The Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s annual pancake breakfast is Saturday, March 13 from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Palisades Recreation Center. Tickets cost $5 and include pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, coffee and juice. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event or in advance from a PPBA player. The breakfast is the only PPBA fundraiser and all money raised goes to the Field of Dreams Fund to pay for maintenance of the dugouts and diamonds. Opening day ceremonies start at 9 a.m. sharp. PPBA Commissioner Bob Benton has not yet revealed who will throw this year?s ceremonial first pitch.
President Appoints Goldring to Arts and Humanities Council
Fred Goldring, a prominent entertainment attorney and 12-year Pacific Palisades resident, has been named to President Barack Obama’s Committee on Arts and Humanities.   He was sworn in yesterday by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, along with artist Chuck Close, author Jumpa Lahiri (‘The Namesake’) and Ken Solomon, chairman of Ovation TV, a network devoted exclusively to art and contemporary culture. Goldring joins fellow Palisadian Victoria Strauss Kennedy, a consultant at Loyola Marymount University, along with Oscar-winning actor and Palisades High School alumnus Forest Whitaker, both of whom were named to the committee last fall. Members are appointed by President Obama to advance the White House’s arts and humanities objectives in four areas: international, youth arts, preservation and special initiatives. The board works closely with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Goldring, co-founder of the entertainment law firm Goldring, Hertz and Lichtenstein, represents numerous global superstar recording and performing artists, including the Black Eyed Peas. He is also a co-founder of the entertainment strategic consultancy MemBrain, which works with Fortune 500 companies and new media and technology enterprises regarding marketing strategy. While serving as board chairman of Rock The Vote, Goldring met then-Senator Obama at the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston. ‘I spent an hour talking with him and I really felt that this was someone who was getting into politics for all the right reasons,’ Goldring told the Palisadian-Post. When Obama decided to run, Goldring met with his campaign manager David Plouffe and told him he thought that political campaigns had never used music effectively and that the right new song with the right message performed by the right artist could change minds and influence people, particularly in the age of Internet and mobile connectivity. It took a year before Goldring eventually convinced his client will.i.am (of the Black Eyed Peas) to write ‘Yes, We Can’ and do a music video in 2008. ‘We debuted it on ABC News and simultaneously released it on the Internet the Friday before Super Tuesday in our own little guerrilla marketing campaign,’ Goldbring said. ‘By Monday it had garnered 15 million views.’ For their efforts, Goldring, will.i.am (who was William Adams when he attended Palisades High in the early 1990s) and other executive producers received a 2008 Emmy Award, a Clio Award, NAACP Image Award for Best Music Video and a Global Media Award. As a member of Obama’s committee, Goldring intends to focus on arts education, something he feels passionate about. In a Huffington Post blog (‘The Main Point: Musicians, Arts Education and the E Street Shuffle,’ November 28, 2009) Goldring wrote: ‘It is imperative that we continue to place the arts and our artists in the highest regard in the educational system in our country. ‘Engagement in the arts is a unique place where developing young minds can safely nurture their imaginations and develop the right-brain thinking that is ever so critical for problem solving in an increasingly complex world,’ Goldring continued. ‘Unfortunately, it also seems to be the first line item that gets the ax in school budgets. We cannot allow this to continue if we want to turn out ‘whole’ individuals in our society who are able to think creatively on their feet.’ Goldring grew up on the Main Line outside Philadelphia, close to Bryn Mawr. As a teenager, he went to The Main Point, a coffee house near campus that featured musicians such as Billy Joel, Livingston Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Kenny Rankin, Jim Croce, Bonnie Raitt and Bruce Springsteen. After graduating from Duke University, Goldring earned his law degree at the University of Miami, and then joined the New York City law firm of Grubman, Indursky & Schindler. He also became a partner in Bedrock Entertainment, a television and movie production company.   In 1988, Goldring married Gale Ann Florin (who has a long history with PS Arts, an organization dedicated to putting arts education back into public schools) and they moved to Los Angeles a year later. He became a partner at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman & Warren before leaving in 2000 to launch his own firm. Goldring credits his friend, Steve Bellamy (owner of the Palisades Tennis Center), for convincing him to move to the Palisades. He is still an active tennis player and musician, playing in a local band called The Wannagbins. The Goldrings have two daughters, Jenna, a freshman at Duke University, and Cassie, a junior at Crossroads High School in Santa Monica.
