Peninsula People Oct 2017
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
2 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 3
PENINSULA
Volume XXII, Issue 3
October 2017
P A L O S V E R D E S P E N I N S U L A M O N T H L Y
ON THE COVER
Photograph by Stephan Cooper/
Stephan Cooper Productions
Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance
chairperson Ray Johnson
1944 North American P-51 Mustang D
owned by Darren Moore
1958 Porsche Speedster
owned by Adam Guggenheim
1937 V12 Packard Convertible
Sedan owned by the
Automotive Driving Museum
PROFILES
18
26
32
42
66
Concours lifts off
by Esther Kang The Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance
finds a new home at Zamperini Field to accommodate the addition
of vintage aircraft to the show.
Friendly skies
by David Mendez Vintage airplane and vintage car car
Guido Rietdyk insists his enthusiasm for flying and racing cars
comes from the camaraderie, not the adrenaline rush.
Sea Change at Chez Melange
by Richard Foss The storied Chez Melange puts itself back
at the forefront of the culinary wars with a new name and a new
menu for a new generation of dinners.
Flat out beautiful view
by Stephanie Cartozian Rolling Hills Mayor Jim Black and
wife Karen insist their favorite part of the French Provincial
style ranch home they built on 5.5 acres is the view.
Girl in the High Castle
by Bondo Wyszpolski Geanna Culbertson completes her
4th novel in the young adult Crisanta Knight fairy tale series.
70 Mar’sel without the view
by Richard Foss Despite its celebrated view Mar’sel at
Terranea might best be appreciated in the bar, where the food
can be enjoyed without the distraction of the Pacific Ocean.
HIGHLIGHTS
8 PTN Camp Escapades
12 Plein air Vanderlip
14 Under the Stars with Kenny G
24 Celebrating a giving heritage
36 Encore Circle
40 Freedom4You Freedom Breeze
74 MCHA meeting
DEPARTMENTS
49 Peninsula calendar
74 Around and about
76 Home and Garden
81 Home services
STAFF
EDITOR
Kevin Cody
PUBLISHER
Stephanie Cartozian
PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Mary Jane Schoenheider
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Richard Budman
DISPLAY SALES
Tamar Gillotti,
Amy Berg,
Shelley Crawford
CLASSIFIEDS
Teri Marin
ADVERTISING
DIRECTOR
Richard Budman
ADVERTISING
COORDINATOR
Teri Marin
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Tim Teebken
FRONT DESK
Judy Rae
DIRECTOR OF
DIGITAL MEDIA
Daniel Sofer (Hermosawave.net)
CONTACT
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 745
Hermosa Beach, CA
90254-0745
PHONE
(310) 372-4611
FAX
(424) 212-6780
WEBSITE
www.easyreadernews.com
EDITORIAL
PenPeople@
easyreadernews.com
ADVERTISING
(310) 372-4611
displayads@
easyreadernews.com
Please see the Classified Ad
Section for info.
FICTITIOUS NAME
STATEMENTS (DBA’S)
can be filed at the
office during regular
business hours.
(310) 372-4611
Peninsula is a supplemental
publication of Easy Reader, 2200
Pacific Cst. Hwy. #101, PO Box 427,
Hermosa Beach, CA. 90254-0427.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Yearly domestic mail subscriptions
to Peninsula are $80, foreign $100
payable in advance. The entire
contents of Peninsula are copyrighted
2017 by Peninsula People,
Inc.
6 Peninsula • October 2017
Nathan Darling
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
Coach Luke at Camp Esplanade
Support Pediatric Therapy Network
PTN spokesperson and Lakers coach Luke Walton organized a game
of basketball for kids at Camp Escapades, an innovative summer day
camp for children with developmental concerns and their siblings. The
camp is hosted by Rolling Hills Country Day School every August.
Campers enjoy a traditional summer camp experience with crafts, music,
dance and sports. The camp is staffed by pediatric occupational, physical
and speech therapists, educators and one-on-one teen volunteers who are
the campers’ buddies for the week. Torrance Mayor Pat Furey, Assemblymember
Al Muratsuchi and Martin Serna, Fire Chief of Torrance were
among the volunteers.
1
PHOTOS BY TONY LABRUNO
1. Torrance Police Department.
2. Los Angeles Laker Girls.
3. Camp Escapades Purple Penguins.
4. Redondo Beach Police Chief Keith
Kaufman with the Camp Escapades
Yellow Ducks.
5. Founder and CEO of Pediatric Therapy
Network Terri Nishimura, LA Laker
coach Luke Walton, PTN staffer and
scorekeeper Paul Valenzuela, PTN Junior
Ambassador and referee Daniel
Lowe and Torrance Mayor and referee
Pat Furey.
6. Los Angeles Laker Girls.
7. Campers from Camp Escapades
and Country Day Camp line up for the
start of the game.
8. Camp Escapades Orange Octopus
Isaac receives high fives as he runs
onto the court.
9. Stephanie Walton of The TJX Companies
goes up for the jump ball
against Luke Walton and a Camp Escapades
Orange Octopus.
10. Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey.
11. Redondo Beach Police Officer
Michael Vantrimpont helps a Camp Escapades
Yellow Duck to the basket.
12. Camp Escapes staff and volunteers
(left to right) Paul Valenzuela
(PTN staff member), Torrance Mayor
Pat Furey, Teri Nelson Carpenter (Vistas
for Children), Assemblymember Al
Muratsuchi, Torrance Fire Chief Martin
Serna, PTN CEO Terri Nishimura,
Rolling Hills United Pastor Jonathan
Chute, Tracey Peffer (Las Candalistas),
Ellery Sanders (Fire Protection Specialist
for Torrance Fire Dept.), Karin
Baker (American Honda), Stephanie
Walton (TJX Companies), Brittany Barden
(Barden Electric), guest from TJX
Companies and Brent Geppert (Educational
Insights).
13. Luke Walton and Michael
Vantrimpont help a Camp Escapades
Red Robin make a basket.
14. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi,
Camp Escapades Yellow Duck and
Jonathan Chute.
15. Game photo with players from
the Campers and Community Champions
teams, coaches, referees, spirit
leaders and scorekeeper.
2
3
4
5
6
8 Peninsula • October 2017
7
8 9
10
11 12
13
14 15
October 2017 • Peninsula 9
FINE HOMES AND LUXURY PROPERTIES
UNOBSTRUCTED
270 ° VIEW
GUARD
GATED
COMMUNITY
CROWNVIEW
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
7 Bedroom Suites, 8.5 Bathrooms, 7,587 sq ft Home, 34,950 sq ft Lot,
Breathtaking Unobstructed View from Ocean to Harbor, Custom Built Contemporary
Mansion on Top of Hill with $600,000 of Remodeling
OFFERED AT $4,250,000
www.3323Crownview.com
CHUCKWAGON ROAD
ROLLING HILLS
5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Bathrooms, 5,571 sq ft Home, 108,225 sq ft Lot
Single Level French Country Custom Home in Prestigious Rolling Hills
Sparkling City Lights View, Huge Master Suite with Office & Retreat
OFFERED AT $3,750,000
www.5ChuckwagonRd.com
QUIET
CUL-DE-SAC
S. REDONDO
BEACH
JEWEL
VIA LEON
PALOS VERDES ESTATES
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Recently Updated 3,884 sq ft Home, 16,012 sq ft Land
Luxurious Custom Home with Panoramic Ocean & Catalina Views
High Vaulted Ceilings, Wood Floors, Top Quality Kitchen & Bathrooms
OFFERED AT $$2,599,000
www.1560ViaLeon.com
SOUTH IRENA AVE
REDONDO BEACH
5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 5,317 sq ft Home, 9,476 sq ft Lot
Lofty Mansion on a Large Corner Lot, Built in 2003, Huge Master Suite, Main Floor Bedroom
Center of Activities in S. Redondo Beach
OFFERED AT $2,599,000
www.425SouthIrena.com
BRING YOUR CONTRACTOR OR BUILDER
PALOS VERDES REALTY
LARGE FLAT
LOT
BRING
YOUR
CONTRACTOR
LAUREL DRIVE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
1.21 Acre Gated Vacant Lot has Large, Flat Building Pad
Panoramic Catalina, Ocean & Endless Sunset Views!
Private & Secluded Location in Lunada Pointe, Rare Find Opportunity
OFFERED AT $3,500,000
CHUCKWAGON ROAD
ROLLING HILLS
5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2,877 sq ft Home, 100,583 sq ft Lot
Panoramic City Lights View Home with Private Driveway
One of the Lowest Price Houses in Prestigious Rolling Hills
OFFERED AT $1,995,000
www.6Chuckwagon.com
CUSTOM
LOT
AFFORDABLE
LAND COST
CHAPPARAL LANE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
85,180 sq ft Lot, Permit Ready for a 5,959 sq ft Home
Rare Opportunity to Build Your Dream Home with
Sparkling City Views at the End of a Private Road
OFFERED AT $995,000 - $1,150,000
COLT ROAD
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
41,997 sq ft Mostly Flat Lot with Gated Driveway
Plans Approved for a 4,470 sq ft Contemporary Home with 5 Bedroom Suites
City Lights, Harbor & Mountain Views, Located in a Quiet Cul-De-Sac
OFFERED AT $675,000
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
Plein Air Master Workshop
At Villa Narcissa
Katrina Vanderlip and Daniel Pinkham, longtime friends from Palos Verdes High
School, hosted an advanced painting week in August that coincided with the solar
eclipse. Vanderlip led tours of her family’s historic estate, home of the late “Father of
Palos Verdes” and now of his descendents. The artists came from all over the world to
participate in this special event to paint and socialize at the magical villa. Lunch in the
garden and evening cocktails broke up the painting. Guests viewed the partial eclipse
from the “temple” located on the highest point on the property.
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE CARTOZIAN
1
1. Visiting artists.
2. Katrina Vanderlip with one of her watercolors.
3. Dan Pinkham with guests.
4. Soup du jour served in abalone shells.
5. Katrina Vanderlip hosts lunch prepared by
Chef Catherine Carlson.
2
3
4 5
V ilicich
Watch & Clock
Established 1947
Celebrating
Our
70 th
Anniversary!
(310) 833-6891
714 S. Weymouth Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90732
Not affiliated with Rolex USA
12 Peninsula • October 2017
Stocking Dealer
South Bay’s oldest lumber yard
• Trim
• Doors
• Siding
• Decking
• Lumber
• Windows
• Hardware
• Referrals
Free parking in our 6th Street lot
635 Pacific Coast Highway - Hermosa Beach
310-374-3406
Call Our Dexperts
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE CARTOZIAN
Kenny G under the stars
For Torrance Memorial and Vistas
Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G performed for the
sold-out Honda Evening Under the Stars Gourmet Food and Wine
Festival. Over 1,000 guests, including foodies, oenophiles, philanthropists,
doctors, Vistas for Children staff and Honda executives came together
to benefit Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Vistas for
Children. Honda hosted the evening in partnership with the Torrance
Area Chamber of Commerce. Guests enjoyed offerings from over 25
premier, local restaurants and more than 80 varietals of wine.
1. Steve Morikawa, Richard
Lundquist and Craig Leach (photo by
Deidre Davidson).
2. Anthony Chen MD, Craig and Judy
Leach, Jennifer Chen, Vimal Murthy
MD and Shalini Singh.
3. Anthony Chen MD, Jennifer Chen
and George So MD.
4. Steve Morikawa, Kenny G, Donna
Duperron and Pat Furey.
5. Cindy Percz and Laura Schenasi.
6. Renuka Rasiah, Virginia Arqueta,
Priscilla Hunt, Cora Ortez and Trinity
Foliente.
7. Ann Buxton and daughter Leslie
Dunnigan.
8. P.J. Merced, Philo and Raju
Chhabria.
9. Jerry Schwartz MD and Carina
Lapins.
10. Michael Shafer and son Spencer
Shafer.
11. Barbara Lurie and Mark Lurie
MD.
12. Ron and Kimberly Compton.
1
2 3
4 5 6
7
8
9
10
11 12
14 Peninsula • October 2017
Introducing 417 Paseo de la Playa, Redondo Beach
For full video visit chrisadlam.com
Chris Adlam
310.493.7216
www.chrisadlam.com
417 Paseo de la Playa, Redondo Beach $25,000,000
One-of-a-kind compound. Two exquisite homes on
2 parcels totaling over 60,000 square feet of beachfront property.
For full video, please visit chrisadlam.com
Chris Adlam
310.493.7216
www.chrisadlam.com
y Esther Kang
For the first time in its
two-decade history, the
Palos Verdes
Concours d’Elegance
will showcase vintage
aircraft alongside over
200 classic cars
Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance chairperson Ray Johnson.
Photo by Stephan Cooper/Stephan Cooper Productions
“Luxury and Speed,” the theme for this year’s Palos Verdes Concours
d’Elegance, describes not just the Packards and Porsches
that are this year’s marque automobiles. It describes the show’s
inclusion, for the first time, rare, vintage aircraft, including a WWII P51D
Mustang Single-Seat Fighter, a 1930s Stearman PT-17 Kaydet Bi-Plane and
a Grumman F-14 Tomcat Fighter Aircraft.
