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CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 24, 2011

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CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e

REMODELED PALISADES townhome w/mtn views, 2+2.5. Hardwood flrs, granite kitchen, marble bthrms, fireplace, 2 car garage, Pool/Tennis, also for lease. Owner/broker, (310) 383-7455

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

DUPLEX FOR RENT. 2 bedroom + fireplace, 1 bath, quiet residential area near Village. $2,450/mo. (310) 738-4400

2 BD, 1.5 BA, Lanai, breakfast nook, dining room, refinished hardwood floors, fireplace, rear garden, BBQ area, renovated bathroom, 2 car garage. Lease. $3,500/mo. Call (310) 454-0067

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED 1 BDRM APARTMENT. Best ocean views in town. Stainless steel appliances, wood floors, fireplace, pool, laundry onsite & parking. Small pets ok. Please call (310) 227-9612. Equal housing opportunity.

PET FRIENDLY! 1 BD IN PAC PAL! ‘ 1/2 block from Gelson’s & the Village. Wood floors, laundry room, quiet building, on site manager, swimming pool & parking space. Ready to move in! $1,595/mo. * Move-In Special: 3rd month free! Call Jeff at (310) 573-0150

LOVELY 2 BEDROOM 1st floor apartment in 5 unit building. Hardwood floors, new carpet & paint. Laundry on site. Carport parking. Large shared backyard patio. Short walk from Palisades Village & El Medio Bluffs overlooking ocean. $1,975/mo. 1st month free! (310) 435-5582 or kderby77@gmail.com

PETITE CHARMER: Cozy bachelor (500 sq ft) in triplex. Full bath & kitchen in garden ambiance. Plantation shutters, carport, close to beach & village. NS, NP, 1 year lease. $1,500/mo. (310) 829-6931

MOVE IN SPECIAL! 1 mo. free rent! Sunny lower 1 bd, 1 bath. Parking, laundry, hrdwd flr, fridge, stove, miniblinds. Small pet w/ deposit. 1 yr lse. $1,400/mo. (310) 589-5073, sunset.laslomas@gmail.com

CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

SLEEK MODERN, stunning views, 1 bd w/ 1 bath w/ cook’s kitchen, new stainless appliances, hrdwd floors, large balcony, full amenities, pool, tennis courts, utilities incl. Must see! $2,250/mo. (310) 427-0273

WALK TO PP VILLAGE. Woodsy view, 2 bd, 2 ba, open den, AC, W/D in unit, security building. 2 car parking. Just redone with recessed lighting. $2,850/mo. Available May 1st. Nancy, (310) 454-5257

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

1 BEDROOM W/ PRIVATE BATHROOM. Fully furnished, full house privileges, washer & dryer. Must be willing to run light errands. 1 person, no pets. $675/mo. Avail. April 1st. Call Peter at (310) 459-3650

GREAT HOME: ROOM TO RENT. 1 bd, prvt ba w/ tub, prvt entrance w/ hrdwood flrs, skylites, lrg gourmet kitchen, spacious, backyard w/ vegetable garden to share w/ single mom & 2 adorable kids-in school & in bed by 7:30 p.m. $1,100/mo. incl utils. (310) 308-6772

RENTALS TO SHARE 3a

3 ROOM MASTER SUITE in 4,000 sq ft home on cul-de-sac 4 rent. Large yard, full house privileges, shared W/D, 2 fireplaces, walk to beach. Sunset Mesa. $1,500/mo. Utilities included. (310) 454-1956

WANTED TO RENT 3b

FURNISHED HOME NEEDED. German family of 5 needs furnished home July 5-Aug. 5, 2011. Local references available. Preferably under $8,000/mo. Mitch, (310) 454-1844

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

OFFICE SUITE in the Atrium Building on Via de la Paz. 2 offices, reception area and restroom. Attractive space approx. 900 sq. ft. One year plus sub-lease. Rent negotiable. Great space. (310) 459-5353

OFFICE FOR LEASE. Professional building in Pacific Palisades Village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. Reasonable rent price. Excellent tenant improvements. 850 square feet. Please call Tracy Rasmussen at (310) 459-8700 for more details.

ATTORNEYS 7a

WHY GIVE IT ALL TO UNCLE SAM? Don’t use an ordinary income tax service when you can use a tax attorney who is an experienced CPA. Income Taxes, Audit Representation, Free Yourself of Back Taxes, Probate, Trusts & Wills. Long-time resident of the Palisades. John R. Ronge, Attorney at Law. (310) 441-4100

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

NEED HELP PREPARING FOR TAXES? Bookkeeping, reconciling, organizing papers, bills, etc. Raymond, (310) 459-2066 or (310) 218-6653

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL. I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: ‘ Consultation on best hard/software for your needs ‘ Setting up & configuring your system & applications ‘ Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC ‘ Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows ‘ Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access ‘ Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken ‘ Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup ‘ Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning. FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL ‘ BEST RATES. (310) 262-5652

YOUR OWN TECH GURU * EXPERT SET-UP, OPTIMIZATION, REPAIR. Problem-Free Computing Since 1992. Work Smarter, Faster, More Reliably. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! ALAN PERLA, (310) 455-2000

THE DETECHTIVES’ PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE MAC SPECIALISTS. PATIENT, FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE. WE COVER ALL THINGS MAC ‘ Consulting ‘ Installation ‘ Training and Repair for Beginners to Advanced Users ‘ Data recovery ‘ Networks ‘ Wireless Internet & more ‘ (310) 838-2254 William Moorefield www.thedetechtives.com

USER FRIENDLY’MAC CONSULTANT. User friendly. Certified Apple help desk technician and proud member of the Apple consultant network. An easy approach to understanding all of your computer needs. Offering computer support in wide variety of repairs, set-ups, installs, troubleshooting, upgrades, networking, and tutoring in the application of choice. Computer consulting at fair rates. Ryan Ross: (310) 721-2827. email: ryanaross@mac.com ‘ For a full list of services visit: http://userfriendlyrr.com/

