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From Murray to (Honorary) Mayor: An Evening with the Captain

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Chamber of Commerce Will Pay Tribute to Gavin MacLeod’s Diverse Career

Gavin and Patti MacLeod at last summer's Installation Dinner at the Riviera Country Club.
Gavin and Patti MacLeod at last summer’s Installation Dinner at the Riviera Country Club.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Gavin MacLeod wears many hats. For many, the actor is best known for his role as Captain Merrill Stubing on the long-running ABC series, ‘The Love Boat.’ For older viewers, he’ll always be Murray Slaughter, part of the ensemble cast of the Emmy Award-winning sitcom ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show.’ Cinephiles may remember him fondly for numerous collaborations with director Blake Edwards. To theatergoers, he’s the stage-trained thespian who has graced countless productions, from ‘Carousel’ and ‘Gypsy’ to ‘High Button Shoes’ and ‘Grossinger’s.’ He’s served as the popular, approachable Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades since 2006. And did we mention that he once went by the moniker “Big Chicken”? (More on that later…) On January 20 at 7 p.m., MacLeod will appear onstage at the Pierson Playhouse, as the focus of Q&A session and a one-hour documentary by filmmaker Steve Vittoria spotlighting his diverse career in entertainment. Arnie Wishnick, executive director of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, says only that ‘a big announcement’ will be made that evening. The scuttlebutt is the ‘announcement’ will be that MacLeod has agreed to an unprecedented third term as honorary mayor. June will mark the 77-year-old’s fifth year in the role, exceeding two-term mayors Ted Knight (1981-84) (who co-starred on ‘Mary Tyler Moore’), musician John Raitt (1990-95) and comic actor Steve Guttenberg (2004-2008). If the rumor proves true, it’s only fitting. MacLeod is truly an active part of the community fabric, and not merely by fulfilling his mayoral obligations to appear at Chamber-sponsored events. It is not unusual to spot MacLeod patronizing the shops along Swarthmore or dropping by the Chamber office to kibitz with Wishnick and administrative assistant Marilyn Crawford. ‘Getting to know some of the merchants has made the Palisades alive for me,’ MacLeod says. MacLeod is definitely not the type of actor who is allergic to people, hiding from fans behind a pair of shades or holing himself up in his mansion fortress. He is as accessible as celebrities come. In fact, he plans to do a public reading of a play which arrived in the mail unsolicited from an aspiring playwright. Last month, the honorary mayor discussed career highlights with the Palisadian-Post over a Mayor’s Burger at the Village Pantry as, coincidentally, the burger’s namesake”former L.A. mayor and current Pantry owner Richard Riordan” happened to be holding court inside the Pantry’s sister restaurant, the Oak Room, next door. On February 28, 1932, MacLeod, n’ Allan George See, was born in Mount Kisco, New York, to Margaret and George See. George died of colon cancer at age 38 when the actor was barely a teenager. Raised in Pleasantville, NY, MacLeod has one sibling, Ron, 76. At age four, MacLeod had heard the applause while performing in a kindergarten play that set him on his career path. By age 16, he performed at Carnegie Hall”as part of a dance band. The budding entertainer played percussion. That same year, he received a drama scholarship to attend Ithaca College in upstate New York. While attending Ithaca College, MacLeod penned a children’s book, ‘Henry the Milk Bottle,’ for a class assignment. MacLeod spent his early days in entertainment causing trouble as a postmodern playwright. His conceptual piece, ‘The Indian Hoop Dancer from Ogden, UT,’ was mounted at Theater West in Studio City. It involved the opera diva Madame Poncelli (based on Madame Zabella, a real-life character in Ithaca, NY). A person planted in the audience would leap on stage and strangle the character. Someone called the cops”real police”who broke up the show. ‘It was what we called a ‘happening,” MacLeod says. ‘I wanted to see if I could get the audience affected.’ MacLeod’s big break came in 1955 with the Broadway production of ‘A Hatful of Rain.’ MacLeod remembers one actor in the cast who stood out. Even MacLeod’s mother, in the audience once night, commented on the young man, who radiated a magnetic charisma. His name was Steve McQueen. ‘He had that thing that my mother just wanted to put her arms around him,’ MacLeod says. MacLeod and McQueen later appeared in the 1966 film ‘The Sand Pebbles.’ ??You might say the actor was on ‘MacLeod 9’ whenever he worked with Blake Edwards. MacLeod played the heavy on episodes of ‘Peter Gunn’ and ‘Mr. Lucky’ and appeared in the feature films ‘Operation Petticoat,’ ‘High Time’ and ‘The Party.’ Enter the pompadour-proper police detective Steve MacGarrett with the 1970s. Some cast members who have worked on ‘Hawaii Five-O’ found the show’s star a perfectionist (that’s diplomatic for ‘prima donna’), however MacLeod’s experiences playing opposite Jack Lord were favorable. He portrayed a tough drug dealer named Big Chicken in a pair of episodes. ‘I heard from many actors that Jack was hard to work with,’ MacLeod said of Lord in 2008. ‘We got along great! I was very lucky…I got to eat lunch with Jack in his private, air-conditioned trailer. Jack mentioned making a movie together in Spain that never happened.’ But MacLeod truly made his name on television as Murray on ‘Mary Tyler Moore,’ considered by critics to be one of the best situation comedies of all time. In its 1970-77 run, the show won 29 Emmys (a feat topped only by ‘Frasier’ with 37 Emmys by 2004). MacLeod and cast mate Knight had a close friendship which preceded ‘Mary.’ Both shared an agent early in their career. To this day, MacLeod’s eyes well up when talking about Knight, who passed away in 1986. Hot off the show’s success, MacLeod’s agent was awash in offers. ‘Three projects came my way. One was a twist on Murray, but he was a cowboy, Jeff Bridges was to play lead, but I didn’t like the idea of being a cowboy because while shooting ‘Big Valley,’ I had been thrown from a horse.’ Another offer was a drama by Aaron Ruben, co-creator of ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ set in Depression-era Pittsburgh. A third option was an NBC sitcom ‘mocking the president [Jimmy Carter].’ Then came the call from his agent that would become the rudder of the ship that navigated MacLeod’s destiny. MacLeod: ‘He said, ‘Aaron Spelling wants you to do a pilot. I think it sucks but do you want to read it?.” MacLeod loved the script. ‘It had three different kinds of stories,’ he says. ‘Broad comedy, sophisticated comedy, and poignant story. I thought to myself, ‘If they cast this right, people are gonna love this show.” MacLeod met at Spelling’s Holmby Hills mansion, where the uber-producer understood MacLeod’s commitment to finishing his duties in a production of ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ starring Debbie Reynolds, touring Los Angeles and San Francisco. Spelling told him, ‘We’ll write the part short or long for you, whatever you like. I just want you to say ‘yes.” MacLeod did. Initially, Capt. Stubing was not so sympathetic. ‘I was the scourge of the Seven Seas,’ MacLeod says. ‘I wore sunglasses over my eyes as a device to hide what I was really thinking.’ But he quickly found his character’s warm core. ‘The Love Boat’ was an instant hit for ABC when it debuted in 1977. It ran for nine years, and inspired the 1990 TV movie. Between voyages for the show and his gig since 1986 as Princess Cruises spokesman, to paraphrase Johnny Cash, ‘MacLeod’s been everywhere, man!’ Favorite destination: Lake Como, Italy. ‘It inspired an industry,’ MacLeod says of ‘Love Boat.’ ‘I’m still making a living because of that show. It brought Princess Cruises and cruises to everyone’s attention.’ ‘Love Boat’ routinely featured guest stars such as Florence Henderson, Arte Johnson and, of course, a certain Spanish-accented blonde with an adorable lisp. ‘Charo is one of the most interesting people I ever met,’ MacLeod says. ‘She’s the second best flamenco guitarist in the world.’ During the mid-80s, MacLeod and his then-ex, Patti, remarried and became evangelical Christians. The MacLeods, who have seven children and 10 grandchildren, hosted ‘Back on Course’ on Trinity Broadcasting Network show for 23 years. The MacLeods moved from Rancho Mirage to Cape Cod before settling in the Highlands in 2001. Privately, MacLeod has endured much in recent years. He survived a heart attack. Last year, he broke his arm in a fluke fall near Monument and Sunset. His wife has also struggled with various afflictions. But MacLeod does not dwell on his problems. Instead, he offers the warm smile that made Capt. Stubing a weekly guest in the living rooms of millions of Americans. ‘I’m like Mr. Everyman,’ MacLeod admits. ‘I consider myself a blessed brown bagger. I’m grateful for every day.’ ??Pierson Playhouse is located at 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Tickets: $10. Contact: 310-454-1970. Michael@palipost.com