To accommodate the aircraft, the concours will be held on the Robinson
Helicopters runway at Louis Zamperini Field, previously known as Torrance
Airport. In recent years, the concours has been held at Los Verdes
Golf Course and Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes.
“So you’ll see what airplanes were doing and what the cars were doing
in the same timeframe,” Palos Verdes Concours Chairman Ray Johnson
said. “It’s going to be way more interesting, and we think it will broaden
the appeal. It will be a different kind of crowd than what we’ve had in the
past.”
Johnson became involved with the Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance
about 20 years ago through the Palos Verdes Rotary Club, which founded
the annual event but is no longer involved. He has served in nearly every
capacity, from volunteering on the field to serving on the exhibition committee.
The San Luis Obispo native and longtime Palos Verdes Estates resident
became the chairperson three years ago after retiring as Vice President of
Space Launch Operations for the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo.
Johnson still owns the 1958 Triumph TR3A sports car he purchased for
$500 when he was 16.
The addition of aircraft resulted indirectly from last year’s hiatus. In
2015, after eight years at Trump National Golf Club, the concours was
moved to the nearby Los Verdes Golf Club.
“Contrary to what a lot of people think, the move to Los Verdes had nothing
to do with politics,” Johnson said. “The Trump club had landed a big
PGA tournament, and there was no way the PGA would accept cars being
on the fairways a month before the PGA tournament. Trump National told
us we couldn’t hold it there — basically we were disembodied.”
The Los Verdes location in a dense residential area severely limited parking.
So visitors were bussed in from the Peninsula Center. However, there
were an insufficient number of county-provided buses, resulting in long
queues and a long commute to and from the event. Attendance dropped
by over 1,000.
"So we decided we would take a year off,” Johnson said. "There was an
architect on the board, and he kept using the expression, 'We need to
reimagine ourselves into a new kind of event, a new venue.’”
The reimagining exercise led the board to approach Peninsula resident
Kurt Robinson about hosting the event at his Robinson Helicopters facility
at Zamperini Field. Though not as scenic as a golf course, the new venue
will be much more accommodating for both exhibitors and spectators. The
flat, paved ground will make it easy to stage automobiles and airplanes
and the site has 1,500 parking spaces.
Because of its international reputation, there are no plans to change the
concours’ name. The Classic Car Club of America includes the Palos Verdes
Concours d’Elegance on its very short list of national concours events. Still,
Johnson said, he and his staff are excited to expand the event to include all
of the South Bay, not just those on the Peninsula.
“Almost all local events now are broadening their scope to include the
greater South Bay area,” he said.
This years’ proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of the
Los Angeles Harbor and the Western Museum of Flight, at Zamperini Field.
The museum will be open to concours visitors.
Johnson and his 10 fellow board members and 20 exhibition committee
members have not stopped “reimagining” their show. Johnson said the rising
demand for classic cars among affluent collectors in Asia and the Middle
East threatens to make the cars unaffordable for the younger generation
of auto enthusiasts.
“To generate new interest may require rethinking how we do the show.
But I think cars will always be a hobby. It’s just a question of whether interest
grows or stays fairly status quo.”
The Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance takes place Oct. 1 from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. at the Louis Zamperini Field (Robinson Helicopters) in Torrance. Tickets
are available at pvconcours.org for $40 before Sept. 30 and $50 at the door.
The VIP Package, which includes parking, a catered luncheon, premier seating
and drinks, is $150. PEN
310.539.6685 310.884.1870
310.326.9528
866.BEYOND.5
310.534.9560
310.539.2993
310.530.3079
310.517.0324
310.326.8530
TORRANCE
TOWNE BEAUTY
CENTER
310.539.3526
310.997.1900
www.cflu.org
CUT * COLOR * STYLE
310.539.2191
310.326.3354
310.530.4888 310.534.0220
310.326.4477
310.530.0566
424.347.7188
310.325.2960 310.891.2237
310.530.8411
310.530.5443
310.517.9366
310.530.3268
310.539.1808
WineShoppe
310.539.1055
Northwest Corner of
Crenshaw Blvd. & Pacific Coast Hwy. in Torrance
~ For Information, Call 310.534.0411
A LA CAZE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PROJECT
©
New Smiles Dentistry
Stephen P. Tassone, DDS
310.791.2041
October 2017 • Peninsula 19
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
The Heritage Society
Celebrates giving
The Heritage Society, individuals who have
included Torrance Memorial with a future
gift in their estate plan or made a contribution
annually for 10 or more consecutive years,
were acknowledged at a luncheon at Palos
Verdes Golf Club. Infectious disease specialist
Jamie McKinnell, MD described Torrance
Memorial’s cutting edge fight against antibiotic
resistance. President and CEO Craig
Leach thanked members for their generous
support and also shared news of Torrance
Memorial’s recent Cedars-Sinai affiliation and
Melanie and Richard Lundquist’s recent $32
million gift. For more information about the
Heritage Society please contact Sandy VandenBerge,
director of Planned Giving:
Sandy.Vandenberge@tmmc.com. Or visit torrancememorial.org/plannedgiving.
1
2
PHOTOS BY DEIDRE DAVIDSON
3 4
1. Sandy VandenBerge, John Vanhara and Marcela
Vanhara.
1. Sandy VandenBerge and Larry Maizlish and Judith
Maizlish.
3. Donna and John Prysi.
4. (Seated) Bill and Andrea Gargaro and (standing)
Sam Josephson, Sally Eberhard and Sallie Josephson.
5. Craig Leach, Phyllis Scribe, Pamela Crane, Lois
and Dick Winters.
6. Maureen Dearden, Stephanie Bezner and Maude
Infantino.
7. Ralph Scriba, Sigrid and Ralph Allman.
8. Song Klein, Judith Gassner and Stephanie
Bezner.
9. Laura Schenasi, Chris and Valerie Adlam and
Nadine Bobit.
10. (Seated) Jamie McKinnell MD, Larry Maizlish
and John Sealy MD and (Standing) Daniel Hovenstine
MD and Judith Maizlish.
5
6
7
8
9
10
24 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 25
Guido Rietdyk with his Russian-built
Yak-50 aerobatic plane and his
1959 Jaguar XK150 S.
He hopes to exhibit both at the
Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance
at Zamparini Field on Oct. 1.
Photo by David Fairchild
Sky
rider
Rugby, motocross, race cars and flying in formation -- it’s all
about camaraderie, claims Peninsula’s Guido Rietdyk
by David Mendez
It’s almost 9 p.m. mid-week and Guido Rietdyk’s Rolling Hills home is
buzzing. He grabs a pair of beers from the fridge while his wife Sophie
entertains a friend from down the street.
“We’re Europeans,” he said, referring to his penchant for late nights and
friendly pours. “We’re very much an open door family. We’ll sit at home,
and have neighbors around for a drink.”
It’s one of the things he loves about the Peninsula. Friendships with his
neighbors are what led to his latest passion: flying classic airplanes.
The 20-year Peninsula resident is a member of Torrance’s Tiger Squadron,
which flies vintage war planes in formation at events across Southern California.
“The freedom [from flying] is very addictive, and it’s elevated when you
get to do it with your best friends,” Rietdyk said.
Rietdyk moved to the United States from his native Netherlands to study
international business at San Jose State University. He returned home to
complete his compulsory military service, then returned to the U.S. for his
graduate degree in marketing and branding at the University of Southern
California.
“For a tiny country, both in surface and population, the only way to survive
is to trade,” Rietdyk said.
What made him want to work in the States was the American ideal.
“Americans think big and unbridled, they think outside the box, and never
think something is too big to attempt,” Rietdyk said.
That attitude perfectly fit his philosophy. Though hesitant to call himself
an adrenaline junkie, Rietdyk loves to get his blood pumping. Growing up,
he played soccer, and rode motocross. But rugby made his heart sing.
“Everyone is part of that chain – if you don’t do well, if you become the
weakest link, the chain breaks,” Rietdyk said. “You better be on your game
and look out for your buddy…it’s the ultimate in camaraderie.”
After the games, he and his teammates would join their opponents for
what they called the “third half.” All the competitors would get together to
cheer, drink and congratulate each other on a game well played. “If I had
to do it over again, I’d play rugby again...that camaraderie doesn’t happen
in soccer, sadly.”
October 2017 • Peninsula 27
After finishing school, Rietdyk sold life insurance (“not so glamorous”)
and then exported telecom equipment with a partner.
In the mid-1990s, Rietdyk’s brother-in-law was selling “the remnants of
a small French knee brace company.”
“I had severe knee surgery from playing soccer at USC, so I knew more
than the average person about knee braces,” Rietdyk said. From his motocross
racing days, he realized there was a broad market for the braces.
Rietdyk and a partner purchased the company, EVS Sports, and their timing
couldn’t have been better. The ‘90s saw a spike in motocross popularity.
The business moved from his living room to a small office at Santa Monica
Airport, and then to a Torrance warehouse. EVS expanded its market to industrial
workers, bull riders, and – very recently – pilots.
Rietdyk was introduced to flying by his neighbor Craig Ekberg, founder
of Tiger Squadron. That was after Rietdyk retired from racing motocross at
the age of 40, and became involved with the Porsche Owners Club and
started racing on the GT3 Cup Series.
Racing led him into the world of vintage cars. He began traveling with
Ekberg to car shows across the U.S.
“One day, I was flying in the backseat while Craig was flying low over
the water and the big rocks of Lake Powell, and I said ‘this is the coolest
thing that you could possibly do.’”
He wondered, though, is this something he could learn to do later in life?
“Absolutely,” Ekberg told him.
Rietdyk began flying in January 2013. The learning curve was beyond
steep, he said.
“You need to know everything: Landing, taking off, understanding what
can go wrong, emergency procedures — and be able to fly within 10 feet of
another plane,” Rietdyk said.
Formation pilots aren’t able to keep an eye on their instruments because
they’re looking at the planes next to them.
“You have to be able to feel your plane along your spine — you use that
feeling to be one with it, like with a bike or a car,” Rietdyk said.
As part of Tiger Squadron, Rietdyk has flown in formation over fundraisers
for the LA Philharmonic, over the USS Iowa and, last month, over the
USC football season opener.
Two things drive his newest passion. First, he’s chasing the rush he found
racing motorcycles and cars. “You’re seeking the thing that gets your heart
pumping…the more adrenaline the activity has the more fun it is,” Rietdyk
said. “Flying less so, because I don’t do anything too crazy anymore. This
is less dangerous than racing motocross or cars.”
But more than that, it’s the feeling of camaraderie that he’s sought since
his rugby days.
“Whether it’s racing or doing a rally, you’ve got everyone getting together,
sitting around, and it’s just fun,” Rietdyk said. “It’s a warm feeling, an inclusiveness
that’s just…addictive.”
That addiction also explains his community volunteer work. He was recently
voted president-elect of the Cancer Support Community Redondo
Beach Board of Directors. CSCRB provides support for cancer patients and
their families and friends.
“It’s completely pro-bono, all volunteers, and it’s amazing — such a powerful
group,” Rietdyk said. “There’s a lot more we can do for people, too —
we still think we have a long ways to go.”
This year, Rietdyk is also supporting The Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance.
For the first time, the Concours is including vintage planes and is
taking place at Zamperini Field. He’s submitted two entries for the event,
a Yakovlev Yak-50 Russian aerobatic plane, and a 1959 Jaguar XK150 S,
which he owns with neighbor Tony Powell.
“We’re the Jaguar’s third owners. It had 17,000 miles on it when we got
it. It’s restored with new paint, a new interior and it’s mechanically meticulous,”
Rietdyk said.
Rietdyk hopes the Tiger Squadron will perform a flyover for the Oct. 1
show, adding excitement to what he believes is already going to be a spectacular
event.
“The Palos Verdes community and the Beach Cities have an inventory of
vintage cars that rivals almost anywhere in the world,” Rietdyk said. “If a
great venue and organization can put them in a place where they can be
seen with the excitement of airplanes, we have a total win. No doubt it’s
going to be the coolest thing to see anywhere near Los Angeles — I guarantee
it.” PEN
28 Peninsula • October 2017
$23,450,000
PRICE
REDUCTION
QUEEN'S
NECKLACE
VIEWS
GREAT
VIEW &
IMMACULATE
550 Silver Spur Rd. Suite 240, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90275
Chez Melange chef Robert Bell and partner Michael Franks will reflect on Chez Melange’s storied history during a retrospective dinner on Nov. 6.
Photo by Brad Jacobson (CivicCouch.com)
by Richard Foss
During a meeting between two restaurateurs
who had been business partners for
35 years, Robert Bell uttered a fateful
sentence.
“I said to Michael, ‘The good news is that
everyone knows Chez Melange. The bad news is
that everyone knows Chez Melange.’”
Michael Franks agreed with his partner’s assessment.
They needed to change the name and
concept of the South Bay’s longest running, contemporary
restaurant. Chez Melange was groundbreaking
when it opened in 1982. In an era when
it was rare for restaurants to change their menus
every year, they did so every day. In an era when
restaurants were rigidly defined by style of service,
there you could dress casually or formally, as
you preferred. In an era when categories were
rigid, they put traditional American, Asian fusion,
and European dishes on the menu next to items
that defied categorization.
