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Hoops Squads Bounce Back

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Junior guard Kseniya Shevchuk prepares to shoot in Palisades' 64-37 Western League victory over University last Friday.
Junior guard Kseniya Shevchuk prepares to shoot in Palisades’ 64-37 Western League victory over University last Friday.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Having dropped four of its previous five games, the Palisades High girls’ basketball team found itself at a crossroads last week. Coach Torino Johnson’s squad has made strides despite a challenging schedule and that gamer toughness showed in impressive victories on Thursday and Friday that got the Dolphins back on track. Palisades could have taken a forfeit win over Dorsey earlier in the season but Johnson insisted that the nonleague game be rescheduled so the issue could be decided on the court. Led by sophomore guard Ashlie Bruner (21 points and 8 steals) and sophomore center Donae Moguel (19 points and 11 rebounds), the Dolphins overcame a sluggish first quarter to outlast the host Dons, 59-48. The next night, Palisades returned home and kept themselves in the thick of the Western League race with a 64-37 blowout over University. Moguel was unstoppable in the paint, scoring a game-high 30 points, pulling down 13 rebounds and blocking two shots. Sophomore guard Skai Thompson had 11 points and Bruner added 10 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Boys’ Basketball Coach James Paleno’s squad rebounded from its loss 19-point to first-place Westchester by posting a pair of Western League victories and appeared to be clicking on all cylinders heading into Wednesday’s second-place showdown at Fairfax (result undetermined at press time), where Palisades lost by one point last year. Palisades team led the Lions by eight points in the fourth quarter before falling 75-69 in their first league meeting January 15. Senior wingman Garrett Nevels had 34 points, senior forward Kenneth Towner had 13 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore guard Donovan Johnson added 10 points in the Dolphins’ hardfought 76-68 triumph over visiting Hamilton last Monday. Nevels poured in another 26 points and Johnson added 19 points and 11 rebounds in a convincing 90-76 victory at University on Friday. Boys’ Soccer A scoreless tie with Fairfax last Wednesday landed Palisades in second place in the Western League, but five of the seven teams still have a legitimate chance to finish first. Shane Centkowski is the Dolphins’ scoring leader with 4 goals. Nick Ledesma, Max Ledesma, Alex Anastasi and Nate Cutler each have two goals. Girls’ Soccer Despite allowing their first goal to a league opponent all season, the Dolphins beat Fairfax, 3-1, last Friday for their fifth win in a row. Kathryn Gaskin, Zoe Aliado and Katie Van Daalen Wetters scored the goals for Palisades. Gaskin leads the team in points with 18 goals and 10 assists. sports@palipost.com

‘Run For Your Wife’ Provides Big Laughs

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Theater Review

Michael Silva as John Smith, caught between his two wives, Barbara (Laura Buckles) and Mary (Rebekah Voss). Photo: John Merritt Photography
Michael Silva as John Smith, caught between his two wives, Barbara (Laura Buckles) and Mary (Rebekah Voss). Photo: John Merritt Photography

Ever since I saw ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’ on London’s West End, I’ve loved British farce with its fast-paced physical comedy. Ray Cooney’s ‘Run for Your Wife,’ now at the Morgan-Wixson Theater in Santa Monica, handily continues in that tradition.   The story revolves around an ordinary Englishman, taxicab driver John Smith, who gets hit in the head while attempting to stop a mugging. When Smith is brought home from the hospital by a detective, the audience discovers that Smith is anything but ordinary: he’s a polygamist who has maintained two households, one in Wimbledon, the other a few minutes away in Streatham. Complications and cases of mistaken identity ensue as Smith tries to keep his wives from finding out about each other.   The production is a well-built comedic train running down the track, with no stops until curtain call.   The cast works well together and has great chemistry. Michael Silva, as Smith, is perfectly ‘ordinary,’ but his facial expressions capture the frantic quality of a man about to be trapped.   As wives Barbara and Mary, Laura Buckles and Rebekah Voss hold the show together. They deftly handle physical comedy, which comes in handy in the second act.   Tristan Wright as upstairs neighbor Stanley displays energy, enthusiasm and deflation as he goes through the different charades with humorous results. Justin Wade, as a transvestite dress designer, towers over his neighbors with his high heels. His flamboyant entrances or exits are all that is needed to elicit laughs.   The two detectives, played by Morgan Krantz and Paul Guay, are a comical contrast in character types. Guay, who co-wrote the Jim Carrey film ‘Liar, Liar,’ plays the henpecked husband to perfection. Krantz’s tightly-wound detective takes more of a ‘Law and Order’ approach.   The production is a gem, and a large share of the credit goes to director Tina Polzin, who keeps the play moving at a breakneck pace, with exceptional blocking, humorous poses and well-timed mugging from the actors.   Afterwards, an audience member praised the show, saying ‘Now, that was a kick!’ and his description was apt. This comedy is one of the funniest I’ve seen on stage in years.    ‘Run for Your Wife’ plays Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through February 13 at the Morgan-Wixson, 2627 Pico Blvd. Call: (310) 828-7519 or visit: www.morgan-wixson.org or www.johnsmithcheats.com.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 28, 2010

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CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e