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 25, 2010
LOTS FOR SALE 1a
MALIBU LA COSTA BEACH RIGHTS * Malibu residential vacant land at PCH and Carbon Cyn. Burn-out site w/ good geo. Activated La Costa Beach Club & tennis court rights including showers, kitchen, courts, doggie gate, private beach, etc. $129,000. (310) 317-0700
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e
$245,000. PRICE REDUCED! 1+1 condo+patio on Palisades Drive. Quiet, park-like setting, lots of trees. Min. age 62. 2 car garage, elevator, 1/2 mile to beach. Broker, (310) 795-3795 (c), (310) 456-8770 (h)
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. (310) 459-9111
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
FULLY RENOVATED 3 story Mediterranean home. 1/2 block from beach. Built by J. Paul Getty for his mistress. 4 bdrm, 6 bath, billiard room w/ wet bar. 800 bottle wine cellar, 4 person elevator, several patios & decks & a multi-level yard w/ jacuzzi. Hardwood flrs, Cali tile, steam shower, 2 indoor Jacuzzi tubs, 3 car garages, loft storage. $9,000/mo. One year lease required. For more info or to set up an appointment, please contact Fidel @ (213) 494-0059. fidel@benleedsproperties.com
CHARMING 3+2 EL MEDIO HOME. Lovely, bright, restored, traditional corner home. 3 BR + den + dining, FP. $5,500/mo. 1-yr.+ lease. Pics on Craig’s List & MLS. Rick Mills, Realtor, (310) 729-4738
FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b
$2,000/MO. SPACIOUS MASTER BEDROOM SUITE + DEN (ENTIRE 2ND FL.). Use of beautiful pool and gardens, kitchen including laundry facilities and maid service once a week. Parking available. Short (3 months) or long term rental accepted. Personal and professional references required. Ideal for single professional female. No pets. Reply to: swyndon@aol.com (for fastest response); or may call (310) 478-4495 between hours of 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. or between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
CUTE & COZY SINGLE mediterranean triplex near village & bluffs. Full kitchen, bath, hardwd flrs, laundry, garden, and carport. 1 year lease. Non-smoking building. No pets. $1,450/mo. (310) 804-3142
CHARMING, SUNNY UPPER UNIT. 1 bdrm. + office/den. Hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces, 2 bthrms., 1 car garage, on-site laundry, small pet considered. $2,200/mo. (310) 459-5576
UNUSUAL, HOME-LIKE, SPACIOUS 1 bed, 1 bath, 800 sq. ft. in triplex near bluffs and village. Fireplace, bay window, hardwood, garage, laundry, garden. NS, NP. 1 yr. lease. $2,250 (310) 804-3142
2 BD, 1 BA UNIT AVAILABLE. $1,850/mo. upper unit available now. Vintage 6 unit building. Includes water. Approx. 800 sq. ft., Hardwood, tile floors. Lite & brite. Shared laundry. Pet o.k. with approval. 1 year lease. (424) 228-4570
CLOSE TO THE BEACH & SHOPPING. One bedroom, one bathroom, wood floors, in a great complex with fabulous grounds in P.P. Appliances are included. Must be over 62 years of age. (310) 979-4170
BRIGHT, LARGE, 3 BD+2 BA, 1,500 sq. ft., top floor, 1 garage+1 tandem, new carpets. Great closet space. 1 yr lease. N/S. $2,500/mo. (310) 498-0149
PALISADES 1 BEDROOM apt, Large remodeled, carpet, gas stove, refrigerator, one year lease, new paint, laundry, storage, covered parking. No pets, Non-smoker. $1,325/mo. (310) 477-6767
TWO UNITS AVAILABLE, two blocks from Starbucks in the village. Two bedroom $2,400/mo., studio $1,250/mo. lease. Quiet, sunny, small pet considered. (310) 883-8049
PAC. PAL. 1+1 condo. Maple floor, 800 sf., pool/tennis, view, gardens, sec. bldg., utilities inc. Across from beach. No pets. Avail. 4/1, earlier. $1,995/mo. (310) 230-7737, eskovner@aol.com
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
CHIC PALISADES VILLAGE CONDO. Remodeled 2 BR, 2 BA, stainless appliances, includes wshr/dryr, storage, security building. Small pets considered. $2,350/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 454-6058
3 BD, 2 BA, large patio, granite, garden level, fireplace, upgraded kitchen, W/D, 2 parking places, close to village, gym, spa. $3,500/mo. with lease. Eddie, (310) 663-5297 or (310) 663-5342
WANTED TO RENT 3b
WANTED: APARTMT/GUESTHSE/ROOM FOR RENT. Financially reliable, single, male Palisadian-Post reporter and indoor cat-owner is looking for an apartment/bachelor/studio/guest house to rent. Preferably in the $700-$800 range (negotiable). Palisades/Santa Monica area preferred. Looking for a quiet environment relatively close to the village. Please contact Michael at: Michael@palipost.com or (424) 645-3709
NURSE. RN, middle-aged female, quiet, non-smoker desires guest house/apartment/rooms unfurnished for rent. Call Vita, (310) 826-7894 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL COUPLE, 9 year residents of Pacific Palisades with small parrot seeking guest house. Please call (310) 435-5468
WANTED: 2-3 BR HOME. Irish family relocating to Palisades seeks bright clean townhouse/condo/apt in quiet area. Financially reliable w/ good refs. Email imeldaclarke@eircom.net or call 00353 21 4546444
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
PACIFIC PALISADES OFFICE SUITE: Atrium Bldg., 860 Via de la Paz. 900+ space, reception, two offices & bathroom. 18 month sublease. Call (310) 459-5353 to see.
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. 750 square feet. Reasonable rent price. Excellent lease hold improvement allowance. Please call Ness, (310) 230-6712 x105, for more details.