Chez Melange attracted a following immediately
and kept exploring new ideas. They pioneered
winemaker dinners, patronized local
growers, and experimented continuously. For a
long time, they had no competition because no
other local chefs were capable of the variety of
styles and techniques. As time went on and eclectic
dining mainstreamed, the local scene shifted
and they found themselves competing with their
followers. Those newcomers often branded their
operations as lounges or gastropubs, but for the
Chez team, innovation was just what they did.
As Franks put it, “Because of Robert we have
always been a chef-driven restaurant rather than
a concept-driven restaurant, and we have been
able to be flexible and interesting throughout our
existence. We have made our decisions based on
the joy of cooking and eating, on our experiences
and creativity. Our format of constantly changing
menus and eclectic items was unique when we
opened – now you can get mixed cuisines almost
everywhere.”
Franks and Bell decided that a change was
needed, but not a complete one. Chez Melange
has been three restaurants in one for some time:
a casual bar and grill called Bouzy at the front, a
larger, more formal restaurant in back, and a side
room called Bar 150. Bouzy will remain the same,
but the other two will become a new restaurant
called Sea Change at Chez Melange. It’s an idea
that first appears in a song in Shakespeare’s The
Tempest – the original quote reads,
Nothing of him doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Franks doesn’t go into classical allusions, but
explained, “The phrase has different meanings,
and one of them is metamorphosis. It seems like
a way of indicating that we’re going from where
we are to where we want to be.”
Franks mentioned two compelling reasons to
shift to this focus: there isn’t another seafood
place in the area, and the fish dishes are among
the best selling items at Chez Melange. Then he
offhandedly offered a third: people like eating all
things oceanic, but are often intimidated about
making it themselves.
“People cook steaks at home, but they go out
for fish because it’s delicate and easy to overcook.
That and the interest in healthy dining come together,
and they want fish for both everyday and
special occasion meals. We can still be eclectic
and original, just as we have been since 1982, but
we’re going to have a focus on seafood.”
Bell is emphatic that while there will be options
for simple dishes, there is no retreat from the
duo’s creativity.
“The plan is to have two sections to the menu:
one where you pick the fish, the cooking method,
the sauce, and the sides. Then you’ll have the
catch of the day specials, my specials, that you
can’t change. I’m not thinking of classic East
Coast boardwalk – it’s going to be eclectic. You
may see cioppino and zarzuela here, you may see
pork and clam dishes, kung pao lobster. I have
experience and confidence in producing an eclectic
menu, and that’s what I do. If I do put a lobster
roll on the menu, I’m not going to screw with
it and turn it into something Chinese. And if I do
a Rhode Island style crabcake, that will be what
it is.”
“We’re going to keep a Chez Classics menu
with some of the items that people come in for,
like the fried chicken salad, steak frites, duck
schnitzel… we’ll always have a good steak on the
menu.”
On Nov. 6 Franks and Bell will host a food and
wine evening at which they’ll share stories about
their history and reminisce about what it was like
to change our dining habits. TBoth men seem to
relish a chance to reflect on old times even as
they go forward with a new idea. Their success
has always been driven by an open minded curiosity
about flavors, and unlike most veterans
they haven’t become complacent and fallen into
a rut. As Franks observed wryly, “Most creative
restaurants have young chefs, and I have an old
man working here, but we’re still innovating.” PEN
32 Peninsula • October 2017
JoAnn DeFlon
SRES, Palos Verdes Specialist
310.508.3581 call/text
joann.deflon@VistaSIR.com
CalBre #01943409
Every resource that is available to me and
Vista Sotheby’s International Realty
will be utilized to present your home in an Extraordinary
and Targeted Manner.
Call me about your current home or
to find your next one.
Each office is independently
Owned and operated
October 2017 • Peninsula 33
“Home is everything.”
It’s where you come back to after a long day and
can finally relax and be with your family.
Your home is that place you’ve dreamed of ever
since you were a child.
It’s not easy to find that perfect home.
We are here to help make that dream a reality.
Mike Levine
Mike@levine-homes.com
BRE License # 01928630
CSLB License # B985034
Anita Kapilla
Anita@levine-homes.com
BRE License # 02007684
Real Estate & Construction
310.796.9088
Rolling Hills Estates
• Built in 2016
• 3,700 Square Feet
• 4 Bedrooms & 4-1/2 Baths
• Stunning Pastoral Views
• Water Filtration System
LEVINE-HOMES.COM
Shopping, dining and entertainment, we’ve got it all!
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES
Friar Tux Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-4700
Nike Factory Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 326-6131
Styles of Hawaii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 326-2151
Tilly’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-1642
BEAUTY
Colours Of Joy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (562) 794-6821
European Wax Center . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-2929
Fancy Nails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 326-7980
Pia Hair Salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 326-0815
Rolling Hills Beauty Bar. . . . . . . . . . (310) 530-3844
Victor Anthony’s Hair Studio . . . . . . (310) 326-2338
Waterside Beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-4242
BOOKS/CARDS/GIFTS/
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
The Tutoring Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 530-5377
DRY CLEANING
Beltone Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-2511
ENTERTAINMENT
AMC Theater Rolling Hills 20 . . . . . (888) 262-4386
FINANCIAL/BUSINESS SERVICES
Chase Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-1997
The Postal Mart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-6777
South Bay Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . (310) 374-3436
T-Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-6855
GROCERY/SPECIALTY FOODS
Baskin Robbins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 530-6812
BevMo! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-0034
Blue Cove Olive Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-4931
Friza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (424) 226-7782
Nijiya Japanese Market . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-3000
Peet’s Coffee & Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 626-8008
Starbucks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-4835
Trader Joe’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 326-9520
Whole Foods Market . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-8700
HEALTH & FITNESS
Arthur Murray Dance Studio . . . . . . (310) 977-0987
Great Earth Vitamins. . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-8494
PV Massage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 530-9093
24 Hour Fitness Center . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-5100
Weight Watchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 651-6000
HOME FURNISHINGS
Bed, Bath & Beyond . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-0432
Hitachiya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-3136
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
Color Me Mine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-9968
JEWELRY
Modern Jewelry Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 517-0308
MEDICAL/DENTAL SERVICES
Dr. Mylena Jl, D.D.S, Inc.. . . . . . . . . (310) 326-4691
Dr. M.G. Monzon, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . (310) 891-3303
Dr. Nolan Ng, Optometrist . . . . . . . (310) 326-2881
South Bay Pain Docs . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 626-8037
PET & GROOMING
Grooming Wonders . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-1130
Wild Birds Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 326-2473
REAL ESTATE
J A Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 539-2430
RESTAURANTS
Blaze Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-9500
California Pizza Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . (310) 539-5410
Daphne’s Greek Café. . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-1861
Fanoos Persian Restaurant . . . . . . . . (310) 530-4316
Fish Bonz Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-2669
IcCho Japanese Restaurant. . . . . . . . (310) 325-7273
Ichimi An . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 784-0551
Islands Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 530-5383
Joey’s Smokin’ B.B.Q . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-1324
Kabab Curry of India . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 539-0171
Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot . . . . (310) 517-9605
Mashawi Lebanese Grill . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-3545
Nice Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 539-0323
Pinwheel Café Bakery . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-5055
Rubio’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 891-1811
Ryo Zan Paku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 530-8720
Sushi Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 534-4013
Veggie Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 325-6689
Yamaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (310) 257-1800
Northeast Corner of Crenshaw & Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance
For Information Call (310) 534-0411
A LA CAZE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PROJECT
October 2017 • Peninsula 35
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
Encore Circle’s Opening Night
Celebrating Ricky Nelson
For 35 years, The Encore Circle has provided vital support for the
Norris Theatre and the Palos Verdes Performing Arts. On September
8 at the Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion, The Encore Circle enjoyed an elegant
opening night dinner catered by Bites and Bashes. During dessert guests
enjoyed a surprise performance of scenes from the upcoming “The 25th
Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a Tony winning musical comedy.
The evening concluded with twin brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson
rocking the Norris with a multi-media performance, playing their
legendary father Ricky Nelson’s most popular songs, including “Hello
Mary Lou” and “Travelin’ Man.”
1
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE CARTOZIAN
1. Abby Douglass.
2. Dr. Allen Ginsburg and Charlotte Ginsburg.
3. Ray Martin, James Hill, Steve Soldoff and Pam Barrett-Hill.
4. Sandra Sanders and Maude Landon.
5. Irwin and Betty Helford, Linda and Mel Rowen.
6. Steve Moe and sister Julie Moe, Abby Douglass and Carol Mell.
7. “Ricky Nelson Remembered” starring sons Matthew and Gunnar Nelson.
2
3 4
5
6 7
36 Peninsula • October 2017
DERMATOLOGY & SKIN SURGERY
BEACH CITIES DERMATOLOGY
M E D I C A L C E N T E R
Say Goodbye to Stubborn Fat....
Buy One, Get One
FREE
William J. Wickwire, M.D.
Certified, American
Board of Dermatology
Neal M. Ammar, M.D.
Certified, American
Board of Dermatology
Two Coolscuplting Devices to Treat Two Areas at Once!
Specialists in Skin Cancer Detection
• Skin Cancer • Mole Removal & Mohs Surgery
• Reconstructive Facial Surgery and Scar Revision
• Acne & Accutane Treatment
• Warts, Rashes and Cysts • Leg Vein Sclerotherapy
• Hair Loss & Propecia • Restylane, Radiesse, Perlane,
Juvederm & Sculptra • Botox and Dysport Injections
• Age Spots & Sun Damage • Laser Surgery
• Microdermabrasion • Glycolic and Chemical Peels
• Ultraviolet B & PUVA • Pediatric Dermatology
310-798-1515
www.beachcitiesderm.com
South Bay’s
best equipped
Dermatology
Center!
Redondo Beach —
520 N. Prospect Ave., Suite 302
Palos Verdes —
827 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 101
All PPOs Accepted
Evening & Sat.
Appts. Available
Open House Sat & Sun 1-4pm
Resort Living in your own home
27339 Eastvale Road, Palos Verdes Peninsula
• Built in 2003
• 5 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 3200 SQ FT
• Master suite with Beverly Hills Housewives Closet
featuring a full wall of retractable windows and doors
• Almost half acre, private grassy yard, waterfall, 2 spas,
saltwater pool
• Impressive panoramic views
• Spacious living room with fireplace, views, dining,
billiards
• Hardwood floors in all of the family rooms
• Built-in BBQ, with fridge, ice maker, wine fridge,
cooking station with sink
• Gated private entry with large 2-car garage with
driveway for 5 more cars
October 2017 • Peninsula 37
2 8 4 5 V I A D E L A G U E R R A
PALOS VERDES ESTATES
WWW.2845VIADELAGUERRA.COM
4 BEDS | 2 BATHS | 1860 SQ FT | +6480 SQ FT LOT
Perfectly situated on a great Lunada Bay quiet street, this charming home boasts
4 bedrooms, including the master, 2 remodeled baths, spacious living room with
two sided fireplace and sliders to the outdoor space, dining area off the kitchen
with large bay window also enjoying the fireplace, and open and bright center island
kitchen with walk-in pantry and beautiful glass front display cabinets. There
are hardwood floors, crown moldings, recessed lighting, smooth ceilings, and great
grassy yard – perfect for family enjoyment and entertaining! You will love it!
Asking $1,450,000
1 9 6 6 U P L A N D S T R E E T
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
WWW.1966UPLAND.COM
4 BEDS | 2 BATHS | 2500 SQ FT | 7177 SQ FT LOT
Wonderful opportunity to own in the Palos Verdes school district. This great home
has 4 bedrooms plus formal living and dining and a HUGE family room addition
with fabulous harbor and water views! Enjoy the enclosed porch for casual entertaining
and the formal areas plus unbelievable storage. (AND there are hardwood
floors under the carpet - a huge plus!) Newer tile roof and lovely front grassy yard.
You cannot beat the square footage at this price!
Asking: $1,049,000
GAYLEPROBST
Re/Max Estate Properties
310-977-9711
CalBRE# 01137236
www.pvrealestate.com
A TRUSTED ADVISOR.
CLOSE AT HAND
“Preparation, turn-key real estate advice,
and the personal touch you expect.”
1328 VIA MARGARITA | PALOS VERDES ESTATES
4 BEDROOMS | 3 BATHROOMS | 2700 SQFT | LOT SIZE: 15,224 | WWW.1328VIAMARGARITA.COM
The DeLeeuw Residence, by architects Young and Remington (1965.) Designed originally for a WWII veteran/pilot and
his family, the architects employed their modernist sensibility in creating a home that is as progressive today as the day
it was built. Perfectly situated on a 15,224 square foot view lot in the heart of Montemalaga, it is the property that you
have been waiting for. Soaring walls of glass and beamed ceilings point to views all the way from the Hollywood sign to
the ocean, Malibu, and Point Dume. A massive double sided fireplace and original wall of built-ins divides the otherwise
open plan. The now second owners took great care in their renovations, updating systems and finishes while leaving the
soul of the original design intact. Offered for the first time on the open market, and sure not to last.
