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Chapus Runs to State Title

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Cami Chapus won the state Division IV cross country title for the second straight year last Saturday in Fresno.
Cami Chapus won the state Division IV cross country title for the second straight year last Saturday in Fresno.

Harvard-Westlake High junior Cami Chapus won her second consecutive state Division IV cross country championship Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno, running the second-fastest time in division history. Chapus, who had won the Southern Section individual title the week before, completed the course in 17:45, three seconds ahead of runner-up Kat Delaney from Junipero Serra. Last year, Chapus was 20 seconds behind with a mile to go and ended up winning by seven seconds in 17:59, propelling the Wolverines to the team title. This time, despite Chapus’ repeat, Harvard-Westlake was fourth in the team standings. The season still isn’t over for Chapus, a Pacific Palisades resident who was a multi-sport star at St. Matthew’s. She will travel to Portland this weekend to compete in the Nike Cross Nationals. After that, she will join the Wolverines’ soccer team for a run at a second straight CIF title. In September, Chapus won the Seaside Invitational in Ventura by almost nine seconds. Last spring, she was the Mission League champion in the 3200 meters and ran on Harvard-Westlake’s 4×400 relay at the state preliminary meet. Palisades High sophomore Jacklyn Bamberger, who won the City Section individual title last week at Pierce College in 18:46, ran the Division I race in Fresno and clocked 19:21, finishing in 106th place. Bamberger finished 55th with a time of 18:56 at last year’s state finals meet. Grant Stromberg, runner-up in the City, was 37th in the boys’ Division I race, finishing in 16:43. The Dolphins’ junior had just missed qualifying for state last fall. Sophomore Drake Johnston ran 16:23 and placed 95th. “It was more like a 5K and it was raining, so I got the conditions I like,” said Stromberg, who said he wants to triple in the 800, 1600 and 3200 in dual meets when the track season starts in the spring. “I tend to like courses with more hills than that one had but I’m happy that I placed ahead of all the City guys except [City champion] Mizrael Mendez.”

Corpus Flag Football Triumphs

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Corpus Christi quarterback Jack McNamee completes a pass to Will Bantle with Zack Comisar blocking in the background against St. Paul.
Corpus Christi quarterback Jack McNamee completes a pass to Will Bantle with Zack Comisar blocking in the background against St. Paul.

When the Corpus Christi junior varsity flag football team took the field for the annual Veterans Day tournament in Westwood, there was no telling where it would finish amongst a bevy of talented schools. By the time the games were done, Coach Ryan Bushore’s indefatigable squad was celebrating a championship. Corpus defeated host Santa Fe Springs St. Paul in overtime of the final contest. The Corpus squad, consisted entirely of fifth- and sixth-graders. Fifth-graders were Finn Bradley, Jake Dennis, Dillon Malaret, Joe McNamee, Hans Schenk and Sinjin Smith. Sixth-graders were Jere Ashby, Will Bantle, Zach Comisar, Johnny Dietsch, Will Hobin, Nick Hurley, Jack Mackston, Sam Marguleas, Jimmy McGinnis, Jack McNamee, Jake Miller, Charlie Trout, Joseph Waxtein, Dylan Weekes and Will Winkenhower.

Pali Volleyball Reigns Supreme

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Junior opposite hitter Jenevieve Norris spikes over a blocker in the Dolphins' 25-15, 26-24, 25-15 triumph over Sun Valley Poly in Saturday's City Division II final at Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Junior opposite hitter Jenevieve Norris spikes over a blocker in the Dolphins’ 25-15, 26-24, 25-15 triumph over Sun Valley Poly in Saturday’s City Division II final at Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer

It took until the end of the season, but once the Palisades High girls’ varsity volleyball team finally got healthy, there was no stopping the Dolphins from doing what they do best–winning the City championship. Palisades swept Sun Valley Poly, 25-15, 26-24, 25-15 Saturday afternoon at Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles to capture its first Division II crown and 26th section title in program history. Coach Chris Forrest has led the girls to three section titles in four years and this was by far the most unlikely. For most of the year, Forrest was making changes to his lineup every match, as one starter or another went down with an injury. Yet, in the end, his was the last team standing. “It’s been one thing after another this whole season,” Forrest said. “We never really had a chance to show how good we are because key players have been missing.” On Saturday, fourth-seeded Poly (27-6) saw firsthand just how dominating the Dolphins can be at full strength. Palisades took command from the opening serve, building early leads in each set and quelling every run by the spirited Parrots, who suffered their first loss to a City foe in a best-of-five match. Palisades (23-7-2) was seeded third after losing twice in Western League play to Venice. However, the Dolphins turned the tables on the second-seeded Gondos in the semifinals, winning in four sets in a match Forrest admitted was “easier than he expected.” After the Dolphins ran away with the first set Saturday, Poly put everything it had into the second set in an effort to level the match. Palisades built an 18-13 lead before the Parrots fought back to tie at 23-23. Palisades reached set point on a kill by Molly Kornfeind, but Poly outside hitter Viridiana Gallardo answered with a kill to tie it again. Poly served long to give the Dolphins a second set point and this time freshman middle blocker Jennifer Krems’ spike was blocked out of bounds to give Palisades a commanding two-set lead. “We didn’t know much about them [Poly],” Kornfiend said. “But we worked on a new blocking technique and it worked pretty well.” Sensing that the championship was near, the Dolphins raced to a 20-12 lead in the third on timely sets by Meghan Middleton, kills by Kornfeind and fellow sophomore outside hitter Shanna Scott, steady blocks by middle hitter Yanise Joseph and accurate jump serves from senior captain Kasey Janousek. As noisy fans on Palisades’ side of the gym stood in anticipation of victory, Janousek served on championship point. After the ball crossed back and forth several times the referee blew his whistle and called a net violation against the Parrots–sending Dolphins players into delirium. The City Section switched to enrollment-based playoff divisions last season and the Dolphins were upset by Woodland Hills Taft in the semifinals. Scott’s return from an injury was instrumental to the Dolphins’ playoff success because it allowed them to attack from either wing. “It was good because she is a really big part of the team,” Kornfeind added. “So it helped a lot having her back.” Janousek believes the turning point was losing to Venice the second time. “After that we took our offense to a whole new gear and played with a common goal,” she said. “This is my senior year, my last chance… so I wanted to win City more than anything.” Having returned the City championship to its rightful place, the Dolphins set their sights on the Division II Southern California Regional tournament, which began Tuesday night. Palisades hosted Southern Section Division II-AA runner-up Chino Hills and saw its season come to an abrupt end, 25-17, 25-19, 25-10. “I give them a lot of credit,” Janousek said. “It’s the state playoffs. We were expecting them to be a really good team and they were.” sports@palipost

Town Gathers for Thanksgiving Service

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Clergy from Corpus Christi, Kehillat Israel, Palisades Presbyterian, Palisades Lutheran, St. Matthew's and the Self-Realization Fellowship join to lead a prayer for unity.
Clergy from Corpus Christi, Kehillat Israel, Palisades Presbyterian, Palisades Lutheran, St. Matthew’s and the Self-Realization Fellowship join to lead a prayer for unity.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Gathering for the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Monday night, about 300 community members enjoyed a warm, thoughtful and festive hour in the sanctuary at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.   Rev. Howard Anderson, who is completing his second year as rector at St. Matthew’s, welcomed the audience and noted how this annual religious event ‘brings us all together, the way it should be all the time.’ Then in the spirit of his previous ministries in Minnesota where he worked closely with Native Americans, Anderson recited a traditional Lakota chant that reached every corner of the church.   After a reading from The Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) by Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben of Kehillat Israel, and a reading from the New Testament by Monsignor Liam Kidney of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Rabbi Amy Bernstein delivered a heartfelt and passionate homily.   Just four months on the job at KI after 14 years as a rabbi in Duluth, Minnesota, Bernstein urged everyone to appreciate the everyday beauty of Pacific Palisades that is taken for granted”the flowers that bloom every day of the year!”and to consciously ‘slow down your lives this Thanksgiving, stop the mad rush of technology, and just be.’   After readings by Brother Balananda of the Self-Realization Fellowship and Pastor Daryl Lohmeyer of the Palisades Lutheran Church, the clergy of the community led ‘A Prayer for Unity.’   Thomas Neenan, music director for The Parish of Saint Matthew, led the interfaith choir, joined by Roger Daggy, the parish organist; James Vail, the choirmaster and organist at Palisades Presbyterian church; and soloist Ed Levy, baritone.