LARGE, BRIGHT & QUIET executive office. For rent part-time: evenings+1 morning. $500/mo. Possible full-time share. Fully furnished in heart of Palisades village. Call (310) 573-2175
OFFICES FOR RENT on 2nd floor in First Federal Bank building on Sunset Blvd. in Palisades Village. Call Ev Maguire, (310) 600-3603 or (310) 454-0840
LARGE EXECUTIVE OFFICE SUITE with 2 separate rooms in the heart of Palisades village. $1,000/mo. lease, negotiable terms. (310) 573-2175
PALISADES OFFICE, two rooms, 2nd floor, 15115-1/2 Sunset Blvd. Across from Ralphs. $950/mo. (310) 459-3493
VACATION RENTALS 3e
MAMMOTH SKI CHATEAU RENTAL. Blocks from Canyon Lodge, brand new 2400 sq. ft. premium luxury townhome with limestone and hardwood floors throughout. Sleeps up to 14 people. Call: (310) 699-9972
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 3f
HERITAGE REALTY & INVESTMENTS. Property management services, sales & leasing, commercial & residential. (310) 459-3493
ATTORNEYS 7a
WHY GIVE IT ALL TO UNCLE SAM? Don’t use an ordinary income tax service when you can use a tax attorney who is an experienced CPA. Also probate, trusts & wills. John R. Ronge, CPA. Attorney at Law. (310) 441-4100
BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
ACCOUNTANT/CONTROLLER. Quickbooks/Quicken setup. Outsource the hassle’all bookkeeping needs including tax prep for home or office. Get organized now! (310) 562-0635
PART TIME BOOKKEEPER TO GO! F/C Bookkeeper specializing in small businesses & private individuals. QB, QUICKEN & PEACHTREE PROFICIENT. PC or MAC. Excellent refs. Call Joanie, (310) 486-1055
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 ‘ bmdawson@verizon.net ‘ www.bmdawson.com ‘ Furniture ‘ Antiques ‘ Collectibles ‘ Junque ‘ Reliable professionals ‘ Local References
ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h
NEED TO GET ORGANIZED? * Simplify and find more balance in your life. Let me help you get organized and stay organized. Call me, Jennifer Brook, Professional Organizer, (310) 916-7745 or visit BeeOrganized.la
WE OFFER BOOKKEEPING, assistant services and project management. (818) 591-7729
MESSENGER/COURIER SERVICES 7n
MESSENGER & COURIER SERVICES (S. Cal.). Direct, same day or overnight, PU & Del. 24/7 guaranteed, on-time service. All major credit cards accepted. Santa Monica Express Inc. ‘ Since 1984 ‘ Tel: (310) 458-6000 www.smexpress.com
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING JOB. 12 years experience, own transportation, legal, local references. delmycleaning.com. Call Delmy, (323) 363-9492
HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE every other Monday and every other Thursday. Speaks English, good local references. Call Lupe, (310) 454-7383 (local number Mon.-Wed.) or (323) 898-2766 (cell.)
MY NAME IS ALICIA. I’m looking for a job as a housekeeper or babysitter. Available Mon., Wed. & Fri. Experience, drivers license, good references. Please call (323) 394-5901
GREAT HOUSEKEEPER available! Excellent references, fluent English, warm and reliable. Wonderful with kids and pets. Please call Raquel at (213) 736-5362
HOUSEKEEPER/NANNY with 10 yrs. experience. Available Monday thru Friday (own transportation). Great references. For more information please call Imelda, (818) 941-9768 or Carolina (323) 817-8311
HOUSEKEEPER with 6 years experience & great references. Available Monday through Saturday. Please call Ana anytime at (310) 482-9937 or (310) 570-3852
GREAT HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Monday through Friday. Great references, live-in or live-out. Speaks English, warm, wonderful with children & pets. Please call Helen at (562) 333-5579
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
GOOD COMPANY Senior Care. A premiere private duty home care agency. Provides in-home care and companionship to help people remain independent and happy at home. If you are a caring individual who would like to join our team, please call (323) 932-8700. joni@goodcopros.com
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
MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Moves & hauls it all. 14 foot truck. 20th year Westside. Delivery to 48 states. (310) 285-8688
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
CATERING 14
CHEF & EVENT MANAGER! Cordon Bleu Chef and 15 year veteran event manager wants to help you plan your event! $60 per hour. Please call or email Danielle . . . (310) 691-0578 or daniellesamendez@gmail.com
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
HORSE STALLS FOR RENT ‘ 3 horse stalls for rent near Will Rogers Park. Easy park access, rent $600-$700 dep. on feed and cleaning needs. Call Bob, (949) 305-2110
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
TRAINERS 15c
PERSONAL TRAINER to seniors/balance coach. Exercises include physical & occupational therapy, strengthening & stretching. Over 15 years experience. Patient and professional. Jackline, (310) 454-1919
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
MATH/SCIENCE TUTOR * Credentialed with 15+ years experience. Will come to you late afternoons or evenings. Specializing in GED, CAHSEE, SAT & homework. Pomona College Graduate. Call Hal, (310) 384-4507
STANFORD MATH & SCIENCE TUTOR, 7 years exp. tutoring Pali kids. For my bio, list of classes tutored, and contact info, check out my new site: westsidestanfordtutor.com. Call (323) 309-6687
SPANISH ‘ Palisades resident from South America, patient & friendly, offers Spanish tutoring to all student levels. Learn, improve & gain self confidence at school, traveling, work, etc. (310) 741-8422
MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h
SINGING & PERFORMANCE COACH ‘ All ages ‘ Singing ‘ Songwriting ‘ Recording ‘ Demos ‘ Talent Shows ‘ School Plays ‘ Laurie, (310) 457-4661 ‘ Native Palisadian ‘ soundeyes@aol.com
CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c
MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 39 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. New Construction & Remodels. Hardscapes, custom stone, stamped concrete, brick, driveways, retaining walls, BBQs, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, foundations, drainage, pool & spas, water features. Excellent local refs. Lic #309844. Bonded, ins, work comp. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 ‘ WWW.HORUSICKY.COM
CONSTRUCTION 16d
ALAN PINE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR ‘ New homes ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions ‘ Kitchen & bath ‘ Planning/architectural services ‘ Insured ‘ Local refs. Lic. #469435. (800) 800-0744 or (818) 203-8881
PALISADES CONST. SERVICES. All phase construction and remodeling. All interior and exterior construction. Additions, concrete, tile, wood work (all), brick, patios, bathrooms, fences, bedrooms, permits. We have built (2) new 2,500 sq. ft. Palisades homes in 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.)