EXPERT COMPUTER HELP ‘ On-site service’no travel charge ‘ Help design, buy and install your system ‘ One-on-one training, hard & software ‘ Troubleshooting, Mac & Windows, organizing ‘ Installations & upgrades ‘ Wireless networking ‘ Digital phones, photo, music ‘ Internet. Serving the Palisades, Santa Monica & Brentwood. DEVIN FRANK, (310) 499-7000

DECORATING 7d

INTERIOR DESIGN AND STYLING. From ordinary to unique. Space planning. Paint specs. Furniture. Accessorizing. Hourly design consultations welcome. Carol Fox, ASID. (310) 454-0601, www.carolfoxdesign.com

FINE ART INSTALLATION. Confused about where or how to hang your art collectibles? Rick Strauss has been installing fine art for years in homes and offices throughout the Westside. Reasonable rates. (310) 459-8212

GARAGE, ESTATE SALE SERVICES 7f

PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? an estate sale? a moving sale? a yard sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. ‘ BARBARA DAWSON ‘ Estate/Garage Sale Specialist ‘ (310) 454-0359 ‘ barbdawson@roadrunner.com ‘ www.bmdawson.com ‘ Furniture ‘ Antiques ‘ Collectibles ‘ Junque ‘ Reliable professionals ‘ Local References

DAYCARE CENTERS 8

CHILDCARE & PRE-K PROGRAM. 18 months-5 years. Arts & crafts, music time, Pre-K curriculum, large yard for playing. Many local references. Come join the fun! (310) 459-0920

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

BABYSITTER & HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE. Monday, Tuesday & Friday. Own transportation, local references, good English, experienced, loves children and pets. Marlene, (323) 423-2558

PROFESSIONAL NANNY &/or French tutor looking for P/T or F/T position. Exper w/ newborns to teens. Great local refs. Clean Ca DL. Will travel nationally. (310) 849-0133 or josiannesileu@yahoo.com. Merci!

OUR STELLAR NANNY/personal assistant is available now F/T. Citizen, native English speaker, own safe car, highly experienced, professional, loving, loyal, dependable, intelligent. Cindy, (310) 908-5925

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

PROFESSIONAL MAID SERVICES. In Malibu! We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Licensed. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419. professionalmaidinmalibu@google.com

PAULA & LILY are looking for housekeeping work. Monday through Friday, 10 years experience, references available. Please call (323) 219-6984 or (323) 239-5532

EXCELLENT HOUSEKEEPER. Available Mon.-Sat. Good refs. Own transportation. CDL. Over 19 yrs exper in Malibu & Palisades. Speaks English. Call Yolanda, (h) (323) 731-6114, (c) (323) 580-2859

HOUSECLEANING ‘ Available Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. Good local references. 15 yrs exper. Own transportation, CDL. Speaks some English. Please call Ruth, (323) 752-8015

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

IN HOME CARE. CNA, HHA STATE CERTIFIED. Pacific Palisades resident, Pacific Palisades referrals. Free assesment with no obligation. Part time. Please call Emilia, (310) 592-6695

HOME HEALTH AIDE seeking work in Pac Pal. CNA certified, 15 yrs experience, great local refs. Pac Pal resident, live-out, schedule flexible. Please call Maria at (310) 454-6370 (h) or (818) 804-7151 (c)

CAREGIVER ‘ Licensed CNA. Avail Monday thru Saturday. Has local references, experience & cooks. Beatriz, (323) 666-8959

GARDENING/LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING ‘ Full Gardening Service ‘ Sprinkler Install ‘ Tree Trim ‘ Sodding ‘ Sprays, non-toxic ‘ FREE AZALEA PLANT ‘ Cell,(310) 701-1613, (310) 568-0989

GARDENING SERVICES * Landscape, planting, maintenance, sprinkler systems, cleanup, low voltage lights. Everything your garden needs! Many years exp. Free estimates. Call Efren, (310) 733-7414

BIO-DYNAMIC FARMER. Master gardener, veggie garden. 50 years experience. Would love to be a caretaker or house-sit animals in exchange for a room/apartment. Jack McAndrew, (310) 729-7205

MOVING & HAULING 11b

HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Moves & hauls it all. 14 foot truck. 20th year Westside. Delivery to 48 states. (310) 285-8688

POOL & SPA SERVICES 13e

PALISADES POOL SUPPLY. SWIMMING POOL SERVICE & REPAIR. 15415 Sunset Blvd., P.P. 90272 (310) 459-4357. www.PalisadesPool.com

STEREO, TV, VCR SERVICES 13g

1 REMOTE CONTROL THAT WORKS! Is your entertainment system not entertaining you? We can tune up your system, bring it up to date, hide wires, mount TVs, install speakers, etc. We can even reprogram or replace your remote control so it is easy to use. Call us, we can help! Lic. #515929. Stanford Connect, (310) 829-0872

WINDOW WASHING 13h

THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Detailed interior/exterior glass & screen cleaning. High ladder work. Solar panels/power washing also avail. Owner operated. Lic., bonded & insured. Free estimates. (310) 926-7626

MR. CRYSTAL WINDOW CLEANING. Please call Gary: (310) 828-1218 Free estimate, friendly service, discounts. Licensed & Insured.

HOUSESITTING 14b

HOUSESITTING/PETSITTING ‘ Available for short or long term. Sharp, reliable, recently retired professional. References. Susi, (310) 454-1457, susi824@aol.com

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER. Personal Assistant with business and life experience available for errands, driving, follow-ups, administrative tasks, managing and coordinating either social and/or business calendar and house sitting. Have car and car insurance. Trustworthy, diligent, reliable and possess a respect for privacy and confidentiality. References available upon request. Call Jim, (310) 454-9819 (h) or (240) 461-3643 (c)

TENNIS ANYONE? Improve your game. Fine tuning or basic ground strokes. Teaching by a pro with UCLA, NCAA National Championship background. Please call: Ginot (310) 395-7954. (This ad placed by Ginot’s appreciative students.)

