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Mary Sadie Crook, 91; Active In Various Westside Charities

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Mary Sadie Crook
Mary Sadie Crook

Mary Sadie (n’e Ficovic) Crook, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on January 22, surrounded by her family. She was 91. Born January 2, 1918 in Anacortes, Washington, Mary grew up in Los Angeles. At 14, she started her lifelong social and charitable activities when she was accepted into the Brush & Quill Club and became a charter member of the Old Maids Club at Los Angeles High School. After graduating in 1935, Mary attended the Dress Design School at Madame Charlotte’s in Los Angeles. She had the ability to design and make a party dress to wear the same evening. She also contributed articles to the Los Angeles Times society page. Mary started dating Peter Crook when they were 14 years old and attending Mt. Vernon Junior High. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1940 and proposed to Mary while they were dancing at his senior prom. Instead of simply saying ‘Yes,’ Mary decided to answer him in a novel way. She borrowed a quarter from his best friend and sent him a telegram, saying that she would marry him. After their wedding on July 12, 1941, the Crooks lived for three years in Oklahoma City, where Peter worked for Douglas Aircraft. They moved to Santa Monica in 1945 and in 1965 they bought a home near the Getty Villa. Mary lived a very social life and was active in many charities in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, including the Girl Scouts, Assistance League, Westside Charity League, Red Cross, ARCS, the Republican Club, and The Muses. She, Peter, their daughter Pam (and later Pam’s daughter, Wendy) participated in many Charity League Follies. In 1958, Mary and Betty Jo Charnley started a thrift shop for the Assistance League, the Bargain Bazaar in Santa Monica, which is still thriving today. While involved in charity work, Mary took on various jobs: publicity, fundraising, president, benefit chairman’whatever was needed, she excelled at. As a lifelong chocoholic, she also enjoyed her membership on See’s Candy’s Connoisseurs’ Test Panel. In addition to her husband of 67 years, Frank Peter Crook, Jr., Mary is survivived by her daughter, Pam Gray of Pacific Palisades; her son, Gordon of Westlake Village; and grandchildren Wendy Gleason and Kevin and Kelly Crook. A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, February 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the home of Peter Crook. E-mail Pam Gray at graypw1@yahoo.com for directions. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to S.T.A.R.S., a Westside/Valley charity that raises money for neurological research at The Burnham Institute in La Jolla. Checks can be sent to Pam Crook Gray, 1557 Michael Lane, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

Betty Bradshaw, 80; Valuable Member of SM Canyon Board

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Betty Bradshaw aboard a cruise ship in her later years.
Betty Bradshaw aboard a cruise ship in her later years.

Elizabeth (‘Betty’) D. Bradshaw, who had lived in Santa Monica Canyon since 1963, passed away on January 27 at St. John’s Hospital. She was 80. Born in 1928 in Alaska when it was still a territory, Betty spent her formative years in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. Her family moved to Oakland during World War II, and four generations of her family moved through the house, located (appropriately enough) on Fairbanks Avenue. After graduating from Mills College, Betty married World War II veteran Thomas Bradshaw in 1954. They moved to Los Angeles in 1961 and bought a home in Santa Monica Canyon two years later. Betty was a legal secretary, an avid supporter of Theatre Palisades and active in the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association. ‘She was secretary of our association for many years and a board member for over 35 years,’ said SMCCA chairman George Wolfberg. ‘Her institutional memory, insight and perspective will be greatly missed.’ Though Betty’s health diminished in her last year, she had a brilliant mind, a smile and useful advice for anyone and everyone. ‘To know her was to love her,’ said her son, Andrew. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, a longtime employee of the City of Los Angeles, who died in 1995. She is survived by her two children, Elizabeth Hall (husband Richard) of Lancaster, and Andrew (wife Beth) of Santa Monica Canyon, both of whom graduated from Palisades High School. Private services will be held February 7.

Palisadian Introduces SweetFiber, A Natural, No-Calories Sweetener

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Scott Taylor with SweetFiber, a sugar substitute with no artificial ingredients, that can be purchased at Gelson's.
Scott Taylor with SweetFiber, a sugar substitute with no artificial ingredients, that can be purchased at Gelson’s.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

When entrepreneur Scott Taylor talks ‘sweet,’ it is about his new food product SweetFiber, a sugar substitute that is 100 percent natural, has no calories and contains fiber. Still, ‘it’s a harder sell than I thought it would be,’ said Taylor, a Pacific Palisades resident whose product can be purchased at Gelson’s. In addition to battling established sweeteners such as Splenda, Sweet’n Low and Equal, he has to educate the consumers about why his product is healthier. For example, a teaspoon of sugar has 15 calories, artificial sweeteners have four, and SweetFiber has zero. Artificial sweeteners also use a sugar alcohol, such as sucralose, aspartame and saccharin, and are so sweet, only a minuscule portion is used in each packet, which means the remainder of the white powder is a filler most commonly blended with malt dextrin, a starch with calories, according to Taylor. SweetFiber, by contrast, receives its sweetness from a vegetable in the Chinese melon family called luo han guo, or monk’s fruit. The extract is nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar and has been used in China for more than a thousand years. Luo han guo is generally sold in dry form and is traditionally used in herbal tea or soups for respiratory ailments and sore throats. To make SweetFiber, Taylor mixes luo han guo with fiber from the chicory root [inulin]. ‘I put in fiber for health reasons,’ he said, and the net result is a sweetener that is gluten-free and calorie-free. Taylor, who has worked for 10 years as a brand strategy consultant, decided he wanted to start his own business in 2005. He looked at several food companies before meeting Dr. Michael Murray, who was trying to introduce SweetFiber. ‘I worked with him less than a year, we launched the product and it failed,’ said Taylor, who subsequently bought out his partner and started over from scratch. Their earlier product contained xylitol and tagatose, both artificial sweeteners, but Taylor insisted on producing a natural sweetener. The next issue was the filler. ‘I wanted to make sure that the ingredients would be all natural,’ he said, adding that in the process, he decided to use fiber. ‘I had no idea I was going to become a fiber advocate.’ Taylor explained that fiber has been taken out of most foods, which is contributing to ‘a health crisis in America due to obesity,’ he said. ‘People say that fructose corn syrup is the reason for the obesity. It’s not true. One of the main reasons is that we have stopped eating fiber, while consuming too many processed foods, eating too much and failing to exercise enough. ‘If you eat 25 grams of fiber a day, you’ll avoid weight gain because of the satiated affect,’ Taylor said. One packet of SweetFiber has the same fiber as half a carrot. The other advantage to Taylor’s product is that because of the added chicory root, it can be used in baking. ‘Replacing sugar in baking is hard because sugar serves as a humectant and a bulking agent. It’s one of the most complex food-science problems there is and when I developed this product, I had no idea what I was tackling.’ A downside for some people is that SweetFiber costs about twice as much as artificial sweeteners. In fact, in a survey conducted by Taylor, one-third of the people interviewed admitted they obtained sweetener packets without buying them. Taylor, a Wisconsin native, graduated from Northwestern University with a television/film degree. He spent four years in Chicago working on television commercials, including Wendy’s famous ‘Where’s the beef?’ with Clara Peller, before continuing his business education at Cornell. Upon graduating in 1990, he was hired as a marketing manager for Trident gum. He admits that he tasted gum with artificial sweeteners that hadn’t been approved by the FDA and when he spit it out, it went into a ‘red hazard’ container. With SweetFiber, Taylor doesn’t worry about artificial ingredients or the long-term effects. ‘We’re on the cusp of this whole new way of eating, and SweetFiber is one of those foods that is good for you,’ he said. Taylor and his wife Nancy have lived in the Palisades for 10 years. Their two sons attend Marquez Elementary and New Roads Middle School, and both are active members of Boy Scout Troop 223.

