After months of planning, the Ski Channel’s latest project is ready to be shown to the world–and what an exhilarating experience it is! The new television network, based right here in Pacific Palisades and available on Time Warner Cable, DirectTV and Dish, will be premiering its new ski film “The Story” this Sunday, October 24th, at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. As the first of hundreds of screenings around the country the event will include a red carpet arrival of athletes, musicians, celebrities and cast, a warm up film about Mammoth Mountain’s terrain park called “Hot Laps” and an after party and concert at the 30,000 square foot Highlands next door. The event gets underway at 6 p.m., approximately 70 athletes and celebrities are expected. Reminiscent of the old Warren Miller ski films, “The Story” stars Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, Bobby Brown, Mike Douglas, Chris Davenport and other top stars of skiing, snowboarding, human flight and various other mountain sports. The revolutionary action film celebrates those who devote their lives to the mountains and takes viewers to the top of Mt. Everest to the bottom of Antarctica. In all, there are over 100 different locations featured in the film. At every turn, there are jaw-dropping stunts that will have viewers scratching their heads and virtually every frame of the film is filled with breathtaking scenery. “The film tells the story of incredible people doing incredible things in incredible places,” said Steve Bellamy, the CEO of Atonal Sports and Entertainment which owns the Palisades Tennis Center as well as The Ski Channel. “The reason we made the film was because the stories of these athletes are so good they have to be told. Such a large portion of skiers give up virtually everything to do what they do. Whether it be surrendering their childhood to race like Lindsey Vonn or passing up promising careers and the traditional trappings of life to wash dishes at the lodge and be able to ski everyday, the stories are all or nothing. Even though the action in the film is as gnarly as anything you will see in life, it is the stories that really captivate me.” Bellamy also wrote, produced and directed the film. The film’s soundtrack includes songs by Brandi Carlile, Bryon Friedman, Sara Mancuso and of course there are tennis players, as the Bryan Brothers, the Jensen Brothers and the Seguso Brothers all have songs in the film. Additionally, Joey Ryan a cutting edge new artist now touring the country has songs in the film. Ryan grew up playing tennis at the Palisades Tennis Center. Nearly all the artists will be performing songs from the film at the after party. Every person purchasing a ticket to the event, gets a swag bag that includes a lift ticket to Mammoth Mountain, a $50off coupon on a Sony TX-5 camera and much more. Families and kids are welcome and there will be autograph signings and picture opportunities at the event. It is through enlightening experiences and dimensional characters that the tale of skiing is told; “The Story” travels around the world and delves into the lives that built and continue to build the great American pastime and sport of skiing. Unlike any other ski movie, “The Story” reveals the untold tale–the greater legend told through the intimate words and skiing of the films’ respective stars. Through epic skiing, snowboarding, river surfing and unimaginable variations of human flight, the new High Definition film showcases the insatiable hunger and the intangible feeling that drives the people who are the pillars of mountain sports. The movie was shot on location in Mt Everest, Nepal; Antarctica; Las Le’as, Argentina; Portillo, Chile; Whistler, British Columbia; Haines, Alaska; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Snowbird, Utah; Vail, Colorado, Lake Tahoe and Mammoth and other snowy locations across the globe. The perfect prelude to winter, “The Story” documents the story that has yet to be told–until now. Tickets available at The Ski Channel’s website or by clicking on http://www.theskichannel.com/filmtour/Hollywood%2C+CA/.
Turnovers Costly in Venice Loss
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Late in the first quarter of last Friday night’s game at Venice High, the Palisades High varsity football team was in a position to take the lead and the momentum in its Western League opener against the defending champions. The Dolphins were on the verge of scoring at their opponents’ 10-yard line, but they fumbled and the Gondos recovered. Venice quickly scored to go ahead 14-7–a 14-point swing from which Palisades never recovered. Venice went on to win 30-13, although the final score was a bit deceiving–Palisades was in the game all the way, thanks in part to a myriad of Venice turnovers. “That was a huge turning point right there,” Dolphins head coach Perry Jones said. “Instead of us taking the lead, we gave it back to them and they scored instead of us.” Jones said plays that appeared to be well-blocked were busted and it wasn’t until he broke down the film later that he discovered why. “Our linemen were doing the job, but they exposed us on the edges and guys that we had accounted for were the ones that were making the tackles,” Jones said. “Man, I wish we could have that game back because we can play with those guys. It’s not like they played mistake-free football. They were giving us the ball every time we turned around.” Malcolm Creer made big plays on both sides of the ball for Palisades, running for a touchdown and intercepting two passes. Jones was also pleased with the progess of quarterbacks Nathan Dodson and Kemonte Reed, each of whom is effective in his own way. “It’s great having two guys who do different things because it gives each of them a chance to rest for a series and at the same time it keeps the defense off balance,” Jones said. “Nate is a real accurate thrower, but he can run the option very well, too. Kemonte is more of a run-first guy, but he can throw well enough to make teams account for that.’ Palisades (2-4) stayed within striking distance until late in the game, when the host Gondos (2-4) added a fourth-quarter touchdown to pad their lead. It was the Dolphins’ 10th straight defeat to their beach rivals and Jones said psychology may have played a part in the outcome. “We wanted that game and we were definitely showed up ready to play,” Jones said. “Venice is in these kids’ heads a little bit. We have to believe in our success and build on it. It’s not a fluke that we’re hanging with good teams–it’s because we’re good enough. That’s a sign that we’re turning the corner. We just have to be more consistent with that level of play and that winning mentality.” Frosh/Soph Palisades opened defense of its league championship against a squad it shut had shut out last year, but this time the host Gondos turned the tables with a 22-0 victory. All three Venice touchdowns came on pass plays–surprising since the Dolphins’ had only allowed one score through the air in their first five games combined. Western League Standings Team League Overall PF PA Fairfax 1-0 4-1-1 208 115 Hamilton 1-0 3-2-0 79 113 Venice 1-0 2-4-0 161 174 Westchester 0-1 3-3-0 147 77 Palisades 0-1 2-4-0 135 153 University 0-1 0-5-0 57 166 Last week’s results: Friday’s Schedule: Venice 30, Palisades 13 University at Palisades, 7 Fairfax 24, Westchester 13 Hamilton at Westchester, 7 Hamilton 35, University 12 Fairfax at Venice, 7
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 21, 2010
HOMES FOR SALE 1
SANTA MONICA CANYON BEACH HOUSE. Updated Cape Cod 3 bd+3 ba. 4 blks to ocean + cafes. MLS #S611839. $1.85 mil. FSBO. Open Sun. 1-5. (310) 230-8605.
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
BUILD YOUR DREAM ESTATE! Giant, flat, rectangular property, 18,300 sq. ft., all buildable. Unique opportunity for any builder’s imagination. Being sold for land value. Don, agt, (310) 230-1981
LOTS FOR SALE 1a
BEAUTIFUL ONE ACRE parcel in River View Estates, located just minutes from Paso Robles. Gated community featuring custom homes, fabulous views and all the amenities of Heritage Ranch are included. Across the street from the lake and new school and shopping center makes this a wonderful place to build your dream home, plan for your retirement or just vacation. Only 20 minutes from Paso Robles where you can enjoy world renown wine and fabulous restaurants. Call Alex, (805) 440-4418. Possible owner financing! ONLY $159,000.
HEADS UP INVESTORS. This lot is in an excellent location for a commercial/retail endeavor in the quaint town of San Miguel just minutes North of Paso Robles. Prime Mission St. frontage makes this parcel a great opportunity for an investor to participate in the future growth of this attractive downtown district. $127,000. Seller financing possible. Seller is extremely motivated. Call Alex (agent), (805) 440-4418
CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e
Remodeled Lrg 2 Bed Townhome * Functional floorplan. Private & quiet. $629K. No agents please. (310) 882-8262
LOCATION! LOCATION! Stunning Palisades village 2 BD, 2 BA under $500K. Unique open floor plan, quiet/pvt unit w/ upgrades, greenbelt vu & pool. Amenities. Great value! $495K. Don, agt, (310) 230-1981
FURNISHED HOMES 2
EXECUTIVE RENTAL! MOVE RIGHT IN! Immaculate, fully furnished, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath. Pool, gym, spa, near trailheads, mountain view, minutes to the beach. Also avail: separate lg studio w/ garden patio. (310) 459-9111
WONDERFUL LIGHT & SPACE. Extensive peaceful canyon views. 1 bed/bath w/ flowing living areas (1400 sf). Protected patio w/ spa. Totally equipped for immediate move-in with a suitcase. Minutes to village, beach or hiking trails. No smoke, pets. Monthly @ $2,400-$2,900/mo. (310) 454-2568
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
HIGHLANDS PANORAMIC MOUNTAIN w/ ocean view, bright, 3 bdrm, 2 ba, high ceilings, fireplace, 2 decks, stainless steel appliances, olympic pool, tennis, gym, gardener incl. $3,990/mo. Marty, (310) 459-2692
3 BDRM, 1 BA. $3,500/mo. Utilities included, 2 car parking, close to Village, schools, shops & beach. Pets ok. Appliances, W/D, D/W & refrigerator. Min. 1 year lease. By appt. only. Eric, (310) 428-3364
2 BDRM, 2 BA, 2 car garage, private deck & fenced in yard. W/D, new kitchen, dishwasher, hrdwd., quiet. Pets ok. Reduced to $3,550/mo. 16754 Edgar St. (310) 454-4599, (310) 266-4151
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
HOME-LIKE, SPACIOUS 1 bd, 1 ba, 800 sf. in triplex near bluffs & Village. Fireplace, bay window, hardwood, garage, laundry, garden. Non-smoker, no pets, 1 yr lease. $2,200/mo. (310) 804-3142
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.
