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Barbara Martin: Astrologer, Painter

Barbara T. (Terhune) Martin, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, died in Santa Monica on May 6. She was 90 years old. Born in New York City on May 28, 1919, Barbara moved with her family to Santa Monica in 1924, where she graduated from Santa Monica High School. In 1957, she later moved to one of the original houses built in the Marquez Knolls area and joined the Newcomers Club, which had been founded in 1949 to offer a neighborly welcome to new arrivals in Pacific Palisades. Raising her two daughters, Kathy and Darlene, Martin loved the Fourth of July in the Palisades. In addition to the traditional picnic, the family enjoyed watching the parade pass by the fire station at Carey and Sunset. In 1962, Martin convinced Kathy to join the Youth House (now the YMCA), which meant that she was on one of the floats as a ‘waver’ to spectators, including her proud mom. Another favorite events was the family’s annual trip to Catalina Island. When Martin was in her 50s, she started modeling clothes at various locations on the Westside. In addition, as an amateur artist, she loved to paint landscapes and scenic views that she enjoyed exhibiting in local art shows. After taking her first astrology lesson in 1963 with the New Age Group in Santa Monica, Martin remained a member throughout the years. She created a special astrology chart for each of her daughters, their spouses, her five grandchildren and all but one of her eight great-grandchildren. ‘We don’t know what the charts mean,’ said Kathy, ‘but we know they took a lot of work.’ In addition to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Martin leaves behind her daughters, Kathy Thomas Perez (husband Mandy) of Mar Vista, and Darlene Thomas Mason (husband John) of San Diego. A private family service was held at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Pearl R. Segel, 72; 42-Year Palisadian

Pearl Ruth Segel, a longtime Pacific Palisades resident, passed away peacefully February 16 after a courageous two-year battle with liver cancer. She was 72. Pearl had been married to Don Segel, treasurer of the Pacific Palisades Residents Association, since 1957, and they lived in Marquez Knolls.   Pearl was the administrator of the UCLA Geography Department for 29 years, contributing to its growth, finding housing for new faculty members, counseling graduate students and hosting large parties for them in her home. The answer to many inquiries from staff and students was ‘Ask Pearl.’   Upon retiring, Pearl spent five years as a Getty docent and supported many health and public interest organizations. She then found a volunteer niche in the Los Angeles Alzheimer’s Association as assistant director of volunteers and served two to three days a week for 19 years at the office across from the Art Museum. She wrote and published the quarterly newsletter, distributed helpful literature for caregivers and manned the help line. She received many awards for her Alzheimer’s activities, which included coordination of fundraising events and memory walks. She also found time to be on the board of the Jewish Home for the Aged in Reseda.   A well-loved person by all who knew her, Pearl rose each day to be a positive presence for others. She smiled in a way that touched people’s hearts and was a joy and love to all around her.   She was the loving daughter of Burt and Sylvia (Sheinbein) Bierman, who both preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Don, and her sister Shirley Sue Berko (husband Stanley). She was also a loving ‘Auntie Pearl’ to eight nieces and nephews, their spouses and their children.   Donations in Pearl’s memory can be made to the Jewish Home for the Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Micky Moore’s ‘Magic Carpet’ Ride

The Actor and Director, 95, Will Talk About His Remarkable Hollywood Career at Village Books