PaliHi’s Budget Has Unexpected but Wary Gain

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Palisades Charter High School is receiving more money from the state this fall than anticipated, but the school’s Chief Business Officer Greg Wood warns that this situation could change.   ’Given the status of the state budget and continued unknowns, I would like to caution against any ideas of creating additional expenditures on campus,’ Wood told the PaliHi school board on November 16. ‘I am presenting a positive budget, but that could disappear in a heartbeat.’   The state legislature approved a budget in October, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called a special session of the state legislature beginning December 6 to look at mid-year cuts.   At this point, Wood estimates that PaliHi will have an operating budget of $23.2 million in 2010-11, with a surplus of $622,661.   This summer, the board passed a $22.8-million operating budget that called for dipping into the reserve by $358,245. At that time, school officials assumed that PaliHi would receive $22.5 million from federal, state and local revenue sources, but as of now, it appears the school will be given $23.8 million.   The state plans to give PaliHi $6,542 per student, an increase of $12 per student from the 2009-10 school year. The state pays the school based on the average daily attendance rate (ADA), the number of students who attend school on a regular basis.   The school had 2,867 students enrolled at the end of October compared to 2,844 in October 2009. Sixty-eight of those students are attending Temescal Academy, an alternative school located on Temescal Canyon Road below the football stadium.   However, 2,743 of those students (97 percent) are attending school on a regular basis. Wood estimates that PaliHi will have an ADA of 2,710 for the academic year, so he calculated the budget on that assumption.   To come up with that figure, ‘I looked at our ADA trends in prior years to see how much the number has dropped off between the second month of school and the seventh month,’ Wood told the Palisadian-Post.   To encourage students to attend school, Director of Student Services Monica Iannessa has set up a Student Attendance Review Board.   ’Those students with four or more absences are being met with and advised by administrators, counselors and staff members,’ said PaliHi Principal Marcia Haskin, who added that the board has thus far identified 179 students.   The school also has a Pali Positive Attendance Program, where weekly drawings are held for students with perfect attendance. Students win PaliHi gear, gift certificates and tickets to sports games and other school events. danielle@palipost.com

Council Taps Frew and Hofers for Community Service Awards

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The Pacific Palisades Community Council has selected Andy Frew and Sigrid and Arnold Hofer for its annual Community Service Awards. The honorees were chosen for their many hours of volunteer service over a number of years. They will be recognized at the Council’s potluck dinner on December 9 at Temescal Gateway Park’s historic dining hall.   ’This award is for longtime service,’ Chair Emeritus Richard G. Cohen said. ‘It’s almost like a lifetime achievement award.’   Cohen, Ted Mackie (treasurer) and Steve Boyers (alternate for Area 7 and former Council chair) selected the winners from nominations they received from community members and organizations.   Frew was chosen for his tireless work at Theatre Palisades, where he assists with everything from lighting and technical to administrative matters.   ’Years ago, I was at Pierson Playhouse, and I saw a man climbing the walls just before showtime,’ Palisades Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Arnie Wishnick recalled. ‘He was literally climbing the walls, fixing something. I asked ‘Who is that guy up there on the beams?’ ‘Why, that’s Andy Frew. We call him Spider-Man.’ Since then, I have called on Andy numerous times for help.’   Frew has served on the Chamber of Commerce’s Teen Pageant Committee for many years and was one of the founding members of Movies in the Park in 2004.   ’I am especially impressed that Andy can find the time to serve the community when he has impressive professional responsibilities,’ Cohen said. ‘Andy is a well-published Ph.D. physicist and neuroscientist at UCLA, where he runs a brain imaging laboratory.’It is especially wonderful to find a busy and productive professional’who finds the time to make the Palisades a better, more cultured place.’   Cohen explained that the committee selected Sigrid and Arnold Hofer, the parents of Palisadian-Post graphic designers Manfred and Tom Hofer, for their community service over the past 40 years.   While their children were in school, Sigrid served on the PTA at Palisades Elementary and Palisades High, and she ran the elementary school library for four years. In addition, for the past 30 years, Sigrid has been a vice president and fundraising chair for the Palisades Symphony.   As a former professional mechanic, Arnold has often built and repaired necessary equipment at the Pierson Playhouse. Together, the Hofers have assisted with many of the administrative tasks for both the symphony and Theatre Palisades.   ’Toiling in the background, the Hofers have done the quiet work that allows our local cultural and educational institutions to be great,’ Cohen said.   Since 1996, the Council has presented the Community Service Award to Margaret Jose, Nancy Markel, Malcomb Abzug, Barbara Manaugh, Susan Oakley, Dorothy Bissell, Ron Dean, Bernice Park, Jack Allen, Deborah Held, Norma Spak, Frances Tibbits, Bill Bruns, Carol Hurley, Dieter and Eva Holberg, Cindy Simon, Mary Cole, Haldis Toppel, George Wolfberg, Shirley Haggstrom, Paul Glasgall, Ethel Haydon and Barbara Kohn.   The Post will profile the three winners in upcoming issues.