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 14, 2010

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CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR SALE 1e

$247,000. IMMACULATE SENIOR UNIT, very cheerful and quiet. 1 bd, 1 ba. Minimum age 62, 2 car parking, elevator, patio, close to everything. Broker, (310) 795-3795 (c), (310) 456-8770 (h)

FURNISHED HOMES 2

EXECUTIVE RENTAL! MOVE RIGHT IN! Immaculate, fully furnished, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath. Pool, gym, spa, near trailheads, mountain view, minutes to the beach. (310) 459-9111

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

ONE LEVEL REMODELED bright home, 3 bd, 2 ba, PL, TC, gym, private backyard. $4,500/mo. Judy, (310) 454-0696

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! 855 Haverford, 2 BD, 1 BA, 1 PRKG. $3,000/mo. No dogs. 1 yr lease, new kitchen, hardwood flrs, GREAT landlord. (310) 230-4330

EL MEDIO BLUFFS 3 bdr, 2 ba. Solar powered (low electric bills), high-end gas range, dishwasher and washer/dryer; fireplace, hardwood floors, lots of attic storage, 2 car garage, fenced in yard. $4,700/mo. (310) 801-502

FURNISHED HOMES 2b

$2,000/MO. SPACIOUS MASTER BEDROOM SUITE + DEN (ENTIRE 2ND FL.). Use of beautiful pool and gardens, kitchen including laundry facilities and maid service once a week. Parking available. Short (3 months) or long term rental accepted. Personal and professional references required. Ideal for single professional female. No pets. Reply to: swyndon@aol.com (for fastest response); or may call (310) 478-4495 between hours of 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. or between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

CUTE & COZY SINGLE mediterranean triplex near village & bluffs. Full kitchen, bath, hardwd flrs, laundry, garden, and carport. 1 year lease. Non-smoking building. No pets. $1,500/mo. (310) 804-3142

CHARMING, SUNNY UPPER UNIT. 1 bdrm. + office/den. Hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces, 2 bthrms., 1 car garage, on-site laundry, small pet considered. $2,300/mo. (310) 459-5576

UNUSUAL, HOME-LIKE, SPACIOUS 1 bed, 1 bath, 800 sq. ft. in triplex near bluffs and village. Fireplace, bay window, hardwood, garage, laundry, garden. NS, NP. 1 yr. lease. $2,300 (310) 804-3142

2 2BD, 1BA UNIT AVAILABLE. $1,850/mo. upper unit available now. Vintage 6 unit building. Includes water. Approx. 800 sq. ft., Hardwood, tile floors. Lite & brite. Shared laundry. Pet o.k. with approval. 1 year lease. (424) 228-4570

CLOSE TO THE BEACH & SHOPPING. One bedroom, one bathroom, wood floors, in a great complex with fabulous grounds in P.P. Appliances are included. Must be over 65 years of age. (310) 979-4170

BRIGHT, LARGE, 3 BD+2 BA, 1,500 sq. ft., top floor, 1 garage+1 tandem, new carpets. Great closet space. 1 yr lease. N/S. $2,500/mo. (310) 498-0149

$1,650/MO. ‘ELEGANT HIDEAWAY.’ Best location in Brentwood. Second floor charming one bedroom. Hardwood floors, woodburning fireplace, shuttered throughout. New stainless appliances. Security building, enclosed garage. Beautiful Tuscan Garden courtyard setting. Bright and sunny. No pets. One yr lease. (310) 826-7960

CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

DELIGHTFUL, LARGE, LIGHT studio, separate eat-in kitchen, office alcove, ocean view. Walk to beach. Partially furnished. One person. $1,200/mo. (310) 613-1572

CHIC PALISADES VILLAGE CONDO. Remodeled 2 BR, 2 BA, stainless appliances, includes wshr/dryr, storage, security building. Small pets considered. $2,750/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 454-6058

RENTALS TO SHARE 3a

LOOKING FOR FURNISHED BEDROOM in house or large condo/apartment. Middle aged, professional, single man. Quiet, neat, non-smoker, responsible. (240) 461-3643

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

OFFICE SUITE: Atrium Bldg., 860 Via de la Paz. 900+ space, reception, two offices & bathroom. $3,000/mo. 18 month sublease. Call (310) 459-5353 to see.

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

PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. 750 square feet. Reasonable rent price. Excellent lease hold improvement allowance. Please call Ness, (310) 230-6712 x105, for more details.

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

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

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

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

PERSONAL ASSISTANT: To pay your bills, do bookkeeping with QuickBooks, do your payroll, deposit taxes, provide W2s & 1099s, pick up your mail, track your expenses, prepare estimates for your federal and state tax returns with TurboTax, over 30 years experience. Please call RASCO @ (310) 459-4880 for references.

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL ‘ I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: ‘ Consultation on best hard/software for your needs ‘ Setting up & configuring your system & applications ‘ Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC ‘ Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows ‘ Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access ‘ Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken ‘ Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup ‘ Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning ‘ FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL ‘ BEST RATES ‘ (310) 262-5652

YOUR OWN TECH GURU * EXPERT SET-UP, OPTIMIZATION, REPAIR. Problem-Free Computing Since 1992. Work Smarter, Faster, More Reliably. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! ALAN PERLA, (310) 455-2000

THE DETECHTIVES’ ‘ PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE MAC SPECIALISTS. PATIENT, FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE. WE COVER ALL THINGS MAC ‘ Consulting ‘ Installation ‘ Training and Repair for Beginners to Advanced Users ‘ Data recovery ‘ Networks ‘ Wireless Internet & more ‘ (310) 838-2254 ‘ William Moorefield ‘ www.thedetechtives.com

USER FRIENDLY’MAC CONSULTANT. User friendly. Certified Apple help desk technician and proud member of the Apple consultant network. An easy approach to understanding all of your computer needs. Offering computer support in wide variety of repairs, set-ups, installs, troubleshooting, upgrades, networking, and tutoring in the application of choice. Computer consulting at fair rates. Ryan Ross: (310) 721-2827 ‘ email: ryanaross@mac.com ‘ For a full list of services visit: http://userfriendlyrr.com/

GARAGE, ESTATE SALE SERVICES 7f

PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? an estate sale? a moving sale? a yard sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. ‘ BARBARA DAWSON ‘ Estate/Garage Sale Specialist ‘ (310) 454-0359 ‘ bmdawson@verizon.net ‘ www.bmdawson.com ‘ Furniture ‘ Antiques ‘ Collectibles ‘ Junque ‘ Reliable professionals ‘ Local References

ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h

NEED TO GET ORGANIZED? * Simplify and find more balance in your life. Let me help you get organized and stay organized. Call me, Jennifer Brook, Professional Organizer, (310) 916-7745 or visit BeeOrganized.la

MESSENGER/COURIER SERVICES 7n

MESSENGER & COURIER SERVICES (S. Cal.). Direct, same day or overnight, PU & Del. 24/7 guaranteed, on-time service. All major credit cards accepted. Santa Monica Express Inc. ‘ Since 1984 ‘ Tel: (310) 458-6000 www.smexpress.com

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

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

PALISADES HOUSEKEEPER, 15 yrs experience. Excellent references, honest, dependable. Legal resident. Child & pet care. Available every Tues., Fri., Sat. & Sun. Carmen, (323) 460-6473, (213) 618-9671

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE every other Monday and every other Thursday. Speaks English, good local references. Call Lupe, (310) 454-7383 (local number Mon.-Wed.) or (323) 898-2766 (cell.)

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

CAREGIVER, light housekeeping, Monday-Friday. Day, nights, or weekends. Live out. References available. (323) 377-2670

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

GARDENING/LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING ‘ Full Gardening Service ‘ Sprinkler Install ‘ Tree Trim ‘ Sodding ‘ Sprays, non-toxic ‘ FREE AZALEA PLANT ‘ Cell,(310) 701-1613, (310) 568-0989

MOVING & HAULING 11b

HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Moves & hauls it all. 14 foot truck. 20th year Westside. Delivery to 48 states. (310) 285-8688

HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE 12a

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

STEREO, TV, VCR SERVICES 13g

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

WINDOW WASHING 13h

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

CATERING 14

CHEF & EVENT MANAGER! Cordon Bleu Chef and 15 year veteran event manager wants to help you plan your event! $60 per hour. Please call or email Danielle . . . (310) 691-0578 or daniellesamendez@gmail.com

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

PRIVATE DOG WALKER/housesitter, Palisades & Santa Monica. S.M. Canyon resident. Please call or email Sherry, (310) 383-7852, www.palisadesdogwalker.com

FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a

HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Advanced Nordic walking instructor, Palisades resident teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. (310) 266-4651

PERSONAL TRAINER 15c

Personal Trainer. PERSONAL TRAINING in the comfort of your own home by Fitness World Champion and certified Personal Trainer. Featured on the Discovery Health Channel. Serving Palisades since 2002. Call for a free consultation. Travis, (917) 749-3434

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

TUTORS 15e

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. Children & adults. 20+ years teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, ESSAY WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly Sp. Ed. teacher. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530

MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145

PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134

MATH & CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS: COLLEGE ESSAYS, SAT/SAT II/ACT/ISEE/HSPT MATH PREP. All math subjects thru calculus. Jr. high thru college level writing skills. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Local office in Palisades Village. Call Jamie, (888) 459-6430

EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR ‘ All grade levels ‘ Grammar ‘ Conversational ‘ SAT/AP ‘ Children, adults ‘ Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593, (310) 980-6071

SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR. All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614

GROZA LEARNING CENTER. Tutoring K-12, all subjects & reading. SAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, ERB, STAR. Caring, meticulous service. GrozaLearningCenter.com ‘ (310) 454-3731

MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h

SINGING & PERFORMANCE COACH ‘ All ages ‘ Singing ‘ Songwriting ‘ Recording ‘ Demos ‘ Talent Shows ‘ School Plays ‘ Laurie, (310) 457-4661 ‘ Native Palisadian ‘ soundeyes@aol.com

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 39 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. New Construction & Remodels. Hardscapes, custom stone, stamped concrete, brick, driveways, retaining walls, BBQs, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, foundations, drainage, pool & spas, water features. Excellent local refs. Lic #309844. Bonded, ins, work comp. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 ‘ WWW.HORUSICKY.COM

CONSTRUCTION 16d

ALAN PINE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR ‘ New homes ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions ‘ Kitchen & bath ‘ Planning/architectural services ‘ Insured ‘ Local refs. Lic. #469435. (800) 800-0744 or (818) 203-8881

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

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

ELECTRICAL 16h

PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service

ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. Local service only. Non-lic. Please call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286

LICHWA ELECTRIC. Remodeling, rewiring, troubleshooting. Lighting: low voltage, energy safe, indoor, outdoor, landscape. Low voltage: telephone, Internet, CCTV, home theatre, audio/video. Non-lic. Refs. LichwaElectric@gmail.com, (310) 270-8596

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

FLOOR CARE 16m

GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608

CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR. Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com ‘ centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net ‘ (800) 608-6007 ‘ (310) 276-6407

JEFF HRONEK, 40 YRS. RESIDENT ‘ HARDWOOD FLOORS INC. ‘ Sanding & Refinishing ‘ Installations ‘ Pre-finished ‘ Unfinished ‘ Lic. #608606. Bonded, Insured, Workers Comp. www.hronekhardwoodfloors.com (310) 475-1414

HANDYMAN 16o

HANDYMAN ‘ HOOSHMAN ‘ Most known name in the Palisades. Since 1975. Member Chamber of Commerce. Non-Lic. Experience do it, not lic. Call for your free est. Local refs available. Hooshman, (310) 459-8009, 24 Hr.

LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 487-6464

LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy: Marty, (310) 459-2692

DJ PRO SERVICES ‘ Carpentry, Handyman, Repairs. ALL PROJECTS CONSIDERED. See my work at: www.djproservices.com. Non-lic. (c) (310) 907-6169, (h) (310) 454-4121

ALL AMERICAN HANDYMAN! Quick home/office repairs. Furniture assembly, plumbing, appliances, electric & fixtures. F/T technical student. Local refs. Non-lic. Thomas, (310) 985-2928

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

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16p

SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686

PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16r

PAUL HORST ‘ Interior & Exterior ‘ PAINTING ‘ 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

ALL SEASONS PAINTING. Holiday specials ‘ Kitchen cabinets, garage doors, deck & fences. Interior/exterior painting specialist. ‘Green’ environmentally friendly paint upon request. Excellent referrals. Free estimate. Lic. #571061. Randy, (310) 678-7913

REMODELING 16v

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

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

HELP WANTED 17

BEAUTY SALON * Hair stylist station for rent in a friendly established salon. Call for information, (310) 454-3521

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

HOUSEKEEPER WANTED: For a local couple. Live-in, Monday-Friday, male or female, non-smoker, experienced with local references, light cooking, must drive. (310) 454-3194

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

PLAYA DEL REY! 3-story townhouse. Contemp. furn/furnishings/ceramics/art/linens/kitch. appliance, utensils, glass dishware/books/men-women clothes/jewelry! Everything quality! 7811 Berger Ave., PDR. FRI.-SAT., Jan. 15-16, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Photos/details/directions: www.bmdawson.com

Pal Blues Add Three to Roster

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The Pali Blues are not content to rest on their laurels. Proof lies in the team’s first signings of 2010: Penn State forward Danielle Toney and Australian National Team defenders Clare Polkinghorne and Karla Reuter. All three figure to play a prominent role in the team’s pursuit of its third consecutive USL W-League championship. Toney tallied a team-best 30 points as a junior last season at Penn State, recording 12 goals and six assists. The Northville, Michigan, native received NSCAA First Team All-Great Lakes honors and First Team All-Big Ten accolades. Toney was a Big Ten All-Freshman selection two years ago with seven goals and two assists. The 2008 Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player tallied 27 points on a well-balanced 10 goals and seven helpers as a sophomore. Prior to arriving at Penn State she was a three-time NSCAA Youth All-American and Parade All-American while playing at Northville High School. The two-time All-State selection also spent time in the player pools for the U.S. National Team at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels. Polkinghorne is a native of Brisbane, Australia, and currently plays for the Queensland Roar of the Australian W-League. She has played for her native country for the past four years, scoring twice in 26 international games. She also played for Australia in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, where she contributed to the Matildas’ first World Cup win over Ghana and helped her country advance to the quarterfinals. Reuter is also a native of Brisbane, Australia, and spent this past season with the Queensland Roar. The Queensland Academy of Sport graduate began playing for the Matildas at the U-19 level in 2002 at the FIFA World Championships in Canada. She has been a mainstay with her native national team ever since, capping 14 times in the 2003 FIFA World Cup and 2004 Olympic Games. She began her club career with the Queensland Sting of the Australian Women’s National Football League before joining the Toowoomba Raiders and she is best known for playing stout defense. * * * * * O’Hara Wins MAC Hermann Trophy Kelley O’Hara, who joined the Pali Blues last June and immediately asserted herself as a leader in the midfield, has been awarded collegiate soccer’s highest honor for her recently completed senior year at Stanford. Last Friday’s Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy was an all Blues affair with North Carolina midfielder Tobin Heath and UCLA forward Lauren Cheney in attendance as the other two finalists. Since 2002, the ‘MAC’ Hermann Trophy has been the unified award presented to the top college player in the country as decided by Division I coaches. “It’s a great way to end the college season,” O’Hara said. “I’m so thankful, and blessed. But the reason I was able to get the award was because of my teammates. I couldn’t have done it without them.” Along with Blues teammate and Palisadian Ali Riley, O’Hara led Stanford to a 25-1 record and its first appearance in the NCAA finals. She shattered school scoring records along the way, leading the nation in goals (26) and points (65).