Micky Moore, 95, at his Malibu residence
Micky Moore, 95, at his Malibu residence
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Director, actor, assistant director, second-unit director, master property man. And now add ‘author’ to the long list of Micky Moore’s entertainment-industry endeavors. Moore, 95, and best known for his second-unit directing work on such films as ‘Patton,’ ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘The Man Who Would Be King,’ will sign copies of his memoir, ‘My Magic Carpet of Films: A Personal Journey in the Motion Picture Industry, 1916’2000’ (BearManor Media) on Tuesday, June 9 at Village Books on Swarthmore. ‘What’s amazing is that people all over the world know Micky’s name and what he worked on,’ said Judi Devin, Moore’s personal assistant of 10 years. ‘Today, we got an e-mail from a man in Uzbekistan asking for an autographed picture from the book. How remarkable is that.’ Drawing on a Hollywood career that spanned nearly nine decades, Moore’s life has intersected with some of the greatest film actors, directors and producers in the history of cinema. Born Dennis Michael Sheffield in 1914 in Victoria, British Columbia, Moore began working as an actor at 18 months of age. With his late brother, Pat Moore, Moore played in four films (no longer in existence) for the American Film Manufacturing Company’s Santa Barbara-based The Flying A Studios in 1916; the same year he moved with his family to Los Angeles at the dawn of Hollywood’s golden age. Joining the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation in 1916, he played in nearly 50 films through 1929 and worked with Mary Pickford several times. ‘He was a good actor,’ Devin says. ‘He went on to star in ‘Pollyanna’ in 1920, which was a very successful film for Mary. She was already a big star.’ In his early years, Moore often turned to director Cecil B. DeMille, who became his mentor and father figure and played a pivotal role at key turning points throughout his life. In 1933, after some lean acting years, he returned to the legendary ‘The Ten Commandments’ director, for whom he had worked steadily as a young actor, with an interest to start a new career. ‘He’s the one I went to in Paramount,’ Moore recalls. ‘I said, ‘Mr. DeMille, I’d like to get back into the business.’ He said, ‘You mean you want to be an actor?’ I said, ‘No, I want to be a prop man.” And so, beginning with DeMille’s ‘Cleopatra’ (1934), Moore worked as a prop master for such directors as King Vidor (‘So Red the Rose’) and Preston Sturges (‘The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek’). Essentially, the former child star had embarked on a journey which, from 1933 until 2000, saw him graduating from property master to assistant director to second-unit director. With ‘Rope of Sand,’ a 1949 movie starring Burt Lancaster and Claude Rains, Moore took the reins of a new role”second assistant director”capturing establishing shots, horses, vehicle chases”you name it! Moore’s book is brimming with anecdotes from his time working with such illustrious names as Gary Cooper, Katharine Hepburn, George Cukor and John Huston. He also worked with Elvis Presley on ‘King Creole.’ Moore writes: ‘There are stories from many people that put Elvis in a bad light. It’s hard for me to say anything but good things about him. The Elvis I worked with was always a hard worker, never too tired to put out his best…He was always polite, even a bit formal. From the start, when working as a first assistant on a picture with Elvis, he always called me ‘Mr. Moore.’ I would say, ‘Elvis, it’s Micky.’ To the last day I directed him in ‘Paradise, Hawaiian Style,’ it was still ‘Mr. Moore.” No less than Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, the most commercially successful directors of all time, wrote the foreword to ‘Magic Carpet’ because Moore did second-unit work on the original three ‘Indiana Jones’ movies, including the classic truck chase scene from ‘Raiders.’ Using visuals culled from the movie and its storyboards, Moore’s book sheds light on filming the sequence, which was shot in Tunisia. ‘The whole opening of the script was the main shot when they’re coming down a mountain and jumping into the German truck,’ Moore says. ‘I had a wonderful crew and it seemed to work out.’ However, staging that truck chase nearly cost Moore his life. He writes, ‘The driver made too sharp a turn and the car went out of control’into a sand bank. It came to an all-too-sudden stop. My groin smashed against a rear spare tire.’ Moore was taken to London for an operation, but he came out of the ordeal intact, later working on the next two ‘Indiana Jones’ sequels. Moore considers Spielberg a generous director. In his book, he recalls Spielberg asking his advice on an area where he wanted to shoot the truck chase, and Moore advising against the poor terrain. ‘There was a short pause before Steven turned to Norman Reynolds, the production designer, and said, ‘Norman, you and Micky see if there are better locations to make the chase more exciting.’ This showed me that I was working with a director who was not afraid to delegate.’ Of all his Hollywood m’tiers, Moore preferred working as a second-unit director. ‘Going over the storyboards with the director, planning everything,’ Moore says. ‘It’s the best aspect of the job.’ Moore remembers working as a second-unit director on ‘Sometimes a Great Notion’ (1971) and urging star Paul Newman to take over as the film’s director at a time when actors were not encouraged to do so. ‘Micky is a little bit of a ‘Forrest Gump,” Devin says. ‘He was there at the right place at the right time and he gave Paul a little push.’ A resident of Malibu since 1950, Moore worked on Frank Tashlin’s goofball Bob Hope/Jane Russell western, ‘Son of Paleface.’ It was one of his first gigs as a first assistant director after working as a property master on the original ‘Paleface’ comedy. Moore speaks very highly of Hal Wallis, the Paramount-based producer behind many Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis films which Moore had worked on. He reserves a particular fondness for the nutty Lewis. ‘Jerry was a lot of fun to work with,’ Moore says of the legendary comedian and one-time honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades. ‘He was always up to some stupid thing. On one of the pictures, Jerry got my watch and he broke it. I said, ‘Jesus, Jerry that was a gift from my mother, who is not here anymore.’ He felt bad about it. He went out and bought me a watch that cost three times more than the one I had.’ Moore is particularly proud of his work on ‘Patton’ (1970), which won seven Academy Awards. His second-unit credits also include ‘Mame,’ ‘Airport ’77,’ ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation,’ and even the notorious bomb ‘Ishtar.’ In the 1990s, Moore, who had worked on both versions of DeMille’s ‘Ten Commandments’ (including the famous 1956 remake starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner), was invited with his brother to the archeological site where they discovered the half-buried sets of DeMille’s original 1923 version buried in the sand dunes of California’s central coast. Moore’s last professional credit before retiring was 2000’s live-action sequel ‘102 Dalmatians’ (he had also worked on the 1996 original). Now retired from the movie business, Moore keeps active around his Malibu neighborhood. ‘He is more athletic than most of my friends,’ says Devin, 62, of Moore today. ‘He hikes in the hills here in Malibu. He swims at Pepperdine. I’m not that physically fit!’ He currently lives with wife Laurie and his children from his first wife, Esther, the mother of daughters Tricia and Sandy. Esther passed away in 1992. Moore has five grandsons and four great-grandchildren. Moore worked closely with Devin over a six-year period to produce his memoir. And he is looking forward to his Pacific Palisades book signing, where, Devin says, cinema lovers will be delighted to meet Moore and learn about his charmed career. ‘He’s one of those unsung heroes of the field who make the famous people look good,’ Devin says. Visit www.MickyMoore.com.

PaliHi School Psychologist McGowan Wins Petrick Award

School psychologist Bella McGowan and her dog, Murphy, at McGowan
School psychologist Bella McGowan and her dog, Murphy, at McGowan
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

