After two championship seasons, it’s time for the Pali Blues Soccer Club to adopt a team mascot and General Manager Jason Lemire is anxious for fans to get involved in the process. “We’re always looking for new ways to engage the community,” Lemire said. “We were lucky enough to have the Palisades High dolphin at a few of our games last season but this year we want our fans, particularly our younger fans, to help us create a mascot that will be our very own.” The mascot’s role would be two-fold: 1) to help pump up the home crowd at Stadium by the Sea and 2) to make public appearances to promote the team’s community service initiatives. In short, Lemire envisions someone (or something) who would be fun to see walking down Sunset in the town’s annual Fourth of July Parade. “Some of the greatest, or at least most memorable, sports mascots are born from team names that do not lend themselves in any way to someone dressing up in a funny costume,” Lemire pointed out. “Take Mr. Met, for instance. There’s really no obvious mascot for the New York Mets, unless of course you consider a man with a large baseball-shaped head an obvious selection. Yet, since his creation in 1964, Mr. Met has helped rally millions of baseball fans and is even a member of the fabled Mascot Hall of Fame (founded by David Raymound, the original Phillie Phanatic).” If Mr. Met proves anything it is that a team like the Pali Blues can pick just about anything to be its new mascot. The team encourages Palisadian-Post readers to submit their ideas and to be as creative as possible. Once the basics have been decided’the mascot’s name and general description’Lemire plans to turn over design duties to local elementary and middle school students, with finalists posted on the Blues’ website and beyond. “There is no question that Pacific Palisades is full of talented kids,” Lemire said. “We want to give them the opportunity to actually see one of their creations come to life.” What exactly that creation will be is yet to be determined. To enter the Pali Blues Mascot Contest, simply email your idea to mascot@bluessoccerclub.com or, even better, mail your submission to The Palisadian-Post, c/o The Pali Blues Mascot Contest at 839 Via de la Paz. Submissions should include a MASCOT NAME as well as a BASIC DESCRIPTION (type of animal/person/object.) There is no limit to the number of submissions an individual or family can make. The deadline for submissions for this first part of the contest is February 11, 2010. All submissions will be considered by the Pali Blues and Palisadian-Post staff. To help spark readers’ creativity, Lemire offered a few helpful guidelines: 1) Things that are the color blue. 2) Things found “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea.” 3) Anything related to soccer. 4) Things that start with the letter “P.” The Palisadian-Post’s suggestion? How about “Paulie the Platypus?”
Streaking Comets Win, 73-54
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Playing in the Western league against the likes of Fairfax and Westchester year in and year out could be construed as either a blessing or a curse. One person who relishes the challenge is Palisades boys’ varsity basketball coach James Paleno. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “You always want to measure yourself against the best teams and right now that’s Westchester.” Six days after a disappointing home loss to Fairfax, the Dolphins got a chance to pull off an even bigger upset when they hosted first-place Westchester, the defending City Section and Division I state champion. For three quarters, Pali gave Westchester all it could handle, but the Comets pulled away in the final eight minutes to win 73-54 last Thursday night, staying undefeated in league and extending their winning streak to 11 games. Dwayne Polee led the way for the Comets with 18 points, including two slam dunks, Kareem Jamar had 15 points and Robert Gsellman added 13 for Westchester, which had its winning streak snapped two days later, 62-44, by Rice of New York City. Garrett Nevels finished with 18 points, including three 3-pointers, Donovan Johnson scored 14 and Kenneth Towner added 11 for the Dolphins, who led 17-16 after the first quarter. The Comets outscored Palisades 25-14 in the second quarter to take a 41-31 halftime lead. The night before, Palisades routed host LACES, 73-39, with Nevels pouring in 24 points, Johnson scoring 16 and Adam Griffin adding 8 points and 5 assists. Palisades won every quarter and led the Unicorns 36-18 at halftime. Palisades continues league play at University (which beat Fairfax, 69-63, last Friday) tomorrow and at home against Venice on Monday at 6:30 p.m. sports@palipost.com
Palisades Elementary Families Join ‘Cool the Earth’ Program
Students at Palisades Charter Elementary School are taking action to stop global warming, and are teaching their parents how to do it, too. Pali Elementary has joined a growing movement of schools participating in Cool the Earth, a program started in Marin County by parents who wanted to help stop climate change through education. The program kicked off here with a play starring fifth-grade students as Mama and Baby Polar Bears who couldn’t find their way home because the ice was melting and their home was disappearing. ‘Mother Earth’ and the polar bears encouraged the audience to take actions to stop the melting of the ice, such as walking or biking instead of driving to school, turning off lights and computers when they aren’t using them, and purchasing lightbulbs that consume less energy. Meanwhile, the villainous ‘Ms. Carbon’ told children to tell their parents to keep driving huge SUVs. Each student received a Golden Coupon book, filled with 20 actions their families can take to reduce carbon emissions. Each week, students turn in the coupons, signed by a parent, saying what actions they have taken that week. Gradually, students realize how their collective actions can make a real change. So far, in just two months since the program began, Palisades Elementary has saved 156,734 pounds of carbon, the equivalent of taking 13 cars off the road. ‘We are nearly 20 percent towards our annual goal,’ said Anne-Marij Berendsen and Jill Hurd, coordinators of Cool the Earth. If your school or Scout troop would like to participate in this program, visit www.cooltheearth.org
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 21, 2010
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)
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
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) 801-5020
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
$1,750/MO. ‘ELEGANT HIDEAWAY.’ Best location in Brentwood. Near Gretna Green on Montana. 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
CHIC PALISADES VILLAGE CONDO. Remodeled 2 BR, 2 BA, stainless appliances, includes wshr/dryr, storage, security building. Small pets considered. $2,750/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 454-6058
REMODELED PALISADES TOWNHOME. Mt views, 2+2.5, hardwood floors, granite kitchen, marble bathroom, fireplace, 2 car private garage, community pool, tennis & spa. (310) 383-7455
ROOMS FOR RENT 3
LOVELY BRENTWOOD HOME (North of Sunset). Private garden level, furnished rooms with bath. W/D, pool, kitchen privileges, N/S, N/D, No pets. $850/mo. Includes utilities. (310) 472-6466
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
OFFICE SUITE: Atrium Bldg., 860 Via de la Paz. 900+ space, reception, two offices & bathroom. $3,000/mo. 18 month sublease. Call (310) 459-5353 to see.