PERSONAL TRAINER ‘ 9 years helping Palisadians achieve their fitness goals. Exceptional results for every age & conditioning level. Weight management. Strength building for seniors. 25 years experience. Certified. References available. Call Steve at (310) 463-3261

PERSONAL ASSISTANT/ORGANIZER. Outgoing & cheerful individual available for office or home organization. Office skills, errands, event & travel planning, bill paying. 3 hour min. Reasonable rates. Pam, (310) 733-8433

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

PRIVATE DOG WALKER/housesitter, Palisades & Santa Monica. S.M. Canyon resident. Please call or email Sherry, (310) 383-7852, www.palisadesdogwalker.com

MISCELLANEOUS 14l

EURO CAR SERVICE’CNG CARS. To LAX from Palisades. Lower $38.88, Upper $44.44, Highlands $52.22. Available 24 hours, reservations preferred. TCP 27041-B. Don, (310) 466-4063

SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d

PIANO INSTRUCTION. Give the life-long gift of music! Very patient, creative teacher. Music degree, USC. Qualified, experienced, local. Lisa Donovan Lukas, (310) 454-0859. www.palisadesmusicstudio.com

PIANO LESSONS FOR MUSIC LOVERS. Are you looking for a piano teacher? Please call (310) 430-9559 for a first meeting and let me answer your questions.

TUTORS 15e

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. Children & adults. 20+ years teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, ESSAY WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly Sp. Ed. teacher. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530

MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145

PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134

SPECIALIZING IN MATH! All math subjects thru calculus, incl. standardized test prep. Students w/ ADD and other learning challenges welcome. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Local office in Palisades Village. Jamie, (888) 459-6430

EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR ‘ All grade levels ‘ Grammar ‘ Conversational ‘ SAT/AP ‘ Children, adults ‘ Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593, (310) 980-6071

SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR. All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614

GROZA LEARNING CENTER. Tutoring K-12, all subjects & reading. SAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, ERB, STAR. Caring, meticulous service. GrozaLearningCenter.com ‘ (310) 454-3731

EDUCATIONAL THERAPY. All ages and abilities. Academic, Cognitive and Behavioral Support. Palisades Tutoring & ET Services’Local 10+ years. Arlana J. Morley, MS. (310) 459-4125, (310) 738-5099

READING & WRITING TUTOR. Credentials in general ed. & special ed. 30 years of teaching / tutoring experience. Offering individual / small group sessions. Elaine, (310) 454-6070

MATH, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS TUTOR * All math through AP calculus, AP chemistry and AP physics. Specializing in Pali High math, science. www.clc90272.com or (310) 459-3239

SPANISH: Palisades resident from South America, patient & friendly, offers Spanish tutoring to all student levels. Learn, improve & gain self-confidence at school, traveling, work, etc. (310) 741-8422

MATURE BRITISH TUTOR teaches MATH, LATIN, MUSIC, SAT prep. 50 yrs experience; local references. (310) 399-1975

TOP ENGLISH TUTOR. Graduate of Oxford University, Eton College. Former teacher at top London Prep school. Achieve excellence in writing, comprehension, grammar. All ages. Call Mark, (310) 254-6177

SPANISH I TUTOR NEEDED: Energetic, and reliable high school or college student majoring in Spanish or 4 years experience wanted to tutor 1st time 7th grader. 2xs a wk. Flexible. (310) 488-5229, Mary

FRENCH TUTOR. Need help building confidence through practical French conversation? Have tutoring needs to improve your skills, native French can help you. Call Francois @ (310) 804-1650

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 40 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. New Construction & Remodels. Hardscapes, landscapes, custom stone, stamped concrete, brick, driveways, retaining walls, BBQs, outdr kitchens, fireplaces, foundations, drainage, pool & spas, water features. Exlnt local refs. Lic #309844. Bonded, ins, work comp. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 ‘ WWW.HORUSICKY.COM

CONSTRUCTION 16d

ALAN PINE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR ‘ New homes ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions ‘ Kitchen & bath ‘ Planning/architectural services ‘ Insured ‘ Local refs. Lic. #469435. (800) 800-0744 or (818) 203-8881

PALISADES CONST. SERVICES. All phase construction and remodeling. All interior and exterior construction. Additions, concrete, tile, wood work (all), brick, patios, bathrooms, fences, bedrooms, permits. We have built (2) new 2,500 sq. ft. Palisades homes in the last 3 yrs. Please contact us to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION and FREE ESTIMATE. ALL JOBS WELCOME! Please call Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858 (All Palisades referrals available)

CASALE CONSTRUCTION CO. LLC. ‘ General Contractor Lic. #512443 ‘ Custom Homes ‘ Kitchens ‘ Bathrooms ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions. (310) 491-0550 www.reemodeling.com

OUTDOORS EXPERTS!!! ‘ LOS ANGELES CONSTRUCTION INC. Wood & composite decks, patio covers & gazebos, fireplace, BBQ, pool & jacuzzi remodeling, masonry. Great references. Lic. # 904204. (310) 903-1202, www.losangelesconstruction.com

ELECTRICAL 16h

PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service

LICHWA ELECTRIC. Remodeling, rewiring, troubleshooting. Lighting: low voltage, energy safe, indoor, outdoor, landscape. Low voltage: telephone, Internet, CCTV, home theatre, audio/video. Non-lic. Refs. LichwaElectric@gmail.com, (310) 270-8596

FENCES, DECKS 16j

THE FENCE MAN. 22 years quality work. FENCES: Wood, chainlink & iron. DECKS, PATIO OVERHANGS, GATES. Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996

FLOOR CARE 16m

GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608

CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR. Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com. centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net ‘ (800) 608-6007 ‘ (310) 276-6407

K&Z HARDWOOD FLOOR EXPERTS. Refinishing, installation, recoat, water & fire restoration. Free est. Lic. #804641. (800) 500-1146, (818) 468-7021

HANDYMAN 16o

HANDYMAN ‘ HOOSHMAN. Most known name in the Palisades. Since 1975. Member Chamber of Commerce. Non-Lic., but experience will do it. Call for your free est. Local refs available. Hooshman, (310) 459-8009, cell (310) 433-4720, 24 hr.

LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 487-6464

LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy: Marty, (310) 459-2692

DJ PRO SERVICES ‘ Carpentry, Handyman, Repairs. ALL PROJECTS CONSIDERED. See my work at: www.djproservices.com. Non-lic. (c) (310) 907-6169, (h) (310) 454-4121

ALL JOBS WELCOME!! Water drains, French drains, all drainage problems, block walls new and repair, all concrete, brick, tile and stone work, excavation of dirt and hillsides, stucco new and repair, all drywall work, painting exterior and interior walls, moldings etc. All wood work interior and exterior, patios, decks, all fencing and gates, roofing new and repairs. We have built (2) new construction custom 3,500 sq ft homes over the last 4 years in the Pacific Palisades. Please contact us for a free estimate. Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153 Lic. #375858. Bonded and insured.

PALISADES HOME REPAIR ‘ Best prices ‘ Best service ‘ Best references ‘ 30 years in the Palisades ‘ Local resident ‘ Lic. #294-272 ‘ Call: MARK (310) 622-2773

CARPENTRY, DRYWALL, painting, wood fences, stucco, driveways, retaining walls, concrete block, flagstone, siding, deck repair, base molding, brick, tile, roofing. Jorge or Alfredo (213) 948-7328 or (213) 505-1466

RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENTS, INSTALLATION, REPAIRS. SKYLIGHTS ‘ DOORS ‘ WINDOWS. (310) 428-3822

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16p

SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686

PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16r

PAUL HORST ‘ Interior & Exterior ‘ PAINTING ‘ 56 YEARS OF SERVICE. Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 ‘ (310) 454-4630 ‘ Bonded & Insured

TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Refs. Lic. #715099

J W C PAINTING. Residential & commercial. Years of experience. Affordable & reliable. Local references. Lic. #914882. Free estimates. jwcpnc@yahoo.com. Call Jason Childs (Charlie), (310) 428-4432

PALISADES PAINTING. 25 years local contractor. Best quality and prices. Call Mark, (310) 622-2773. Lic. #294272

REMODELING 16v

KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451 ‘ DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN

COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION ‘ Kitchen+bath ‘ Additions ‘ Tile, carpentry, plumbing Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction, (310) 774-9159

HELP WANTED 17

You CAN Make a Difference! The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop needs volunteers who are able to work 4 1/2 hours a week. If you are an enthusiastic multi-tasker, stop by or call: 920 Wilshire Blvd. S.M. (310) 458-4490

DERMATOLOGY OFFICE IN PAC. PAL. Seeking part-time receptionist/back office medical asst. Experienced preferable, but we will train outstanding candidate who must be extremely dependable. 16-20 hours/week. Start $15-$20/hour per exp. Excellent for semi-retired individual, or college student with computer skills, typing and excellent educational achievement. Contact (310) 454-0457

SEEKING OFFICE MANAGER: Seeking an office manager with the skills, experience and savvy to be the backbone of day-to-day operations of a busy church office. To thrive in this role, you’ll need to work independently, communicate well (verbally and in writing), and be extremely organized. We are looking for a motivated individual with excellent computer skills, bookkeeping capabilities and an ability to multitask and prioritize. Graphic design and/or PR and marketing skills a plus. Patience, compassion and a joyful spirit essential! Call John, (310) 454-5529

AUTOS 18b

2001 GEM-Electric Car for Sale ‘ $3,499. 4-seater electric car. Original owner, good cond. Low miles. White/yellow w/ gray int. Great for driving around town. Your kids will love it. With gas prices at $4/gal. this will save you $. Call (310) 293-9280 for info.

2008 JEEP WRANGLER. Sahara 4X4, asking $4,899, 4 doors, automatic, hardtop. Send your questions to shan88jh@msn.com or (209) 232-8128

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

VILLAGE ESTATE SALE! Whole condo! Furn/furnishgs/knick-knacks/collectibles/clothes/jewelry/ books/hsehold gds. Fri-Sat. Mar 25-26; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 15330 Albright (bet Via de la Paz/Swarthmore). Photos/details: www.bmdawson.com

PETS, LIVESTOCK 18e

ANIMALS NEED HOMES: Adoption every Sun. 10-2. In lobby of Blue Cross Pet Hosp. 15239 La Cruz Dr.: Puppies (Lab X, German Shep X, Chihuahua, Heeler), dogs & cats! We need fosters too! (310) 795-6916

Sparkplug Keith Turner Plays a Key July 4 Role

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Sparkplug winner Keith Turner. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Sparkplug winner Keith Turner. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer

Attorney Keith Turner has won a 2010 Sparkplug Award from the Community Council for organizing the live music concert held at the Palisades High School football stadium before the Fourth of July fireworks show.   ’I was shocked. I didn’t even know I was nominated,’ Turner, 46, said. ‘The award should have gone to Rob Weber because he’s done so much.’ Weber was president of PAPA (Palisades Americanism Parade Association) in 2008 and 2009. The two men grew up in the Chicago area, went to Chicago-Kent College of Law and both worked for a few years at the same Beverly Hills firm after graduation.   Weber urged Turner to get involved with PAPA, but Turner put him off, telling him, ‘Only when you’re president of the organization.’ When Weber indeed moved up to that position, Turner attended his first PAPA meeting.   ’Rob asked me to help out with insurance issues,’ Turner said, but he also recalls Palisadian-Post editor Bill Bruns, who knew that Turner was a member of a local rock band, whispering to him, ‘Why doesn’t your band play before the fireworks?’ That was the start of the Pacific Palisades pre-fireworks show.   In 2009, the field was opened up to spectators because the fireworks were shot from a different location (the high school’s quad), and three local bands’Turner’s The House Band, The Mayberrys and the Elevaters’played on a small stage before the show. The concert was an instant success.   Last year Turner worked to expand the show, bringing in FourWayFree, singer/songwriter Peter Himmelman, That and the Palisades High Concert Band. Many neighbors who had previously watched the fireworks from their homes came down to the field. ‘We saw a lot more people close up their barbecues and come over around 7 p.m.,’ Turner said.   He is already organizing this year’s show and seeking a corporate sponsor. ‘I also need people who can help with talent selection, marketing, fundraising and setting up the stage’whatever they want to do. I also need someone who can help organize the VIP tent for performers, including buying food and hosting them.’   Turner knows that many name musicians live in the Palisades, and he would love to have them perform, but understands that working for a community event might not be what a ‘star’ considers a great financial or career move.   ’It would still be nice if they could help,’ Turner said. ‘Our original idea was to get the best professional and amateur talent we could get in the Palisades.’   If you have ideas for the pre-fireworks show or want to volunteer your time, contact Turner at kjt@turnerlawapc.com.   In addition to his volunteer activities, Turner is also a family man and has a thriving law business here in town.   After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1986 with a degree in philosophy, and attending law school, Turner came to Pacific Palisades by way of his wife Michelle, whom he met in 1994.   ’She grew up here and she knows everyone,’ he said. ‘Her parents (Bruce and Fran Rubin), her brother and her best friend still live here.’ The couple married in the Rubin backyard in 1995.   ’This place [Pacific Palisades] is special,’ Turner said. ‘When you take off in a plane at LAX and it circles over this area, you can see how isolated we are.’ He speculates that perhaps this isolation results in more of a community feel.   When Turner’s daughter Emma (now a freshman at Palisades High) started preschool at the Methodist Church, several of the moms formed a group. Then one of them, Lisa Stewart, suggested that the dads form a band because she knew some of them had been in rock bands.   Turner, who began playing drums and percussion in the fifth grade, continued to play through college. He helped gather the dads for the beginning of The House Band, which has stayed relatively intact these past 10 years.   ’We still play about six times a year,’ Turner said. ‘Two guys in the band write songs, so about 80 to 90 percent of our music is original.’   Turner, who lives near the Asilomar bluffs with Michelle, Emma and son Max, a fifth grader at Marquez Elementary, is a local attorney who specializes in view-protection cases.   ’A good view can add a $1 million to a home’s worth,’ Turner said, noting that he works with homeowners and developers in the Palisades areas of El Medio, Sunset Mesa, Marquez Knolls and Castellammare, but also Palos Verdes and Malibu.   With attorney Don Franzen, Turner has set up a Pacific View Resource Center Web site to collect and exchange information about view-related issues.   Visit www.pacificviewcenter.com.