CHARMING DUPLEX overlooking the Village. 1 bdrm, 1 ba. Quiet and quaint. Fantastic location. Walk everywhere. $1,695/mo. (310) 459-1220
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
CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
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
PALISADES CONDO ON SUNSET. 2 bedroom, 2 bath on the 1st floor. Available now. 2 fireplaces, AC, W/D in unit. Private jacuzzi. Quiet building. $3,295/mo. (310) 456-0047
$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
ROOMS FOR RENT 3
ROOM FOR RENT in a house. Female only. Quiet, neat, non-smoker. $795/mo. All utilities included. Rec center with pool, quiet neighborhood. Call Carol, (310) 454-4476
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.
VACATION RENTALS 3e
VACATION RENTAL. Beautifully furnished, fully equipped large, airy 1 bed/bath home in treetops. (310) 454-2568
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
GET TO KNOW YOUR COMPUTER. Improve your computer skills with a relaxed, patient and professional computer tutor in your own home. Peter, (310) 367-7209
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. Part time or temporary OK. 3 hour min. Reasonable rates. Pam, (310) 733-8433
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
LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING JOB. 2-3 days. 12 years experience, own transportation, legal, local references. Call Delmy, (323) 363-9492, delmycleaning.com
EUROPEAN CLEANING SERVICE. Reliable, local references. Experienced. Own supplies. Call today. (818) 324-9154
HOUSEKEEPER. Looking for work. Excellent work and references. Good English. Call Raquel after 5 p.m. at (213) 736-5362.
HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE. Excellent worker, dependable, trustworthy, excellent cook & excellent references. Call Arlina, (323) 229-9327
HOUSEKEEPER. Available Mon., Wed., Thurs. & Sat. Drives own car, great w/ children & pets. Very good references, 10 yrs experience. Call Teresa or Marisol, (310) 590-9763 or (323) 641-7522
I’M LOOKING FOR Wednesdays & Tuesdays. Cleaning or babysitting. Good with kids, excellent cleaning, good references, 9 years experience. My name is Norma. (323) 481-3096
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
INDEPENDENT LANDSCAPE GARDENER. Expertise in: Planting ‘ Plumbing & Irrigation Drip Systems ‘ Sprinklers ‘ Timers & Repairs on existing systems ‘ Landscape Lighting, Fencing, Arbors & Trellises ‘ Pruning & Trimming ‘ Sod Removal or Installation ‘ Soil Preparation ‘ Right plants for given conditions ‘ Regular maintenance. Client refs upon request. Bulmaro, (310) 442-6426 or cell, (310) 709-3738
MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Moves and 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.
MISCELLANEOUS 13j
PRESSURE WASHING ‘ Walkways ‘ Patios ‘ Driveways ‘ Stone ‘ Tile ‘ Concrete. (310) 459-9000
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
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
ClubHappyDog.com. Doggie Day Camp Play Group Excursions. Enroll Your Puppy at 4 Months Old. (310) 359-3433
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 TRAINER 15c
Peak Performance Fitness Training. Ivan Baccarat, N.S.C.A., A.C.E. Cert. Personal Trainer. Body Shaping ‘ Strength ‘ Fat Loss ‘ Prenatal/Post Partum ‘ Cardio ‘ Kickboxing ‘ Stretch/Flexibility ‘ Plyometrics ‘ Endurance ‘ Core Work. Individualized Program Design. Balance training for older adults. 20 yrs. experience ‘ Insured ‘ Excellent references. Call for a free consultation, (310) 829-4428
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 ‘ Assesment ‘ 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
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED? Want a new system of learning for children with AUTISM that really works? Private in-home sessions. WORLD TOURS TECHNIQUES, (310) 455-2505
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
STANFORD-EDUCATED MATH & SCIENCE TUTOR. Young-ish (30s) & personable, 7 yrs exper, algebra thru calculus, physics, chemistry, SAT. References. www.westsidestanfordtutor.com, (323) 309-6687
MATH TUTOR. 15 years in-home tutoring experience. Have excellent skills to deal with lack of motivation & experience to make math fun. Palisades resident. Call Jelica, (916) 302-6129