A-1 SUPER CONCRETE & BLOCK. Concrete patio, blockwall, stucco, foundation, driveway, painting, stamp concrete. FREE ESTIMATES. Lic. #902840. Call Tangi, (310) 592-9824 or (818) 793-4415
SEME TILE. License #920238, insured. All phases of tile work. Kitchens, bathrooms, walkways, etc. No job too small! Call Steve, (310) 663-7256. FREE estimates! Email: semetile@gmail.com & website: www.semetile.com
ELECTRICAL 16h
PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service
ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. Local service only. Non-lic. Please call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286
LICHWA ELECTRIC. Remodeling, rewiring, troubleshooting. Lighting: low voltage, energy safe, indoor, outdoor, landscape. Low voltage: telephone, Internet, CCTV, home theatre, audio/video. Non-lic. Refs. LichwaElectric@gmail.com, (310) 270-8596
FENCES, DECKS 16j
THE FENCE MAN ‘ 18 years quality work ‘ Wood fences ‘ Decks ‘ Gates ‘ Chainlink & patio ‘ Wrought iron ‘ Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996
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. Experience do it, not lic. 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
ALL AMERICAN HANDYMAN! Quick home/office repairs. Furniture assembly, plumbing, appliances, electric & fixtures. F/T technical student. Local refs. Non-lic. Thomas, (310) 985-2928
PALISADES HANDYMAN & CONST. 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
ALL SEASONS PAINTING. Kitchen cabinets, garage doors, deck & fences. Interior/exterior painting specialist. ‘Green’ environmentally friendly paint upon request. Excellent referrals. Free estimate. Lic. #571061. Randy, (310) 678-7913
REMODELING 16v
KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451 ‘ DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN
HELP WANTED 17
MYSTERY SHOPPERS earn up to $150 per day. Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail and dine-in establishments. No experience required. Call (877) 648-1571
GARDENER. Professional for residence. References. (310) 459-4746
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.
Executive housekeeper needed * Seeking full charge housekeeper Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Must speak English fluently, have CA drivers license, be able to drive an SUV, love children, like dogs, able to cook, highly organized. Do not apply if you do not meet all requirements. Please send resume & refs to amalfisrl @gmail.com or call (310) 859-2239. Thank you!
Well-known composer seeks assistant for home/office work in Pacific Palisades. Mac & Windows computers, also carrying things, some painting, etc. Pay & schedule flexible. Fax resume to (310) 573-1094
AUTOS 18b
HONDA MINI VAN, LOW MILES. Honda Odyssey Mini Van EX; 2002; great shape; 46K miles; well cared for; $8,400. Call: (310) 283-2076
1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII LSC. Looks, drives like new. Estate sale. Was my brother’s baby. Detailed every six months. New tires and brakes. 32 valve DOHC engine in excellent condition. Seeing is believing. $6,000. (310) 454-3032
FURNITURE 18c
STEARNS & FOSTER CA KING mattress Winterthur, 3 years old. Only slept on 2 weeks. Wonderfully comfortable. $1,000. Call Carol at (310) 454-4476
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
BIG GARAGE SALE ON SUNSET!!! Clothes, kids furniture and clothes, books, furniture! SUNDAY, Feb. 28th 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 14845 W. Sunset Blvd. (cross street Drummond). No early-birds!
INGLEWOOD! Collectibles/tchotchkes/treasures galore! Worth the drive! 646 E. Fairview Blvd. (E. of La Brea/So. of Slauson). TG 673, D-7 Fri-Sat. Feb. 26-27, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Photos/details: www.bmdawson.com
PETS, LIVESTOCK 18e
AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES. Gorgeous black tri’s. AKC and ASCA registered. Born 2/10/10, ready to go 4/10/10. $2,000; includes 6 week obedience training class. Los Angeles Breeder Permit #U09-074617. Call Julie Sterling for more info: (310) 573-1150
MISCELLANEOUS 18g
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Close Call on Swarthmore
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Local businesswoman Dawn Baker parked inches away from the curb on Swarthmore Avenue across from the CVS parking lot at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning. ‘I opened my door a little way and all of a sudden it was crushed in front of me,’ Baker told the Palisadian-Post.   The door had been struck by the driver of a Johnny Carrillo Plumbing and Rooter truck from Santa Monica, who stopped to look at the damage and showed his driver’s license, then drove off shortly afterwards because he was late for a job.   Baker, who was uninjured but shaken by the accident, is the co-owner of happyLA, a women’s clothing store in the Highlands Plaza that opened in 2007.