At 98, Murphy is the oldest member of the faculty at Palisades Charter High School, according to his colleague, school psychologist Bella McGowan. Well, not in human years, actually. You see, Murphy is McGowan’s dog, a Wheaten terrier, and the 14-year-old canine comes to work with her every single morning. ‘He started coming eight years ago,’ McGowan tells the Palisadian-Post. ‘I had him trained as a therapy dog. He has a policy written with his name, which allows him to be on campus all day. Right now, he’s lying at my feet, stretched out. ‘He’s provides comfort and unconditional love every single day,’ McGowan continues. ‘The kids love him. He has a wonderful personality.’ McGowan credits Murphy as an integral part of why she won a Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award in May. ‘He’s probably more recognized at this school than I am,’ McGowan says. ‘Kids come just to cry in his fur.’ In order to apply for the Petrick Award, McGowan had to submit either a 10-minute videotape or a 2,000-word essay describing her teaching methods and missions. Of course, McGowan opted for writing the essay. ‘Most of what I do is confidential, and you can’t shoot a video of me working with a group,’ she explains. McGowan received her B.A. from UCLA and her M.Ed. from Harvard University. Before arriving at PaliHi, she worked as a school psychologist at various Westside schools, including a brief stint at Paul Revere Middle School. The West Los Angeles resident took a break only to raise her kids, now grown: her daughter Sarah Kate, 23, is taking up her mom’s line of work, studying clinical psychology at the University of Illinois; her son, Sammy, 20, is a history major at Brown University. ‘But the longest time I’ve worked at a school has been Pali for 13 years,’ McGowan says. ‘I love the community, the school, the staff. There’s nothing better than the adolescent.’ McGowan is the only psychologist on campus, and the number of students that she sees every day ‘range dramatically depending upon the situation.’ She estimates that she sees anywhere from a dozen students to 50 to 100 students if there’s a crisis on campus. Despite the town’s affluent reputation, ‘PaliHi is probably one of the most integrated schools you can walk through,’ she says. ‘That’s the misnomer, that because we’re situated in a wealthy neighborhood, most of the students are affluent. They’re not. We’re very diverse here. ‘Teenagers are the same anywhere that you go,’ McGowan says. ‘At Pali, we have a huge cross-section of students from over 100 zip codes, which makes for an energetic, diverse student body.’ Of course, over the past 13 years, the nature of teenage socialization has mutated dramatically. Thank technology for that. ‘Technology is the good news and the bad news,’ McGowan says. ‘Certainly, as a parent, I think that one of the greatest inventions was the cell phone. First, there was penicillin, then the cell phone. It provided immediacy, access to your child.’ Then came the down side: ‘Cyberharm, cyber-bullying, sexting, kids giving out too much information. Kids don’t seem to understand that anything you do on Facebook or on the Internet, you might as well be doing on a billboard. ‘Depression is a large problem,’ McGowan continues. ‘Two students passed away last year, the year before that a student, and two students who had just graduated, had passed away. The summer of 2007 was very difficult. ‘Typically, if there’s a crisis, I’ve come back to assist during the summer,’ such as when PaliHi student Dillon Henry died in a car crash on Sunset in July 2007. McGowan has also seen the economic meltdown adversely affect her students, ‘whose families are losing work. There’s a lot more distress and unhappiness in the last year. There’s a lot more stress. The best thing students can do is take care of themselves. If they’re doing what they need to do, they’re helping their parents ultimately.’ The PaliHi staff is about to go through a rough patch. Six teachers, four administrators (including the principal), and seven classified staff members, may be leaving this summer. Will it add to teen angst on campus? ‘For the students, no,’ McGowan says. ‘I think we have a highly compassionate staff. That’s remained constant all the years that I’ve been here. Overall, we have a very strong core of teachers and faculty to support the students. She notes that graduate students working toward their M.A degrees in psychology from Antioch University in Culver City will be working at the school on a weekly basis to counsel high schoolers. ‘Every single year I look to expand my group,’ McGowan says. ‘We’re going to work on our ability to intervene quickly.’ Back in 2004, McGowan told the Post, ‘This year, I’m starting a peer mentoring program to help ninth grade students feel more comfortable. I want kids to benefit from an upper-classmate’s experiences. I want them to feel safe and to learn how to talk to one another; these are important life skills.’ Five years later, her appetite to constantly improve her craft has not diminished. Last fall, McGowan reports: ‘Under the generous sponsorship of the Dillon Henry Foundation, 26 students and five staff members participated in a weekend retreat at the Ojai Foundation, and learned the meaning of ‘council.’ In the coming school year, I’m hoping that this council will be formally integrated into the ninth grade freshman transition program. Student mentoring will emerge from this and in partnership with another new program, Link Crew.’ She plans to spend the summer thinking of strategies for the year ahead. ‘I’m also going to a bullying conference in June to work on girl issues and bullying overall,’ McGowan says. ‘Every year, I try to hone my craft and learn new skills. Summer is a time to be reflective on how to improve next year.’ McGowan credits her family for keeping her grounded and supporting her as she applied for the Petrick Award, including her husband, Mark McGowan, a physician in Santa Monica. ‘Our 25th wedding anniversary is June 30,’ she says, beaming. As for the $2,000 grant that comes with her award, McGowan says, ‘I will give some of it back toward school beautification, toward a garden on campus.’ And just how will McGowan reward her loyal associate, that faithful canine colleague lying at her feet? ‘Murphy is rewarded every single day that he comes to work,’ McGowan says. ‘This is what keeps him young!’

‘La Boheme’ Hits Superb High Notes

Music Review

When co-director Linda Jackson learned that ‘La Boh’me,’ the debut production of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera, would be performed in the sanctuary of the United Methodist Church instead of Tauxe Hall, she worried. She was concerned that the decidedly free-spirited bohemian life might be in some way sacrilegious. She needn’t have fretted because on Friday night the sanctuary was indeed blessed with the rapturous music of Puccini’s score brought to its fullest beauty by the talented ensemble.   Under the imaginative supervision of stage director Kirk Smith, the altar and communion area magically disappeared into the dank, cold artist’s garret in Acts I and III, and the ribald joie de vivre scene at the Caf’ Momus. Updated to 1963, the costumes and set design reinforced the artists’ devil-may-care camaraderie and ingenious survival that describes the poor artist’s life. And in spite of the last minute change of venue, the cast moved fluidly in and around the stage, cleverly using the church columns and side door to dramatic advantage. The ‘set’ proved to be a creative space, but the triumph is the music and the brilliant cast. Jackson, a Pacific Palisades resident, brought different colors to her role, employing her warm and supple soprano to Mimi’s multiple moods: strong, hopeful and ultimately diminished by her illness. Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos, as Rodolfo, was Jackson’s match, not only in the sureness of his voice, but also in his tender focus.   The other pair of lovers, up and down in their affections for one another, were wonderful to watch. As Marcello, Gabriel Manro’s warm baritone brought a masculine passion to his role as supporter of Rodolfo and to his desire for Musetta (Diana Briscoe).   Briscoe pulled out all the stops, playing Musetta as the sexy provocateur who drives Marcello to fits. Her soprano was up to the demands of this character role.   Fellow Bohemians, David Hodgson (Shaunard), Herv’ Blanquart (Colline), Stanton Hunter (Benoit and Alcindoro) each established a clear character profile.   Perhaps the most praise should be for music director Galina Barskaya, who provided lively accompaniment on piano/synthesizer with respectful attention to the voices.   Friday evening’s full house was treated to spectacular opera with the added bonus of being close to home.   Bravas to co-director Jackson and co-founder/artistic director Ella Lee for the first in a series for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera. Future productions in the Palisades include ‘La Traviata,’ ‘Cosi fan Tutti’ and ‘Tosca.’

