There are unlimited opportunities for Pacific Palisades youth to learn to play basketball, soccer, tennis and even lacrosse, but it becomes trickier for parents to find a place for their kids to learn golf. The sole golf course in the community, the Riviera Country Club, doesn’t have a youth program for non-members, which is one reason that Palisadian entrepreneur Steve Bellamy, founder of Atonal Sports and Entertainment, started the L.A. Golf Academy. Carlos Rodriguez, a PGA teaching pro, is director of the Academy, located at the Penmar golf course in Venice. In addition to junior development groups during the year, Rodriguez also runs summer youth golf camps to teach golf basics to kids ages 6 to 15. The day typically begins in the classroom at Penmar, a nine-hole course. ‘Playing rules, honesty (about stroke count) and etiquette are paramount,’ Rodriguez says. After the classroom, golfers go outside and learn how to chip, putt and shoot bunker shots. If campers stay the full day, they play three, six or nine holes depending on age and experience, and work on their wood shots. At the end of the camp, depending on a youth’s progress, golfers under the age of 13 may receive their certification, which is needed to play on most of the City’s golf courses. An important life lesson Rodriguez emphasizes is that students need to be nice to each other. ‘It’s socializing, not competing,’ he says. ‘The two things kids have to master is socializing with each other and realizing that the competition they face is with the golf course, not each other.’ Rodriguez, who grew up in Puerto Rico and played golf all over the world, including the European and Asian pro tours, has been a teaching pro since 1993. The L.A. Golf Academy (230-2052) runs Monday through Thursday until September 2. Green fees for juniors ($5) are not included in the camp fee. There is a coffee shop at the course. Atonal Sports and Entertainment is located in the 881 Alma Real building, just a block from Steve Bellamy’s Palisades Tennis Center.
Palisadians in the Pyrenees
By JOELLE COREY Special to the Palisadian-Post As Lance Armstrong and his riding rival, Alberto Contador, prepared to climb the Pyrenees in July, eight members of the Palisades Literary Society (PLS) packed their bags to join them in the final stages of the Tour de France. The cyclists prepared for seven months to participate in Discover France’s Alpes VIP Tour, which allows cycling enthusiasts to follow the same route as the professional riders. Discover France accepts only 25 cyclists, who are capable of riding big-mountain climbs and riding 30-75 miles each day. The local participants included Palisadian Thomas Hathaway and his 18-year-old son, Starr, and nephew Sterling of Hermosa Beach, along with Scott Bottles, Chris Tesari and Glenn Corey, all of Pacific Palisades, and Wayne Brander of Long Beach and Richard Marlis of Tarzana. Bottles and Tesari initiated the idea, and those PLS members who could coordinate their vacation schedules decided to make the trip. The experience was not a competition, but a chance to gain access to the Tour’s challenging route. To prepare for the trip, the eight cyclists rode with the 50-member PLS group, which meets year-round (rain or shine) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:15 a.m. sharp. PLS ‘ aptly named for its meeting place in front of the Palisades Branch Library ‘ formed in 1984 and primarily comprises middle-to-senior-aged professionals. ’One of the nice things about the Literary Society is that, if you’re looking for general fitness and camaraderie, it works on that level,’ Thomas Hathaway said. ‘If you fancy pushing yourself to achieve the most you are capable of, it works on that level, too.’ Monday’s 23-mile ride to Marina Del Rey is fairly flat, Wednesday’s loop includes 1,200 ft. of climbing up to Mount St. Marys and up Temescal Canyon Road for a total of 20 miles, while Friday’s ride up Mandeville Canyon is 20 miles with 1,500 ft. of climbing. The eight riders further intensified their workouts with weekend rides that included ‘epic climbs’ in the Santa Monica Mountains and along Angeles Crest Highway that ranged in distance from 60 to 100 miles with aggregate ascents in climbing of 6,000 to 10,000 ft. They also met on Tuesdays to ride up Palisades Drive in the Highlands, with aggregate ascents of 3,000 ft. It was a lot of hard work, but the cyclists knew they had to be prepared for their trip, which began in Paris on July 16. Day 1) Total Miles: 0 They spent the day in Paris visiting cultural landmarks, including Notre Dame and Jardin du Luxembourg. Day 2) Total Miles: 0 The group traveled by train from Paris to their hotel in Toulouse. They were fitted for their bikes, which they rode throughout the Tour. Day 3) Total Miles: 40; 64.36 km The cyclists took a bus from Toulouse to Revel, the start of Stage 14 of the Tour de France. There, they mingled with cycling luminaries and witnessed an interview with Luxembourg cyclist Andy Schleck in the VIP area. They watched the professional riders’ start the day’s race, which ended in Ax 3 Domaines. Once the competitors took off, the guys enjoyed a three-course meal, which included common French delicacies. A bit heavier than before lunch, they rode to Carcassone, where they did some sightseeing of the iconic medieval ‘walled city.’ By the end of the day, they were exhausted and returned to their hotel in Toulouse. Day 4) Total Miles: 59.2; 95.3 km The cyclists were dropped off in the picturesque town of Aspet. From there, they got a head start on the professional riders and rode the last portion of Stage 15. They finished in Bagneres-de-Luchon, but not without a climactic end, climbing the 12 miles up Port de Bales. Deceivingly, the route remains flat until that final arduous stretch when suddenly a climb from 1,476 ft. to 5,577 ft. presents itself, featuring slopes with a 10-percent inclination grade. (Temescal Canyon is a mere 5-percent grade.) It was blistering hot and the last three miles of the climb were above the tree line. ‘This makes it extra challenging because the finishing kilometers of the climb are already very steep, so on a hot day the climb’s level of difficulty goes up drastically,’ said Starr Hathaway, who recently graduated from Buckley School, where he ran cross country. ‘[But] I personally perform better in the heat. In high school, I would always run my best races when it was very hot and dry. Part of this is due to my knowledge of proper hydration that my dad has taught me over the years.’ Starr, who will attend the University of Oregon this fall, began hydrating the night before and continued to do so throughout the ride. ’If you let yourself get thirsty and start craving water, it’s too late,’ Starr said. After the climb, the men proudly descended to the finish. Then, they watched the professional riders doing the exact same climb, but at a much faster pace. This was the climb in which Schleck experienced troubles with his chain, preceding what many bicycle experts considered an unethical attack by Alberto Contador, which gave him a 39-second lead. It is a tour tradition never to attack another rider during a mechanical failure, in order to guarantee pure athletic victory. That night, the guys stayed at a mountaintop ski resort in La Mongie. Day 5) Total Miles: 18.6; 30 km After a hearty breakfast, the group was bussed from La Mongie into a point along Stage 16. They rode the last 30 miles of the Stage to Pau, crossing the finish line to the sound of screaming fans. ’It always felt great to ride past the fans in Europe,’ Starr said. ‘It’s the Tour and nobody really cares what country you are from or what language you speak. Everyone is there for the cycling and everyone supports you.’ There, they took photos on the winners’ podium as a team in the VIP area. With access to the interview area, the guys imitated thick French accents, impersonating reporters and riders talking about that day’s route and challenges. From Pau, they took the bus back to La Mongie for some rest. Day 6) Total Miles: 70; 112.6 km The professionals rested on this day, while the Discover France crew completed portions of Stage 17. The eight cyclists rode to Argeles, where they ate a big lunch to prepare for their grueling climb to the top of Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees. Riding from Argeles to the Tourmalet summit consisted of a 19-mile ride uphill, but the last 11 miles is considered the famous Col du Tourmalet (‘Hors cat’gorie,’ beyond categorization in climb difficulty). Those miles were at a 6,939 ft. of elevation and had an average gradient of 7.5 percent, with sections hitting 11 percent and 12 percent, double the steepness of Temescal Canyon. From the descent of the summit to La Mongie, a massive fog bank rolled in, reducing the visibility to 25 feet ahead of each rider, and a corresponding temperature drop of 15 degrees. ’We could barely see the rider in front of us,’ Glenn Corey said. ‘It was a wet, soggy, cold ride down.’ Day 7) Total Miles: 0 The guys have a day off in La Mongie as a result of bad weather. Professional riders are in Stage 18, riding from Salies-de-B’arn to Bordeaux. Day 8) Total Miles: 25; 40.2 km The group completed a loop of Bordeaux, where the professional riders finished Stage 18. There, the group sipped champagne in the VIP section, overlooking the finish line. Actors Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, who were premiering their summer film, ‘Knight and Day,’ were gracious enough to join them in between posing for photos with the professional riders. Day 9) Total Miles: 75; 120.7 km Today, the group rode about 75 miles from Bordeaux to Paullac and back, which is a little more than twice as long as Stage 19. The terrain was relatively flat. Day 10) Total Miles: 0 The group, accompanied by 2 million other cycling fans, ended their experience watching the cyclists ride into Paris along Avenue des Champs-‘lys’es. ’I would definitely ride the Pyrenees again,’ Starr said of the experience. ‘The scenery is spectacular, the people are amazing and the food is to die for.’ (Pacific Palisades resident Joelle Corey received her B.A. in political science from Northeastern University in Boston, graduating magna cum laude with honors and a passion for writing. Following her May graduation, she returned to Los Angeles, where she is a regular freelance writer for many local and online publications including EnvironmentalGraffiti.com and Trendland.net.)
Saint John’s Showcases Original Letters by Florence Nightingale
Saint John’s Health Center and Florence Nightingale have a lot in common. ‘Both can trace their commitment to compassionate care to the mid-1800s and both have a long legacy of nursing excellence. It only seems fitting that Saint John’s will host an exhibit of original, handwritten letters by Nightingale’considered the founder of modern nursing ‘ on August 24 and 25 in the atrium of the hospital’s Howard Keck Center. The letters, written in 1861, feature Nightingale’s extraordinary vision for a higher standard of nursing education and training. While she is remembered for her compassionate commitment to patient safety and healing, Nightingale also was a prolific letter writer. Purchased in 2009 by the publisher of NurseWeek, her letters are typically on display at nursing events, in museums or at fundraising galas. The letters are a perfect fit for Saint John’s, since Florence Nightingale was a woman devoted to advancing and improving patient care, especially for the poor and vulnerable. In 1860, she laid the foundation of professional nursing when she established her own nursing school. While at the same time, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, who founded Saint John’s more than 60 years ago, were working towards the same goal. In 1864, the Sisters opened the first private hospital in Kansas, with the first trained nurse in the state. Now in the 21st century, Saint John’s and its nurses continue to carry out that shared vision. The exhibit will be open to the public on Tuesday, August 24 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, August 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about the Nightingale Letter Exhibit, visit www.stjohns.org.