Dolphins Drop Dorsey, 74-65

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Garrett Nevels looks to drive on Dorsey's Marvin Hall during the Dolphins' 74-65 nonleague victory last Thursday.
Garrett Nevels looks to drive on Dorsey’s Marvin Hall during the Dolphins’ 74-65 nonleague victory last Thursday.

There was no stopping Garrett Nevels last Thursday night. The Palisades High senior scored 32 points as the Dolphins won their home opener over Dorsey, 74-65, in the team’s final tune-up before league play. The game was called with 2:47 remaining in the fourth quarter when Dorsey Coach Kevin Gibson was ejected after being assessed his second technical foul for arguing with the officials. By rule, if a referee disqualifies a coach the contest is forfeited and play terminated at that point. Adam Griffin had 11 points and Kenneth Towner added nine for the Dolphins, who led 36-25 at halftime and 58-51 after three quarters. Senior Anthony Dees scored 28 points, including 5 three-pointers, to lead Dorsey (6-7). The Dons made only 9 of 25 foul shots. On Monday, Palisades (12-4) began its Western League schedule with a 84-73 victory over visiting University. Trailing by three after the first quarter, the Dolphins used a 23-12 run in the second quarter to seize control of the game. The Dolphins hosted Venice Wednesday (result undetermined at press time), hosts perennial City Section powerhouse Fairfax on Friday (7 p.m. tip-off) and travels to LACES next Wednesday. Palisades’ girls varsity basketball squad also triumphed in its league opener Monday, routing host University 55-35. Guard Ashlie Bruner led the way with 20 points, center Donae Moguel added 11 and forward Nicole Flyer had eight for the Dolphins (8-5), who led 19-13 at halftime and 42-20 after three quarters. The girls hosted Venice Wednesday (result undetermined at press time), travel to reigning league champion Fairfax Friday (6:30 p.m. tip-off) and host LACES next Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Johnston Is All-American at USATF Nationals

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Palisades High freshman Drake Johnston finished 25th at the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Reno, Nevada. Photo: Gus Torres
Palisades High freshman Drake Johnston finished 25th at the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Reno, Nevada. Photo: Gus Torres

Palisades High freshman Drake Johnston kept right on running after the high school cross country season ended in the fall and if recent results are any indication he figures to net the Dolphins quite a few points in track and field in the spring. First, Johnston won the CA Region 15 race (comprised of runners from Southern California, Nevada and Hawaii) to qualify for the prestigious 2009 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. The 15-year-old completed the 4K course at Kit Carson Park in Escondido in 14:00.11 to take first place out of 54 runners. Then, the 15-year-old placed 25th out of 242 runners in the national championship youth boys’ 4K race at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nevada. The start was delayed for over an hour while the course was cleared of two feet of snow. Once the gun sounded, however, Johnston turned up the heat, finishing in 14:24 to earn All-American honors. Ben Saarel of Provo, Utah, won in 13:36. “At the start of the race it was 20 degrees and the snow kept falling,” Johnston said. “Running in the snow was so much fun, but it took a lot out of me too. I was hoping to place better, but since I was sick I didn’t have anything left in the tank. I got All-American, so I’m happy.” Johnston played an integral role on Palisades’ varsity squad, which qualified for the City Section cross country finals at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. There, he was 44th overall and second on the team, covering the three-mile distance in 16:46–the ninth fastest time ever recorded by a freshman in the history of that race. “I ran injured all season but worked hard with LA Sports Therapy to overcome my hip injury and started altitude training over the summer at TriFit LA to be ready for a long season,” Johnston said. “When my high school season ended I was feeling great and Coach [Ron] Brumel had me in peak shape.” Johnson was the top sixth grader at Paul Revere in 2007, winning the mile-and-a-half race in 8:57. In July, he represented the South Orange County Wildcats Track Club at the USA Track & Field Championships in Ypisilanti, Michigan, leading his 4 x 800 relay team to victory in 9:03, taking third in the 3,000 meters (9:32) and fourth in the pole vault (8′ 4′). “I’ve taken a long break and am excited to start training next week for the track season at Pali,” Johnston said. “We’re going to have a great team.”

Dolphins’ Duo Comes of Age

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Palisades High Freshmen Win 16s Doubles Title at Copper Bowl

Alex Giannini (left) slaps hands with doubles partner Robbie Bellamy during the Copper Bowl finals last Thursday in Tucson, Arizona.
Alex Giannini (left) slaps hands with doubles partner Robbie Bellamy during the Copper Bowl finals last Thursday in Tucson, Arizona.

