St. Matthew’s 7th and 8th grade flag football teams both reached the Pacific Basin League finals last week, losing to Windward in the championship game. In the 8th-grade division, St. Matthew’s beat Wildwood 22-14 in thge quarterfinals as Tyler Newman scored on a punt return and a kickoff return and Brandon Kupfer added the final touchdown on a 35-yard run. Alex Kahn and Peter St. John anchored a defense that deflected a pass in the end zone with 15 seconds left to preserve the win. The semifinals saw Preston Clifford throw two touchdown passes to Newman and another to St. John and a key two-point conversion by Truman Hanks. Newman and Kieran Sheridan intercepted passes on defense while St. John and Alex Kahn had sacks in the Falcons’ 20-12 victory over Crossroads. The championship game pitted the Falcons against a Windward team led by Palisadian Drew Pion. Clifford threw to Newman to tie the game 8-8 early but Windward ultimately prevailed 30-8. The Falcons’ 7th-graders won their quarterfinal game 34-0 over Turning Point, as Matt Douglas passed for two touchdowns, ran for another and added a two-point conversion run. Hudson Ling passed for two touchdowns and caught a two-point conversion while James Mann, Dylan Cotter and Cameron Schiffer each added a touchdown reception. Cotter, Hank Algert and Hunter Price were the leading flag-pullers on defense. In the semifinals, St. Matthew’s edged Willows 21-18 when Chase Aldridge and Douglas batted down passes in the end zone to thwart a late Willows drive. Douglas caught a touchdown pass from Nicholas Moreno and threw one to AJ Peyrot in the first half. He then found Mann for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Peyrot for a two-point conversion to give St. Matthew’s a 21-12 lead. In the finals, Douglas threw a touchdown pass to Matt Kaufman and added the two-point conversion pass to Peyrot. After Price made an interception, Douglas hooked up with Kaufman again for a touchdown and the two-point conversion pass to Aldridge made it 16-6 in favor of the Falcons. Windward scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to won 28-16. Girls’ Volleyball St. Matthew’s 8th-graders fell to Marlborough in the semifinals of the Delphic League playoffs, 27-25, 25-22, despite strong performances by Marielle Bagnard, Jo Kremer, Emma Sanderson and Jackie Carr. The Falcons’ 7th- and 8th-grade teams are a combined 18-3 over the last two seasons under coaches John Caravella and Kate Sauerhoff. s St. Matthew’s coaches John Caravella and Kate Sauerhoff.
Spikers Extend Playoff Win Streak
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Something about the City Section playoffs brings out the best in the Palisades High girls’ volleyball team. The Dolphins seem to shift into another gear when the postseason rolls around and that trend continued Monday night in the second round of the Division II playoffs, as #2-seeded Palisades swept #15 South East, 25-10, 25-5, 25-14. It was the 11th consecutive City playoff victory dating back to 2007 for the defending champion Dolphins, who showed little signs of rust after having a first-round bye. Palisades racked up 21 aces, 15 kills and nine blocks against South East and hosts #23 Reseda in the quarterfinals tonight at 7. Reseda upset #7 West Adams in five games on Monday. If victorious, Palisades would host a semifinal match, likely against #3 Taft, next Tuesday night. The Dolphins are seemingly on a collision course to meet Western League rival Venice, the top seed, in the finals Saturday afternoon, Nov. 21, at Roybal Learning Center. Girls’ Tennis Coach Sean Passan was hoping Palisades’ depth would be the decisive factor against top-seeded Granada Hills in the City Section semifinals Monday, but the host Highlanders proved to be too tough, winning 5’2 and advancing to Friday’s final to face #2 Taft. The Dolphins (11-5), seeded #4 after finishing second to LACES in the Western League, eliminated #5 Carson, 5-2, in the quarterfinals last Friday on the strength of singles victories by Elizabeth Silvers, Perri Zaret and Malina Loeher and doubles wins by Katie Takakjian and Charlotte Farrant at #2 and Dalia Shamsian and Ashley Navas at #3. Zaret, a sophomore, defeated Amy Shigenaga, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 3 for Palisades’ only singles point against the defending City champions (13-2). Takakjian and Farrant rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to prevail at #2 doubles, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, but Granada Hills had already clinched the match. Cross Country Palisades won the boys and girls varsity races at the Western League Championships last week at Pierce College. Grant Stromberg ran a personal-best 15:54 for first place in the boys race. Carlos Bustamante was second (16:19), Danny Escalante was fifth (17:06), Drake Johnston was ninth (17:19), Daniel Hernandez was 16th (17:53), Alex Hernandez was 22nd (18:31) and Eric Lopez was 23rd (18:39). Freshman Jacklyn Bamberger again led the girls, finishing first in 18:29. Sophia Stone ran a personal-best 20:08 to take third, Melissa Tallis (21:04) was fourth, Michelle Colato (21:09) was fifth, Wendy Gomez (21:42) was eighth, Jamilett Maldonado (22:07) was 11th and Amy Moulthrop (24:13) was 20th. The City Section preliminaries are this afternoon at Pierce.
