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Forbath Kicks UCLA to Victory

Kai Forbath (above) booted the winning field goal in overtime against Tennessee Monday at the Rose Bowl.
Kai Forbath (above) booted the winning field goal in overtime against Tennessee Monday at the Rose Bowl.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Palisadian Kai Forbath kicked two field goals, including a game-winning 42-yarder in overtime, as the UCLA football team upset 18th-ranked Tennessee, 27-24, on Monday at the Rose Bowl in the debut of Bruins’ Coach Rick Neuheisel. Forbath made a 41-yard attempt to pull UCLA within 14-10 late in the third quarter. He was also three-for-three on extra points. The 6-0, 198-pound redshirt sophomore set a Pac-10 freshman record with 25 field goals last year’third on the Bruins’ single-season list. He was a four-year letterman at Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, where he led the Knights to three CIF titles and a 35-1 record and converting 134 of his 135 extra-point attempts. Schwartz Blocks in Cal’s Win Palisades High alum Mitchell Schwartz, a 6-6, 323-pound redshirt freshman at California, made his presence felt in the Bears’ season opener Saturday night against Michigan State. Schwartz’ block opened a hole for teammate Shane Vareen’s 81-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that sealed Cal’s 38-31 win. Schwartz’ block did not go unnoticed by the Fox Sports West commentators, who showed the replay and declared “May the Schwartz be with you.” Watching the Cal game from a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina, was Mitchell’s older brother Geoff, who was cut by the Carolina Panthers on Sunday but subsequently offered a practice squad contract, which the former Palisades High three-sport star and Palisadian-Post Cup winner gladly accepted.

PTC Juniors Win Santa Monica Open

Adam Stryer won the boys 12s Novice Division of the Santa Monica Junior Open.
Adam Stryer won the boys 12s Novice Division of the Santa Monica Junior Open.

Palisadians brought a ballhopper’s worth of hardware home from the 79th annual Santa Monica Junior Tennis Open last weekend, dominating most of the younger age groups in the Novice, Satellite and Open divisions. In the boys 8-and-under Satellite, Jake Sands made it back-to-back titles after winning the Jack Kramer event the week before. Sands defeated Daniel Naryshev, 6-3, 6-4, in the final. In the 8-and-under Novice, 6-year-old Lincoln Bellamy won his first tournament, beating Lyle Adomian, 6-1, in the final. The 10-and-under crown went to R.J. Sands who, like his brother, won the Jack Kramer a week before. This time, R.J. defeated fellow PTC player Christian Gambale, 6-3, 6-1, in the final. Playing his first tournament in the boys 12s Novice, Adam Stryer beat Zachary Gorokhovsky, 6-4, to win the title. Stryer is steadily improving with every match and showed he is clearly going to be a force in his age group. PTC player Myles Pindus reached the finals of the boys 12s satellite but perhaps the biggest win went to Harry Cohen, who tore through three matches en route to the final, where he beat Ben Gelfand in a third-set tiebreaker. “Our boys are clearly pushing each other so much everyday that they are winning everything in Southern California now,” PTC Head Pro Jon Neeter said. “Our next big push is going to be to get more girls winning.” Neeter was pleased to see Caroline Vincent win the girls 8-and- unders, ousting Kaitlin Zuber, 6-0, 6-2, in the semifinals and Jane Homer, 7-6, 6-4 in the final. “Tennis is a really interesting paradigm for girls right now,” Neeter said. “There are about 3,000 girls tennis scholarships in the United States each year. A girl can start playing tennis here at the park, just hang in the pack, play regular tournaments in Southern California and get numerous scholarship opportunities.” Palisades Pair Aims for #1 Ranking Robbie Bellamy and Alex Giannini of the Palisades Tennis Center have been playing doubles together for almost a year and already they are within reach of the top national ranking in their age group. Giannini has one of the hardest serves in his age group (they are both 13) and is a smart, competitive player. Bellamy, meanwhile, has one of the best forehands and return of serve in the juniors. Together, they have begun to gel. They finished last year in the 12s by twice nearly upsetting the No. 1 duo in the country’Gregory Garcia of San Diego and Garrett Auproux of Studio City. “We will beat them this year,” Giannini predicted after beating Auproux in straight sets in singles at the USTA nationals in Sacramento. “And we are going to finish the boys 14’s as the No. 1 team in the nation.” Last weekend, Bellamy and Giannini were seeded third in the San Diego National Doubles at the Barnes Tennis Center. On Friday, the boys got a bye to set up a second round match against Adam Ferguson and Luis Miranda of La Mesa. The local boys rolled to a 6-1, 6-0, setting up a quarterfinal match against fellow PTC players Blake Anthony and Brandon Clarke, who were seeded fifth. The teams split the first two sets, setting up a 10-point super tiebreaker now common in all national events. There, Giannini’s serve proved nearly unreturnable as he and Bellamy prevailed, 10-2, and advanced to the semifinals against Irvine’s Stefan Menichella and Jake De Vries. The PTC duo won the first set 6-2 but lost the second, setting the stage for another super-breaker. At 7 points all, Bellamy and Giannini reeled off three points in a row, setting up a finals showdown against top-seeded Garcia and Auproux, who had beaten PTC player Eduardo Nava and his partner, Logan Smith of Carlsbad. It was a close final, but Garcia and Auproux prevailed, 7-5, 7-5. “This one hurt because we had our chances at 5-all in both sets and Alex was serving both times so we should have held at least one of those,” Bellamy said. “However, we are really confident now and know we can win these big matches.” Bellamy and Giannini both plan on playing at Palisades High. “If Brandon [Clarke], Robbie and I all go to Pali we think we can help make that team No. 1 in the nation,” Giannini said. “Blake [Anthony] might go there as well and there are a lot of really good players on the team now.”

