For their dedicated work in helping to make Pacific Palisades a more closely-knit, informed and engaged community, four residents have been chosen by the Pacific Palisades Community Council as this year’s Golden Sparkplug winners. The award “honors citizens who ignite ideas and projects into community action which affects us all.” Marie Steckmest, Steve Lantz, John Wirth and Deborah Hafford will receive their awards at a celebration at the American Legion on May 11 from 7 to 10 p.m. MARIE STECKMEST has a knack for bringing residents together to serve others in Pacific Palisades and in the larger Los Angeles community. Last spring, Steckmest launched Palisades Volunteer Week, a week of doing good works through a variety of nonprofit programs. She researched and contacted the organizations that needed help, and published their needs on a Web site, PalisadesCares.org. Steckmest also made presentations to service organizations, churches and schools in the Palisades, which resulted in 200 participants who contributed over 1,000 hours. Steckmest is busy organizing this year’s Volunteer Week, April 23-30. “Her hard work and prodigious stamina have been successful because of her undeterred goal, which is to offer service learning,” said Libby Motika, senior editor at the Palisadian-Post, in her letter nominating Steckmest for the Sparkplug award. Steckmest also has been dedicated to the homeless crisis, collecting donations for the Westside Food Bank and running the Holiday Spirit Toy Drive. For the annual toy drive, she organizes drop-off locations in the Palisades where donations of new toys and clothing can be deposited for distribution to needy children. “Marie has shown her capacity to convert good ideas into concrete programs over the years that I have known her,” Motika said. She noted that Steckmest created the Career Week concept at Marquez Elementary School in the early 1990s, inviting members of the community to give brief presentations to the children about their life’s work. “A broad range of occupations was highlighted, from arborist to a zoologist, and all the letters in between,” Motika said. “Steckmest and her committee organized the week’s schedule and worked diligently to offer as many different views of the working world as possible.” Steckmest and her husband, Larry, have lived in the Palisades since 1983. They have two children, Jeff and Lisa. Thanks to Palisadian STEVE LANTZ, the wheels of Commuter Express 430 are still turning. A loyal rider on the bus, which runs from the Palisades to downtown Los Angeles Monday through Friday, Lantz has led a five-year community effort to continue the service and grow ridership. Lantz is director of communications and development at the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) and has commuted by bus to work for more than 20 years. When he heard about the Department of Transportation’s recommended cancellation of the service, he wrote letters to city officials and met with the L.A. City Council transportation committee. He also energized his fellow bus riders to challenge the LADOT and brought their concerns to the attention of the Pacific Palisades Community Council. “With the support of the Community Council, Steve fought LADOT, forcing them to explain their actions, process and plans to the council and the public,” said council member Patti Post in her letter nominating Lantz for the Sparkplug award. “With attention focused on them, LADOT retreated to repair a flawed process.” When service did not improve and the LADOT again attempted to cancel Line 430, Lantz persevered, according to Post. Finally, last spring, Bill Rosendahl (then a runoff candidate for City Council) and Antonio Villaraigosa (then a City Councilman and chair of the transportation committee) announced their support of Line 430 and, in September, LADOT implemented the community-suggested changes. Since then, ridership has increased significantly (thanks in part to a new stop at Loyola High School). The 40-passenger bus has, on average, 20-25 riders. “Route 430 can now be considered a success due to the leadership and tenacity of Steve Lantz,” Post said. “He gave the riders the confidence to continue the fight,” said Palisades resident Haldis Toppel, who worked with Lantz to continue the bus service. “He’s an incredible researcher of facts and rules. He wrote these absolutely convincing letters and raised issues that were significant enough that it became a threat to the politicians not to react to them.” Lantz has served as the Community Council’s transportation advisor for about three years. He and his wife, Terri Skidmore Lantz, who was raised in the Palisades, have lived here since 1995 with their children Katie and Patrick. About two years ago, longtime Palisades resident JOHN WIRTH had an idea that he thought would be a big hit in the community’watching a film outside, under the stars. What he didn’t know at the time was that fellow Palisadians David Williams, then president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Bob Sharka, founder of Friends of Film, were talking about the same thing. When Wirth brought his idea to the Chamber office, Executive Director Arnie Wishnick introduced him to Williams and Sharka. They became a team and proceeded to create and promote Movies in the Park. When the Park Advisory Board at the Palisades Recreation Center approved the outdoor film series in July 2004, Wirth told the Palisadian-Post, “We’re showing that our group has a commitment to working with the community to address the concerns of residents who live near the park, in order to make this a successful event that everyone can enjoy. We’re grateful that the PAB sees the value of what we’re going to do for the community.” Movies in the Park debuted July 24 of that year on the Field of Dreams. More than 400 local residents gathered with their picnic baskets, chairs and blankets to watch “E.T.” on a 15-by-20 foot screen purchased by the Chamber. A week later, “Grease” drew more than 600 people, and the event has been a success ever since. Last summer again, Movies in the Park featured family-friendly films (rated G to PG-13) on four consecutive August Saturdays. “John donates time, energy and equipment to this project, which has become a very well-received community event,” said Marilyn Crawford in the Chamber office. A producer and professional television writer, Wirth and his wife, Gail Matthius, a member of the Spolin Players Improv Troupe, have lived in the Palisades since 1995. They have two children, Hannah and Bonnie, and are actively involved in community activities. Palisades triathlete DEBORAH HAFFORD originated and organized the YMCA Youth Triathlon on July 4, 2003, following the Will Rogers 5/10K races. Fifty kids (ages 6 to 15) participated the first year, in an event that features a 5-K bike ride through the Huntington, a 1.1-mile run up to the YMCA pool in Temescal Canyon, and then a 150-yard swim. The second year’s event attracted 84 young athletes and last year there were 162 competitors. Obviously, the event has become a huge success. In addition to the triathlon itself, Hafford oversees a six-week training program, where kids are taught proper technique in cycling, swimming and running. Every Saturday last June, Hafford’s husband even drove a van with her to Ninth Street Elementary School in L.A. and brought kids back to the Palisades for training. She also put out a plea to Palisadian-Post readers for bikes and solicited donations from the Amateur Athletic Foundation for helmets. The Palisades Optimist Club provided a major donation that enabled Hafford to buy swim suits and goggles for the kids who needed them. “Here’s an opportunity to honor a person who is devoted to inspiring kids to pursue physical fitness in a fun way and is committed to making this event a success every summer,” said one of her nominators. “Thanks to her spirit and dedication, the YMCA Youth Triathlon has become an important element of the Fourth of July celebration in our community.” Hafford and her husband, Doug, have lived in the Palisades for 14 years. They have two children, Michael and David.
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