WORLD’S BEST TUTOR is now available in the Palisades. All ages, most subjects. Let me help your child succeed. References on request. Jan, (310) 454-6774
MATH TUTOR, 10 years + in West L.A., Geometry, Algebra 1 & 2, Statistics, Calculus. Michigan MBA. Very reasonable rates. Call Bill, (310) 454-9821
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
NYU EDUCATED ENGLISH TUTOR. Elementary-High School. Develop reading, creative and analytic writing skills; college applications. $35/hr. Palisades resident: (310) 220-9799
MATH/SCIENCE/SAT TUTOR. Widely used by Palisades residents. Excellent references. Dozens of satisfied clients at top schools. Call Will at (510) 378-7138
KIDS’ ACTIVITIES 15g
PRIVATE FITNESS FOR KIDS ‘ Coach Corey provides one-on-one sports & fitness training for children 3-13. Specializing in coordination and motor skill development for all levels, including Autistic Spectrum (OT references). This unique program guarantees transformational RESULTS! Featured in London Times, Details & Good Morning LA! Call (310) 712-5758
MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h
TRUMPET & MUSIC LESSONS. Phrasing, musicality, music theory, ear training, composing, songwriting. USC & Juilliard graduate. (310) 497-2929
CARPENTRY 16a
YANKEE CRAFTSMAN CARPENTER HANDYMAN specializing in home repairs and renovations. Frame to finish. No job too small. 20 years experience. Not lic. Call Mark at (424) 672-0645
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
PALISADES HOME REPAIR SERVICE. Super reliable, super clean’over 200 completed home repairs. There is no one better! Lic. #294-272. Call Mark, (310) 622-2773
CASALE CONSTRUCTION CO., LLC ‘ Lic. #512443 ‘ Kitchen and Bath Specialist ‘ General Contractor ‘ Residential ‘ Commercial ‘ New Construction ‘ Additions ‘ Remodeling ‘ (310) 491-0550 (o) ‘ (310) 927-1799 (c) ‘ www.reemodeling.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
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
SAM DE LA CRUZ’EXPERT CRAFTSMAN ‘ Painting ‘ Plumbing ‘ Tile-work ‘ Carpentry ‘ Electrical. No job too small! Rain or shine! Good references & reasonable rates. Sammy, (310) 386-2244
I CAN FIX THAT! ‘ HOME REPAIRS ‘ PALISADES RESIDENT, call today for help today. See ripmx.com/handyman for a list of services or call JOHN now, (310) 745-3200
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!
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
TILE 16x
Tile. Nancy Lee Douglass, Lic. #742322 ‘ Regrout ‘ Recaulk ‘ Repair ‘ Install ‘ Beautify ‘ Consult ‘ 25 yrs. exp. ‘ References ‘ Local ‘ (310) 450-6427
MISCELLANEOUS 16z
BUILT INS. Former HGTV design/construction team is doing built ins!! Let’s make good use of those walls. Palisades resident. debonairrenovations.com, (310) 877-5577
HELP WANTED 17
FUDDRUCKERS HIRING cooks, cashiers, shift leaders! Apply 2-4 p.m. daily. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. 221 North San Fernando. Great Oppty’s! (310) 277-7756
DRIVER WANTED * Driver needed on Fridays to pick up retired prof. in PP at 10, drive to UCLA, and return to PP at 3:30. $35 + your car. Exclt refs & driving record. (213) 891-2880
NURSERY COORDINATOR to manage nursery at Pali. Lutheran Church. Sundays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Childcare exp., 21 yrs or older. Starting $16/hr. (depending on exp.). Daryl, (310) 459-2358, dcedaryl@plc.cc
HAIR STYLIST * Station for rent in Palisades established beauty salon. Reasonable rent. Information: (310) 454-3521
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
ESTATE/GARAGE SALE, 3 family. Many collectibles, dishes, Xmas items, CD’s, furniture, antiques. 800 Hartzell Street, Pacific Palisades 90272. Saturday, October. 23, 2010. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
ANTIQUES/COLLECTIBLES/books/clothes/jewelry/hsehold goods, 450 Chapala Drive (off Alma Real). Fri.-Sat. Oct. 22-23; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. www.bmdawson for photos/details.
ESTATE/HOME TREASURES/SALE. Saturday, October 23, 9:00 A.M. to 3 P.M., 1296 Capri Drive (Sunset & Capri). Furniture, household items, books, golf clubs, saddles, etc. Cancelled if rain.