Casa del Mar Shows Massey’s Art
Some of artist/sculptor Ed Massey’s representative works are on exhibit in the lobby of Casa del Mar in Santa Monica through August 31. The Pacific Palisades resident and his brother, Bernie, were featured in a June 10 Palisadian-Post Lifestyle article titled ‘Summer of Color Splashes the Beach.’ The story highlighted their work with Project of Hope that culminated in the colorful panels on lifeguard towers in Los Angeles County. At the Casa del Mar show, the individual talents of Ed Massey, who received his master’s degree in fine art from Columbia University, are striking. A wedding dress sculpture, which his wife Dawn actually wore, is one of the most amazing costume/sculpture pieces on display. There are 10,060 handcrafted roses made of modeling paste on cloth, with acrylic paint put on a steel-framed skirt. This monumental piece defies adequate description and is difficult to photograph because of its three-dimensionality. In fact, most of Massey’s pieces, so textural and colorful, need to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Team USA, a wall hanging in which a white shirt, painted with acrylic, seemingly floats in a sea of 10,000 blue/white USA clothing tags, is such a piece. The sculpted figures on the 30 x 12 x 12 inches piece, ‘Corporate Ladders,’ are compelling and lifelike. The work, deceivingly whimsical, provocatively comments on corporate hierarchy, including issues of gender, ethics, competition and disparity in the workplace. Interestingly enough, the sculpture is a smaller version of an actual 19-foot high sculpture that was placed in the lobby of the Principal Financial Group building outside Washington, D.C. in 1990. It aroused such controversy it was pulled down four months later. Casa del Mar is located at 1910 Ocean Way. Call (310) 581-5533.
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 12, 2010
OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED LABOR DAY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6. THE CLASSIFIED DEADLINE WILL BE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, AT 11 A.M.
HOMES FOR SALE 1
$699K. 4 BD, 2 BA. Palisades native’s home, 5 min. from Yosemite. Solid, quiet, forested 1/3 acre, big garage/shop/deck, pure untreated water, near Tenaya Lodge. A pleasurable investment. AlbostaRealty.com, (559) 676-7444
LOTS FOR SALE 1a
MALIBU LA COSTA ACTIVE BCH CLUB RIGHTS LOT. 3900 Carbon Canyon Road. Own share in private beach and tennis courts. Zoned residential, legal lot: 6,280 sq. ft. burn-out site. 160 feet of road frontage just off PCH. GREAT INVESTMENT. For sale by owner. $129,000. (310) 317-0700
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e
MALIBU CIVIC CENTER CONDO. Single story garden unit with courtyard and private entrance, quiet and secluded 2 BR, 2 full bath, near Pepperdine, shopping and beaches. Entire complex recently refurbished w/ pool, tennis courts and laundry. Great location. For sale by owner: $439,000. (310) 317-0700
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
MALIBU OCEAN VIEW GUEST HOUSE. Carbon Canyon. 1 BR, 1 bath, laundry, full kitchen and storage. Private tranquil setting with amazing canyon and ocean vistas set in acreage far apart from main residence and other homes. Private entrance and parking, pool. Eames, Noguchi modern interior. Available August 1, furnished or unfurnished. Water & electr. included. For rent by owner. $2,500/mo. (310) 317-0700
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
DUPLEX FOR RENT. 2 bdrm + fireplace, 1 bath, quiet residential area near village. $2,450/mo. (310) 738-4400
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. $4,200/mo. Marty, (310) 459-2692
CHARMING 2 BEDROOM UNIT IN THE PALISADES! 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, light, bright unit in a duplex walking distance from the beach, the bluffs, and into town. This unit has high ceilings and an open floor plan. It has a lush private yard, washer and dryer in the unit, and a dish washer. Landlord pays water and gardener. It is available August 15, 2010. Dogs O.K. $3,400/mo. Please contact Tiffany at (310) 849-9592
CHARMING MID CENTURY STYLE BEACH BUNGALOW. 3 bedrooms, 1 3/4 baths, master bath ensuite, natural oak floors, open beam ceilings, front & back yards, close to schools, gardener incl. By appt only. $3,900/mo. Ben, (949) 246-4049
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
PALISADES 1 BEDROOM apt. Large, remodeled, carpet, gas stove, refrigerator, one year lease, new paint, laundry, storage, covered parking. No pets, Non-smoker. $1,335/mo. (310) 477-6767
APARTMENT: ONE BDRM IN VILLAGE. PRICED TO RENT. (310) 454-4668
UNUSUAL unique spacious 1 bd/1 bth (800 ft) mucho charm apt in Mediterranean triplex. All appliances, frplc, hdwd, garage, grdn, ldry. 1 mi. to village & bch. N/S, no pets, 1 yr lse. $2,250/mo. (310) 804-3142
TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH, sunny & roomy upper floor, glimpse of bay, walk to daily errands. Small pet considered. Available now. $2,200/mo. Call Michael, (310) 883-8049
ONE BEDROOM in small complex. Small pet considered, walk to daily errands. Pool, laundry room, one year lease. $1,595/mo. Third month free! Call Michael, (310) 883-8049
CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
WALK TO P.P. VILLAGE. Woodsy view, 2 bdr, 2 ba, open den, AC, W/D in unit, security bldg. 2 car parking. Just redone w/ recessed lighting. $2,850/mo. Available Sept 1. Nancy, (310) 454-5257
ROOMS FOR RENT 3
LOVELY HOME TO SHARE NEAR VILLAGE. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath avail w/ private entrance. Shared kitchen, laundry, storage, garden & spa. Utilities, cable & internet incl. $1,200/mo. (310) 459-7464
WANTED TO RENT 3b
LOOKING FOR 1 BDRM GUEST HOUSE * Professional woman (NS) with excellent references looking for 1 bdrm guesthouse w/ max rent of $1,700 for long term rental. Please call (805) 969-6316.