Neither Robbie Bellamy nor his doubles partner Alex Giannini expected to advance very far at least week’s Copper Bowl in Tucson, Arizona. That might be the biggest reason they were lifting the first-place trophy at the end of the Level III national junior tennis tournament. “We were unseeded coming in so I didn’t expect to win the doubles,” Bellamy said. “We actually won most of our matches pretty easily. I think what makes us tough is that I’m good at the baseline and Alex is good at the net.” What made the feat so impressive is that Bellamy just “aged up” to the 16s division and Giannini won’t do so for another month. Both are still 14, yet they carved through a draw loaded with older, more experienced players, knocking off four seeded teams en route to the title. “We played really well in the finals,” Giannini said of the pair’s 8-2 rout over No. 5-seeded Matthew Browne of Florida and Garrett Gordon of Georgia. “We couldn’t beat them in singles but doubles is a different game. We were really on that day. Browne has a huge serve but we broke him every time.” The win was especially satisfying for Giannini, who was playing his second tournament after sitting out three months with a foot injury. Bellamy, meanwhile, won three national doubles titles–all with different partners–and came within a couple points of the No. 1 national ranking. “I’ve been struggling with my serve for five months,” Giannini said. “I developed a bad habit that I’m trying to correct. I didn’t play well in the semifinals but Robbie was awesome.” Bellamy and Giannini, both ninth graders at Palisades High, ousted top-seeded Jay Billa of Folsom and James Boyd of San Diego, 8-6, in the semifinals. With the pro set knotted at 6-6 and Bellamy in trouble at Love-40, he reeled off back-to-back service winners, then won a long rally from the backcourt to reach deuce. Two more big serves led to easy volley winners for Giannini and the Palisades duo then broke Boyd to close out the match. If not for an equipment problem, Bellamy might also have reached the 16s singles final. He was up a break at 3-1 in the third set in the semifinals when he cracked the frame of his last racquet against 10th-seeded Nicolas Montoya of Scottsdale, Arizona, and lost 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. “By the time we got to 5-5 my racquet was bent out of shape and I couldn’t do anything except lob the ball back,” said Bellamy, who turns 15 on January 26. “Then, in the third-place match I got killed by one of the guys we beat in the doubles final (Browne). It just goes to show that doubles is a completely different game.” Wayne Bryan, whose twin sons Mike and Bob won the Copper Bowl as juniors in high school and went on to become the No. 1-ranked professional doubles team in the world, offered high praise for the Palisades pair. “The Brothers were usually No. 1 in the nation their first and second year, but I don’t ever recall them winning a national title playing in a higher age group.” Next up for Bellamy and Giannini is the Fullerton Tournament in two weeks. In the spring, both boys will play for their high school on a varsity team that is not only an overwhelming favorite to repeat as City Section champion but figures to be one of the best in all of Southern California. “That should be fun,” Giannini said. “Coach [Bud] Kling hasn’t told us where we’ll be playing yet or even if we’ll be partners but I know the team as a whole should be pretty strong.”

Patrick’s Diner Hangs On Amidst Dispute

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Owner Silvio Moreira and his kitchen staff at Patrick's Roadhouse. Photo: Ralph Elliott Starkweather
Owner Silvio Moreira and his kitchen staff at Patrick’s Roadhouse. Photo: Ralph Elliott Starkweather

As a reporter entered Patrick’s Roadhouse one morning before Christmas, there could not have been more than a dozen customers occupying the colorful roadside diner along PCH. On a table near the entrance, the piercing sunshine fell on a memoir by Noel Neill, the actress who portrayed Lois Lane on the old ‘Superman’ TV series, who lives nearby and frequents the Santa Monica Canyon diner. Mounted on a wooden beam overhead was a framed 1990 issue of Los Angeles magazine when Patrick’s made the hip list, and an article pointed out that no less than Arnold, Katzenberg, Ovitz, and Kurt and Goldie loved to eat here. Scrawled on the chalkboard was the day’s lunch special: tuna salad quesadilla. At the counter, manager Cherry Gustafson, a gregarious, attractive young woman with a megawatt smile in a black tee, her arms crawling with tattoos, pours a cup of coffee and jokes around with a dreadlocked surfer. On his way out, another customer hits his head on a stretch of fake pearls strung up throughout the front of the restaurant, over the lunch counter and a row of wooden booths painted bright green and adorned with shamrocks. Mixed in with the brick and wood d’cor are statues of lions and a brass deep-sea diver’s helmet, which stares out blankly toward the front entrance. The beads are hard to notice at first amid the cluster of plants, the fake snake, and the ceiling fans hanging overhead. Tinsel snowflakes and other Yuletide decorations added to the crazy visual clutter running down the restaurant’s length. ‘I don’t know if it’s very Christmas-y,’ Gustafson admitted regarding the plastic pearls, ‘but I just put it up.’ This was just a typical morning at Patrick’s, an inexpensive, informal breakfast and lunch destination amid a two-block district of pricey restaurants. Except in a legal sense, this was not. It was Friday, December 18, the day after the eviction date for Patrick’s had expired; the result of a complicated landlord dispute between Anthony Fischler, from whom owner Silvio Moreira sublets on a month-to-month basis, and M & M Investments, from whom Fischler leases. A December 21 Los Angeles Times article further suggested in-fighting between Fischler and his siblings over management of the property. And on this date, observing Gustafson’s upbeat, outsized personality and the mountain of home fries sizzling on the kitchen grill, there was absolutely no sense of impending closure. On Tuesday morning this week, Patrick’s was still standing. Elvis crooned ‘That’s All Right, Mama’ over the speakers as Moreira was hands on, refilling beverages, serving entrees and answering phones. Wearing a t-shirt, faded jeans and a hoody, the youthful Moreira could easily be mistaken for one of his customers, and he appeared at home among his regulars. ‘There are real people here,’ said the Culver City resident. ‘Everybody’s welcome here. I price it so that the plumbers, the street workers can eat here, people who love to surf. I welcome everybody.’ A call came in. After a long pause, Moreira replied, ‘I appreciate your support.’ It’s been like this for the past few weeks, and Moreira said he was appreciative of the community outpouring, not to mention impressed with how savvy some customers were regarding the particulars of his situation, which has been well-chronicled by various media outlets. So where does the situation stand this week? ‘We’re on a holding pattern,’ said Moreira, who is waiting for a court date later this month when all parties will go before a judge to resolve the matter. Moreira said the uncertainty of the situation has been hard on him and his staff. For now, he will carry on, business as usual, and he added that Patrick’s will certainly remain open through January. Back in the 1940s, the Patrick’s Roadhouse site was occupied by the 10-unit Entrada Motel and its adjoining diner (four booths, stools and a takeout counter for the beach crowd). Roy and Dody Colburn purchased a one-quarter share of the business in 1948, named the diner Roy’s Coffee Shop, and later started their own line of custom-made beachwear (known today as Roy’s Custom Sportswear). According to oft-told lore, Patrick’s original owner, Bill Fischler, patronized Roy’s one day in 1974 while on a beach visit with his four boys. When he complained to Roy about the quality of his burgers, the owner (eager to retire) suggested that Fischler could buy the place and make his own burgers. So Fischler handed the owner $100 and, the next day, began operating the diner, which he renamed Patrick’s after his youngest son. Today, Patrick Fischler works in Hollywood as a character actor.   Moreira, a native of Portugal, came to work at Patrick’s 18 years ago to when he was a Santa Monica College student. After waiting at the restaurant for many years under Bill Fischler, Moreira assumed ownership from Bill’s son, Anthony, by 2005 after Bill’s daughter, Tracey, had become overwhelmed with running it. Bill Fischler died in 1997.   ’I’ve had so many great little moments here,’ Moreira said. ‘I’ve met so many high-profile people’senators and congressmen, entertainment people. I’ve seen a lot of celebrities come in here without make-up. Major writers and entertainment people. I’ve seen huge deals made here. People have their meetings here. It’s casual and not intimidating.’   There’s also the story behind the large mural of a woman on the side of the building’s exterior might be cosmic, if not supernatural. Right as Moreira was about to hire an artist to repaint it, the original artist, a man in his 70s who went by the nom de plume ‘Silvani,’ ‘came out of nowhere,’ Moreira said. ‘He was like a nomad, living in a camper. He came back just at the right time. Like divine intervention.’ Silvani repainted the mural in a few days.   As for the interior, ‘I painted it, I rearranged everything,’ said Moreira, referring to when he originally took over the restaurant’s reins. ‘It is totally different but no one would notice because it still feels the same.’   Patrick’s is also a survivor, having hung on after a fire in 2003 forced its closure for six months, and after a couple of years work on a neighboring Chevron station made Patrick’s parking lot inaccessible. On Tuesday, two middle-aged men dressed in black talk with Moreira as they exit.   ’Don’t wait another 10 years to come back,’ he tells them.   Enter actress Neill, who has been frequenting Patrick’s for about a decade. She told the Palisadian-Post that she usually stops by for the hot dogs or a bowl of oatmeal. She also enjoys meeting various Canyon denizens who make up Patrick’s cast of regulars.   Among the loyal patrons is Dr. Jay Grossman, a Brentwood-based dentist whose wife, Briar, grew up in Pacific Palisades. ‘She introduced me to the place and I’ve been coming here on a regular basis almost daily,’ he said.   ’This is like coming to see your friends,’ said Dr. Mark Fischman, an acupuncture specialist in the Canyon who has a menu entry (the Doctor Mark omelet) named after him. ‘It’s a second office for me.’   Customers such as Grossman and Fischman told the Post that they mourn the idea of a restaurant as distinctive and eccentric as Patrick’s being replaced (as rumored) by a trendy coffee house or yet another upscale restaurant.   ’It’s the antithesis of a Starbucks,’ Fischman said, ‘which is so corporate and clean. What you find here is something that’s unique. It’s eclectic, and it has the personal human touch.’   ’This is the last of the great coffee shops,’ said longtime customer Ralph Starkweather. ‘They’re disappearing. There once was a time when it was possible to stop at wonderful places with humans. Everything today is so corporate, even the Denny’s. Where do you go to get waitresses who call you ‘Hon’ anymore?’