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 28, 2008

HOMES FOR SALE 1

HAWAII EXISTS IN LA! NEW INVENTORY. 11 HOMES AVAIL. Terrific Opportunity! PCH/Sunset. Up to 1,600 Sq. Ft. $179,000-1.1 million. Some completely remodeled, many upgrades. Ocean views, wood floors, new kitchens, sun deck, rec center w/ pool/spa/gym. Steps from the sand. Condo alternative. Agent, Michelle Bolotin, (310) 230-2438

SPECTACULAR MEDITERRANEAN SANDCASTLE beachfront. 5 bd, 4.5 ba. Channel Islands 1 hr North. $2.995M. Great investment & home. Call (808) 346-4644

STEPS TO THE BEACH and ocean view. $326,500. 2003 pre-fab 2 bdrm, 2 bath plus den. Spacious open floor plan. Fenced yard. Palisades Bowl. Seller’s motivated. Need to rejoin children. Lori Matson, Keller Williams, (310) 994-5894

FURNISHED HOMES 2

GUEST QUARTERS: ONE non-smoker. 3 rooms, bath, kitchenette. Private, gated Mandeville Canyon near Sunset. Utilities, cleaning service included, parking. No pets. $1,850 monthly. (310) 472-3079

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

EL MEDIO BLUFFS 3 bdrm, 2 ba, Cape Cod. Corner lot, charming. 1/2 blk walk to bluffs. $6,000/mo. Call Elizabeth, (310) 293-8999

HIGHLANDS 3+2 HOME: Beautiful panoramic mtn w/ ocean views. Bright, airy, high ceilings, 2 decks, new paint, F/P, tile, ss appls. Lrg pvt clubhouse, olympic pool, tennis, gym, gardener incl. Available 8/25. $4,000/mo. Marty, (310) 459-2692

3 BDRM, 1 BA. $3,600/mo., utils incl. 2 car pking, close to village, schools, shops & beach. Pets OK. Appliances, W/D, D/W, refridg. By appt. only. Eric, (310) 428-3364

LOVELY HIGHLANDS TOWNHOME. 2 bd, den, 3 ba, hardwood floors, high ceilings, private garage, mountain views, pool & spa. $3,850/mo.+security. (310) 459-0765

2 BD, 1 BA, LARGE den, breakfast nook, dining room, hardwood and tile floors. 2 fpls, AC. Paid gardener. Available 9/20. Beautiful garden. $3,900/mo. (310) 454-9840

5 BEDROOMS, 5 BATHS on Gallaudet Place for lease. (310) 913-1433

ONE LEVEL SINGLE family home, Palisades Highlands. Remodeled 3 bdrm, 2 bath. Nice private backyard, large community pool, tennis courts, etc. Call Judy, (310) 994-9289, (310) 454-0696

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

PALISADES 1 BDRM apt, remodeled, clean, gas stove, fridge, near village, one year lease, covered parking with storage, laundry. No pets. Non-smoker. $1,300/mo. (310) 477-6767