Home Improvement
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Palisades High head football coach Kelly Loftus had a surprise in store for his players at the team’s pre-game meal at Gladstone’s Friday afternoon. He announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the season. “We were determined to get coach that 11th game (meaning the playoffs),” junior wide receiver/defensive back Lawrence Villasenor said. “That’s what we wanted to do.” A victory last Friday, coupled with another in tomorrow’s season finale would likely have been enough to secure a City Division II playoff berth for the Dolphins–and at least the first part of the equation nearly happened. Despite being a heavy underdog, Palisades stood toe-to-toe with Hamilton for 48 minutes but fell one point short, 28-27, on homecoming night at Stadium by the Sea. Still, it was a marked improvement from the Dolphins’ previous two home games, in which they were outscored 55-0. “I’m so proud of our effort today,” Loftus said. “That’s the best team Hamilton has had in years. I thought if we could out-hit them and out-think them, we’d win. We out-hit them, we just made one too many mistakes.” The biggest gaffe was a bobbled snap on a go-ahead 34-yard field goal attempt by Palisades kicker Alex Anastasi late in the fourth quarter. Holder Kevin Mann was forced to run around left end for the first down but was tackled well short. The Yankees (7-2 overall, 3-1 in league) took possession and ran out the clock. Earlier, Hamilton’s Aaron Wallen got around the edge and blocked Anastasi’s point-after attempt that would’ve tied the game with 9:55 left. “Compared to where we were eight weeks ago, we’re a much better football team,” Loftus said. “For one thing, we’re healthier than we’ve been all year. Given that we have so many kids going both ways, that makes a huge difference.” Joe Brandon and Malcolm Creer each rushed 13 times, with Creer gaining a season-high 163 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown that tied the game, 21-21, in the third quarter. Brandon added 127 yards and two touchdowns, including a 4-yarder for Palisades’ final score. Quarterback Branden Sanett completed 6 of 10 passes for 96 yards, including a 42-yard strike to Jeremy Smith. The Dolphins (1-8, 1-3) used a bit of trickery to close within 21-14 late in the first half. Wide receiver Preon Morgan lined up behind center, rolled right and broke three tackles for a 4-yard touchdown with 2:07 left in the first half. Defensively, Max Smith and Casey Jordan made 11 tackles apiece and Devyn Reyes added 10. Villasenor and Aaron Ussery each recovered a fumble and Juan Climaco had nine tackles and a sack. “Max [Smith], [Juan] Climaco and Bladimir Martinez were in on a lot of plays,” Loftus said. “They really anchored our defense tonight.” The Dolphins travel to Fairfax for their season finale Friday. Fairfax got the benefit of a controversial call to beat Palisades, 39-35, last season. The frosh/soph game kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity at 7. Frosh/Soph The Dolphins dominated right from the opening kickoff, getting the homecoming crowd revved up for the following varsity game with a 44-8 victory. Malachi Beasley caught a 40-yard touchdown pass on the third play from scrimmage and later added a 60-yard scoring catch. Jack Jordan scored on a 60-yard reverse and a 50-yard touchdown reception, Jauan Tate scored on a 4-yard quarterback keeper and Eric Jackson returned a fumbled 30 yards for another score for Palisades (7-2, 3-1).
Palisadians Rule Pool for Harvard-Westlake
Perhaps no high school rivalry in Southern California is as fierce as the one between Harvard-Westlake and Loyola, especially when it comes to water polo. The two powerhouse boys’ programs clashed for the second time in Mission League play last Tuesday and, thanks to key contributions from a handful of Palisadians, host Harvard-Westlake won two of the three levels. Nick Edel was the star in the frosh/soph game, scoring six goals in the Wolverines’ 12-8 victory. Also on the Harvard-Westlake squad were local residents Hugo Bertram, Matthew Moses and goalie Rye Newman. Loyola’s frosh/soph was led by three Palisadians–goalie Jack Closson, Andrew Miles and Andrew Meylan. Harvard-Westlake beat Loyola, 10-6, in the junior varsity game, led by locals Mitchell Oei, Langdon Froomer, Ryan Gould and Newman again at goalie. Opposing them from Loyola were Palisades sophomores Matt Skorro, Kurtis Rossie and goalie Troy Nadel. The Wolverines avenged a 9-6 defeat in the teams’ first meeting October 15. In the varsity game, Loyola wrapped up their second consecutive league title with an 11-8 victory, led by Palisades seniors Kyle Nadel and Alex Tesoriero. Top-ranked in Division I, the Cubs completed the regular season 29-0 and opened the CIF Southern Section playoffs Wednesday.