MISCELLANEOUS 18g
FAMOUS ENTERTAINERS MEMORABILIA: Art works, painting supplies, many expensive art books, comedy and magic books, frames, all size pictures. Ruth, (310) 454-5528
Betty Lou Young Receives a Rousing Sendoff
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
There is no doubt that Betty Lou Young was present, in spirit, at her own memorial in Los Liones Canyon Saturday afternoon, but just to make sure that everything would be to her liking, she had jotted down a few requests.   ’Betty Lou said we must make sure that the neighborhood is happy [this being a state park surrounded by homes, there could be no amplification] and that the speeches be short,’ her son Randy reported in welcoming over 200 guests to the park’s amphitheater.   Betty Lou, the beloved Rustic Canyon resident who for over 50 years put Pacific Palisades into historical context with her definitive books, passed away on July 1 at the age of 91. The choice of Los Liones Canyon for the ceremony proved to be particularly right on Saturday because the canyon that Betty thought of as ‘her chapel’ was strikingly verdant, having benefited from the recent rains. It was through her determined focus that the once-abandoned state property was transformed into the healthy coastal habitat that it is today. She was not only hands-on with a shovel, but also labored behind the scenes, having funded the original Los Liones site plan in 1993.   Shirley Haggstrom, one of the pioneer Glamazons, those women who after Los Liones had been cleaned up and restored stayed on to water the seedlings and dig out exotic vegetation, confirmed member Betty Lou as ‘an iron fist in a velvet glove.’ The core group, including Carol Leacock, Norma Spaak and Maria Bane, continued their weekly chores and even though Betty Lou was not as vigorous as she once had been, ‘she liked to hang with us,’ said Haggstrom, who admired her friend for her respect for people, listening skills and high priority on ‘getting things right.’   State Parks Ecologist Suzanne Goode said that she and other state park officials characterized Betty Lou as ‘a fierce tigress in defense of public land and public spaces for all the people. This was the consensus of so many state park officials, whom she held to the highest standards. Here was this nice little lady who could smile at you, yet could kill you,’ Goode mused.   Joe Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, felt nobody else had made more contributions to the community than Betty Lou. ‘I can’t think of anyone who accomplished more than she did without rancor,’ he said, ‘nor is there any word except a superlative that can be used when referring to her.’   Putting Los Liones back together came late in Betty Lou’s many decades of community efforts. Her first book, ‘Rustic Canyon and the Story of the Uplifters,’ was the carefully researched defense to protect the town from a proposed highway connecting the San Fernando Valley to Santa Monica Bay via Rustic Canyon. She believed that if you define a community and give it some history, you can more easily defend its integrity.   Other books followed, including ‘Pacific Palisades: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea,’ ‘Santa Monica Canyon: A Walk Through History’ and the ‘The Chautauqua Movement on the Pacific Coast,’ each of which filled in more chapters about the community’s history.   ’This town could have been a faceless, rich town with no identity at all, but Betty Lou gave the community an identity with all her books, which were extraordinary and easily readable,’ Randy said.   Randy served as host at the afternoon gathering, which he described as part spiritual revival, part public hearing. The agenda followed the various facets of Betty Lou’s life, which were many and which accounted for the outpouring of love at the memorial.   Sara Jane Boyers spoke of Betty’s deep connection to her Rustic Canyon community and her stalwart battle to designate the eucalyptus grove at the recreation center a historical landmark, while also fighting for its health and proper maintenance.   Chickie Jensen, co-president of the Palisades Historical Society, was humbled by Betty’s confidence and respect for her. ‘She told me that I would be a good president of the organization [and with that endorsement] I accepted,’ Jensen said.   Perhaps one part of Betty Lou’s life’the private life, the family woman’was the most illuminating for the assembled group. That private part, the MOM, was lovingly detailed by her two daughters, Debbie and Susie, who because they live in Houston and because of their brother’s high profile in town, have always surprised people by their very existence.   Debbie wasted no time in providing commentary on Betty’s couture. Addressing a makeshift mannequin, which comprised a photo of Betty’s perfectly coiffed hair, protected from possible showers by a plastic rain cap, her favorite sweatshirt, denim skirt and signature white tennis shoes, Debbie reeled off an hilarious riff on her mom’s style. When it came to using a walking stick, Betty Lou at first agreed to use a hiker’s pole as a reassuring aid to her balance, but when the doctor suggested that she might be more secure with a cane with a rubber cap, she balked. ‘I don’t want to look like a little old lady,’ she told her daughter. With that, Debbie held up another model that for the life of us looked exactly like the first, but Betty was satisfied.   Susie Young contributed her own memories, demurring, ‘Debbie and Randy are the hams of the family; I’m the sap.’ She recalled a hike with her mother that the two often enjoyed on the Will Rogers Loop, when a veritable peloton of mountain bikers swooshed by.   ’Betty would go into a diatribe about cyclists,’ Susie said. ‘Soon after they passed, a camera crew was in pursuit of a story and stopped to ask if they could interview Betty Lou. She lowered her head and rushed on, but I told her that she should talk to them; this was her opportunity to tell them exactly how she felt. Betty Lou did. ‘They’re like the kamikaze!’ She told them.’