SANTA MONICA “COUNTRY COTTAGE”, uniquely special unit for uniquely special person. Charm, style, & luxury in prime S.M. location near Montana and 14th St. Pristine one bedroom has it all. Living room w/ high beam ceilings, woodburning fireplace, hardwood floors. French windows & shutters. Kitchen w/ stainless appliances & limestone bath. Large enclosed garden patio. Gated garden entry with intercom. Enclosed garage, no pets. $2,500/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 826-7960

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

SUITE IN HOUSE. Separate entrance. Peaceful Highlands setting. Microwave, refrigerator, bathroom, shower. Student preferred. Refs. (310) 459-5046

WANTED TO RENT 3b

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

LOCAL FEMALE BANKER in village seeks room in exchange for light domestic duties, cooking, errands. For seniors and children. Excellent local references. Call Tiffany, (310) 454-1287

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

BEAUTIFUL, SINGLE OFFICE available for an individual. Located in the heart of Pacific Palisades. Includes free internet. Ready to move in at $1,250/mo. Call Liz, (310) 230-8335

MEDICAL SPACE AVAILABLE in Pacific Palisades. Great location, Palisades Village. 1,200 sq ft. Newly renovated boutique building w/ pharmacy. 910 Via de la Paz. Avail Sept. 1st. Call Vicki, (310) 475-6400

PROFESSIONAL BUILDING in Pacific Palisades village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available, newly painted, brand new pergo floors, 1,200 square feet conveniently located in the village. Please call (310) 230-6712, x105 for more details.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

REALISTICALLY earn more money in the next year than the past 5 years combined. (800) 687-2735

LOST & FOUND 6a

FOUND: SUNGLASS CLIP-ONS at Sunset and Swarthmore, August 20th. Call Palisadian-Post at (310) 454-1321 to identify.

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

BOOKKEEPER BY THE HOUR • Need help with getting your books in order? Help is near! Call Joanie, (310) 486-1055

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

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

YOUR OWN TECH GURU * 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

WEB SITES AND GRAPHIC DESIGN. Development for business. Photo editing, holiday cards. Contact Maggie, (310) 985-0959 or Maggie@maggiesweb.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

ALTERNATIVE ENGINEERING SOLAR • GO SOLAR • TAX INCENTIVES! Design & engineering solar/wind systems • Huge rebates • Financing available • Local Palisades contractor • Lic. #912279 • Call for free consultation: (877) 898-1948

DAYCARE CENTERS 8

PALISADES LEARN AND PLAY. Creative & nurturing Pre-K program. Crafts, music & educational curriculum. Openings for fall, F/T or P/T. (310) 459-0920

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

OUR WONDERFUL NANNY available part time or full time. Starting mid Sept. Light housekeeping, great with kids. Please call Irma direct, (323) 702-5188

GREAT NANNY—SAD DAY. Our nanny of 7 years is available Sept. 1st. Our youngest is off to Kindergarten! Cal. DL, Own car, close to Pac Pal, reliable, honest, loves kids. Call Gretchen or Rick, (310) 456-2142

EUROPEAN NANNY AVAILABLE MORNINGS. Palisades Mom looking to share wonderful European nanny. Fluent English, driving, college educated, very interactive. Available mornings M-F beginning Sept. 9. Call Ann Marie (nanny), (818) 943-4364, or Daria (for reference), (310) 230-3125

WONDERFUL NANNY LOOKING for F/T work, M-F, loving, great with kids, newborns. 23 yrs experience. Legal, drives. Call Regan for ref’s, (310) 922-2077, or Rosa, (818) 620-7507

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

FULL-TIME HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE. Tuesday, Thurs. & Sat. Housecleaning, laundry & ironing. Good w/ pets, exper, local refs. Please call Adelina or Magdalena at (323) 527-4538, (323) 634-0736

HOUSE CLEANING, 15 yrs experience, references if needed. Free estimate. Available Monday thru Friday. Speaks English. Call Nury, (323) 907-2213

HOUSEKEEPER, EXPERIENCED, REFERENCES, has own transportation, speaks some English. (818) 765-8728 home, (818) 391-8647 cell. Call anytime.