Revere’s Comics Guy to Unveil New Book
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Her struggling boyfriend Wade. Her demanding (and kind of incompetent) employer Kim. Impossible yoga positions. Car problems galore. So go the trials and travails of the underpaid, over-educated (and over-caffeinated) female lead of the comic strip ‘Penny’ by Ruben Gerard. The cartoonist and caricaturist will sign and discuss ‘Adventures in Coping,’ his new trade paperback collection of ‘Penny’ strips, at Village Books on March 4 at 7:30 p.m., when he will also draw ‘a kind caricature’ of any visitor who requests one. When Gerard is not cartooning, he teaches. Joined by his longtime buddy Max Espinoza, Gerard has been sharing the art of creating comic strips and books, manga, and animation with teens. The duo holds ‘Cartoon Drawshops’ all over Los Angeles, including on a monthly basis at Paul Revere Middle School. The elective cartooning class, which runs 40 minutes before lunch break, returned to Revere on February 10.   ’I love teaching kids,’ Gerard says. ‘I reveal all trade secrets to them.’ He describes the Revere students as ‘inquisitive,’ and notes that ‘cartooning is something they enjoy and relate to.’   Espinoza adds, ‘We try to give them a background on how to create faces and cartoon characters. The kids take to it. It’s a short class, but they want us to come back.’   ’I was thrilled when Max and Ruben first accepted our offer back in 2008 to teach Drawshops, which are generously funded by [parent booster club] PRIDE,’ says Cynthia Murphy, a Paul Revere teacher and librarian. ‘This has been such a beneficial, three-year collaboration for the students. With the popularity of comics, the Drawshops bring kids to the library who would never before have thought of coming.’   Murphy, who coordinates Gerard and Espinoza’s appearances, adds that Paul Revere is appreciative of their visits. ‘They really know how to engage the kids and break down drawing techniques into easy, step-by-step lessons. Our art program was cut recently, so Drawshops fill a curricular gap. Importantly, they support our library’s philosophy of teaching to the needs of the whole child.’   ’Penny’ is centered on a blonde in her 30s, with Gerard applying his caricaturist skills to good effect, interweaving the likenesses of Bruce Springsteen, Governor Schwarzenegger, Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, even ‘Charles Bronson crying.’   ’I put a lot of people I know in there, too,’ Gerard says.   The book’s cover has references to his parents while a license plate reads ‘LIZRUBE,’ referencing his girlfriend of two years, Elizabeth Peterson. No person escapes the rapier-wit of his pen. ‘Instead of drawing in arbitrary faces,’ Gerard says, ‘I use real people. And they can look for themselves within the strips. I’ll draw their caricatures and ask them, ‘Can I use your likeness?’ Anything that I like gets into the strip. And even stuff I don’t like!’   Gerard began the original incarnation of ‘Penny’ in 1999, collecting them in the volume ‘More Chocolate, Less Stress.’   In 2001, he submitted his ‘Penny’ strips to King Features, the syndicate of newspaper strips such as ‘Popeye’ and ‘Zits.’ When he was called in to meet with editor Jay Kennedy, he thought it was regarding ‘Penny.’ He noticed stacks of strips on his desk.   But it turned out that the artist on Dean Young’s ‘Blondie’ had tired of the daily grind of producing the venerable comic strip. King Features was contemplating having Gerard take over art duties on ‘Blondie.’ Then came September 11. In its chaotic aftermath, the ‘Blondie’ artist decided to stick with job security. Yet Gerard still learned from this experience: ‘Jay Kennedy told me to concentrate on one character at a time.’   Gerard has been ‘retooling, revamping, repackaging, all of the above’ ever since his visit to King Features. His new book, which includes 16 color pages, collects strips from 2006’09.   ’She’s a composite a lot of people,’ Gerard says of his strip’s eponymous leading gal. ‘I’d say Penny’s kind of like me but it’s probably my feminine side.’   The cartoonist adds that he also draws inspiration from his late mother, and memories of watching Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett on television.   ’My inevitable goal is to get into papers,’ Gerard says. Even as newspapers are diminishing their comic strip sections?   ’It’s like trying to do a silent film in the sound era,’ he admits. ‘It can still be done, but it’s very hard.’   So how does Penny deal with the obstacles in her life?   ’She copes in a few different ways,’ Gerard says. ‘Through witty repartee, the comebacks. She’s a heavy-duty daydreamer. She attempts to do yoga but she’s kind of a klutz. It’s like on ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ he can dance but he still trips over the ottoman.   ’I think a female perspective is very close to an artist’s perspective. The struggles are the same. Struggling with identity, struggling to be taken seriously.’   The genial Gerard grew up in Bell Gardens and La Mirada, pursued his formal education at Cal State Fullerton, and now lives in Whittier. He spent the last three years readying ‘Adventures in Coping,’ aptly enough, while living with his ailing mother, Nellie Moffa, who was dying of cancer. She passed away last June. His mother saw the work but ‘I wished she had lived to see the printed book.’ For Gerard and Espinoza, the Drawshop is an extension of their 20-year-long friendship. ‘He’s pretty much a guy who has a lot of ideas,’ Espinoza says of Gerard. ‘He’s always thinking. He never rests.’