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. 750 square feet. Reasonable rent price. Excellent lease hold improvement allowance. Please call Ness, (310) 230-6712 x105, for more details.
PALISADES OFFICE, RETAIL SUITES & EXECUTIVE SUITES NOW AVAILABLE in the heart of the village: Office suites up to 3,235 sf and 700 sf retail suite. Executive suites now available with conf room, kitchen, copy machine, etc. Building has amazing views of the Santa Monica mountains, private balconies and restrooms. Amenities include high speed T1 internet access, elevator, and secured, underground parking. CALL (310) 591-8789 or email leasing@hp-cap.com
LARGE, BRIGHT EXECUTIVE OFFICE suite for rent/share in Palisades Village. Fully furnished including fax, copier, phone & DSL. $625/mo. Call (310) 573-2175
RENTAL SPACE, STORAGE 3d
COMMERCIAL SPACE on Via de la Paz near school. $2.50 to $3.00 a square foot. Call (323) 388-1707
VACATION RENTALS 3e
MAMMOTH SKI CHATEAU RENTAL. Blocks from Canyon Lodge, brand new 2400 sq. ft. premium luxury townhome with limestone and hardwood floors throughout. Sleeps up to 14 people. Call: (310) 454-7313
THREE FULLY SELF-CONTAINED trailers for rent across from Will Rogers State Beach & about 2 miles from Santa Monica Pier. $795/mo. & $695/mo. 2 bedrm mobile, $1,995. (310) 454-2515
MISCELLANEOUS 6c
Mountaingate Golf Membership. Mountaingate golf membership for sale with a wonderful discount. (310) 422-6964
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
NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
EXPERIENCED NANNY & HOUSEKEEPER. Reliable, caring & flexible. Bilingual and I provide my own transportation. Great local references. Call Nancy at (818) 209-6024
NANNY EXTRAORDINAIRE. Smart, kind and capable 46-year-old woman with a lifetime of experience taking care of families seeks full time, live-out employment. Can drive, organize schedules and household, and is a gifted cook. Great with kids. Call Mary at (713) 478-5624
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
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
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.)
LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPING JOB. 11 years experience, own transportation, legal resident. Available everyday. References available. Please call Maria at (310) 663-8599
MY FABULOUS HOUSEKEEPER is available! Excellent cleaner, great with kids, honest & reliable. 19 years local experience. References available. Call Barbara, (310) 454-4030
HOUSEKEEPING/NANNY, 20 yrs. experience. Available Mon. thru Thurs. & Sat. Live-out. Own car. CA license. Excellent English. Local refs. Please call Miriam, (562) 644-5288 (cell.)