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
CORNER WINDOW OFFICE, cathedral ceilings, 2nd floor, One West Bank building on Sunset, in Palisades Village, 320 sq. ft. $1,200/mo. Call Ev Maguire, (310) 600-3603 or (310) 454-0840
SPACE FOR LEASE. (310) 454-9606, (818) 458-4454. Ask for Irena.
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 RENTAL. Unique Village office space. Quiet, quaint setting with Village view, 4 rooms including kitchen & bath. Fantastic location. $1,495/mo. Bob, (310) 459-1220
SHOP: STORE FRONT LEVEL IN VILLAGE. PRICED TO RENT. (310) 454-4668
RENTAL SPACE, STORAGE 3d
2 MANICURING BOOTH STATIONS FOR RENT. Rent is negotiable. Excellent Pacific Palisades location. (310) 345-5457 or (818) 322-5812
LOST & FOUND 6a
LOST: READING GLASSES. Bronze frames in Village Wednesday, July 21st. Please call the Post (310) 454-1321. Thank you.
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
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
DO YOU NEED HELP GETTING ORGANIZED? Executive level business and personal assistant services available. Office organizing, writing, project and event planning. Concierge services on a project or weekly basis. Call Patty, (310) 394-3085
DAYCARE CENTERS 8
‘ PALISADES LEARN & PLAY ‘ Now enrolling for Fall! Educational themes, Art & Socialization. Ages 16 mo.-5 yrs. Balanced nutritious meals provided. Come & see what all the fun is about! (310) 459-0920
NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
CERTIFIED NEWBORN SPECIALIST and baby sleep trainer available for overnight shifts of 10, 9 or 8 hours. (310) 226-7097, thebabyguru.com
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
EXCELLENT, HONEST & RELIABLE HOUSEKEEPER available Monday through Friday. Experienced with children and pets, own car, speaks English, local references. Please call Susie at (323) 299-7186
EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPER is looking for a job. Speaks English, has own car, and excellent local references. Please call Francis, (818) 472-8119 or (323) 299-1797
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
SPECIALIZE WITH SENIORS. Friendly/patient personal trainer. Customize workouts to fit your needs. Enjoy P/T in the convenience of your own home. Call Karen for free consultation and GET STARTED! (818) 626-8670
WESTSIDE HOME HEALTH CARE. Providing quality, compassionate IN HOME CARE. Emilia Polakoff, Caregiver. State certified CNA, HHA. P/T or F/T. FREE assessment with no obligation. Pacific Palisades resident. (310) 592-6695
COMPANION/CAREGIVER/PRIVATE ASSISTANT. Experienced mature woman, great references, avail day & night. Would consider P/T work in exchange for private room. Terry, (310) 392-3202. Pls lv msg.
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
CORTEZ & OLIVERA LANDSCAPING & GARDENING SERVICE. Full gardening service. Pruning, topping, removing, new lawns, sprinklers & brush clearance. ‘ 25% off for the 1st 3 months! ‘ Free estimates! (323) 641-2319
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.
AUTO DETAILING 13i
AMAZING DETAIL ‘ MOBILE CAR WASH & DETAILING SERVICE ‘ Cars ‘ Trucks ‘ Vans ‘ Boats ‘ RVs and more! Why go to the car wash, when WE COME TO YOU with better prices? Call today and ask about our specials! (323) 402-7199
MISCELLANEOUS 13j
MALIBU CLEANING CREW. We provide professional cleaning services. No job too small or too big. 21 years experience. Call (310) 592-3497. Arturo, Sylvia, malibucleaners.vpweb.com
HOUSESITTING 14b
IRISH COUPLE (late 40s), both teachers on sabbatical in Palisades, seeking housesitting position. Any duration. Will care for pets. Also interested in live-in support for school-going children or elderly people. (310) 463-3265
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. ‘This is the Club Med for Dogs!’ (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 through out the Westside. Reasonable rates. (310) 459-8212
FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Advanced Nordic walking instructor, Palisades resident teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. (310) 266-4651
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
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
ISEE/HSPT CLASSES START SOON! * Class size limited, central Palisades location. Private tutoring for math, chem, physics also available. (310) 459-3239 or www.clc90272.com
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
PALISADES CONST. SERVICES. All phase construction and remodeling. All interior and exterior construction. Additions, concrete, tile, wood work (all), brick, patios, bathrooms, fences, bedrooms, permits. We have built (2) new 2,500 sq. ft. Palisades homes in last 3 yrs. Please contact us to schedule your free consultation and free estimate. ALL JOBS WELCOME. Please call: Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858 (all Palisades referrals avail.)
