now nearly fluent. “I have a n<strong>at</strong>ural affinity<br />
for the language,” she said. “I love studying<br />
it and practicing it.” Previously, she took<br />
Spanish <strong>at</strong> PaliHi.<br />
When in Russia, Power enjoys conversing<br />
with locals, and discussing Russia’s role in<br />
the world, as well as America’s. “It’s interesting<br />
to share opinions about wh<strong>at</strong> is happening<br />
right now,” she said.<br />
“It’s nice to have disagreements. All<br />
convers<strong>at</strong>ions in Russian are good for my<br />
practice.<br />
“This summer was different in th<strong>at</strong> I received<br />
varying reactions when I told people<br />
I was from America. Most of my convers<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
after this question would turn into a<br />
political discussion about the Ukraine crisis<br />
and the role of the U.S. government,”<br />
Power said.<br />
“Many of these convers<strong>at</strong>ions also led to<br />
cultural questions. Russians I spoke with<br />
were very curious about wh<strong>at</strong> Americans<br />
Palisades High gradu<strong>at</strong>e Kalea Power spent<br />
her summer interning <strong>at</strong> the Russian<br />
Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Affairs Council in Moscow.<br />
Photo: Shelby Pascoe<br />
thought of Russia, the Russian people and<br />
of Putin. They always asked me in Russian,<br />
‘Wh<strong>at</strong> do they say about us there?’”<br />
Though there is less variety in food<br />
choices than Power is used to <strong>at</strong> home in<br />
Pacific Palisades, and the supermarkets are<br />
smaller than here, she considers the meals<br />
“really, really yummy.” During her first<br />
summer, she <strong>at</strong>e a lot of pot<strong>at</strong>oes, even<br />
though she tried to get fresher and healthier<br />
fare. In the mornings, her “Russian mom”<br />
would cook blini (pancakes), which, she says,<br />
“all Russian families make for breakfast.”<br />
While observing the typical Russian<br />
lifestyle, Power realized th<strong>at</strong> grandparents<br />
are a truly important part of the family system,<br />
and often take the children over the<br />
summer so the parents can have some time<br />
off from parenting.<br />
Her parents, Terry and Virginia, have<br />
grown to understand and encourage Pow -<br />
er’s love of Russian culture. Terry hails from<br />
New Jersey, while Virginia grew up in the<br />
Philippines. They don’t speak much with<br />
their daughter when she is abroad, as communic<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
is difficult.<br />
“They were initially shocked th<strong>at</strong> I was<br />
so serious and taken by this culture, which<br />
was so distant from us ethnically and culturally,”<br />
Power said.<br />
“When I’m back home, I teach my parents<br />
and siblings about Russia so they can<br />
be more aware about wh<strong>at</strong> I’m passion<strong>at</strong>e<br />
about.”<br />
Her sister, Erin, is a senior <strong>at</strong> Pali, while<br />
her brother, Robert, is an eighth grader <strong>at</strong><br />
Corpus Christi.<br />
Power remains enthusiastic about traveling<br />
overseas. “After I gradu<strong>at</strong>e, I may look<br />
for any sort of scholarship to study abroad<br />
for a year.”<br />
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Servicing Westside Communities from the City to the Beach
Palisades News<br />
Page 18 November 18, 2015<br />
‘Talking Automotive’ Fe<strong>at</strong>ured on YouTube<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
Whether talking car design with<br />
Chevrolet Camaro’s chief engineer<br />
Al Oppenheiser, interviewing<br />
renowned Indy Car driver Mario Andretti,<br />
or ch<strong>at</strong>ting with Bruce Meyers (the<br />
founder of Meyers Manx), Palisadian Jack<br />
Berglas knows the right questions to ask.<br />
Berglas is the founder of “Let’s Talk Automotive,”<br />
and his YouTube channel contains<br />
interviews with top automotive experts<br />
such as Sangyup Lee, the exterior designer<br />
of Bentley’s sports car, the Exp 10.<br />
Lee told Berglas th<strong>at</strong> he left a position<br />
<strong>at</strong> General Motors to go to VW because<br />
he wanted to experience the difference between<br />
American- and German-made cars.<br />
While there he was contacted by Bentley<br />
and made the move.<br />
When Berglas asked Lee about the Exp<br />
10, Lee explained: “a sports car is not a<br />
comfortable car. It’s a machine. With this<br />
car, not only is it a strong performer, but<br />
it has luxury.”<br />
Even if one is not particularly interested<br />
in cars, Berglas’ interviews on YouTube are<br />
impressive. Surprisingly, he is only 14 years<br />
old, <strong>at</strong>tends Viewpoint High School, and is<br />
still two years away from a driver’s license.<br />
His favorite car is the Lucra LC470. The<br />