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
GOOD COMPANY Senior Care. A premiere private duty home care agency. Provides in-home care and companionship to help people remain independent and happy at home. If you are a caring individual who would like to join our team, please call (323) 932-8700. joni@goodcopros.com
SPECIALIZE WITH SENIORS. Friendly/patient personal trainer. I can customize workouts to fit your needs. Call Karen for a free phone consultation & GET STARTED! (818) 626-8670
CAREGIVERS $15 ‘ Professional/exper/reliable. Also lic. nurses/notary ‘ yourextraspecial.com ‘ Jim, (310) 795-5023
FANTASTIC CAREGIVER. Kind, gentle and highly capable woman with 20 years of experience caring for elderly woman seeks full time employment. Can drive, cook, and nurse. Smart, fun. Call (713) 478-5624
DO YOU NEED PART TIME HELP? Scandinavian lady of mature age w/ legal status & references. Private cook, companion, driver, etc. for active senior male or female. Please call (310) 312-6099
GARDENING/LANDSCAPING 11
PALISADES GARDENING ‘ Full Gardening Service ‘ Sprinkler Install ‘ Tree Trim ‘ Sodding ‘ Sprays, non-toxic ‘ FREE AZALEA PLANT ‘ Cell,(310) 701-1613, (310) 568-0989
MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Moves & hauls it all. 14 foot truck. 20th year Westside. Delivery to 48 states. (310) 285-8688
HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE 12a
PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP, PHOTOGRAPHY, airbrush tanning, hair and eyelash extensions, for all ages. Affordable prices! Will come to you! Shannon, (310) 310-2668, www.jankulaimages.com
STEREO, TV, VCR SERVICES 13g
1 REMOTE CONTROL THAT WORKS! Is your entertainment system not entertaining you? We can tune up your system, bring it up to date, hide wires, mount TVs, install speakers, etc. We can even reprogram or replace your remote control so it is easy to use. Call us, we can help! Lic. #515929. Stanford Connect, (310) 829-0872
WINDOW WASHING 13h
THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Detailed interior/exterior glass & screen cleaning. High ladder work. Solar panels/power washing also avail. Owner operated. Lic., bonded & insured. Free estimates. (310) 926-7626
CATERING 14
CHEF & EVENT MANAGER! Cordon Bleu Chef and 15 year veteran event manager wants to help you plan your event! $60 per hour. Please call or email Danielle . . . (310) 691-0578 or daniellesamendez@gmail.com
PERSONAL SERVICES 14f
PERSONAL ASSISTANT. I am a highly organized person with computer/office skills for your home or office. Very personable/perfect driving record. Own car. (310) 663-1716
GIRL FRIDAY/HOME ORGANIZER/personal assistant. Excellent references, 10 years experience. Reasonable rates. Pacific Palisades resident. Call Michelle, (310) 433-6362
PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g
PRIVATE DOG WALKER/housesitter, Palisades & Santa Monica. S.M. Canyon resident. Please call or email Sherry, (310) 383-7852, www.palisadesdogwalker.com
FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Advanced Nordic walking instructor, Palisades resident teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. (310) 266-4651
PERSONAL TRAINER 15c
NEED TO GET IN SHAPE? Friendly Westside personal trainer customizing workouts to fit your needs. Call Karen for a phone consultation & GET STARTED! (818) 626-8670
TUTORS 15e
INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. Children & adults. 20+ years teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, ESSAY WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly Sp. Ed. teacher. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530
MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145
PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134
MATH & CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS: COLLEGE ESSAYS, SAT/SAT II/ACT/ISEE/HSPT MATH PREP. All math subjects thru calculus. Jr. high thru college level writing skills. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Local office in Palisades Village. Call Jamie, (888) 459-6430
EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR ‘ All grade levels ‘ Grammar ‘ Conversational ‘ SAT/AP ‘ Children, adults ‘ Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593, (310) 980-6071
SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR. All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614
GROZA LEARNING CENTER. Tutoring K-12, all subjects & reading. SAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, ERB, STAR. Caring, meticulous service. GrozaLearningCenter.com ‘ (310) 454-3731
MATH/SCIENCE TUTOR * Credentialed tutor with 15+ years experience. Will tutor in your home late afternoons or evenings. Specializing in SAT prep, high school exit exam, etc. Pomona College Graduate. Call Hal, (310) 384-4507
EXPERIENCED FRENCH TUTOR tutors JHS, HS & AP students. Excellent references. Masters in education. Native French speaker, Malibu resident, very enthusiastic. Will come to you. Cate, (310) 456-5398
MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h
SINGING & PERFORMANCE COACH ‘ All ages ‘ Singing ‘ Songwriting ‘ Recording ‘ Demos ‘ Talent Shows ‘ School Plays ‘ Laurie, (310) 457-4661 ‘ Native Palisadian ‘ soundeyes@aol.com
CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c
MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 39 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. New Construction & Remodels. Hardscapes, custom stone, stamped concrete, brick, driveways, retaining walls, BBQs, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, foundations, drainage, pool & spas, water features. Excellent local refs. Lic #309844. Bonded, ins, work comp. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 ‘ WWW.HORUSICKY.COM
CONSTRUCTION 16d
ALAN PINE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR ‘ New homes ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions ‘ Kitchen & bath ‘ Planning/architectural services ‘ Insured ‘ Local refs. Lic. #469435. (800) 800-0744 or (818) 203-8881
CASALE CONSTRUCTION CO. LLC ‘ General Contractor Lic. #512443 ‘ Residential ‘ Commercial ‘ New Construction ‘ Additions ‘ Remodeling ‘ (866) 362-2573 (o), (323) 503-3049 (c) ‘ www.reemodeling.com
PALISADES CONST. SERVICES. All phase construction and remodeling. All interior and exterior construction. Additions, concrete, tile, wood work (all), brick, patios, bathrooms, fences, bedrooms, permits. We have built (2) new 2,500 sq. ft. Palisades homes in last 3 yrs. Please contact us to schedule your free consultation and free estimate. ALL JOBS WELCOME. Please call: Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858 (all Palisades referrals avail.)