Henry Waxman Reviews Obama’s First Year

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Congressman Henry Waxman addresses a packed audience at the Woman's Club that included County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (center) in the front row.
Congressman Henry Waxman addresses a packed audience at the Woman’s Club that included County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (center) in the front row.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Running for Assembly District 53, says Kate Anderson, is as exciting as giving birth to her twin daughters. She is vying to fill the same Westside seat that her mentor and former boss in Washington, D.C., Rep. Henry Waxman held before being elected to Congress in 1974. So on Sunday she joined with some 225 Pacific Palisades Democratic Club members and guests to listen to Waxman’s periodic congressional review at the Woman’s Club. For Waxman, 2009 was exciting indeed, but ‘the most challenging year I’ve ever had,’ he admitted. With a warm welcome from a roomful of likeminded constituents, the 18-term congressman maximized his diminutive stature with a stool and a good-natured, ‘Speaking to you has already been an uplifting experience,’ as he stood tall behind the podium.   Emerging from two years as chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, trying to oppose efforts by the Bush Administration to block congressional oversight and roll back health and environmental laws, Waxman entered the powerful congressional inner sanctum last January when he was elected chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He beat out Rep. John Dingell, who at 82 is the longest-serving representative in Congress. Alluding to the fight within the Democratic Party for the committee chairmanship, Waxman, 70, explained his reasoning. ‘After the 2008 election, I thought we had a historic opportunity to deal with issues that have been pushed to the back-burner for too long. If I could be chair of Energy and Commerce, I would have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to push forward legislation on energy and health reform in 2009.’ While Waxman praised Dingell as ‘terrific on health issues, not so good on environment’ (the Michigan Democrat has a crippled automobile industry to represent), he felt he could push the legislation through the Democratic Caucus. Waxman had admired Dingell’s leadership on healthcare reform and recognized him as the lead advocate in the House to push health care reform this past year. Well equipped with facts and a concise timeline, Waxman reviewed the three areas of legislation that happen to be under his committee’s aegis while also being top priorities for the Obama Administration: energy, healthcare and consumer protection. Waxman has advocated for healthcare reform for decades, and has sponsored a long list of bills that have been enacted into law. These measures include the largest federally funded program for people living with HIV/AIDS, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, and tobacco regulation. His record on environmental and health protection includes the 1996 Food Quality Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, passed the same year. Now as chairman, Waxman has had to put his skills as an adroit politician and negotiator into overdrive. He acknowledged the recalcitrance of the Republicans, whose lack of bipartisan support, he asserts, is all part of their strategy to defeat Democratic candidates in 2010 and President Obama in 2012. ‘No Republican supported the economic stimulus bill except Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter, who, you could argue, are the only moderate Republicans left in Congress,’ Waxman said. ‘Even when you have Republicans who want to work with you (such as Senator Specter before he switched over to the Democrats), they come under intimidation’ from within their party. He offered comments from Texas Rep. Joe Barton as example A. ‘Barton said to me, ‘I don’t believe in global warming, I don’t believe it’s a problem, and I don’t believe in working with you on a problem that I don’t believe exists.’ At least he was honest.’ Having reconciled the fact that he will have to depend on the Democratic majority, nevertheless acknowledged the broad representation of different views within the party and from different parts of the country. ‘On the energy bill, we had to work with regional differences, so we proposed a bill making sure there was input from the business community and the environmental community. On the healthcare issue, the committee had to work with the Blue Dog conservative coalition and the liberal Democrats.’ Waxman praised the solid leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in getting both bills passed by the House. ‘Under that velvet glove, she has steel,’ he said. ‘She’s tough; she knows how to get the votes.’ Waxman had three objectives for clean-energy legislation, known as the Waxman-Markey bill (Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee), that would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, promote the development of new technologies and create millions of new jobs, and reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Now with the House and Senate versions of the healthcare bill passed, Waxman and other key Democrats will start drafting a compromise bill, a task that cut short his Christmas break and had him returning to Washington, D. C., Monday morning. The differences between the two draft bills seem to center on taxing high-end health plans, restricting federal subsidies from abortion coverage, and creating a government-run health insurer, or ‘public option.’ Answering the question whether the healthcare negotiations would be televised on C-SPAN, Waxman said ‘No. They may not even be worked out by a conference committee,’ but instead by key Congressional leaders and President Obama. The audience was allotted 45 minutes for written questions, some of them prepared at home, others before Waxman took the podium. An especially informed group, the Democratic Club members were interested in topics ranging from healthcare, global warming and Afghanistan to cap-and-trade, election reform, the West L.A. Veterans property and even noise, pollution and safety issues at the Santa Monica Airport. ‘I am very skeptical about the president’s proposal for Afghanistan,’ Waxman said. ‘How can we expect a corrupt and incompetent government to protect its own population? We can’t afford to spend that money; we can’t be all things to all people all over the world.’ For the most part, Waxman acquitted himself expertly on the issues and declined to comment on issues that he had not thoroughly studied, such as certain provisions of CAFTA and NAFTA, saying only that he hadn’t voted for either of the free-trade bills. He took pains to explain in detail the Byzantine approaches to treating abortion in the healthcare bills, which involve the states’ responsibilities and federal exclusions. He concluded by reiterating his longstanding support of the right of women to freedom of choice, including the full extension of this right to lower-income women who depend on the Medicaid program. ‘The first year of the Obama Administration is not yet finished,’ Waxman said, adding that it has been tough ‘when you had the hand the president inherited from the Bush Administration. ‘But I have a lot of confidence in President Obama. He’s trying to do the right thing. He’s very smart, very thoughtful, and he’s taking his time. The first year of his presidency will not actually end until February or March or April.’

‘Chapter Two’ Opens This Friday at Theatre Palisades

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Theater Preview

‘Chapter Two,’ written by Neil Simon, opens January 8 at the Pierson Playhouse. With the holidays and 2009 behind us, it’s time for a few laughs and this play written in 1977 by one of American’s most popular playwrights, provides lighthearted entertainment. Also a television and film screenwriter, Simon has delighted audiences with his well-drawn characters, witty dialogue and heartfelt stories since his first play, ‘Come Blow Your Horn,’ opened on Broadway in 1961. His mega-hit plays such as ”Barefoot in the Park,” ‘Plaza Suite,” ‘Biloxi Blues” and ”Brighton Beach Memoirs” have made him one of America’s most produced playwrights. ‘Chapter Two,’ based on Simon’s experience of losing his first wife of 20 years, Joan Baim, was made into one of the most popular movies of 1979, starring James Caan, Marsha Mason, Joseph Bologna and Valerie Harper. Many consider it one of his finest works. The topic, love, is never easy, but Simon captures the complexity beautifully, allowing for laughs as the story unfolds. The story follows a novelist, George Schneider, in his 40s who has lost his wife, Barbara, to cancer. The play opens as he returns from a European holiday during which he has tried to find some peace of mind. ‘Chapter Two in the life of George Schneider. Where do I begin?” he asks his brother Leo. Schnieder quickly discovers that next to Christmas, loneliness is the biggest business in America. In an adjacent apartment, the recently divorced Jennie Malone, an actress, is telling her best friend that in lieu of ever having another relationship, she is going to spend the rest of her life focusing on theater. Her other plans include reading all of the classics starting with ‘Agamemnon.’ Schneider and Malone are accidentally thrust together and the relationship takes off. The first act is about falling in love, and Simon’s dialogue provides laughs. But, the playwright is a realist, too. As the second act unfolds, the story isn’t all fluff. Simon acknowledges that people’s inner demons and personal problems can be a major obstacle in preventing people from staying in love. The play of two lonely people confronting their past, even as they go forward, is funny, poignant and complicated. George feels unfaithful and like he’s deserting his deceased wife by falling in love with someone else. ‘Chapter Two’ is directed by Wayne Sherman, who has a nice touch with comedies, having previously directed numerous plays at Theatre Palisades, including ‘Noises Off,’ ‘Lost in Yonkers’ and ‘Plaza Suite.’ The cast for this production includes Dan Adams, Philip Bartolf, Lisa Cicchetti and Christel Smith. The show is produced by Palisadian Martha Hunter, who also frequently graces the stage with her talent. Thanks goes to the play selection committee for once again selecting a work for the entire community to enjoy. The play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from January 8 through February 14 at the Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Tickets: (310) 454-1970 or visit:www.theatrepalisades.org.

Pearlman Wins Spot in Collage Museum

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'Girl with a Guitar' by Esther Pearlman
‘Girl with a Guitar’ by Esther Pearlman

  A collage by local Esther Pearlman, a member of the Pacific Palisades Art Association for 10 years, was accepted in the permanent collection at the International Museum of Collage and Assemblage in Fort Worth, Texas. Known as the Baker?s Dozen Collage Exchange, the competition included artists nationwide.   Visit collagemuseum.com.

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