Council Proposes Changes to L.A. City Zoning Code

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With the L.A. Department of City Planning seeking input on proposed changes to the city’s zoning code by January 13, the Pacific Palisades Community Council unanimously adopted a list of recommendations at last Thursday’s meeting.   ’The ordinance that has been proposed by the city may dilute our community and specific plans and reduce some of our protections under existing regulations,’ Council member Chris Spitz said. ‘Modifications to the ordinance are necessary to preserve these protections.’   Two years ago, the Planning Department launched an initiative to rewrite selected provisions in the city’s zoning ordinance in an effort to simplify the document. The zoning code went into effect in 1946 and has been amended so many times that it has grown from 84 to more than 600 pages.   The Planning Department is now developing six ordinances, all designed to streamline the process for discretionary land-use approvals such as variances, conditional use permits and zone changes. In 2011, the ordinances will be presented separately to the Planning Commission for approval.   On October 14, the Planning Department presented one of the proposed ordinances to the L.A. City Planning Commission for approval. The ordinance would revise the ‘findings’ for conditional uses, adjustments and other quasi-judicial land use approvals.   When making a land-use decision, a zoning administrator must explain how a project complies with a specific ‘finding.’ For example, a decision-maker may be required to articulate how a project will relate to the size and scale of surrounding properties. Administrators must explain their rationale and use evidence when making their determinations, which serve as a record in possible future litigation.   There are 349 findings in the zoning code for 113 procedures and entitlements. The City Planning staff has rewritten 39 findings, deleted 37, and relocated seven; the remaining 266 are unchanged.   ’The proposed ordinance consolidates findings that have the same intent and are located in the zoning code more than once into seven commonly used ‘core’ findings,’ according to the recommendation report. ‘This consolidation removes duplication and organizes various sections more coherently.’   At the October 14 Planning Commission meeting, Los Angeles residents, including Council Chair Janet Turner and Council member Jack Allen, asked for more time to review the proposed ordinance, and the Commission responded by unanimously voting to wait three more months before approving any modifications.   Last Thursday, the Council voted to strengthen some of the language in the seven ‘core’ findings. For example, they are asking that the project compatibility core finding be changed from ‘That the project’s location, size, height, operations and other significant features will be compatible with and will not adversely affect or further degrade the surrounding neighborhood’ to ‘That the project location, size, height, operations and other significant features shall be compatible with the scale and character of and not adversely affect or further degrade the adjacent and surrounding neighborhood or the public health, welfare, safety or physical environment.’   Council member Barbara Kohn, who lives near the Getty Villa, explained that it’s important to add ‘adjacent neighborhood.’ In the case of the Getty Villa, the surrounding community would be Pacific Palisades and Malibu, but the adjacent neighborhood would be Pacific View Estates and Castellammare, and the impacts of the Villa are different for both groups.   The Council is asking that all hillside-related provisions to the ordinance be stricken until after the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (BHO) is passed and the Planning Department has the opportunity to examine the proposed changes in light of the new ordinance.   The City Attorney’s Office is currently preparing an official BHO, which must ultimately be adopted by the City Council and signed by the Mayor.   In the motion passed last Thursday, the Council also recommends that all six ordinances the Planning Department is developing be implemented at once.   ’In the interests of fundamental fairness, due to process and notice, the Council is very concerned about the unknown impact of the remaining five to-be-proposed ordinances which Planning staff indicates are ultimately to be viewed in consortium with the ordinance; however, none of these five proposed ordinances have yet been drafted or examined by the public.’   The Community Council’s Land Use Committee made the recommendations to the full Council. The members ‘ Kohn, Spitz, Allen, George Wolfberg, Stuart Muller, Jennifer Malaret and Paul Glasgall ‘ attended city workshops and spoke to other neighborhood councils and homeowners associations.   ’I would like to thank the committee for spending several hundred hours researching this topic,’ Turner said.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25, 2010