$247,000. IMMACULATE SENIOR UNIT, very cheerful and quiet. 1 bd, 1 ba. Minimum age 62, 2 car parking, elevator, patio, close to everything. 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

536 ARBRAMAR. 3 bdr, 2 ba. Solar powered (low electric bills), high-end gas range, dishwasher and washer/dryer; fireplace, hardwood floors, lots of attic storage, 2 car garage, fenced in yard. $4,500/mo. (310) 801-5020

2 BD, 1 BA UNFURNISHED HOUSE available 2/1/10. 768 Hartzell St. 1014 sq. ft. Enclosed yard. Detached workshop and additional BD/office. $3,300/mo. Contact owner at (310) 454-9110

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. $1,500/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. $2,300/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. $2,300 (310) 804-3142

TWO 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

$1,750/MO. ‘ELEGANT HIDEAWAY’. Best location in Brentwood. Near Gretna Green on Montana Ave. Top floor charming one bedroom. Hardwood floors, woodburning fireplace, shuttered throughout. New stainless appliances. Security building, enclosed garage. Beautiful Tuscan Garden courtyard setting. Bright and sunny. No pets. One yr lease. (310) 826-7960

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

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. $2,750/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 454-6058

REMODELED PALISADES TOWNHOME. Mt views, 2+2.5, hardwood floors, granite kitchen, marble bathroom, fireplace, 2 car private garage, community pool, tennis & spa. (310) 383-7455

1 BD, 1 BA CONDOMINIUM on Camden Ave. LA. Available immediately. Close to Sepulveda & Santa Monica Blvds. Hardwood floors, 774 sq ft. Off-street parking. Rental $1,600/mo., or for sale at $400,000. Contact owner on (310) 454-9110

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

LOVELY BRENTWOOD HOME (North of Sunset). Private garden level, furnished rooms with bath. W/D, pool, kitchen privileges, N/S, N/D, No pets. $850/mo. Includes utilities. (310) 472-6466

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

OFFICE SUITE: Atrium Bldg., 860 Via de la Paz. 900+ space, reception, two offices & bathroom. $3,000/mo. 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.

PALISADES OFFICE, RETAIL SUITES & EXECUTIVE SUITES NOW AVAILABLE in the heart of the village: Office suites up to 3,235 sf and 700 sf retail suite. Executive suites now available with conf room, kitchen, copy machine, etc. Building has amazing views of the Santa Monica mountains, private balconies and restrooms. Amenities include high speed T1 internet access, elevator, and secured, underground parking. CALL (310) 591-8789 or email leasing@hp-cap.com

LARGE, BRIGHT EXECUTIVE OFFICE suite for rent/share in Palisades Village. Fully furnished including fax, copier & internet. $625/mo. 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

FURNISHED OFFICE ON SUNSET, near village. Mountain view, quiet, light & bright. $800/mo., terms negotiable. (310) 459-3493

RENTAL SPACE, STORAGE 3d

COMMERCIAL SPACE on Via de la Paz near school. $2.50 to $3.00 a square foot. Call (323) 388-1707

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

THREE FULLY SELF-CONTAINED trailers for rent across from Will Rogers State Beach & about 2 miles from Santa Monica Pier. $795/mo. & $695/mo. 2 bedrm mobile, $1,995. (310) 454-2515

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 3f

HERITAGE REALTY & INVESTMENTS. Property management services, sales & leasing, commercial & residential. (310) 459-3493

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

Local Bookkeeping Service. WWW.BIGSISTERWORKSHOP.COM. (310) 570-6085

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/

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

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

MISCELLANEOUS 7o

RESUME & COLLEGE ESSAY HELP for editing assistance with professional or academic projects (cover letters, resumes, college essays). Contact Alice Wood at (310) 403-8019 or alicecwood@yahoo.com; M.A. in Education & Human Development.

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

EXPERIENCED NANNY & HOUSEKEEPER. Reliable, caring & flexible. Bilingual and I provide my own transportation. Great local references. Call Nancy at (818) 209-6024

NANNY EXTRAORDINAIRE. Smart, kind and capable 46-year-old woman with a lifetime of experience taking care of families seeks full time, live-out employment. Can drive, organize schedules and household, and is a gifted cook. Great with kids. Call Mary at (713) 478-5624

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE: Good local references, own transportation. Speaks English. Available Mon.-Sat. Marlene, (c) (323) 423-2558, (h) (323) 750-1957

LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING JOB. 12 years experience, own transportation, legal, local references. 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 FABULOUS HOUSEKEEPER is available! Excellent cleaner, great with kids, honest & reliable. 19 years local experience. References available. Call Barbara, (310) 454-4030

HOUSEKEEPING/NANNY, 20 yrs. experience. Available Mon. thru Thurs. & Sat. Live-out. Own car. CA license. Excellent English. Local refs. Please call Miriam, (562) 644-5288 (cell.)