“Apollo” Missionary

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Palisadian Chris Lancey Looks Back at His Years Producing “Showtime at the Apollo”

Palisadian Chris Lancey, a 25-year veteran of television syndication, was instrumental in getting the long-running “Showtime at the Apollo” on the air.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Mariah Carey. Beyonce. Stevie Wonder. Mary J. Blige. Usher. Queen Latifah. Diddy ‘ This roster of music’s biggest names sounds like the guest list of this Sunday’s Grammy Awards. In fact, they have all performed on the venerable syndicated variety show ‘Showtime at the Apollo.’ And taking it all in at ground zero was television producer and Palisadian Chris Lancey. If you’ve ever stumbled home from a party in the wee hours with a hardcore case of the munchies, well, then, you’re probably very familiar with ‘Showtime.’ Launched in 1987, the long-running African-American talent showcase, which in most markets has aired on NBC following ‘Saturday Night Live,’ has become a key launching pad for musicians and comedians. The centerpiece of ‘Showtime,’ of course, is the legendary Apollo Theater. Founded in 1914, the Apollo, located on West 125th Street in Harlem, originally did not allow African Americans inside. But in 1934, Ralph Cooper, Sr., staged a live version of his popular radio show, ‘Amateur Nite Hour at the Apollo.’ By then, the theater was owned by the Schiffman family, who loosened up on the segregation rules. Scat pioneer Ella Fitzgerald was one of the first ‘Amateur Night’ winners. That same year, Cooper and Benny Carter dazzled with the theater’s first ‘Colored Revue.’ In 1935, Bessie Smith made her Apollo debut, followed by an unknown singer named Billie Holiday, who mesmerized the Apollo audience. Over the years, the Apollo Theater became legendary for breaking the careers of music icons such as Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown and Lauryn Hill. For 17 years, Lancey was one of the executive talents behind the long-running TV version, which debuted as ‘It’s Showtime at the Apollo.’ Lancey oversaw the weekly show with producers Percy Sulton, Bob Banner and Al Jerome. ‘What we could see instantly,’ Lancey tells the Palisadian-Post, ‘was that young people liked the show a lot. It had great numbers and performed best at a late-night slot. It came at a time when rap was just becoming a big deal.’ What Lancey and company did not realize at the time was that, as with rap music, ‘Showtime’ would continue to endure to this day. Taped at the Apollo on Wednesdays for a Saturday night air date, ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ is hosted by a comedian and features live performances from professional and up-and-coming artists. Over the years, ‘Showtime’ has amassed an abundance of highlight-reel riches. Add to the aforementioned list of hot music acts such groundbreakers as Aretha Franklin, Eartha Kitt, Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and TLC; just a smattering of the notables (many of them Grammy winners). Comedians have included Martin Lawrence, Mo’Nique, Cedric the Entertainer and Paul Rodriguez. In most markets, ‘Showtime’ has aired right after ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Having the venerable sketch-comedy show as a lead-in was, depending on the moment of time, a blessing or an albatross, but generally a blessing, says Lancey: ‘If SNL dipped in the ratings, we dipped, but the percentages were not as much.’ At one point, Lancey traveled nationwide to break ‘Showtime’ into 140 top markets (NBC affiliates), where it averaged a consistent 2 rating (about 2 million households). Lancey says there was a lot of fine-tuning early on. ‘The producers tried shuffling guest hosts, but quickly determined that continuity of a good host was powerful.’ Before the comedian Sinbad became ‘Showtime”s first recurring emcee, Brown, Bill Cosby, Al Jarreau and Mary Wilson were among the rotating hosts. The show’s most popular segment, hands-down, was the loud and unpredictable ‘Amateur Night’: what Lancey calls ‘a show within a show. It worked and it worked big.’ Apollo’s harsh audience did not suffer fools. Lancey reveals that he had to overbook comedians for the segment because ‘so many were always booed off.’ Of the professionals, ‘Chris Rock was huge,’ according to Lancey. And even certain Caucasian comedians won the tough crowd’s respect. ‘Adam Sandler had a good showing,’ he says. ‘Adam and Dennis Miller did not get booed off.’ As for the musical acts: one of the first to perform was the first rap group to achieve mainstream commercial success: the legendary Run-DMC. Other performers who went over well, says Lancey: ‘Michael Bolton killed. Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, Destiny’s Child.’ Tyrese had women fainting, and stuck around after the taping to sign autographs. In the 1990s, Lancey talked up the former Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs, a.k.a. Diddy, while he waited in the wings for ‘one of our biggest appearances. He was at his peak. Great guy, very friendly, and a top-notch performer.’ He also remembers witnessing how one famous comedian’s career skyrocketed after he got his big break hosting the show. ‘Steve Harvey used to warm up the very hostile Apollo crowd,’ Lancey recalls. ‘[Previous host] Mark Curry would be in his dressing room waiting for his call. There was Steve, doing all the work, warming up the audience every evening.’ At one point, when Curry’s star was rising, he was commuting between Harlem and Los Angeles to shoot a sitcom. One day, he missed a ‘Showtime’ taping. ‘So we turned to Steve and said, ‘You’re it,” Lancey says. ‘That launched Steve Harvey, who became the new host.’ Lancey places Harvey in Richard Pryor’s rarified company: ‘One of the most talented comics I’ve ever seen.’ Soon, Harvey fell prey to Curry’s taxing routine when he landed his own sitcom. ‘He was pretty exhausted. The travel does get to you,’ Lancey says, empathetically. During ‘Showtime”s peak, Lancey spent years commuting from his Huntington Beach home to New York, before moving to Pacific Palisades. Some key moments stand out from Lancey’s years on set, such as when rap star Li’l Kim got on stage. ‘She lost her top. Let’s just say that it was an interesting moment,’ he says. Needless to say, her performance was re-shot. Lancey’s personal musical highlight came ‘when Cab Calloway did the hand-jive.’ It turned out to be the singer’s last televised performance. ‘Two of our biggest acts turned out to be two of our oldest,’ Lancey says, referring to Calloway, and to Patti LaBelle, who dazzled with her ‘Over the Rainbow’ rendition. ‘To be a fly on the wall at the Apollo was exciting,’ says Lancey’s wife, Kathryn, who got to see LaBelle, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera in person. ‘It’s the Carnegie Hall of Harlem.’ Married 20 years, the Lanceys moved to Pacific Palisades a decade ago from Orange County, after starting their family: Alycia, 18, Cameron, 16, and Victoria, 13. Lancey grew up in Placentia and attended Anaheim’s El Dorado High School. ‘We used to get up every weekend, grab our surfboards, and catch the bus to Newport,’ he says. Conversely, Kathryn says that, growing up, she and her friends used to ride their bikes from Long Beach to Anaheim, spend the day roaming around Disneyland, and make it home for dinner. Lancey attended and played football at San Diego State. ‘That’s where I got into the biz,’ he says. ‘I managed a radio station and I was a DJ.’ He moved to Los Angeles and worked as a videotape editor on the KTLA Evening News. Living near Melrose and Western Avenues, he recalls being at the number-one local news broadcast, anchored by the late Hal Fishman, as an eye-opener. ‘You got a sense of what everyone did and of how hard everyone worked,’ says Lancey, who hopped over to the company that produced the infamous cult classic, ‘Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,’ after a year. In early 1988, he went to Group W”a now-defunct company that sold air time for Filmation cartoons”as a sales assistant. One of the account executives there was Kathryn Hutchinson. Chris and Kathryn began dating and married in 1989. Lancey did not stay at Group W for long. He moved to Blair Television, an advertising rep firm that sold programs such as ‘Divorce Court,’ which was quickly shuttered and sold to Dennis Holt, owner of Western International Syndication. Holt hired Lancey to run his syndication operation. ‘I was part of a revitalization of the company,’ Lancey recalls. ‘In 1988, when I joined Western, ‘Showtime’ was the very first show that I did. NBC had produced a few episodes with the Apollo Theater group, and they brought those shows to me and they said, ‘What do you think?’ I analyzed the show and made a recommendation to ownership to invest in this show. Based on my recommendation, Western went forward with it. I led the distribution and oversaw the production for my company.’ In 1996, as president of Western International Syndication, Lancey aired such syndicated programs as ‘Fight Back! With David Horowitz.’ By then, fantasy fare, such as ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys’ and ‘Xena: Warrior Princess,’ dominated syndicated strips, and Lancey got ‘Conan the Adventurer’ and ‘The Immortal’ on the air. ‘It was exciting to be able to work one day with pop and rap, and work the next day on the set of a sword-and-sorcery show,’ he says. Lancey served as president of Western from 1995 through 2000, when he purchased the company. In 2001, Lancey launched ‘Cheaters,’ but left the show over creative differences with its producers. He developed the game show ‘On The Cover’ in 2004. All along, Lancey had continued running ‘Showtime.’ But when Warner Bros. took over the Apollo Theater in 2005, Lancey and his partners moved on. Unfortunately, Lancey spent much of 2006 and 2007 battling lymphoma. While he triumphed over the disease, it took a professional toll on him when he lost oversight and control of Western. But upon his full recovery, Lancey bounced right back by forming a new production company, Creative Arts Entertainment Group, with longtime business partner Mark Terry. Kathryn Lancey has also joined Creative Arts as its director of new development, and she sums up the secret of her husband’s success this way: ‘The entertainment industry isn’t known for scruples, but Chris is an amazing guy who has an impeccable reputation. Kind of like Dick Clark. Chris is really committed to the excellence of what he does.’ Lancey is currently working on ‘Adventure Guides,’ hosted by creator John Dietch, who supervised the fly fishing sequences in ‘River Runs Through It.’ ‘Adventure Guides’ premiers this summer on the Outdoor Channel. But of all the programs Lancey has created, he says he’s most proud of ‘The Desperate Passage Series,’ a docu-series that ran from 1988 and 1994 and won 13 Emmy Awards. One episode even inspired the 2006 football film ‘Gridiron Gang,’ starring The Rock. ‘It had integrity,’ Lancey says. ‘And it became larger than what it was.’ So after a quarter-century career in television, what is it about the entertainment business that keeps Lancey engaged? Like the Gridiron Gang itself, it boils down to one word: teamwork. ‘I love being able to create opportunities for creative people to work,’ he says, reminding the Post that with any given TV program, ‘none of this happens without a group of people.’