HOUSEKEEPER, EXPERIENCED. Weekends. Will keep your home sparkling clean w/ personal care. CDL, car, English, pet friendly. Housesit while you are away. Ref’s. (310) 866-0940

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

HOUSECLEANING. Alicia available Thursday or Monday. Cleaning supplies furnished. Call (310) 367-3214

HOUSE CLEANING AVAILABLE. Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Own transportation. Reliable, experienced, honest. Local references. Call Delmy, (323) 363-9492

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Monday thru Friday. Honest and reliable. Own car. Please call Olga at (323) 495-2355

HOUSEKEEPER, RELIABLE, EXPERIENCED, references. Own transportation. Speaks English. Available Monday thru Friday. Call (323) 274-7109 cell, (323) 750-4441 home

HOUSEKEEPER/HOUSESITTING/BABYSITTING, Mon. thru Sunday. 25 years experience. Excellent refs. Reliable. Call Elizabeth, (323) 463-7889

GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING • Full Gardening Service • Sprinkler Install • Tree Trim • Sodding/Seeding • Sprays, non-toxic • FREE 10” Flats, Pansies, Snap, Impatiens. (310) 568-0989

WATERFALLS & POND CONSTRUCTION: Water gardening. Japanese Koi fish. Filtration pond service, repair & maintenance. Free estimates. (310) 435-3843, cell (310) 390-1276. www.TheKingKoi.com

GARDENING SERVICE. Sprinkler installation, tree trim, sodding, seeding, maintenance. Free estimates. Call Salomón, (323) 252-0112

PRECISION LANDSCAPE SERVICES! Tired of mow, blow, let’s go! Specializing in fine maintenance • outdoor lighting • fertilizing • automatic timer repair & installation • artificial grass installation • hillside clean ups • new sod • sprinkler repair. Fair prices. (310) 696-6453

MOVING & HAULING 11b

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

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 12c

NEIGHBORHOOD THERAPIST: Caring, patient & local Palisades Psychotherapist available for help and insight into issues relating to your personal and interpersonal life. To make an appointment with Dr. Aunene Finger, Board Certified MFT, please call (310) 454-0855. www.neighborhoodtherapist.com. Lic. #37780

MISCELLANEOUS 12f

CARDIO FIT & FIT FOR SENIORS • Morning & Exercise Classes • $10 PER CLASS • Contact “TC”, (310) 699-1491

WINDOW WASHING 13h

EXPERT WINDOW CLEANER • Experienced 21 yrs on Westside. Clean & detailed. Can also clean screens, mirrors, skylights & scrape paint off glass. Free estimates. Brian, (310) 289-5279

THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Got view? Extremely detailed interior/exterior glass and screen cleaning. Specializing in high ladder work. 10% new customer discount & next day service available. Owner operated. Free estimates. (310) 926-7626

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

DRIVER/ASSISTANT. 18 years experience. Appointments, school, errands, marketing, doctor appointments. Computers, organizing, bills, pets, children. $20/hr. Resume/references avail. (310) 230-6877

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

HAPPY PET • Dog Walking • Park Outings • Socialization • Insured. Connie, (310) 230-3829

PERSONAL TOUCH. DOG WALKING/sitting service. Cats included. Pali resident over 25 yrs. Very reliable. Refs available. If you want special care for your pet, please call me. Jacqui, (310) 454-0104, cell (310) 691-9893

FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a

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

TUTORS 15e

Start School With The Right Backup. In-home private tutoring K-12. 30+ years teaching/ tutoring exper. Math, reading, grammar, essay writing & study skills. Former special ed teacher. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530

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

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 & Spanish! 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

HSPT/ISEE PREP CLASSES. Central Palisades Location. Small class size. 12 Classes, September start. (310) 459-3239

CREDENTIALED WORKING TEACHER, 30 years experience, Harvard education, master’s degree. Tutor in your home. Reading, writing, English, history. K-12. Reasonable rates. Call Robert, (310) 573-4163

SUPER TEACHER/CONSULTANT. Proven techniques improve ADD, ADHD, confidence. Grades K-9. Experienced, successful, references. Call Alexis now for an appointment, (818) 383-5404

CARPENTRY 16a

FINE WOODWORKING. Carpentry of any kind: decks, gates, doors, bathrooms, kitchen, cabinets. CSL #822541. No project too small. References available. Call Ed at (310) 213-3101

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

DRIVEWAYS, BLOCK WALLS, stucco, paint, tile and more. Excellent ref’s. Great prices. Jose Vega, (818) 602-7978

CONSTRUCTION 16d

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

DOORS 16f

“DOOR WORKS” • Residential and commercial, door repairs, replacements. Handicap services, weatherstripping. Free est. Premium service. Lic. #917844. (310) 598-0467, (818) 346-7900

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. Lic. #775688. Please call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286

ELECTRICAL WORK. Call Dennis! 26 yrs experience, 24 hours, 7 day service. Lic. #728200. (310) 821-4248