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

SPECIALIZE WITH SENIORS. Friendly/patient personal trainer. I can customize workouts to fit your needs. Call Karen for a free phone consultation & GET STARTED! (818) 626-8670

CAREGIVERS $15. Professional/exper/reliable. Also lic. nurses/notary. yourextraspecial.com ‘ Jim, (310) 795-5023

FANTASTIC CAREGIVER. Kind, gentle and highly capable woman with 20 years of experience caring for elderly woman seeks full time employment. Can drive, cook, and nurse. Smart, fun. Call (713) 478-5624

DO YOU NEED PART TIME HELP? Scandinavian lady of mature age w/ legal status & references. Private cook, companion, driver, etc. for active senior male or female. Please call (310) 312-6099

CAREGIVER: light housekeeping, available everyday, day or night, live-in or live-out, references available. (818) 268-9332 or (818) 895-2484

CAREGIVER/PERSONAL ASSISTANT/COMPANION. Mature, experienced & reliable female with own transportation. Flexible. Good local references. Please call (310) 442-3524

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

HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE 12a

PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP, PHOTOGRAPHY, airbrush tanning, hair and eyelash extensions, for all ages. Affordable prices! Will come to you! Shannon, (310) 310-2668, www.jankulaimages.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

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

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

NEED TO GET IN SHAPE? Friendly Westside personal trainer customizing workouts to fit your needs. Call Karen for a phone consultation & GET STARTED! (818) 626-8670

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 tutor with 15+ years experience. Will tutor in your home late afternoons or evenings. Specializing in SAT prep, high school exit exam, etc. Pomona College Graduate. Call Hal, (310) 384-4507

EXPERIENCED FRENCH TUTOR tutors JHS, HS & AP students. Excellent references. Masters in education. Native French speaker, Malibu resident, very enthusiastic. Will come to you. Cate, (310) 456-5398

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

CASALE CONSTRUCTION CO. LLC ‘ General Contractor Lic. #512443 ‘ Residential ‘ Commercial ‘ New Construction ‘ Additions ‘ Remodeling ‘ (866) 362-2573 (o), (323) 503-3049 (c) ‘ www.reemodeling.com

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.)

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

SQUIRE PAINTING CO. Interior and Exterior. License #405049. 30 years. Local Service. (310) 454-8266. www.squirepainting.com

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

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

ROOFING 16w

AFFORDABLE ROOFING & General Contracting Co. (800) 806-8688

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

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

EPIC GARAGE SALE * Furniture, household goods, clothing, toys, sports equipment, collectibles, quality items! Something for the whole family! Sat. only, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 526 Arbramar Ave. (1 blk. W. of El Medio, 4 blks. S. of Sunset)

BEL-AIR ESTATE SALE! Whole hse! English antiques/furn/furnishgs/collectibles/hi-end fashion clothes/shoes/bags/jewelry. Vintage stuff/full garage/ hsehold gds/kitch/tools. FRI.-SAT.-SUN., Jan. 29-30-31; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 1003 Cassiano Rd. (TG 591, G-7) Photos/details/directions: www.bmdawson.com

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

30 YEARS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazines with slip cases. FREE to charity/non-profit/clubs. C. Amber, (310) 459-3635

Majestic Moreton Fig Perishes at Park

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Several massive limbs were ripped from the Moreton fig at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center as a result of last week's strong winds and rain, which undermined the tree's structural integrity. The Moreton was subsequently cut down and mulched by Department of Recreation and Parks tree surgeons.
Several massive limbs were ripped from the Moreton fig at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center as a result of last week’s strong winds and rain, which undermined the tree’s structural integrity. The Moreton was subsequently cut down and mulched by Department of Recreation and Parks tree surgeons.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

The majestic Moreton fig whose gracious canopy and elephantine surface roots commanded awesome respect at the entrance of the Palisades Recreation Center, fell victim to the rain and wind in last week’s storm. Three or four of its hefty branches were ripped from the top of the tree, leaving it structurally compromised and a public hazard. Tree surgeons from the Los Angeles Street Tree Division, under supervisor Arthur Flores, were dispatched Monday morning, and by noon had converted the landmark specimen to mulch.   ’My tree surgeon said that it looked as if someone had set off dynamite in the crown of the tree,’ said Laura Bauernfeind, principal forester for the Recreation and Parks Department. ‘The damage to the crown was the result of storm activity, perhaps an unexpected wind shear or water spout.’   While not exactly certain of the event that caused the rupture, Bauernfeind confirmed that a split had not caused the broken limbs. ‘If there had been split limbs, there would have been evidence of the split on the felled branches. There would have been stringy wood strips on the torn branches. In addition, the tree was structurally sound and there was no evidence of saturated ground, which often causes a tree to uproot and fall.’   Bauernfeind estimated that some 60 trees were felled as a result of last week’s heavy wind and rain.   Carl Mellinger, a certified arborist in Pacific Palisades, remembers the tree from his childhood over 50 years ago, ‘when I was a kid playing in the field and flying motorized airplanes, when they let us do it there.’   The tree trunk, a pentagon shape with massive roots radiating in all directions, measured between 25 inches and 47 inches in diameter. Over a dozen roots thick as branches crawled out in all directions, uplifting the sidewalk on both the park entrance side and the Alma Real side. A landmark for many Palisadians, the tree provided shade for the awards ceremony following the Fourth of July Day parade, as well as for various official gatherings.   The tree probably wasn’t planted in the best place, Bauernfeind confirmed. ‘It’s not ideal next to a parking lot or sidewalk. Had it been planted up on a hill out in the middle of nowhere, maybe we would have left it alone and seen what it would have done.’   Mellinger, who owns a tree-care business is president of the Civic League, believes that ‘the tree needed weight reduction, and possibly cable installation to protect it.’   The Department of Recreation and Parks tree division oversees an inventory of between 850,00 to one million trees citywide. With a staff of 35, including clerical workers, the division is spread thin and relies on park directors, maintenance staff and park patrons to keep an eye on problematic trees. ‘If there is a problem, a certified arborist is sent to the site to follow up,’ Bauernfeind said.   Nevertheless, the life of a tree in the city’s parks is pretty good, compared to street trees, Bauernfeind said. ‘We don’t trim them just to trim them; park trees get to be big and do whatever they want.’   She noted that a replacement tree will be planted at the site, but it may not be the same species, adding that there are over 500 species of trees growing in city parks. ‘We can grow trees from just about anywhere in the world,’ she said, describing the diversity of trees as a pleasing part of the park experience. ‘Nowadays, we are trying to be careful to put in trees that do well in our drought-conscious city, and are looking to California natives such as the California sycamore, black walnut, coast live oak, bay laurel and toyon. If there is a historical tree, such as the magnolia in the city’s South Park, the forestry division tries to reintroduce them.’   There is a sidewalk improvement plan in the works for the corner at the park entrance, which will include a replacement tree where the Moreton fig once grew.