Villaraigosa Updates Chamber Members, Lauds the Palisades

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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addresses a Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce breakfast gathering at the Aldersgate Retreat Center last Wednesday    Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addresses a Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce breakfast gathering at the Aldersgate Retreat Center last Wednesday    Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer

Before speaking to a gathering of Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce members last Wednesday morning, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa talked about his western outpost as he ate a light breakfast at the Aldersgate Lodge on Haverford.   ’I want to move here some day,’ said the mayor, who currently lives in Mt. Washington, near Dodger Stadium. ‘I love the Palisades and I love riding in the parade’it’s the best community parade in the city, people are so nice and friendly.’   After opening remarks by Chamber president John Petrick and an introduction (in Spanish) by real estate agent Holly Davis, Villaraigosa reiterated his appreciation of the Palisades.   ’You know, I come out here a lot; my brother lives not far from here, we go to church at Corpus Christi. I love this town because it’s a real community.’   The mayor then turned to the grim task at hand: trying to assure his audience that there are a few things to cheer about amidst the financial carnage left by the great recession. ‘ ’The city is safer than at any time since 1952, ‘ Villaraigosa said. ‘The last time that we had 109,000 Part 1 crimes (which includes homicide, violent crimes and serious property crimes) was in 1952, on a per capita basis.’ Homicides were 488 the year he was first elected (2005) and 297 last year, the lowest since 1967. ‘ ’I know what the traffic is like in the Palisades’it’s horrible,’ the mayor said. ‘But Measure R, which approved a half-penny sales tax, is going to generate $40 billion, double the size of our rail system and start to get us to where we need to be in the city.’ ‘ ’I tell people all the time: public safety is my priority, but public education is my passion,’ Villaraigosa said. ‘We’re going to hold our schools accountable, we’re going to support our teachers, we’re going to bring in our parents and we’re going to dramatically turn around our low-performing schools.’ ‘ ’Something very important: Our [DWP] rates are almost 25 percent lower than Southern California Edison, and lower than San Diego Gas and Electric and Pacific Gas and Electric,’ the mayor said. ‘We have to continue to invest in our infrastructure, and that costs money.’   Eventually, of course, the mayor had to focus attention on the city’s $400 million deficit and the impact of the state’s overwhelming financial crisis. While assuring his audience that ‘we’re going to protect public safety as much as possible,’ Villaraigosa also emphasized that ‘we’re going to balance our balance and it’s going to be tough; we can’t be all things to all people.’   In order to solve the state’s $25 billion deficit, where lawmakers ‘have been cutting for five years running and have already cut $12 billion, I think it is appropriate for us to extend current taxes for five years so we don’t have to cut core funding from our schools,’ Villaraigosa said. ‘My hope is that the small group of Republicans in Sacramento who are holding the state hostage will allow [the governor’s proposal] to go on the ballot and let the people decide.’

Palisadian Survives Japan Earthquake

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Brian Noori is back home in Pacific Palisades. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Brian Noori is back home in Pacific Palisades. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer

Brian Noori was teaching English to eighth-grade Japanese students at the Sekimoto School in Kitaibaraki on March 11 when the 9.0 earthquake struck. The town is located 84 miles from the epicenter and 43 miles from the imperiled nuclear plant Fukushima Daiichi.   ’There are a lot of quakes in Japan,’ said Noori, a Pacific Palisades native, who graduated from Occidental College last May and moved to Northern Japan last July. ‘Most of the students stayed at their desks for the first few seconds, but then it got stronger and continued, and they got under the desks. I also got under a desk and I could hear students screaming and things falling.’   After the initial shaking stopped, the students exited the school and went to a nearby dirt field. ‘It was orderly; they formed lines,’ Noori said, and then another aftershock hit. Students and teachers watched as the school shook and glass windows seemed to bend. A teacher drove his car to the field and turned on the radio, so that everybody could hear news.   Since it was raining, teachers went inside and brought out tarps to cover the children until their parents in this mountainous coastal village arrived to pick them up. Noori then drove to his apartment, which had no power, gas or water. He tried to drive into town to speak to his supervisor at the board of education, but a roadway much like the California Incline had collapsed. After driving back home, Noori walked back to town. The four-story City Hall building was evacuated and Noori’s supervisor told him to go back to his apartment.   Noori checked his phone for messages and texts and was able to access Facebook. He left a message, ‘If someone finds this please contact my family [Palisadians Fazzy Noori and Cindy Seiler-Noori] and let them know I am okay.’   A friend of the Noori’s younger son, Kevin, contacted them five hours later, and let them know their son’s status.   ’Apartments are not well insulated in Japan and the temperature was close to freezing,’ said Noori, who went to bed early. ‘There was nothing else to do.’ Saturday morning, Noori’s phone died and he walked around the streets of Kitaibaraki. ‘I knew the earthquake was bad because roads were cracked, bridges had shifted, brick walls had fallen over and shingles were missing from the houses. Water was being distributed and the market was open.’ Initially he didn’t buy anything, because ‘I didn’t feel hungry.’ But on Sunday he purchased yogurt, canned tuna, canned coffee and bottles of vitamin water. He didn’t worry that his refrigerator wasn’t running; room temperature was cold enough. On Monday, Noori went to school and found most of the teachers already there. They broke into groups to ascertain the damage and afterwards told Noori there would be no school before Wednesday and sent him home. He walked back to the board of education, where the military was cooking rice balls and miso soup. Noori was given five rice balls, which he took home, eating one with Spam’his Monday market purchase. Later that evening he drove to Takahag to visit a friend. As he drove, he noticed few gas stations open and was glad his tank was nearly full. Finding that his friend had power, Noori charged his phone, and then called the Palisades. ‘I found out how bad it was with the power plant and the tsunami.’ By the time he drove back to his apartment, electricity had returned and he was able to e-mail, check Facebook and finally stay warm under his electric blanket. Tuesday morning, Noori’s parents urged him to come home. Others in the JET (Japanese Exchange Teaching) program told him he shouldn’t believe ‘the Western media, it’s a lot of hype.’ ‘People say it’s not that bad,’ Noori told his mom, but since he had not seen news for five days, he went on the Internet to CNN, which reported a third explosion at the nuclear plant. ‘That’s when I decided I should leave.’ Buses and trains were running intermittently, which meant he drove most of the way to Narita to catch a flight, noticing ‘more lines to purchase gas and more damage to buildings.’ He stayed in a hotel close to the airport and had his first hot shower in five days”the best shower I’ve ever had!’ Noori arrived in LAX on Thursday afternoon. ‘I’m glad I left,’ he said, noting that he is following the news of the power plant. When asked if he felt that the Japanese government was not forthcoming with the residents about the power plant, Noori felt that it wasn’t a deliberate effort to deceive citizens, but rather the government was dealing with too many problems in too many areas. Nevertheless, ‘I want to go back in the next few weeks,’ said Noori, who was contracted to teach English until July 2011, but recently added a year to his contract. ‘I like the language, the people, the food and the more traditional aspect of Japan,’ said Noori, who eventually wants to go to graduate school. Lessons he learned last week? ‘Always have money in your pocket, have a flashlight ready (and batteries) and have a tank full of gas.’

Amelita Dolorico Wins Annual Travel Contest

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Travel Tales winner Amelita Dolorico. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Travel Tales winner Amelita Dolorico. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer

This wasn’t Amelita Dolorico’s first trip to Antarctica, but it was her first time entering the Palisadian-Post Travel Tales contest with ‘Stuck in the Antarctica Ice.’   Dolorico, who has lived in Pacific Palisades since 1975, wins a night for two at the Fairmont Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica and dinner for two at Ray Garcia’s FIG bistro.   Her article (published on page 3 in this week’s special supplement) was one of 12 entries this year, competing against other well-written stories that transport readers to six countries and four continents.   ’Our first trip [to Antarctica] was in 2008 and we went to the peninsula, but this was different,’ Dolorico said about the trip she and husband Christian Fronsdal, a physics professor at UCLA, completed last month.   ’My husband is a passionate sailor and wants to sail on all the important oceans, and the Southern Ocean is supposed to be the roughest in the world,’ said Dolorico, who wanted a trip that would satisfy her husband. She consulted with Shane Paquette at En Route Travel on Sunset and he came up with a luxurious but challenging trip.   The ship held just 88 passengers, served by 82 crew members, and included 24-hour room service, but the seas were so rough that Dolorico wore a patch behind her ear for the entire voyage and still didn’t feel good. ‘I missed the Captain’s dinner because I was ill.’   There’s a short window of opportunity for people to visit Antarctica, usually December through mid-March, but the weather often dictates a shorter season. (This year, the McMurdo Station closed a few days after Dolorico and Fronsdal left on February 17.)   While visiting the continent, passengers endured temperatures around freezing and nonstop winds. Several freelance journalists and photographers onboard hoped they could record the trip and sell the adventure to a television channel such as Discovery.   ’What a [risky] investment,’ Dolorico said. ‘There is no guarantee.’ (Trips on luxury ships to Antarctica can run from $10,000 to $40,000 per person.)   The retired schoolteacher said that because the trip was so magical and meant so much to her husband, she decided to write the story for the Post’s annual contest. In 1961, when she was 16, Dolorico emigrated from the Philippines to Saratoga Springs, New York, to attend Skidmore College. After graduating with a degree in biology, she worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 1972.   She married and had two daughters, Jenny Llacer, who graduated from Berkeley High, and Lillian Llacer, who graduated from Palisades High as the class valedictorian in 1984.   While her children were small, Dolorico stayed at home, but eventually returned to the work force after receiving her teaching credential from Mount St. Mary’s. She taught at Hoover Street Elementary and, before retiring in 2006 from LAUSD, spent four years working as a literacy coach.   In 1986, Dolorico married Fronsdal in Paris. After retiring, she was a trainer at the Palisades exercise studio Curves until it closed. She also joined the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club, which offers book groups and luncheon opportunities.   This past week, Dolorico enjoyed a different type of trip: visiting her daughter Lillian, son-in-law Eric Anderson and grandchildren Tenaya, 6, and Julian, 3, in Nevada City to bake a butterfly birthday cake for Tenaya.   A third grandchild, Isabelle Christine, 12, lives with daughter Jenny and son-in-law Paul in Santa Clara.