Does the ‘Wing Ding’ Live Up to Its Legend?
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Stick around Pacific Palisades long enough and you’ll hear all kinds of hearsay about the legendary House of Lee that opened in 1950 on Sunset Boulevard and existed for 50 years. One of the oft-told stories was how the restaurant’s Chinese food was unmemorable but how good the Wing Ding Burger was.   Today, another restaurant stands in House of Lee’s place, and that establishment, Pearl Dragon Asian fusion, continues to offer the Wing Ding. This is the story of how that item carried over from one restaurant to the next” and this writer’s quest to verify whether or not the Wing Ding is still worth its salt.   Pearl Dragon’s PR describes the Wing Ding as ‘a classic fusion of ‘east meets west.’ The burger is a glorious half-lb. sirloin patty with the freshest lettuce, tomato, white onion, dill pickles and our chef’s secret ‘Asian dressing,’ (American cheese optional), accompanied by our Szechwan Fries and served seven days a week for lunch and dinner.’   According to Pearl Dragon’s manager, Chris Johansen, the menu item is a close approximation of the burger that House of Lee’s founder, Ah Wing Young, had added to its infamous Wing Ding Room bar.   An important fan of the original Wing Ding is Arnie Wishnick, executive director of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce: ‘I asked the owner, Jimmy, ‘Why does the Wing Ding Burger taste so good?’ He answered, ‘I always purchase the finest meat.”   When entrepreneurs Tommy Stoilkovich and Mike Garrett bought out House of Lee and opened Pearl Dragon in 2001, they turned to the community to see what elements of the old restaurant to keep at their trendier, contemporary venture.   ’I talked to Tommy,’ Wishnick recalls, ‘and I told him that I was not a sushi eater, but could the Wing Ding Burger stay?’   Stoilkovich and Garrett saved the Wing Ding.   The only cook to have created Pearl Dragon’s version is Chef Genaro Martinez, who has worked there since opening day. Martinez says that he did not formally receive House of Lee’s recipe, but that ‘we got the idea from the owner, and I added my own touch, mostly in the sauce. It makes a difference.’   Manager Johansen, who needs about 20 pounds of beef a day to make them, confirms the burger’s enduring popularity: ‘It’s definitely a staple. We’ve held pretty close to the original and I think we’ve actually improved on it.’ Wishnick agrees that Pearl Dragon has not skipped a beat with its incarnation of House of Lee’s signature entree.   ’Still a juicy burger,’ Wishnick says. ‘Still two thumbs up from me.’   Then again, as the Chamber’s director, Wishnick gets paid to be Pacific Palisades’ biggest booster. So can he be trusted?   Through my work here at the Palisadian-Post, I’ve come to know Wishnick as a fair critic and keen observer of film, stage and food. In fact, I had personally introduced Arnie to my number-one burger spot, The Counter in Santa Monica”home of the build-it-yourself gourmet burger. Wishnick insists the Wing Ding is better. And while he’s well versed in L.A.’s restaurant scene, I needed a second opinion.   Unfortunately, the Internet is sorely lacking in reviews and testimonials. One diner, a Palisadian identifying himself as ‘Brandon C.,’ posted on Yelp.com: ‘I have not eaten much here, but the Wing Ding Burger and fries are delicious!’ A Los Angeles magazine was scathing and suspicious of the ‘Wing Ding burger with fries,’ as it wrote in quotations. Dishadish.com awarded it two-and-a-half out of five stars. On the other hand, ‘Ledbetter’ posted on Chowhound: ‘[They have] a really good burger they call the Wing Ding for around $8.’ But that was posted in 2004! (Today a Wing Ding with fries costs $11.)   Well, there was only one way to find out.   As I took my seat at Pearl Dragon (which is located between Swarthmore and Monument), I noticed that one man among the lunchtime sushi connoisseurs had ordered a Wing Ding. Good sign.   My burger (ordered well done) arrived on a funky-shaped platter with shoestring fries flanked by dollops of homemade ketchup and aioli sauce. The Wing Ding looked good. But how did it taste?   Terrific. Wishnick was not whistling Ding-xie! The beef is flavorful, like a perfectly charcoal-barbecued patty. The thin Szechwan fries are tasty, not greasy. Good portions. Very satisfying.   ’I’ll always be on that quest for the Perfect Burger,’ Wishnick says, ‘but I truly believe that one of the greatest burgers in the country is right here on Sunset Boulevard.’   So has the Wing Ding dethroned The Counter as my #1 purveyor of ground-beef goodness? Tough call. Guess I’ll have to return to Pearl Dragon for a second opinion.