City’s New Storm-Drain Grates Trap Debris But Cause Flooding

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During last week’s heavy rainfall, street flooding occurred when newly installed aluminum grates on Pacific Palisades storm drains failed to open. Leaves and debris piled against the grates and caused rainwater to pool in the streets. The grates, installed here last fall at an average cost of $1,200 per grate and paid for through Prop. O funds, are supposed to prevent anything larger than three-fourths from entering the drains during dry weather or light rains. During rainstorms the grates are supposed to swing open, allowing all runoff to enter the drain. Routine street sweeping is supposed to ensure that the grates remain clear of debris year-round. (Street sweeping in the Palisades occurs every four to six weeks, according to Richard Lee, Department of Public Works information officer.) ‘The new storm-drain grates that were installed professionally, and at a considerable expense, are completely blocking the drains and flooding the streets,’ Maxine Greenspan said by e-mail to the Palisadian-Post last Thursday. ‘I have dug out all the debris on the Napoli Drive, Channel Road and Mesa Road drains. There is a terrible design flaw.’   After contacting five different city agencies and not getting a response, Greenspan paid her handyman $50 to kick the grates open in order to prevent flooding. On Tuesday this week, Greenspan reported that ‘After all my calls, the city came out and totally removed the storm-drain screens from in front of my house. Now the water flows freely and is not flooding. [However], it will flood where the screens still are.’   A January 22 letter to the L.A. Daily News from reader Matthew Schaaf of Granada Hills commented, ‘Who was the genius who installed screens over the storm drains? While driving around Wednesday, there were numerous flooded streets caused by leaves and debris clogging the drains. Perhaps our traveling mayor can make sure there are crews to keep them clean when it rains?’   Haldis Toppel, president of the Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association, wrote on January 23: ‘The gridded storm drains got clogged with leaves and therefore most of them did not release to open. Some intersections had massive amounts of water running through them but the water eventually found its way into an un-gridded storm drain. Residents on Enchanted Way, where the deepest flooding occurred, propped the grid open.’   The Post contacted the L.A. City Stormwater Hotline (800) 974-9794; although the city clerk did not wish to give his name, he said ‘The screens are counterweighted and supposed to open up with any kind of resistance.’   Unlike Greenspan’s handyman who kicked the grates open, this reporter tried kicking and opened only three of eight grates along Bestor Boulevard and Swarthmore Avenue.   Michele Vargas, spokesperson for Public Works, said the screens (grates) were approved by the County of L.A. Department of Public Works, which plans to retrofit all 48,180 City storm drains by 2011 (currently about half are done). The total budget for the screens and 10,000 catch-basin inserts is $71.5 million.   The installation of the screens is part of the City’s effort to comply with a state mandate that requires Los Angeles to reduce the amount of trash that goes through storm drains and out to the ocean by 10 percent each year.   Vargas told the Post that in order for the screens to open, the locking mechanism behind the face of the screen needs to be disengaged. Once the grate opens, water flow keeps it inward. When the water recedes, the lock is engaged once again. Vegas said that during a storm the lock will cycle between the lock-and-unlock phase several time; at all other times the screen should be in a locked position. ‘The locking mechanism is triggered by flow entering from either the face of the screen or the overflow,’ Vargas said. ‘The screens have been designed with an overflow on top to allow flow to enter in the event large debris/leaves block the screen face.’ According to Vargas, in preparation for a rain event, the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation clears all catch basins and debris basins to ensure proper flow of stormwater. If residents observe that catch-basin grates (screens) are not opening during a rain event, they need to call 3-1-1 immediately to report it and City officials will deploy crews to investigate and fix the problem.