Planning Commission Delays Action
After a number of Los Angeles residents asked for more time to review various proposed changes to the zoning code, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted unanimously last Thursday to wait three more months before approving any modifications.   Pacific Palisades Community Council member Jack Allen was among those residents to ask for the extension during the Commission’s regular meeting at City Hall in downtown L.A.   ’Obviously this extensive ordinance is being rushed through before the public and the neighborhood councils have adequate opportunity to review and consider the impacts that this ordinance will have on their neighborhoods,’ Allen said, noting that the Palisades Council has not had an opportunity to study the ordinance and therefore has not taken an official stance.   The L.A. Department of City Planning hosted informational meetings about the proposed changes in September and the first week of October, which did not give residents time to offer feedback, Brentwood resident Donald Keller said.   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, according to City Planner Tom Rothmann. The zoning code outlines the criteria for when an entitlement (variance, specific plan exception, adjustment or site plan review) is necessary and the procedures and findings required to make a determination.   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 entire zoning code needs to be rewritten but because of budget constraints, resulting in a lack of personnel, the department’s staff has identified nine problem areas to revise instead. The nine areas identified will be modified and presented separately to the Commission for approval over the next two years.   Last Thursday, Planning Department staff proposed the first of the revisions, which is to the ‘core findings.’ When making a land-use decision, zoning administrators must explain how a project complies with specific core findings. For example, a core finding for many entitlements requires that administrators 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 serves as a record in the case of future litigation.   There are 349 findings in the zoning code for 113 procedures and entitlements. The staff has rewritten 39 findings, deleted 37, and relocated seven; the remaining 266 are unchanged.   ’The proposed ordinance consolidates common findings that have the same intent but different phrasing, clarifies ambiguous finding language, deletes duplicative findings, deletes unnecessary findings and moves findings to more appropriate places in the zoning code,’ according to the recommendation report.   In response to the proposed changes, the L.A. Neighbors United, founded by Cary Brazeman, took out a full-page advertisement titled ‘The City of L.A. is About to Gut the Zoning Code and Our Neighborhoods’ in the Los Angeles Times on October 12.   The advertisement alleged that the Planning Department plans to override existing zoning by allowing taller and bigger buildings that are not compatible.   Rothmann, however, countered that the proposed revisions would not weaken or change any of the current policies or procedures. The goal was to strengthen the language and make it clearer.   Commission President William Roschen added that he is certain the department’s staff did not propose any changes with malicious intent. Commissioner Spencer T. Kezios echoed that sentiment, saying, ‘We all want to have a beautiful city.’   Brentwood resident Wendy-Sue Rosen, representing the Brentwood Residents Coalition, told the Commission that her group would like some of the wording changed in the proposal.   ’While the Planning Department’s current draft is generally excellent, we believe that further revisions are necessary to achieve the department’s goal of clarifying the mandated findings without changing the substance of those findings,’ the coalition wrote in its letter.   Rosen, who served as Brentwood Community Council chair from 2006-2009, founded the coalition with her husband, Thomas Freeman, and resident Donald Keller in November 2009 with the purpose of preserving and enhancing the environment and quality of life in Brentwood. The coalition teams with other community organizations on issues of concern.    Prior to Thursday’s meeting, about 20 Westwood and Brentwood community leaders met twice with city staff to discuss the proposed ordinance. The coalition identified seven areas where they would like the wording modified.   For example, they asked that the traffic provision be changed from ‘That the project will not create an adverse impact on street access or circulation in the surrounding neighborhood’ to ‘That the project will not impair access, ingress or egress to or from the project site or create traffic congestion or an adverse impact on street access or circulation in the area or surrounding neighborhood based on data provided by the City Department of Transportation or by a licensed traffic engineer.’   The Planning Department will host community workshops to hear similar suggestions until January 13. To review the proposed ordinance, visit cityplanning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/Other/CoreFindings.pdf. The workshops will be announced at a later date.
Topanga Electrical Route Is Opposed
The Pacific Palisades Community Council voted unanimously last Thursday against a proposed electrical route that would result in 63 steel poles running through Topanga State Park. ‘You are going to deface the park,’ Council member Gil Dembo told a representative of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. LADWP has plans to upgrade and replace the 31-mile Sylmar Ground Return System, which travels overhead and underground between Sylmar (north of San Fernando) and the Pacific Ocean (traveling under water for about a mile past Gladstone’s restaurant at Sunset Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway). The department is considering three possible routes, all following the same overhead route from where the line originates in Sylmar to the intersection of Mulholland Drive and Sullivan Fire Road. Then, the route could travel overhead through Topanga State Park and underground down Palisades Drive or it could travel overhead along Kenter Canyon to the terminal tower located near Sunset and Homewood Road and transition underground either along San Vicente Boulevard or Sunset. The ocean-based portion will remain the same. ‘If you take [the San Vicente or Sunset routes], it will take a few months to construct, and then it’s underground and forgotten,’ Dembo said, adding that with the Topanga route, ‘for 100 years or more, we will have those poles in our park.’   Juan Diaz-Carreras, the lead environmental scientist and consultant to LADWP, explained that there are already a series of 210 wooden poles in the park that carry power transmission. If LADWP chooses the Topanga route, the wooden poles would be removed and replaced with 63 taller poles.   Diaz-Carreras could not specify where each pole would be located in the park because first a biological and archeological assessment report must be completed.   LADWP recently released an initial study for the project (available on its Web site: www.laLADWP.com/laLADWP/cms/laLADWP013671.pdf), and the public has until Monday, October 25 to submit comments. The draft environmental impact report (EIR), which will closely examine the potential impacts of all three routes, will be released in spring 2011. At that point, the public will have 45 days to provide feedback.   The final EIR will then be released that summer and submitted to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners for approval. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2012 and last until fall 2014.   The Sylmar Ground Return System is part of the Pacific Direct Current Intertie (PDCI), which carries power between the Pacific Northwest and the Los Angeles area. PDCI is owned by LADWP, Bonneville Power Administration, Southern California Edison and the cities of Glendale, Pasadena and Burbank. LADWP operates the southern portion of the system. The ground system serves as a back up to the PDCI, providing power when the line is experiencing problems. The goal of the project is to increase reliability of the ground system, which has not been upgraded since 1970. At this point in the process, Diaz-Carreras could not say how much the entire project would cost. Jessyca Avalos, field deputy for L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, said that the councilman has not taken a position on the route because he wants to hear from his constituents first. Before voting on whether to support the San Vicente or Sunset routes, the Council decided to wait for the release of the draft EIR, which will provide more details on the proposed routes, including full traffic studies.