company was founded by Luke Richards, a<br />
California-based sports car builder. (The<br />
roadster goes from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds<br />
and weighs just 2,000 lbs.)<br />
“I like American-made cars, because they<br />
have lots of horsepower. Everyone says it<br />
handles nicely. It’s a mix of modern European<br />
and classic American,” Berglas said.<br />
“The rear end is like the Shelby or Cobra and<br />
the fenders have a kind of European feel.”<br />
This high school freshman has snagged<br />
interviews with Fi<strong>at</strong>-Chrysler head of design<br />
Ralph Gilles and the company’s interior<br />
designer, Ryan Nagode.<br />
He has spoken to Rick Woodbury,<br />
Jack Berglas, founder of “Let’s Talk Automotive.”<br />
founder of Tango Commuter Cars, N<strong>at</strong>han<br />
Jauvtis, founder of Bolt Motor bikes and<br />
Christian Yaeger, lead engineer for the<br />
DeltaWing DWC13.<br />
Berglas is persistent in e-mailing and<br />
using Twitter and Instagram to secure<br />
Skype or telephone interviews.<br />
Sponsored by Chequered Flag Intern<strong>at</strong>ional,<br />
the classic car dealer on Lincoln<br />
Boulevard, Berglas also edits and posts the<br />
interviews.<br />
He became interested in cars during middle<br />
school w<strong>at</strong>ching two Discovery Channel<br />
shows: Fast and Loud and How It’s Made:<br />
Dream Cars.<br />
At the airport on the way to a Boy Scout<br />
Troop 223 outing, Berglas picked up an automotive<br />
magazine and read a story about<br />
The Lucra LC470, one of Berglas’ favorite cars, is made in California.<br />
the 2015 Camaro. Afterwards, he thought,<br />
“There’s a bunch of questions I’d like to ask.”<br />
Two months l<strong>at</strong>er, he sent a tweet to Al<br />
Oppenheiser (chief Camaro engineer)<br />
and eventually was granted his first interview<br />
in March.<br />
Berglas, a gradu<strong>at</strong>e of Marquez and St.<br />
M<strong>at</strong>thew’s, also analyzes cars, including the<br />
history and specs.<br />
His classes <strong>at</strong> Viewpoint include geometry,<br />
English, Spanish 2, biology, computer<br />
science, medieval world history, film and<br />
human development. He played PPBA and<br />
then West L.A. baseball and will probably be<br />
a c<strong>at</strong>cher for the Viewpoint team next spring.<br />
In soccer, he was a goalie <strong>at</strong> St. M<strong>at</strong>thew’s last<br />
year when the school won the league title,<br />
and plans to try out for the Viewpoint team.<br />
In his spare time, Berglas is building a<br />
camper-trailer (tear drop-shaped) <strong>at</strong> his<br />
parents’ home. “I like building things. This<br />
started with a utility trailer frame, a wood<br />
base, insul<strong>at</strong>ion, skinning the walls, beams<br />
for the roof and now I have to add a ventil<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
fan and a door.”<br />
Whenever he visited his grandf<strong>at</strong>her in<br />
Palm Springs, he would work on a 1977<br />
Camaro. “When I’m done with the trailer,<br />
I’d like to bring the car here, so I can work<br />
on it more often,” he said.<br />
Why cars? “The design is like a piece of<br />
art,” said Berglas, who would like to be an<br />
engineer someday. “There’s the mechanical<br />
aspect as well as the fact each car can<br />
be customized to each person.”<br />
Photo: Bart Bartholomew<br />
He has 720 YouTube subscribers, 1,150<br />
followers on Twitter and 1,300 on Instagram,<br />
but would like to see the number increase.<br />
“I want to continue to have a YouTube<br />
channel and eventually have a radio show,”<br />
said Berglas, the son of Jennifer and Steven<br />
and brother of K<strong>at</strong>ie, 17, who <strong>at</strong>tends Pali -<br />
sades High School.<br />
Visit: letstalkautomotive.com or<br />
youtube.com/talkautomotive.<br />
Ice Sk<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
Returns to<br />
Santa Monica<br />
The ICE sk<strong>at</strong>ing rink in downtown Santa<br />
Monica is open for the season. The $15 admission<br />
includes sk<strong>at</strong>e rental. The rink is<br />
open Monday through Thursday, from 2<br />
to 10 p.m. On Friday, it is open from 2 p.m.<br />
to midnight. S<strong>at</strong>urday is 10 a.m. to midnight<br />
and Sunday is 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.<br />
Thanksgiving Day hours are from 10<br />
a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday, November 27,<br />
10 a.m. to midnight. From December 21 to<br />
December 24, hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.<br />
Christmas Day is 10 a.m. to midnight. New<br />
Year’s Eve, the rink is open 10 a.m. to 10<br />
p.m. New Year’s Day hours are 10 a.m. to<br />
midnight. The last day of ICE is January<br />
18. ICE is loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> 1324 5th Street. Call<br />
(310) 260-1199.
