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Canyon Fiesta Turns 116

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Overcast gray skies couldn’t dampen the celebrating on April 25 when Canyon Charter School held its 116th annual Fiesta and Silent Auction.’The campus was magically transformed into a carnival setting offering fun for everyone, especially kids.   ’We’ve spent $165 on tickets so far because we’re trying to win the giant teddy bear,’ said third-grader Sarah Traenkle, while her friend, Arielle Cohen, played with her candy necklace and commented, ‘Even the string is edible.’ They didn’t get the bear, but Traenkle did win two home-baked cakes.   First-grader Owen Stuart immediately tossed a red ring onto a coke bottle, earning enough tickets for two stuffed animals.’His dad Steven said, ‘The guy running the booth was in shock.” Fourth-grader Chase Breiten lives near Canyon, but attends Village School. ‘I always come because it’s a blast,’ he said.   Fiesta also provides plenty of community service opportunities for Canyon alumni. Palisades High sophomore Warner Hiatt, who was doling out prizes, noted that ‘This was my school and I used to play on this yard.”   Lucky second-grader Wolf Benderson won the big raffle prize: ‘Principal for a Day.’ He asked his mom, Kerry, ‘What am I going to do?’ She replied, ‘Run the school for a day.”

Authors Support Village Books Fundraiser

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Palisades Village Book Friends co-founder Susan Nash with Village Books owner Katie O'Laughlin.
Palisades Village Book Friends co-founder Susan Nash with Village Books owner Katie O’Laughlin.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

In the current state of American literature, to be a ‘critically acclaimed’ author often leads to a dark corner in a national chain bookstore. This certainly was the experience of ‘critically acclaimed’ author Lisa See, who joined a panel of writers Sunday to extol the virtues of independent bookstores, and in particular Village Books. Wrapping up a three-month book tour, See related the story of her latest novel, ‘The Secret of My Flower,’ and its chilly reception at Barnes and Noble and Borders, which reluctantly ordered 500 and 1,000 copies, respectively’representing about one or two books a store. ‘Independents completely changed my life,’ said See, a Brentwood resident. ‘Independents made my book a ‘Booksense’ pick [independent bookstores’ bestseller list] and I started getting e-mails from independents all over the country who said they wanted to sell it to their customers.’ See was in good company Sunday as about 70 local residents and certified Village Books devotees attended a fundraiser for Palisades Village Book Friends (PVBF), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization formed a year ago to help continue the tradition of author readings at Village Books on Swarthmore.   The panel of guest authors included L.A. Times movie critic and author Kenneth Turan; local historian Randy Young; fiction writer Maile Maloy, author of ‘Both Ways Is the Only Way I Wanted,’ and Denise Hamilton, author of the Eve Diamond novels. Each author characterized the independent bookstore in relational terms. These stores and their owners play a key role not only in selling their books but also in opening the shelves for men, women and children to experience new adventures, broadened horizons, and imaginative and stunning prose and poetry. See expanded on an old Chinese proverb, ‘Art is the heartbeat of the artist,’ adding ‘Independent booksellers take my words and put them into all of your hands.’ Turan, who is also director of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, indulges his love for bookstores wherever he travels. ‘Bookstores are my favorite places to go in the whole world,’ he said, for ‘they offer a glimpse into other people’s lives and their culture. I go into bookstores even if I don’t know the language. I’ve seen Isaac Bashevis Singer in Czech and Raymond Chandler in Japanese.’ Young aimed his laser beam on the limited diet offered by chain stores, distinguishing between a bookseller who knows books and chain store clerks who only know marketing. ‘You can’t do local history books and sell them through chains,’ he said, adding that Village Books has sold 1,000 copies of the book he produced on Santa Monica Canyon book and 2,000 copies of his Pacific Palisades book (both written by his mother, Betty Lou)’more than any other book at Village Books. Picking up on the local bookseller’s thorough knowledge of books, inventory and reviews, Maloy recounted her mother-in-law’s search for a book she had heard reviewed on NPR while driving across country. She could not remember the name of the author, nor the name of the book, only the description. ‘I took it to Katie and she found the book in about 40 minutes,’ Maloy reported, referring to Village Books owner Katie O’Laughlin. Hamilton complained about the McDonaldization of the book world and the custom of certain authors who pay for the extravagant displays of their books in chain stores, whereas independent bookstores are magic cabinets of wonder offering a plethora of fiction and nonfiction. ‘What I love about independent bookstores is that you can go in and get a recommendation for a book you didn’t even know you wanted,’ she said. While lamenting the disappearance of so many small bookstores and used bookstores in the wake of Amazon.com and electronic book devices, the authors heralded the value of Village Books under O’Laughlin’s tenacious and imaginative leadership and expert staff. Attorney Susan Nash, who founded PVBF with the assistance of Palisadian Michael Doyen (a colleague at Munger, Tolles and Olsen) and Kelly Anderson, reported that the nonprofit had reached its goal of providing Village Books $5,000 a month through the summer, thanks to Sunday’s event (which raised $23,000). Nash, admitting to ‘no shame,’ pressed her drive for more support for Village Books by requesting two pledges from the audience. ‘First, just say ‘No’ to Amazon Books,’ she said. ‘Order at Villagebooks.com and you’ll receive your book within two to five business days.’ Nash also asked for Palisadians to make a monthly pledge of any amount to PVBF, beginning in August. O’Laughlin, who abandoned a law career to open her store on July 4, 1997, thanked the assembled group, the authors and her staff. ‘I am overwhelmed with gratitude,’ she said, recalling that her incentive to open Village Books was spurred by the closing of Crown Books, the town’s only bookstore. ‘I didn’t want to live in a town without a bookstore.’ She continued, ‘The bookstore has become my community. My staff is family; authors and customers are my friends. I love it when I hear a kid out in front tell his parents, ‘Let’s go in the bookstore,’ because I know we’re creating a life-long love of books. And I love the spontaneous chat in the bookstore, where customers give one another recommendations and become friends’actually sending each other Christmas cards. ‘There must be magic in the walls at Village Books,’ O’Laughlin said.