On the Horizon
PaliHi Baseball Dinner Friday The Palisades High baseball program, under the leadership of Head Varsity Coach Mike Voelkel, will hold its second annual Traditions Dinner and Silent Auction this Friday, November 13, at the Bel Air Country Club. This year, two longtime program supporters will be honored: Steve Skolnik and Coach Patrick Andersen. Each of Steve and Virginia Skolnik’s three sons–Sam, Matt, and David–played varsity for the Dolphins. Andersen has contributed to four straight league titles as a pitching coach and is a credentialed P.E. and special education teacher. The keynote speaker at the dinner will be John Savage, who is in his sixth season as UCLA’s head baseball coach. Besides dinner and a memorable program, the evening will feature a silent auction, giving program supporters an opportunity to bid on a wide range of useful, beautiful, sports-centric, entertaining and enlightening items. Tickets are on sale for $150 per person. To attend the dinner and auction, call Vicki Traweek at (310) 422-3496. Thanksgiving Turkey Trot Sign-ups The Trail Runners Club’s 28th annual ‘Turkey Trot Trail Run’ will be held Thanksgiving morning, November 26, and Palisadians are encouraged to register now for the 9.5-mile loop course through the Santa Monica Mountains. There is no cost to run and registration forms are available on the Web site: www.trailrunnersclub.com. Save time by downloading a registration form and mailing it to Trail Runners Club, 1035 Anoka Place, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 or email it to Stan Swartz at stan@trailrunnersclub.com. Mail-in registration ends Monday, Nov. 23. Race-day registration will be from 7 to 7:20 a.m. Refreshments will be available after the run. PaliHi Girls’ Volleyball Reunion The Palisades High girls’ volleyball program is one of the most successful in City Section history and on Saturday, November 28th, the school will honor that winning tradition by inviting its alumnae back for a match against this year’s defending varsity City Champions. The reunion and match will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Dolphins’ 1979 state championship team and recognize the achievements of coach Gayle Van Meter, who piloted the program from 1970-91. The public is invited to attend the reunion (3-4:30 p.m.) and match (4:30-6 p.m.) in the Pali High Gym. Tickets will be $5, with proceeds going to support the girls’ volleyball Program.
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 12, 2009
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e
$249,000. 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
PICTURE PERFECT LEASE, Huntington Palisades. Beautifully decorated 3 bd, 3 ba, LR w/ FP, FR w/ FP, FDR, den, lovely garden, pool. Furn or unfurn at $11,000/mo. Contact Dolly Niemann, (310) 230-3706
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
3 ROOM GUESTHOUSE, Full kitchen, balcony, hardwood floors, quiet garden setting. Washer & dryer in garage. Cat o.k. 1 year lease. $2,200/mo. Utilities included. (310) 454-8150
2 BDRM, 2 BA, 2 car garage, private deck & garden, lndry, new kitchen, dishwasher, microwave, hardwd floors. Nice quiet area. Pets o.k. Reduced rent to $3,500/mo. O.B.O. (310) 454-4599, (310) 266-4151
UPPER SANTA MONICA CANYON. 3 BR, 2 BA Home. Peek of ocean. Hardwood floors. Fruit trees. Sunny yard. Flexible terms. Pets ok. Canyon school. $4,895/mo. loggiedog@aol.com. (310) 871-4415
2 BD, 1.5 BA, FIREPLACE, hardwood floors, appliances, gardener. Walk to schools, village, bluffs. No dogs. $3,400/mo. Leave message. (310) 454-0054
FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b
GUEST HOUSE FOR RENT. Single. Price: $1,250/mo. Fully furnished, utilities included. Hardwood floor. Available now. No pets. No smoking. One person. Maid service. (310) 459-3650
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
CUTE & COZY SINGLE mediterranean triplex near village & bluffs. Full kitchen, bath, laundry, garden, and carport. 1 year lease. Non-smoking building. No pets. $1,500/mo. (310) 804-3142
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
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
NOVEMBER SPECIAL, one month free. One bdrm. $1,285/mo., or large studio $1,125/mo. refrigerator, gas stove, laundry, covered parking, storage. No pets, non-smoker. (310) 477-6767
SPACIOUS, LIGHT UPPER UNIT in unique mediterranean triplex. 1,850 sq. ft. 2 bdrm, 1 ba + office, fireplace, fans, shutters, balconies & garden. Perfect for a couple. $2,900/mo. No pets, non-smoker, 1 year lease. (310) 804-3142
SANTA MONICA ‘COTTAGE’ $2,950/mo.!!! A rare find in lovely 4 unit complex on Yale and Montana. Perfect for those who love their gardens and desire privacy. This unique and charming one bedroom has the feel of an East Coast Hamptons Cottage. Beautifully maintained with a feeling of Zen. HAS EVERYTHING: ‘ High wood beam ceilings ‘ Peg and grooved hardwood floors ‘ Brick wood burning fireplace ‘ French windows and shutters throughout ‘ New stainless appliances w/ washer-dryer in unit ‘ Surrounded by spacious private garden patio ‘ Fenced and gated entry with intercom ‘ Security & completely separate from other units ‘ Enclosed garage and unlimited street parking. (No permit required) ‘ No pets, one year lease. Call: (310) 826-7960
BRENTWOOD. $1,750/mo. Adjacent GOLF COURSE. Charming designer’s 1 bd lower. Has everything!! ‘ Beautiful ‘ITALIAN PALADIN STYLE’ security bldg ‘ Hardwood floors ‘ Woodburning fireplace ‘ Shutters throughout ‘ French doors to patio ‘ Spacious bedroom w/ lots of closets ‘ Stainless appliances ‘ Enclosed garage, unlimited parking (no permit) ‘ Beautiful, manicured garden setting w/ lush landscaping & trees. No pets, one yr lease. (310) 826-7960
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
SPACIOUS 3 BDRM, 3 BA TOWNHOME in Pacific Palisades. Tennis court & swimming pool. $3,500/mo. Call Judy, (310) 454-0696
LARGE VIEW TOWNHOME * Beautiful ‘villa’ with mtn/cyn views! Great floorplan features high ceilings, skylite, A/C, shutters, wood floors, and private 2-car garage. 2 bd + 2 ‘ ba. Plus FR, FDR. Large master suite with FP, balcony, W.I.C., and views. $3,200/mo. Sharon/John/Victoria, Coldwell Banker Company, (310) 573-7737
ROOMS FOR RENT 3
CHARMING, SERENE GUEST HOUSE. Special guest house near village. Private entrance, kitchenette, serene and quiet. No pets. Professionals only. $2,500/mo. (310) 454-7978
WANTED TO RENT 3b
LOOKING FOR GUEST HOUSE or small house. Longtime Palisades resident. Mature single woman. Quiet, non smoker. Great tenant. (310) 454-4950
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
THE SKI CHANNEL in the 881 Alma Real building has 2 offices and 2 cubes for sub-lease featuring shared use of many amenities. (310) 230-2050
ONE OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT in Pacific Palisades Village. $1,250/mo. Call (310) 230-8335
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. 850 square feet. Reasonable rent price. Excellent tenant improvement. Please call Ness, (310) 230-6712 ext. 105, for more details.