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HOMES FOR SALE 1

GREAT DEALS. Homes Steps from Sand. Right in the Palisades! $125-450,000. Fab ocean views. For use as homes/offices/weekend retreats/condo alt. Terrific opportunity! PCH between Sunset and Temescal. 8 sold last year. Heated pool and rec center. Agent: Michelle Bolotin, (310) 230-2438, www.michellebolotin.com

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

MALIBU RANCH ESTATE FOR LEASE. 5 acres, room for large animals, ocean view, 1st driveway off PCH, stream, pond, 1 minute from Malibu Seafood and surf! Main home (2+2), hardwood, stainless, granite. Guesthome (1+1), travertine, stainless, granite. $6,500/mo. incl utils. Call (818) 307-9510 for details.

GUEST HOUSE. 3 rooms, garden setting, French doors, hardwood floors, laundry, very quiet. Available Dec. 1st. $2,100/mo. Utilities included, cat okay. (310) 454-8150

PACIFIC PALISADES. Bright 3 BR, 1 3/4 BA. Walk to Village. Yard with some citrus trees. HW floors in living rm/dining area. No dogs. $3,200/mo. (310) 454-7275

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.

ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT 1/2 block from Gelson’s and ‘village’ shops, two blocks from Temescal Cyn hiking. Quiet building, little street traffic. Call Michael, (310) 883-8049

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

LARGE STUDIO W/ GARDEN PATIO. Kitchenette, 3/4 bath & bonus room. $1,600/mo. unfurnished, $1,900/mo. furnished. (310) 795-3999

CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

$2,900/MO. BRIGHT, SPOTLESS TOWNHOME. 2 beds+2 baths. High ceiling master, plenty of storage, private garage with direct entry. Quiet, quiet. Broker, (310) 740-0302

BEAUTIFUL 3 BDRM, 2 1/2 BA Highlands townhouse with mountain views. Spacious, 2 fireplaces, 2 balconies, pool, gym, spa, W/D. Unfurnished: $3,500/mo. Elegantly furnished: $4,100/mo. (310) 459-9111

2 BD, 2 BA. Center of town condo. Pool, 1,300 sq. ft., new carpet, large rooms, open kitchen, washer & dryer. $2,600/mo. Available now. Great deal! (310) 403-5113

PALISADES HIGHLANDS TOWNHOME. $2,800/mo. 2 bd, 2 ba, 2 garage. Vaulted ceiling & fireplace, mountain views, patio & deck, pool & tennis. 3 mi. to beach. DiamondPalisades@gmail.com, (909) 861-4493

GEM IN THE PALISADES, Sunset & Almar. 2 bdrm, 2 1/2 ba townhouse. Hardwood, tile, carpet, w/d, dishwasher, roof deck, parking. $3,350/mo. (310) 395-1073

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

BEAUTIFUL FURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT. Bedroom w/ walk-in closet + shared bathrm available now. Palisades home in upper Alphabets. Utilities, cable TV, internet, weekly housekeeper, washer/dryer, kitchen privileges incl. Female preferred, non-smoker. $825/mo. Call Judith, (310) 454-4318

WANTED TO RENT 3b

3 MONTHS SUBLET WANTED. 1-2 bedroom condo/cottage, near town, furnished sublet. Single lady, no pets, 3 months, January-March, 2011. nanvee@aol.com or (212) 799-2146

FURNISHED HOME NEEDED. German family of 5 needs furnished home. July-Aug 2011. Local references available. 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.

WRITER’S RETREAT * Quiet office suite with private access and bathroom. This 350 sq. ft. space is bright and airy. Available in December. (310) 702-1107

VACATION RENTALS 3e

LAS VEGAS VINEYARD VILLA luxury home offers 3,500 sq. ft. tri-level half acre with amazing strip view. Available now! Call Ramona for a reservation at (702) 222-0608

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

NEED HELP WITH PAPERWORK? Mail & bills, bookkeeping, reconcile accounts, business mgmt, computer help. Caring, thorough, confidential. (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

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

ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h

PERSONAL ASSISTANT/ORGANIZER. Outgoing & cheerful individual available for office or home organization. Office skills, errands, event & travel planning. 3 hour min. Reasonable rates. FEELING THE HOLIDAY CRUNCH? I can address cards, take care of your holiday shopping, Christmas decorating, gift wrapping, or party planning. Pam, (310) 733-8433