Chamber, Theatre Salute ‘Mayor’ MacLeod

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Actor Gavin MacLeod engages a near-capacity crowd at the Pierson Playhouse.
Actor Gavin MacLeod engages a near-capacity crowd at the Pierson Playhouse.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

The Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Theatre Palisades, devoted an evening last Wednesday to Gavin MacLeod, who announced that he has agreed to serve for an unprecedented third two-year term as honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades. About 75 people braved the rain-soaked streets and chilly weather to attend the retrospective of MacLeod’s diverse career in film, television and the theater. Audience members included actress Marcia Wallace, filmmaker Steve Vittoria (who worked on the event’s centerpiece, the documentary ‘The Life and Times of Gavin MacLeod’) and Chamber presidents past, current and future: Brad Lusk, Ramis Sadrieh and John Petrick. Andrew Frew provided the event’s technical direction. Prior to the screening of ‘Life and Times”’which details MacLeod’s early life and career with a mix of archival photos, film clips, and interviews with MacLeod, wife Patti, daughter Julia (from a previous marriage), brother Ron See, and actresses Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper and Marion Ross”the evening’s emcee, Theatre Palisades actor George Lissandrello, announced MacLeod’s third term, which was met with resounding applause. After the movie, MacLeod, 77, emerged onstage dressed in suit, tie, and a silver wig. Taking off the wig, the animated and robust actor revealed that he wore the prop on an episode of ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ in which his newsroom writer character, Murray Slaughter, takes over a newscast for a sick Ted Baxter (played by MacLeod’s longtime friend, the late Ted Knight). Scenes were screened from MacLeod’s most recent movie, ‘The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry,’ a faith-based film by Rich Christiano that arrives on DVD in May. ‘This was the first time in my life I’ve been in a film in which I believed every word I said,’ said MacLeod, who added that he may also appear in Christiano’s next film. Taking questions from the audience, MacLeod spoke about his guest appearances on the popular Disney Channel show, ‘The Suite Life on Deck.’ From the audience, Bobbie Faberow, former owner of the now-defunct Mort’s Deli, informed MacLeod that one of the show’s producers is a Palisadian. MacLeod credited ‘The Love Boat’ not only for inspiring his role as the spokesman for Princess Cruises, but for popularizing the cruise industry on an international level. He recalled a time when”taking his role as the show’s genial ambassador very seriously”he welcomed guest star Ginger Rogers and innocently mentioned that another guest on the episode was going to be Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. ‘Oh, no!’ Rogers exclaimed. ‘I haven’t seen him since we were engaged!’ But MacLeod became visibly emotional when praising his wife for helping him rescue himself from the demon that has plagued his family history: alcoholism. ‘Patti MacLeod changed my life,’ MacLeod said. ‘She’s a wonderful, wonderful element to my life.’ Dressed in a black gown highlighted by sequined butterflies, local singer Linda Jackson surprised MacLeod by serenading him with her rendition of ‘One’ from ‘A Chorus Line,’ the lyrics altered to rhapsodize the man of the evening. Then Lissandrello read a pair of letters from former honorary mayors Peter Graves and Steve Guttenberg, who wrote, ‘Whether on sea or on land, I love you.’ ‘It’s been such a gas being the mayor. Um, honorary mayor,’ MacLeod told the crowd. Actress Wallace, best known for her work on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’ and ‘The Simpsons,’ chose the winning raffle ticket that awarded one lucky audience member a white captain’s hat autographed by the ‘Love Boat’ captain. MacLeod praised Wallace’s memoir, to which a blushing Wallace said, ‘Aw, Gav!’ (sounding a lot like her ‘Newhart’ character, Carol). Vittoria told the Palisadian-Post that when Princess Cruises approached him about making his straightforward documentary, he only knew MacLeod from his signature TV roles. ‘I really didn’t realize the depth of his career,’ including movies such as ‘The Sand Pebbles,’ ‘Compulsion,’ and ‘The Party,’ and playing opposite such actors as Steve McQueen, Orson Welles, Donald Sutherland and Peter Sellers.   Ever the storyteller, MacLeod told about running into Cary Grant at a fundraiser in the 1980s, some 30 years after sharing screen time with him in ‘Operation Petticoat.’ MacLeod reluctantly approached Grant at the urging of his wife, who wanted to meet him. But it turned out to be a terrific, if bittersweet, moment for MacLeod. Grant told MacLeod, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ Just a few days later, Grant died. ‘Do something for somebody else,’ MacLeod told the audience, ‘and maybe you’ll have a nice moment for yourself.’