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 19<br />
Colson Fine Tunes Basketball Skills<br />
At an hour-long clinic with the Palsades<br />
High girls varsity basketball<br />
team on November 12, former college<br />
basketball coach Gary Colson’s emphasis<br />
was on fundamentals.<br />
“This is little stuff, but it’s important,” said<br />
Colson, who then put the girls through spin<br />
drills. “Every good player has a spin move.”<br />
Colson coached <strong>at</strong> Valdosta St<strong>at</strong>e University,<br />
Pepperdine University, University of<br />
New Mexico and Cal St<strong>at</strong>e Fresno, compiling<br />
a 563-385 (.594) record over 34 seasons<br />
between 1959 and 1995. In 2002, he joined<br />
the Memphis Grizzlies front office and<br />
worked with Jerry West.<br />
Now living in Santa Barbra, Colson has<br />
written two books, California Basketball<br />
and New Mexico Basketball—The System,<br />
covering fundamentals of the game.<br />
Colson showed Pali players the best way to<br />
do a pump fake and admonished, “Don’t do<br />
it too fast, it’s not going to fool anyone.” He<br />
also entertained the team with stories about<br />
famous players. There was an easy give-andtake<br />
between the coach and the girls.<br />
When he worked on passing, Colson said:<br />
“Show some style, it should be so straight<br />
you can hang clothes on it.” He asked the<br />
girls, “Why are the Warriors so good?” and<br />
then answered, “They’re one of the best<br />
passing teams in the NBA.”<br />
On free-throw shooting, he advoc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
Gary Colson, who coached <strong>at</strong> Pepperdine University, University of New Mexico and Cal St<strong>at</strong>e Fresno, compiling a 563-385 record<br />
over 34 seasons, worked with the Palisades High School team.<br />
Photos: Luis F. Pazos (Cadet3Studios.com)<br />
the acronym RAT (routine, aim and trust).<br />
“All the gre<strong>at</strong> players have a routine—if you<br />
don’t have one, why don’t you?” He also<br />
urged players not to rush. “Erase hurry from<br />
your vocabulary.”<br />
When shooting, aim is about the rainbow.<br />
“Have you ever seen a fl<strong>at</strong> rainbow?<br />
No, it has an arc. Th<strong>at</strong>’s why Stephen Curry<br />
leads the league in three pointers.”<br />
Finally, he told them the most important<br />
thing about shooting is trust. “If you don’t<br />
trust your stroke, you’re not going to make<br />
it. You have to trust in yourself and believe<br />
in yourself.”<br />
Last year under Coach Torino Johnson,<br />
the Dolphins won the City Section Open<br />
Division championship. They lost (99-73)<br />
in the opening round of the St<strong>at</strong>e playoffs to<br />
M<strong>at</strong>er Dei, the number-one ranked team in<br />
the n<strong>at</strong>ion, which then lost to Chaminade.<br />
Johnson has been PaliHi’s coach for eight<br />
years and has a 154-104 record. He has<br />
twice been named L.A. City Section Coach<br />
of the Year and last year was selected as one<br />
of four high school coaches from across the<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ion to assist in the 2015 USA Basketball<br />
Woman’s U16 N<strong>at</strong>ional Team Trials.<br />
Most of his core players from last year’s<br />
championship team has returned and will<br />
have their first test during the 12th Annual<br />
Palisades Beach Invit<strong>at</strong>ional, held November<br />
23 to 28. Teams include West Torrance,<br />
Agoura, Oaks Christian and Chaminade,<br />
last year’s CIF Southern Section Open Division<br />
winner.<br />
—SUE PASCOE<br />
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November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 21<br />
Remodeled Clifton’s Introduces Cafeteria Noir<br />
By BOB VICKREY<br />
Special to the Palisades News<br />
Remember th<strong>at</strong> disorienting feeling<br />
as a kid when you came out of a<br />
dark movie the<strong>at</strong>er after the S<strong>at</strong>urday<br />
m<strong>at</strong>inee and made the difficult adjustment<br />
to the harsh afternoon sunlight?<br />
Th<strong>at</strong> was the same bewildering feeling<br />
our monthly lunch group had recently as<br />
we emerged from the dark labyrinth of<br />
mysterious corridors in the newly refurbished<br />
Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown<br />
Los Angeles.<br />
If there’s such a thing as cafeteria noir, the<br />
owners have certainly succeeded in cre<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
the definitive dream-like dining experience.<br />
Surely, surrealistic filmmaker David Lynch<br />
had some input into the set decor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
here. And I’m guessing th<strong>at</strong> the ghost of<br />
Vincent Price provided the inspir<strong>at</strong>ion for<br />
the eerie lighting throughout the place.<br />
Our group had decided th<strong>at</strong> we were ready<br />
for a dram<strong>at</strong>ic change of pace for our October<br />
outing, so when we heard th<strong>at</strong> Clifton’s<br />
was reopening under new ownership, we<br />
quickly put it <strong>at</strong>op our monthly destin<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
When you think of famous Los Angeles<br />
restaurants, the first places th<strong>at</strong> likely come<br />
to mind are Musso & Frank’s, Chasen’s,<br />
Perino’s, Lawry’s and the Brown Derby.<br />
Somehow, Clifton’s Cafeteria doesn’t quite<br />
fit with th<strong>at</strong> elegant group, but in many<br />
ways it deserves mention when listing the<br />
most enduring names in Southern California’s<br />
rich dining history.<br />
Clifton’s downtown loc<strong>at</strong>ion opened in<br />
1932, and once served as many as 15,000<br />
meals a day to eager Angeleno diners. When<br />
it closed its doors five years ago for a major<br />