ASKING $1,825,000
GAYLEPROBST
Re/Max Estate Properties
310-977-9711
CalBRE# 01137236
www.pvrealestate.com
NATECOLE
Coldwell Banker
562-673-3550
CalBRE# 0140724
www.uniquecaliforniaproperty.com
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
PHOTOS BY TOM UNDERHILL
Freedom4U raises 100K Plus!
Helping kids
Freedom4U’s annual 'Freedom Breeze' was held at the beautiful Palos
Verdes Estates home of Ashton Smith. Freedom4U offers programs
in creative arts, life skills, leadership and service learning across the
South Bay and Harbor Area. Over $100,000 was raised to support programs
for at-risk kids and for the teen leadership service group.
1. Toa Fonoimoana and Jennifer
Wildenberg.
2. Dr. Greg Allen, Fritz Hitchcock
(recipient of the George and Etty Allen
Lifetime Achievement Award), Ashton
Smith, and teen leader Morgan Pisano.
3. Dr. Greg Allen and Freedom4U
therapists Courtney Lawsing, Kryss
Castle, Chelsea Kuehl and Lizzette
Garcia.
4. Freedom4U Band of Pros.
5. Teen Leadership students Morgan
Pisano, Ani Stein and Ophelia Winslett.
6. Linda and Bill Lama.
7. Ridgecrest Intermediate Principal
Kellie Keller and Redondo Beach
Unified Superintendent Stephen Keller.
8. Freedom4U Videographer Rae
Wang and Teen Reporter Gabby Ruby.
9. Teen Leadership’s Noelle
Kirkpatrick, peer mentor Katie
Walker and Freedom4U therapist
Courtney Lawsing.
1
2 3
4 5
6
7
8
9
40 Peninsula • October 2017
A home with a view
The French Farmhouse style residence sits on unusually flat, five-and-a-half acres in Rolling Hills. Photos by David Fairchild
Rolling Hills Mayor Jim Black and wife Karen built a French Provincial home with a 21st Century view
by Stephanie Cartozian
The 360 degree view is what convinced Jim and Karen Black to purchase
the small home on 5.5 acres in Rolling Hills that they looked at in 1999.
“You can see the Santa Monica Bay and the city skyline from our pool,”
Karen Black said.
But the couple had five children – two of them twins – and the house on the
property wasn’t going to meet their needs. So they collaborated with J.C.C.
Homes in Torrance to build their dream home.
Karen is an internist and Jim is a plastic surgeon, specializing in oncologic and
micro reconstructive surgery. In March, Jim was elected mayor of Rolling Hills,
where he grew up. He had previously served as a city councilman for 15 years.
Karen grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and always admired residences with copper
gutters. They symbolized having arrived, professionally and personally. The
copper gutters are just one of her contributions to the sprawling, 8,500 square
foot French Farmhouse-style estate. Karen enjoys cooking, which led her to retain
from the original residence, the large chopping block that is now well worn from
use during years of family gatherings. It sits next to an acid washed, green marble
topped kitchen island. The kitchen’s other countertops are white marble. The
couple originally had concerns about whether the white marble would hold up
as well as granite in the high-use kitchen. But one of the owners of Ruggeri Marble
& Granite admitted to having marble in his own kitchen and told the couple
it would wear well. He was correct. The white marble also gives the kitchen a
soft, more French Provincial look.
Karen and Jim Black standing outside
their home on one of their covered
patios.
42 Peninsula • October 2017
The kitchen has wide, plank walnut
flooring and stone walls, giving the
kitchen an Old World look.
In January 2010, when the family decided to move forward with Torrance-based
architects Timothy Racisz and Richard Gould of Racisz &
Gould, Jim’s mother had recently passed away, leaving his father alone in
the family home on Saddleback Road in Rolling Hills, where Jim grew up.
So Jim’s dad welcomed Jim and his family into his home, giving granddad
time to enjoy his grandkids and their parents a convenient base from which
to oversee construction of their new home.
Their goal was to add an Old World, French Farmhouse sensibility to
the ranch style dictated by the city. Most importantly, they wanted the outdoor
areas to take advantage of the 360 degree view The result was over
1,800 square feet of covered patio and 2,000 square feet of trellised
porches. The 5.5 acres afforded big grassy knolls for the kids to play soccer
on, an outdoor fireplace and television, a pool and pergolas throughout.
The many outdoor pavers, as well as the foundation were by Simich Concrete
Construction in San Pedro. The Blacks replastered the large, original
pool and added fiberglass over the plaster to create a white, shimmering
effect when sunlight reflects off the water. “It also adds a layer of insulation,
keeping the pool from losing its temperature to the ground beneath
it,” Jim said.
The city view and the sparkling glimmer in the pool give the sense of
old Hollywood. One can imagine Esther Williams taking a swim here and
emerging from the pool to sip a lemonade in a chaise lounge, under one of
the pergolas. The outdoor areas were drafted by Ric Dykzeul of Landscape
The French Farmhouse style ranch home has covered porches with flagstone flooring, providing panoramic views of both
the city and Santa Monica Bay.
Design, in Torrance. They include
an orchard featuring citrus, stone
fruit, avocado and persimmons on
the property.
The grand entry leads to wide
planked, walnut flooring installed
by Sinbad Flooring of Torrance.
“The magic here is the precision
design work,” Jim said. The master
bedroom has diagonally placed
plank flooring, the landings have
rectangular and square designs.
Hafit Arafat, owner of Sinbad
Flooring, took a personal interest
in the project and added many of
the accents. Wood is emphasized
throughout the house, from the
hardwood floors, the wood
trimmed arches, wood pocket
doors and coffered ceilings, to the
wood paneling in the library. The
wood tones cast a warmth throughout
the home.
Another homey accent is the extensive
use of manufactured stone.
Fabricated stone has come a long
way and is indistinguishable from
real stone. It’s also smooth on the
backside making masonry work
more precise. There is variation in
color, as there is in natural stone.
Off the kitchen is a glassed-in office
where the children used to
keep their computers and do
44 Peninsula • October 2017
The extensive use of wood extends to the arches and the design work in the
flooring.
homework. The Blacks believed in keeping their children's computers in
an open area. The room’s location, off the kitchen and family room, provided
for functionality with oversight.
In the formal living room, beneath 17-foot high ceilings, are two grand
pianos. One was passed down from Karen’s family. The original, framed
receipt shows it was purchased in 1941 for $1,060 in Omaha, Nebraska. A
drum set sits beside the two pianos.
The six fireplaces are all done in a French traditional style and are both
wood and gas burning. They are ornate on the outside, with herring bone
style brick work on the interior. Jim readily explained that they are prefabricated.
The price of six cost about the same as two custom made fireplaces.
There are no stairs in this 7 bedroom, 6 bathroom home, with 2 home
offices and a detached guest house (used as a construction trailer during
building). Consistent with the French Farmhouse architecture is a stately
green slate roof.
The original plans were for a smaller home and simpler landscaping. But
though the project “grew and grew,” Jim said, they were able to keep to
their original budget, primarily because they had the good fortune of employing
the right professionals.
The Blacks recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Noosa,
and Whitsundays (Great Barrier Reef), Australia, where they went on their
honeymoon. All five children – Katy, Sherry, Jamie, Joey and Jonny, ages
16 to 21 – went with them
Now, there is just one Peninsula High schooler at home. Karen admits it
feels a little eerie.
“I watched a really silly, slapstick movie starring Dan Ackroyd the other
night with Jim and can’t remember the last time we had that kind of time
to spare, laughing at something so frivolous.” PEN
October 2017 • Peninsula 45
eventcalendar
CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY EVENTS
Compiled by Teri Marin
You can email your event to our address: penpeople@easyreadernews.com
All submissions must be sent by the 10th of each month prior to event taking place.
Ongoing
Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Days
Nurture seedlings and help shrubs grow for habitat restoration projects. RSVP
48 hours in advance. Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon. Sign up at
pvplc.volunteerhub.com
Rapid Response Team
Work alongside Conservancy staff protecting wildlife habitat by closing unauthorized
trails. Task include trail maintenance, building fences and installing
signage. Work at various locations around the Preserve. Directions to sites
emailed upon sign up. No experience needed. 15 and up. Visit volunteerhub.com
Saturday, September 23
60 Years of Rolling Hills Estates
Residents, friends, family, and neighbors are invited to join the daylong festivities,
including equestrian events, pony rides, a petting zoo, three-legged
races, a hay jumping pit, horseshoe matches and more as part of the city’s
celebration. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Music Festival will be held as part of the
City Celebration event from 1:30 – 7:30 p.m. $15 for access throughout the
venue. Food and beverage vendors, a beer & wine booth, pony rides, a petting
zoo, face painting, community and commercial booths, and more will
be available during the music festival. Free parking and shuttle bus services.
Ernie Howlett Park, 25851 Hawthorne Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. For tickets
and information visit RememberTheMusic.org.
Sunday, September 24
Music On the Meadow
Join the Corelli Ensemble on the Upper Meadow for an afternoon of Baroque
music. 3 - 4:30 p.m. The concert will feature music of Corelli, Bach, Handel,
Vivaldi, and Telemann. Free with Garden admission. South Coast Botanic
Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula. southcoastbotanicgarden.org/
or (310) 544-1948.
Tuesday, September 26
Chez Melange Wine Dinner
Janet Trefethen of Trefethen Vineyards. Call Chez for more details (310) 540-
1222.
Taizé Service of Healing & Wholeness
St. Francis Episcopal Church hosts a meditative, multi-faith Taizé service of
Healing and Wholeness that includes candlelight, periods of silence, chants
and intercessory prayer with a Prayer Team leader, at 7 p.m. in the chapel,
followed by a reception with light refreshments. Director of Music, Youth &
Arts, Dr. Jeannie Cobb, will lead the congregation in chanting, accompanied
by USC graduate Robert Backes (a protégé of Christopher Parkening) on classical
guitar and Dr. Clayton Cobb on mandolin. Taizé services are offered
monthly throughout the year on the fourth Tuesday. Donations are welcome.
For more information, call (310) 375-4617 or visit stfrancispalosverdes.org.
October 31, 2017
Wednesday, September 27
Birding Unlimited
Wild Birds Unlimited and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy explore
the birds in nesting season at George F Canyon. 8:30. Free, all ages
October 2017 • Peninsula 49
eventcalendar
welcome. 27305 Palos Verdes Drive
East, Rolling Hills Estates. RSVP at
pvplc.org, Events & Activities.
Hip to be Square
Learn to Square Dance. Good for
mind & body. And fun! Introductory
classes at 6:30 p.m. Torrance
Woman’s Club, 1422 Engracia, Torrance.
424-262-7782.
DAVID FAIRCHILD PHOTOGRAPHY
"Its Like You’re There All Over Again"
310-316-5547 WWW.DAVIDFAIRCHILDSTUDIO.COM
Thursday, Sept. 28
Beaders
Azure Verde Chapter, a special interest
group of the Embroiderers'
Guild of America. Meeting focuses
on two perforated paper projects: a
Halloween and a Christmas ornament.
Visitors welcome. 9:30 a.m.
St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2200
Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates. For
more information, please call Idele
(310) 540-6104 or visit
azureverdeega.com/calendar.
A Fungus Among Us
LA Biomed’s - Lunch and Learn Series
presents Scott Filler, MD., discussing
New Approaches to Prevent Fungal
Infection. Although the fungus Candida
albicans grows harmlessly in
most people, it causes a serious infection
in hospitalized patients.
About 40 percent of patients with invasive
Candida infections die, even
with treatment. Dr. Filler will discuss
the research at LA Biomed that has
led to a vaccine to prevent Candida
infections. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
CDCRC 1st Floor Conference Room.
Reservations required by Friday,
September 23 to Development at
(310) 974-9569 or
development@labiomed.org. Lunch
provided. Attendance is limited to
Friends members and one-time
guests.
Friday, Sept. 29
Healing weekend retreat
Retreat focuses on reclaiming the lost
treasures of our lives. It will be a time
of prayer, personal ministry and reconciliation.
Led by Patrick J. Crowley,
SSCC. From 7 p.m. Friday,
September 29 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday,
October 1. Call Marlene Velazquez
at (310) 377-4867 x234 for reservations
or information. Online registration
is available at
maryjoseph.org. Mary and Joseph
Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Road,
Rancho Palos Verdes.
50 Peninsula • October 2017
WENDY SUN
BROKER ASSOCIATE
310.544.7301
WWW.WENDYSUN.COM
BRE# 01729186
RE/MAX ESTATE PROPERTIES
SMASHING QUEEN’S NECKLACE VIEW IN PALOS VERDES ESTATES
LET THE VIEW SPEAK FOR ITSELF! Panoramic queen’s necklace view from Santa Monica, downtown LA,
PV Golf Course to Long Beach. GATED PROPERTY, 6BR, 6.5baths, 9884 SF living area, 48,353 lot size.
North-South facing TENNIS COURT. An aesthetic balance of comfort and design is found in every room of this house.
PV lifestyle at its best!
$9,450,000
WENDY SUN
BROKER ASSOCIATE
310.544.7301
WWW.WENDYSUN.COM
BRE# 01729186
RE/MAX ESTATE PROPERTIES
PALOS VERDES ESTATES LIFESTYLE AT ITS BEST!