The Lone Ranger Rides Again At Pierson Playhouse Feb. 9

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Close your eyes and journey back on the carpet in front of the family’s Zenith radio as the staccato blast of the ‘William Tell Overture’ opening notes ushers in a fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty ‘Hi yo, Silver, away!’ On February 9 at 7 p.m., The Lone Ranger will ride again, straight into the Pierson Playhouse, where he and his loyal Native American sidekick, Tonto, will thrill his fans once again. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the masked cowboy avenger, the Pacific Palisades Historical Society will present ‘The Resurrection of the Lone Ranger and Tonto.’ Ted Ashby, a retired LAPD officer with a life-long interest in the ‘old wild West’ will host the event. While researching famous movie horses 17 years ago, Ashby arrived at the Lone Ranger’s faithful steed, Silver, which led to him unlocking fascinating information on how ‘The Lone Ranger’ radio program came about. His desire to share his knowledge with kindred spirits led him to conducting presentations at such places as the Kiwanis Club of Eagle Rock (where he has been an active member for 25 years) and various schools and organizations. His presentations on the Pony Express and stagecoach routes have become something of a second career for Ashby. ‘Now the Autry Museum wants me to come up there and talk,’ Ashby says of the Griffith Park destination, which, by the way, houses the original saddle from the TV ‘Long Ranger.’ Created by George W. Trendle and developed by writer Fran Striker in 1930, ‘The Lone Ranger’ quickly became a radio staple. The silver bullet-shooting vigilante was portrayed on the radio by several actors, including John L. Barrett (who played the role on the original WEBR-Buffalo test broadcasts), George Seaton, series director James Jewell, Earle Graser, and Brace Beemer, originally the show’s announcer. The last new radio episode aired on September 3, 1954. ‘The Lone Ranger’ radio serial even inspired a popular superhero spin-off: ‘The Green Hornet.’ On television, Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels, as Lone Ranger and Tonto, respectively, popularized the Wild West crime-fighters on ABC from 1949 to 1957. The subject of various feature films, ‘The Lone Ranger’ continues to thrive today in a Dynamite Entertainment comic book series created by Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello. Ashby’s presentation will feature ‘how and why ‘The Lone Ranger’ program got started. It came about because of the William Tell Overture. George Trendle wanted a kid’s show that featured a character with values, who would leave before you get the accolades. Trendle liked classical music and he could visualize a cowboy riding to the William Tell Overture.’ By 1937, it was the number one radio show. ‘Ninety-four percent of the radio stations carried ‘The Long Ranger,” says Ashby. The program will run about 45 minutes. Expect a visual presentation to accompany the radio recordings. Contact: www.pacificpalisadeshistory.org