ELECTRICAL 16h
PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service
ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN ‘ Local service only. Non-lic. Please call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286
LICHWA ELECTRIC. Remodeling, rewiring, troubleshooting. Lighting: low voltage, energy safe, indoor, outdoor, landscape. Low voltage: telephone, Internet, CCTV, home theatre, audio/video. Non-lic. Refs. LichwaElectric@gmail.com, (310) 270-8596
FENCES, DECKS 16j
THE FENCE MAN ‘ 18 years quality work ‘ Wood fences ‘ Decks ‘ Gates ‘ Chainlink & patio ‘ Wrought iron ‘ Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996
FLOOR CARE 16m
GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608
CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR ‘ Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com ‘ centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net ‘ (800) 608-6007 ‘ (310) 276-6407
JEFF HRONEK, 40 YRS. RESIDENT ‘ HARDWOOD FLOORS INC. ‘ Sanding & Refinishing ‘ Installations ‘ Pre-finished ‘ Unfinished ‘ Lic. #608606. Bonded, Insured, Workers Comp. www.hronekhardwoodfloors.com (310) 475-1414
HANDYMAN 16o
HANDYMAN ‘ HOOSHMAN ‘ Most known name in the Palisades. Since 1975. Member Chamber of Commerce. Non-Lic. Experience do it, not lic. Call for your free est. Local refs available. Hooshman, (310) 459-8009, 24 Hr.
LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 487-6464
LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy: Marty, (310) 459-2692
DJ PRO SERVICES ‘ Carpentry, Handyman, Repairs. ALL PROJECTS CONSIDERED. See my work at: www.djproservices.com Non-lic. (c) (310) 907-6169, (h) (310) 454-4121
ALL AMERICAN HANDYMAN! Quick home/office repairs. Furniture assembly, plumbing, appliances, electric & fixtures. F/T technical student. Local refs. Non-lic. Thomas, (310) 985-2928
PALISADES HANDYMAN & CONST. SERVICES. All jobs and calls welcome!! All phases of const. and home repair. A fresh alternative from the norm, very courteous, very safe, very clean!! Call for a free estimate and consultation. Please call: Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16p
SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686
PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16r
PAUL HORST ‘ Interior & Exterior ‘ PAINTING ‘ 56 YEARS OF SERVICE ‘ Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 ‘ (310) 454-4630 ‘ Bonded & Insured
TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Refs. Lic. #715099
SQUIRE PAINTING CO. Interior and Exterior. License #405049. 30 years. Local Service. (310) 454-8266. www.squirepainting.com
ALL SEASONS PAINTING. Kitchen cabinets, garage doors, deck & fences. Interior/exterior painting specialist. ‘Green’ environmentally friendly paint upon request. Excellent referrals. Free estimate. Lic. #571061. Randy, (310) 678-7913
REMODELING 16v
KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451 ‘ DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN
COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION ‘ Kitchen+bath ‘ Additions ‘ Tile, carpentry, plumbing ‘ Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction, (310) 774-9159
HELP WANTED 17
MYSTERY SHOPPERS earn up to $150 per day. Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail and dine-in establishments. No experience required. Call (877) 648-1571
AUTOS 18b
GREAT FIRST CAR! * 1999 Toyota Solara SLE, good condition, leather, tinted windows, premium sound system and rims, 135K. $3,950. Ryan (310) 729-6852
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
ESTATE SALE! Orig. art by Palis. artist Gloria Helfgott; Furn/furnishings/Columbian art/hsehold/kitch goods. 764 Jacon Way (off Marquez). FRI.-SAT.-SUN., Jan. 22-23-24; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Photos/details/directions: www.bmdawson.com
GARAGE SALE. Saturday, January 23rd, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 739 Haverford St., Pac. Pal.
PaliHi Maps Ambitious Building Plans
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Palisades Charter High School is looking ahead, exploring the possibility of constructing a new two-story classroom building, a visual and performing arts center and a student union.   ’In budget times like these, there can be a scarcity mentality,’ PaliHi Executive Director Amy Dresser-Held said. ‘The strength of this school is that we are willing to take a longer view of what we need and want for the future.’   In fact, the school is in the middle of constructing the $4.6-million Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center, which should be completed this spring.   PaliHi began thinking about upgrading its facilities in the 2005-06 school year. The school sent out a survey to stakeholders, asking them to share their thoughts on the school’s needs and their visions for the future. The information was compiled and the Los Angeles-based architectural design firm Perkins + Will was hired in 2007 for $100,000 to develop a master plan.   The firm spent the next three years visiting the campus to gather information from stakeholders about their goals and to assess the existing facilities.   Perkins + Will recently finished the master plan document, recommending a two-story classroom building, a visual and performing arts center and a student center. School administrators will now ask for feedback from faculty and parents over the next month. Then the document, along with stakeholders’ comments, will be presented to PaliHi’s board at its February 16 meeting.   ’We are considering this a working draft,’ Dresser-Held said, adding that at the end of the process, school leaders hope to have a clear idea of what capital improvement project to pursue first, so they can begin exploring funding options.   The school’s buildings will be 50 years old in 2011, meaning that PaliHi will be eligible for more state modernization funds, which the state allocates to schools to upgrade their buildings. The state requires a local match to receive the funds.   ’The money is on a first-come first-served basis, and the school will only be eligible if it has Division of State Architect (DSA)-approved plans,’ Dresser-Held explained.   For this reason, she said, it will be important for the board and school leaders to act quickly by deciding which project to make a priority, so that PaliHi’s Budget and Finance Committee can set aside money this spring to hire an architectural firm that can develop design plans to submit to DSA.   School leaders will also have to explore ways to raise enough money for a local match. Fundraising consultant Candice Koral was hired in August to oversee the school’s annual giving campaign in hopes of intensifying fundraising efforts to supplement the general fund and to raise money for capital improvements such as these, said Dresser-Held.   