FENCES, DECKS 16j

THE FENCE MAN • 14 years quality workmanship • Wood fences • Decks • Gates • Chainlink & overhang • 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. 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

GOLDEN HARDWOOD FLOORS. Professional Installation and refinishing. National Wood Flooring Association member. License #732286. Plenty of local references. (877) 622-2200 • www.goldenhardwoodfloors.com

JEFF HRONEK, 39 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

GREENHOUSE Handyman & Home Maintenance. Major & Minor Home Repairs/Installations. Green Home Improvements & Retrofits. Termite/Moisture Damage Specialist. (800) 804-8810

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 • 54 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. 35 years in service. License #637882. Call (310) 454-6604

A PACIFIC PAINTING. Residential, commercial, industrial. Interior/exterior. Drywall, plaster, stucco repair, pressure washing. Free estimates. Bonded & insured. Lic. #908913. “Since 1979.” (310) 954-7170

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. Michael Hoff Construction today, (424) 202-8619

HELP WANTED 17

DRIVERS: TEAMS EARN TOP DOLLAR plus great benefits. Solo drivers also needed for Western Regional. Werner Enterprises, (800) 346-2818 x123

ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITY. Create a realistic 5 figure income/mo. Opportunity and products with no rival. (800) 439-1193

CUSTOMER SERVICE F/T for WLA manufacturer. Good communication skills, CS & general office experience needed. Pleasant office. Benefits. E-mail resume: hr@bennye.com, or fax: (310) 839-1939

EARN $1,000-$3,200 A MONTH to drive new cars with ads. www.AdCarJobs.com

LIVE-IN NANNY needed for a long term position with loving family. Must speak English, drive and have experience and references. Please leave message, (310) 994-7155

MYSTERY SHOPPER. Enjoy this unique and interesting position and the associated training. Are you responsible, motivated and computer literate? Are you interested in providing feedback to a Fortune 100 company specific to store conditions and service levels? Hourly rate for driving time, observation time, report time applies. Mileage reimbursed based on distance associated with assignments. For additional information and to submit an online application visit www.qualityshopper.org. No associated fees.

CHROME HEARTS, MALIBU, is looking for experienced professional retail SALES MANAGERS, SALES PEOPLE and CASHIERS with long-term contacts/relationships in the Malibu area. If you are: a self-starter, a hard-worker, an experienced sales manager, sales professional and/or cashier, organized, detail-oriented, passionate about high-end luxury goods, especially jewelry, dedicated, committed, loyal and trustworthy, then we have a career for you. We require at least three years high-end retail experience in the Malibu area and we prefer a high school diploma. Serious candidates only. Please email your resume and a cover letter to: mitraf@maxfieldla.com. No phone calls, please.

AUTOS 18b

MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 320 COUPE. Silver with charcoal grey interior. 55,000 + miles. Excellent condition inside and out and under the hood. $12,000. Call for appointment (323) 461-5328

1999 FORD F250 Super Duty V10 Supercab Longbed, black w/ lumber rack & Weatherguard tool box. Great work truck! $6,500 OBO. (310) 576-0622

1999 BMW 323i. Black, sunroof, 4-door. Original owners, low mileage. Excellent condition. $8,800. Contact Diana, (310) 454-7415

FURNITURE 18c

BEAUTIFUL HACIENDA STYLE mesquite wood dining set. 4’ x 8’ table. Carved edges. Iron base. 8 oversized tan buckskin leather chairs. Paid $6,700. Best offer. (310) 454-2164

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

FURNISHGS/LINENS/HSEHOLD kitch goods/books/ cds/Children’s books/tools/toys. Clothes/Hi-end & costume jewelry. 509 Kansas, Playa del Rey. Sepulv. South/thru LAX tunnel to Mariposa. Rt to Kansas. FRI.-SAT., Aug. 29-30, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Photos/directions: www.bmdawson.com

GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS! New T-shirts, wallets, purses, tiled bistro tables, cast iron fountains, gently used furniture, houseware, clothes, electronics, more. Friday & Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1036 El Medio Ave., Pac Pal

GARAGE SALE! Electric guitars and more. Saturday, 8/30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 649 Bienveneda Avenue, South of Sunset.

WANTED TO BUY 19

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OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 FOR LABOR DAY. THE CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE WILL BE FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, AT 11 A.M.