Summer Creative Writing Contest Winners Honored
The winners of the summer creative writing contest sponsored by the Pacific Palisades Library Association (PPLA) were announced at a special after-school event on October 5. The branch library’s community room was filled with contestants, parents and friends who enjoyed refreshments while listening to actors Bill Jones and Christine Kludijian read the winning stories. The contest attracted 38 entries in five different categories: Scribblers (grades 1-2), Jotters (3-4), Scrawlers (5-6), Scribes (7-8) and Authors (high school). Entries included poems, essays, short stories, dramatic scenes and monologues, and were judged by members of the PPLA, also known as Friends of the Library. Winners were selected based on writing style, originality, plot, characterization and overall effect. Contestants were limited to one entry, which could not exceed three pages double-spaced. ‘As a judge, I was impressed with the level of sophistication of the entries, which included stories of fantasy, adventure, humor and drama,’ said Elsie Scarano. ‘We appreciate the creative efforts of all the talented writers.’   The top three winners in each category received gift certificates from Village Books: $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third.   In the Scribbler category, Rory Asawa (Marquez) won with his entry ‘Dead King Cobra.’ Tessa Smigla (Palisades Elementary) placed second, and Luke Feegel (P.S. 1) placed third.   Kira Martin (Palisades) won the Jotters category with her entry ‘How the Bee Got Its Stinger.’ Second was a tie between Lleyton and Wyatt Bocaccio (Palisades) and Zander Fitzgerald (Palisades). Third went to Jenna Handler (Marquez). ‘The Paper’ by Justin Wolman (Paul Revere) took first in the Scrawlers. Second place went to Kiley McKay (Calvary Christian) and third to Maizie Hurwitz (Seven Arrows). The Scribe’s winner was Zoe Dutton (Harvard-Westlake), who wrote ‘Setiwan’s Flower.’ Second place was Ava Giglio (Paul Revere) and third was Madison Kahn (Brentwood). In the high school category, first went to ‘Message From Your Soul’ by Victoria Minerva Chayes (Marymount). Dakota Powell (Palisades Charter) took second. There was a tie for third between Fiona Hayman (Palisades Charter) and Joseph Maa (Diamond Bar High). Elaine Wechsler, a former teacher at Paul Revere and currently a PPLA board member, started the contest about 23 years ago to promote literature and writing among Palisadian youth. The event is run entirely by volunteers. The winning entries may be read online at www.friendsofpalilibrary.org.
Barbara Billingsley, the Perfect Mom on ‘Leave It to Beaver’
Barbara Billingsley, who played June Cleaver, the ideal mom on the popular ’50s sitcom ‘Leave it to Beaver,’ died October 16 at her home in Santa Monica Canyon. She was 94. Billingsley’s TV image as the loving wife and mother of two boys, dressed in pearls and high heels even when she ran the vacuum cleaner, remains an emblem of the perfect homemaker in the Eisenhower era. She once explained that she wore the pearls to hide a hollow in her neck that cast an unflattering shadow. ’Leave It to Beaver’ ran from 1957 to 1963 with Hugh Beaumont as Ward, June’s mild-mannered husband; Jerry Mathers as Theodore ‘Beaver’ Cleaver, who dodged a minor catastrophe in almost every episode; and Tony Dow as Wally, his older brother and often unreliable advisor. Billingsley’s warm but ladylike demeanor as June never wavered. ‘She was the love in that family,’ Billingsley once said of her character. Over the years, she said, she grew to be more similar to her TV alter ego. ’I was June Cleaver,’ Billingsley told the Palisadian-Post in 2003, the year she was grand marshal of the town’s Fourth of July parade. ‘You bring yourself to a role like that one. The writers put some of your traits into it, too. You become the same people.’ Born Barbara Combes in Los Angeles on December 22, 1915, she attended Los Angeles City College but knew she wanted to be an actress. She joined the cast of ‘Straw Hat,’ a 1937 production that went to Broadway. When the show closed she stayed in New York and worked as a fashion model until her acting career took off. She returned to Hollywood in the 1940s, under contract at MGM. She had small roles in B movies through that decade, many of them uncredited parts. She also made guest appearances on popular television series including ‘The Danny Thomas Show’ and ‘The Loretta Young Show’ before she landed her regular role on ‘Leave It to Beaver,’ which still airs in reruns on cable TV. ’It’s so surprising,’ Billingsley told the Post in 2003. ‘When we made the show we certainly didn’t expect that to happen.’ She often heard people say that no one would look at such a show these days. But she didn’t agree. ‘They’re still looking at this one,’ she said. Billingsley, Mathers and Dow were reunited for ‘Still the Beaver,’ a series that ran from 1985 to 1989. She continued to get small roles in movies, including as the unlikely ‘jive-talking’ passenger in the zany comedy ‘Airplane!’ She told the Post that when Mother’s Day came around each year, she was often invited to speak at celebrations. Billingsley’s first marriage, to Glenn Billingsley, ended in divorce in 1947. She married Roy Kellino and after his death in 1956 she married Dr. William Mortensen. They remained married until he died in 1981. She is survived by her sons, Drew Billingsley of Granada Hills, Glenn Billingsley, Jr. (wife Karen) of Philips Ranch, stepson William Mortensen Jr. (wife Nancy) of Pacific Palisades, 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. ’Our mom was truly the best mom,’ Glenn Billingsley said this week. ‘She was every bit as nurturing, classy and lovely as June Cleaver, and we were so proud to share her with the world.’