MISCELLANEOUS 7o

CONSCIOUS COMPANION. Have you lost a spouse and feeling disconnected? Or retired and feeling ‘stuck?’ As your Conscious Companion,I will greet you in the morning and help start your day. We can delve into stimulating conversations over current events, critique a good book or movie. We can conquer crossword puzzles, play cards, learn fun skills on the computer and read the newspaper together. We can sip tea or coffee and enjoy nature. With integrity, will find what YOUR passions are as we set goals for the week, month and year. I guarantee you will find yourself laughing out loud (again). References are available and space is limited. Let’s start today! Weekday mornings 1-2 hour intervals. Call Marguerite, (310) 403-2391

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

FRENCH NANNY AVAILABLE. A responsible, active, and kind nanny. I’ve got a first aid certificate and lots of experience with children. Clean driving license, references, resume. Michele at (310) 430-9253

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

GOOD HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Monday through Friday. Own transportation, local references, good with kids & pets. Very light English. Please call Angelica, (818) 645-7775.

HOUSEKEEPER. Looking for work on Tuesdays. Excellent cleaning & references. Dependable & good English. Please call Raquel at (213) 736-5362

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER AVAILABLE. Good references, own transportation, friendly with pets, speaks English. Available Fridays & Saturdays. Marlene, (323) 423-2558

PAULA IS LOOKING to work as a housekeeper, Monday thru Friday. Has 10 years experience and good references. Please call (323) 219-6984

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER/DRIVER. Available Monday through Friday. Has own car, CADL & insurance. Local references. 10 years experience. Daisy, (323) 732-8192 or (323) 793-8287

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU offering eldercare, childcare, and housekeeping. Professional and experienced. References available upon request. (818) 645-1775 or (310) 903-1434

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

MISCELLANEOUS 12f

PILATES HOME STUDIO has openings for first timers or advanced. Professionally trained. Evening & weekend appointments available. Call for appointment and info. (310) 459-0911 or (310) 508-7706

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.

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

EXCELLENT PERSONAL ASSISTANT to help w/ tasks of the day. Organizing, driving, appointments, shopping, errands, property manager, banking deposits, etc. Excellent references. Evelyne, (310) 395-4660

WATERCOLOR PORTRAITS of your beloved children and pets. Specializing in vivid and realistic watercolors and pen & ink. BA in art UCLA. Professional artist. Renee, (310) 454-1821

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 14k

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

PERSONAL WARDROBE CONSULTANT to solve all of your fashion dilemmas! Closet re-organizing, personal shopping & holiday gift buying services avail. Denise Scher, (310) 398-0921, www.styledbydenise.com

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

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

MATH & CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS: COLLEGE ESSAYS, SAT/SAT II/ACT/ISEE/HSPT MATH PREP. All math subjects thru calculus. Jr. high thru college level writing skills. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Local office in Palisades Village. Call 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 ‘ Assessment ‘ Motivation ‘ Remediation ‘ Personalized academic, cognitive, & behavioral support. ADD, Gifted, LD, School & Family Challenges. Free Consult ‘ Pre-K – Adult ‘ Local office 10+ years. Arlana J. Morley, MS, MFT, BCET. (310) 459-4125

MATH & SCIENCE TUTOR. Middle school-college level. BS LAUSD credentialed high school teacher. Test prep. Flexible hours. AVAILABLE to help NOW! Seth Freedman, (310) 909-3049

MATH, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS TUTOR * All math through AP calculus, AP chemistry and AP physics. Ask about homework club!!! www.clc90272.com or (310) 459-3239

Alex Van Name, a NAME you can TRUST! for k-12 Science and Math Tutoring. www.310ScienceMath.com. Summer Assignments, S.A.T. and A.C.T. Prep, Academic Tutoring and Support. Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, pre-Calc, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Honors and AP too! ‘Mr. Van Name is such a patient and creative instructor. He explains the material thoroughly and is always ready to explain it in different ways until it makes sense.’ Call: (310) 295-8915. Email: alexvanname@tmo.blackberry.net. 12011 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA 90049

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

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

EARLY ELEMENTARY TUTORING, UCLA graduate.32 years experience as owner/director of two Californian Montessori Schools. Specialize in reading & writing. Your home. References. Renee, (310) 454-1821

MATH/SCIENCE/SAT TUTOR. Widely used by Palisades residents. Excellent references. Dozens of satisfied clients at top schools. Call Will at (510) 378-7138