makeover by new owner Andrew Meieran,<br />
it was still serving up to 1,500 meals a day.<br />
Ten million dollars’ worth of renov<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The new interior <strong>at</strong> Clifton’s Cafeteria.<br />
l<strong>at</strong>er and it’s not quite clear whether<br />
Meieran has reopened a cafeteria or cre<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
an amusement park.<br />
The new Clifton’s is five stories of pure<br />
wonder, including a cafeteria, restaurants,<br />
and bars—all surrounding a four-story<br />
(fake) redwood tree loc<strong>at</strong>ed in the middle<br />
of the building. The main cafeteria is on the<br />
first floor. There is a craft beer bar on the<br />
second, a special events center and another<br />
bar on the third, as well as plans for a finedining<br />
restaurant and a Pacific Seas Tiki<br />
lounge on the fourth. Coming in future<br />
months are the Brookdale Ballroom and<br />
Shadowbox Bar, loc<strong>at</strong>ed in the basement.<br />
We quickly realized th<strong>at</strong> Clifton’s was definitely<br />
not your f<strong>at</strong>her’s cafeteria.<br />
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Each floor fe<strong>at</strong>ures various curiosities<br />
like wall murals of California n<strong>at</strong>ure and<br />
dioramas of stuffed animals th<strong>at</strong> are showcased<br />
throughout the building. There are<br />
even fossilized dinosaur eggs embedded in<br />
the floor of one bar. Can a Jurassic Park ride<br />
be far behind?<br />
Despite the novelty and glitz of the new<br />
place, our pal Arnie had one single<br />
purpose in coming, and th<strong>at</strong> was to find the<br />
Jell-O. Some childhood memories are indeli -<br />
ble, and to him, Jell-O was synonymous with<br />
Clifton’s Cafeteria. Now I don’t have any personal<br />
grudge against Jell-O—except lime, of<br />
course—but th<strong>at</strong> green quivering gel<strong>at</strong>inous<br />
mass brought back unpleasant memories of<br />
the four-year hostage crisis, better known<br />
as the high school cafeteria experience.<br />
We had heard about the huge crowds<br />
th<strong>at</strong> were arriving daily after the reopening,<br />
and Barry reminded us th<strong>at</strong> we were in<br />
danger of living out the l<strong>at</strong>e Yogi Berra’s famous<br />
saying, “Nobody goes there anymore.<br />
It’s too crowded.”<br />
Fortun<strong>at</strong>ely, the line th<strong>at</strong> day seemed to<br />
be one we could toler<strong>at</strong>e, although we had<br />
no idea exactly where th<strong>at</strong> line was headed.<br />
When we finally came through the dark<br />
corridor to a clearing, we discovered there<br />
were “food st<strong>at</strong>ions” instead of the traditional<br />
single lines for service. The circular<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ions were arranged in such a way th<strong>at</strong><br />
it was necessary to visit each one in order<br />
to find wh<strong>at</strong> choices were available.<br />
The staff members <strong>at</strong> Clifton’s were <strong>at</strong>tentive<br />
and helpful as they came to the aid<br />
of the many zombie-like customers wandering<br />
aimlessly between the food st<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
with empty trays who appeared to be search -<br />
ing for something to e<strong>at</strong>—or perhaps looking<br />
for the exit.<br />
I occasionally spotted members of my<br />
own group who looked like lost children in<br />
search of their mother. We convened <strong>at</strong> the<br />
drink counter and devised a meeting plan<br />
on the other side of the pay st<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
When we finally arrived <strong>at</strong> our table with<br />
the help of our “tour guide,” we all chuckled<br />
about our exasper<strong>at</strong>ing adventure as we<br />
stared down <strong>at</strong> our now-cold food. It had<br />
taken so long to figure out the system, we<br />
were all exhausted and agreed th<strong>at</strong> we probably<br />
needed a nap more than our lunch.<br />
When we left the building, I noticed th<strong>at</strong><br />
the doorman had an uncanny resemblance<br />
to the l<strong>at</strong>e actor Dennis Hopper. I may have<br />
been right all along in thinking th<strong>at</strong> we had<br />
inadvertently stumbled onto the set of a<br />
new David Lynch film. I became convinced<br />
th<strong>at</strong> we had been unknowing walk-ons<br />
who had been duped into thinking th<strong>at</strong> this<br />
was a real cafeteria. Now this whole experience<br />
was beginning to make perfect sense.<br />
Bob Vickrey is a longtime Palisadian. He<br />
writes for several Southwestern newspapers<br />
including the Houston Chronicle. He is a<br />
member of the Board of Contributors for<br />
the Waco Tribune-Herald and a regular<br />
contributor for the Boryana Books website.<br />
FREE : Stroke Support Group<br />
for Survivors, Caregivers & Families meets every<br />
Thursday (1-2:30pm) <strong>at</strong> the Presbyterian Church<br />
Stroke/TBI Survivors (18-50s) every other Monday, 2pm <strong>at</strong> University Synagogue<br />
Contact Facilit<strong>at</strong>or: Dana Rivera<br />
(310) 428 4822 • danasusanrivera@gmail.com<br />
Photo: Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times
Palisades News<br />
Page 22 November 18, 2015<br />
A Sin<strong>at</strong>ra Lover’s Dream Exhibit<br />
Text and Photos by LAURIE ROSENTHAL<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Ol’ Blue Eyes. The Voice. The Chairman<br />
of the Board. Wh<strong>at</strong>ever you<br />
call him, Francis Albert Sin<strong>at</strong>ra<br />
was one of the wonders of the 20th century.<br />
His contribution in so many varied arenas<br />
is unparalleled. Music, movies, politics, civil<br />
rights and more were all bettered after<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra’s involvement.<br />