Palisades Plays Itself

Myriad Movies, TV Shows and Other Entertainment Have Been Filmed or Set Here in Town



<p><figcaption class=Stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan on a break from filming Disney’s remake of “Freaky Friday” at Palisades High in 2002.
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Stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan on a break from filming Disney’s remake of “Freaky Friday” at Palisades High in 2002.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

When you think of bad movies, you think of Harry Medved. No, really, it’s okay, he doesn’t mind.
If filmmaker Ed Wood will forever be associated with bad moviemaking, film historian (and Palisades High School graduate) Medved may be linked with the criticism of bad moviemaking. After all, he co-authored four books on Hollywood’s worst, two of which doled out Golden Turkey Awards to the most deliciously horrible flicks ever spawned by Hollywood. He also inspired John B. Wilson, a Westwood Village Theater ticket-taker, to create the Golden Raspberry Awards jeer-fest. So movies with a capital “B” will always be in Medved’s hemoglobin.
Now the head of public relations at Fandango.com, Medved has also become an authority on movie shoot locations. Fandango’s Web site offers a location vacation “road trip” section, and Medved co-authored, with current Palisades resident Bruce Akiyama, Hollywood Escapes: The Moviegoer’s Guide to Exploring Southern California’s Great Outdoors (St. Martin’s Press, 2006). As PaliHi pals, Medved and Akiyama bonded seeing the gloriously godawful Old Dracula (with David Niven) at the now-defunct Bay Theatre.
We turned to Medved as we sought samples of how Pacific Palisades has been the set or the setting for popular entertainment over the years.

FEATURE FILMS

Palisades High has been the de facto location for a number of features, from the volleyball and track sequences opening the Academy Award-nominated 1976 horror thriller Carrie to that year’s less Oscar-worthy The Pom Pom Girls, and the 1978 monster movie Slithis.
Medved was 16 when Hal Ashby filmed scenes with Jon Voight for Coming Home at PaliHi. Medved remembers watching the Vietnam veteran drama, which swept the 1978 Academy Awards, being filmed inside the multi-purpose room (now Mercer Hall).
“I was totally starstruck, not by the stars, but by the talent behind the scenes,” Medved tells the Palisadian-Post.
He adds that he was excited to meet Haskell Wexler; and the cinematographer, who won the 1976 Oscar for his direction of photography in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, was impressed that Medved knew all about his directorial effort, Medium Cool.
Recent features shot at PaliHi includes 2001’s interracial romance Crazy/Beautiful with Kirsten Dunst, and the 2003 remake of Disney’s body-swapping comedy Freaky Friday. Also in 2001, the Palisades doubled for Malibu in The Glass House, starring Leelee Sobieski.
Havoc (2005), featuring Anne Hathaway, was set and filmed at PaliHi. The teen drama was produced under the specter of tragedy after its promising young screenwriter, Jessica Kaplan, 24, died in a light plane crash in 2003. Impressively, Kaplan had sold Havoc, her first screenplay, to New Line Cinema at age 16.
Beyond the Pali campus, movies classic and otherwise have been shot all around us. What Medved calls the “classic columned mansion on the cliffs on Castellammare” known as the Villa Leon doubled as the haunted house in 1948’s The Spiritualist (a.k.a. The Amazing Mr. X). Speaking of spirituality, 60 years later, this summer’s Mike Myers’ comedy The Love Guru gave us a glimpse of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine on Sunset.
Filmed in the vicinity of Patrick’s Roadhouse in Santa Monica Canyon, the 1950 Mickey Rooney film Quicksand had a shot of the old bath house (now a plant store) at Chautauqua and PCH. Chautauqua also appeared in the Nicholas Ray noir classic, In A Lonely Place, released that same year, in which Humphrey Bogart’s unraveling screenwriter, Dixon Steele, loses it while driving.
Tim Samut remembers when Blake Edwards shot footage for his 1968 Hollywood satire The Party at his family’s Santa Monica Canyon home on Sycamore Road.
“The Mirisch Corp. shot the very beginning of this film there,” Samut says. “The film crew was there for a full week and they used 10 to 20 seconds. I still have the contract that my father had [the film’s executive producer] sign before they began.” Samut’s father received nearly $4,000 from Mirisch.
The Gumball Rally (1976) was filmed in town, and scenes from 1978’s House Calls, starring late Palisadian Walter Matthau, were filmed in the village. Will Rogers State Historic Park provided a setting for Grand Canyon, The Parent Trap remake, and the spoony The Story of Us. Heck, they even cloaked the Klingons’ spaceship in the park’s polo fields (doubling for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park) in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. John Woo shot a scene for the 1997 John Travolta/Nicolas Cage thriller Face/Off on Swarthmore, while scenes from Albert Brooks’ The Muse and Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, and for this summer’s Eddie Murphy bomb Meet Dave, were also filmed locally.
Local controversy ignited when Joel Schumacher shot The Number 23 in February 2006. The Post ran Letters and Two Cents items complaining about the film crew’s use of cigarettes and electric generators at Temescal Gateway Park, despite a sign marked “Trails Closed Due to Fire Hazard.”