“Academy” Rewards: Palisadian Expands on Music School Mandate

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Palisadian Margaret Lysy, founder of the Santa Monica-based SOL-LA Music Academy, conducts a student practice session.
Palisadian Margaret Lysy, founder of the Santa Monica-based SOL-LA Music Academy, conducts a student practice session.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

When the state makes cuts in education, usually the first class on the chopping block is music. But Palisadian Margaret Lysy is doing quite the opposite. Lysy is the founding president and CEO of SOL-LA Music Academy, a new youth program of music instruction taking place on the Westside. Under the credo ‘Music Builds Humanity,’ SOL-LA, Lysy, 43, tells the Palisadian-Post, arrives at a time when the economy is not only sapping education budgets, but is also creating stress on households. More than ever, the performing arts can become a vital outlet to a child or teen’s emotional health and budding self-esteem. The music academy instructs youth 3 months to 18 years. With 15 to 20 instructors conducting such classes as ‘SOL-LA Youth Tango/ Jazz Ensemble Middle & High School,’ ‘FUNdamentals of Music and Movement’ (for early childhood), and ‘Language of Music,’ SOL-LA offers courses on Saturdays, after school on Mondays, and after school on Thursdays. Originally housed last year at Colburn School of Performing Arts downtown, SOL-LA’s curriculum is currently based at Little Dolphins By The Sea Preschool in Santa Monica. ‘This is the first year at Little Dolphins, we’re branching out and the program’s growing. We’re trying to bring it into the 21st century,’ Lysy says, noting that SOL-LA offers instruction in the Garage Band program on Mac computers. But it’s not just about providing state-of-the-art technology. ‘It’s also the type of teachers we’re getting,’ Lysy says. ‘The best of the best. I’m building the curriculum around the teachers.’ One of those teachers is Aaron Nigel Smith of Seven Arrows Elementary. ‘He teaches our choral program,’ Lysy says. ‘They sing African music, they sing German music. A lot of drumming and rhythm.’ Other participating Palisadians include the academy’s Web site designers, Patricia Kovic and her husband, Jeff Morris, and Dr. Victoria Stevens, daughter of local pianist Dolores Stevens, who is on SOL-LA’s faculty. Margaret Lysy knows the importance of music in a younger person’s life firsthand from her childhood in Northern Ireland. ‘When I was growing up in Belfast, I was one of 11 children, and Ireland was experiencing the height of the Troubles,’ she says, alluding to the waves of I.R.A. bombings spanning the late 1960s through the late 1990s. ‘We did not go out that much.’ As a result, Lysy’s parents enrolled her in a music academy, where she studied oral theory, chamber music, violins, piano lessons. ‘Part of what Ireland is about is that, over there, they feel very strongly about culture and the arts,’ Lysy says. ‘Music was the language that both sides [of Ireland’s religion-based political conflict] could talk.’ Lysy eventually moved to England, where she realized that the music education, while very good, was not of the caliber that she enjoyed in Ireland. Lysy moved to Montreal, where she studied at McGill University. What brought her to California five years ago was when she and her husband, Antonio Lysy, accepted positions in UCLA’s music department, where she is a professor of music education, and her husband heads the strings department. Her husband, incidentally, runs ‘In Contri in Terra di Siena,’ an annual music festival in Italy. Education was very much on their mind when they bought their Marquez Knolls home, as they were attracted to area schools. The couple have three children: Sofia, 19, who just graduated from PaliHi, plays piano, and is interested in the fine arts; Clara, 15, who went to Marquez Elementary and St. Matthew’s and plays violin; and Aidan, 9, who also attended Marquez, plays piano and violin, and sings in chorus. When not teaching on the college level, Lsys can be found at SOL-LA, where she enjoys a hands-on role teaching the ‘Beginner Violin’ and the ‘Do-Re-Mi-Fa-SOL-LA String’ classes to young people. ‘What I teach at UCLA is pedagogy, so I need the experience of teaching young children,’ Lysy says. ‘It’s very pertinent to what I’m doing at UCLA.’ SOL-LA Music Academy is located at 1812 Stanford St., Santa Monica. Contact: (310) 828-2912; e-mail info@sollamusicacademy.org; visit www.sollamusicacademy.org

Tony Bill Translates “Movie Speak” in New Guidebook

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For most people, winning the Academy Award for producing the best picture, starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman, would have been enough of a career milestone. But not for Tony Bill. Bill, who produced the 1973 Best Picture winner ‘The Sting’ with Michael and Julia Phillips, and directed the 1980 film ‘My Bodyguard,’ has found success in every corner of the entertainment industry, including acting. He will sign his first book, ‘Movie Speak: How to Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set’ (Workman Publishing Company), at Village Books on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. ‘This will be my first book signing,’ Bill says. The Venice resident, 68, tells the Palisadian-Post how ‘The Sting’ took three years between script and shoot, but once it got going, the production ran smoothly, with no pressure from the success of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ the previous Redford/Newman vehicle. ”The Sting’ made three times more box office.’ In 1980, Bill directed his first film, ‘My Bodyguard,’ recently echoed in last year’s Owen Wilson comedy, ‘Drillbit Taylor,’ produced by Palisadian Judd Apatow. ‘I haven’t seen it but it sure does sound pretty much like a descendant of it,’ Bill says. ”My Bodyguard’ is a role model for many movies that have followed it.’ Bill considers ‘Bodyguard,’ along with ‘Five Corners,’ and ‘Flyboys’ his greatest directorial achievements. He also helmed two Dudley Moore comedies”’Six Weeks’ (1982) and ‘Crazy People’ (1990). He misses the late comic actor, with whom he had co-owned a popular restaurant, 72 Market Street, from 1984 to 2000. They opened it as a place where Bill could hold lectures and events, and Moore could play impromptu piano concerts for diners. As an actor, Bill enjoyed a role as a Warner Bros. executive in Tim Burton’s first feature, ‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.’ ‘Movie Speak’ is equal parts movie-set etymology and career anecdotes. ‘There’s considerable advice for screenwriters,’ Bill says, ‘but it’s a director’s book. On a ship, the captain has to speak the same language as the crew. You don’t say, ‘go to the right,’ you say, ‘go to starboard.’ Moviemaking has its own specific language.’ Case in point: MOS (‘mitt out sound’). ‘Many people believe it came from a German director in the early years of film who’d yell ‘Mitt out sound!’ In my research, I found out it means something else.’ ‘Movie Speak’ contains glossary explanations of such familiar terms as ‘dailies’ and ‘in the can,’ and less common-knowledge phrases such as ‘buff and puff’ and ‘snot tape,’ plus essays drawn from Bill’s experiences. Aided by assistant Karen Svobodny, whom he calls ‘Detective Karen,’ Bill tracked down former Los Angeles Times illustrator Katie Maratta in Texas to provide the visuals. The idea for Bill’s book came ‘about a dozen years ago when my wife suggested that some of the movie set terms are poetic, mysterious and odd. So I started writing them down to make myself a dictionary of this almost endangered language.’ Bill’s wife, Helen Buck Bartlett, works as a producer and partner in the couple’s Barnstorm Films production company. In addition to their projects, the pair has produced daughters, Madeline, 11, and Daphne, 8. Bill says his book stands out from other filmmaking guides because he has home-court advantage. ‘Immodestly,’ he says, ‘I think that most books about the movies have not been written by people who have been there and done that.’ Village Books is located at 1049 Swarthmore. Contacts: (310) 454-4063; and www.palivillagebooks.com.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5, 2009