In honor of wh<strong>at</strong> would have been his<br />
100th birthday, the Grammy Museum, with<br />
the help of the Sin<strong>at</strong>ra family, has mounted<br />
“Sin<strong>at</strong>ra: An American Icon.”<br />
The scrappy kid from Hoboken, New<br />
Jersey, burst into the world on December 12,<br />
1915, the only child of Marty and Dolly<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra. Marty came from Sicily as a boy,<br />
whereas Dolly was a baby when her family<br />
emigr<strong>at</strong>ed from Genoa. It was in their saloon,<br />
Marty O’Brien’s (it was loc<strong>at</strong>ed in the<br />
Irish part of town), where Sin<strong>at</strong>ra first sang.<br />
A stroll through Sin<strong>at</strong>ra’s life is a walk<br />
through the last century. The country grew,<br />
he grew, the country suffered, he suffered<br />
personal setbacks, the country prospered<br />
and so did he.<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra had so many successes in his career—which<br />
spanned nine decades—th<strong>at</strong><br />
to list them all would take up much more<br />
room than this article, or newspaper, would<br />
allow. Highlights are hard to pick, and<br />
could be deemed somewh<strong>at</strong> subjective, so<br />
suffice it to say the exhibit touches on highlights<br />
from every Sin<strong>at</strong>ra era.<br />
The passage of time is evident in pictures<br />
alone, seeing him go from a skinny singer<br />
in his salad days, to a cool and suave middle-aged,<br />
mid-century hipster, to a beloved<br />
grandpa hugging his granddaughters. It’s<br />
his song, “September of My Years,” about<br />
life and aging, come to life.<br />
A man whose entire life from about age<br />
20 was played out in public, Sin<strong>at</strong>ra perhaps<br />
Frank Sin<strong>at</strong>ra, arguably the first teen idol in history, is seen here with his fans, known<br />
as bobby-soxers.<br />
had higher highs and lower lows than most<br />
mere mortals. He went from being the first<br />
teen idol to contempl<strong>at</strong>ing suicide to winning<br />
an Academy Award for Best Supporting<br />
Actor in From Here to Eternity to<br />
much-publicized divorces.<br />
But through it all, he remained dedic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
to his craft, <strong>at</strong> home in the recording studio,<br />
working on his television show, hanging<br />
out with his buddies on the sets of various<br />
films, including Ocean’s 11, killing it on a<br />
Las Vegas stage or puttering around in the<br />
desert (Frank Sin<strong>at</strong>ra Drive remains a ma -<br />
jor thoroughfare in Rancho Mirage).<br />
The exhibit shows us every side of Sin<strong>at</strong>ra:<br />
Frank, the family man with his wives,<br />
children, grandchildren and dog; Frank,<br />
leader of the R<strong>at</strong> Pack th<strong>at</strong> included good<br />
friends Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.;<br />
Frank, Hoboken’s number-one son.<br />
An eclectic mix of memorabilia, much of<br />
it still owned by the Sin<strong>at</strong>ra family, the journey<br />
through his musical, film and personal<br />
life is well documented. Film reels, gold<br />
records, costumes, album covers, a tuxedo,<br />
personal items, dancing shoes from Take<br />
Me Out to the Ball Game (Gene Kelly’s too),<br />
Al Hirschfeld caric<strong>at</strong>ures, and original<br />
paintings (one is signed Grandpa) are all<br />
included.<br />
The early part of Sin<strong>at</strong>ra’s life and career<br />
is represented by ephemerae fe<strong>at</strong>uring his<br />
hometown of Hoboken as well as Louis<br />
Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Bing Crosby,<br />
all three major influences on a young Sin<strong>at</strong>ra.<br />
Crosby’s pipe, Holiday’s passport, a 1929<br />
letter from Armstrong to Okeh Records,<br />
even an earnings st<strong>at</strong>ement from 1941 th<strong>at</strong><br />
shows Sin<strong>at</strong>ra’s Social Security number are<br />
part of the collection, as is a famous mug<br />
(Continued on Page 23)<br />
One of the Al Hirschfeld caric<strong>at</strong>ures<br />
exhibited includes American Popular Song:<br />
Gre<strong>at</strong> American Singers, fe<strong>at</strong>uring Sin<strong>at</strong>ra<br />
alongside Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, N<strong>at</strong><br />
“King” Cole and others.<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra hanging out with his dog, Ringo, <strong>at</strong> home in the desert. He’s wearing orange,<br />
his favorite color.<br />
(detail) Artwork cre<strong>at</strong>ed in Sin<strong>at</strong>ra’s Rancho<br />
Mirage studio.<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra’s priv<strong>at</strong>e copy of his film, The<br />
Manchurian Candid<strong>at</strong>e.
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 23<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra <strong>at</strong> the Sands fe<strong>at</strong>ures Quincy Jones<br />
conducting the Count Basie Orchestra.<br />
The album earned a gold record.<br />
Sin<strong>at</strong>ra<br />
(Continued from Page 22)<br />
shot from 1938 (was there ever a more<br />
handsome and talented man arrested?).<br />
Other highlights include video of Sin<strong>at</strong>ra<br />
singing with jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald (one<br />
of her gowns is on view), and a karaoke<br />
booth where you can sing “New York, New<br />
York” along with The Voice himself. It could<br />
be argued th<strong>at</strong> the pièce de résistance is a<br />
recre<strong>at</strong>ion of Capital Records’ Studio A,<br />
A recre<strong>at</strong>ion of Capitol Records’ Studio A includes sheet music for “Nice ‘N’ Easy” (inset).<br />
complete with a microphone, sheet music<br />
and a drink resting on a stool. With session<br />