Robert John Searight, 89; Former Longtime Resident of the Palisades
Robert John Searight, who lived in Pacific Palisades for nearly 50 years, died on February 15 in Marina del Rey. He was 89 years old. Robert was born April 25, 1920 in Fenton, Michigan, to Homer and Jeanne Searight. After high school, he came west to California, settling in Salem, Oregon. He was a child of the Depression, rode the rails, worked at whatever he could find, and ended up during World War II at Boeing in Seattle. In 1941, Robert married Lois Wilson, and after the war they moved to Pacific Palisades, where they raised four children. Robert began working in the industrial chrome plating industry in the early 1950s and began his own business, Chromplate Co., in 1961, which is still in operation in Inglewood under the direction of his son, Bill. Robert, who moved to Marina Del Rey in 1991, loved garage sales, dancing, golf and gardening. In retirement, he enjoyed daily lunches at the Culver City Senior Center, spending weekends at his holiday home in Pine Mountain, taking cruises, and walking his neighborhood in the early morning. His favorite vacations were houseboating on Lake Shasta and visiting his family in Fenton. Most of all, he loved his family. Robert is survived by his sister, Lois Putnam of Fenton; four children, Jeanne McEwan (husband Bob), Nancee Relles (husband Joel), Robert Searight, Jr., and William Searight (wife Paulla); seven grandchildren, David and John (Jennifer) McEwan, Lisa (Scott) Downey, Jon Relles, Hayley, Jennifer and Lindsey Searight; and three great-grandchildren, Emerson Downey, William and Charles McEwan. He had numerous nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his brother William and his wife of many years, Lois. The family wishes to thank Ed Saludo, his caregiver of over four years, for his loving attention. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Culver City Senior Citizens Association Nutrition Program. A graveside service was held on February 19 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.
Martin Laichtman, Dedicated Doctor
Martin (Marty) Irving Laichtman, M.D., a resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on December 6 at the age of 74. Born in Los Angeles, on December 11, 1935, Marty graduated from UC Berkeley, then attended the National University of Mexico for medical school, graduating in 1968. He settled in Santa Monica, where he was a family-practice physician for the next 35 years. In the early 1990s he moved to Pacific Palisades. In addition to his private practice, Marty served as chairman of the Family Practice Department at Saint John’s Hospital and also Santa Monica Hospital in the ’70s and ’80s. He was a dedicated, conscientious doctor, loved by his patients and fellow physicians. Colleagues reported that he had a talent for conducting difficult meetings exceptionally well and that he was unusually skilled at solving the myriad issues that come before a committee of that type. Marty retained his position as an honorary member of the staff of Saint John’s Health Center for the duration of his life. He was a consistent supporter of Saint John’s and was a member of the Saint John’s Physicians Alumni Association. Marty’s parents were Phillip Laichtman and Sylvia Shann. His father had attended the University of Southern California and instilled in his son a true love of USC. Marty was a devoted Trojan football fan and a longtime member of the L.A. West Trojan Club, a USC athletic support group. He attended every USC football game at the Coliseum and many other USC games as well. He was a loyal, congenial member of the club and served on its board. A memorial service in honor of Marty Laichtman was held by his friends and members of the L.A. West Trojan Club on February 21. Donations in Marty’s name can be made to the club: P.O. Box 1395, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
Thursday, February 25 – Thursday, March 4
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited. Dr. Charlotte Reznick, a child educational psychologist, discusses and signs ‘The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Her book provides nine simple tools that can help children tap into their imagination to access their own natural strength and confidence.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Theatre Palisades Youth presents the musical ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes,’ 7:30 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. The show is presented again on Saturday at 7:30 and concludes on Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets ($12), call (310) 454-1970. Pacific Palisades resident Melissa Rivers discusses ‘Red Carpet Ready: Secrets for Making the Most of Any Moment You are in the Spotlight,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore. Music at St. Matthew’s presents the Catgut Trio with violinist Yi-Huan Zhao, 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave. Program will be Ravel’s String Quartet in F, the Serenade for String Trio by Beethoven and ‘The Bagpiper’s Trio’ by Judith Weir. Admission: $25 at the door. Contact: (310) 454-1358, or visit www.stmatthews.com/musicguild.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27
The Friends of the Palisades Library hold a gently used book sale, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the library parking lot, 861 Alma Real. All proceeds from these periodic sales are donated to the library to purchase new books and CDs. This sale was postponed by rain last Saturday.
MONDAY, MARCH 1
Edith Malek, known as ‘The Clematis Queen,’ talks about growing clematis in Southern California to Pacific Palisades Garden Club members and guests, 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Ave. (See story, page 10.)