LARGE FABULOUS OFFICE in private, quiet, intimate setting. Tons of storage and light. Available October 1, 2009 at $849/month. Parking available. (310) 991-9434, ask for Jessica.
PALISADES OFFICE, RETAIL SUITES & EXECUTIVE SUITES NOW AVAILABLE in the heart of the village: Single room offices & office suites ranging in size up to 3,235 sf & 700 sf retail suite. Executive suites now available w/ conf rm, kitchen, copy machine, etc. Building has amazing views of Santa Monica mountains, private balconies & restrooms. Amenities incl high speed T1 internet access, elevator & secured, underground parking. CALL BRETT AT (310) 591-8789 or email brett@hp-cap.com
FURNISHED OFFICE TO SHARE on Sunset, near village. Mountain view, quiet, light & bright. $750/mo., terms negotiable. (310) 459-3493
SUBLET OFFICE(S) WITHIN EXISTING LAW FIRM. Two adjacent offices (14×14 & 11×11) available within confines of existing estate and trust law practice in the Atrium Building on Via de la Paz. Excellent opportunity for a synergistic relationship with the right practitioner. Month to month rate negotiable depending on needs. Internet available. Call (310) 459-5353 to arrange to see.
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) 454-7313
LOST & FOUND 6a
KEYS FOUND! * Nov. 4th, on Via De La Paz, in front of the Palisadian Post. Pink keyring w/ Dodge key & alarm, also 1 silver key attached. Contact the Post, (310) 454-1321
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
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
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
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/
DECORATING 7d
HOLIDAY DECORATING SERVICES. Starting with the 2009 Christmas season, we are offering our very special and personalized holiday design services. Let us do all the work and create a Winter Wonderland for the interior and exterior of your home. We proudly feature the use of low energy lighting and unique decor. We are the only creative design team that knows what it takes to make a home look beautiful for busy people who love to celebrate in style! (424) 227-9210. www.dbholidaydecor.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
MESSENGER/COURIER SERVICES 7n
MESSENGER & COURIER SERVICES (S. Cal.). Direct, same day or overnite, 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
NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
BABYSITTER/HOUSEKEEPER available Monday-Friday. Good references, drives, certified in childcare, honest. Please call Valentina, (213) 268-6356
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
PROFESSIONAL MAID SERVICES. In Malibu! We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in house-keeping for the best price. Good references. Licensed. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419. professionalmaidinmalibu@google.com
HOUSEKEEPER, live out. Speaks English, local references, 3 years experience. Call Estella, (310) 839-7643 (h) or (310) 994-4652 (c)
FULL TIME HOUSEKEEPER. Experienced, good references, flexible, legal, drives, single. Call Doris, (323) 445-7636 (c) or (323) 225-0349 (h)
HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER: Experienced, own transportation, excellent references. Available Tuesdays and Fridays in the Santa Monica area. Call Elena, (323) 793-2862
HOUSEKEEPER & BABYSITTER available Monday-Friday. Has own transportation, experience, and excellent references. Call Maria at (310) 869-9121
HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTING, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Live out. Speaks English, good references, 3 years experience, DL & good w/ newborns. Call (310) 721-5622 or (323) 455-0708, Jeanette M.
HOUSEKEEPERS AVAILABLE. References. We work as a team to clean your house. Many years experience. Please call Amanda or Ruben, (213) 481-2545 (h) or (213) 422-6746 (c), call anytime.