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

SEME TILE. License #920238, insured. All phases of tile work. Kitchens, bathrooms, walkways, etc. No job too small! Call Steve, (310) 663-7256. FREE estimates! Email: semetile@gmail.com & website: www.semetile.com

ELECTRICAL 16h

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

ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. Local service only. Non-lic. Please call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286

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. 18 years quality work ‘ Wood fences ‘ Decks ‘ Gates ‘ Chainlink & patio ‘ Wrought iron. Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996

CARLOS FENCE COMPANY. Wood & picket fences, wrought iron, chain link, gates, handrails, balconies, decks, pergola, arbor. Custom jobs available. (310) 677-2737, (310) 677-8650 (fax), carlos_fence@yahoo.com

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

JEFF HRONEK, 40 YRS. RESIDENT. HARDWOOD FLOORS INC. ‘ Sanding & Refinishing ‘ Installations ‘ Pre-finished ‘ Unfinished ‘ Lic. #608606. Bonded, Insured, Workers Comp. www.hronekhardwoodfloors.com (310) 475-1414

K&Z HARDWOOD FLOOR EXPERTS. Refinishing, installation, recoat, water & fire restoration. Free est. Lic. #804641. (800) 500-1146, (818) 905-0428

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, 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

PALI HANDYMAN & CONST. SERVICES. LOW COST HOME IMPROVEMENT. All jobs welcome such as all painting exterior-interior-walls-moldings etc., un-sticking of doors & windows, concrete, tile, brick/block, carpentry, woodwork, patios, decks, all fencing, gates, doors, cabinetry, drywall repair, roofing, additions, flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, water damage, electrical, plumbing, pressure washing, picture hanging, lighting, stucco, repair, sanding, clean up and trash removal and all other projects or fix it problems needed. Call now for a FREE ESTIMATE! Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153 (always working in Palisades). Licensed, bonded and insured. 24 hr/7 days service available also!

A-1 SUPER HANDYMAN ‘ All concrete & brick work ‘ Blockwall ‘ Fencing ‘ Stucco ‘ Electrical ‘ Plumbing ‘ Painting ‘ Roofing ‘ Clean up ‘ Drywall ‘ Plaster ‘ Tree trimming ‘ FREE ESTIMATES! ‘ Lic. #902840. Tangi, (310) 592-9824, (818) 793-4415

HANDYMAN. Skilled labor/Jack-of-all-trades. $30/hr. or will bid job. Non-lic. Bill Clark, (310) 435-9754

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

JIMENEZ PAINTING ‘ Interior & exterior. Residential & commercial. Cabinet refinishing. Over 15 yrs exp. References avail. 100% quality work. For free estimates call Javier, (818) 268-3311 or (818) 489-7268

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

TILE 16x

Tile. Nancy Lee Douglass, Lic. #742322 ‘ Regrout ‘ Recaulk ‘ Repair ‘ Install ‘ Beautify ‘ Consult ‘ 25 yrs. exp. ‘ References ‘ Local ‘ (310) 450-6427

HELP WANTED 17

HAIR STYLIST * Station for rent in Palisades established beauty salon. Reasonable rent. Information: (310) 454-3521

PERSONAL ASSISTANT NEEDED * Phone calls, emails, lite errands around Palisades and SM for local builder. Must have own car. (310) 741-1507

SCARLETT’S CUPCAKES IS HIRING! Need baking assistants w/ decorating ability & cupcake sales associates. Please call (310) 625-2448 or email Susan@ScarlettsCupcakes.com for application. Thanks for your interest.

ADMIN. ASST./RECEPTIONIST needed for small, established law firm in Pacific Palisades. Duties include front office and administrative support. Must be detail oriented and computer literate. Fax resume to (310) 459-1606 or email resume to randy@palisadeslaw.com

FURNITURE 18c

FURNITURE FOR SALE! Black upright Yamaha piano, $4,500. 3 piece wall unit, $600. White hand painted vanity, $150. White bunk bed unit with built in desk, $350. Hand painted upright bookshelf, $150. All in excellent condition! (310) 230-2018

Marking Off the Days ’til Christmas

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The Christmas tree has been decorated and lighted with candles in the town square in this advent calendar from Sigrid Hofer's collection.
The Christmas tree has been decorated and lighted with candles in the town square in this advent calendar from Sigrid Hofer’s collection.