Author Sows Wild ‘Oates’ in Biography

Hollywood renegade Sam Peckinpah’s favorite film was John Huston’s ‘Treasure of the Sierra Madre,’ and when he co-wrote and directed his own tale of avarice gone awry, the 1974 thriller ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia,’ Peckinpah found a cinematic descendent of Humphrey Bogart in the character actor Warren Oates, whose volatile mix of machismo and vulnerability informed a tour de force performance.   Unfortunately, ‘Alfredo,’ considered the purest of Peckinpah’s films (i.e. no studio interference), tanked, taking down Oates’ shot at leading-man status in Hollywood.   Such is the story of the late Hollywood rebel Oates, as captured by author Susan Compo, who will discuss and sign copies of her biography, ‘Warren Oates: A Wild Life,’ on June 7 at 3 p.m., in Diesel bookstore, Brentwood Country Mart.   Before tackling ‘Warren Oates,’ Compo wrote a novel, ‘Pretty Things,’ and two short-story collections. The Pasadena resident was attracted to the challenge of trying her hand at non-fiction.   ’I always wanted to try writing a biography,’ said Compo, who searched to see if anything had been written on Oates, one of her favorite actors, who died in 1982. ‘Nothing. I couldn’t believe my luck that there really wasn’t anything out there.’   Compo interviewed a variety of celebrities who worked or crossed paths with Oates, including Dennis Quaid, Dennis Hopper and Mariette Hartley, and various Peckinpah collaborators. She also interviewed three of Oates’ four wives, as well as the actor’s four kids and other family members.   ’Warren was so different from his older brother, who is a straight business man,’ Compo told the Palisadian-Post.   A rebel all of his life, the Depoy, Kentucky native followed a stint in the Marines by chasing his muse to New York to become an actor. After a television career that included a pair of early-1960s episodes of ‘The Twilight Zone’ and various television Westerns, Oates found his hard-drinking, hard-living match in outlaw filmmaker Peckinpah.   ’They were fatal friends,’ Compo said. ‘Friends who weren’t good for each other, but they understood each other. Both were in the Marines, both were men’s men. They enjoyed a drink, liked women, and some may not realize this, but they really cared about their art.’   Oates played in Peckinpah’s 1969 masterpiece, ‘The Wild Bunch,’ opposite William Holden and Ernest Borgnine. Oates also had small roles in another Sam Peckinpah Western, ‘Ride the High Country’ (1962), and in the director’s Civil War epic, ‘Major Dundee’ (1965).   Unlike Peckinpah, Oates’ other major collaborator, underground filmmaker Monte Hellman, was ‘quiet, studied. They were much closer kindred spirits than him and Peckinpah.’ Oates worked on four little-seen films for Hellman, most notably ‘Two-Lane Blacktop.’   Despite ardent defenders in its day, such as emerging film critic Roger Ebert, Peckinpah’s ‘Alfredo’ bombed at the box office, which undermined Oates’ career.   ’The studios wouldn’t give him a chance,’ Compo said. ‘He wasn’t a handsome leading man and was on the cusp of the era when you still needed to be.’   Oates lost confidence in ‘Alfredo’ following its cold reception, according to his biographer: ‘He was really conflicted about the film. He didn’t live long enough to see the acclaim many years later. When it bombed, he told people not to see it.’   Although Oates played numerous supporting roles for directors as prestigious and diverse as Norman Jewison and Steven Spielberg, few filmmakers truly saw his leading-man potential and engaged him as much as Peckinpah had. By the late 1970s, Oates worked on ‘whatever he could get,’ Compo said. ‘He enjoyed working on ‘1941’ and ‘Stripes’ because it meant that the younger directors valued him.’   Drug and alcohol abuse took its toll on Oates, who died of cardiac arrest on April 3, 1982 at the age of 53.   ’What I was unprepared for while researching my book was how people loved him,’ Compo said. ‘They dropped everything to talk to me.’

Pali Senior Wins Optimist Contest

Palisades High senior Caroline Coster won the annual Optimist Club essay contest.
Palisades High senior Caroline Coster won the annual Optimist Club essay contest.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

By SARAH STOCKMAN Palisadian-Post Intern Palisades Charter High School senior Caroline Coster won the annual Pacific Palisades Optimist Club essay contest in April with her entry ‘The Power of Youth.’ Coster received a medal, a certificate and a cash award. Her essay was also forwarded to the district level, where she will be competing for scholarships and a chance to advance to the national contest.   Coster’s essay focuses on the responsibility of Generation Y to use new technologies that could stop global warming, clean the oceans and help feed the hungry.   ’Today’s youth play such an important role in our culture, exerting social and economic power in the U.S. and all over the world, it seems natural that they should use that power to positively shape its future,’ Coster writes. ‘President Obama understood this during his campaign when he captivated young voters with a vision that they universally desire through their own technologies.’   Coster, a Santa Monica resident, feels that the Y generation, which has grown up with modern technologies, has an advantage over those of other generations.   ’Despite the fact that the young may not be mature, their collective voice is quite powerful,’ Coster said in an interview. ‘They are idealistic and passionate.’   When she was in elementary school, Coster kept a journal. ‘I basically wrote about everything I saw with completely vivid detail,’ she said. She is now a chief editor of the Tideline, PaliHi’s award-winning student newspaper, administered by teacher Mary Cappelli.   Throughout high school, Coster has followed a few simple writing rules. ‘Always turn things in on time and instead of trying to make things sound perfect and trying to write in a professional voice, just tell it how it is. Deal with the flow later. It is easy for the point of the story to get lost in the writing.’   Her father, Geoff Coster, who is on the speaker’s bureau of the Optimist Club told her about the annual contest, which is open to students under 19, and requires them to write betweem 400 to 500 words on a given topic.   In addition to schoolwork and the Tideline, Coster is also a competitive rower for the Marina Aquatic Center Rowing Club, and practices Monday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m.   On Saturdays, when she isn’t at rowing competitions, she works as a public educator for Heal the Bay’s Aquarium under the Santa Monica pier. ‘I teach people about ocean pollution and about the animals in the Bay,’ Coster said.   This fall, Coster will attend Hobart and William Smith College in upstate New York with plans to study environmental conservation. After graduation, she might join the Peace Corps, but ultimately plans to attend graduate school and become a professor.   Coster, whose mother is Barbara Chiavelli, has a younger sister, Gabby, who will attend Santa Monica High School next year.