HOUSEKEEPER, 15-20 years experience. Excellent local references. Warm, reliable, hard-working, great with kids & pets! Please call Raquel at (213) 736-5362
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
GOOD COMPANY Senior Care. A premiere private duty home care agency. Provides in-home care and companionship to help people remain independent and happy at home. If you are a caring individual who would like to join our team, please call (323) 932-8700. joni@goodcopros.com
GARDENING/LANDSCAPING 11
PALISADES GARDENING ‘ Full Gardening Service ‘ Sprinkler Install ‘ Tree Trim ‘ Sodding ‘ Sprays, non-toxic ‘ FREE AZALEA PLANT ‘ Cell,(310) 701-1613, (310) 568-0989
MOVING & HAULING 11b
HAULING. Local students will haul your stuff. References. (310) 922-8475
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! Stanford Connect, (310) 829-0872. Lic. #515929
WINDOW WASHING 13h
THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Detailed interior/exterior glass & screen cleaning. High ladder work. 10% new customer discount. Next day service available. Free estimates. Lic. & bonded. Insured. (310) 926-7626
PERSONAL SERVICES 14f
DRIVER WANTED. Dependable, careful driver wanted to take professor from Palisades home to UCLA and back 3x/week. Call Betsy at (213) 891-2880
GIRL FRIDAY/HOME ORGANIZER/personal assistant. Excellent references, 10 years experience. Reasonable rates. Pacific Palisades resident. Call Michelle, (310) 433-6362
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
PUPPY HEAVEN ‘ TRAINING/WALKING ‘ Play groups and hikes. 30 years Palisades resident. References. Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog!
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
TUTORING FOR GRADES 1-8 by a California credentialed teacher and the author of 14 educational books. Affordable prices. Call Linda, (310) 820-7580
GROZA LEARNING CENTER. Tutoring K-12, all subjects & reading. SAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, ERB, STAR. Caring, meticulous service. GrozaLearningCenter.com ‘ (310) 454-3731
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH & SCIENCE teacher. Pomona College graduate. Has lived in Palisades for 8+ years. Has coached football and soccer. Willing to travel to your home. (310) 384-4507
GIVE YOUR CHILD THE BEST TUTOR. National Board Certified. Credentialed retired teacher with 40+ years of experience. Most subjects. Call Jan, (310) 454-6774, ecrnord@aol.com
ENGLISH TUTOR. College, HS, MS. Writing, reading comprehension, study skills, test preparation. Experienced private school teacher, MA UCLA. Reasonable rate. Arthur, (310) 459-9100
SOUTH AMERICAN SPANISH INSTRUCTOR. Palisadian, excellent background, experienced, patient. Individual, groups, adults & children. Learn, improve skills, feel confident in Spanish. (310) 741-8422
SCIENCE & MATH SECRETS . . . expert teacher offering after school help for elementary, middle school, and high school. Loc: CoAmericaBuilding in BRENTWOOD 90049. M.A. Columbia University, Teachers College. Credentialed in NY AND CA. FREE PRACTICE TESTS! SAT/SAT II/BIO/CHEM/PHYSICS/MATH. Individual or group sessions (4 students max) available! Call now’space is going fast! (310) 295-8915. www.310Tutoring.com
10 YEARS EXPERIENCE. Professional tutor specializing in reading & writing. Excellent refs and great results. Palisades resident. Northwestern & London centre grad. Samantha, (626) 864-7444
PIANO LESSONS/INSTRUCTION for intermediate students. Classical Performance BM honors student UC Santa Barbara. Supportive/creative/engaging methods for pianistic excellence. Pacific Palisades, (805) 231-2958, gavingamboa@gmail.com
HELP WITH THE HOMEWORK WARS! Very experienced, private tutor. Exeter/Yale Grad, three children in Pali Schools, leads students of all motivation levels to substantial gains in grades, test scores and overall interest in learning. College application essays, SAT prep, critical reading, essay writing, algebra, AP history, Spanish. Call Justin, (310) 801-1048
MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h
PIANO LESSONS. Kids: gain an academic edge! Adults: increase your brain plasticity! Have fun and learn to play with passion. Conservatory Grad/Music Therapist, 20+ years exp., ages 4-up, all levels. Karen, (310) 230-7804
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. (310) 457-5655 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
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
BEST ELECTRICAL * Over 25 yrs experience, All phases of electrical. 24 hrs, 7 day service. (310) 621-3905. Lic. #695411
FENCES, DECKS 16j
THE FENCE MAN ‘ 18 years quality work ‘ Wood fences ‘ Decks ‘ Gates ‘ Chainlink & patio ‘ Wrought iron ‘ Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996
INDEPENDENT SERVICE CARLOS FENCE: Wood & Picket Fences ‘ Chain Link ‘ Iron & Gates ‘ Deck & Patio Covers. Ask for Carlos, (310) 677-2737 or fax (310) 677-8650. Non-lic.
