Dr. Jerry Turney, plant pathologist for L. A. County, will address members and guests of the Palisades Garden Club on Monday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Ave. With the continuing problem of Citrus disease, Turney will discuss the history and current status of the major citrus diseases in the state, Other blights he has studied include the oleander leaf scorch, which is caused by the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and is fatal. He may even talk about the causes of the disappointing tomato crop this hit locally and nationwide. The fungus started in nurseries in the South, where the plants were sprouted before being shipped and sold at nurseries across the country. Turney received his B. S. degree in botany from Cal Poly and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the UC Riverside. He has served as the curator of the camellia gardens at the Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens, a research horticulturist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and is currently the plant pathologist for the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures for the County of Los Angeles. In addition, Turney was formerly a licensed landscape contractor, and is currently a licensed agricultural pest control advisor and an ISA certified arborist. His primary fields of expertise are plant pathology, mycology and arboriculture. Born in Redlands, Turney currently lives in South Pasadena. His leisure time interests include basketball, fly fishing, canoeing and backpacking.
Neighborhood Chef Steve Mindel to Sign Book Oct. 4
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Attorney Steve Mindel is a managing partner at Fienberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein. He mentors USC law school graduates, sits on the advisory board for a family law legal clinic, is a past co-president of University Synagogue, has earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has refereed for AYSO Region 69. But to his Pacific Palisades neighbors, he is known as the king of the kitchen, the ‘Grenola loop’ chef. (The streets off Las Cases south of Sunset constitute the loop.) Every year his family hosts five to six large dinner parties and Mindel does the cooking. Mindel, with the help of wife Nancy and sons Sam, 16, and Jake 13, has just published his first book, ‘Cooking for Our Friends.’ He will sign and talk about his book at Village Books on October 4. He also promises to bring some of the appetizers he discusses in his book from 4 to 6 p.m. ‘About 10 years ago, Sam and I decided that we should have a family cookbook and document all our family recipes so we wouldn’t lose them,’ said Mindel, who started storing the dinner menus and recipes from different parties, which ranged from 30 to 300 people. At those events, Mindel masterminded and cooked everything from appetizers and salads to main courses and desserts. As Mindel pondered what to do for his 50th birthday, Sam suggested putting together a cookbook that could be given to guests at the party. Mindel agreed and pulled the family in. His sons took photos and arranged them on the page and his wife served as copy editor. ‘The cookbook was a good idea because it drew us even closer to each other by having us recall all of the joyous times we have had in the kitchen together,’ Jake said. ‘I took some of the photographs, helped make the food look appetizing for the photographs and assisted in the cooking. The difficult part was putting the finishing touches on the book.’ The first half of the book lists the party and the menu, and on the opposing page, photos of the event are shown, including holidays such as Thanksgiving, Passover, Hanukkah, New Year’s and Fourth of July. There are also celebratory dinners for his law firm, the University Synagogue Pillar Dinner, and a fundraiser for John Kerry, where Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sampled Mindel’s barbecued tri-tip roast, penne rigate with a pesto sauce, barbecued sausage and grilled vegetables. For that party Mindel, planned and cooked for 300 people, and, for his sons’ bar mitzvahs, he cooked for 200. The second part of the book contains the recipes along with photos of what the food should look like as its being prepared. ‘It’s how guys cook,’ Mindel said. ‘It’s more like a shop manual, with lots of pictures and few words, because that’s how we do it. Here’s the meat, here’s what it looks like after it’s browned.’ The section also provides tips such as having barbecued ribs sit in the refrigerator overnight, covered with a dry rub, before cooking and how to reheat food before serving it. Mindel guesses he has been cooking since he was seven or eight, following an accident in which his mother fractured her back. ‘She was the executive chef, I was the sous chef,’ said Mindel, who grew up in Fowler, California. Mindel continued cooking until he left home at 18 to attend UCLA. In college and during law school, he loved to cook for friends and neighbors. Mindel is already planning his second book about the nitty-gritty of cooking for a big party, including how to figure preparation time, the quantities to order and prepare, and how much staff you’ll need. ‘My ultimate goal is to self-publish three cookbooks and then take it to a publisher for a wider distribution,’ Mindel said.