Everychild Celebrates 10th Year with Another $1 Million Grant

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Everychild founder Jacqueline Caster (far right) with member Susan Bay Nimoy and her husband, actor Leonard Nimoy, who lent his
Everychild founder Jacqueline Caster (far right) with member Susan Bay Nimoy and her husband, actor Leonard Nimoy, who lent his “Star Trek” voice to Everychild

The Pacific Palisades-based Everychild Foundation commemorated its 10th anniversary on April 29 by awarding $1 million to the South Bay Center for Counseling’s Career Pathway Program, a jobs program that will serve 300 at-risk youth in Los Angeles.’   ’Our event [at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel] was a wonderful convening of members, spouses, and our grantees to celebrate all that we have accomplished in the last decade,’ founder Jacqueline Caster told the Palisadian-Post. ‘We were thrilled to be joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other city and county officials, who acknowledged the impact we have had with $8 million in grants that have served over 350,000 children in Los Angeles.’   The evening was emceed by members Patricia Heaton and Monica Rosenthal, co-stars of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ along with Lew Schneider, the show’s writer/ producer and the husband of an Everychild member.   In addition to the Palisades, the Foundation’s membership is comprised of 225 prominent women from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Malibu, Brentwood, the South Bay and San Fernando Valley.   Each woman donates $5,000 in annual dues in lieu of putting on fundraising events, and the group votes on which nonprofit organization to support with a $1-million grant each spring.   It all began in 1999 when Caster recruited 56 women, including her Highlands neighbors, Cynthia Alexander and Debra Colbert, to join her unique humanitarian project. Their first grant of $230,000 was awarded to QueensCare to help outfit a new mobile dental clinic serving students in low-income elementary schools within LAUSD.   Every year since, Everychild has invited roughly 30 to 50 nonprofit organizations to apply for its single annual grant. The women devote their energies, intellect, education, talents and professional skills toward the rigorous grant-selection process, vetting each proposal and then voting on the ultimate winner: a nonprofit that serves children and has proposed a new, innovative ‘dream’ project that can inspire replication, thus leveraging the dollars for maximum impact.   In 2007, for example, Everychild singled out Heart of Los Angeles Youth, a multicultural center that offers fine arts, athletic and education programs for more than 1,300 underserved youth annually throughout the city. The grant money was used to transform Lafayette Park Community Center, located in the blighted Rampart District, into a safe, enriching haven for about 2,300 at-risk neighborhood children.   Everychild’s 2008 donation went to the Mar Vista Family Center”a grassroots agency serving a low-income, densely populated and gang-ridden neighborhood adjacent to the only federal housing project in West Los Angeles. The money was earmarked to create a new Youth Center for about 1,000 kids.   The foundation’s philanthropic model has created a new prototype for leveraged giving, among women and beyond, both in the U.S. and abroad. To date, the organization has directly inspired multiple spin-off groups: four in Los Angeles (with three currently forming), two in Santa Barbara, one in Las Vegas, one in New York City and two in London. For more details, visit everychildfoundation.org.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 6, 2010

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CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e

$248,000. IMMACULATE SENIOR UNIT. 1+1 condo + patio on Palisades Dr. Quiet, park-like setting, lots of trees. Min age 62. 2 car gar, elevator, 1/2 mile to bch. Broker, (310) 795-3795 (c), (310) 456-8770 (h)

FURNISHED HOMES 2

LOVELY 4 BED. FURNISHED HOME. Beautifully furnished home on desirable Las Casas Ave. 4 Bed., 2.5 Baths, 2,700 SF. $5,900/mo. (310) 463-6323