Teacher Rose Gilbert Loans PaliHi $750,000 Towards Aquatic Center

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To complete the $4.6-million Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center, Palisades Charter High School still needs $1.5 million, so legendary English teacher Rose Gilbert has given the school a $750,000 loan.   Gilbert, who inherited millions from her late husband Sam, has already donated more than $2 million toward construction costs, and the state-of-the-art aquatic center will be named after her late daughter and swimmer, Maggie.   ’I’m really enthusiastic about the pool,’ said Gilbert, 91. ‘It will really benefit the school and the community.’   Gilbert, who has worked at PaliHi since the school opened in 1961 and is currently teaching four Advanced Placement English classes, said she has always thought the school needed a pool. That is why she proposed PaliHi construct the aquatic center and gave $1.1 million to launch the fundraising campaign in 2006.   Since then, PaliHi has raised a total of $3.1 million for the 12-lane competitive pool and adjacent two-lane teaching pool at the corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Bowdoin Street, according to Chief Business Officer Greg Wood.   Construction is about 50 percent completed and the center should be finished this spring.   PaliHi’s governing board approved the loan agreement with Gilbert at its January 19 meeting. The loan, with a set interest rate of 5.6 percent, will be repaid on a quarterly basis over a five-year period, Wood said. Payments will not begin until after the aquatic center is finished.   ’The 5.6-percent interest rate compares to the market rate from other lenders,’ Wood said.   The board directed Wood to seek another $750,000 loan to cover the remainder of the construction costs. The terms of that loan will be subject to final board approval.   ’Hopefully, we will have a [loan] option in the next few months,’ Wood said, adding that the administration wants to conduct due diligence before making a recommendation to the board.   The loans will be paid back through revenue collected from permits, which outside groups can purchase to use the school’s pool, playing fields, parking lots, classrooms, meeting rooms and gym.   Executive Director Amy Dresser-Held expects the school to earn more money from these permits next school year. Pali Blues, a local women’s semi-pro soccer team, and American Youth Soccer Organization’s Region 69 paid upfront for part of the $1.7-million renovations to the track and football field in exchange for permits to use the field for two years. Their permits will expire in June 2010, which means that Pali-Hi can start collecting money from those groups to use the field, Dresser-Held said.   Dresser-Held explained that PaliHi has to take out these loans now because the pool contractor, Sarlan Brothers, needs to be paid in order to finish the project this spring. School leaders, however, haven’t given up hope that the entire project can be paid for entirely through donations.   ’We will continue fundraising,’ she said. ‘We have grant applications out to at least 30 foundations, and different events are planned.’   Individuals, businesses and organizations may purchase a lane for $50,000 and have their name displayed on it. Six of the 14 lanes are still available.   They may also buy naming rights to the scoreboard for $150,000, the instructional pool for $350,000 and the competition pool for $500,000. The PaliHi Booster Club has already purchased the pool house, said Jeanne Goldsmith, PaliHi’s fundraising consultant.   PaliHi is selling wall tiles (which will be displayed inside the aquatic center complex) for $500, with room for 15 words or two lines of text. The tile can be a gift to honor a swimmer, a graduate of PaliHi or an entire family.   ’For those members of the community who have not stepped up, now is the time to support this incredible recreational facility for our community,’ Goldsmith said.   To donate, visit www.palihigh.org or call Goldsmith at (310) 454-9033.

Nancy Turner, Multi-Talented Wife, Mother, 55-Year Resident

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Nancy Turner with her late husband, Rod.
Nancy Turner with her late husband, Rod.

Nancy Marlow Turner, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Santa Monica on January 21. She was 84.   Nancy (‘Nan’) Priscilla Marlow was born July 27, 1925 in Toronto, Canada. Her father Frederick grew up in the farm country of Ontario, Canada, and became a general-practice doctor. While serving in the Canadian Army Medical Corps in World War I he met Mabel Olive Winsland. They married at her family home in Ashstead, Surrey, England, in 1919, and moved to Toronto, where they raised three daughters, Joan, Nancy and Patricia.   Nancy enjoyed her early years in Toronto, and had fond memories of riding around the city with her father making medical house calls on his sick patients. In the summer, the family would visit her father’s family farm in Blackstock, Ontario, where Nancy enjoyed participating in farm activities, including collecting eggs and cutting hay. Nancy’s happiest childhood memory was when, at age 13, she and her mother went to England in 1939 just before World War II to visit family and see the homestead. In 1943, Nancy graduated from Branksome Hall School for Girls in Toronto, where she began some lifelong friendships. After high school she took a typing course and worked as a clerk in a bookstore. She also worked as a secretary at a tennis club and modeled in fashion shows.   World War II brought many changes. Nancy (now known as Nan) enlisted in the Women’s Royal Navy, called ‘Wrens’ for short, as a visual signaler. After excelling in a four-month course, she was assigned to Halifax Harbor, where she used signal flags and Morse code with a large lamp to give and receive signals from Navy ships and merchant ships. Later, Nan was sent to a naval post in Prince Rupert, British Columbia.   Soon after the war ended, Nan entered the University of Toronto. She met her future husband, a medical student named Roderick Turner, and the two were married on September 24, 1948, at the beginning of their senior year. She received an honors B.A. in music and the arts and Rod received his medical degree. After graduation, the pair moved to Vancouver, where Rod completed an internship and Nan taught school. They house-sat there as a way to survive on Nan’s meager salary. In 1950, shortly after the birth of their first child, Nan and Rod moved to Hollywood, where Rod studied surgery and urology. In 1955, at the end of his urology residency, they moved to Pacific Palisades when Rod was invited to join the faculty of the new medical school at UCLA. Nan said that the Palisades was an ideal place to live with the beach and mountains so close and a very friendly community. She devoted the 1950s and ’60s to raising her three children: Toni (1950), Rod (1951) and Dana (1953). Being a wife and mother was as Nan thought it would be ‘ a lot of fun. She also worked in Rod’s medical office. They had a good time traveling the world together, often for medical conferences.   Nan enjoyed art history and loved working as a docent at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum (today’s Getty Villa). She spoke beautiful French and was a member of the French Salon of West Los Angeles. In 1961-1962 when her family moved to Paris for a year of medical work and education, Nan was the family spokeswoman. At that time the family traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East. This was a very interesting year for the whole family and made a deep impression on them all.   Together, Nan and Rod were also active in the Toronto Alumni Association of Southern California, Rotary, and at churches, where they taught Sunday School at St. Matthew’s and served on the Calvary Church Missions Committee. Nan enjoyed swimming in the ocean or pool almost every day and had a tennis foursome to keep active. She also loved walking the family dog, Sondy. She was a skilled piano player and enjoyed singing. Nan was happy spending her summers in Ontario, Canada, where she and her family visited Nan’s sisters and their families before joining the Turner clan on Cache Lake in Algonquin Park.   The joy of her life was her loving husband, Rod (who died in 2004); her three children, Toni Hopkins (husband Robert) of Healdsburg, California; Rod Turner (wife Michele) of Pacific Palisades; and Dana Witmer (husband Ted) of Bunia, Congo; and seven grandchildren: Whitney Hopkins, Emmett Hopkins, Kathryn Turner, Anne Turner, Paige Witmer, Luke Witmer (wife Sarah) and Greg Witmer.   A celebration of Nan’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 30, at Calvary Church in Pacific Palisades. Anyone who remembers Nan is welcome to attend.