Thursday, October 1 – Thursday, October 8
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Community briefing on the Temescal Canyon Park Stormwater Project, 6 to 8 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Palisades Charter High School’s Back to School Night, 6:15 to 9 p.m., including a book fair in the library starting at 5:15 p.m. La Strada International Deli will sell dinner entrees for $5 each and donate $1 from every sale to the PTSA. Information: Debra Meiers at dsm.emailaddress@verizon.net. Two Conscious Parenting experts present ‘Little Soul Productions: Self-Esteem,’ a parent/child DVD with a hearty story, music and animation, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Paula La Brot reads her children’s book ‘Ben’s Blimp in China’ 6:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. All the baby pandas in China have mysteriously disappeared and children learn geography while rescuing the bears. La Brot, a Topanga resident, received her master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Theatre Palisades presents Larry Shue’s ‘The Nerd,’ 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. The character-driven farce centers on a dinner party interrupted and brought down by the titular houseguest from hell. Performances continue Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through October 11.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
The Palisades-Malibu YMCA Pumpkin Patch opens at Simon Meadow, corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard. The Patch will be open weekdays 3 to 7 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
Pacific Palisades attorney Steve Mindel discusses and signs his cookbook, ‘Cooking for Our Friends,’ 4 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 12.)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
Catherine Mullally, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, will talk about breast health in Los Angeles County, 6:30 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited. ‘The Face in the Mirror: Writers Reflect on Their Dreams of Youth and the Reality of Age’ features reflective essays from 20 celebrated authors who explore the person they wanted to be and the person they are today. Contributors present at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books will include Aviva Layton, Aimee Liu, Leon Whiteson, Jane Ganahl, Barbara Abercromie and Victoria Zackheim. Dr. Jerry Turney, plant pathologist for L. A. County, will address members and guests of the Palisades Garden Club, 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Ave. (See story, page 13.)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
Mark Frost, a novelist, television/film writer, director and executive producer, will sign his latest book, ‘The Game Six: Cincinnati, Boston and the 1975 World Series: The Triumph of America’s Pastime,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Frost conducted interviews with nearly all the players involved (as well as fans, sportscasters, and historians) to recreate what many consider to be the most exciting baseball game ever played. Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The early agenda includes a discussion of Los Angeles Unified School District’s plans to sell .027 acres of land on Temescal Canyon Road across from where the Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center is being built at Palisades Charter High School. The public is invited.
Vikings Still Rule the Beach
PaliHi Football Loses Sixth Straight to Santa Monica, 35-0, in Rivalry Game
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Watching Palisades High players walk off the field at Santa Monica College last Friday night, one would not have guessed they had just lost the “Battle by the Beach,” 35-0. Yes, Palisades suffered another blowout–its sixth in a row at the hands of its crosstown rival. Yet the feeling on the sidelines afterward was far different than the one that existed following the season-opening loss at Hollywood. That’s because, over the course of 48 minutes, the Dolphins had made strides towards becoming the team Head Coach Kelly Loftus and Offensive Coordinator Kris Hawkes envisioned it could. “It’s a learning curve and we showed some improvement tonight,” Hawkes said. “However, we have a long way to go. We still don’t have 11 minds out there working together. The bottom line is we’re not going to win if we put up zero points.” No, the Dolphins didn’t score, but they had several sustained drives against perhaps the toughest opponent on the schedule. If not for a costly penalty and a fumble deep in Vikings territory late in the second quarter, the score might have been closer than 21-0 at halftime. Making his first start after sitting out Palisades’ first game with an ankle strain, senior quarterback Preon Morgan offered glimpses of what fans should expect to see at Stadium by the Sea this season. He made several electrifying runs and finished with 86 yards in 11 carries and nine pass completions for 51 yards. “In the beginning, I felt a little slow,” said Morgan, who had only a couple of days to practice before his first start under center. “I had the ankle taped up pretty good so that wasn’t a problem.” Morgan and his receivers were not in sync at times, a detail the quarterback hopes to fix in the Dolphins’ home opener tomorrow against Lynwood. “My play recognition needs to get better and we need to adjust some of our routs and we’ll be fine,” said Morgan, who was told he would start earlier that day. “This is only my first week of practice so it’s only going to get better.” Loftus said the thing his team needs to improve the most is the running game. Malcolm Creer gained 43 yards in 12 carries and Kemonta Reed added 15 yards in five carries against the Vikings. Loftus said his backs must do a better job finding the holes: “We need to get more explosion coming through the line.” Ben Ingram had four receptions for 13 yards, Kevin Mann caught three passes for 26 yards, Creer caught one pass for 11 yards and Paul Logan had one catch for five yards. Brandon Taylor rushed for 113 yards in 13 carries and scored all three of the Vikings’ touchdowns in the first half. Palisades’ defense held Santa Monica at bay for most of the last three quarters, except for a 40-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Safron in the third quarter and Shane Jones’ three-yard run with 2:13 left in the game’a touchdown set up by a botched snap that Palisades punter Alex Anastasi was forced to fall on at the Dolphins’ 5-yard line. Climaco led the way with seven tackles, Samuel Robertson, Tommy Brown and Aaron Ussery each had six, Neko Holmes and Kolmus Iheuhacho both had five and Jeremy Smith, Hakeem Jawanza, Devyn Vatete-Reyes, Marquice Shokir, Roman Thomas and William Goldberg made four tackles apiece. One positive was that the Dolphins, who were flagged 10 times for 120 yards against Hollywood, committed only three penalties for 30 yards against Santa Monica. “The key is to improve each game and be firing on all cylinders by the time league rolls around,” Hawkes told