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
HGTV CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN TEAM. We are a full service construction/design team ready to remodel any room for you. We revive any room or outdoor space for you. We can bring your ideas to life. From simple affordable alterations to extensive overhauls and additions. We are the right company for you. Call (310) 877-5577 & (310) 877-5979. http://debonairrenovations.com/home/home.html
PALISADES HOME REPAIR SERVICES. (25 years) Local resident. Services include: ‘ Carpentry ‘ Electrical ‘ Plumbing ‘ Plaster ‘ Drywall ‘ Concrete. (310) 622-2773. Call us for same day service. Fast, clean, best prices. Lic. #294272
AFFORDABLE CONSTRUCTION SERVICE ‘ Roofing ‘ Windows ‘ Painting ‘ Tile ‘ Siding ‘ Concrete ‘ Fences ‘ Decks ‘ Carpentry. All types of home repairs. State License #B-1 746866. Insured. 1 (800) 806-8688
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
NORTH BAY ELECTRIC. Service & Repairs. Lighting Design & Installation. Upgrades, Remodels, New Construction. Est. 1986. Lic. #493652 /electrician90272.com/ (310) 456-7076
FENCES, DECKS 16j
THE FENCE MAN. 18 years quality work ‘ Wood fences ‘ Decks ‘ Gates ‘ Chainlink & patio ‘ Wrought iron ‘ Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996
FLOOR CARE 16m
GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608
CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR. Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com ‘ centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net ‘ (800) 608-6007 ‘ (310) 276-6407
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
COASTAL HARDWOOD FLOORS. All wood flooring service; installations, sand & refinish, custom designs. Since 1975. Local references available. Bonded & insured. Lic. #824437. www.CoastalWoodFloors.com, (310) 277-0860
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
PALISADES CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. All jobs and calls welcome!! All phases of const. and home repair. A fresh alternative from the norm, very courteous, very safe, very clean!! Call for a free estimate and consultation. Please call: Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858
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
CALIFORNIA BEST PAINTING ‘ Interior ‘ Exterior ‘ Residential ‘ Commercial ‘ Plaster ‘ Drywall & Repair ‘ FREE ESTIMATES! Lic. #854322. Bonded & Insured. (877) 430-1112, (213) 382-0020
OWEN GEORGE CRUICKSHANK ‘ Paperhanger ‘ Removal ‘ Repair ‘ Painting ‘ Handyman svc as well. Lic. #576445. (310) 459-5485
PLUMBING 16t
EXPERT PLUMBER 25 YRS. EXP. Intelligent, cost effective solutions for your plumbing problems. Encompassing all aspects of residential and commercial plumbing. Reasonable, reliable, excellent references. Karl Kolpin, (310) 200-7239. Lic. #776518 B-C36 Bonded, insured.
REMODELING 16v
KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451 ‘ DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN
COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION ‘ Kitchen+bath ‘ Additions ‘ Tile, carpentry, plumbing. Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction, (310) 774-9159
HELP WANTED 17
PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT: Computer data entry, online research, organizing, filing. Multi-tasking self starter, focused, detail minded. Excel/Word. Flex sked. High energy office. Fax resume: (310) 459-3814
WANTED: Male live-in caregiver for active 92-year-old man. Please call (310) 454-1956, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., ask for Wendy.
WRITER POSITION AVAILABLE. The Palisadian-Post is seeking a full time (35 hrs/week) writer/editor for its Lifestyle section. Candidates must have proven experience writing for a newspaper or magazine (please send three writing samples with your resume and cover letter). Benefits are excellent; the salary is commensurate with other weekly newspapers. Send packet to: Editor, Palisadian-Post, P.O. Box 725, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 or email to: editor@palipost.com
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
HUGE YARD SALE. Sat., 8/14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Please no early birds. High end women’s, men’s & kid’s clothing. Toys, jewelry, dishes, TVs & tons of great household items. 15234 Friends St., Pacific Palisades.
HUGE GARAGE SALE! Saturday, 8/14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Adult & kids’ clothes, shoes, electronics, skateboards, boogie boards & much more! 855 Hartzell Street, Pacific Palisades.
GARAGE SALE! ‘ Saturday, August 14th, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Paintings, books & lots of other misc. items! 16640 Linda Terrace (off Lachman Lane), Pacific Palisades.