LIGHT, AIRY, SPACE IN THE TREE-TOPS. 1 bed/bath, huge living areas for 1-2, non-smoker, no pets. Lndry, spa, cable, internet, dishes. $2,890/mo. Incl all with 3 month minimum. (310) 454-2568

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

CUSTOM HOME IN HUNTINGTON PALISADES. 6 bd, 5 ba, complete theater room, large lot and pool. $16,500/mo. Call Dolly Niemann, (310) 230-3706. Lic. #00416255

NEWLY REMODELED 2 BD, 1 BA with canyon views on quiet street. $3,400/mo. Call Dolly Niemann, (310) 230-3706. Lic. #00416255

DUPLEX FOR RENT. 1 bdrm + office, 1 bath, quiet residential area near village. $2,800/mo. (310) 738-4400

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

REDUCED PRICE! CHARMING, sunny upper unit. 1 bdrm.+office/den. Hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces, 2 baths, 1 car garage, on-site laundry, small pet considered. $2,100/mo. (310) 459-5576

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

TWO BEDROOM, ONE BATH, sunny & roomy upper floor, glimpse of bay, walk to daily errands. Small pet considered. Available now. Call Michael, (310) 883-8049

UNUSUAL, unique, spacious 1 bd, 1 ba (800 sq ft). Mucho charm, all appliances, fireplace, hardwood, garage, garden, lndry. 1 mile from bch & village. No smoking, no pets. 1 yr lse. $2,250/mo. (310) 804-3142

PETITE CHARMER studio-cozy, like a dollhouse (500 sq ft) full kitchen & bath. Hardwood, shutters, ceiling fans, carport, in quiet garden ambiance. 1 mile from bch & village. No pets, non-smoking. 1 yr. lease. $1,450/mo. (310) 804-3142

STEPS FROM THE BLUFFS. Fabulous large studio, newly designer decorated. Full kitchen, granite, stainless appliances, full bath, private patio entrance, partially furnished. Laundry. Utilities, WIFI & HDTV included. No pets. 6 mo. lease minimum. N/S. $1,700/mo. (310) 454-3806

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

Santa Monica ‘Delightful’ COUNTRY COTTAGE. Montana and 14th street neighborhood. Charming designer’s 1 bedroom. Wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors, high beam ceilings, shutters, French doors to private vine covered brick garden patio. Stainless appli., limestone bath. Security and privacy with gated entry & intercom. Enc. garage, no pets. $2,500/mo. Call (310) 826-7960

ONE BEDROOM IN THE VILLAGE at 855-1/2 Via de la Paz. $2,101/mo. Enclosed one car garage without which rent is $1,081/mo. Newly re-modeled. Must see. W/D. Security deposit and references requested. Available June 1, 2010. Call Jessica at (310) 991-9434 or Bob at (503) 289-9627

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

ROOM FOR RENT in a big 2 story house. Close to Sunset Blvd. in the village area. WiFi, utilities & cable included. $800/mo. (310) 454-7665

ROOM FOR RENT: Newly refurbished room w/ bathroom. Separate entry. French doors open onto patio & garden. Cable, WiFi, utils, W/D. Female preferred, quiet, N/S. $900/mo. Avail. now. (310) 459-3609

1 FURNISHED BEDROOM, full bath share P/T. Female student preferred. 5 min. walk to village/5 min. drive to beach. $825/mo. includes utilities, wireless & possible cable. Kitchen priv., W/D. (310) 454-7554. Lower rent in exchange for house/cat sitting.

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

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.

4 DELUXE WINDOW OFFICES with cathedral ceilings. 2nd floor of First Federal Bank building on Sunset in Palisades village. $700-$1,400/mo. Call Ev Maguire, (310) 600-3603 or (310) 454-0840

OFFICE AVAILABLE IN VILLAGE. Light & bright, recently remodeled 4-office psychotherapy suite has office available. Private waiting room, kitchen & bath to share. Parking negotiable. Email srl@ucla.edu with interest. (310) 230-2236

SPACE FOR LEASE. (310) 454-9606, (818) 458-4454. Ask for Irena.

FOR RENT: A large office overlooking Sunset Blvd. in the heart of the village. $500/mo. Available June 1st. Please call Jim @ (310) 459-2757

OFFICE SUITE in the Atrium Building on Via de la Paz. 2 offices, reception area and restroom. Attractive space approx. 900 sq. ft. One year plus sub-lease. Rent negotiable. Great space. (310) 459-5353

OFFICE/STORE Located in Village at 857 Via de la Paz at sidewalk level. High traffic zone. Secondary parking space. $2,005/mo. Security deposit and references requested. Avail. June 1, 2010. Call Bob at (503) 289-9627 or Jessica at (310) 991-9434

RENTAL SPACE, STORAGE 3d

STORAGE UNIT: Enclosed STORAGE GARAGE conveniently located in the Pacific Palisades village. Single car garage with shelving. Available May 1, 2010. $600 security deposit and references. $300/mo. Call Jessica at (310) 991-9434 or Bob at (503) 289-9627