TUESDAY, MARCH 2
Television producer Barrie Brett discusses ‘Moments of Being: Finding Your One Moment in Time,’ which reveals true stories that have altered lives forever, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3
51st Annual Pacific Palisades Teen Contest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, 7 p.m. in Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4
”””Storytime for children ages 3 and up, 4 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Ruben Gerard, who teaches cartooning to students at Paul Revere Middle School once a month, signs his trade paperback collection of comic strips ‘Penny: Adventures in Coping,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
Mayme Clayton’s Dream
… That Children Would Know that Black People Have Done Great Things
What does it take to establish a museum? The first thing would be a collection of something: art, books, automobiles. The second ingredient would be a motivated visionary and, finally, money. The Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum in Culver City meets the first two criteria, being the largest private collection of African-American artifacts in the world, thanks to the vision of assiduous collector Mayme Clayton, who for 40 years saved everything that related to the African-American experience’from rare and out-of-print books, personal correspondence of such leaders as Booker T. Washington and Pearl Bailey, to black films, photographs and even mementos of slave life. The museum didn’t come with an endowment; Clayton’s repository of more than three million items was collected on her librarian’s salary. As an academic librarian at UCLA, she was preternaturally drawn to books and other ephemera. In 1969, she helped establish the university’s African-American Studies Center Library, and began to buy out-of-print works by authors from the Harlem Renaissance. Her collector’s eye was always active. She rummaged through basements and garages, secured morgue photographs from The California Eagle, the Los Angeles-based African-American newspaper founded in 1879, and soon became known among the collector’s community. Her integrity in amassing a cohesive record of African-American history attracted others to entrust their collections to her. These special collections include the Lena Horne Scrapbook Collection, Marcus Garvey Papers and the Oscar Micheaux Literary and Film Collection. Michaeux was the most prolific black independent filmmaker in American cinema who produced and directed 44 feature-length films between 1919 and 1948. Clayton was a film buff who set out to find and store the largest pre-1959 black film collection in the world, which she complemented by collecting large, colorful vintage movie posters dating back to 1921. While the inveterate collector kept stashing away treasures in her garage from floor to ceiling, collectors and curators began to worry about the fragility of the materials and urged her to move them to a safer storage area. ‘I remember about 15 years ago, we went to see her collection,’ Pacific Palisades collector Bernard Kinsey recalls. ‘The first thing I thought is that this is a national treasure and we’ve got to get this stuff out of the garage. She had a signed copy of Phyllis Wheatley’s 1773 ‘Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral,’ and you could smell the mold.’ Kinsey and his wife Shirley have amassed their own collection, the Kinsey Collection, one of the largest private collections of artifacts tracing African-American history, which has been on a national tour for the last five years. Upon Mayme’s death in 2006, her son Avery took up his mother’s dream to place her collection for the public to view and study ‘by generations and generations hence.’ Avery consulted with a number of experts, including Kinsey, who taught him how to approach the project. ‘The first thing I said is let’s preserve the materials and then I said to inventory the collection items; it’s so important to have good records.’ The endangered collection was moved out of Clayton’s overcrowded garage and relocated to the former courthouse building around the corner from Sony Pictures in Culver City that Avery had convinced the city to rent for $1 a year. The materials were then decontaminated by freezing and finally cataloged, organized and placed on shelves awaiting public use. Avery inherited his mother’s energy and passion, and in 2001, he quit his high school teaching job to devote himself to the collection and to the museum. ‘Avery had a tremendous commitment and excitement and conveyed that effortlessly,’ says Sue Hodson, curator of manuscripts at the Huntington Library, who worked with him on the recent exhibit ‘Central Avenue and Beyond: the Harlem Renaissance in Los Angeles’ at the Huntington. ‘He had a real ability to sell his commitment to donors and politicians. He was tireless in his willingness and capacity to speak to groups. No matter if he was talking to one person or 500, the story always sounded fresh.’ Indeed, Avery was able to secure the museum space and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations, plus a $250,000 federal grant with the help of Rep. Diane Watson. Sadly, Avery suffered a heart attack and died last Thanksgiving day at the age of 62. Plans for the museum continue under the direction of interim director Cynthia Hudley, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, who grew up in Los Angeles with Avery. She and the board of directors are making decisions about renovating the building and planning symposia, panel discussions and small exhibitions, such as the recent show at the Huntington. The job is daunting, says Kinsey, noting that the breadth and scope of the collection make it unique. ‘But, you have to focus, the museum has to decide what part of the collection will speak to the biggest audience. All of it is stuff unless you put it into context to make people understand the story or value. You have to develop a story.’ Huntington curator Hodson knows that there are many stories to be told. ‘There is so much material at the library, they can do more and more exhibitions,’ she says. For the Huntington show, Hodson and Avery selected stories that were not as familiar as those of the New York Harlem Renaissance. The exhibit focused on jazz, classical ballet, stage performance, literature and the colorful characters who made these stories. There was Herb Jeffries, 96, who was known as the singing cowboy, like Gene Autry. In fact, he and Autry were good friends. Thanks to the movies made by Clarence Muse and Spencer Williams, ‘Black children could go to a Saturday matinee and see the good guy as a black man, taking care of the bad guys and getting the girl,’ Hodson says. ‘Black actors were limited,’ Hodson says. ‘Hattie McDaniel, who won an Academy Award for her role in ‘Gone with the Wind,’ was limited to playing mammies and housemaids, which she didn’t mind. ‘I’d rather play one for $700 a week than be one for $7 a week,’ she’d quip. ‘Libraries like the Clayton have an important role,’ Hodson continues. ‘We must never forget these things.’ The museum will have a ‘soft’ opening in the spring. For more information or to make a donation to the Mayme A. Clayton Museum and Library, visit: claytonmuseum.org or call 310-202-1647.