Spectacular lot in PVE with resort-like grounds. Custom Colonial architecture design exudes elegance and charm. 5BR + Library, 7
Baths, 6,039 square feet, 29,653 SF lot size. Ocean and coastline view. Lush landscaped backyard features a brick patio with open-beam
portico eating area, copper-roofed gazebo, fountains, tranquil walking path, pool, spa, and BBQ area with gas and wood-burning grills.
Absolute Privacy and Truly Estate-Like Grounds.
$4,995,000
Spell it like it is
The multiple Tony Award-winning musical comedy
continues through October 1 at the Norris Theatre.
A quirky group of adolescent overachievers (played
by adult actors) go head to head with each other
in a spelling bee championship, while coping with
overzealous parents, teen crushes, sabotage attempts,
and the trials and tribulations of puberty.
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and
2 p.m. Sunday. $30 to $70 and student rush tickets
are $15 (plus $5 facility fee).To purchase tickets,
call the box office at (310) 544-0403 or go to
palosverdesperformingarts.com. The Norris Theatre
is located at 27570 Norris Center Drive in Rolling
Hills Estates.
Saturday, September 30
Native Plant Sale
Annual Fall native plant sale fundraiser for the South
Coast Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
Featuring a huge selection of natives suitable
for the garden landscapes of the Palos Verdes
Peninsula and the South Bay. Madrona Marsh Nature
Center, 3201 Plaza del Amo,Torrance, 9 a.m
- 2 p.m.sccnps.org
National Public Lands Day
Join Toyota in helping the PV Land Conservancy at
the White Point Native Plant Demonstration Garden
by removing invasive weeds, watering native plants
and grooming trails.Lunch, raffle and fun, 9 a.m. –
noon. 1600 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro. Sign
up at pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Outdoor Volunteer Day
At White Point Nature Preserve, 1600 W. Paseo
Del Mar, San Pedro, 9 a.m. – noon. Help beautify
the native demonstration garden and surrounding
habitat. Sign up at pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Grand Annex Fall Concert
Tahoe-based Everyday Outlaws kick up the country
classics with the best of Waylon Jennings, Merle
Haggard and George Jones and more. 8 p.m. The
Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St. San Pedro, $20 to
$42. grandannex.org or (310) 833-4813. grandvision.org.
Sunday, October 1
Great Pumpkin Hunt
Take a walk through hiking trails and search for hidden
jack-o-lanterns along the way. Solve a riddle
and mark your finds and you will receive a special
prize in the Gift Shop. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October
31. Free with Garden admission. South Coast
Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard,
Palos Verdes Peninsula.
eventcalendar
southcoastbotanicgarden.org or (310) 544-1948.
PV Concours d’Elegance
In addition to an impressive display of classic automobiles,
this charity event will include historic aircraft
in side-by-side displays. This year’s show will
feature the marques of Packard and Porsche. 19
classes of automobiles representing the finest in
craftsmanship from all over the world will be on display.
Ticket holders will be able to tour the Western
Museum of Flight, located at Zamperini Field, at no
This 1932 Packard is among the over 200
classic cars that will be exhibited at the Palos
Verdes Concours d’Elegance at Zamperini
Field. See related stories pages 18 and 26.
54 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 55
RPV Residents
Do you change your automobile oil and filter? If you
do, call EDCO your trash/recycling hauler and
arrange for a free pickup. Then, place your used oil
in a tightly sealed container and your filter in a sealed
ziplock bag. EDCO will pick them up and drop off a
free oil recycling kit that contains a 15-quart drip pan,
empty 1-gallon container, funnel, shop rag, cardboard
floor mat and information on used oil and filter
recycling. Call EDCO at 310-540-2977 or go to
www.rpvrecycles.com.
EDCO’S Brush Clearing Event
Starts Saturday Oct 7th
Document Shredding Event and
Electronic Waste Roundup and
Free Mulch Giveaway
Sat. October 14th from 8 am to 11 am
RPV Civic Center, 30940 Hawthorne Bl.
(RPV Residents Only)
For More information on Used Oil Recycling, go to:
1-800-CLEANUP
For Weekly Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
(including Sharps, Used Oil and
Electronic Waste Disposal) go to:
Gaffey SAFE Center
Address: 1400 N Gaffey St, San Pedro, 90731
Phone: 800.988.6942
Open Every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm
Saturday, October 7
Kenny Loggins Concert
Grammy winning singer and songwriter of such hits as “Footloose” and “This
Is It” returns for another performance in the intimate setting of the Norris Theatre.
Ticket prices for the 8 p.m. show are $275 to $300. To purchase tickets,
call the box office at (310) 544-0403 or go to
palosverdesperformingarts.com. 27570 Norris Center Drive in Rolling Hills
Estates.
Breast Cancer and the Asian Woman
Free community talk by Dr. Erin H. Lin, DO on breast cancer prevention and
screening, maintaining breast health, advanced treatment options and diet
and nutrition. Dr. Lin is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Calieventcalendar
charge. $40 when purchased in advance by Sept. 30, $50 the day of the
show. Children 13 and younger free. Parking $10, cash only. VIP package
featuring tent seating, a Mediterranean-style catered luncheon including craft
beer and premium wine; and general parking $150 per ticket. 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. Louis Zamperini Field, 3301 Airport Drive, Torrance. pvconcours.org and
on Facebook.
Sustainable Seafood Expo
Seafood samples, chef demonstration, full bar. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium,
3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro, noon - 5 p.m. Tickets at the CMA
gift shop or at sustainableseafoodexpo.org. For more visit cabrillomarineaquarium.org
or (310) 548-7562.
Blessing of the Animals
Treats for pets and owners, 4 p.m. St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Palos Verdes
31290 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes. Next to Golden Cove
Shopping Center.
Tuesday-Thursday, October 3-5
Girls Night Out
Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach (CSCRB) celebrates its 30th anniversary
of providing free support to cancer patients and their families with
the 15th annual Girls Night Out “Fun”- raiser. This event “Just for Ladies” celebrates
the women in our lives who have been touched by cancer with an
evening of fun and humor. Festivities begin each night at 5:30 p.m. with the
opening of the bar and silent auction—followed by dinner, live auction, a fabulous
show, a world class line-up of top comedians, a fun raffle and lots of
laughs. Don your festive attire and get ready to party in pink! Proceeds from
this event will help to fund free cancer support programs at CSCRB. Reservations
are $100 per person. Call (310) 376-3550 to reserve your seat, or visit
www.GirlsNightOutCSCRB.org to purchase tickets online. The Comedy &
Magic Club 1018 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach.
Wednesday, October 4
Pen Senior Lecture series
Back by popular demand is Jean Alden and the Reader's Theater Repertory
of San Pedro with riveting performances of three small plays: Small Claims,
Larry’s Latest Plan To Get Out Of Yard Work, and Einstein’s Brain. 10:30 a.m.
at Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd.
Friday, October 6
Story Road
Story Road is four premier Irish traditional musicians: vocalist Colleen Raney
fresh off a tour with Solas; multi-instrumentalist Ryan Davidson; and Stuart
Mason and John Weed of Molly’s Revenge. 8 p.m. The Grand Annex, 434
W. 6th St. San Pedro, $20 to $42, available at www.grandannex.org or
(310) 833-4813 Mon-Fri 9 to5. More info at: www.grandvision.org.
56 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 57
eventcalendar
fornia Irvine School of Medicine and
a Board-Certified Breast Surgeon.
Her talk will be followed by a question
and answer session. Refreshments
will be served. 2 to 4 p.m.
Bread of Life Church, 2780 Lomita
Blvd., Torrance. For further information,
visit breadoflifechurch.org.
Movie Night
St.John Fisher Women's Council
presents its annual Movie Night in
Barrett Hall. The movie will be “A
Good Year" a fun, delightful and romantic
movie. Reservations and prepaid
admission of $15 can be made
in the Parish Office until Wednesday
October 4. Admission includes hot
dogs, popcorn, candy, sodas and
chips. Bring your own wine or beer.
Proceeds help support charities. Dinner
at 6 p.m., movie at 7 p.m. St.
John Fisher Church is located at
5448 Crest Road Rancho Palos
Verdes. For additional information,
call Nancy McDonough (310) 377-
1305 or Bernie Maynard (310)
541-1826.
58 Peninsula • October 2017
Sunday, October 8
Second Sundays At Two
Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro, one of Portugal’s foremost artists, trained at the Tchaikovsky
Conservatory in Moscow, plays Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
in its original version for solo piano. Free; donations appreciated. 2 p.m.
Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills
Estates. www.RHUMC.org.
Wed., October 11
PV Woman’s Club
The Palos Verdes Woman's Club meets at noon at the Rolling Hills Country
Club.The program will be The Magic of Don Frank. $32. For reservations and
information call Beverly Teresinski at (310) 378-1349. 27000 Palos Verdes
Drive East.
Friday, October 13
El Twanguero
Grammy and Goya award-winning guitarist Diego Garcia puts a Spanish
twist on American rock-n-roll stylings of Chet Atkins, Carl Perkins, and Les
Paul.8 p.m. $20 to $42, available at www.grandannex.org or (310) 833-
4813. The Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St. San Pedro. www.grandvision.org.
Saturday, October 14
RPV resident clean up
Document Shredding, E-waste collection and mulch giveaway from 8 to 11
a.m. RPV City Hall, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. For RPV residents only.
Sunday, October 15
Jester's OktoberFest
Celebrate OctoberPhest PhunDay at the Races. 11:30 a.m - 5 p.m. Lunch
noon to 2 p.m., First Race: 1 p.m. $75 donation includes: Admission & Parking,
Racing
Program and
B a r b e c u e
Lunch. Proceeds
support
The Jester &
P h a r l e y
Phund’s Smiles
for Kids with
Cancer Program.
RSVP by
Sept. 28 by
mail or e-mail
to
eventcalendar
amy@thejester.org.
For
more information,
please call (310) 544-4733 by Oct. 4. Santa Anita Park Infield, 285
WQ. Huntington Drive Arcadia.
Halloween Ball
Chef Michael Shafer of The Depot Restaurant hosts the Halloween Ball under
a "ghostly" white tent in Torrance for over 800 costumed guests. This annual
fundraiser benefits the 2,500 children of Pediatric Therapy Network. Dinner,
hosted martini, wine & beer bar, live music, costume contests, live & silent auctions,
raffle prizes, infamous wine wall in front of The Depot Restaurant, 1250
Cabrillo Ave., Torrance, 4 to 9 p.m. Ticket Price: $150 per person (310)
328.0276. PediatricTherapyNetwork.org.
October 2017 • Peninsula 59
TRUSTS, WILLS, PROBATE
After practicing law in the
Manhattan and Hermosa Beach area for
over 28 years I'm pleased to announce the
relocation of my offices to Palos Verdes.
Please call for a free consultation.
Experience Handcrafted
Fine Mexican Cuisine
And Enjoy!
MARGARET A. JONES
Attorney At Law
655 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 125
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
(310) 544-2255
Majoneslaw.com
Fresh Daily Specials Private Parties Catering
Great Selection of Beer and Wine
Open Tue-Sun at 4PM
eventcalendar
Wednesday, October 18
Confessions of a Costume Junkie
Diane Yoshitomi has created photos of gowns and accessories from the past
15 years of historical costume creations along with stories for which they were
made. She will discuss what it is like to be dressed from head to toe in 19th
Century garb. Diane has been sewing for more than 50 years and is a lifelong
student of the history of fashion. This is a Peninsula Seniors lecture series
held Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. at Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd.
Optimist fundraiser
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services holds its annual fundraiser from 6-
8:30 p.m. at the South Park Center’s penthouse tower, 1149 Hill St. H300,
Los Angeles. The event features 8 food stations, wineries, and a signature
cocktail made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Silent and live auctions. Hosted
by HLN’s Michaela Pereira. For tickets and info call 323-443-3022 or visit
www.oyhfs.org.
Thursday, October 19
South Coast Rose Society
South Coast Botanic Garden rose society meeting begins at 7 p.m.The
speaker is the renowned “King of the Roses” Tom Carruth, who has created
more All-America roses than any other living hybridizer, among them “Betty
Boop”, “Fourth of July” and so many others.Meetings are free to the public.
For further information, please see us on Facebook. 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard,
Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Country Star Travis Tritt
The CMA and Grammy Award winning country music star performs a rare,
intimate acoustic concert at the Norris Theatre, featuring multi-platinum hits,
including "It's a Great Day to Be Alive" and "Best of Intentions." The up- close
event will be punctuated with personal stories and anecdotes about Tritt’s storied
life and musical influences. 8 p.m. $95-$98. To purchase tickets, call the
box office at (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com. The
Norris Theatre is located at 27570 Norris Center Drive in Rolling Hills Estates.
Friday, October 20
Nickel Creek’s Watkins
Sean Watkins, cofounder of the Grammy Award-winning Americana trio
Nickel Creek, has collaborated with Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett and other
groundbreaking roots-rock artists. 8 p.m. Tickets $20 to $42, available at
www.grandannex.org or (310) 833-4813. The Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th
St. San Pedro. www.grandvision.org.