his troops. “We have to have a great week of practice.” Santa Monica got the better of its beach rival for the sixth straight time–matching the streak it had from 1984-89–and has won the last four meetings by 35, 35, 36 and 35 points. Palisades’ last win over the Vikings was a 16-12 victory in 2003 under coach Jason Blatt. The Dolphins’ largest margin of victory was 22 points–a 61-37 blowout under coach Ron Price in 1999. “We can build on what we did tonight,” Loftus said. “We played well in spurts, now we just have to be able to finish drives and get points in the red zone.” With its victory last Friday, Santa Monica improved to 16-6-2 against Palisades. Below is a year-by-year look at the rivalry: 2009 Santa Monica 35, Palisades 0 2008 Santa Monica 42, Palisades 6 2007 Santa Monica 35, Palisades 0 2006 Santa Monica 42, Palisades 7 2005 Santa Monica 24, Palisades 14 2004 Santa Monica 20, Palisades 7 2003 Palisades 16, Santa Monica 2 2002 Santa Monica 20, Palisades 9 1999 Palisades 61, Santa Monica 37 1998 Palisades 23, Santa Monica 21 1997 Palisades 15, Santa Monica 13 1996 Santa Monica 35, Palisades 28 1990 Palisades 0, Santa Monica 0 1989 Santa Monica 24, Palisades 8 1988 Santa Monica 21, Palisades 0 1987 Santa Monica 48, Palisades 42 1986 Santa Monica 32, Palisades 0 1985 Santa Monica 34, Palisades 6 1984 Santa Monica 28, Palisades 7 1983 Palisades 26, Santa Monica 13 1982 Santa Monica 21, Palisades 0 1981 Palisades 14, Santa Monica 14 1980 Palisades 21, Santa Monica 15 1979 Santa Monica 24, Palisades 15
Frosh/Soph Blanks SaMo
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Palisades High’s frosh/soph football team showed that the future of the program is bright, shutting out host Santa Monica, 36-0, last Thursday afternoon. The lopsided win was the Dolphins’ second under first-year coach Ray Marsden. The balanced attack was evident from the start as quarterback Nathan Dodson found tight end Dylan Helberg for a 15-yard touchdown. Hand-offs to Max Smith and Ricky Lynch resulted in 1-yard and 12-yard scoring runs. Gio Falcon handed off to Caelen Ryan, who took it 40 yards for the game’s final touchdown. Lynch, who scored Palisades’ first points of the season last week against Hollywood, kicked three extra points with Dodson holding. Not only did Palisades’ defense keep the Vikings off the scoreboard, it also produced points of its own. Willie Anderson’s tackle in the end zone led to a safety. Then, late in the game, Smith intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for the Dolphins’ fourth touchdown. The Dolphins have outscored the opposition 63-6 in their first two games. “We [coaches] were very pleased with the whole team’s effort today,” Marsden said. “We’re beginning to see what these young men are capable of and we’re looking forward to the Lynwood game next week.”
Palisades Tennis Serves Notice
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Coach Sean Passan figured the Palisades High girls’ tennis team would take its lumps early in the season and that’s just what happened to the Dolphins in back-to-back intersectional matches against CIF powers Beverly Hills and Mira Costa last week. Passan, in his second year since taking over for longtime coach Bud Kling, has an inexperienced but talented squad which he hopes to mold into a championship contender by season’s end. “More than anything those first two matches showed the girls that there is high caliber tennis out there and that’s the level I expect,” Passan said. “I want them to set goals, try to achieve them and have fun, win or lose.” Playing 18 sets under the round robin scoring used by the Southern Section, Palisades fell to Beverly Hills last Thursday. Technically, it was only a practice match for Palisades so Passan didn’t keep score, but he said the host Normans were the overall winners even though Palisades took a majority of the doubles sets. “Both of us [coaches] were subbing players in and out,” Passan said. “I’m trying to get a feel for who likes playing where. Our lineup isn’t set by any means but I have some ideas for certain players.” Against Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach, score was kept and the Mustangs came away with a 17-1 victory. “They enjoy matches like this because they get a chance to test themselves against better players,” Passan said. “That’s valuable experience for a team as young as ours.” Sophomore Jessie Corneli played No. 1 singles in both matches and was happy to get tough matches in before the start of Western League play. “I didn’t win any sets but I got some games,” said Corneli, who lives in Inglewood but has always gone to school in Pacific Palisades–first at Marquez Elementary, then at Paul Revere Middle School and now at PaliHi. “We’ve got it under control now. I think we have pretty strong singles and while we don’t have a lot of experience we have the potential to be really good.” Corneli said she prefers the City Section’s straight-up, best two-out-of-three set format, where No. 1 plays No. 1, No. 2 plays No. 2 and so on down. The first team to seven points wins the match. “I prefer that because it’s easier to just play one girl, instead of trying to figure a different player out every set,” said Corneli, the only Palisades player to participate in the All-City Individuals last season, reaching the second round of singles. “The key right now is taking it one match at a time. Just focus on winning each match. If we do that we’ll make the playoffs.” West Valley League rivals Granada Hills and Taft are two of the favorites for the City title. Palisades and Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies are the favorites in the Western League, although Passan admitted he knows very little about several of the teams: “The University coach is now the LACES coach, Hamilton lost everyone except its best player, we lost almost everybody and the same goes with Venice.” After spirited tryouts, Passan narrowed the squad down to 30 players. The last couple of varsity spots are being contested by a handful of players. Sophomore Perri Zaret, senior Elizabeth Silvers and sophomore Sumayyah Shabazz will join Corneli in singles, while junior Saba Youssefzadeh and sophomore Alice Musher will challenge for positions too. Varsity captain Dalia Shamsian will play doubles along with senior Ashley Navas and juniors Malina Loehrer, Pamela Soffer, Katie Takakjian and Phoebe Driscoll. Sophomore Emily Wettleson will captain the junior varsity, which includes senior Yuliana Baskina, juniors Brindly Yermian, Charlotte Farrant, Regina Doland, Madi Bisharat and Shadi Amerieh, sophomores Elle Nakamura and Leslie Ramos and freshmen Jenny Chang, Sara Freedland, Annie Gingold, Julie Levitan, Katherine Pfannkuche and Melody Wilkenfeld. “Our whole focus right now is on Hamilton,” Passan said during Monday’s practice at the Palisades Recreation Center. “We want to start league off on the right foot.” Palisades beat host Hamilton on Wednesday, hosts Westchester in a league match at 2:30 p.m. today and plays University at Stoner Park next Tuesday. The Dolphins lost to Taft in the City quarterfinals last fall.