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. 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. Emergency service available 24 hours. Local refs. Non-lic. Thomas, (310) 985-2928
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 ‘ 55 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
ZARKO PRTINA PAINTING. Interior/Exterior. Serving Palisades/Malibu over 35 years. Lic. #637882. Call (310) 454-6604
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
THE SKI CHANNEL & THE SURF CHANNEL located in the Palisades village have immediate openings for interns in programming, production & marketing. (310) 230-2050
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
DEDICATED & TRUSTWORTHY personal assistant needed to handle personal & business errands. Should have good communication skills, both verbal & written. Send resumes to: recruitmentdept101@live.com
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
PALIS. RIVIERA! Collectibles galore! Lots of holiday gift ideas. Clothes, jewelry, knick-knacks! Don’t miss it! 1077 Corsica Drive. Sunset to Amalfi, South, first left. FRI.-SAT., Nov. 13-14; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Photos/details: www.bmdawson.com
PaliHi Board Gains New Members
Results from the Palisades Charter High School board election show that Susan Frank won the parent seat and Carol Osborne and Jason Cutler secured the community seats. Julia O’Grady and incumbent Karen Perkins, running unopposed, were elected to represent the classified staff and teachers, respectively. The newly elected members will serve two-year terms on the 11-member board, which is composed of three community members, three parents, three teachers, one classified staff member and the executive director. Frank replaces Darcy Stamler, while Osborne and Cutler will assume Vicky Francis and Rene Rodman’s seats, respectively. Stamler, Rodman and Francis all ran for re-election. O’Grady fills classified staff member Torino Johnson’s seat, and Perkins reclaims her spot. The school’s parents voted for the parent representative, while teachers and classified staff voted for their respective seats. Both faculty and parents chose one of the community representatives, and teachers selected the other community representative. Voters had from October 16 to October 30 to cast their ballot, and a committee of six stakeholders counted the votes on November 2. Ballots were sent to one household for every student attending PaliHi, which has an enrollment of 2,752 students. Households with two children attending the school were sent two ballots. Frank, who received 57 of the 131 votes cast by parents, hopes to help PaliHi through these tight economic times by using her 25 years of experience as a chartered financial analyst. ’We need to keep the school financially strong,’ said Frank, who is now retired. She and her husband, Dan, have an 11th grade son at PaliHi and an eighth grade daughter at Paul Revere. The Pacific Palisades resident, with a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Diego State University, said one of her main goals is to help PaliHi find a qualified principal. Interim Principal Marcia Haskin came out of retirement to replace Martin Griffin, who left in June, while the school searches for a permanent replacement. Frank believes that to attract good candidates, all stakeholders need to reach a consensus on what qualities they want in a principal. ‘We should be targeting what we need,’ she said, noting that an executive search firm could help. Frank, who is co-president of the Parent Advisory Council and has served as an officer on the Parent Teacher Student Association, also wants to improve communication with parents. For example, she thinks that a recap of the board meeting should be e-mailed to parents the day after the meeting. O’Grady, who received 40 of the 41 votes cast by the classified staff (28 employees did not participate in the election), said she decided to run for the position because ‘I have been interested in school governance for many years.’ A UCLA graduate with a degree in fine arts, O’Grady has served on the Policy Committee for the past three years and as chair for two years. She has been on the Educational Programs Committee since 2005 and the Communications Committee since 2007. ’I understand the various aspects of running the school,’ O’Grady said, noting that she has a strong grasp of the charter and bylaws. As the part-time parent liaison for the school, she sends out communications to parents and answers their questions. She plans to translate these communication skills to the board. ’Good communication is essential for good governance,’ said O’Grady, whose daughter, Kate Rosenbaum, graduated from PaliHi this spring and is attending Northwestern University. Her husband, Henry Rosenbaum, is a writer. Osborne, who won the teachers’ vote, thinks her background as a corporate lawyer for the past 20 years will be an asset to the board. She advises public and private companies on governance issues such as meeting procedures and board interactions. She suggests that the board host town hall meetings to discuss controversial issues with stakeholders before voting on them. ’Board meetings have rigid limitations on how long people can talk, and it’s important to have an informal dialogue,’ said Osborne, who grew up in Pacific Palisades and attended Harvard-Westlake. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history and French at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and attended law school at Georgetown University. Osborne, who works for Holme, Roberts & Owen, also wants to help PaliHi with its fundraising strategy for capital projects. PaliHi is currently constructing the Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center and has plans to build a visual and performing arts center. As board chair of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica for three years, Osborne led the church through the construction of a new school building and the buying and selling of property. Osborne lives in the Palisades with her husband, Chris, an economist, and daughter, Meghan, 13, who attends Paul Revere. She has two stepchildren Alex, 16, and Natasha, 18, who live in England. Cutler, who received the majority of combined faculty and parent votes, did not answer e-mails from the Palisadian-Post. School administrators did not have his telephone number. According to his candidate statement, he is a PaliHi alumnus and his brother is a PaliHi junior. Cutler wrote that one of his goals is to partner with local businesses for internships and part-time jobs, and ‘I would also like to see PaliHi work with local community colleges to offer more classes in order to get students a head start with college credits.’ Perkins, a Pacific Palisades resident with a 10th grader at PaliHi, received 81 votes of the 92 ballots returned from teachers (34 teachers did not vote). She teaches physiology and biology classes and has been on the PaliHi faculty for five years. She joined the board on June 9, following the resignation by social studies teacher Dave Suarez.