Thursday, January 28 – Thursday, February 4

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28

  Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited.   Robin Sax and Mark Geragos discuss ‘Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids Safe’ and ‘It Happens Every Day: The Inside World of a Sex Crimes DA,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. A crew from C-SPAN will be filming this event.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera will present ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ in four performances at the United Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. Performances run tonight and February 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 31 and February 7 at 3:30 p.m. (See story, page 10.)   Los Angeles travel writer Susan Van Allen discusses ‘100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. The event is sponsored by Wine Wave Imports/Marchesi di Barolo and Perugina Baci. View Van Allen’s work at www.susanvanallen.com and www.travelerstales.com. ‘   Theatre Palisades presents Neil Simon’s ‘Chapter Two,’ 8 p.m. at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd., through February 14. For tickets, call (310) 454-1970. The comedy, directed by Sherman Wayne and produced by Martha Hunter, plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

  Nicholas Staddon, director of new plants at Monrovia Growers, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the leading grower of premium plants, 7:30 p.m. at the Palisades Garden Club meeting in the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. The public is invited. (See story, page 10.)   Dr. Susan Love introduces her latest book, ‘Live a Little! Breaking the Rules Won’t Break Your Health,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore. The Pacific Palisades resident will be joined by fellow resident Gabrielle Gottlieb, an artist who will unveil her colorful new gift cards. Sweets will be provided by Ann’s Bakeworks. (See story, page 11.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

  Chamber Music Palisades presents a program of chamber works showcasing leading guitarist Martha Masters, violinist Roger Wilkie, cellist John Walz and CMP founders/co-artistic directors Delores Stevens (on piano) and Susan Greenberg (flute), 8 p.m., at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda. (See story, page 11.)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

  Baby and toddler storytime, a lap-sit mix of songs, finger plays, stories and flannelboards for children under the age of 3 and their grown-ups, 10:15 a.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. ‘

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4

  Storytime for children ages 3 and up, 4 p.m., at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real.   Mark Peel, the longtime chef/owner of Campanile restaurant, signs ‘New Classic Family Dinners,’ a sophisticated yet homestyle cookbook featuring favorite dishes from his famed Monday night family dinners, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.