Spikers Swept by San Pedro
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
What a difference a year makes. Last fall, Palisades opened its season with a three-game sweep over San Pedro. Last Thursday, the Pirates returned the favor, making short work of the Dolphins, 25-21, 25-17, 25-14, in the first match for both schools. Marisa Bubica, Ana Maricic, Joleah Gordon and Andrea Weischedel each had eight kills for San Pedro, which made an early statement that it will be a strong contender for the City Section title come November. Freshman outside hitter Molly Kornfiend got her prep career off to a rousing start, leading the Dolphins with a team-best nine kills and adding four digs. Senior middle blocker Hannah Fagerbakke had two kills, junior outside hitter Kasey Janousek had two aces, senior libero Tait Johnson had 13 digs and senior setter Lauren Gustafson had 21 assists and four digs. Senior Emily Cristiano added six kills and four digs and freshman outside hitter Kaitlin Kaufman had three kills. Palisades went undefeated against City opponents on its way to a second consecutive section title last fall, but that team was led by City Player of the Year and Palisadian-Post Cup winner Laura Goldsmith, who is now starting at Colorado College. Her younger sister Zoe is a junior opposite hitter on this year’s team. Palisades opened Western League play with a sweep at Hamilton on Wednesday and hosts Westchester today at 4 p.m. The JV match will be at 2:30 p.m. On Friday, the Dolphins travel south for the two-day La Jolla Beach Invitational–a chance to get valuable experience at their first tournament of the season. Cross Country The Palisades High cross country team opens its season this afternoon in a nonleague meet against Canoga Park at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Races start at 2:30 p.m. and consist of boys’ and girls’ frosh/soph, junior varsity and varsity events. Western League competition begins next Thursday, October 1, with a dual meet against University, also at Pierce College. The regular season concludes with a dual meet against archrival Venice on October 29.
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
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
OCEAN VIEW near Pali schools. 4 BDRM, 3 BA, LR & master BDRM w/ frpls. W/D, 2 car garage. Jacuzzi bath. Gardener incl. 1 yr lease min. $6,400/mo. (310) 908-8390
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
FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b
LOVELY 3 BDRM, 3 BA apartment at Edgewater Towers, across from beach, ocean view. $4,000/mo. Call or e-mail for pictures, (310) 887-1333, s@90210law.com
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
RARE, CHARMING FIND in lovely neighborhood. Large, upper unit, 2 bd + bonus room, 1 ba. Plantation shutters, fireplace, ceiling fan, balcony, garden, garage, light & airy. 1 yr lease. Cooperates w/ brokers. N/P, N/S. $3,500/mo. (310) 804-3142
PALISADES SINGLE/STUDIO, remodeled, full kitchen, new carpet, gas stove, refrigerator, laundry, covered parking, storage. Non-smoker. No pets. One year lease. $1,085/mo. (310) 477-6767
SEPTEMBER SPECIAL 2 WKS FREE! 1 Bdr. $1,600/mo. or large studio $1,300/mo. Tile floors in kitchen & bath, closet space, pool, pet friendly, laundry, parking, walk to village & beach. (310) 454-8837
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
PALISADES HIGHLANDS very large spacious studio with hardwood, private patio, pool, gym, use of w/d, quiet. $1,175/mo. Utilities and weekly maid service included. (310) 454-5863
BRENTWOOD ‘ITALIAN VILLA’ QUIET AND SERENE. $2,450/mo. Spacious 2 bedroom 2 bath on Montana Ave. overlooking GOLF COURSE. Near Santa Monica shops and coffee houses. Gorgeous style building with a sense of character. Beautifully maintained with a sense of ‘zen.’ HAS EVERYTHING! ‘ Security building ‘ Spacious terrace overlooking garden courtyard ‘ Wood-burning fireplace ‘ French doors, shutters and crown moldings ‘ Designer carpets ‘ New stainless steel appliances and washer-dryer in unit ‘ Air conditioning ‘ Enclosed garage. Unlimited street parking (no permit required) ‘ No pets, one year lease. Call (310) 826-7960
CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
WALK TO P.P. VILLAGE. WOODSY VU, 2 br, 2 ba, open den, AC, WD in unit, security bldg. 2 car parking, storage, pool, jacuzzi, gym. $2,850/mo. Avail 9/1/09. Nancy, (310) 454-5257
CHARMING TWO BEDROOM, two bath condo in the heart of the village. Wonderful building. Available furnished or unfurnished. $2,600/mo. (310) 869-1612
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
OFFICE TO SHARE, $950/MO. Two treatment rooms in Holistic Chiropractic Center in village on Sunset. Light filled, cheerful, healing environment. Includes use of large reception, front office, kitchen. Utilities included. Convenient parking. (310) 612-9111
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
PALISADES OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE, $900/MO.: In the heart of the Village. Single room office with large window & private restroom. Building amenities include high speed internet access, elevator & covered parking garage. Office has a/c, beautiful hardwood floors & is professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Call Kate at (310) 663-8127, please leave your contact info.