outtakes playing in the background, it gives<br />
the viewer a glimpse of wh<strong>at</strong> a Sin<strong>at</strong>ra<br />
recording session was like.<br />
A commemor<strong>at</strong>ive American flag given<br />
posthumously to the Sin<strong>at</strong>ra family by President<br />
Bill Clinton is on display (Sin<strong>at</strong>ra died<br />
on May 14, 1998), as are an honorary Academy<br />
Award for The House I Live In and his<br />
Congressional Gold Medal.<br />
Exiting the exhibit, visitors are left with<br />
a quote from Sin<strong>at</strong>ra, the painter, loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
on a wall above the escal<strong>at</strong>or: “Orange is the<br />
happiest color.”<br />
And with th<strong>at</strong>, the journey into the Sultan<br />
of Swoon’s life is over.<br />
Visit: grammymuseum.org. The muse -<br />
um is part of the L.A. Live complex loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
near the Staples Center.<br />
Pam Bruns to<br />
Speak on Human<br />
Rights, Educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Pam Bruns, a longtime public educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
reform activist and human rights<br />
advoc<strong>at</strong>e, will be the Palisades Presbyterian<br />
Church “Food for Thought”<br />
speaker tomorrow, November 19, in<br />
Janes Hall, off Sunset on El Medio.<br />
The title of her talk is “From the<br />
PTA to Moscow: Witness to the Struggle<br />
for Human Rights.”<br />
The public is invited to enjoy a complimentary<br />
lunch (don<strong>at</strong>ions welcome)<br />
<strong>at</strong> 11:30 a.m., followed by the talk <strong>at</strong><br />
noon and questions from the audience.<br />
Please RSVP to (310) 454-0366 to ensure<br />
there is enough food.<br />
In 1992-93, Bruns helped lead the<br />
campaign to obtain charter st<strong>at</strong>us for<br />
the five public schools in Pacific Palisades.<br />
She l<strong>at</strong>er served as Director of<br />
Human Rights W<strong>at</strong>ch in Southern California<br />
(1996-2002) and founded the<br />
Student Task Force (STF) in 1999.<br />
A Palisadian since 1972, Bruns is<br />
currently the volunteer executive director<br />
of the STF program in more than a<br />
dozen Los Angeles-area high schools<br />
and is helping to develop human rights<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ion across the country.<br />
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Fri. & S<strong>at</strong>. <strong>at</strong> 8 p.m.<br />
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Seniors & Students $18<br />
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Originally Produced by Cleveland Play House • Michael Bloom, Artistic Director • Kevin Moore, Managing Director
Page 24 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
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November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 25<br />
The<strong>at</strong>re Palisades Offers Delightful Evening<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
Palisades Artist’s Show<br />
Examines Mannequins<br />
By SUE PASCOE<br />
Editor<br />
Long-time Palisadian Carol Kleinman’s<br />
show, “Once Upon a Mannequin,”<br />
opened <strong>at</strong> the TAG Gallery <strong>at</strong> Bergamot<br />
St<strong>at</strong>ion on October 27 and will run<br />
through November 24.<br />
Her single-exposure photography presents<br />
an almost collage-like look. “Wh<strong>at</strong> you<br />
see in my images is wh<strong>at</strong> I saw,” Kleinman<br />
said. “Through a series of unique photographs<br />
of reflections on store windows, taken<br />
in Paris, New York and Pacific Palisades, these<br />
works, printed on canvas, reveal realities most<br />
people do not normally notice. A gre<strong>at</strong> deal<br />
of their impact stems from the fact th<strong>at</strong> they<br />
actually existed <strong>at</strong> a specific time and place<br />
and are not cre<strong>at</strong>ions or manipul<strong>at</strong>ions.”<br />
After growing up in Hawaii and San<br />
Francisco, Kleinman <strong>at</strong>tended school <strong>at</strong> the<br />
University of Hawaii and Lone Mountain<br />
College (San Francisco). She received two<br />
master’s degrees in art from Claremont<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>e University.<br />
Shooting reflections started more than<br />
20 years ago when Kleinman was on a train<br />
between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The<br />
reflections in the windows, the Russian<br />
countryside, the steel dining car, seemed to<br />
Kleinman to reveal deeper realities than a<br />
simple train ride. She pulled out her camera<br />
and started shooting.<br />
William Gillette (John Mawson, left) and James Lujan (Felix Geisel) carry the<strong>at</strong>er<br />
critic Daria Chase (Maria Pavone) to a secret room.<br />
Photo: Joy Daunis<br />
The Game’s Afoot; or Holmes for the<br />
Holidays, a play by Ken Ludwig,<br />
opened <strong>at</strong> Pierson Playhouse on<br />
November 6 and will run though Sunday,<br />
December 13 <strong>at</strong> 941Temescal Canyon Rd.<br />
The production starts with a play within<br />
a play and an <strong>at</strong>tempted murder. It stalls<br />
briefly in the first act, but then picked up<br />
steam and the second act is filled with<br />
laughs, lovely double takes, a dead body, a<br />
secret room and one of the most masterfully<br />
choreographed fights ever seen on a<br />
Pacific Palisades stage.<br />
It’s Christmas Eve, 1936, and William<br />
Gillette, the first actor to portray the iconic<br />
Sherlock Holmes on stage and in silent<br />
film, is recovering from a gunshot wound<br />
inflicted during curtain call.<br />
Gillette, who has Holmes aspir<strong>at</strong>ions, <strong>at</strong>tempts<br />
to learn the identity of his wouldbe<br />
assassin by inviting his cast and an<br />