Among the improvements highlighted in the master plan document is upgrading the science labs. Located in the G Building, they have not been updated since the building was constructed in 1961.   ’In many instances, not all of the lab stations are fully functioning,’ Dresser-Held said, ‘and there are generally fewer lab stations than there are students, which inhibits instruction.’   One suggestion is to create two state-of-the-art science labs in the G Building for the science teachers to share. Another alternative is to tear down the J Building and remove the classroom bungalows to make room for a two-story, 26,000-sq.-ft. classroom building. This building would house the science department and additional classrooms.   Dresser-Held said that Perkins + Will proposed the new classroom building because the J Building and bungalows are only one story.   ’It would more than double the classroom space,’ Dresser-Held said, adding that the campus with 2,846 students (including those at Temescal Academy) is cramped.   She did not have an estimate of how much it would cost for the two-story building, but said that an engineer believed it would be more cost-effective to build a new building rather than remodel the J Building.   Because PaliHi has such a distinguished arts program and inadequate facilities, Perkins + Will also recommended the construction of a visual and performing arts center (VAPA). At 56,500 sq. ft., the center would include a 550-seat theater with an orchestra pit and dressing rooms as well as classrooms for dance, drama, instrumental music, choral music, film, art, photography and ceramics.   The plan is to construct the building, estimated to cost approximately $20 million, on the faculty parking lot near the A Building, which would involve tearing down B101, a lecture hall with 156 seats.   The faculty lot would lose about 115 spaces, but school leaders are exploring various ideas on how to increase parking on campus and has already re-striped the upper parking lot to gain 80 spaces, Dresser-Held said. The location was chosen because stakeholders indicated during the planning process that they wanted to showcase the new center.   ’Our idea is that it will shadow Bowdoin and branch out from the A Building, so that it will be visible from Temescal Canyon Road,’ Dresser-Held said.   She explained that another benefit to the new center is that ‘all those rooms that are currently being used for art, music and photography can be repurposed.’   In addition, the current 400-seat theater, Mercer Hall, could be torn down to make room for a student center. During the planning process, stakeholders expressed a need for students to have their own space.   ’Mercer Hall seemed like a logical location for the student union, since it’s next to the cafeteria and the quad,’ said Dresser-Held, who could not estimate how much the center would cost, but said an engineer concluded that it would be more cost-effective to construct a new building.   The student union is envisioned to be 24,500 sq. ft. and include the library, college center, career center, computer lab, student government offices, counseling office and food service. There would be a multipurpose room for gathering of student government and clubs.   ’It will be a nice place for the students to congregate,’ said Dresser-Held, adding that she is excited to see how the campus will look years from now.   She looks forward to receiving feedback from stakeholders and further developing these plans in the coming months. ‘We are very much in the infancy.’   To view the master plan, visit PaliHi’s Web site at palihigh.enschool.org and look under bulletins and announcements.
First Baby: Natalia Johnson
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Natalia Capri Johnson, born at 6:24 p.m. on January 7, must have known there was a contest to win, so she arrived early ‘ just in time to become the First Baby of the Year in Pacific Palisades. Her mother, Natasha, said Natalia’s due date was January 16, and the doctor kept saying the baby would be born around that date. Natasha, however, thought otherwise. ‘I guess it was a woman’s intuition,’ Natasha said. ‘Also, I felt very big near the end, and that there was no more room.’ Natalia’s early arrival means that her father, David Johnson, and Natasha will receive 25 gifts, services and certificates from a cross-section of merchants, restaurants and banks in the community. The Palisadian-Post has sponsored the First Baby contest since 1954. At 22.75 inches in length and weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, Natalia is David and Natasha’s first child. The couple has lived on Lachman Lane for the past 18 months. On the day of the birth, Natasha described her daughter as having impeccable timing. Natasha was worried that she would go into labor while David, an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry, was at work in Orange County. But she woke up at 6 a.m. with contractions, and he was able to take her to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.   ’It was an amazing experience,’ Natasha said of the birth. ‘It was a lot easier than I expected.’   David, who grew up in Orange County, agreed that the labor went smoothly. ‘I was very anxious to hold [the baby] and meet her after feeling her kick for so long,’ he said. They chose the name Natalia because David is part Italian. They decided to give her the middle name of Capri because that is their favorite island in Italy. ‘Capri is just a special place to us,’ Natasha said, adding that they have visited the island twice. Natasha and David met in 2007 through a mutual friend. She is originally from Oahu, Hawaii, and moved with her family to the Los Angeles area in 1990 to live near extended family. She is currently a homemaker, but she worked in marketing and sales at Procter & Gamble for nine years. Natasha said she loved being pregnant, from the fetal movements to seeing her body change. ‘It was really beautiful,’ Natasha said. ‘There are no words to describe holding a child inside.’ Natasha is excited to watch her daughter grow, while David said, ‘I am looking forward to her first laugh, and hearing her say ‘Dad,’ and our entire life together.’ Natalia was born with long eyelashes and a full head of hair. ‘I think she looks like both of us, but everyone says she looks like me,’ Natasha said, laughing. To David, “[Natalia] is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Community Argues Sites for Riviera Cell Towers