ONE OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT in Pacific Palisades Village. $1,250/mo. Call (310) 230-8335
IN VILLAGE QUIET UPSTAIRS OFFICE with soft natural lighting. Available September 1, 2009 at $849/mo. $2,300 security deposit. (310) 991-9434
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. Lease hold improvement allowance. 850 square feet conveniently located in the village. Please call Ness, (310) 230-6712 ext. 105, for more details.
FURNISHED PSYCHOTHERAPY SUITE & OFFICE for part time sublet. Includes waiting room, kitchen, bath & private consultation room. Evenings, Fridays, weekends available. Minumum 4 hrs. per week, $35/hr. E-mail srl@ucla.edu or call (310) 230-2233
OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in Pacific Palisades. Beautiful views. Leasing terms & price flexible. Debby Harrington, broker, (310) 454-5519
VACATION RENTALS 3e
THREE FULLY SELF-CONTAINED trailers for rent across from Will Rogers State Beach & about 2 miles from Santa Monica Pier. $1,195/mo. & $995/mo. (310) 454-2515
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5
SEEKING INVESTOR for thriving local business. Fax offers and letters of interest to (310) 230-4536
LOST & FOUND 6a
FOUND: DOG. Beagle found on September 13th on Las Casas Avenue. Call to identify. (310) 454-8237
BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
PART-TIME BOOKKEEPER TO GO! * F/C bookkeeper specializing in small businesses & private individuals. QB, Quicken & Peachtree proficient. PC or MAC. Refs upon request. Call (310) 486-1055
COMPUTER SERVICES 7c
MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL. I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: ‘ Consultation on best hard/software for your needs ‘ Setting up & configuring your system & applications ‘ Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC ‘ Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows ‘ Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access ‘ Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken ‘ Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup ‘ Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning ‘ FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL ‘ BEST RATES ‘ (310) 262-5652
YOUR OWN TECH GURU * EXPERT SET-UP, OPTIMIZATION, REPAIR. Problem-Free Computing Since 1992. Work Smarter, Faster, More Reliably. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! ALAN PERLA, (310) 455-2000
THE DETECHTIVES’ ‘ PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE MAC SPECIALISTS. PATIENT, FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE. WE COVER ALL THINGS MAC ‘ Consulting ‘ Installation ‘ Training and Repair for Beginners to Advanced Users ‘ Data recovery ‘ Networks ‘ Wireless Internet & more ‘ (310) 838-2254 ‘ William Moorefield ‘ www.thedetechtives.com
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/
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 ‘ Garage Sale Specialist ‘ (310) 454-0359 ‘ bmdawson@verizon.net ‘ www.bmdawson.com ‘ Furniture ‘ Antiques ‘ Collectibles ‘ Junque ‘ Reliable professionals ‘ Local References
SOLAR/WIND ENERGY 7l
SOLAR ENERGY with ALTERNATIVE ENGINEERING SOLAR. Go green, save 40% to 50%! Huge rebates and tax incentives! Call for free estimate or questions. Local Palisades contractor. Lic. #912279. (877) 898-1948. e-mail: sales@alternativeengineering.net
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
FULL-TIME NANNY/CAREGIVER 20 years experience, plus newborns. Speaks English, safe driver, employer references available. Kind, reliable, and punctual. Call Blanca, (323) 770-3600
BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Mon.-Fri. after 4 p.m. and all day Sat. & Sun. Speaks English, own transportation, trustworthy, trained in CPR. Call Claudia, (323) 559-6212, galvezc77@yahoo.com
BABYSITTER/HOUSEKEEPER, 15 years experience. Available Monday-Thursday. Local references available. Valid lic. & ins. Has own car & clean driving record. Call Norma, (323) 540-8975
NANNY FULL TIME 20 years experience w/ early twins, newborns, and toddlers. Legal, speaks English & Spanish, has drivers license & good references. Call Anna, (310) 586-1049
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
HOUSECLEANING or HOUSESITTING. Experienced, own transportation, local references. Please call Delmy, (323) 708-4327
HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE for 1 or 5 days of the week. Good references. Drivers license & own transportation. 15 years experience. For more information, call Marina, (562) 408-2068
HOUSEKEEPING OR BABYSITTING Monday to Friday. I have good local references. I drive my own car. Call Connee, (c) (323) 377-5138 or (h) (323) 735-5725. Leave a message.