acerbic the<strong>at</strong>re critic to his home for the<br />
holidays. It is soon learned th<strong>at</strong> an additional<br />
the<strong>at</strong>er person has been murdered,<br />
and the plot thickens.<br />
Shortly after a séance, another person is<br />
stabbed in the Gillette residence and it becomes<br />
imper<strong>at</strong>ive to determine the murderer.<br />
The play, which won the Mystery Writers<br />
of America’s 2012 Edgar Award for Best Play,<br />
is produced by Nona Hale and P<strong>at</strong> Perkins.<br />
Especially excellent in her role is Maria<br />
Pavone as the the<strong>at</strong>re critic Daria Chase,<br />
who is so forceful, one rarely takes one’s<br />
eyes off her.<br />
Since th<strong>at</strong> time, she has worked to develop<br />
techniques to reveal the n<strong>at</strong>ural interplay<br />
between objects and people <strong>at</strong> a unique moment<br />
of time. Her work does not combine<br />
exposures. She does not use Photoshop.<br />
The viewer sees exactly wh<strong>at</strong> Kleinman did<br />
in the moment the photo was captured.<br />
“The ultim<strong>at</strong>e goal of my work is to help<br />
people look more closely <strong>at</strong> the world and<br />
see the richness and depth of everyday experience,”<br />
said Kleinman, who, over the<br />
past 40 years, has worked in many artistic<br />
media, including sculpture, oils, w<strong>at</strong>ercolors,<br />
glass, collage and construction.<br />
“This type of photography combines a<br />
gre<strong>at</strong> deal of wh<strong>at</strong> I’ve learned from these<br />
media. The most exciting thing to me about<br />
the photography I do is its direct connection<br />
to reality—the capture of a moment in time.”<br />
Kleinman has been active in the Palisades<br />
Art Associ<strong>at</strong>ion and <strong>at</strong> Kehill<strong>at</strong> Israel. She<br />
is the former president of TAG Gallery<br />
and currently serves as vice president on<br />
the board. She is also a member of the Los<br />
Angeles Art Associ<strong>at</strong>ion, Gallery 825 and<br />
Woman Painters West.<br />
Her show <strong>at</strong> the Bergamot challenges the<br />
viewer to ask, “Do mannequins have ‘lives’?<br />
Do they have the capacity to think? To<br />
dream? Are they inanim<strong>at</strong>e objects, or dynamic<br />
beings th<strong>at</strong> can challenge our imagin<strong>at</strong>ion?<br />
Are we w<strong>at</strong>ching them, or are they<br />
w<strong>at</strong>ching us?”<br />
Equally fine are Andi Wagner (Madge<br />
Geisel) and her stage husband James Lujan<br />
(Felix Geisel). Their the<strong>at</strong>rics are fun and<br />
energetic and exactly wh<strong>at</strong> the show needs.<br />
M<strong>at</strong>thew Godfrey (Simon Bright) and<br />
Nicole Knudson (Aggie Wheeler) are one of<br />
the reasons to see this show—perfectly suit -<br />
ed for their roles, they give the show zing.<br />
Carol Kleinman’s work is on display <strong>at</strong> Bergamot St<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Kleinman captured images in Hawaii,<br />
Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Paris, Moscow,<br />
New York and Chicago. “These images are<br />
the result of years of wandering the streets,”<br />
she said. “Sometimes I’ll walk for hours and<br />
not take any photographs. It’s like going on<br />
a treasure hunt. Then I’ll spot a complex reflection<br />
on a window and get captiv<strong>at</strong>ed.”<br />
Her work has been recognized in shows<br />
in Los Angeles, Palm Desert, Se<strong>at</strong>tle, Washington,<br />
D.C. and Moscow.<br />
Kleinman is married to Bert Kleinman, a<br />
Directed by Gene Franklin Smith, the<br />
show was fun on opening night, and as the<br />
cast settles in, I suspect the show will become<br />
even tighter. I also urge the actors<br />
to remember this is live the<strong>at</strong>er and every<br />
word need to be enunci<strong>at</strong>ed and projected.<br />
Sherman Wayne, The<strong>at</strong>er Palisades, ace<br />
set designer, has outdone himself with Wil -<br />
liam Gillette’s mansion loc<strong>at</strong>ed on the Con -<br />
necticut River. The secret room is particularly<br />
interesting.<br />
Having lived in New Jersey for many Decembers,<br />
I was particularly bothered by the<br />
thunder and lightning during the show,<br />
which was supposed to have happened <strong>at</strong><br />
a Connecticut Christmas during a snow<br />
storm. Heavy winds howling, snow whipping<br />
around, yes, but thunder? No. A quick<br />
reference check showed th<strong>at</strong> March is the<br />
peak month of “thundersnow” in the Unit -<br />
ed St<strong>at</strong>es and on the average only 6.3 events<br />
are reported per year.<br />
The costumes are to “die for” and June<br />
Lissandrello has cre<strong>at</strong>ed some exquisite<br />
gowns.<br />
The Game’s Afoot offers a delightful eve -<br />
ning of fun. Shows are Fridays and S<strong>at</strong>urdays<br />
<strong>at</strong> 8 p.m. and Sunday <strong>at</strong> 2 p.m. Tickets<br />
are $20 for adults and $18 for students. Call<br />
(310) 454-1970 or visit the<strong>at</strong>repalisades.org.<br />
radio programming and management consultant<br />
who is currently developing FM st<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
for the Voice of America in Africa. The<br />
couple have three daughters (two gradu<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
from Palisades High School) and six<br />
grandchildren, three of whom <strong>at</strong>tend Marquez<br />
Elementary.<br />
TAG Gallery is loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> 2525 Michigan<br />
Ave., Space D3 in Santa Monica. Hours are<br />
Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,<br />
S<strong>at</strong>urday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday<br />
noon to 4 p.m. Visit: kleinmanart.com.