City Pursues Hillside Building Ordinance

To prevent homeowners from constructing large homes that are out of scale with the rest of the neighborhood, the L.A. Department of City Planning is developing a mansionization ordinance for hillside properties. ‘If everything works out the way I want, we will have a proposal ready this summer and a new ordinance on the books next winter,’ said L.A. City Planner Erick Lopez during the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association’s 63rd annual meeting on May 19. The L.A. City Council adopted a Baseline Mansionization Ordinance (BMO) a year ago for all residential properties in areas zoned as flat, meaning areas with slopes of less than 15 percent. The ordinance, however, does not apply to Pacific Palisades despite the fact that many residences are located in large flat areas because the entire community is zoned as a hillside. The hillside ordinance is based on street boundaries rather than topography, so city employees have spent the past few months looking at topography maps to redefine hillsides, Lopez said. On March 26, the City Planning Commission approved revising the hillside area definition to be based on topography rather than street boundaries. The proposal will be presented to the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee and then submitted to the City Council for final approval. If approved, large flat areas with 100 lots or more (such as the Alphabet Streets) currently zoned as hillside will automatically fall under the existing BMO. Those properties that are still considered hillside will be under the proposed Hillside Mansionization Ordinance. To develop that ordinance, the city has reviewed existing hillside regulations and boundaries, studied best practices in other jurisdictions throughout the nation and hosted kick-off meetings. ‘We are now working on processing public comments and concerns that we’ve received so far to determine which ones can be addressed by this particular project, and we’ll be using that information to develop a proposal,’ Lopez said. ‘Once a proposed ordinance is put together, there will be public meetings and hearings held in order to give people a chance to comment.’ Currently, a homeowner in an area zoned as hillside can build a home with a floor area ratio that is three times the buildable area (lot size minus setbacks). The topography of each property is not taken into consideration. ‘We realize that lot size alone is not the best method of determining an appropriately sized home,’ Lopez said, adding there are also no grading limits or rules for the size of retaining walls in the existing hillside ordinance. Some efforts have already taken place across the city to restrict the size of homes in hillside areas. The Northeast L.A. Ordinance, which became effective in January, establishes new floor-area ratios based on topography, uses slope to calculate the overall height limit, regulates grading and controls the height and length of the retaining walls. The Oaks Interim Control Ordinance for properties southwest of Griffith Park establishes new floor-area ratios to limit size of structures and allows homeowners to build a home at least 1,600 square feet regardless of how steep the hillside. Lopez pointed out that what works for one neighborhood might not for another. ‘There is not going to be a magic bullet,’ he said, adding that the Hillside Mansionization Ordinance will serve as a template for the city. Similar to the BMO, the city envisions giving hillside residents flexibility. The BMO allows residents to create Residential Floor Area Districts (RFA), which are neighborhoods consisting of at least 100 acres that have decided by a 75 percent majority vote to establish their own guidelines. The City Council and City Planning Commission can also create RFA districts. The rules of the district can be more or less restrictive than the BMO. ‘The idea here is that there are no default rules in place,’ Lopez said. ‘Residents can custom-tailor to their particular neighborhood.’ For updates on the progress of the Hillside Mansionization Ordinance or to make comments, contact Lopez at Erick.Lopez@lacity.org or call (213) 978-1243. Those who e-mail should write ‘Add me to the Hillside Interest List’ or ‘Hillside Comments’ in the subject line. Lopez asks that residents provide their contact information and zip code.

Newbill Wins Petrick Award for Her Classroom Skills

Karyn Newbill's classroom ceiling hangs with fish and other marine creatures designed by students in the marine biology class that she teaches at Palisades High
Karyn Newbill’s classroom ceiling hangs with fish and other marine creatures designed by students in the marine biology class that she teaches at Palisades High
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

One of Karyn Newbill’s first jobs was teaching catfish farming in Thailand. Just out of college in 1994 with a degree in marine biology, she was a Peace Corps volunteer, working with men who weren’t always enthusiastic about taking direction from a young blonde. But she forged ahead, showing them how to grow catfish by first milking the females to get eggs, then killing the males to get sperm. The eggs and sperm were mixed in a bowl, and ultimately, this produced baby catfish. ‘It was an important way for the people to get more protein in their diet, which was mostly rice. It was also a way for them to earn money,’ said Newbill, who speaks fluent Thai. ‘It was a great program, but my favorite aspect of it was teaching. I thought, ‘I like this, this is what I want to do.” The University of Oregon graduate returned to Los Angeles after three years in Asia and joined LAUSD’s intern program, which allowed her to teach while earning a credential by attending classes Thursday evenings and all day Saturday. ‘I applied to different schools,’ Newbill said, ‘and I got lucky because Mr. Price [Palisades High School’s principal, Merle Price] hired me in 1997. This is ultimately the best school in the district.’ Now a biology and marine biology teacher at Pali, Newbill was named winner of a Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award by the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation early this month. She and five other award winners will each receive $2,000 grants at a ceremony on Sunday, May 31, in the Oak Room on Swarthmore. When Newbill first started in the classroom, she called it ‘survival mode,’ because she would develop her lesson plans the night before. After two years, however, she began to think in terms of planning each unit and for the school year. ‘At this point I’m basically refining what I teach,’ Newbill said. ‘If I see something doesn’t work, I modify it [immediately] for the kids’ needs.’ When asked what makes a good teacher, Newbill said: ‘I think it has to do with the amount of concern’how much of yourself you put into your work. I’m not a 7:50 to 3:08 teacher. Good teachers put in a lot of time beyond the classroom, tutoring, being available during the school day [nutrition, lunch hour, after school].’ Newbill’s classroom is a classic primer for how a teacher engages students, entices them with visuals, and draws them into a subject with enthusiasm. ‘Oh, this is the coolest fish, look at the features,’ Newbill told her students one morning. She admits that sometimes she feels like she sounds like a big dork, but her students love her energy. All heads turned when she pointed to a marlin that hangs on a wall and told them that it’s the second fastest fish in the sea (able to travel 50 mph) and that its tail fin is like the Ferrari of fish. Holding up two differently colored fish, Newbill explained that the color as we perceive it would be different in water depending on the light wavelength. Using an anology to help explain the difference between the lengths, she compared the long light waves that move slower to the largest linemen on the PaliHi football team and the tiniest wavelengths to running backs. Students chimed in with football players’ names. Her ability to take physics material that could be dry and make it relevant, kept pupils engaged. Showing slides of fish that live on different levels of the sea, Newbill gave clear explanations. For example, she pointed to a small brown spot on the female tongue fish and explained: ‘That spot is the male, who takes a bite and then hangs on for the rest of his life; he’s a male parasite, the female totally takes care of him.’ In addition to three marine biology classes, Newbill also teaches two biology classes and knitting. ‘I took up knitting about seven years ago,’ she said. ‘I started a club during lunch and began knitting with students.’ This year, knitting became an elective class, which counts towards a student’s technical art requirement. Her beginning students knit baby hats that are donated to a charity, Stitches from the Heart, while others are finishing baby hoodie sweaters. Newbill was asked how it was to have Merle Price observe her teaching as a Petrick judge. ‘It was such an honor to have him here again,’ she said. ‘When I first started teaching he would stop by my classroom and ask how it was going. To have him back was great; I love him.’ It was mutual admiration; judges wrote about Newbill: ‘She had kids in the palm of her hand.’ Newbill is single and lives in Hancock Park with her boyfriend Mike Sussman, a television writer, and their chocolate Labrador, Charlie Brown.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 28, 2009

Our offices will be closed FRIDAY, JULY 3, for the Independence Day Holiday. The classified deadline will be THURSDAY, JULY 2, at 11 A.M.