HOUSEKEEPER/NANNY. Available 7 days a week. Drives own car, speaks English, good references, honest. Call Lorena, (323) 735-0382 or (323) 445-3360
HOUSEKEEPER/CHILDCARE/housesitting/petsitting/elder care companion/cook. Own transportation & references. Call Angela, (818) 421-1891
HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Mon.-Fri., flexible hours, good local references, newborn experience, speaks English, 9 years experience. Call Maricela at (323) 255-0127
PALISADES HOUSEKEEPER, 15 yrs. experience. Excellent references, honest, dependable. Legal resident. Child & pet care. Available Tues., Fri., Sat. & Sun. Carmen, (323) 460-6473, (213) 618-9671
HOUSEKEEPER 15 years experience, own transportation, some English. $120/day or $15/hr. References upon request. Call Esther, (213) 605-2530
HOUSECLEANING weekdays except Fridays. Drivers license & own transportation. Excellent local references. Speaks English. For more information, call Teresa, (323) 753-5796 or Barbara, (310) 459-5224
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
WE OFFER COMPASSIONATE CARE to clients in their home, hospital, or residential facility. Live-in or hourly caregivers will provide hygiene & grooming, light housekeeping, transportation. (213) 368-3880
FUNDAMENTALLY THE FINEST Licensed nurses, caregivers & nannies. Calm old-school values! Lowest rates, free smiles!! Also call us for MOBILE NOTARY. (310) 795-5023 ‘ yourextraspecial.com
PAID COMPANION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. Attention relatives and caregivers: Mature/warm/cultured/bi-lingual (English-German) professional educator, wellness consultant & Yoga therapist in private practice for 20+ years offers fill-in services (including physical & emotional support, exercise movement & light body work, conversation & correspondence, errands & [doctor] visits) on hourly basis. Contact Annemarie at boegliwellness@yahoo.com or (310) 429-6393
GARDENING/LANDSCAPING 11
GARCIA GARDENING * Landscape, planting, maintenance, sprinkler systems, cleanup, low voltage lights. Everything your garden needs! Many yrs exp. Free estimates. Call Efren, (310) 733-7414
INDEPENDENT LANDSCAPE GARDENER. Expertise in: Planting ‘ Plumbing & irrigation drip systems ‘ Sprinklers ‘ Timers & repairs on existing systems. Landscape lighting, fencing, arbors & trellises ‘ Pruning & trimming ‘ Sod removal or installation ‘ Soil preparation ‘ Right plants for given conditions ‘ Regular maintenance. Client references upon request. Bulmaro, (310) 442-6426 or cell, (310) 709-3738
MOVING & HAULING 11b
FRANK’S CLEANUP INC. Hauling, garage cleanup, yard, construction debris, light demolition, tree and concrete removal. Any size job. Lic. & ins. Call Frank, (310) 666-9797
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
COOKING/GOURMET 14a
PERSONAL CHEF: Healthy meals. Variety of cuisines. Menu planning, shopping, preparing, and cleaning. Call Adriana, (310) 497-5966
PERSONAL SERVICES 14f
HOUSEMAN/DRIVER. BODYGUARD. Personal contact for all your needs including catering, plumbing, electrical. Excellent references. 10 years experience. Full time, part time. Salary negotiable. Call Big John Mueller, (310) 709-9143
PERSONAL ASSISTANT will run errands, organize your home, shop, and provide childcare. Palisades Resident, valid lic. & ins., experienced. References available. (310) 459-5529
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
CLEARLY MATH & MORE! Specializing in math & now offering chemistry & physics! Elementary thru college level. Test prep, algebra, trig, geom, calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. 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
EXPERIENCED TEACHER AVAILABLE FOR TUTORING. Reading, math, social studies, science, high school french, swimming, and piano. References available. Mrs. Davis, (818) 880-8178
TUTORING FOR GRADES 1-12 by a California credentialed teacher with a BA/Masters from UCLA, and the author of 14 educational books. Affordable prices. Call Linda, (310) 820-7580
MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h
SAXOPHONE LESSONS By professional. All levels and ages welcome. Call (310) 283-9975
PIANO INSTRUCTION. Specializing in childrens creative lessons. Piano and Harpsicord performer. J. Nadler, (310) 453-1064
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 ‘ (323) 964-9707, (866) 362-2573 www.remodeling.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
ELECTRICAL WORK. 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. Lic. #560299. 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
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
PAINTER, SMALL JOBS PREFERRED. Interiors only. 10 years experience. References available. Very reasonable rates. Excellent craftmanship. Non-lic. Tim, (310) 433-9610
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior/exterior. Residential & commercial. Refinishing wood, stain, textured walls & ceiling. Handyman service. 15 yrs. exper. Non-lic. Hector Lopez, (c) (213) 910-7274
PLUMBING 16t
$50 HOUR!! ‘ Water heaters ‘ Wall heaters ‘ Repipes ‘ Remodels ‘ Disposals ‘ Toilets ‘ Vanities ‘ Pumps ‘ Faucets ‘ CDM, (310) 739-6253. Lic. #629651
REMODELING 16v
KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451 ‘ DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN
LABOR OF LOVE HOME REPAIR & REMODEL. Kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, tile, doors, windows, decks, etc. Work guar. Ken Bass, General Contractor. Lic. #B767950. (310) 487-6464