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HOMES WANTED 1b

LOAN IN DEFAULT? Save your credit. Looking to buy defaulted loan. Private party. No brokers. Let’s talk. (310) 459-2639, (323) 547-5556 (cell)

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 $14,500/mo. Contact Dolly Neimann, (310) 230-3706

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY while you are away: Housesitter living in your home or condo, feeding your pets, watering plants while adding occupied residence protection from unwanted intrusions. A professional woman with no bad habits, unless eating crackers in bed counts, seeking a furnished or unfurnished residence for a year or so enabling you to be worry free on your journey also. Helen Palit, (213) 280-0585, hpalit@angelharvest.com

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

RANCH STYLE 2 bd, 1 ba w/ oak floors, formal DR, lg LR, w/ wood frpl., Kit w/ deck. Brick patio. W+D hk-ups, gardener included. Huge fenced property allows rec veh parking. $3,600/mo. (310) 454-1575

RUSTIC CANYON CRAFTSMAN CHARMER with 3 bd, 3.5 ba, great room with river rock FP, & cathedral ceilings. Huge porch & large yard. $7,000/mo. Call Dolly at (310) 230-3706

CHARMING 2 BDR, 2 BA, furnished/unfurnished. Breathtaking view from back deck, rolling yard. Available immediately. 1 yr. lease min., F/L. $4,700/mo. plus util. (310) 502-8427

SPECTACULAR 5 BD 4.5 BA, Rustic Canyon, post & beam, architectural home. Open floor plan, secluded 1,200 ft deck surrounded by majestic trees. Master suite has private office, walk-in closet & spacious bath, Jacuzzi tub. Separate 1 bd unit w/ private entr, kitchen, bath, laundry hookups & patio. Great home for entertaining, feels removed from city life. Walking distance to Rustic Cyn Park, hiking trails & Will Rogers State park. Cedar steam sauna, 3 car garage. (310) 401-5802. Avail. after March 1st. $9,500/mo. See photos at http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/apa/1005336380.html

3 BD, 2 BA HOME on El Medio Bluffs. FDR, LVR with fireplace, family room, separate guest quarters. $5,500/mo. Call Ann, (310) 230-2470

2 BDRM, 1 BA, converted attic/den. Enclosed patio, 2 car garage, new paint inside, new carpet, lovely backyard. Quiet, peaceful neighborhood. $3,400/mo. (310) 454-5519, Debby Harrington, agent.

EL MEDIO BLUFFS. 3 BD, 2 BA, 1,640 sq.ft. home. Open & light on 6,000 sq.ft. lot. Nice yard, LVR with fireplace. Appliances, HW floors, washer/dryer, garage. Gardener incl. $5,000/mo. (310) 741-1138

VERY CHARMING 2 BD, 2 BA, plus den/office. New bath, new appliances, new W/D, hdwood floors, new H/AC. Nice yard. Quiet street. 1 blk to village, schools, park. $3,500/mo. (310) 454-5870

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

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

UNFURNISHED APT. $3,600/MO. Unique find in Mediterranean triplex. Large upper unit, 2 bd + bonus room, 1 bath. Plantation shutters, fireplace, ceiling fan, balcony, garden, garage, light & airy. 1 yr lease. No pets, N/S. (310) 804-3142

HOLYOKE BLUFFS: Newly redone large studio. Top-of-the-line full kitchen w/ granite & stainless appls. Full bath. Design decor. Charming patio, separate entrance. Tranquil location. Laundry facilities, utilities, HD cable included. Unique setting. Single occupant. No pets. References. 6 mo. lease. $1,890/mo. w/ dep. (310) 454-3806

PALISADES 1 BDRM apt, upper, sunny, new paint, carpet, gas stove, refrigerator, one year lease, covered parking, storage, laundry, near village. Non-smoker, no pets. $1,290/mo. (310) 477-6767

MOVE IN SPECIAL! 1st month FREE w/ good credit. Min. 1 yr. lease. 1 bdrm upper, hrdwd fl, laundry rm, cvrd pk. $1,450/mo. Walking dist. to village & beach. Small pets OK w/ pet deposit. (310) 589-9195 x203

SANTA MONICA 1+1. Stunning, top floor, totally remodeled, large 1 bdrm, hardwd floors, new kitchen/granite counters, marble bathrm. Well maintained building. Prime location. $1,750/mo. (310) 383-7455

CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

GEM IN THE PALISADES, 2 bdrm, 2½ ba, townhouse, hdwd, tile, new carpet. Large roof deck, W/D, dishwasher. Parking. $3,500/mo. (310) 392-1757

3 BD, 2½ BA PALI HIGHLANDS TOWNHOUSE. Private two car garage, patio w/ French doors, dining room w/ wet bar, kitchen w/ granite, utility room & powder room. Second floor w/ large master suite, 2 addl. bedrooms share full bath. $3,595/mo. (310) 889-8998

REDUCED! OCEAN VIEWS, 2+2, designer interior. Steps to beach. 5 minutes to Santa Monica. All new cabinets, appliances, granite, marble, hardwood floors, high ceilings. W/D in condo. Large ocean view patio. Garage. 1,200 sq ft. Quiet, safe. $3,980/mo. (310) 702-1154, www.MalibuCoastline.com

WALK-IN & FEEL AT HOME! Totally private, quiet, spacious, like new w/ granite countertops, custom cabinetry, W/D, refrig, microwave. $3,400/mo. 1+ yr. lease. Avail. Feb. 1st. Call Agnt Pat Haight, (310) 454-1851, cell (310) 386-5686

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

STUDIO KITCHENETTE, FULL BATH, private entrance, private home. Walk to village, utilities included. $1,000/mo. 6 month lease. (310) 454-3883

WANTED TO RENT 3b

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

SUMMER RENTAL WANTED. Family of 5 looking for home/condo Jul 3-Aug 1. Excellent local references. Contact bsjanes@grandecom.net or (210) 861-3967

WANTED: GARAGE TO RENT. Would like long-term rental for one or two small vintage cars. Seldom driven. Please respond to Mr. Nye, (310) 839-1984 x114

OFFICE SPACE NEEDED. Want clean & light atmosphere for responsible health practitioner, bathroom inside or nearby required. Please call (310) 295-8823

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

PALISADES OFFICE SUITES AVAILABLE in the heart of the Village including: 1) Last remaining single office suite at $1,600 per month and 2) Office suites ranging in size from 1,015 sf 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

PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. Lease hold improvement allowance. 850 square feet conveniently located in the village. Please call Ness, (310) 230-6712 x105, for more details.