Brentwood Art Center Turns 40

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Brentwood Art Center owner Sarkis Melkonian
Brentwood Art Center owner Sarkis Melkonian
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Five years after Ed and Linda Buttwinick sold the Brentwood Art Center to their bookkeeper Sarkis Melkonian, the Santa Monica school remains vibrant and thriving as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. The founders’ vision continues to permeate the Center’s seven studios, located in a 6,700-sq.-ft. space on the corner of 26th Street and Montana Avenue. When the Buttwinicks sold, they were asked how they chose Melkonian, Ed said, ‘We prayed to find someone in the family whose heart was in the same place.’ Some people may have questioned their decision to sell the center to a 28-year-old with no background in art. But it was in keeping with how the Buttwinicks took chances with business decisions, including when Ed quit teaching to open the art school in 1970, buying the building in 1979 and then hiring David Limrite to teach. Instinctively they made the right choices. A recent trip to the Center showed a few changes over the past five years: fresh paint on the walls and ceiling, a new studio carved out of storage space, and an increased number of employees, from 50 to 75, to handle the 600 students ages 4 to 90. During the school year, about 400 adults take one of 79 scheduled classes that include mixed media, portrait and figure drawing, acrylics and watercolor, photography and printmaking. The 200 young students can choose from the same array as the adults, but they also have the option of taking cartooning and clay sculpture. During the summer, the ratio changes to 500 youth and 200 adults with the addition of summer day camps. Other changes include promoting Limrite, who was also teaching at the Pasadena School of Art, to become his full-time curriculum director, and hiring Jordan Blaquera as the school’s administrative director.   As one learns about the new owner, Buttwinick’s choice doesn’t seem random. As a 19-year-old, Melkonian moved from Moscow to the United States with his family in 1995.   ’There is not a simple answer of why we came,’ says Melkonian, who is Armenian. ‘When the system collapsed and it became the Wild West with violence that surpassed what was happening in Colombia, those who had the means to leave did so.’ Before moving to the U.S., Melkonian had graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Moscow. His father, Grant, was a renowned dancer with the State Dance Academy of Armenia, who later became choreographer for the Mirinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. His grandfather was a professor of physics, and his grandmother taught chemistry at a state university. ‘In the Russian system, if kids get into trouble when they’re young and at school, the recommendation is to keep them busy,’ says Melkonian, noting that was how his father discovered he had a natural talent for dancing.   Melkonian’s mother, Rose, is a doctor. Her father was a developer and her mother an architect. ‘In the Soviet system, architects have more to do with art than someone who makes money,’ Melkonian says.   Given Melkonian’s background, his parents decided that their son should be a dancer, but his likelihood for success was doubtful. ‘Your physical appearance has to be perfect,’ Melkonian says. ‘My elbow sticks out slightly when my arm is extended, which means that when I lifted someone, there was a bump.’ He was rejected from the program, but soon discovered he had a musical talent and switched to piano. His father is now retired, his mother is a radiologist at the USC Medical Center, and his sister, Maria, is a nursing student. After moving to the United States, Melkonian completed a four-year degree in music from Cal Arts and then enrolled in an accounting extension course at UCLA. ‘I didn’t want to be a CPA,’ he says, ‘but I knew I wanted to run my own business.’   In 1999, he began working at Brentwood Art Center, and a year later met his future wife, Aurore Feugret, at the school. Also an immigrant, Feugret was born in Paris, but grew up in Gabon, West Africa, where her father was a banker. From there, she moved with her family to Tahiti and Andorra. Feugret finished her studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and moved to Los Angeles in 1995. ‘I saw this gorgeous girl signing up for a class,’ Melkonian says. But he also noticed that she had a boyfriend. Eventually, he was able to win her over. The pair married in April 2005 and bought the school two months later. They are now expecting their first child, Lily, in March. Melkonian is quick to give credit Limrite and Blaquera, who have been a couple for 15 years, for the school’s continued success. ‘It’s like a family business here,’ Melkonian says. In addition to having art degrees from San Diego State University (1980) and the Art Center College of Design (1983), Limrite was a freelance illustrator before joining the Los Angeles Herald Examiner in 1988. He worked as the newspaper’s art director for four years. ‘It was fantastic because I got to do maps, graphs and illustrations for the editorial department, and layout,’ Limrite says. ‘It was great because it was something different every day.’ He met Blaquera, who was temping at the newspaper. At that time, she also performed with her musical group, The Damn Band, in the evenings. ‘We’ve been together ever since,’ Limrite says. ‘We work together as a team. She organizes my fine art career.’ His work is exhibited at the JoAnne Art Man Gallery in Laguna Beach. Blaquera and Limrite were founding members of the Brewery ArtWalks, a bi-annual art event downtown. After the Examiner folded in 1992, Limrite applied to teach at Brentwood Art Center, but Buttwinick rejected him, explaining that he required at least three years of teaching experience. But a student advocated for Limrite, asking Ed to meet Limrite in person. ‘The meeting went well, and he gave me a chance,’ Limrite says. ‘That was the kind of guy he was. He listened to students and he took a chance.’ Similarly, Buttwinick hired Blaquera to work at the front desk, but three months later, he realized that she would make a good administrator and promoted her to oversee all the front desk staff and customer service. Limrite credits Buttwinick with implementing almost every type of fine-art class offered at the school. Lately, they’ve brought back printmaking and pastels, as well as a classical painting class that replicates the Old Masters’ style. ‘We’re offering a serious drawing class for 9- to 12-year-olds that teaches light/shadow, perspective, line quality and composition,’ says Limrite, who teaches advanced classes in mixed media figure work. ‘We’re never afraid to try a new class or something different; we take suggestions from students. ‘We have excellent instructors,’ Limrite continues, noting that adult classes have a maximum of 15 students, and the limit in children’s classes is 10. ‘We provide a friendly, light environment, where people can have fun. We’re not for everyone, but we have something for everyone.’ Given the economic times, art lessons might be the first thing to go, but Limrite has had one student tell him, ‘This is my safe haven, my sanctuary; this is the one place I look forward to coming every week.’ Blaquera trains the front office staff to be sensitive to the students: ‘I keep my ear to the ground on what’s happening in the school, and what folks are looking for, so we can bring it to the school.’ She quotes student Roberta Goodman-Rosenberg, who says her time at Brentwood Art Center was ‘my favorite four hours of the week.’ Brentwood Art Center is open six days a week. Contact: 310-451-5657 or visit www.BrentwoodArt.com.

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