VACATION RENTALS 3e

SUMMER IN PALISADES. Ocean views surround, just behind village. Brand new kitchen & baths. 3 bedroom, 2 baths, kids large playroom, outdoor paradise. Available Jul.-Aug. Furnished. $5,000/mo. (310) 428-8625

ATTORNEYS 7a

WHY GIVE IT ALL TO UNCLE SAM? Use an attorney who is an experienced CPA. Probate, trusts & wills, income tax. John R. Ronge, 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

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

PSYCHIC & TAROT READINGS BY NATALIE. Find what’s in store for the future & the untold reasons of the past. 1 free question by phone! (323) 378-5897

DAYCARE CENTERS 8

PALISADES LEARN & PLAY * Licensed in home Pre-K program. Summer session only available. F/T & P/T, flexible days. Healthy meals provided. Fun & educational. (310) 459-0920

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING or babysitting job. Experienced, drivers license & excellent references. Available Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. (323) 394-5901, ask for Alicia

NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER/CAREGIVER. Available daily or weekly. Live in or live out, references available, 10 years experience. Loves children, very flexible. Irma, (213) 447-8170

MY OUTSTANDING NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER of 10 yrs is avail. this July Mon.-Fri., 8:30-5pm., as our kids are in school full time. She drives her own SUV w/ a perfect driving record. Speaks fluent English. Does all cooking, shopping, errands & light housekeeping. She is simply the best w/ children of all ages & all household responsibilities! Please call Natalie at (310) 467-3769 or call Lorena directly at (323) 572-5306

NANNY: Looking for a full time job Monday through Friday. Live out. Experienced with newborns & all ages. References, drives, legal & responsible. Available for babysitting also. Esther, (310) 903-7174

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING JOB. 12 years experience, own transportation, legal, local references. delmycleaning.com. Call Delmy, (323) 363-9492

SISTERS HOUSECLEANING. Would you like your home and business so clean they shine? Call us, we have good references. Serving the community for over 20 years. We offer final cleaning. For free estimate, call Flora at (310) 720-7751. (310) 677-1398. cleaning411@gmail.com

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.)

LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING/NANNY JOB. 23 years experience, legal, good references & own transportation. Full or part time. Monday-Friday. Call Evila, (323) 997-9157

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & weekends. Excellent w/ animals, speaks English, 43 yrs. experience. Available now. Call Angela, (323) 732-9720 (h), (323) 383-6574

15 YEARS EXPERIENCE in housecleaning, childcare & petcare. For 1 day or 5 days of the week. Good references, D.L. & own transportation. Ask for Marina, (562) 408-2068

HOUSEKEEPER. Housekeeper. Good local references, own transportation, available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call Rosalba, (323) 377-2485

THE BEST HOUSEKEEPER. 25 years of references in the Palisades. Bilingual. Tuesday and/or Thursday. Call Paula, (310) 454-5199

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

PERSONAL ASSISTANT & CAREGIVER. Great with kids, elderly & dogs. 25 year Pali resident with car & great insurance. Call or email Susan. sbisness@aol.com or (310) 633-3088

NEED AN EXCELLENT, TRUSTED & hardworking caregiver? Excellent references. Palisades resident. Please call Ramon, (310) 454-4577

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

GREEN MOUNTAIN LAWN CARE. Trim trees, sprinkler systems, hillside clean ups, masonry. Insured, Workers Comp., Liability. Phone: (323) 934-9284 Website: danielvelasco.webs.com

TUSCAN TERRACOTTA PLANTERS. Large beautiful handmade impruneta terracotta planters. Great for trees/landscaping. Showroom samples, never planted, sold ‘as is’ at cost price. Location: Pacific Palisades. (310) 560-2900

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

HEALING ARTS 12

EXPERIENCED THERAPIST offers counseling to women and empowers women to make an inquiry. Please call (310) 699-4157

POOL & SPA SERVICES 13e

PALISADES POOL SUPPLY. SWIMMING POOL SERVICE & REPAIR. 15415 Sunset Blvd., P.P. 90272 (310) 459-4357. www.PalisadesPool.com

STEREO, TV, VCR SERVICES 13g

1 REMOTE CONTROL THAT WORKS! Is your entertainment system not entertaining you? We can tune up your system, bring it up to date, hide wires, mount TVs, install speakers, etc. We can even reprogram or replace your remote control so it is easy to use. Call us, we can help! Lic. #515929. Stanford Connect, (310) 829-0872

WINDOW WASHING 13h

THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Detailed interior/exterior glass & screen cleaning. High ladder work. Solar panels/power washing also avail. Owner operated. Lic., bonded & insured. Free estimates. (310) 926-7626

MR. CRYSTAL WINDOW CLEANING. Please call Gary: (310) 828-1218 Free estimate, friendly service, discounts. Licensed.