Advent is anticipation, a period of waiting, a dark period. In the Middle Ages, people lit candles on wheel-shaped bundles of evergreen. These Advent wreaths gave comfort as people looked forward to the longer days ahead.   In the Christian tradition, Advent is a time devoted to the preparations for Christmas, commencing on the first Sunday after November 26.   The Advent calendar, a tradition started in Germany in the beginning of the 19th century, offered another method of counting down the days to the celebration of Christmas (Weihnachten).   The first printed calendar, produced by Gerhard Lang in 1908, consisted of miniature colored pictures that would be attached to a piece of cardboard each day in December. Later, Advent calendars were made with little doors to open on each day. Behind each door, the child might find a small piece of candy, a Christmas picture, a religious picture or a bible verse.   The sampling of Advent calendars on this page is part of larger collection that Pacific Palisades resident Sigrid Hofer collected throughout the childhood of her two adult sons, Manfred and Tom (Palisadian-Post graphic artists).   A child herself during World War II, Hofer grew up in Alveslohe, a small village in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany, near Hamburg. While her own family was not particularly devout, they did honor the traditions of Christmas by lighting a candle each week on the Advent wreath, making simple crafts and singing songs.   ’On Christmas Eve, my parents put up the tree in a room which was off limits to us children, locked with big double doors,’ Hofer says. ‘They decorated it with candles, balls, metal ornaments, tinsel, candy and cookies,’ she remembers with delight the surprise awaiting her and her two sisters, Gisela and Renate, when at last allowed to enter the room on Christmas Eve.   ’Our Christmas was simple, it was during the war,’ says Hofer, who immigrated to the United States in 1957. ‘We might have received a doll or new clothes for the dolls. Maybe mother would make us a new nightgown or sweater.’   A tradition that Sigrid did enjoy was the celebration of St. Nikolaus Day on December 6. In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a shoe called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door or on the windowsill on the night of December 5. St. Nikolaus fills the boot with gifts and sweets. Hofer recalls that on certain years, if it snowed excessively, the shoe would have to be put out twice.   Christmas was celebrated on December 24 with a Christmas Eve dinner comprised of traditional dishes of roasted meat, a sweet bread and marzipan. From the start of Advent, a weihnachtsmarkt was set up in the town where everything one needed for Christmas was sold: decorations for the tree, candles, crib figures, along with foodstuffs’gingerbread, sausages and roasted chestnuts. Hofer and her sisters did not share the tradition of the Advent calendar when they were growing up, but Hofer and her husband Arnold initiated the Advent tradition in their home with calendars that her sisters sent the Hofer boys each year.   This year, Hofer received a four-part, accordion-shaped calendar depicting a townscape, which she plans to use as a backdrop for her own ceramic Dickens’ Christmas village collection that she started over a dozen years ago.

Thursday, November 25 – Thursday, December 2

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26

Theatre Palisades’ production of ‘Putting It Together,’ a musical revue showcasing the songs of Stephen Sondheim, 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., through December 15. For tickets ($18-$22) call (310) 454-1970.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29

Monthly Pacific Palisades Civic League board meeting, 7:30 p.m. in Tauxe Hall at the Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. The public is invited. Under new business: 14681 Albright (new two-story residence), 522 Almar (second-story addition), 649 Las Casas (new two-story residence) and 569 Mount Holyoke (new two-story residence). Old business: 548 Muskingum (second-story addition). Landscape only: 710 Via de la Paz (landscape and hardscape only).

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30

Santa Monica Canyon resident Mona Simpson discusses and signs ‘My Hollywood,’ her first novel since ‘Off Keck Road,’ 6:30 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. This free event is hosted by the Pacific Palisades Library Association. Annual meeting of the Temescal Canyon Association, 7 p.m. in Stewart Hall in Temescal Gateway Park. The public is invited.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1

Storytime for babies and toddlers under the age of 3, featuring a lap-sit of songs, finger plays, stories and flannelboards, 10:15 a.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Don’t be late!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2

Storytime for children ages 3 and up, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3

Pacific Palisades resident Kenneth Turan, the L.A. Times and NPR film critic, discusses and signs the paperback edition ‘Free For All: Joe Papp, the Public, and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Turan’s book captures the irresistible history of the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theater’two institutions that, under the inspired leadership of Papp, became a vital source of revolutionary and enduring American theater.

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