Peter Crook, Jr., 92; Golfer, Entrepreneur in Airplane Industry
Frank Peter Crook, Jr., a 40-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed gracefully on September 30 from sepsis, just shy of his 93rd birthday. He was surrounded by his daughter Pam Crook Gray and her daughter Wendy Gleason; his son Gordon Crook and his wife Susie and their children, Kevin and Kelly. Born in Los Angeles on October 20, 1917, to Frank Peter Cook, Sr., and Gladys Cahen, Peter married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Ficovic, in 1941. The couple started dating as teenagers, and he proposed on the dance floor at his college senior prom. Instead of simply saying ‘Yes,’ Mary answered in a novel way. She borrowed a quarter from Peter’s best friend and sent him a telegram, saying she would marry him. Mary preceded Peter in death in January 2009 after a loving marriage of 67 years. Peter, who sometimes went by his first name, Frank, graduated from L.A. High in 1935, attended UCLA and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He designed airplanes for Douglas Aircraft during World War II. In 1958, he and Milt Miner formed Miner & Associates. In 1962, they formed Tridair Industries by adding other companies. In 1975, they merged with Rexnord. Peter then went off on his own with blueprints of airplane parts he felt would be used for the next five to ten years and formed Aeroterra, Inc. The company survived until late 1999, some 24 years later. Peter was a gentle, kind man. He was active in the Santa Monica Republican Club and Optimist Club, L.A. Country Club and a variety of other organizations over the years. Golf was a big part of his life, and he especially enjoyed golfing with his son Gordon and grandson Kevin. His first grandchild, Wendy Gleason, took care of him, as well as caring for his wife Mary, who took ill in 2006. A celebration of Peter’s life was held on October 20. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Santa Monica Animal Shelter, 1640 Ninth St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 (attn: Donation for Frank Peter Cook, Jr.).
Ethel H. Lurey, 96; Lifelong Cubs Fan
Ethel Lurey, 96, who settled in Pacific Palisades five years ago to be closer to her son Michael and his family, died October 9 at the Sunrise Assisted Living facility on Sunset Boulevard. From the time that she relocated to the Palisades, Lurey was an active member of the seniors group at Kehillat Israel Congregation, where she enjoyed social gatherings and joined other volunteers in a knitting project, making scarves in camouflage colors for Israeli soldiers. Born Ethel Ruth Hellman in Chicago, Illinois, on April 21, 1914, she married Harvey Lurey, a wholesale food salesman, in 1940. They raised three children in Chicago, where Ethel once was voted the ‘favorite mom’ on her block. The couple retired to Southern California in 1977 and settled in Leisure World in Laguna Woods the following year. Widowed in 1983, Ethel kept up a full life, spending time with family, socializing with friends, playing bridge and mahjong, golfing and traveling. She remained a lifetime fan of the Chicago Cubs. Lurey is survived by her daughter Nadya of Bali; son Michael (wife Laurie Hasencamp) of Pacific Palisades; daughter Beth Lurey-Titus (husband Mark) of Prairie Village, Kansas; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Jennifer and Greg Kovacs (their children Savannah and Makenna); grandson Jeremy Lurey (his children Dylan and Amanda); grandson Chas Titus and granddaughter Marissa Titus. Other survivors include Lurey’s brother Bill Hellman (wife Rochelle Blank) and sister Jane (husband Bob Felixson). The family is grateful for the generous care of the clergy, staff and volunteers of Kehillat Israel as well as the staff at Sunrise and Ethel Lurey’s all-time favorite doctor, Dr. Damon Raskin of Pacific Palisades. A service was held October 12 at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Donations in Lurey’s name can be made to Kehillat Israel, 16019 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