BEAUTIFUL FURNISHED BUSINESS or psychotherapy office for rent in the heart of Pacific Palisades. Private waiting room, bath & kitchenette. Parking available half day or full day as well as evening hours. Contact srl@ucla.edu

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS! Billion dollar rock solid company creates a millionaire every 10 days. Make 2009 the year of the “Upturn,” not the downturn in your financial life. Call (310) 795-1515

INVESTOR WANTED. Educational company, marketing our unique “How To” informational products to the adult entertainment industry via our web site. (360) 828-8625 • www.outcalldrivers.com

LOST & FOUND 6a

FOUND: GRAY TABBY CAT. Female, de-clawed, with white stomach & legs. Very friendly. Charm Acres area of Pacific Palisades. Please call Jackie, (310) 454-4270

ARCHITECTS 7

SINTESI DESIGN. Design, build for new or remodel, residential & commercial. We do: Green, energy efficient & affordable design. andreea@sintesidesign.com. Tel. (310) 394-9496, www.sintesidesign.com

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

Quickbooks Gathering of Data for 2008 to prepare for your visit to your CPA. Also bill paying, bank statements reconciliations, business or personal full-charge bookkeeping, property, staff and nursing care management/scheduling are available in the Palisades. Call Shirley at (310) 570-6085

BOOKKEEPING & FINANCE services: prepare for taxes, pay bills, reconcile accounts, financial analysis/ planning/budgeting/counseling. Computer expertise. Caring & thorough. (310) 218-6653, (310) 459-2066

QUICKBOOKS. FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS.Set-up, Data Entry, Reporting, Tax Preparation. 10 Years of Experience and Flexible Hours. Palisades Resident. Doris, (310) 913-2753

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

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/

Are Your Children Protected From Harmful Websites? • Parental Control Software • Virus Removal • Data Backup • File Recovery • Internet Training • Speed up your slow computer • (310) 433-4099 • www.pcrescuela.com • WE COME TO YOU!

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

ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h

A SENSE OF ORDER ORGANIZING. Professional organization & coaching. Every area of your life & home. 16 yrs. exper, exclnt refs. Free consultation. Deva Taffel, Psy.D. (818) 787-4488

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

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: FULL TIME. Available 5 days a week. Excellent refs. 40 years old. 20 years experience. Speaks English. clean DMV. Own transportation. Citizen. (818) 438-1859

PALISADIAN NANNY AVAILABLE! Mon. & Fri., 3-10 p.m. Yoga teacher (5 yrs), healing arts background (10 yrs). Local! 28 yrs old, $20/hr. Joyful & responsible. Local refs. Brooke Nachazel, (310) 774-7469

SEEN NANNY 911? I’m better! Full comprehensive service, certified infant/adult CPR. First Aid. Call Bee, (310) 591-4189. Also avail. Elem & Mid. School reading tutor.

DOMESTIC AGENCIES 9

VIP NANNY AGENCY • “Providing very important people with the very best nanny.” • Baby Nurses • Birthing Coaches • Housekeepers. (818) 907-1017, (310) 614-3646

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 ref’s. Call Maria, (310) 948-9637

HOUSEKEEPING AVAILABLE FOR 1 DAY OR 5 DAYS of the week. I have good refs. Own transportation w/ valid driver’s license. For more info, call (310) 673-8758. Ask for Maria.

WONDERFUL HOUSEKEEPER looking for employment. Full time, part time or per day. Excellent experience and refs. Honest & responsible. Call Aleida anytime, (310) 597-9326 or (323) 608-8483

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE 4 DAYS A WEEK. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. Good references. Speaks English & Spanish. Call Veronica, (323) 633-8398

HOUSEKEEPING OR BABYSITTING Monday to Friday. I have good local references. I drive my own car. Call Connee, (c) (323) 377-5138 or (h) (323) 735-5725

EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPER. Available Mon., Wed., & Fri. Good refs. Own car. 25 years experience, good English. Please call Aida, (323) 735-7603

HOUSEKEEPER OR BABYSITTER available Thursday and Saturday. Live-out. Local Palisades & Santa Monica references. Own transportation. Call Marta, (213) 365-6609. Please leave a message.

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER/ELDER CARE. Responsible, experienced. Good references. Spanish speaking. Live-in or live-out. Call Elena, (310) 709-3298

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER available Wednesday & Friday. Own car, clean DMV. Good references. Some English. Call Maria, (323) 271-8026

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Very good local references. Own car. Clean DMV. CDL. Call Susana, (323) 933-6423 or (310) 409-9433

HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTING/PET CARE available Monday thru Friday. Experienced, great references. Honest & dependable. Own transportation. Please call Gloria, (c) (323) 381-6964 or (h) (213) 884-7867

MY WONDERFUL HOUSEKEEPER is available every other Wednesday, 11:30 – 2:30. Thorough, efficient, smart and kind; with absolute integrity. Joyce, (310) 454-1905

LOOKING FOR HOUSEKEEPING: Tues., Thurs., & Fri. or weekends, Sat. & Sun. Have own car. Speaks English well. Legal. Experienced, local refs. Yolanda, (323) 789-6832

HOUSEKEEPING • BABYSITTING • Avail Weds., Fri. & Sat. Live-out. Speaks English. Own transportation. 25 yrs exper. Excellent refs. Call Sibilina, (c) (323) 204-1101, (323) 766-7592, or (323) 732-6040

HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES. Experience over 10 yrs. Flexible rates. Available anytime. English speaking. Own transportation. Great refs. upon request. Call Maria, (310) 977-0142

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

EXCELLENT, LOVING MALE CARE GIVER looking for full time employment. 5 years experience. Great references. Live-in or live-out. Bilingual. Own transportation. Call Carlos, (213) 926-7287

NURSE’S AID/COMPANION available Mon.-Fri. or weekends. Very good local references. Many years experience with Alzheimer’s patients. Reliable, trustworthy. Call Flor, cell (310) 869-2349

LIVE-IN COMPANION/HELPER. Trade services for living quarters. Mature, responsible female. Excellent references. Assist w/ driving, shopping, organizing, meal prep, animals, etc. Compassionate, positive. N/S, N/D. English speaking only. Adriana, (310) 720-6103

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. Licensed & bonded. (310) 926-7626