Salsa Verdes
Authentic Fine Mexican Cuisine
2325 Palos Verdes Drive West
Palos Verdes Estates
(424) 206-9456
60 Peninsula • October 2017
Saturday, October 21
VoicePlay Concert
VoicePlay soared to fame on NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” The five-piece a cappella
group promises an enthralling theatrical experience not to be missed. 8 p.m.
$63-$75, with a $10 discount for youths. To purchase tickets, call the box office
at (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com. 27570 Norris
Center Dr., Rolling Hills Estates.
Sunday, October 22
Peninsula Symphonic Winds Fall Concert
Guest conductor Dr. Berkeley Price will perform the Clarinet Concerto by
swing-era legend Artie Shaw. The concert will also feature music by leading
composers Frank Ticheli and Samuel Hazo, a suite of English folk songs by
Vaughan Williams, a selection from Symphony No. 1 “The Lord of the Rings”
by doMeij, and a new arrangement of Haydn’s Surprise Symphony by Ted
eventcalendar
Marcus. 3 p.m. at the LOTH RHCC Community Center, 735 Silver Spur Road,
Rolling Hills Estates. $10 for adults Children 12 and under free with an adult.
pswinds.org for more information.
Catalina Island Conservancy art show
The works of 10 nationally recognized plein air artists will be featured at the
Catalina Island Conservancy's 7th annual Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show.
The artists each spent time on Catalina creating new works that feature the Island's
rugged wildlands, Avalon and Two Harbors in the plein air style. Exhibiting
artists include Cindy Baron, Brian Blood, Don Demers, Kathleen
Dunphy, Debra Huse, Laurie Kersey, Kim Lordier, Michael Obermeyer, Ron
Rencher and Brian Stewart. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Balboa Yacht Club, 1801 Bayside
Dr. Corona del Mar.
Registration:catalinaconservancy.org (562) 437-8555 ext. 1239.
Thursday, October 26
Table this fundraiser
Las Candalistas fall fundraiser "Creative Entertaining, A Showcase of Tabletop
Designs and Lifestyle Speakers" at the Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion 10am - 3pm.
This year featuring Aida Mollenkamp, Food Network and Cooking Channel
Chef, Author, and food and travel expert. Let us inspire you. Tickets available
at the door or www.lascandalistas.org.
Sunday, October 29
Water music
Peninsula Symphony opens its 51st season with the exuberance in Felix
Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op 27. Aleksandr
Glazunov’s majestic Das Meer (The Sea), Opus 28, follows. After intermission,
the concert hall is transformed into a fairy tale lake in Anatole Liadov The Enchanted
Lake, Op 62. The concert ends with Leonard Bernstein’s haunting On
the Waterfront. 6:15 p.m. for the pre-concert lecture by Maestro Berkson (members
only). 7 p.m. concert. Doors open at 6 p.m. Free. Redondo Union High
School Auditorium, 631 Vincent Street in Redondo Beach (PCH at Diamond).
For further information, please call the Symphony Office at (310) 544-0320
or visit Pensym.org.
Pier to Pier Friendship Walk
Peninsula Education Foundation, 8 a.m. check-in, 9 a.m. walk. Registration:
Skechersfriendshipwalk.com.
Harvest Fair
Peninsula Heritage School, 26944 Rolling Hills Rd., RHE., 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
(310) 541-4795.
Prepared Peninsula Expo
Learn how to prepare for the next disaster. Prepared Peninsula Expo where
life-saving information, demonstrations and emergency survival gear will be
available to the public. Step-by-step preparedness plans for your family and
pets, survival essentials, trick or treating for the kids (wear your costumes) and
free food. Norris Pavilion, 501 Indian Peak Road, Rolling Hills Estates, 12-3
p.m. pvestates.org, rpvca.gov, rolling-hills.org.
Sunday, November 5
Journey of the Endeavour and David Benoit
“Journey of the Endeavour,” by Grammy nominated, Peninsula composer
David Benoit, will be performed at the Peninsula Committee Los Angeles Philharmonic
(PCLAP) fall fundraiser at the California Science Center Samuel
Oschin Pavilion. Benoit will conduct the Asia America Youth Symphony. “Journey
of the Endeavour” will be accompanied by NASA footage of the space
shuttle’s journey to its permanent home in Los Angeles. 7-10 p.m. $150 at
pclaphil.org. 700 Exposition Park Dr. Los Angeles. PEN
62 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 63
FEE ONLY FINANCIAL PLANNER
• Are you in or approaching retirement?
• Do you want to stop worrying about your
investment portfolio?
• Do you lose sleep wondering if you may
outlive your nest egg?
• Do you want to know if you are on the
right path financially?
• Do you want to take control of your
finances?
• Do you feel you need a second opinion on
your portfolio?
If you answered “yes” to any or all of the
above questions, you may need to contact
me, to provide you with a personal financial
plan designed to help you take control
of your finances, reduce anxiety and ultimately
achieve your financial goals. There
is no cost or obligation for the initial meeting,
as it is an opportunity for you to learn
more about me, and for me to determine
if I can help you achieve your financial
goals and objectives.
As a fee-only financial planner I will be
compensated solely by my clients, I do not
accept commissions, referral fees, or
compensation from other sources, and I am committed to acting in
your best interest.
Abbas A. Heydari, CFP®
Certified Financial Planner
and Registered Investment Advisor.
Providing Financial Services
in Torrance since 1986
21515 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 1020
Torrance, CA 90503
E-mail: aahfp@Yahoo.com
Web: www.aaheydari.com
Phone: (310)792-2090
64 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 65
THE GIRL IN THE
HIGH CASTLE
With Book Four, Geanna Culbertson
is halfway through her
Crisanta Knight young adult series
Geanna Culbertson. Photo by Bondo Wyszpolski
by Bondo Wyszpolski
Six years ago, prior to her Sophomore year at USC, Geanna Culbertson
had a sudden thought that would change the course of her young
life. “I was literally just sitting somewhere and the exact words,
‘Lady Agnue’s School for Princesses and Other Female Protagonists’ just
popped into my head.”
A few months passed, during which time the Rancho Palos Verdes resident
took a course taught by Aimee Bender called Classic and Contemporary
Fairy Tales. Now, ideas were buzzing around in Culbertson’s head
for a fairy tale of her own, or rather an entire series of them. However,
her plate was already full. She not only triple-minored while at USC, she
was the vice-president of her sorority and was interning at Nickelodeon
and Disney. She later worked at Paramount.
Are you, my reader, perchance a budding novelist, but can’t seem to
find the time to write? Well, listen up; this next paragraph’s for you.
“My roommate thought I was nuts,” Culbertson says, “but every Friday,
without fail for the years I was in school, no matter how tired I was or
how late I went to bed the night before, every Friday morning I got up
around 4 a.m., got ready in the dark, put my hair in a ponytail, packed
up my bag, and I walked to campus. I was there before dawn, and I
worked at that Coffee Bean for about four or five hours before classes
started.”
Nothing if not ambitious
That was 2011, and here we are, half a dozen productive years later.
Culbertson’s third volume of her Crisanta Knight series has just been
published, and she’s just wrapping up the writing of Book Four. The
books, although categorized as Juvenile/Young Adult fiction, are several
hundred pages each. “A lot of words,” the author says, laughing. “A lot of
thoughts.”
“The series is told mainly from the perspective of Crisanta Knight, my
title character,” Culbertson explains, “and she is the daughter of Cinderella.”
And where does the story take place?
“This world exists in a place called Book, where the children and
younger siblings of former fairy tale characters all live. If they’re selected
as protagonists they all go to this school for protagonists (Lady Agnue’s
School for Princesses and Other Female Protagonists, of course; and the
nearby Lord Channing’s School for Princes and Other Young Heroes),
where they train to be main characters.”
Crisanta Knight pals around with S.J., “which is short for Snow Junior,
because she’s the daughter of Snow White,” as well as Blue, “the younger
sister of Little Red Riding Hood.” I think we can guess the color of Blue’s
cloak.
“I would say I have five main characters who are in every single book,
without fail.”
Children and younger siblings of well-known fairy tale characters may
be plentiful, but there are or will be many new faces, as well. Says Culbertson,
“I was very careful not to put too much of an emphasis on the
past. That’s one thing that was very important to me. An overarching
theme in this series is change, and the importance of it.”
In other words, Culbertson isn’t simply putting a new spin on classic
fairy tales, she’s moving her characters forward and making them relevant
and relatable to young people today.
Even though the stories are told from Crisanta Knight’s point of view,
Culbertson says, “It’s my voice, too, and so it’s told with sass and with
snark, and (through) the lens of a modern girl. I always like to say that
she’s a very normal girl, just in extraordinary circumstances with fantastical
things happening around her.”
That is, a girl both valiant and vulnerable.
If Crisanta Knight is a strong and determined character, so is her creator.
“I’m very driven,” she says. “I get up most days before the sun does.
If you love something you commit to it a hundred percent.”
Her own biggest fan
The first book in the series (“Crisanta Knight: Protagonist Bound”) was
published in April 2016 and the second (“Crisanta Knight: The Severance
66 Peninsula • October 2017
Game”) in December of 2016. After
the second volume was published
Culbertson was contacted by a publicist,
“who really, really believes in
me,” the author says. She arranged
a book tour, which began a couple
of weeks back to coincide with the
publication of the third volume
(“Crisanta Knight: Inherent Fate”).
Culbertson’s stops were in Florida,
Alabama, and Louisiana; her itinerary
being schools, libraries, and
bookstores.
The fourth installment of
Crisanta Knight’s adventures (“The
Liar, The Witch, & The Wormhole”)
is undergoing final edits and is
scheduled for release on June 1,
2018.
“I was really excited to finish this
one because Book Four is larger
than the others by a significant degree,”
Culbertson says. “Even after
reading it so many times, I still
smile and laugh at the jokes and I’m
still into it. To me that’s a good sign.
Not that I toot my own horn, but
you can take this book to the bank,
it’s that good. I’m very confident
about Four; it’s going to be awesome.”
Maybe. In Book Four, Crisanta
Knight and her sidekicks find themselves
in different lands, and not
just in the world of Book. Culbertson
says she never wanted to go the
usual route, where writers take a
classic fairy tale and then merely
extend or add a sequel to it.
Instead, she says, “I wanted to
create a world where every version
of every fairy tale makes sense and
can co-exist. In order to do that, I
had to create a lot of very elaborate
timelines.” Culbertson mentions
spreadsheets, equations, calendars
and maps. The result is 14 or 15
total worlds, she says, where famous
literary characters interact
with one another and cross back
and forth into various realms. It certainly
seems ambitious, regardless
of whether or not she can pull it off.
And then there’s Book Five,
which Culbertson is on the verge of
completing. Then six, seven, and
eight, the last in the series scheduled
for the spring of 2021.
“I know where I want my characters
to end up, I know how I want
the series to end, and I know how I
want each book to end.” Which
doesn’t mean she won’t improvise
now and again.
“It’s like being Dorothy in Oz,”
Culbertson says, “but without the
Yellow Brick Road. You know you
want to get to the Emerald City and
you just don’t have the exact path,
but you have the direction you want
to go in.” She pauses. “Half the fun
is going into the woods, isn’t it?”
A girl in the driver’s seat
Culbertson was born and raised
in Palos Verdes. She attended Palos
Verdes High School and today lives
near Portuguese Bend. Not yet a full
time writer (though you’d never
know it), she has a 9 to 5 job in digital
marketing and on weekends
teaches and trains in martial arts.
Culbertson has also allied herself
with Girls on the Run, Los Angeles,
a non-profit organization with a
focus on empowering young girls to
grow up and be strong and confident
about who they are and what
they can achieve. The Crisanta
Knight series is a kind of corporate
sponsor for them and their twiceyearly
5K runs. “The reason I paired
with it in the first place,” Culbertson
says, “is because it really aligns
with the values that I’m trying to instill
with my series. Not only just
girl power but also reaching your
potential.”
Even when she was just writing
for herself, Culbertson says, “I had
always hoped and prayed that
someday the books I would create
would give people the joy and the
fun that my favorite series have
brought to me, where you like the
characters and you immerse yourself
in that world.” She mentions
the Percy Jackson (2005-2009) and
Artemis Fowl (2001-2012) series.
This brings us to the books that
Culbertson read growing up. Most
of them, she points out, “have been
told from a male protagonist perspective
– boy heroes, as it were. I
love them, they’re great, but I have
really struggled to find a book with
a female lead that I like. They don’t
put the focus as much on that person’s
internal journey as the male
hero’s.
“Girl books tend to focus very
heavily on the romantic interest,”
Culbertson continues. “My series
will definitely have romance; it’s
going to have great stuff like that
because it’s fun, but I wanted a female
heroine you could pick off the
shelf and you’re like, ‘I don’t just
like her, I want to be like her.’ That
is what I’m going for: ‘I like her,
and I want to be like her.’ I will
close with that sentence.”
The Crisanta Knight series, volumes
one through three, are available
through Amazon, BQB Publishing,
and other venues, brick-and-mortar as
well as cyberspace. Also, visit Geanna
Culbertson’s website at Crisantaknight.com.