TELEVISION

The most prominent series to utilize Pacific Palisades was undoubtedly Baywatch. The lifeguard drama lite, which rescued David Hasselhoff’s sinking career, ran from 1989 until 1999 (or 2001, if you count its 11th hour Baywatch Hawaii revamping). Co-created by Gregory J. Bonann (PaliHi class of ’70), the series was filmed near Will Rogers State Beach’s tower 15. Also shot at this spot: the notorious Bennifer bomb Gigli (in a subplot thread where one character obsesses over Baywatch). A popular contemporary of Baywatch, the Saturday morning staple Saved by the Bell (1989-1993) took place in the Palisades.
The 1970s hit The Rockford Files was often filmed in and around the Palisades, while the culmination of a Mod Squad chase sequence was filmed in the alley behind Mort’s Deli (now Village Pantry).
Pacific Palisades was the title of an Aaron Spelling-produced series that utilized a rented home on Alma Real Drive and lasted less than two months in 1997. James at 16 (1977) and Malibu Shores (1996) were shot at PaliHi , as was the 1979 made-for-TV movie, Young Love, First Love, featuring Timothy Hutton and Valerie Bertinelli. Ditto 1999’s teen soap Popular, which didn’t live up to its title, lasting only two seasons.
The critics’ darling, Curb Your Enthusiasm, which debuted on HBO in 2000, takes place in and is shot around the Palisades. In one memorable episode, star Larry David (playing an exaggerated version of himself) deems the Mort’s Deli sandwich named after him not as good as the Ted Danson, and wants his sandwich’s ingredients switched.
Harry Medved’s older brother (and his co-author on several books covering cult movies), the film critic and radio personality Michael Medved, also attended PaliHi. Michael collaborated with classmate David Wallechinsky (son of novelist Irving Wallace) on What Really Happened to the Class of ‘65? The 1976 bestseller chronicled members of that graduating class and how their privileged lives evolved post-high school. Its success inspired a short-lived TV anthology series, which Harry Medved confirms was not shot at PaliHi.

POPULAR MUSIC

In March, the Post reported on the 45th anniversary of the Beach Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” which name-drops Pacific Palisades. Irish rock group Ash featured the tune “Pacific Palisades” on its 2001 album Free All Angels, while California band Rilo Kiley recorded “Spectacular Views.” Here’s an excerpt from the lyrics to the latter’s Palisades tribute, which may convey why writers, artists, filmmakers and musicians return again and again to this panoramic Westside enclave for inspiration:

In steep cliffs
with rocks all piled up
mysteries of your passing luck
Ages past
shells and bits of foam
forming new limestone
to give things their turn . . .

. . . We can see the stars
from where the birds make their homes
staring back at us
Indifferent
but distanced perfectly
projected endlessly
it’s so . . . beautiful.

There are no better words for the coast today/
then you ask what’s a palisade
and if we’re too late for happiness?

Harry Medved will sign copies of Hollywood Escapes when he hosts a special Venice Historical Society fundraiser and archival screening of local movie location clips on Sunday, September 7 at 5 p.m. at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. The event includes a silent auction, champagne and chocolate. Non-members: $60. Free parking. Visit www.venicehistoricalsociety.org/calendar.php.