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. $40/hr. Please call Danielle, (310) 691-0578. daniellesamendez@gmail.com

HOUSESITTING 14b

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY while you are away: Housesitter living in your home or condo, feeding your pets, watering plants while adding occupied residence protection from unwanted intrusions. A professional woman with no bad habits, unless eating crackers in bed counts, seeking a furnished or unfurnished residence for a year or so enabling you to be worry free on your journey also. Helen Palit, (213) 280-0585. hpalit@angelharvest.com

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

GIRL FRIDAY/HOME ORGANIZATION. Errands, driving, dog walking, light housekeeping, cooking, babysitting. 20 yrs. exp. Local references upon request. $15/hr. Call Michelle, (310) 433-6362

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

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

PERSONAL TOUCH DOG WALKING/OUTINGS/SITTING SERVICE. Cats, too! 30 yr. Pali resident. Very reliable. Refs available. If you want special care for your pet, pls call Jacqui, (310) 454-0104, cell (310) 691-9893

PUPPY HEAVEN • TRAINING/WALKING • Play groups and hikes. 30 years Pali resident. References. Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog!

A CAT’S BEST FRIEND. Professional pet-sitting services, specializing in cats. Daily visits/overnight stays. Food, water, litter, play, medications/vit (incl. insulin), brush. (310) 573-3702

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

FAMILY FITNESS PROFESSIONALS. Providing fitness for the whole family—all ages! We come to you! Certified, local, w/ Palisadian refs. For more information call Joe Michel, (310) 467-4992

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, (310) 459-4722

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

K-4 ELEMENTARY TUTOR • CA & AZ Cert. Elem Teacher • Qualified in all subjects but specialize in reading skills K-4 incl phonics, reading comprehension, spelling & writing • Will strengthen learning while building academic confidence & self-esteem • Motivational, creative, positive relationships w/ students • Will come to your home. Caroline, (424) 228-5744 or email cmiller16@gmail.com

SPANISH TUTORING. South American teacher, university degree, all levels: college and beyond. Learn, improve, get confident for studies, work & traveling. Call (310) 741-8422

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

FRENCH TUTOR NATIVE, experienced. Emphasis on grammar understanding. Pronunciation. References, local. Reasonable rate. (310) 459-1417

ELITE SAT & SCHOLASTIC TUTOR. SAT, ACT, AP, Subject Tests, all levels English & math. Harvard graduate, Palisades resident, 12 yrs experience. Call Brian, (310) 459-0270

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pools, decks, patios, foundations, fireplace, drainage control, custom stone, block & brick, tile. Excellent local references. Lic. #309844. Bonded/insured/workmen’s comp. Family owned & operated. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 • www.horusicky.com

CONSTRUCTION 16d

JOLYON COLLIER • CUSTOM FINISH CRAFTSMANSHIP • Specialty Construction • JolyonCollier.com • Non-lic. • (323) 493-3549

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

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

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

HANDYMAN SERVING PALISADIANS for 14 years. Polite & on time. No job too small. Refs available. Non-lic. Ready for winter? (310) 454-4121 or cell, (310) 907-6169. djproservices@yahoo.com

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

PAINTER, SMALL JOBS PREFERRED. Interiors only. 20 years experience. References available. Very reasonable rates. Excellent craftsmanship. Non-lic. Tim, (310) 433-9610

PAINT/PAPERHANGING by NANCY. Master craftsmanship in Palisades. Since 1988. Free estimates. Lic. #537105. (818) 883-4600

JAN MASLER PAINTING CO. Interior/exterior, custom finishes, 20 yrs experience. Lic. #826711. Bonded. Insured. (818) 269-7744. “Taking pride in our work.”

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 • New/Spec Homes • Kit+bath remodeling • Additions • Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction, (310) 710-3199

SITUATIONS WANTED 17a

I WANT A JOB!!! I’m willing to be trained with pay for any kind of full-time job. Preferably in an office environment. I’m an upbeat man who enjoys people. I was a receptionist for a real estate company for almost 20 years and was recently laid off. Call Rick, (310) 454-9433

AUTOS 18b

REDUCED! 1999 FORD F250 Super Duty V10 Supercab Longbed, black w/ lumber rack & Weatherguard tool box. Great work truck! $5,000 OBO. (310) 576-0622

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

YARD SALE! Saturday, 2/7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Furniture and things. 576 Muskingum Avenue, Pacific Palisades.

WANTED TO BUY 19

WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, working or not. ‘50s, ‘60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 895-5057 • profeti2001@yahoo.com