HOMES FOR SALE 1

GREAT DEALS. Homes Steps from Sand. Right in the Palisades! $125-450,000. Fab ocean views. For use as homes/offices/weekend retreats/condo alt. Terrific Opportunity! PCH Between Sunset and Temescal. 8 sold last year. Remodels and fixers available. Heated pool and rec center. Agent: Michelle Bolotin, (310) 230-2438, www.michellebolotin.com

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 $14,000/mo. Contact Dolly Neimann, (310) 230-3706

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

RUSTIC CANYON CRAFTSMAN CHARMER with 3 bd, 3.5 ba, great room with river rock FP, & cathedral ceilings. Huge porch & large yard. $6,400/mo. Call Dolly at (310) 230-3706

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

16904 DONNA YNEZ LANE. Located on a cul-de-sac street this light & bright 4 BD, 2.5 BA house features a living rm & dining area w/ an open fireplace. Updated kitchen. Large master w/ bath. Pvt fenced in yard. $4,950/mo. Jody Fine, (310) 230-3770

2 BDRM, 2 BA, 2 CAR GARAGE, private deck & garden, laundry, new kitchen, dishwasher, microwave, hardwood floors. Nice quiet area. $4,500/mo. (310) 454-4599

2 BED, 1 BATH. Remodeled bathroom. Refrigerator, microwave. Covered parking for 2 cars. Community pool & laundry facilities. Private patio. 900 sqft. No pets. $1,695/mo.+utilities. Last month free w/ 1 year lease. Avail NOW. (310) 450-8070

SANTA MONICA CANYON, $2,450/mo. Contemporary/architectural 1+1 house. I block from beach. Open-plan, W/D, stainless appliances, central heat, built-ins, light & airy. Avail June. (310) 230-7737

BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH COTTAGE style home for rent. 3 bdrm, 2 ba, in Marquez area. Old style charm completely refurbished. Contact Roy at (415) 722-9270 or waandmel@aol.com

WALK TO VILLAGE, BEACH, MTN VIEWS. Palisades charm. 2 bdrms plus patio skylight room. Large deck, front yard. Mtn views. 6 mo lease. $3,900/mo. Fireplace. Call (310) 230-4333

4 BD. TREE-LINED ST NR VILLAGE. Quiet neighborhood, large patio off master bdrm and kitchen. Near schools. 2 car gar. 1 year lease min. $5,500/mo. (310) 230-4333

FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b

LOVELY 3 BDRM, 3 BA apartment at Edgewater Towers, across from beach, ocean view. $6,000/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 1 BEDROOM apt, remodeled, upper, carpet, gas stove, refrigerator, one year lease, covered parking, storage, laundry, Non-smoker. No pets. MUST SEE. $1,345/mo. (310) 477-6767

STUDIO KITCHENETTE, FULL BATH, private entrance, private home. Walk to village. $850/mo. plus utilities. (310) 454-3883

PARK YOUR CAR! 1 bedroom apartment in small complex one or two blocks from everything in Pacific Palisades village. Hike in Temescal Canyon, tennis near library, supermarkets and shops. Quiet pet welcome. Contact Michael, (310) 883-8049

BEAUTIFUL 2 BD + 2 BA * $2,695/mo. Small pet ok with deposit. Quiet building, new carpet, marble floors, crown molding, gas fireplace & appliances. Walk to village and beach. With 1 month free rent. Call (310) 454-2024

PACIFIC PALISADES: UNIQUE, UPSCALE, huge garden patio, with private spa, 2 bdrm, 2 full baths. $3,495/mo. with a lease. Available now. Call (310) 456-0047

CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

EXQUISITE OCEAN VIEWS, 2+2. All-new interior. Just steps to bch. 5 min to S.M. All new cabinets, applcs, granite, marble, hdwd flrs. High ceils. W/D in condo. Ocean view patio. Garage. 1,200 sf. Reduced to $2,980. Was $5,500/mo. (310) 702-1154. www.MalibuCoastline.com

BEAUTIFUL 3 BDRM, 2′ BA, HIGHLANDS townhouse. Upgraded, light, spacious, patio, W/D, 2 car garage, pool, tennis & gym. $3,675/mo. (310) 459-3264

GEM IN THE PALISADES, 2 bdrm, 2′ ba, townhouse, hdwd, tile, new carpet, W/D, dishwasher. Parking. $3,350/mo. (310) 392-1757

SENIOR CITIZEN COMPLEX ‘ Lovely maintained ‘ Bright, 1 bedroom, walk-in closet. Elevator, close to everywhere. Available now. $1,395/mo. (310) 456-8770 or (c) (310) 795-3795

REDUCED. AMAZING OCEAN VIEWS! 1932 Palisades Dr. Beautiful 3 bd, 2.5 ba Medit villa. Open flr plan (3,300 sq ft), cathedral ceil, office/study, gym/bonus, ample closets & storage. In/outdr living w/ 4 spacious balconies, vast cyn & ocn vus! Many amenities. $5,900/mo. robbie sikora, agent, (310) 710-5214

EXCLUSIVE ‘SEA RIDGE’ COMMUNITY. Gated & pvt twnhm w/ ocean views. 3 bd, 3 ba, FLR, FDR, family area, bonus rm, laundry rm, 2-car gar w/ dir access, $5,500/mo. robbie sikora, agent, (310) 710-5214

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

ROOMMATE WANTED TO SHARE spacious, clean 2-story, 2 br, 2 bath condo in Brentwood near Bundy and Wilshire. $1,000/mo on lease. Bedroom & bath located on private top floor. AC, washer/dryer in unit; 2-space gated parking. 2 cats on premises. Call (310) 980-0016, (818) 645-8632

PAC PAL RENTAL. Lovely furnished room w/ bathroom & mini kitchen, open to garden, sep entry, quiet single, N/S, mature person or student, preferred female. $800. Refs req. Avail 7/1. (310) 459-5261

WANTED TO RENT 3b

LOCAL EMPLOYED male seeks guesthouse. Quiet, local references. Non-smoker, no pets. Call Palisadian-Post, (310) 454-1321

WANTED TO RENT: 1-car garage for my vintage car. Palisades, Malibu or Santa Monica area. (310) 413-6789

ESTABLISHED FEMALE WRITER seeks sunny Castellammare guesthouse. One quiet person, non-smoker, no pets. Solid credit, local references. Please call (310) 633-3674. Thank you!