EXPERT WINDOW CLEANER ‘ Experienced 22 yrs Westside. Anything under 25 feet. Clean & detailed. Can clean screens, mirrors, skylights & scrape paint off glass. Free estimates. Brian, (310) 289-5279

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

HOUSESITTING 14b

HOUSESITTING/PETSITTING. Available for short or long term. Sharp, reliable, recently retired professional. References. Susi, (310) 963-5269, susi824@aol.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. Horse stalls for rent near Will Rogers Park. Easy park access, rent neg. dep. on feed and cleaning needs. Call Bob, (949) 235-4761

MISCELLANEOUS 14k

MUSIC MAJOR seeks summer work. Prefer music industry. Trumpet lessons to beginning students. Drives. Aaron, (310) 626-2590

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

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

HOMEWORK CLUB ‘ Math, Chemistry, Physics. M.-Th., 8:30-9:30 pm. in Atrium Bldg. (310) 459-3239

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

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

MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h

LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR * Become a better player. ‘ Chords ‘ Scales ‘ Lead ‘ $25-1/2 hour, $45-hour ‘ I drive to you. (310) 871-1163 ‘ james.lewis@vanguard.edu

CARPENTRY 16a

RESTORATION & MAINTENANCE. Home improvement. No job too small! Carpentry of any kind. Bathrooms, kitchens, doors, cabinets, decks & gates. State license #822541. Reasonable prices. Contact Ed Winterhalter at (310) 213-3101

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 40 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. New Construction & Remodels. Hardscapes, landscapes, custom stone, stamped concrete, brick, driveways, retaining walls, BBQs, outdr kitchens, fireplaces, foundations, drainage, pool & spas, water features. Exlnt local refs. Lic #309844. Bonded, ins, work comp. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 ‘ WWW.HORUSICKY.COM

CONSTRUCTION 16d

PALISADES CONST. SERVICES. All phase construction and remodeling. All interior and exterior construction. Additions, concrete, tile, wood work (all), brick, patios, bathrooms, fences, bedrooms, permits. We have built (2) new 2,500 sq. ft. Palisades homes in last 3 yrs. Please contact us to schedule your free consultation and free estimate. ALL JOBS WELCOME. Please call: Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858 (all Palisades referrals avail.)

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

CASALE CONSTRUCTION CO. LLC ‘ Lic. #512443 ‘ Kitchen and Bath Specialist ‘ General Contractor ‘ Residential ‘ Commercial ‘ New Construction ‘ Additions ‘ Remodeling ‘ (310) 491-0550 (o) ‘ (310) 927-1799 (c) ‘ www.reemodeling.com

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

DRAPES/BLINDS 16g

LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE SHUTTERS, blinds, or indoor/outdoor drapes? Available locally @ Carpets West. Call for a free estimate. (310) 454-0697, 874 Via de la Paz

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

HARDWOOD FLOOR INSTALLATION & Refinishing Services available locally @ Carpets West. Call (310) 454-0697 for a free estimate. We carry a large selection of hardwood samples. 874 Via de la Paz

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

PALISADES CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. All jobs and calls welcome!! All phases of const. and home repair. A fresh alternative from the norm, very courteous, very safe, very clean!! Call for a free estimate and consultation. Please call: Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858

PETER PAN HOME REPAIR. Serving all of the Westside!! (310) 663-3633. Non-lic.

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

‘NOW’S THE TIME!’ to take care of your painting projects with a contractor that has 35 years of experience and great local references. ALL SEASONS PAINTING, (310) 678-7913. Lic. #571061

J W C PAINTING. Residential & commercial. Years of experience. Affordable & reliable. Local references. Lic. #914882. Free estimates. jwcpnc@yahoo.com. Call Jason Childs (Charlie), (310) 428-4432

THE ULTIMATE PAINTING CO. 36 yrs int/ext residential & TI painting/wood staining/ drywall & plaster/metal coatings/wood decks/powerwashing. Ask for Tim, (818) 815-7464. Lic. #522464

OWEN GEORGE CRUICKSHANK ‘ Paperhanger ‘ Removal ‘ Repair ‘ Painting ‘ Handyman services as well. Lic. #576445. (310) 459-5485

A PACIFIC PAINTING. Residential, commercial, industrial. Interior/exterior. Drywall, plaster, stucco repair, pressure washing. Free estimates. Bonded & insured. Lic. #908913. ‘Since 1979’ (310) 954-7170

REMODELING 16v

KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451 ‘ DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN

COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION ‘ Kitchen+bath ‘ Additions ‘ Tile, carpentry, plumbing ‘ Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction, (310) 774-9159

HELP WANTED 17

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

MANICURIST & HAIRSTYLIST WANTED for rental with clientele. Contact Nikki, (310) 459-1616

PERSONAL ASSISTANT WANTED * Local busy in-home business needs part-time ass’t. Billing, light phones, copying, filing. Female. Must be personable; flexible duties. Refs req’d. Dianne, (310) 729-3291

THE SKI CHANNEL & THE SURF CHANNEL located in the Palisades village have immediate openings for interns in programming, production & marketing. (310) 230-2050

FURNITURE 18c

STEARNS & FOSTER CA KING mattress Winterthur. Only slept on 2 weeks. Wonderfully comfortable. $1,000. Call Carol at (310) 454-4476

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

HOUSEFUL OF GREAT FURN./furnishgs/collectibles/ antiques/art/clothes/jewelry/plants/tools, etc. 1366 Lachman Lane. Fri.-Sat. May 7-8; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit www.bmdawson.com for photos.