Sidney Scores Lions’ Share

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Fairfax's 6-11 center Renardo Sidney (right) leaps to block a shot by Palisades captain Lebre Merritt in the Dolphins' 89-54 league loss Monday.
Fairfax’s 6-11 center Renardo Sidney (right) leaps to block a shot by Palisades captain Lebre Merritt in the Dolphins’ 89-54 league loss Monday.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Playing a team like Fairfax twice in one season is hard enough. Playing the Lions twice in five days is a truly Herculean task, especially for an under-sized squad having to contend with 6′ 11″ senior center Renardo Sidney. The first time around, Palisades’ boys varsity basketball team came within inches of pulling off the biggest upset of the year in the City Section, losing by one point, 84-83, on Fairfax’s home court last Wednesday. Palisades point guard Lebre Merritt dribbled the length of the court for a layup to tie the game, 83-83, with 10 seconds left. Rico Matheney fouled Lions’ guard Lance Bailey with three seconds left. Bailey made the first free throw and missed the second, allowing Merritt a chance for a last-second three-pointer that hit the back of the rim. “We got behind by 10 points in the fourth quarter and challenged the kids to compete,” Palisades Coach James Paleno said. “From that point on we started executing the game. The kids started believing they had to play as a team.” Sidney, one of the most heavily recruited prep players in the country, had 39 points and Fairfax needed every last one of them to escape with a victory. Many coaches would be satisfied battling tooth and nail with one of the top-ranked teams in the state, but Paleno is tired of moral victories. “Sure, it’s great to have a shot in the end but sooner or later you’d like to win one of those,” he said. “Against a team that good you probably won’t get a better opportunity.” Sandwiched between the two Fairfax games was a home game against Venice–a team the Dolphins had routed on its own court two weeks earlier. It was a ‘trap’ game last Friday and Paleno sensed his team might come out flat. “We didn’t have a good practice on Thursday, we had a couple of guys get into early foul trouble and as a result we fell behind 22-6 in the first quarter. It was an uphill battle from there.” The Dolphins (14-11, 3-5) eventually caught up and took the lead in the second half, but the comeback took too much out of them and the Gondoliers pulled away in the last few minutes for a 71-60 victory that dropped Palisades into fourth place in the Western League with four games left. Monday’s rematch with Fairfax (18-3, 7-1), this time on Palisades’ home floor, offered the Dolphins a quick chance at redemption. Unfortunately, the Lions arrived equally resolved not to let their opponent dictate the pace. Fairfax came out on fire, racing to a 27-11 lead in the first eight minutes and stretching the margin to 45-27 by halftime on Sidney’s three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer. Once again, Palisades had no answer for the Lions’ top scorer, who finished with 28 points, giving him an average of 33.5 in the two games against the Dolphins. Palisades’ final home game is Friday at 7 p.m. against LACES. The Dolphins close out the season with road games at Westchester and Hamilton next week. Fairfax plays Westchester tomorrow with first place on the line. Girls Basketball Coming down the home stretch of its Western League season Palisades finds itself in a familiar position’within striking distance of a playoff spot and a first-round home game. To achieve that, however, the Dolphins must win at least three of their four remaining league games, thanks to a 54-53 victory at Venice on Monday, during which Palisades used a 21-9 third-quarter run to take the lead, then held off a late Gondos rally. Center Dominique Scott led Palisades with 26 points, 14 rebounds and one block. She is averaging a league-best 17.2 points per game. Heading into Wednesday’s game against University (result unavailable at press time), Palisades (13-9 overall, 3-5 in league) was in fourth place in the league standings behind Fairfax, LACES and Westchester. Next Wednesday (February 11) at 4 p.m., the Dolphins play a nonleague contest against Sierra Canyon at Staples Center. Boys Soccer A 1-0 loss to host Hamilton on Monday dropped Palisades two points further back in the race for the Western League crown. The Dolphins were one point ahead of Fairfax going into their clash at Stadium by the Sea the week before, which Fairfax won 3-1 to take over the league lead. Palisades responded with a resounding 3-0 victory over Venice last Thursday but its loss to the Yankees, coupled with Fairfax’s victory over Westchester, left the Dolphins five points behind heading into Wednesday’s 2:30 p.m. home game against third-place University (result unavailable at press time). The Dolphins (6-4-1 overall, 6-2-1 in league) travel to LACES on Monday and finish league at home against Westchester next Wednesday. Girls Soccer It’s not like Palisades was trying to run up the score Monday against Hamilton. No, the Dolphins were simply playing their normal game and the end result was a 9-0 drubbing of the Yankees at Stadium by the Sea. It didn’t take long for Palisades to get on the scoreboard, as sophomore forward Samantha Elander dribbled down the right sideline and lifted a shot from an extreme angle over the goalie’s head and into the far corner of the net less than 15 minutes into the game. Palisades led only 2-0 at halftime but after that, goals poured in with shocking regularity. Katherine Gaskin, Yasmine Tabatabai and Elandere each scored twice while Katie van Daalen Wetters, Kate Rosenbaum and Natasha Burks each added a goal as the Dolphins’ express train kept rolling towards its inevitable destination: another Western League title. Palisades has posted eight shutouts and outscored its opposition by a whopping 50-2 margin. The Dolphins (11-2-4 overall, 9-0 in league) won 1-0 at Venice on a first-half goal by Gaskin–their closest league game so far. They played at University on Wednesday (result unavailable at press time), host LACES on Monday at 2:30 p.m. and wrap up league play next Wednesday at Westchester.

PTC Juniors Win in Fullerton

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Deiton Baughman, 12, one of the Palisades Tennis Center's best junior players, has advanced to the second week of the 16-and-under draw in Fullerton.
Deiton Baughman, 12, one of the Palisades Tennis Center’s best junior players, has advanced to the second week of the 16-and-under draw in Fullerton.

Over 1,200 of the best tennis players from California, Nevada, Texas, Utah and as far away as New York and Alaska came to the Southland last weekend for the start of the 64th annual Fullerton Junior Open. Some of the greatest players in the history of the sport, like Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, Lindsay Davenport, Mike and Bob Bryan and Venus and Serena Williams, have all played and won this tournament. Nearly 50 players who live in Pacific Palisades and or train at the Palisades Tennis Center participated in the tournament and 10 have made it through to the second weekend. In the boys 10s, seventh-seeded Ben Goldberg and ninth-seeded Harry Cohen, both Marquez students, continued their hot streaks with two straight set wins in both rounds and have moved on to the round of 16. In the same age division, Lucas Bellamy. Roscoe Bellamy, Christian Gambale and Stanley Morris each advanced to the second round. In the boys 12s, top-seeded Michael Genender started with a tough 7-6, 7-5 win in the first round over Kent Mukai from Rolling Hills, then breezed through the next two rounds to solidify his place in the round of 16. Palisadian Jackson Kogan advanced to the second round. Robbie Bellamy, the No. 17 seed, was the lone PTC player to reach the round of 16 in the boys 14s. After an easy first round, he won his next three matches in third-set tiebreakers, two of them by 10-8 scores. Bellamy beat Micah Lyle of San Diego, Addison Appleby of Dayton Ohio and eighth-seeded Thomas Pecor from Texas. Also in the boys 14s, top-seeded Alex Giannini, Bellamy’s doubles partner, won is first round match over Tyler Lu of Irvine, 6-4, 6-3, then had to default due to illness. Blake Anthony, the No. 17 seed, lost a third-set tiebreaker to Arcadia’s Albert Chen in the second round. In the boys 16s, 17th-seeded Brett Alchorn advanced to the second weekend along with fellow PTC trainees Seth Stolar and Deiton Baughman. Alchorn posted straight set wins in the first two rounds, then knocked off eighth-seeded Justin Agbayani of Yorba Linda, 6-3, 6-4. Agbayani sometimes trains at the PTC as well. Meanwhile, Stolar did not drop a set in eliminating 15th-seeded Jon Lo of La Jolla, Richard Chang of Santa Barbara and Alex Majadian of Mission Viejo. Max Licona lost in the first round, Brandon Clark and Sam Farani and reached the second round and ninth-seeded Oliver Thornton (who plays singles at Palisades High) and 17th-seeded Connor Treacy each made the third round. Lastly, new PTC standout Baughman, currently the best 12-year-old in America, won four rounds in the boys 16s, losing only one set along the way, to 17th-seeded Horea Porutiu of Rancho Palos Verdes. In the boys 18s, Palisades High player Justin Atlan advanced to the fourth round, beating eighth-seeded Warren Hardie of Laguna Niguel along the way. On the girls’ side, three local players are still in the draw. In the 10s, top-seeded Mimi Levine has not dropped a game in her first two rounds while No. 8 seed Grace Danco has only lost five games through two matches. Playing up a division in the girls 12s, nine-year-old Mary Profit outlasted Estelle Wong of San Diego by the thinnest of margins, 7-6, 0-6, 7-6, in the first round, then beat Palisadian Giulia Mcdonnelinietodelris. Sophie Bendetti reached the third round before falling to Emily Maxfield of Murrieta, 6-3, 6-4, and ninth-seeded Ilana Olyenik also reached the third round. The tournament continues this weekend when the 10 remaining players from the PTC will look to win their respective age divisions.

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