Louis Jacobson, 95; Building Contractor, 59-Year Palisadian

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Louis Biel Jacobson, who had lived in Pacific Palisades since 1952, died peacefully at his home on March 2. He was 95 years old.   Born in New York City on February 14, 1916, the third generation of F. Jacobson Company, shirt manufacturers, Lou graduated from Horace Mann School and Wesleyan University. He joined the family business in 1938, but left for the Army in 1942. As First Lieutenant he commanded a motor pool in Canosa di Puglia in Italy. Following the war, while senior officer at the U.S. Army base at Forteleza, Brazil, Lou met soprano Jane Shelby, then performing with a USO troupe. They married in New York in 1949, and moved to Pacific Palisades three years later.   With architect Paul Hoag, Lou rebuilt their Umeo Road residence and went on to become a successful building contractor. The couple entertained friends with musical evenings at which Jane performed. They traveled widely and contributed generously to charities and liberal causes. Jane passed away in 2005; Lou’s love for her was a hallmark of his life. An amiable, genial man, always fond of a joke, he is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and his devoted caregivers, Cristina and Conrado Lures.   The service will be private. Contributions in Lou’s memory may be made to Save the Children, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880, or to a charity of one’s choice.

Marcia Morgan, 88; Former Palisadian

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Marcia Bentley Morgan, 88, died March 6 in Lakewood, Colorado.   Originally from La Grange, Illinois, Marcia moved to Pacific Palisades and married the late George Eldred Morgan. They lived on Bollinger Drive until the mid-1980’s when, after Marcia’s retirement from safety deposit box management at Security Pacific Bank, they moved to Maine and finally to Colorado to be closer to family.   Marcia enjoyed nature, golf, gardening and volunteer work wherever she lived. She loved the beach, birds, and the collection and arrangement of treasures’found stones, shells, glass and antiques. She was crafty and artistic, a watercolorist. She had a twinkle in her eye, an arch sense of humor, intense opinions, generous affections and special causes: she loved fun and wanted everyone to have it. Her whole family was supported by her encouragement and generosity.   Marcia is survived by her two daughters, Susan M. Bentley M.D. (husband Kim R. Jonason, Ph.D.) of Louisville, Kentucky, and Julia Bowen Love (husband Jerald) of Littleton, Colorado; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; her brother, Duncan Fisher; two brothers-in-law, their spouses, partners and families. She will be remembered by her step-children and step-grandchildren, the Morgans and Tanners.   A memorial service was held in Colorado. Please consider celebrating Marcia’s passion for nature through the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 7004, Cape Porpoise, Maine 04014 (or visit kporttrust.org. A more complete obituary is online at www.allstatescremation.com/index. Click on ‘Obituaries.’

Frank Rejlek, 99; ‘Old-World’ Gentleman from Czechoslovakia

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Frank Rejlek, who lived in Pacific Palisades for more than 40 years, died 15 days before his 100th birthday on January 31.   He had originally moved to the Palisades from Bel-Air so that his wife, Maria, and daughter and son could enjoy a family-oriented community. They lived on Napoli Drive in the Riviera before moving to the Highlands.   Frank was born in Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, and typified a true European ‘Old World’ gentleman. He loved to talk about his happy childhood, from his school days and many friends to his chores and taking care of his younger brother.   At age 18, Frank volunteered and was drafted into the Czech Cavalry for three years, which he said was an adventure that ‘taught me how to survive.’ He then earned his doctorate in education, and worked in filming and documentaries. His employer sent him to New York to investigate this new field in hopes of utilizing it to educate children. Frank taught himself rudimentary English during the three-week voyage to the United States.   After landing in New York, Frank soon realized he needed to come to Los Angeles to further his study. His quest for more information about documentaries led him to visit colleges and universities. He enrolled at UCLA and earned a master’s degree in his field.   Frank could not return to his beloved country because of World War II, so he remained in Los Angeles. He began working for Paillard and then became friends with Victor Hasselblad, who hired him as a sales and distribution representative for Hasselblad cameras and equipment. He worked successfully for Hasselblad from 1957 to 1988 and became in charge of the business operations in 11 states.   As luck would have it, Frank was at the right place at the right time’Pepperdine University in Malibu for lunch’when a beautiful young lady, a French professor at Pepperdine, beckoned him to join her for lunch. Maria became then and forever the love of his life and mother of his two children.   Frank traveled a lot all over the world, sometimes for business (he retired at age 75) and sometimes with his wife for pleasure. For many years he flew back to the Czech Republic every year to place flowers on the graves of his mother and father.   Later in life, even though he was sight- and hearing-challenged, Frank continued to live in his Palisades townhouse; at age 99 he would not move to assisted living. He walked up and down Michael Lane to the mailbox and to the restaurant and haircutting salon. He did this by counting steps and by knowing the curbs in the road. He managed and navigated in his own home using his familiarity of the location of light fixtures, doors and steps.   Frank loved his independence and his mental faculties were intact. He would challenge anyone half his age, maybe a third.   All of Frank’s closest relatives died tragic deaths. His wife Maria died of cancer at age 54. His daughter Mia died at age 10 of an undiagnosed pneumonia, and his son Peter, whose hobby was hang-gliding, died after gliding off a cliff one beautiful day. Frank has one surviving relative, his nephew Yuri, who lives and works in Berlin.   Despite the tragedies and Frank’s losses, his enthusiasm for life and enjoyment of the best foods and wines continued to the end of his life. He had been looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday with friends at Modo Mio restaurant in town.

Thursday, March 24 – Thursday, March 31

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THURSDAY, MARCH 24

  Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited.   The Palisades High School senior-directed play ‘Museum’ opens at 7 p.m. in Mercer Hall on campus. Other performances are March 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets at the door are $8-$12. (See story, page 11.)

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

  Nature photographer Jim Kenney, a Palisades resident, will lead the Temescal Canyon Association hikers on a wildflower hike up Red Rock Canyon (about six miles). Meet for carpooling at 9 a.m. in the Temescal Gateway Park entrance parking lot. Please, no dogs. Visit the TCA Web site at temcanyon.org. This hike was postponed because of last Sunday’s rain.

MONDAY, MARCH 28

  Monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Civic League, 7:30 p.m. in Tauxe Hall at the Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. There’s one house on the agenda, under new business: 660 El Medio (new two-story residence with attached two-car garage).