Presbyterian Youth Honor Rev. Schaefer at Nov. 28 Dinner
By MARILYN HAESE CEREGHINO Special to the Palisadian-Post How many Pacific Palisades kids does it take to change the future of whole neighborhoods in Tijuana, Mexico? The answer will be forthcoming on Saturday, November 28. That is when current Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church youth group members and returning alumni celebrate 15 years of mission work under the dedicated leadership of its youth minister, Reverend Eric Schaefer. Taking a page from the self deprecating style of humor that Rev. Schaefer uses so effectively working with teens, the night of tribulation will take the form of a celebratory roast. The evening of dining, special video presentations and live music will culminate with a roast panel of teens and young adults giving tribute both live and via videotape. The initial panel of roasters includes Amber Held, Brett Vegas, Max Czernin, Kelsey Van Hook, Lucas Pols, Tim St. Claire, Brandon Brough, Patrick Hasselbach, Alex Hubbs, Brynn Lovitt and Lauren Baczewski. At last count, more than 900 Palisades students ages 14 and up have traveled to Mexico, New Orleans, Arizona, the Dominican Republic, and to orphanages throughout Europe as part of the church’s youth program in an effort to help those in need. Many of these participants are not members of the church as it’s not a condition of the program. Steven Carr Reuben, senior rabbi of Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation, puts it succinctly. ‘Eric is such a remarkable youth minister’ with an ability to reach out and inspire youth regardless of their religious background. In fact, it was Eric who inspired KI to create our own annual ‘Youth & Family Mitzvah Trip to Mexico’ to help build houses for those in need.’ (Continued on Page 6) The annual Memorial Day weekend trek to Mexico to pour foundations, frame, and stucco four or five single-family dwellings during each visit to a residential area of Tijuana is the most popular youth mission. Usually this means 2-1/2 working days in the hot sun, with 100 or more teenagers hammering nails, sawing lumber, toting water buckets and mixing concrete by hand, while working alongside the families who will come to occupy the homes. It’s an example of just one of the more than 90 mission trips led by Reverend Schaefer to date. Gretchen Miller, who oversees student outreach as director of community services at Palisades Charter High School, commented: ‘At PaliHi, we see Eric’s programs as gold because we know that in the process kids are talked to about why there is a need for what they are doing, and there’s clear discussion about what the impact will be after they help. Most important, when they travel to under-served countries, we know they will get a chance to directly interface with the recipients of the good will.’ Jean Vegas, parent and veteran chaperone on several European trips, added: ‘What I love about Eric is that he builds relationships with every person who walks through the door. He doesn’t judge them, but makes every child or adult feel accepted and valued.’ Many feel the open-door success is a result of the youth program’s ‘Midweek’ weekly evening activities where a cross-section of kids join their friends and come in or have their parents drop them off. ’We have come to play an important role as a community center which Eric has always fostered,’ said Presbyterian Youth Director Natalie Kelley. When junior and senior high schoolers get on board, they meet for sports activities, fellowship and devotion, as well as ski trips and weekend retreats. Reverend Schaefer came to the Palisades in 1994. A 1985 graduate of Flordia State University, he received his Master’s of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He now lives in the Palisades Highlands with his wife, Kim, and their three boys, Tyler, Carter and Spencer. In summing up Reverend Schaefer’s accomplishments, Associate Pastor Reverend Bill Craig said, ‘Not only has Eric grown the youth program from 35 kids to over 500, this past year he has taken on the role of lead pastor in our congregation as well as the head of staff while we are in a time of transition. The guy is just such a joy to work with and his efforts this year are truly appreciated by everyone.’ The Thanksgiving weekend celebratory roast and fundraiser will be held in Janes Hall at the church, 15821 Sunset. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. and the roast at 7 p.m., followed by an Alumni ‘Post Roast’ outing with Eric at 10 p.m. Tickets are: Adults, $75; students $25; and children 12 and under, $15. Reservations can be made by visiting www.palipres.org or by calling the church office at (310) 454-0366. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, November 18.
Ugandan Children’s Choir Visits Three Local Schools
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
A young Ugandan girl opened a Matsiko show at St. Matthew’s Church last Thursday by telling the assembled students, ‘I am Jen, I’m 9-years-old and I have a voice.’ Matsiko, a children’s choir that consists of 24 Ugandan orphans ranging in age from 7 to 14, performed at Palisades Elementary on Wednesday, and St. Matthew’s and Village School on Thursday. Cheerfulness and exuberance radiated from the children as they went into the audience saying ‘Ayeish!’ (‘let’s go’ in Swahili) and shaking hands with audience members, before returning to the stage to sing and dance. Matsiko, which means hope, spreads the message: ‘We are not here to focus on the problem, but on the solution’and the solution is you.’ Don Windham, who is from Covington, Washington, was one of the original founders of International Children’s Network (ICN) and then Matsiko, which he founded in 2003. Windham travels to the Ugandan towns of Jinja, Lusaka, Kassanda, Rwenjiri, Troas, Luggazi, Kamusinene and Gulu, and visits the orphaned children. With the help of village leaders, he selects the children he feels have the best character to join the touring group. Surprisingly, for a group whose show consists of mostly singing and dancing, neither of those talents are criteria for being chosen. ‘Our trainers teach them how to dance and sing,’ Windham said. The children participate in the choir for 10 months out of the year, performing one or two shows a day and then having two days off. While on tour, they’re expected to keep up with their studies, which are given to them quarterly by local Ugandan schools. ‘It’s a little like home schooling,’ Windham said. ‘We have seven adult leaders who help them. Many finish early and are ahead of their peers in Uganda.’ ICN’s goal is for sponsorship of orphans until they graduate from college: not only for the children of Matsiko, but for other children in Uganda, Peru and now the Philippines, where so many were left orphaned after the recent deadly autumn typhoons. ’We look for people who will sponsor a child until they finish college,’ Windham said. ‘These funds pay for the children’s school fees, clothing, food and school supplies. The relationship is personal and kids often take on the last name of their sponsor.’ One of the children he sponsored now calls himself Mubiriu Winham and another child Kirabira Corbett is named after another sponsor. Sam Straxy, who was originally sponsored through ICN, graduated from Makerere University and is now the choir director for Matsiko. ’Children need sponsorship all the way through the university level in order to truly break the cycle of poverty and become independent,’ Windham said. The cost of sponsorship is about $30 a month. St. Matthew’s school parent Bridget Higley saw the group perform in Sun Valley, Idaho in August and knew she wanted them to come to this area. ’They were at Our Lady of Snows Church and it was the best church experience I have ever had,’ said Higley, who spent the next two months working out the logistics, finding 12 host families, arranging a party for the children when they arrived, and setting up other performance venues for the children during their visit to Southern California. Higley and husband Dave, who have three children, Bronwen (8), Owen (7) and Jack (5), invited Ruth (8) and Gloria (11), into their Pacific Palisades home for two nights. ‘They came to our house and had a small duffle bag, which had two sets of clothes, a sleeping outfit, a swim suit and some toiletries,’ said Higley. The Ugandans joined their hosts in the Higley hot tub and afterwards Higley gave the girls new nightgowns, which matched her daughter’s. The next morning after performing at St. Matthew’s, children from Matsiko answered questions from the school’s third graders, who study Africa. The Ugandans were then taken to the St. Matthew’s Book Fair and allowed to select a book. ‘They gravitated towards a colorful picture dictionary,’ said Higley, who noted that about half of the group chose it. Afterwards, the two groups of children shared a recess. St. Matthew’s purchased winter jackets for each child, as well as giving a donation and a gift card to Matsiko that can be used to make purchases for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Higley plans to sponsor the two girls who stayed at her home. ’We’re always looking for sponsors,’ said Windham who showed photos of two children who were in the last choir, and lost their sponsors. ‘Fifty percent of new sponsors drop out within the first year,’ he said. ICN started as a small youth group at the non-denominational Covington Christian Community Church in 1997. The group, which helped seniors, as well as local and inner-city kids, drew attention and started traveling to other communities. ’We ‘morphed’ into ICN once the great need of orphaned and at-risk children came to our attention,’ said Windham, who with his wife Jennie founded ICN in 2002 and then later Matsiko. ‘More than 96 percent of every dollar goes to its intended purpose and ICN received the highest rating from GuideStar, a nonprofit watchdog group,’ he said. ‘Sponsors can freely communicate and visit their sponsored child at anytime.’ Visit: www.MATSIKO.com or call (253) 632-8181.
Thursday, November 12 – Thursday, November 19
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited. Ben Fuchs, a registered pharmacist and cosmetic chemist, speaks about ‘The Science of Beautiful Skin,’ 7 p.m. at Pharmaca, corner of Sunset and La Cruz. Fuchs has been formulating custom skin-care products for over 20 years.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
The Corpus Christi holiday bazaar and fundraiser takes place from noon to 3 p.m. at the school, 890 Toyopa Dr. Holiday shoppers will find a variety of items such as toys, clothes, jewelry, eco-friendly water bottles, and much more. Contact: 310-454-9411. Skaie Knox signs and reads from ‘Big Bug Lunch,’ a children’s book and CD, 6:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Theatre Palisades presents ‘Things We Do For Love,’ a comedy by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., through December 13. For tickets, call (310) 454-1970. Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera presents ‘La Traviata,’ 8 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. The suggested donation at the door is $25. The final performance is Sunday, November 15 at 3 p.m. Information: (310) 570-6448 or visit www.losangelesmet.com. Internationally acclaimed pianist Andrew von Oeyen presents a solo recital in the Music at St. Matthew’s series, 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda. Tickets at the door: $35.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14
The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine will hold its annual holiday boutique today and Sunday at the center, 17190 Sunset Blvd. Free admission. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, at the upper Temple level (where free parking is available).’
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Registered dietician and exercise physiologist Susan Dopart discusses ‘A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietician,’ a comprehensive nutrition guide partnered with family-friendly recipes and illustrations, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Storytime for children ages 3 and up, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Patricia Watts, founder and West Coast curator of ecoartspace, will share her stories and images from two decades of art events in the Santa Monica Mountains, 7:30 p.m. at Woodland Hall in Temescal Gateway Park. Admission and parking are free.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18
The Palisades League of Women Voters unit meets at 12 noon in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. This month’s topic: Potential reforms of California’s constitution. Contact: Discussion leader Yvonne Regan at (310) 454-2757. Villa Aurora Feuchtwanger Fellow Sanath Balasooriya, a Sri Lankan journalist and peace activist, will speak about civil strife in Sri Lanka, human rights and his journalistic activities, 8 p.m. at Villa Aurora on Paseo Miramar. To attend this free event, call (310) 573-3603. Shuttle service begins at 7 p.m. from Los Liones Drive, just above Sunset Boulevard.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Los Angeles Times movie critic and Pacific Palisades resident Kenneth Turan signs and discusses his latest book, ‘Free for All: Joe Papp, the Public and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