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
P.P. DENTAL OFFICE SEEKING Administrative staff scheduling client follow-up & care. Answering multiple telephone lines. MUST BE: Friendly, well-organized professional able to multi-task. Word and Excel experience. Compensation commensurate with skills and experience. Email resume to info@palismiles.com
FURNITURE 18c
TWIN, WHITE, WOOD sleigh bed. Comes w/ head & footboards, mattress, & 2 drawer storage unit underneath. Everything in good shape. Needs paint. $250. Madeline, (310) 459-1651
ETHAN ALLEN SOFABED Queen, dark green leather, 7 ft. long. Sale price, $425 ($3,000 new). (310) 459-8862
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
GARAGE SALE. Wonderful sale, bargain prices. Misc. household goods, art, books, lamps, nice adult & kids clothing & toys. Sat., 9/26, 9 a.m.-? 505 Las Casas Avenue
HANCOCK PK. ADJAC. HOUSE full of antiques/collectibles/art/books/records/clothes/jewelry & other treasures. Don’t miss it! 232 So. St. Andrews Pl. (90004), Bet. 3rd & 2nd. TG 633 H-1. Fri.-Sat., Sept. 25-26; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Photos/details: www.bmdawson.com
Haskin Returns as Palisades High Principal
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Five years after announcing her retirement from school administration, Marcia Haskin hasn’t actually retired. The 66-year-old has continued to work in education, and she just returned to the helm at Palisades Charter High School for a second stint as interim principal. ‘I was really thrilled when I was asked if I was available,’ said Haskin, a Marina del Rey resident. ‘I have never felt about a school the way I feel about this one. It’s just a joy to work here; I feel like it’s a fit. When I come here, I don’t feel like I’m working.’ Haskin, who retired in 2004 after 38 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District, was principal of Palms Middle School for three years and the director of secondary services for LAUSD for two years. In that role, she supervised principals at five schools. Shortly after announcing her retirement, Haskin began working at Loyola Marymount University, supervising new teachers in the process of getting their credentials. In 2007, PaliHi’s board asked her to serve as principal on an interim basis, while the school searched to replace Gloria Martinez. The board then hired Escondido Union High School District administrator Martin Griffin, who left after only one year. Unable to find a replacement this summer, the board voted unanimously to ask Haskin back. ‘Marcia brings an incredible level of enthusiasm and experience to the job,’ Board Chair Rene Rodman said. ‘The fact that she knows Pali is a tremendous asset.’ Haskin, who works Mondays through Thursdays, may be at the school as little as one semester. However, she is available through the end of the school year if needed. ‘The board has not yet discussed go-forward plans for the principal position and will revisit this at an upcoming meeting,’ Rodman said. In order for Haskin to receive her retirement benefits, she earns half the annual salary of a high school principal. On average, a high school principal earns $100,000. Her job is to resolve conflicts between students, teachers and parents, as well as to evaluate teachers in the classroom. The school has a director of instruction, Richard Thomas, who assists with curriculum and supervising teachers. In Haskin’s year away from PaliHi, she enjoyed spending time with her husband Mark, daughter Jennifer Friedlander of Manhattan Beach, and three grandchildren: Ashlyn, 7, Blythe, 5, and Madeline, 2. She also bowled and played golf. ‘I did all the things retirees do,’ she said, chuckling. ‘But I have always had my heart in my career.’ That is why last year she spent two days a week at Crenshaw High School mentoring two new assistant principals and implementing LAUSD and the Ojai Foundation’s council program, which she describes as ‘a process of communication where people sit in a circle, listening and speaking from the heart.’ ‘It’s a wonderful way to communicate and hear people’s stories,’ Haskin said, noting the program is for students, staff and parents. Haskin, who was first introduced to council at Palms Middle School, also started the program at PaliHi prior to leaving in the spring of 2008. PaliHi parent Harriet Zaretsky’s 17-year-old son, Dillon Henry, had died in an automobile accident on Sunset Boulevard in July 2007, and she had asked administrators how she could honor her son’s memory. Haskin suggested she contribute to this program, so Zaretsky paid for a group of about 25 students, teachers and counselors to attend training at the Ojai Foundation in summer 2008. ‘A few councils were held last year, but it did not permeate beyond that [initial] group,’ Haskin said. Her goal this fall is to expand the program school-wide. On August 31 and September 1, 24 teachers received council training on campus. Haskin then led the first council circle for faculty on September 14. In addition to council, Haskin plans to train and mentor the administration team on evaluating instruction in the classroom. She wants to give teachers interested in leadership roles the tools they need to pursue them. Plus, she would like to assist with the selection of the permanent principal. Haskin said she’s glad to be working as a principal again. ‘I like solving problems and making a situation better for someone, a team or an institution,’ she said. ‘I just fly from that; I’m on cloud nine.’