PEN
October 2017 • Peninsula 67
68 Peninsula • October 2017
October 2017 • Peninsula 69
More than a
pretty view
Photos by Brad Jacobson (CivicCouch.Com)
Mar’sel chef Andrew Vaughan’s explorations continue a reliance on hyper-local ingredients
by Richard Foss
This week, I went to a restaurant with a spectacular view of the ocean,
but sat where I couldn’t see it. Instead, on our most recent trip to
Mar’sel my wife and I dined at the bar.
That’s not what we planned to do, though in retrospect it’s hard to apply
any words that involve thinking in advance to that particular afternoon. We
were in the area, it was a lovely day, so we decided to drop in and see if we
could get a table. In the past I have been able to do this because many locals
forget that Mar’sel is there, a natural effect of its hidden location inside the
Terranea resort.
On this visit we could tell we might have a problem as soon as we arrived
because the entire terrace was beautifully decorated for a wedding reception.
The hostess informed us that the dining room was booked too, and
apologetically offered seats for dinner at the bar.
I can understand that, because it’s a very different environment from the
dining room or terrace. Those are full of light by day and have a moonlit
sea vista by night, while the bar is in perpetual twilight and only offers
views of some dark wood paneling. As much as we enjoy the views and visuals
of the elegant dining room, we decided that we’d see what the experience
was like at the bar.
We were greeted by Julie the bartender, who doubled as our server for
the evening, and were given a paper menu for the food and a tablet with
the wines and other beverages. We discovered one of the advantages of this
seating as we discussed the first order of business, which was, of course,
cocktails. Julie knew them all, chapter and verse. After we told her our preferences
(alcohol-forward, not overly sweet), she counseled us wisely. We
had a “Dreamer’s Tonic” (Lillet Rose, Botanist gin, St. Germain, orange bitters,
and Prosecco) and “Sole Fashioned” (Amontillado, genever, Demerara
syrup, and bitters). The current theme in their cocktail program is to experiment
with wine in cocktails, and in both cases it was successful. Adding
sherry to the old fashioned gave it an extra dimension of wood and nuttiness,
and if you like that classic you’ll appreciate this riff on it. As for the
tonic, I’ve had other cocktails with gin and elderflower, but this was one of
the best, the layers of gentle floral and herbal notes with sparkling wine a
great summery splash.
Julie proved to be a fine guide to the food selections, too, which is not
surprising. Good mixologists construct drinks with the same mindset as
chefs creating entrees. We needed that guide because so many things on
this menu involve unusual and intriguing combinations. Chef Andrew
Vaughan took over from Michael Fiorelli about a year ago and has taken
the restaurant in a slightly different direction. The emphasis on hyper-local
and fresh items is still there, but the menu is a little more eclectic, a little
less Mediterranean.
Chef Vaughan obviously likes to experiment with combinations of meat
with fruit and nuts, an aesthetic popular in Renaissance Italy that has been
70 Peninsula • October 2017
coming back into favor. The fig and
burrata salad with green zebra
tomatoes, arugula, toasted pistachios,
carrot essence, and pork
cracklings intrigued us as a modern
take on that idea. To go with it
we considered a crab salad with
apples, pecans, and grilled avocado.
But after a conversation with
Julie we were swayed to Spanish
octopus with squid ink naan,
chickpea puree, mustard greens,
and smoked paprika aioli.
I’m a big fan of fig and cheese
salads and order them often during
the short season when the fruit can
be obtained fresh, but the carrot
essence, pistachios, and cracklings
were a novel take. The only thing
about this that didn’t entirely work
was the cracklings, (called grattons
on the menu, as they are in
Vaughan’s native Louisiana). The
idea of including them was fine,
but they were served in giant
chunks when they would have
been better crumbled so the flavor
could be mixed in more evenly. As
it was, you got a mouthful of
crunchy richness or none at all.
The grilled octopus had a finer
balance. Though the squid ink
naan was something of a novelty,
the dark purple bread added to the
presentation, picking up the color
in the greens, and the caramel-colored
smoky sauce on the tender
octopus added more visual interest.
The flavors all harmonized:
slightly bitter greens with rich
seafood and smoky, slightly spicy
sauce. There were more grattons
on the side as a garnish, but we
found this item fine without them.
We asked Julie for wine suggestions
and she called over the sommelier,
who recommended a
Glatzer Gruner Veltliner with the
salad and a Qupe Syrah with the
octopus. Both were sound choices
– Gruner is becoming known as a
spicy, fruity, lightly acidic alternative
to Sauvignon Blanc, and it’s
superb with seafood.
By this time we trusted Julie
enough to let her talk me out of the
lobster, uni, and squash pasta that
had interested me and into ordering
Atlantic salmon with bok choy,
trumpet mushrooms, tomatoes,
eggplant, brown butter, and
macadamia nuts. I hadn’t considered
it because I can get salmon in
plenty of places, but she was emphatic
about how good this was.
She was right. This was a marvelous
piece of fish, a slight herbal
crust crisp over meat that was so
rich it was almost liquid. It was a
simple item perfectly cooked,
Chef Andrew Vaughan’s signature Lobster Burrata, made with Maine lobster burrata
cheese, uni, handmade pappardelle pasta, butternut squash puree and
golden raisins. Finished with cape gooseberries and basil from Terranea Resort’s
herb garden.
alongside a very interesting vegetable
mix that put together fruity,
funky, and slightly bitter flavors
and made it all work. I wouldn’t
have picked brown butter with lime
as a sauce for these vegetables, but
I’m glad Chef Vaughan did.
My wife ordered a pork tomahawk,
a pork chop so large that it
looked like it could be used as a
deadly weapon, over Napa coleslaw
with what was described as pretzelcheddar
spoon bread. This wasn’t
like any spoon bread I have ever
seen, as they’re usually moist and
puffy within – this was a bread
pudding in all but name, crunchy
on the outside, chewy pretzel textured
with veins of cheese within.
As for the chop, pork this thick can
be tricky to cook, but this was moist
through and through, and the mild
slaw was a nice companion to the
richness of both meat and bready
cheese goodness.
The sommelier came through
again with selections from the bythe-glass
list. We were both bewitched
by the Catalonian
Embruix, a red blend with rich
spicy and berryish notes. (And I
had to write that sentence after I
found that the name of the blend,
embruix, means bewitched. It’s
well named because we really did
find it enchanting.) We were similarly
impressed by a Westerly
“Happy Canyon” red blend from
Santa Barbara, which had a little
more cherry and dried fruit and a
little less spice. We very happily
shared tastes to sample each with
both main courses.
We had planned to order a chiboust,
a pastry crème based
dessert that I hadn’t tried before,
but the full house had decimated
the selection and they were out of
the items we most wanted to try.
We will certainly return and hope
that they have it next time, because
after seeing what they do with savories
I must try the sweets.
Dinner for two was pricey at
about $230, but worth it. As we left
I noticed some diners taking pictures
of each other with the last
bits of sunset in the background.
Mar’sel has a superb setting and
has used it artfully, but as we
found, you can have a great time
here even if you never glimpse the
ocean.
Mar’sel is at the Terranea Resort,
10 0 Te r r a n e a Wa y, Ra n c h o
Palos Verdes. Sun – Thu 5 – 9:30
p.m., Fri.-Sat. 5 – 10 p.m., Sun.
brunch 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Full bar,
corkage $40. Wheelchair access
good. Menu at terranea.com/marsel.
(310) 265-2836. PEN
Best of The Beach 2017 Winner
Best Eclectic, American Contemporary
Daily Breeze “2015 South Bay’s Favorite”
American Restaurant & Bar
“ Best New Restaurant”- Richard Foss of Easy Reader
Favorite Soul Food of 2015- Daily Breeze( yeah, we were surprised
too)
Hey! We like to party, especially with YOU! Call us for your next
Occasion. We’ve got a Banquet Room perfect for any celebration
Call 310-378-8119 for details
October 2017 • Peninsula 71
October 2017 • Peninsula 73
30 Year Anniversary
The Palos Verdes Flower Talking Clock donated by
Michel Medawar and his family, celebrated its 30th
Year on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
S P O T L I G H T O N T H E H I L L
Malaga Cove Homeowners
Hold Annual Meeting
The Malaga Cove Homeowners Association (MCHA) held its annual
membership meeting at the Malaga Cove Library Gallery room. The
evening began with a wine and cheese reception for Palos Verdes Estates's
new Mayor Jim Vandever, City Manager Tony Dahlerbruch and
newly elected Council Members Sandy Davidson and Kenny Kao.
Mayor Vandever discussed the City's current financial challenges. The
newly elected Directors of the MCHA are president Tricia Rapaport,
vice president Valerie Beranek, treasurer Art Fine, financial secretary
Alex Davis and recording secretary Cheryl Kohr. Susan Chang was honored
for her 17 years of MCHA service.
PHOTOS BY CHERYL KOHR
Your clock reminds you of its presence every
time you wind it. If the accuracy of the clock is
not what it used to be, or the chimes are not as
strong or rhythmic, or maybe it just stops; that means
your clock is talking to you and telling you that its endless
life is in jeopardy.
It is imperative to maintain and service your clock
regularly. Oil gets old and dry forcing the train of gears
to work twice as hard to accomplish their goal. This results
in damage that drastically shortens the life of a
fine timepiece.
Michel Medawar has been extending the lives of
timepieces for over sixty years as his father did sixty
years before. He is the inventor of the first talking clock
in the world. He is a graduate from Patek Philippe in
Geneva, Switzerland, The Theod Wagner Clock CO. in
Zeeland, Michigan. Call him so that he may come to
your and offer you a free estimate for servicing your
clock. Or bring your wall or mantel clock to out store
to see our showroom and receive the same complementary
diagnosis.
We are located at 810C Silver Spur Rd., in Rolling Hills Estates, Ca.
90274. Or call us at (310) 544-0052
1. Tricia Rapaport, Betsy Treynor,
Ela Jhaveri and Valerie Beranek.
2. Ron and Shirley Paolucci.
3. Sharon and Bob Parke.
1
2
4. Kenny Kao PVE Councilman and
Mayor James Vandever.
5. Mary and Tom Malone.
3
Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Tuesday - Saturday
810C Silver Spur Road • Rolling Hills Estates • CA 90274
Call 310.544.0052
4 5
74 Peninsula • October 2017
Concerts in the Park
The country honky tonk sounds of the Cody Bryant Show closed out the Malaga
Cove Summer concert series on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The concert was presented
by the Malaga Cove Business and Professional Association in cooperation with
the Palos Verdes Police Officer’s Association. Virginia Butler and husband Les Fishman
of Coldwell Banker produce the Library Concert Series every year and have
committed to continuing the series in 2018. Malaga Bank designed and printed
the posters, flyers and programs.
Concerts in the Park has become a family tradition where patrons can put their
blankets out and reserve a space on the grassy knoll, picnic and then listen to a
wide range of different bands. To learn more visit www.malagacoveconcerts.com.
Cody Bryant
Band with Les
Fishman and
Virginia Butler.
around&about
PVP Council PTA Honorary Service Awards
Three high school graduating
seniors received
scholarship awards from
the PVP Council of PTAs:
Palos Verdes High’s Perrie
Kaminskas, Rancho Del
Mar’s Christopher
Somkhit-Perez, Peninsula
High’s Nadia Magee
with PVP Council of PTAs
President Beth Meyerhoff.
Photo by Shari Shigenaga
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Council of PTAs celebrated its 61st year with an Honorary
Service Awards event at Trump National Golf Course. The PVP Council of
PTAs supports all sixteen school PTAs on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, representing
almost 11,000 members, with the goal of positively impacting the lives of all children
and families. One hundred and fifty people attended to recognize exemplary
PTA volunteer service to the community. State PTA President-Elect (2017-2019) Dianna
MacDonald’s keynote thanked PTA members for their volunteerism and encouraged
continued commitment and leadership.
The audience at the park waiting for the show to begin. Photos by
Stephanie Cartozian
Pro surfer throws a rock ‘n roll birthday for Dad
Stef Corgel and
pro surfer Alex
Gray take a break
during the rock ‘n
roll birthday party
Gray threw for his
dad Dudley, who
sat in with the
band, playing
cover tunes from
the Allman Brothers
and Neil Young.
Guests signed a
surfboard birthday
card for the birthday
boy.
“Magically Mysterious”- New York Times
On the second Sundays at 2 p.m.,
Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
hosts acclaimed classical musicians in
concert. On September 10, famed Australian
flutist Catherine Gregory performed
with David Kaplan on the piano.
Catherine is a Core-Member of Decoda-
Affiliate of Carnegie Hall and Resident
Ensemble for Creative Performance at
the Guildhall School of London. The
New York Times boasts that “Ms. Gregory
leaves a deep impression-her
sound rich and fully present.” Admission
New York based Catherine
Gregory. Photo by Dario Acosta
Admiral Risty’s Live Entertainment
Songs such as “You’ve Got a Friend”,
“Sweet Caroline” and “Country Roads
Take Me Home” are being performed
by Tom Bellizia 7-11 p.m. Friday
evenings in the Seaside Lounge of Admiral
Risty’s Restaurant. Bellizia’s playlist
of old, familiar songs goes along with a
restaurant deeply rooted in Palos Verdes
history since 1966 . Bellizia is a composer,
pianist, guitarist and vocalist. He
owns and often plays a Felipe Conde
classical guitar from one of the oldest
guitar-making families in Madrid. The
Admiral Risty offers live entertainment
Tuesdays through Sundays in the lounge.