FEMALE PROFESSIONAL seeks quiet apartment or guesthouse in Palisades area or Santa Monica. Non smoker, no pets. Please call (310) 709-8272

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

PALISADES OFFICE SUITES AVAILABLE in the heart of the Village: Single room offices & office suites ranging in size up to 3,235 sf, all with large windows with great natural light. Amazing views of the Santa Monica mountains, private balconies and restrooms. Building amenities include high speed T1 internet access, elevator and secured, underground parking. CALL BRETT AT (310) 591-8789 or email brett@hp-cap.com

SPACE FOR TAKE-OUT RESTAURANT. Includes some equipment. Sunset Blvd. Near PCH. (310) 230-4692

FRONT FACING OFFICE/RETAIL. Charming courtyard, approx 500 sq ft, includes parking. Gross lease. $2,000/mo. 859 Via de la Paz. (310) 395-7272

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT. Individual offices for rent in Pacific Palisades Village. $750 to $1,250/mo. Call Aimee @ (310) 230-8335

LOST & FOUND 6a

FOUND: KEYS. Car keys plus other keys found on alphabet streets, Wednesday morning, May 20th. Call and describe: (310) 454-4379

FOUND: SUNGLASSES. Prescription Ray-Ban sunglasses found on Sunday, May 17th, in the Huntington Palisades. Call (310) 699-1258

FOUND: SURFBOARD, found on Sunday, May 17th on Marquez Ave. near Marquez Charter School. Please call (310) 454-0522 to claim it. If you know who shaped it, then it’s definitely yours!

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

QUICKBOOKS ‘ LOCAL PALISADIAN Call Shirley, (310) 570-6085

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 * SET-UP, TUTORING, REPAIR, INTERNET. Problem-Free Computing, Guaranteed. Satisfying Clients Since 1992 ‘ If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! COMPUTER WORKS! 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

EXPERIENCED NANNY, loving, responsible, trustworthy, looking for a F/T position, Monday-Friday. Local references, 14 yrs experience. Call Aida, (323) 496-4984 after 2 p.m.

THE MANNY COMPANY provides highly qualified, educated, male nannies to families. (310) 203-1367 ‘ themannycompany.com

LOOKING FOR A NEW BABYSITTER THIS SUMMER? My name is Liza DeWitt, I am a recent high school graduate & am college bound. Experienced with kids (camp counselor for two summers & elementary school teacher’s assistant). I drive & have a car. I’m responsible, reliable & have great references. Grew up in the Palisades. Feel free to contact me: cell: (310) 922-7060. Email: liza.bloom.dewitt@gmail.com

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

‘PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.’ We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER/ELDER CARE, day or night, available Monday-Sunday. Own transportation, excellent references. Call Maria Patricia, (310) 948-9637

MY NAME IS ROSIE & I’m looking for F/T housekeeper, elder care or babysitter work. Experienced, drivers license, good refs. Call any time, (310) 709-0753 or Alicia, (310) 979-6421

HOUSECLEANING. Alicia available Tuesday. Cleaning supplies furnished. Call (310) 367-3214

HOUSEKEEPER-BABYSITTER ‘ Good refs, Malibu & Hollywood. 20 yrs exp. Avail Mon.-Sat. Own transportation, CDL. Speaks English & Spanish. Pls call Luz & Juana, (323) 569-1048 or (323) 737-2193

MY HOUSEKEEPER wants work 2 days a week. Excellent worker, 19 years experience, dependable, speaks English, local references, own car. Call Allison, (310) 459-1643

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER/ELDER CARE. Looking for work. Experienced. Drivers license. Good refs. Available Mon.-Sat. Full time. Speaks English. Own transportation. Call Guadalupe, (323) 481-5976

EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPER & BABYSITTER. Great local refs. Available full time, Monday-Friday. Own transportation. Speaks English. Call Martha, (323) 569-2328

MY WONDERFUL HOUSEKEEPER is avail Wed. & Sat. Best housekeeper ever! Completely reliable, professional, efficient, thorough, hardworking. Own car. Call Ramiro, (213) 247-3671, Lorena (213) 327-5609

EXCELLENT HOUSEKEEPER. Available Mon.-Sat. Good refs. Own transportation. CDL. Over 19 yrs exper in Malibu & Beverly Hills. Speaks English. Call Yolanda, (h) (323) 731-6114, (c) (323) 580-2859

HOUSEKEEPER/COMPANION or occasional babysitting at night. Local references. Own transportation. Please call Magdalena, (323) 828-5152

EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPER ” Excellent worker. Dependable, trustworthy. Excellent Palisades references. Call Arlina, (323) 229-9327

EXPERIENCED 15 YRS. Housekeeper & babysitter. Own car. Avail. Wed. & weekends. Speaks English. Excellent cook. Does laundry & everything. Very good refs. Edith, (c) (310) 663-8991, (323) 732-7213

NURSING CARE 10b

YOUR EXTRA SPECIAL PALISADES-BASED STAFFING AGENCY. Registered nurses, LVNs, CNAs & caregivers. Best rates! Free smiles!! Call Jim, (310) 573-9436 (ofc), (310) 795-5023 (c). yourextraspecial.com

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

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

SEWER & DRAIN CLEANING 13f

SEWER & DRAIN CLEANING SERVICE. All Stoppages Cleared. Sewer Repair & Replacement. High Velocity Water Jetting. Video Camera Inspections. Lic. #512638. Call (310) 648 2611

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

HAVING A PARTY? SELLING some real estate, or just want to do some spring cleaning? Get those WINDOWS SHINING by calling No Streak Window cleaning, where we offer fast friendly quality service you can count on! For a free estimate, call Marcus, (323) 632-7207. Lic. #122194-49, insured.