Palisades Public Schools Improve API Test Scores
All three Pacific Palisades elementary schools attained Academic Performance Index scores in the 900s and Paul Revere Middle School and Palisades Charter High School significantly increased their scores, according to results released by the California Department of Education. API is a state standard that measures every public school’s progress from year to year, and it is based on test results from the Standardized Testing and Reporting program (STAR) and the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). API scores range from 200 to 1,000, with the goal that all schools statewide reach 800. ’We’re really happy that the whole [charter] complex is now in the 900s,’ said Palisades Elementary Principal Joan Ingle in reference to the local elementary schools, plus Topanga and Kenter Canyon. ‘All the schools did really well.’ The Department of Education also released the No Child Left Behind’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report. Marquez, Canyon and Palisades elementary schools made AYP; however, Palisades High and Paul Revere fell short of the national standard. AYP looks at the same standardized tests as API but requires that a certain percentage of students in each subgroup (every ethnic group, students with disabilities, English learners and socio-economically disadvantaged students) score proficient or above in math and English. Middle schools must have 46 percent of students in each subgroup score proficient or above in English and 47.5 percent in math, while high schools must have 44.5 percent in English and 43.5 percent in math. At Paul Revere, the African Americans, Hispanics, socio-economically disadvantaged, English learners and students with disabilities subgroups did not make the threshold. The African Americans and English learners subgroups missed the mark at PaliHi. ’These will obviously be areas of focus for the coming year,’ said PaliHi Executive Director Amy Dresser-Held.
MARQUEZ ELEMENTARY
Marquez Charter Elementary showed the most improvement, increasing its API score by 31 points to 906. ’Every year, we look at the test scores as a group, looking at trends, as well as individual achievement of each student,’ Principal Phillip Hollis said. ‘We look for areas in need of improvement, then teachers do exactly what they need to do.’ Hollis thinks that hiring an extra teacher in the upper grades to lower class size contributed to the success. He also cited expansion of the CATCH program (Caring Adults Teaching Children How) to third, fourth and fifth graders. More than 40 at-risk children participated in the program, receiving individualized mentoring from adult volunteers from the Palisades community. The Marquez Digital Edge technology program, where students use laptops in the classroom daily as opposed to 45 minutes a week in a computer lab, also gave teachers the opportunity to pilot new programs. This school year, Hollis and his teaching staff hope to build on the API and AYP scores by maintaining the CATCH program and continuing to target instruction to meet the unique needs of each student.
CANYON ELEMENTARY
Canyon Charter Elementary scored the highest API score of the schools with 952, which is 17 points higher than last year. ‘I am walking into a dream,’ said Joyce Dara, the school’s new principal. ‘Clearly, the teachers are meeting the needs of all students.’ Dara, who replaced Carol Henderson, also attributes the school’s success to parental involvement. Parents actively participate in the Booster Club and on the school’s governing board. ‘It’s a collaborative effort,’ she said.
PALISADES ELEMENTARY
Palisades Charter Elementary improved its API score by 29 points to 928. ‘We examined the test data closely and looked for the children at risk,’ Ingle said, adding that teachers then targeted specific students with the goal of helping them reach the next level. Ingle said she is delighted because two children who were scoring below the basic skill level improved their scores to proficient and advanced. ‘We want to catch children and not let them fall between the cracks,’ she said.
PAUL REVERE
Paul Revere Principal Fern Somoza is exceptionally proud of the teachers for their efforts to improve the school’s API score by 15 points to 848. ’Our teachers continued to teach under difficult and trying times,’ Somoza said. Seventeen teachers received notice last spring that they could be laid off because of budget constraints. In the end, two teachers were laid off and replaced by other Los Angeles Unified School District teachers with more seniority. LAUSD laid off teachers based on seniority, which caused reshuffling across the district. Somoza also acknowledged the students for the higher score: ‘The kids came prepared [for the testing] and they knew they had to do their best.’ All of the Revere subgroups (which are minority, economically disadvantaged and special education students) improved. The African Americans and students with disabilities improved the most, both increasing their scores by 25 points. African Americans scored 739 and students with disabilities, 594. Somoza said Revere is starting an intervention program for seventh graders to make up classes they failed in the sixth grade. The school has also added clubs such as guitar, movie screenwriting and horticulture for the students to participate in during lunchtime. Revere scored higher than Emerson Middle School in Westwood, Palms Middle School in Los Angeles, and John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, but fell below Santa Monica’s Lincoln Middle School, which scored 882.
PALISADES HIGH
Palisades Charter High School made gains in its API score, improving by 21 points to 818. ‘This significantly exceeds the average increase for high schools in California and is particularly noteworthy since making big gains is harder to do the closer you are to the top,’ Dresser-Held said. ‘The results are directly attributable to the outstanding efforts of our staff and our phenomenal students and families.’ Last year, African Americans were the only subgroup not to make gains in 2007-08, so the school launched the Village Nation program to focus on boosting their success rate. ‘It clearly had an impact with the African American subgroup’s API score jumping 20 points [to 704],’ Dresser-Held said. To achieve the overall higher results, school leaders strengthened professional learning communities, where teachers of the same subject area work together on instruction. They also evaluated all the school’s educational programs. The Hispanic students improved by 28 points to 762, the Asians by 31 points to 896, whites by 23 points to 879 and socio-economically disadvantaged students by 14 points to 762. ’We still have a sizable achievement gap, and we know what we need to focus on going forward,’ Dresser-Held said. Granada Hills Charter High School, which is larger than PaliHi but has similar demographics, posted a higher score of 843. Nearby University High, Santa Monica High and Venice High (all with diverse populations) had lower scores.