Visit www.admiralristy.com for a schedule
of upcoming performances.
is free and donations are appreciated.
Visit www.RHUMC.org to view show
schedules.
Tom Bellizia. Photo by Kathy
Berg
October 2017 • Peninsula 75
Suzy Zimmerman, Agent
Insurance Lic#: OF71296
4010 Palos Verdes Dr N, Suite
103
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
Bus: 310-377-9531
www.zimziminsurance.com
That’s when you can count on
State Farm®.
I know life doesn’t come with a schedule.
That’s why at State Farm you can always
count on me for whatever you need –
24/7, 365.
GET TO A BETTER STATE.
CALL ME TODAY.
1101198.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL
YMCA’s Adventure Guide Program
To grow and share adventurous experiences with a parent provides special memories
for children and adults alike. The
YMCA Adventure Guide program
launches children on a journey of discovery
alongside their parents to create a
bonding experience while they are still
young. Group activities include games,
crafts, songs, outdoor pursuits such as
camping, hiking, ice skating and swimming.
The goal is to spend quality oneon-one
time together to set a foundation
for a positive, lifelong relationship between
parent and child. The program
runs from September through June for
grades K-2 and parents. PEN
around&about
Matt and David Burt. Photo by
David Burt
NOW
OPEN
MATTUCCI
Plumbing
Since 1990 • License # 770059, C-36 C-34 C-42
D E P E N D A B L E • P R O F E S S I O N A L • A F F O R D A B L E
w w w . m a t t u c c i p l u m b i n g . c o m
FALL SPECIALS
$ 9 8 0
Residential Water Heater
40 gal. installed! ($1080 - 50 gal. also available)
Includes hot & cold water supply lines
Expires October 31, 2017
FULL SERVICE PLUMBING
SEWER VIDEO INSPECTION
ROOTER SERVICE
COPPER REPIPES
$ 7 5
Rooter Service - Main Line
Must have clean-out access. Some restrictions may apply.
Expires October 31, 2017
F R E E
E S T I M A T E S
M e n t i o n t h i s a d w h e n
s e t t i n g u p a p p o i n t m e n t .
3 1 0 . 5 4 3 . 2 0 0 1
q
HOME &
GARDEN GUIDE
Thank You
For Your
Vote!
ON CALL
24 HOURS
7 DAYS
76 Peninsula • October 2017
2013
r
Catalina Paints offers top quality
q Catalina Paints, formerly known as Supreme Paints, is a destination for top
quality house paints as well as wallpaper and window coverings. The Manhattan
Beach location recently started carrying Farrow and Ball paints, and both the Redondo
Beach and Manhattan locations carry Benjamin Moore, Cabot Stains,
Hunter Douglas and a whole lot more. Visit Catalinapaint.com for a complete list
of products and locations
1002 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach (310) 540-4456
708 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach (310) 376-2444
Catalinapaintstores.com
Custom Design & Construction makes remodeling fun
q Love your home again and love
the process too. While making a
major remodeling change to your
home is exciting and rewarding, it can
also seem overwhelming. That’s why
Custom Design & Construction has created
a unique process to guide each
project from idea to reality. They begin
with a Discovery phase where they explore
all the options within your budget
range. The award-winning design
team works with you to select finish
materials and fine-tune the design
plans. Making all the decisions upfront,
allows them to present an exact
final price before work begins. That’s
the benefit of working with a single
company that provides both design
and construction, all under one roof.
Ask about easy, in-house financing.
(310) 815-4815
VisitCustomDesign.com
License # 524561
q
HOME &
GARDEN GUIDE
r
Freighthouse a design showroom
q Freighthouse is a design showroom conceived by South Bay designer Sara
Balough as a resource for fellow designers to buy and sell goods that they need
for the individual touch their clients require and for clients to trade beautiful things
that may not work in their newly remodeled home. Freighthouse carries an everchanging
inventory of gently used designer, high end or antique items. This is Los
Angeles' go-to place for high quality art, furniture, and accessories at way below
retail prices.
2801 Pacific Coast Hwy.,Torrance
(424) 347-7331 freighthouseconsign.com
Beautiful pools, spas by Horusicky Construction
q Beautiful swimming pools, creative spas and artistic masonry work of all sizes
are offered by Horusicky Construction. Started by Michael Horusicky and now
run by son Mike Jr. and daughter Andrea, the family has been in business for over
45 years and is known for its quality work. Offering complete new pool and spa
construction and remodels, to hardscape, decking, outdoor kitchens, brick and
stone projects of all sizes as well as the landscaping. Horusicky Construction can
take care of it all with the experience and expertise that you can trust. Log onto
Horusicky.com to see their photo gallery and customer comments. Call or email
to schedule a free estimate.
(310) 544-9384 info@horusicky.com
Home & Garden Guide cont. on page 78
] u
t
Highest Quality at a Fair Price
• Stamping
• Driveways
• Pool Decks
• BBQ/Firepits
• Patios
• Stonework
• Pavers
• Foundations
LIABILITY INSURED • WORKERS COMPENSATION
Casey Lindahl - Founder & President of Lindahl Concrete Construction, Inc.
310-326-6626 LindahlConcrete.com
Lic.#531387
Showroom Available
October 2017 • Peninsula 77
q
HOME &
GARDEN GUIDE
r
Kitchen Collection team creates timeless results
q Jackie Balint, CKD, has been a designer in the kitchen and bath industry
since 1981 and is the owner of The Kitchen Collection in Riviera Village in Redondo
Beach. She and her daughter Debra offer years of expertise in practical
and personalized kitchens and baths. They work with clients and contractors to
create timeless projects, utilizing quality products and providing personal attention
from concept to completion. Jackie and Debra have worked on projects throughout
the country and have had many of their projects featured in architectural publications.
The Kitchen Collection is a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association
and the Bath & Kitchen Buying Group. Jackie has served on the boards of
both organizations.
241 Avenida del Norte, Redondo Beach
(310) 540-4090
TheKitchenCollection.com
1st Windows low prices, high quality
q Find 24/7 convenience at 1stwindows.com or visit the Signal Hill showroom.
1st Windows promises the best prices in the South Bay. No games, no commissioned
salespeople, no high-pressure sales. A volume, repeat-business dealer since
1995, 1st Windows is known for its straightforward and efficient service as well
as its quality products, lines and workmanship.
1858 E. 20th Street, Signal Hill
(562) 494-9069
4203 Spencer St., Torrance, CA 90503
(310)214-5049 • www.pevelers.com
Appointment Recommended
Showroom Hours: Monday Thru Friday 10-5
Closed Saturday and Sunday
License #381992
• Serving the South
Bay for over 35 years
• Full Service Contractor
• Complete Installation
• New Construction
• Remodeling
• Second Floors
• Additions
• Cabinets
Visit Our
Kitchen &
Bath
Showroom
Lindahl Concrete’s work is legendary
q Lindahl Concrete is the leading concrete and masonry company in the South
Bay. We value good relationships with our customers and producing high quality
work. View our work of driveways, pool decks, patios, sidewalks, walkways,
stairways, barbecues and more on our website. Visit their garden showroom to
see samples of colors and finishes. Workman’s Comp & General Liability Insured.
Lic. #531387. Call Casey Lindahl, Founder and President of Lindahl Concrete
Construction.
Vinyl Windows
Replacement and New Construction
BUY ONLINE
AND SAVE BIG $$$
WWW.1STWINDOWS.COM
VINYL, ALUMINUM, WOODCLAD
(310) 326-6626
lindahlconcrete@aol.com
lindahlconcrete.com
Mattucci Plumbing available 24/7
q At Mattucci Plumbing, the level of service you receive is a guarantee. For
plumbing repairs and installations in the South Bay and Greater Los Angeles, Mattucci’s
professional technicians are all about making services and equipment work
as great as possible. Customer satisfaction is their #1 priority. Call today or book
an appointment online. Their professional team is available whenever you need
Lowest Prices Up Front • No Games
Show Room 562-494-9069
CONTRACTOR REFERRAL • Fax 562-494-2069
78 Peninsula • October 2017
q
HOME &
GARDEN GUIDE
r
them and a live person will gladly assist you 24 hours a day. Call today for your
free estimate.
(310) 543-2001 mattucciplumbing.com
Pete Fer Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
offers repairs, remodels
q Pete Fer Plumbing is a complete mechanical contracting company, providing
plumbing, heating and air conditioning for new construction, remodeling, service
and repair to commercial and residential customers. They provide 24 hour service,
seven days a week through an automated emergency dispatch paging system.
Mention Peninsula People to one of their service technicians and receive $20 off
your first service call.
2020 S Mesa St, San Pedro
(310) 831-0737
Wholesale Woodfloor Warehouse
helps you find perfect floor
q Wholesale Woodfloor Warehouse, a family owned company, offers a huge
selection of top name brands at the lowest prices anywhere. They help you find
your perfect floors, deliver and provide installation with the quickest turnaround
times.
2217 1/2 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach
(424) 383-1260 Floorswww.com
r
October 2017 • Peninsula 79
80 Peninsula • October 2017
REAL ESTATE LOANS LOW RATES - FAST CLOSING
• Jumbo Loan To $10 Million
• Conventional Loans with only 1% Down (WHY RENT?)
• FHA up to $636,150
• 5+ Unit Financing
• Construction Loans
• Good Credit/Bad Credit
MILLENNIUM REAL ESTATE SERVICES
(BRE: 01275204/MLO: 1153348)
JACKIE COLLINS, Broker
800-653-1022
www.webmortgagefunder.com
609 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 200, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
“Mr. Australia”
New Zealand and Fiji Too!
Your So. Bay Expert for Amazing, Customized,
Independent Travel Packages “Down-under.”
For a conference or appointment:
Rick Stone, “Mr. Australia”
310-793-6013
mraustralia@verizon.net
www.MrAustralia.net
Proudly Affiliated with
Beach Travel, Hermosa Beach
Classifieds 424-269-2830
ELECTRICAL
LYNCH
ELECTRIC &
General
Building
Contractors
• Residential
Troubleshooting
• Remodel Specialist
Scott K. Lynch
P.V. Native
Licensed & Insured
Cell
310-930-9421
Office & Fax
310-325-1292
www.LynchElectric.us
Lic 701001
FLOORING
MUSIC LESSONS
Vocal Technician
Piano Teacher
Vocalist
Jeannine McDaniel
Rancho Palos Verdes
20 year experience
All Ages
310-544-0879
310-292-6341
Jeannine_mcdaniel2001@yahoo.com
PLASTERING
Patch Master
Plastering
Patch Plastering
Interior • Exterior
• Venetian Plastering
• Ceiling Removal
• Drywall Work
• Acoustic
Ceiling Removal
• Water & Fire Restoration
310-370-5589
Lic. # 687076 • C35-B1
POOLS & SPAS
POOLS • SPAS
HARDSCAPES
New Construction
& Remodeling
Excellent References
Horusicky Construction
310-544-9384
www.Horusicky.com
Credit cards accepted
Lic #309844, Bonded, Insured
ROOFING
Classifieds 424-269-2830
QUIXTAR
Concrete & Masonry
Residential & Commercial
310-534-9970
G
CONCRETE
Lic. #935981 C8 C29
classifieds
424-269-2830
D
Remodeling
Design
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Room Additions
New Construction
Reserve
your space in the
next
CONSTRUCTION
Pub Date: Oct 28
Deadline:
Oct 13
Call direct
s
(424)
269-2830
Charles Clarke
Local Owner/General Contractor
Ph: (310) 791-4150
Cell: (310) 293-9796
Fax (310) 791-0452
“Since 1990” Lic. No. 810499
CONSTRUCTION
Call us to Discuss the
ENDLESS POSSIBILITES
Extreme
Hillside Specialist
Foundation Repair Experts
Grading & Drainage
Retaining Walls,
Fences & Decks
310-212-1234
www.LambConBuilds.com
Lic. #906371
GARAGE DOORS
HANDYMAN
Handyman
Services…
Fix It Right the
First Time
We like small jobs
/ Free estimates
What we do…
Plumbing,
Electrical, Drywall,
Painting & more.
Valente Marin
310-748-8249
Unlic.
PLUMBING
Thank You South Bay for
50 Years of Patronage!
Residential • Commercial • Industrial
Plumbing 24/7 • Heating
Air Conditioning
pfplumbing.net
800-354-2705 • 310-831-0737
PLUMBING
MATTUCCI
PLUMBING • HEATING • COOLING
DEPENDABLE • PROFESSIONAL • AFFORDABLE
FULL SERVICE PLUMBING • COPPER REPIPES
SEWER VIDEO INSPECTION • HEATING
DRAIN & SEWER SERVICE • COOLING
TRENCHLESS SEWER REPLACEMENT
Tile Reroof and
repair specialist
310-847-7663
Family owned
business since 1978
Lic 831351
ON CALL
24 HOURS
7 DAYS
FREE ESTIMATES
310.543.2001
CALIFORNIA
Lic. #770059
C-36 C-20 A
2013
October 2017 • Peninsula 81