PETS, LIVESTOCK 18e

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPY. Black tri male, born 2/10/10. ASCA/AKC registered. $2,000. Great temperament, raised by trainer. Julie Sterling, (310) 573-1150. L.A. Breeder Permit #U09-074617

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

1990 ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA volume 6. Complete set. Excellent condition. Gold leaf pages. $250. Also 1990-1994 Britannica Annuals, $100. Palisadian. Call (310) 266-4651

HOSPITAL BED. Single, electric or manual. $200. (310) 454-9894

Thursday, May 6 – Thursday, May 13

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THURSDAY, MAY 6

  Storytime for children ages 3 and up, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real.   ‘Tapped,’ an award-winning documentary about the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change and pollution, screens at 7 p.m. at Kehillat Israel, 16019 Sunset.   Rustic Canyon resident Betsy Brown Braun reads and signs her second childraising book, ‘You’re Not the Boss of Me: Brat-Proofing Your 4- to 12-Year-Old Child,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.   Paul Revere Middle School presents the musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday in the Revere auditorium, 1450 Allenford Ave. Tickets are $10. ‘

FRIDAY, MAY 7

  Pacific Palisades resident Maiya Williams, who wrote for the TV shows ‘Rugrats,’ ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ and ‘MAD TV,’ reads and signs her middle-school novel ‘The Fizzy Whiz Kid,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.   David Auburn’s ‘Proof’ continues tonight (8 p.m.) through Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, ending May 9 at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Tickets: visit theatrepalisades.org or call the box office at (310) 454-1970.

SATURDAY, MAY 8

  Free screening of the 1937 British film ‘Young and Innocent,’ 1 p.m. in the Palisades Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock before he immigrated to the United States in 1939.   Palisades Beautiful’s annual meeting, 3 p.m. at the Palisasdes Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited to attend.   Fran Pokras Yariv and Barbara Pokras discuss ‘Feeding Mrs. Moskowitz and the Caregiver: Two Stories,’ 4 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Their book reveals the inner workings of Sunset Hills, a fictional upscale assisted-living facility in Hollywood.   A juried show of paintings and sculpture, sponsored by the Pacific Palisades Art Association, continues throughout May in the Palisades Branch Library community room. An artist’s reception is today from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome.   Opening reception for ‘H20,’ an exhibition of works by artist/photographer Douglas I. Busch, 6 to 9 p.m. at Gallery 169, located at 169 West Channel Rd. Complimentary valet parking. ‘

MONDAY, MAY 10

  Sunrise Assisted Living hosts a free Alzheimer’s support group on the second Monday and fourth Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at 15441 Sunset. RSVP: the front desk (310) 573-9545.   Moonday, a monthly Westside poetry reading, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 14.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12

  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. at the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Don’t be late!   Monthly meeting of the Palisades AARP chapter, 2 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford.

THURSDAY, MAY 13

  ‘The Pirate and the Wish Fish,’ featuring puppeteer Jim Peace and his energetic show complete with music, drama and comedy, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. For children ages 3 and up.   Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited.   Former Palisades High English teacher Dennis Danziger reads and signs his semi-autobiographical comedic novel novel, ‘A Short History of a Tall Jew,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Danziger is the author of ‘Daddy: The Diary of an Expectant Father.’

Jean Peyton, a 61-Year Resident

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A resident of Pacific Palisades for 61 years, Jean Grace (Sharpe) Peyton passed away peacefully on March 18 at the age of 92.   Jean was born in 1917 in Exeter, California and grew up in Santa Monica. She and her identical twin sister, who now lives in Ventura County, were talented ballet dancers and performed on the East and West coasts. Jean enjoyed the unique popularity of being an identical twin.   After business school, Jean was hired at Bank of America, where she met her life partner, Richard, in 1941. After marrying Richard in 1943 and having two boys (David in 1944 and Daniel in 1947), she and her husband built a new home in Pacific Palisades in 1949. The Peyton family enjoyed traveling around the United States and to countries in Europe and Asia.’   Richard managed Bank of America’s Pacific Palisades branch for many years, and after his retirement, they traveled even more. Over the decades, Jean and Richard acquired three additional homes: on Eliza Island in Washington, at Mt. Baldy and in Camarillo. Jean loved to recall all the adventures and wonderful times she shared with family and many friends at each of those locations.   In 2003, her husband of almost 60 years passed away, and although she missed him dearly, Jean enjoyed spending time with her remaining family.   Jean never had a hard word for anyone, and was always ready to help and encourage someone. Her memory lives on in the hearts of her surviving family: her twin sister (who now lives in Ventura County), two sons, one daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, valued friends and Pacific Palisades neighbors.   A private service to remember Jean, and to bid her farewell, was held at the SRF Lake Shrine on April 24.