Page 26 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
DINING WITH GRACE<br />
BEL-AIR BAR & GRILL<br />
662 N. Sepulveda Blvd. (<strong>at</strong> Moraga), Los Angeles, CA 90049 • (310) 440-5544<br />
The Bel-Air Bar & Grill is not only<br />
remodeled but also has a new<br />
chef, Chris Emerling, who has<br />
cre<strong>at</strong>ed a sparkling new menu. Owner<br />
Susan Disney Lord is happy to report<br />
th<strong>at</strong> most diners are very pleased.<br />
Certainly the lunch I enjoyed recently<br />
was excellent and filled with flavorful<br />
food combin<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Menus change with the season, so my<br />
lunch was on the Fall menu which may<br />
well change for the Holiday menu in<br />
l<strong>at</strong>e November/December. My lunch<br />
began with one fish taco. This taco is<br />
served cold with house-cured tequila salmon in a<br />
grilled tortilla with a jicama-flavored ginger slaw and<br />
three sauces. It was delicious. (As I do not e<strong>at</strong> much, I<br />
only ordered one taco. Normally one may order two<br />
tacos for $16, or three for $23.)<br />
My next tre<strong>at</strong> was the tom<strong>at</strong>o-and-persimmon salad.<br />
This fascin<strong>at</strong>ing combin<strong>at</strong>ion of flavors put together<br />
l<strong>at</strong>e-season, vine-ripened tom<strong>at</strong>o with early-season Fuyu<br />
persimmon in a Modena vinegar dressing topped with<br />
parsley. The pungent yet sweet combin<strong>at</strong>ion of flavors<br />
made this salad exceptional and tasty to the last bite.<br />
The salad is served in a smaller size ($11), or larger ($16).<br />
The Buc<strong>at</strong>ini pasta (slightly hollow long strands, like<br />
spaghetti) with a parmesan infusion along with a fourminute<br />
farm egg all accented with black pepper and<br />
salt-rind Pecorino Romano cheese had<br />
vibrant flavor. This was a most intriguing<br />
pasta th<strong>at</strong> was also good to the last bite.<br />
As a main course this pasta is $22.<br />
Other entrée dishes varied from a<br />
quesadilla ($14) to quesadilla with grilled<br />
chicken ($18) to pan-roasted chicken or<br />
grilled salmon ($24) to risotto for $20.<br />
If lunchtime sandwiches are your<br />
preference there is a cheeseburger or<br />
turkey burger ($18), as well as a chicken<br />
sandwich ciab<strong>at</strong>ta with mushrooms,<br />
Gruyere cheese and a shallot herb spread<br />
($18). Vegetarians can have the avocado<br />
sandwich on grilled sourdough with house-made doubly<br />
rich mascarpone, full avocado and tom<strong>at</strong>o, plus chili<br />
along with a bit of cilantro and avocado crunch ($16).<br />
These sandwiches all come with a choice of skinny fries,<br />
corn chips plus salsa, a green salad or Oaxaca fruit salad.<br />
And of course, there are soups, a grilled shrimp<br />
cocktail and several salads. I can’t resist a taste of<br />
something sweet after any meal so I tried the Fig Corsican<br />
tart with almond filling and black fig. Very tasty and<br />
interesting, plus I could take half home. Desserts are $9.<br />
The Fall dinner menu offers several of the same<br />
starters and salads, but has a number of other entrees<br />
such as grilled salmon ($28), a Pacific Blanquette of<br />
shrimp, calamari, scallop, salmon, braised endive, fennel,<br />
mushrooms, all with a Normandy cream sauce ($32)<br />
th<strong>at</strong> sounds most intriguing, as well as slow-braised<br />
pork cheeks ($30) or a grilled prime filet mignon ($48).<br />
In other words, Chef Emerling’s menu is quite<br />
fascin<strong>at</strong>ing here, as is the setting which is pleasant and<br />
relaxing. As proprietor Lord is also involved in CalArts,<br />
the walls are adorned with intriguing student artwork,<br />
some of which is for sale.<br />
Lunch hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30<br />
to 3. On Sunday, brunch is added to the lunch menu<br />
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 to 10<br />
p.m. Monday through Friday, until 11 p.m. on S<strong>at</strong>urday,<br />
with an early closure on Sunday <strong>at</strong> 9 p.m. Valet parking<br />
is $6.50. As this is a bar & grill, there is full bar service.<br />
— GRACE HINEY<br />
Sunday, November 22, 2015<br />
Purchase Tickets online: www.ThePPWC.org<br />
or call: (310) 454-9012<br />
This year’s 30th Annual Pacific<br />
Palisades Home Tour fe<strong>at</strong>ures four<br />
architecturally disnct homes, one of<br />
which is the historic Villa Aurora.<br />
Designers will transform each home<br />
and bring their creave visions to life.<br />
All proceeds from this event benefit<br />
charitable and service organizaons<br />
of our local community.<br />
PRESENTED BY<br />
SPONSORED BY<br />
SERVING DINNER<br />
NIGHTLY<br />
4:30-10 Sun.-Thurs.<br />
4:30-11 Fri.-S<strong>at</strong>.<br />
Sunday Brunch 11-3<br />
Early Bird Menu<br />
Special Menu<br />
Complete Dinners<br />
4:30-7 Mon.-Fri.<br />
Presenng Sponsor<br />
Media Sponsor<br />
Magazine Sponsor<br />
eden LA • Cindy & Jack Jones • Structure Home • The Toppel Family<br />
170 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica Canyon<br />
310.230.0402<br />
GOLDENBULL.US
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 27<br />
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA • WESTERN LOS ANGELES COUNTY COUNCIL<br />
Happy Holidays<br />
The Boy Scouts of America, Western Los Angeles County Council wishes<br />
everyone a happy holiday and is thankful to the community for their support<br />
of the Boy Scouts and the 11,000 youth we serve in our area. As the Scout<br />
O<strong>at</strong>h st<strong>at</strong>es, “to help other people <strong>at</strong> all times” is part of our promise. In this<br />
time of giving thanks and giving back, we encourage everyone to particip<strong>at</strong>e<br />
in Giving Tuesday on December 1, 2015. Observed on the Tuesday after<br />
Thanksgiving, this global day celebr<strong>at</strong>es philanthropy, inspires people to<br />
give and to share their stories of giving.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion or to make a don<strong>at</strong>ion, please visit<br />
Western Los Angeles County Council’s website <strong>at</strong>:<br />
don<strong>at</strong>e.bsa-la.org or contact us <strong>at</strong> 818-785-8700
Page 28 Palisades News November 18, 2015<br />
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©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Est<strong>at</strong>e LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Est<strong>at</strong>e LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each<br />
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® ® and the Coldwell l Banker Logo, , Coldwell l Banker Previews Intern<strong>at</strong>ional® na<br />
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