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

  Priti Aggarwal will present a workshop for teens and preteens (10 and older) on Henna Art, 4 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. (See Upcoming Events, page 10.)   Chamber Music Palisades will feature music by Haydn, Uebayashi and Brahms, played by five featured musicians, with commentary by Alan Chapman, 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda. Tickets at the door are $30; students free. (See story, page 11.)   

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

  A performance by magician Tony Daniels for children and their families (suggested for ages 5 and up), 4 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The performance will be followed by a free magic workshop for children and teens.   Chamber of Commerce mixer, co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades and the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Y headquarters, 821 Via de la Paz. Non-members: $25.   Pacific Palisades resident Jean Rosenfeld, Ph.D., and colleagues will discuss ‘Terrorism and Political Violence in the Contemporary Era’ at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 11.)

The Great American Drive

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Maiya Verrone poses on a two-lane road near a wind farm in Judith Gap in Big Sky Country.
Maiya Verrone poses on a two-lane road near a wind farm in Judith Gap in Big Sky Country.

By PATRIC M. VERRONE Special to the Palisadian-Post Some people drive to see the sights along the way. Some do it to relax. Some even do it to get somewhere. In July and August of 2010, my family drove just to see if we could.   We drove through all 48 contiguous states, book-ended by flights to Alaska and Hawaii. Fifty states, 25 days, five Verrones.   When planning a drive like this, you quickly develop a proficiency at Google Maps, a Stockholm Syndrome affection for hotels.com, and a patriotic loyalty to AAA (though I never had the nerve to tell any single Trip-Tiker about the whole drive for fear they would revoke my membership).   Then there was the small matter of convincing the rest of my family to give up a month of their lives to sit in a minivan for an average of six hours a day. My wife Maiya was an early convert (though she would have preferred we do it as retirees), our older son Patric bought in once it was clear he could Facebook from anywhere in America, our daughter Marianne sensed the tide rushing against her and relented, but our brave 10-year-old Teddy held out. But an iPad on his birthday and, on July 27, we were off to Anchorage.   The sheer size and scope of Alaska was enough to persuade the kids to stay there for a month, but we still had 49 states remaining, so we took in a few glaciers and a single midnight sunset and set some individual goals: I would collect a refrigerator magnet from every state, Maiya wanted a postcard, Patric would buy a pen, Teddy a stuffed animal and Marianne’well, she didn’t want to feel obliged to buy something. Smart girl. We also intended to take a photo of all of us holding the state flag in every state.   We flew to Seattle, met up with my sister Phyllis (a Florida schoolteacher who became known as Aunt Tripod for taking the next 38 flag photos), rented the van and the game was afoot! A foot applied directly to an accelerator pedal for over 172 hours.   How do you drive through 48 states? Well, starting in the Pacific Northwest, you go east on the I-90 for nine days, make a right turn at the Atlantic, work your way down the I-95, take consecutive rights at the Gulf of Mexico (first at Pensacola, then New Orleans), and then hang a hard left at St. Louis, westward towards Las Vegas. There are a few detours to pick up stragglers like North Dakota, West Virginia, Kentucky and two of the Four Corners states, but that’s the basic route. The real challenge of driving 21 days doesn’t fully hit home until you pull into the rental car return lane at the Vegas airport and the attendant says, ‘You drove 9,154 miles. Your contract allowed for … unlimited mileage. Have a nice day.’   The 21st-century road trip is nothing like the days of staring at cornfields and Burma Shave signs. The information superhighway runs parallel to the interstate. We frequently smelled burning plastic caused by overloading three cigarette lighters with the many adapters charging my Droid telephone (supplying us with wireless Internet), my Sony Vaio laptop, our Magellan GPS, three iPhones (one connected to the radio to broadcast ballgames and music), and four MacBooks’to watch DVDs and play two simultaneous versions of Sims 3. Also, there was our blog, which we updated nearly daily. It’s still available at http://pverrone.wordpress.com/.   There are certain things that kids growing up in the Pacific Palisades learn when they see the rest of America. They see that people most everywhere else eat too much. They realize that cornfields are ubiquitous. They learn words like ubiquitous.   I learned some things, too. There is a lot of road construction in the summer up north. There are many more Su’bway restaurants than there are subway stations (by an order of magnitude). Don’t speed in Texas.   As for our personal goals, we learned early in the trip that some state borders don’t have welcome centers; welcome centers don’t stay open very late during fiscally challenging times like these; even when welcome centers are open, many don’t have gift shops; and not all gift shops carry postcards, magnets, stuffed animals and pens.   There is so much more to report, including crossing paths with President Obama’s motorcade (we did!), falling into Niagara Falls (we didn’t!) and the bounty of American cuisine from the original Starbucks to Roy Rogers to McDonald’s; from Alaska caribou burgers to Maine lobsters; from chocolate-coated potato chips in Fargo to sugar-coated beignets in New Orleans; from thirty flavors of cheesecake in Manhattan to 60 varieties of Coke in Atlanta; from a two-gallon ice cream sundae in Boston to a 72-ounce steak in Amarillo.   Our final reward was four days on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. All told, we clocked 18,677 miles by plane, car and even boat. Maiya collected a full complement of postcards and Teddy found 49 stuffed animals (missing only one from Kansas, which he was able to later order on eBay). I gathered 48 magnets (of which I have also now have a full set), Patric got 26 pens and we took 50 state flag photos (out of over 1,200 photos overall). We arrived home at 5 a.m. on August 24, eliciting sighs of relief and a few groans when I announced, ‘We’ll have even more fun next year when we do it in reverse!’ (Patric M. Verrone is a television writer/producer whose current credit is ‘Futurama.’ He was president of the Writers Guild of America West from 2005 to 2009. Maiya Williams Verrone is a novelist and TV writer whose latest book is ‘The Fizzy Whiz Kid.’ Patric C.W. Verrone is a sophomore at Harvard-Westlake where he is involved in theater. Marianne Verrone is an eighth grader at Corpus Christi School and captain of the academic decathlon team. Teddy Verrone is a fifth grader at Corpus Christi and now wants an iPad 2.)

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