MISCELLANEOUS 18g
KAWAI STUDIO UPRIGHT PIANO’Ebony. Hammers & strings in excellent condition. Plays beautifully. $1,700 ($4,500 new). (310) 459-8862
Movies in the Park (Year 7) Return
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
‘Transformers’ launched the seventh annual Movies in the Park series last Saturday evening on the Field of Dreams at the Palisades Recreation Center. Before the movie started, the chilly August weather was the main topic of conversation as many members of the community arrived in jeans, heavy jackets and caps. ’We needed a ploy to sell these blankets,’ quipped John Wirth, as he helped hawk the cozy, vivid-red fleece blankets with the Movies in the Park logo for $35. Wirth, who with David Williams, Andy Frew and Brad Lusk founded the nonprofit Movies in the Park, dubbed the evening ‘The first annual winter movie in the park.’ Of the four men, Williams, the former owner of Mogan’s Caf’, will not be at any of the movies this summer because he is a personal chef for heavyweight boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, who is preparing for a fight in Germany on September 11. On August 21, only Frew will be in attendance, which Wirth and Lusk noted was lucky. ‘Andy is the only guy who knows how to run the projection equipment,’ Lusk said. When the screen lit up, Frew played vintage movie advertising clips that urged viewers to go to the concession stand to buy popcorn, sandwiches and other tasty treats. Although the park lacks a full concession stand, there were free hot dogs, thanks once again to Mike Spinner, a former Citizen of the Year for his campaign to renovate the playing fields at the park. Recreation and Parks staff grilled the ‘dogs,’ which are available every week around 7:30 on a first-come, first-served basis. Troop 23 Scout Jordan Bostick sold candy, soda, water and other snacks to help fund his Eagle project: beautifying the entrance to St. Anne’s School in Santa Monica. This year’s major sponsor is the Pacific Palisades Junior Women’s Club, with the Galier family (Peter, Donna, Timmy and Lauren) as co-sponsors for the third straight year. Galier explained that his daughter and Williams’ daughter are friends and he learned that Williams was looking for a sponsor. ’We did it once and have just kept doing it,’ said Galier, an internal medicine specialist with the UCLA Medical Group in Santa Monica. ‘We like to help the community.’ He praised Frew, Williams, Lusk and Wirth for their efforts. ‘They select diverse movies that attract all age groups,’ Galier said, noting that even though his children are 17 and 16, they a enjoy coming back for the Disney movies. ‘My kids love reminiscing about the movies they saw when they were six and seven.’ Resident Andy Woo brought his boys Julian, 8, and Miles, 11, to the park. ‘We come every year,’ Woo said. ‘This and the parade are why we live in Pacific Palisades.’ This Saturday’s movie, ‘Jurassic Park,’ is a science-fiction thriller based on Michael Crichton’s book and sponsored by Palisades Compounding Pharmacy in the Highlands Plaza. Directed by Palisadian Steven Spielberg, the 1993 film stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough, and won Oscars for Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects. The two-hour movie is regarded by some as a landmark in the use of computer-generated imagery, but may be too scary for younger children. The venue opens for picnics at 6 p.m. Pets are not allowed (because of liability issues), and there is no smoking, no alcohol and no stick chairs. Remaining movies are ‘Toy Story’ on August 21 (sponsored by Caf’ Vida) and ‘Enchanted’ on August 28 (sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care).
‘Gidget’ Documentary Screens in Hollywood
‘Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story,’ a documentary film about Kathy Kohner Zuckerman of Pacific Palisades, will screen at the Feel Good Film Festival at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 14, in the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. Zuckerman, who as a teenager living in Brentwood inspired her father’s 1957 novel ‘Gidget, the Little Girl with Big Ideas,’ will attend the screening of the film with director Brian Gillogly and members of the cast and crew. The film, which took five years to complete, played at the Malibu Celebration of Film in 2006, where it received great reviews and critical acclaim. It was screened again in 2008 at a fundraiser honoring Paul Wendkos, director of the first three ‘Gidget’ movies, but was then shelved. Gillogly was prevented from entering ‘Accidental Icon’ in film festivals or showing it at other venues because of royalty issues. Sony (Columbia), which owned about 10 minutes of the clips used in the 64-minute film, asked Gillogly to pay $50,000 for a licensing fee. He was working on a sparse budget (like most documentary filmmakers) and was unable to pay the fee. Seeking support, Gillogly found Jack Lerner, director of the USC Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic, who took on the project pro bono. The film was re-edited in 2008 with Lerner’s help so that it would meet the fair-use standards in terms of some of the old Gidget film and TV footage. ‘He believed in the value of the project,’ Gillogly said, noting that the fair-use editing was exacting and tedious, but that he lost only about 25 percent of the original clips.”The archival footage we added replaced some of those. We restructured and rearranged some of the Hollywood footage. We were able to add great archival shots by Grant Rohloff and Dr. Don James and make some fixes. By all accounts our efforts have paid off.” In March this year, the re-edited documentary’s screening was a sellout and received a standing ovation at the Noosa Festival of Surfing in Australia.’A month later, the film played to a standing-room-only crowd at the Newport Beach Film Festival.’ ‘It’s been a long hard road, and quite an odyssey, but it’s been worth it,’ said Gillogly a resident of San Pedro, who has been nominated for best director at the Feel Good Film Festival. He also emphasized that Sony (Columbia) was not trying to stop his project, but rather ‘They had their rates for clips and I could not afford them. In the end they signed off on our final edit and will receive a modest clip fee if we make money.’ The film is narrated by Jorja Fox (‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’), produced by Gillogly and Robert Masters, and edited by Brian Denny. ‘Accidental Icon’ explores the untold story of the real ‘Gidget’ and how her diary of surfing Malibu in the mid-50s became the basis for Frederick Kohner’s best-selling novel and a series of feature films and TV shows. In the documentary, actors, directors and surfers who provide a behind-the-scenes perspective include Sally Field, Cliff Robertson, James Darren, Gregory Harrison, Caryn Richman, Paul Wendkos, Layne Beachly, Summer Romero, Mickey Mu’oz and Pacific Palisades resident Darryl Stolper, a retired Paul Revere Middle School teacher who taught Field to surf for the sitcom ‘Gidget.’ ‘ Together with Zuckerman they weave an entertaining and ultimately life-affirming true account of a young girl coming of age and the waves at Malibu’s fabled Surfrider Beach’and how a somewhat idealized vision of that girl became a true American icon. Indeed, Surfer magazine’s 40th anniversary issue in 1999 chose Zuckerman/Gidget as the seventh most influential surfer of all time. Out of 25 featured surfers, only two women were selected. In 2001, Zuckerman brought out a new edition of the book, which contains beach photos of her from the 1950s, and a foreword and introduction by writer/playwright Deanne Stillman. Gillogly, who graduated from UCLA and was the captain of the surf team, became fascinated by Zuckerman and got to know her. ‘Surfing exploded after the ‘Gidget’ movie came out,’ he said. ‘Surfer lingo was introduced to the nation’s culture. It was interesting to watch how the icon spread from Kathy and affected the country.’ After college, Gillogly wrote for sports magazines and worked on documentaries including ‘This Is Snowboarding,’ ‘Psycho Skate,’ ‘Carrot Top: Behind the Scenes’ and ‘Cinderella Man: The Real Jim Braddock Story.’ The Egyptian Theater is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Tickets can be purchased on line at: www.fgff.org or at the box office on the day of the event. Cash only.
Gordon to Share Firsthand Assessment of the Iraq War
In May, Palisadian Howard Gordon traveled as part of a select delegation to observe the process of political and military transition in Iraq. His assessments and perspective, to be shared tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. at the University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd., coincide with a pivotal moment in the war’s history. Just last week, President Obama announced an end to the combat mission and a major reduction in U.S. forces by the end of August. Gordon, a 20-year entertainment-industry veteran who was executive producer of the hit series ’24,’ joined a small group of U.S. business leaders handpicked by the Pacific Council on International Policy to assess firsthand the challenges and successes of the U.S. military’s current and planned ‘drawdown’ efforts during an intensive four-day trip to Iraq. Ultimately, the delegation’s mission was to share its observations with the public as a service to the U.S. Department of Defense. ’The caveat was that we were not experts; we were all very mindful of this,’ Gordon said during an interview on Monday. ‘We were simply guests who were willing to listen and process what we observed.’ Travel to Baghdad proved challenging. When the Iraqi government abruptly cancelled flights on Gryphon Air, a commercial contractor, the Pacific Council team was forced to travel to Bahrain, where they were able to ‘hitch a flight’ on a U.S. Navy C-23B Sherpa to Kuwait. From Kuwait, delegates were transferred to a C-130 to Baghdad, where they stayed at Saddam Hussein’s Al Faw Palace, now the U.S. military base known as Camp Victory. While there, delegates met with top-level U.S. and Iraqi officials, including General Raymond T. Odierno, commanding general of U.S. Forces in Iraq, and Christopher R. Hill, U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Later, members of the group flew by Black Hawk helicopter to Karbala, Shia Islam’s second-holiest city. There, they met with Amal al-Din al Hir, governor of Karbala Province, and his staff and had an opportunity to meet with Iraqi civilians, soldiers and civic leaders. The last leg of the trip back in Baghdad featured a meeting with Major General Michael Barbero, who invited members to observe Iraqi police training exercises. ’Whether or not you supported the war when it started, the fact is we’re there,’ says Gordon, a registered Democrat who was quick to point out the nonpartisan nature of the Pacific Council, considered the premier international-affairs organization focused on policy issues of special concern to the West Coast. ’The question now is what is our responsibility to the Iraqis and to ourselves? So many men and women have lost their lives. It’s been a huge investment as a nation. What should we do to not squander this tremendous sacrifice?’ Gordon asked. These questions have become even more urgent as the American force in Iraq will be reduced to 50,000 transitional troops by month’s end (as compared to 144,000 military men and women when President Obama took office). A full withdrawal is anticipated by the end of 2011. ’There’s a lot of positive news coming from Iraq,’ said Gordon, who feels frustrated by the lack of media coverage’positive or negative’and overall short attention span of the country in relation to the Iraq war. ‘It may feel like old news, but not to the Iraqis and Americans who are still there. By and large, I was impressed by everyone I met and their degree of professionalism and commitment to the mission.’ Gordon cited as a major step toward stability the success of the Iraqis holding an election in spring 2010 (despite its protracted outcome) that didn’t erupt in chaos. ’Some of our worst fears have not come to pass,’ he says. ‘Despite this, it’s absolutely a work in progress. We won’t know the result of this transition for years to come.’ Gordon hopes to stir serious discussion during his Friday night presentation, one that will also touch upon some of the lighter moments of his trip, including how he surprised General Odierno, a huge fan of ’24,’ with a phone call from star Kiefer Sutherland. ’It’s not an easy story to tell; it’s complex and complicated with no right answers,’ said the longtime resident, who lives here with his wife, Cambria, and their three children. ’Assuming that a stable and democratic Iraq is in our national interest, the challenge for Council members and me is how to keep that in the minds of our citizens and the politicians they elect.’ The event, held in conjunction with University Synagogue’s Friday night Shabbat service, is open to the public.