CATERING 14

HOLIDAY EVENT PLANNER & CULINARY STUDENT. Le Cordon Bleu student and event planner to help with your holiday prep, cooking, serving, menus & all event details. 10+ years experience. $50/hr. Please call Danielle, (310) 691-0578. daniellesamendez@gmail.com

COOKING/GOURMET 14a

HILLARY HAS BEEN COOKING for friends & celebrity clients for over 25 years. Her ‘personal chef’ business brings her lifelong passion for cooking into private homes. For people who can’t spare the extra time that cooking & shopping requires, THE HUNGRY DUCHESS allows them to eat artisanal organic food & pursue other pleasures. www.thehungryduchess.com ‘ (323) 807-5718

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

HOUSESITTING, DOG WALKING, watering, driver & errands. Palisades resident over 30 years. Great references. Call Eric, (310) 428-3364

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

PRIVATE DOG WALKER/housesitter, Palisades & Santa Monica. S.M. Canyon resident. Please call or email Sherry, (310) 383-7852, email: Sherry230@verizon.net

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

SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d

DREAM OF THROWING a perfect game? Learn how, with emphasis on age-appropriate proper mechanics, to prevent injury on your way to that ‘no-hitter.’ 24-year Pali resident, college pitching scholarship, recent cum laude graduate. EXTRA: Batting cage w/ pitching machine. Call TREY, (310) 709-3965

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

SPANISH TUTOR, CERTIFIED TEACHER for all levels. Has finest education, qualifications, 21 yrs exper. Palisades resident, great references, amazing system, Colombian native speaker. Marietta, (310) 459-8180

MATH & SCIENCE TUTOR. Middle school-college level. BS LAUSD credentialed high school teacher. Test Prep. Flexible hours. AVAILABLE to help NOW! Seth Freedman, (310) 909-3049

HOME SCHOOL ‘ TUTOR ‘ LEARNING COACH ‘ Individual Approaches to Learning. Lifetime Credentialed Teacher grades 4-12. NANCY LA ZAR, (310) 699-8957. nancy@hometeach.org

SAT ENGLISH TUTOR. COLLEGE ADMISSIONS & COUNSELOR. 10+ yrs experience w/ Ivy League+top tier admissions. M.S. Ed & Certification in Guidance from UPENN. See my reviews on Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/janet-lee-tutoring-los-angeles. Contact Janet Lee, (310) 475-1531 or janetleecrawford@gmail.com

FRENCH TUTORING BY NATIVE. Experienced. All grade levels. Grammar, reading, writing, conversation. References. Palisades resident. Reasonable rates. Marie-Claude, (310) 459-1417

SUMMER CAMPS 15f

WWA SUMMER CAMP. WWA on-site camp is designed to provide intensive behavioral intervention to children with autism ages 3-6 in a small group setting. Weekly camps are available June 22nd-August 22nd. Please contact Emily Marshall at (818) 501-4240 for more information Working With autism (WWA) is a non-public behavior agency specializing in the treatment of autism and related disorders.

CARPENTRY 16a

FINE WOODWORKING: Carpentry of any kind. Bathrooms, kitchens, doors, cabinets, decks & gates. State lic. #822541. No project too small. References available. Reasonable prices. Contact: Ed Winterhalter at (310) 213-3101

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

DRAPES/BLINDS 16g

DYER’S DRAPERY DESIGNS. WINDOW COVERING SPECIALIST SINCE 1968. Roman shades, draperies, shutters & blinds. Fine fabrics & decorative rods. Licensed contractor #803565. Call Cecily, (310) 581-8428 or (310) 466-1654

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

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.

DECK REPAIR, SEALING & STAINING. Local resident, local clientele. 1 day service. (See ad under handyman.) Marty, (310) 459-2692

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

CARPENTRY AND REPAIR. Repairs to fences, decks, & gates. Finish carpentry & cabinet installations. No job too small. Non-lic. (310) 454-4121, (c) (310) 907-6169

ROCK BOTTOM PRICES! Dave The Handyman. You won’t be disappointed! Lic. #629651. (310) 739-6253

LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! Painting exterior, interior, baseboard, trim, water damage repair, drywall repair, tile and more. Free estimates. Call Matias, (310) 272-0839

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. 25 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

ALL SEASONS PAINTING: Spring clean-up specials. Kitchen cabinets ‘ Decks ‘ Garage doors ‘ No job too small. Interior/exterior painting. Free estimates. Call Randy, (310) 678-7913. Lic. #106150

ECO FRIENDLY HOUSE PAINTING. Safe & natural paint solutions for your home & family. NO ODOR. NO TOXIC FUMES. THE GREEN HOUSE PAINTERS. (310) 486-2930. Lic. #843099

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

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) 710-3199

HELP WANTED 17

WEEKEND CAREGIVER. 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday. Live-in. Contact Helen, (323) 821-7378

AUTOS 18b

1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII LSC. Looks, drives like new. Was my brother’s baby. New Michelin tires, and alignment. Moon roof and everything. 32 valve DOHC engine in excellent condition. $6,750. (310) 454-3032

2007 HONDA CR-V EX, silver, 14,500 miles, fully loaded, excellent condition. $24,500. Call Nenette, (310) 310-4444

FURNITURE 18c

2008 ITALIAN WHITE LEATHER SECTIONAL $1,500. Four handmade wrought iron bar stools, $850. Life Fitness 5500 HR Elliptical, cross trainer exercise machine, $895. (310) 459-1893

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE! Sat, May 30, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 753 Via de la Paz. Jewelry, furniture, microwave, purses, shoes, house wares, lamps and more!

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

SALES! SALES!! SALES!!! A local electronics franchise store is having clearance sale on the following items. 1) Apple iPhone 3G, 16GB, black & white (officially unlocked by Apple), $450. 2) 3 YEARS WARRANTY+SAMSUNG UN46B6000, NEW, $750. 3) Sony PlayStation 3, game console, black, 80 GB, mint condition, $350. All electronics comes brand new with manufacturer warrant. To place an order, please email us at dpurdy.lesselectronics@ymail.com