After an hour-long debate at last Thursday’s Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, an AT&T representative agreed to further research two potential cell-tower sites in the Riviera neighborhood before moving forward. AT&T would like to install a cell tower in the Riviera because ‘we want to provide a larger area of coverage and increase capacity,’ said Kyle Sutherland, a real estate specialist representing AT&T. He explained that an additional tower would mean fewer dropped calls for AT&T customers traveling along Sunset Boulevard. AT&T had originally planned to install a cell tower on the south side of Sunset in the 13600 block near Capri Drive, but after hearing community opposition, the company began looking into alternative sites, Sutherland explained. Neighbors living near Capri argued that the tower would not match the area aesthetically and that the tower would be a traffic hazard since it would be located near a bus stop and on a curve. Sutherland approached the Council on Thursday to ask for feedback on two other possible locations. AT&T is exploring the possibility of installing a new cell tower next to (or placing its antennas on) an existing cell tower on the south side of Sunset, east of Capri in the 13500 block. Sutherland continued that the company is also considering placing the tower, disguised as a pine tree, in the parking lot of the Riviera Country Club, which has agreed to the installation as long as AT&T receives community support. The second proposal was met with strong opposition from a group of Riviera Country Club’s neighbors who attended Thursday’s meeting. ‘We are staunchly against it,’ said Riviera resident Diane Binder, adding that this is the second time AT&T has tried to place a tower in the parking lot. In November 2002, she and her neighbors received notification that AT&T planned to install a 62-foot cell tower, disguised as a pine tree, in the parking lot. A month later, the zoning administrator gave AT&T the go-ahead. The neighbors appealed the administrator’s decision and rallied the support of the Community Council and former L.A. City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski. They collected 350 signatures on a petition and hired a land-use attorney. As a result, in May 2003, the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission overturned the zoning administration’s approval and denied the conditional-use permit to install the tower. The Commission ruled that the cell tower would not blend in with the eucalyptus trees and the rest of the surroundings. ‘It’s d’j’ vu for some of us,’ Binder told the Palisadian-Post after last week’s meeting. She suggested the new tower be installed next to or on the existing cell tower on Sunset, east of Capri, since it is not near any homes and by a gully. Council member Jack Allen, however, told the Post that he favored placing the cell tower in the country club’s parking lot because it would be off Sunset, which is designated as a scenic highway, according to the Brentwood-Pacific Palisades Community Plan. He realizes there are already utility poles along Sunset, but ‘if I had my way there would be no power lines,’ he told the Post, adding that his goal is to protect the natural beauty of the corridor. Allen said he only supports the installation of a 40-foot tower in the country club’s parking lot. He wants to ensure that the tower blends in with the nearby houses and trees, which would be about the same height. Otherwise, he doesn’t support either option AT&T presented. Sutherland could not say if the tower would be no higher than 40 feet. ‘We are not that far down the road,’ he said, adding that an engineer would need to study the location. ‘The height is conditional on topography.’   Council Chair Richard G. Cohen eventually asked Council members to vote on which location they preferred. ‘Do you want it on a scenic corridor where everyone can see it or in a parking lot where a few neighbors can see it?’ he asked. After doing an eyeball count of raised hands, Cohen estimated that roughly half of the Council was in favor of the parking lot and the other half preferred co-location with the existing cell tower on Sunset. Cohen determined that the Council needed more information on the exact height and design of the proposed poles before a final decision could be reached. Sutherland agreed to draw up plans for each site, but he could not tell the Post when they would be complete.
Wells Fargo to Relocate to Sunset Location
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
After 33 years at its prime location on Swarthmore Avenue, Wells Fargo Bank will move to a larger space occupied by its affiliated Wachovia branch on Sunset Boulevard in late April. High-flying Wachovia established a financial service center in Pacific Palisades in September 2008, but the paint on the walls in the newly renovated 5,000-sq.-ft. space was barely dry when the Charlotte-based bank revealed that it was actually in deep trouble. Just weeks later, Wachovia accepted a $15.4-billion buyout offer from Wells Fargo (spurning a rival bid by Citicorp). After Wells Fargo’s acquisition of Wachovia, both banks continued to operate a block apart in Pacific Palisades and residents speculated on which site would survive as the merged branch office. On Tuesday, David DiCristofaro, a Wells Fargo regional president, told the Palisadian-Post that Wells Fargo would move to 15240 Sunset (between Philips French Cleaners and Designer’s Rug Resource). ‘We’re excited about the new location,’ DiCristofaro said. ‘It will give us expanded space to help our customers. We will increase our tellers from six to eight and the number of banker desks from nine to fourteen.’ The current Wells Fargo location has 3,500 sq. ft. The increased desk space will allow Wells Fargo/Wachovia to have a full-time mortgage consultant, financial advisor, business specialist, a private banker and more personal bankers available. In addition, the bank will have room for three ATM’s instead of two and a larger space for safety deposit boxes. The move will also enable San Francisco-based Wells Fargo to retain all employees from both branch banks. ‘The folks working in the Palisades will be working at the new building,’ DiCristofaro said. ‘It will allow us to have the right team members to serve customers.’ According to DiCristofaro, some remodeling will be done to more efficiently use the space on Sunset, which currently has room for four tellers. Protective glass in front of the tellers will also be installed to help deter bank robberies. Elliot Zorensky, co-president of UDO Real Estate, Ltd. and landlord of the Sunset building, said a new sign fully consistent with the Palisades specific plan will replace the Wachovia sign. The new location offers 15 parking spaces for customers behind the building, plus metered parking at the city-owned parking lot (15216 Sunset, adjacent to the Chase Bank building). The move by Wells Fargo will leave five empty storefronts on the 1000 block of Swarthmore, including the spaces formerly occupied by Andana, a la Tarte, The Prince’s Table and Roy Robbins.