Stan Robbins, 52-Year Resident, Co-Owner of Auto Top Company
Stan Robbins, co-owner of the Robbins Auto Top Company, passed away on July 22 at the age of 84. Born in Tucson, Arizona, on September 26, 1925, Stan moved with his family to Santa Monica in 1942. He attended Santa Monica High School and met Peggy Hutchins, his future wife, as well as many of his lifelong friends. During World War II he served as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps training to become a pilot navigator. In 1958 Stan moved his family to Pacific Palisades, which he called home for the rest of his life. Friends were very important to Stan, who had many friends he knew for 30, 40, 50 years or more. Everyone remembers Stan for his great sense of humor, love of life, and always being there to lend a helping hand. An avid fisherman, Stan owned several sport-fishing boats with his brother Dick. Many friends went with the two men on trips, often south of Ensenada, Mexico, to fish for albacore. Stan and Dick were partners for more than 60 years in a family business, Robbins Auto Top Company, founded by their father in 1943. They grew the business from a small trim and upholstery shop into a manufacturer of replacement convertible tops with a worldwide network of distributors. A staunch Republican, Stan worked hard within the Santa Monica Republican Club. Some of his proudest moments were attending Ronald Reagan’s presidential inaugural ceremonies. Stan always actively supported his community and was a member of the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club since 1955, serving on many committees and as president. For many years he also worked to raise funds for Santa Monica Hospital, serving on its foundation board and as president. Stan had a strong sense of family. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Peggy. Survivors include his brothers Dick (wife Barbara) and Jack (wife Anita); sons Mark (wife Cathy) and John (wife Kathy); daughter Leslie Neyman (husband Roger); and granddaughters Jennifer and Elizabeth Robbins, and Janelle Neyman, who loved their Papa. Services were held at the end of July. The family requests that donations on behalf of Stan Robbins be made to the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club Charities or to the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club.
Merle Moody, 89; Active Volunteer, Devoted Mother and World Traveler
Merle Kerr Moody, a 53-year Pacific Palisades resident, died on Wednesday, July 28. She was 89 years old. Born in Cleveland on May 12, 1921, Merle moved to Santa Monica with her parents, Mearl and Helen Chapman, and her brother, James, in the mid-1930s. She attended Lincoln Junior High, where she met her second husband of nine years; Santa Monica High, where she met her first husband of 58 years; and Santa Monica City College. Merle married Robert Kerr on November 29, 1941, days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bob worked for AiResearch, which later became the Garrett Corporation. He volunteered with the Army Air Corps and was subsequently sent for radar-repair training. He supported the war effort in this capacity in England, France and Germany from 1943-1945. During this time, Merle remained in Santa Monica with her parents, quitting her job at Edison to raise daughter Dianne, who was born in 1943. Eight years later, Bob and Merle added a son, Greg, and in 1957 they moved into their dream home in Pacific Palisades. Merle devoted her time to raising her children, working on election boards (back in the days when votes were counted manually), volunteering at Los Angeles Childrens Hospital, the Santa Monica Hospital gift shop and Les Marraines. She enjoyed socializing with her Palisades friends. After Bob’s retirement, they traveled the world and spent a lot of time with their grandchildren. Following Bob’s death in 1999, Merle became reacquainted, via a funeral, with her first boyfriend, Hugh Moody, from Lincoln Junior High. Hugh had also lost his wife. Merle and Hugh married in 2001 and enjoyed nine wonderful years together until Hugh’s passing on May 30 this year. Merle went downhill rapidly after the loss of Hugh. Merle leaves behind her daughter, Dianne Macondray (husband Malcolm) of San Juan Capistrano; son Greg Kerr (wife Libby) of Atascadero; four grandchildren, Griffin Macondray (wife Susan), Laurel Macondray, Kassidy Curtis (husband Whit) and Graham Kerr; and three great-granddaughters, Camille and Clarissa Macondray and Whitney Curtis; and sister-in-law, Hilda Chapman. Merle was predeceased by her brother, Jim Chapman, in 1999. ‘ A memorial gathering is planned with friends and family in August at Merle’s home to celebrate the lives and legacies of both Merle and Hugh. A gift of remembrance may be made to Hospice Partners of Southern California, 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 200, Santa Monica, CA 90404 or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, 14th floor, New York, NY 10275.