Cora B. Kunz, 93; Talented Woman, Longtime Resident

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Cora Bierbrauer Kunz, a 57-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully on April 20. She was 93 years old.   Born in Zurich, Switzerland, Cora loved animals, so she studied zoology and animal husbandry at Penn State, and earned her master’s degree in genetics from the University of Wisconsin.   She worked in Pacific Palisades at the Blue Cross Animal Hospital, Lelah Pierson Realty, and a bank. She also taught English as a second language and volunteered at Palisades Elementary School.   Moving to the Palisades in 1953, Cora and her husband George lived on Fiske Street. Their home always felt welcoming thanks to Cora’s artistic and creative touches.   She was a talented woman of beauty, grace and intelligence.   Cora, who had a radiant smile, dedicated herself to her family and touched all those who met her.   She leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 63 years, George Kunz; her daughter Marie Hoffman (husband Bill) of Washington, D.C.; her daughter Stephanie Brinker (husband Jeff) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and five grandchildren: Kathryn, Matt, Teri, Lina and Sonja.   A memorial gathering of friends and family will be held at a future time.   In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in Cora’s memory to Hospice Partners of Southern California, 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 200, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

Hyman Haves, 94; Funeral Is Friday at Hillside Park

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  Hyman H. Haves, a longtime activist in Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 3, with his family by his side. He was 94.   A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 7, at Hillside Memorial, 6001 W. Centinela. Contact: (310) 641-0707.   In memory of Haves, contributions can be made in his name to Wilshire Blvd. Temple Camps, 3663 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.   His obituary and a photograph will be published in next week’s Palisadian-Post.

Ronald Barnes, 78; Former Pharmacy Owner in Town

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Ronald A. Barnes, a former pharmacist and owner of McCarthy Drugs in Pacific Palisades, passed away on April 10 following aortic and mitral valve replacement on March 29. He was 78.   Born in Whitefish, Montana, on August 29, 1931, Ron joined the U.S. Navy and served as a dental assistant until his honorable discharge. He attended Santa Monica College and the University of Washington, graduating in pharmacy in 1963.   In 1969, Ron purchased McCarthy Drugs, located at 972 Monument St., conducting business until 1974, when he and his wife, Joan, moved their merchandise and customer base to merge with the Palisades Drug Co., recently purchased from Bob and Rose Huff by Jay and Judy Steuerwald. At about that same time, Ron and Joan moved to Pacific Palisades.   In 1984, after losing its lease and historical location (the Business Block building) due to earthquake retrofitting, Palisades Drugs moved its pharmacy and popular cafe into much smaller quarters across Sunset Boulevard. ‘We helped save the Business Block building from demolition in 1983,’ said Joan, recalling the ‘Don’t Mall the Palisades’ campaign against plans to sell the property to a developer. ‘But we still had to move out a year later.’   After his business was dissolved in the mid-1990s, Ron went to Capital Drug in West Hollywood and was able to continue his interest in alternative medicines. He soon became quite adroit in knowing which alternatives did or did not interfere with prescribed medications. Then he became pharmacist in charge at Beverly Hills Medical Plaza Pharmacy for 10 years until last August when his health failed. Many patients will miss his knowledge, wisdom and humor.   Ron was a past commander of American Legion Post 283 and a member of the Palisades Optimist Club and the famous Roaring 20’s, started by Bud Emerson of Emerson-LeMay Cleaners and Charley Anderson, then manager of Glendale Federal Bank.   He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan ‘Joey’ Barnes, who grew up in Pacific Palisades from the age of three and now lives in Porter Ranch; his step-brother, Anson Barnes of Columbia Falls, Montana; and numerous nieces and nephews.   Post 283 and Auxiliary will honor Ron at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, with a military memorial service at the Legion, 15247 La Cruz Dr. Old friends of this humorous gentleman and patriot are cordially invited. Please RSVP: (310) 454-0527.   In lieu of flowers, Ron would wish for donations to be made to The Wounded Warriors, c/o American Legion Post 283.