Thursday, January 21 – Thursday, January 28
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
A family concert by the Satin Brass,
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21
Family therapist Susan Stiffelman discusses ‘Parenting Without Power Struggles: Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids While Staying Cool, Calm and Connected,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22
Pacific Palisades resident Jim Jennewein and his writing partner Tom Parker read and sign the second in their series, ‘Runewarriors: Sword of Doom,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page TK.) Theatre Palisades presents Neil Simon’s ‘Chapter Two,’ 8 p.m. at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd., through February 14. For tickets, call 310-454-1970. The comedy, directed by Sherman Wayne and produced by Martha Hunter, plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. (See Michael Aushenker’s review, page 11.)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik will be the guest speaker at the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club’s annual members meeting, 2 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. (See story, page TK.)
MONDAY, JANUARY 25
Monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Civic League, 7:30 p.m. in Tauxe Hall at the Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. The public is invited. The agenda has two homes for review under new business: 431 Beirut (second-story addition) and 16060 Temecula (new two-story residence). Nutritionist Carolyn Rowley and chiropractor Brenda Grice Laue discuss ‘Creating Your Ultimate Self: The Body,’ which provides simple, easily applied nutrition and lifestyle changes that can bring about long-term health and wellness, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
Sunrise Senior Living hosts a free Alzheimer’s support group on the second Monday and fourth Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at 15441 Sunset. RSVP: Bruce Edziak at (310) 573-9545.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited. Robin Sax and Mark Geragos discuss ‘Predators and Child Molesters: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Keep Kids Safe,’ ‘A Sex Crimes DA Answers the 100 Most Asked Questions,’ and ‘It Happens Every Day: The Inside World of a Sex Crimes DA,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. A crew from C-SPAN will be filming this event.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
Los Angeles travel writer Susan Van Allen discusses ‘100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. The event is sponsored by Wine Wave Imports/Marchesi di Barolo and Perugina Baci. View Van Allen’s work at www.susanvanallen.com and www.travelerstales.com. ‘
Ben Norris: Inspired Artist
When American modernist painter Ben Norris began to write his memoir in 1998 at age 88, he relied not only on his own diaries and daybooks, but also happily upon his daughter Maggie Castrey, who edited the book ‘Ben Norris: American Modernist, 1910-2006,’ and his niece Bridget Norris, the family archivist, who provided many of the book’s black-and-white photographs. The name ‘Norris’ rings a bell here in Pacific Palisades, for Ben was the oldest son of Clarissa and Robert Norris, who in 1923 relocated from Hollywood to the start-up community of Pacific Palisades, encouraged by Clarissa’s older brother, Rev. Charles Scott, president of the founding association. Robert established a plumbing shop on the corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Beverly Boulevard (now Sunset) to supply essentials for the growing community. The shop later became Norris Hardware, now located adjacent to Ralphs, near the corner of Sunset and La Cruz, which was operated for many years by Chuck Norris, the youngest of Robert Norris’s five children. While Ben Norris went on to enjoy a long life living all over the world’Hawaii, Japan, New York City’his book provides fond, detailed reminiscences of his teenage years here, from 1923 to 1927. His father built a Southern California Spanish-style house at 1134 Kagawa St., while his uncle, Charles Scott, built ‘a grand house’ on Via de la Paz. Vera Norris, Chuck’s widow, recalls the Kagawa house: ‘They had two big lots. Mr. Norris was a gardener and grew vegetables and trees. I miss that very much.’ As with all Palisades children in the early days, Ben attended school outside the community. ‘The Palisades was technically a part of the city of Los Angeles, but no suitable Los Angeles schools were yet available near enough, so in the eighth grade, I entered Lincoln Junior High School in Santa Monica,’ he writes. Ben chronicles an early interest in music and drama in ‘Ben Norris: American Modernist,’ and thrived in the creative environment here. The Methodist Church also occupied his time: he played in the Sunday school orchestra as second chair first violin, attended church service with the adults and Epworth League activities for young people, and ‘tried hard to be good.’ Later in life, Norris explained that he was ‘no longer in the lingering grasp of the notion of original sin,’ and became a Quaker. Norris’s interest in the natural world and his inclination to observe it carefully began while he was at University High. He got a job at a nursery in his senior year, which he ‘found thoroughly interesting, opening packages of seeds from far-off places’I remember the first time I encountered ‘Frangipani’ in a packet sent from Tahiti. Later, in Hawaii, I came to recognize in the plumeria, the common tourists’ lei flower, the name that prompted a tropical reverie in my youth.’ He also was elected editor-in-chief of the senior yearbook, ‘a big, elaborately produced hardcover volume with hand-colored section pages. We designed all the artwork ourselves, then organized teams to do the coloring before sending the plates to be bound in by the printers.’ Norris, who was 13 years older than Chuck, left for Pomona College in 1927, where his interest in art flourished and prompted a hunger to study further and to immerse himself in the study of the great Western art masterpieces. He used the college’s Honnold Fellowship and its stipend (‘a princely $1,500’) to travel to Harvard, where he began graduate studies in art history. Stimulated, challenged and enjoying talking about ‘everything in the world’ with new friends, Norris nevertheless was called back to his ‘half-dead desire to paint, to make something.’ Restrained by the Depression, the Honnold committee renewed his grant for a reduced $700, to which Norris added $300 from the Institute of International Education and departed for Europe, where he allowed himself more time to study what he wanted and experience ‘The Grand Tour’ American style. Norris hardly traveled in a lordly fashion, mostly spending his days with sketchbook and watercolors while making his way from France to Spain to Italy, visiting both the great museums and tiny towns, where he ‘learned how to identify the room above the bar that could be rented for a night.’ The aspiring artist gravitated to architectural renderings and learned to look at things as an artist, not as a historical student. By the time he returned to the United States in the summer of 1933, Norris had amassed a cache of watercolors and drawings, which became the subject of several one-man shows’including one in Claremont. He moved back to Pacific Palisades for a time until he found work, first teaching in a school on Westmoreland, later at an animation studio. Times were tough and jobs paid meager wages, but Norris was free to do and go anywhere. The next decision in his life, really more practical than passionate, set his course for the next 40 years. He sailed for Hawaii on the SS Lurline in September 1936 to take a job as housefather and art teacher at the Kamehameha School for Boys. Always seeking out the art community, Norris was offered a major showing at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, which obviously included mostly California paintings, with a few new Hawaiian landscapes. ‘I found a studio in what had once been part of the kitchen of the former Royal Hawaiian Hotel downtown, before the Pink Palace on the beach at Waikiki,’ Norris writes. He also joined the faculty at the University of Hawaii and became the lone full-time instructor. In 1940, Norris married Peggy Sheffield, whom he had met through a mutual friend. They rented a small house in the rain forest on Mount Tantalus and started a family. The war began abruptly on Sunday morning as the couple listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the radio. ’We heard some gunfire that sounded like target practice out at sea, and wondered at the Navy being that industrious on a Sunday. A voice came over the radio, ‘The Islands are under enemy attack! Leave your radio on for announcements and instructions. The station will now go off the air.’ ’We quickly walked through the woods to a lookout where we could see through the trees. There were planes in the sky, and my wife said, aghast, ‘They’re not ours!’ We saw the smoke pouring up from the sunken ships, and scattered bursts of erratic antiaircraft fire.’ The war closed the university and thrust the island into quarantine with attendant curfew and deprivations. Norris found work with the government designing camouflage for military installations and later working for the U.S. Geological Survey. For the decade following the war, Norris was primarily engaged in his teaching and administrative duties in the art department at the university and doing his best to be a good husband and father, all of this ‘leaving little time for my own painting expeditions.’ Yet, as he matured as an artist, he found more and more interest in challenging the media, and employed lessons he learned from others. He invited a number of well-known artists to Hawaii to participate in the visiting-scholar program he set up at the university. These included Max Ernst, Josef Albers and Jean Charlot. ‘Thanks to what I learned from these distinguished guest artists, I was able to move more confidently toward abstraction and breaking up the picture plane,’ Norris writes. ‘What was exceptional about my dad was the tremendous variety of styles and media he pursued over his career,’ Maggie says. ‘He never painted for the market. If he had settled into seascapes, we would all have been living in mansions.’ Norris’s memoir focuses a great deal on his painting and is unusually descriptive in explaining his process while being comprehensible to the reader. No doubt, his daughter Maggie was helpful in assisting in arranging and editing the material. She and her brothers, Stephen and Peter, enjoyed a blissfully free childhood where the only rule was ‘Do not accept a ride from a stranger.’ After she graduated from high school in 1964, Maggie went on to Pomona, her father’s alma mater. ‘We had a trusting relationship,’ she says. ‘He respected and appreciated my abilities as writer and editor, and I was the member of the family most involved with him as an artist. Dad loved to talk about his work, and himself. After all, he was a lifetime career lecturer and teacher. He was erudite and articulate.’ Norris eventually left Hawaii and ‘retired’ in New York a month after his 66th birthday. He and Peggy had divorced, his children were launched and he wanted to ‘measure myself as an artist in the ‘capital’ of the Art World.’ While he continued to make art and show in galleries, he also began to come to terms with himself as an artist and intellect. ‘My inner need to be recognized has diminished,’ he writes in the final chapter of this book, at age 92. ‘I have had enough acknowledgment of my work to be able to move away from strong wishes for others’ approval to more confidence in my own acceptance of my art as good.’ Ben Norris continued to paint until he was 90, Maggie says. ‘Up until 92, he would call me every week and I would go and visit him often.’ (‘Ben Norris: American Modernist 1910-2006,’ Copley Square Press, $55, is available at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave.)