Healthcare’s Margolis: A Voice for Latinas

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Pacific Palisades resident Lia Margolis, a woman of conscience. Photo: Victoria Alvarado
Pacific Palisades resident Lia Margolis, a woman of conscience. Photo: Victoria Alvarado

By just surmounting the challenges of her meager childhood and persistent economic duress, Lia Margolis would have won an honored place in Mujeres de Conciencia (‘Women of Conscience’), author Victoria Alvarado’s celebration of 70 Latinas in California. But Margolis, a 39-year Pacific Palisades resident, rose beyond her difficult circumstances to become a leader in the delivery of healthcare in Los Angeles and a mentor for young Latinas who are pursuing their place in the community.   Alvarado’s elegant coffee-table book pairs a black-and-white photograph of each woman with a one-page biography. From novelist Isabel Allende to community physician Aliza Lifshitz, the author honors women whose common denominator is the impact of their collective work on the communities they serve.   A native Californian whose parents emigrated from Mexico and Central America, Alvarado focuses on Latinas whose knowledge and efforts have affected the well-being of communities in need. These women mirror the rich and varied ethnic backgrounds of the populace of Latin America. Some are the great great-grand-daughters of Mexicans who lived in the Southwest; others have roots in Central and South America and in the Caribbean. Many of these women forged their social conscience and values from personal and family experiences.   Such was the case for Lia Ordaz, who spent her early years living with her family at the Simons Brickyard in East L.A., the point of entry for many Latino immigrants. The brickyard, founded in 1905 by Walter Simons, was a self-contained immigrant community equipped with company stores, a church, school and even a post office, until it was closed in 1934.   It was there that Margolis attended school and church until her parents bought a small home in the City of Commerce. When she was nine, Margolis’s father moved to Arizona for health reasons, having suffered from silicosis, but leaving her mother and nine siblings to support the family.   ’All the kids went to work; there was no welfare in those days,’ Margolis recalls in an interview with the Palisadian-Post. ‘My mother continued her work with entertainer Gis’le MacKenzie, who had employed her first as a maid and nanny and eventually as her seamstress. My sisters and I would wake up early before school and make tortillas, which we sold in the neighborhood. We also crocheted and took in ironing.’ At 13, Margolis went to work, and it wasn’t until she was 21 that she completed her GED at night and applied to college, recalling her father’s belief in the value of education, even for women.   No doubt her recollections about the lack of healthcare for poor families like hers influenced Margolis’s chosen field. ‘When I was a child, there was no healthcare, we went to County General or the Ferris Clinic in East L.A.’ In 1973, while attending the University of Redlands, Margolis started working at a clerical job at the Los Angeles Health Department. It wasn’t long before the physician she was working for noticed her intelligence and willingness to learn. Soon she expanded her duties to full-charge bookkeeping and grant-writing, skills that have proved vital in her work today consulting with nonprofit organizations.   Margolis continued to earn a series of promotions from staff assistant in the emergency room to becoming the first female associate executive director of the L.A. County and USC Medical Center, one of the largest healthcare networks in the nation.   Twenty years of experience in the L.A. County Health Department provided an important component of Margolis’s successful work with nonprofit health clinics. In 1998, she started her own consulting business focusing on the most underserved as her clients. The Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers in South L.A. offers a prime example of her philosophy in working with nonprofits. ‘I wanted to help these seven clinics come together so they would make more of an impact and at the same time help them generate more interest in what they were doing,’ Margolis says. ‘Over the years, I worked almost for free. I remember receiving seven little checks, but eventually I helped them raise $2.8 million.’   For the California Medical Association Foundation, Margolis helped launch the group’s first big project’removing tobacco from the front counters in local pharmacies. The effort was a success, resulting in 85-percent participation throughout the state. Today, the foundation funds major programs in combating obesity and cervical cancer, as well as ongoing health and nutrition education.   Margolis believes that behavior changes when people from diverse populations with differing perspectives on a problem work together. ‘That’s how things happen, getting people talking together.’   Currently, Margolis is working on such an endeavor, designing a program to assist doctors in addressing women’s health issues. She is interviewing more than 50 women in positions of leadership in the health field to build a broad consensus”women such as Kim Belshe, Secretary, California Health and Human Services and Carmen Nevarez, M.D., a longtime champion of the public’s health and president of the American Public Health Association.   While she hasn’t finished her interviews, Margolis has discovered some major components to providing healthcare to underprivileged communities: overcoming difficulties in transportation, the lack of the patient’s educational understanding, and the central role women play in health decision-making. ‘There is also the distressing disconnection between physical and mental health,’ she says. ‘This is especially troubling in times of stress.’   The roots of Margolis’s altruism are easily traced to her parents. ‘My mother was a giving person. She’d give a pot of beans to another if they were in need. She sewed all our clothes, painted and instilled in us a sense of community: ‘Pay it forward.”   Ironically, Margolis lives in a family of men. Her husband, Ben, whom she calls ‘the most phenomenal man I’ve ever met,’ teaches law and ethics at the USC School of Pharmacy and serves as a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles County Superior Courts. Their son, Jonathan, graduated summa cum laude from USC, earned a law school scholarship, and is currently an aspiring screenwriter.   ’Women of Conscience,’ published by Floricanto Press, is available at Village Books on Swarthmore.

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