The Avengers’ West Coast Address

The Palisades is not only prime real estate in movies and TV.
When Marvel Comics spun off its long-running comic book, “The Avengers” (hitting multiplexes in 2011), Pacific Palisades became home base for the West Coast Avengers: Iron Man, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Mockingbird, Tigra and Wonder Man.
“West Coast Avengers” made its publishing debut as a 1984 mini-series and quickly jumped to series, lasting a lengthy 102 issues (1985-94). As both Marvel’s superhero universe and Marvel’s offices are Manhattan-centric, Steve Englehart, the series’ revered writer, explains how Pacific Palisades––and not Malibu or Beverly Hills––became the Left Coast address for the invincible Iron Man and his super-powered peers.
“There’s actually a story about that,” Englehart emails the Palisadian-Post. “I’m not from L.A. (I’m from Indiana by way of New York . . . ). But in the mid-1980s, I took on, at the same time, ‘West Coast Avengers’ and ‘Green Lantern,’ both of which were situated in Los Angeles.
“So I drove down to see my cousin, who lived in Westchester at the time. He then took me on a day-long drive around the L.A. area, telling me about the reputations of each of the enclaves, while I scribbled notes on a Triple A map. We went down the coast past Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes, over to Long Beach, up the 710 past Compton, to downtown Los Angeles, to Mulholland Drive, Topanga Canyon, Pacific Palisades, and finally Santa Monica. It was like working through a treasure map for me; a very enjoyable, memorable experience.
“By the end of it, I had a comprehensive, if superficial, feel for L.A., and I’d decided that the well-to-do, optimistic, enjoying-the-spotlight West Coast Avengers would be in Pacific Palisades, while the more secretive Green Lantern Corps would be up on Mulholland.”
Did the Palisades figure prominently in his plotlines?
“Nothing big,” Englehart admits. “I used that map to decide where people lived or worked . . . and I called my cousin if I had a question . . . I was pretty much limited to ‘sounding’ like I knew the area, not actually knowing it.” West Coast Avengers assemble!

Hiete, Fedorczyk Wed In Palisades Ceremony

Tiffany Hiete, daughter of Mary and Kurt Hiete of Pacific Palisades, married John Fedorczyk, son of Judy Hoyt of Colorado and John Fedorczyk, Sr. of New Jersey, on May 17.
The wedding ceremony took place at the United Methodist Church in Pacific Palisades, followed by a reception at the Riviera Country Club.
Tracey Hiete and Terri Linville, sisters of the bride, were the maid of honor and matron of honor, respectively. The bridesmaids were Ellen Denise, Robin Bratspir and Amy Clements. The junior bridesmaid was Claire Bowen, a cousin of the bride.
The best man was the bridegroom’s brother, Brad Fedorczyk. Groomsmen included Corey Lewis, Terran Duncan, Dennis Wolfe and Kyle Runnels. The ring-bearer was the bridegroom’s nephew, Bradley Hiete.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Costa Rica and now reside in Denver, Colorado.

Scott McIntosh to Marry Staci Nix In Utah Sunday

Scott Ellis McIntosh, son of longtime Pacific Palisades residents Jim and Jennifer McIntosh, will marry Staci Nichole Nix, daughter of Ronald and JoAnn Nix of Cartersville, Georgia, in a mountainside ceremony in Park City, Utah, on August 31.
Scott is an honors graduate of Brentwood School and Duke University and received his medical degree from the University of Vermont. He is an emergency physician and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Utah. Scott is the brother of Dr. Kent McIntosh of Vancouver, Canada, who also spent his childhood years in the Palisades.
Originally from the greater Atlanta area, the bride-to-be received her master’s degree in nutrition from the University of Georgia. She is an assistant professor at the University of Utah and the author of a widely used nutrition textbook.
The couple enjoys adventure sports and will reside in Park City, Utah.

Subdivision Planned for Site of ’66 Marquez Slide

RS Family Partnership plans to build four homes off Via Santa Ynez (above). The property is the location of a 1966 slide that demolished two homes on Enchanted Way and tore up the street of Via Santa Ynez. The white house pictured was rebuilt a few years ago on one of the slide lots, which had only partially slipped.
RS Family Partnership plans to build four homes off Via Santa Ynez (above). The property is the location of a 1966 slide that demolished two homes on Enchanted Way and tore up the street of Via Santa Ynez. The white house pictured was rebuilt a few years ago on one of the slide lots, which had only partially slipped.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

A developer’s plan to build four homes on property off Via Santa Ynez in Marquez Knolls, where slides occurred in 1959 and again in 1966, has made neighbors uneasy. ‘I’m concerned as a homeowner and as a citizen,’ said Steve Miller, who lives on the Donna Ynez Lane cul-de-sac off Via Santa Ynez and across the street from the proposed subdivision. He and 43 other residents sent a petition to the city expressing their reservations. Houses have not been built on the 700 block of Via Santa Ynez since the 1966 slide, which destroyed two houses on Enchanted Way (the street on the hill above Via Santa Ynez) and severely damaged one other home. The slide tore up a huge segment of Via Santa Ynez, blocking in residents living on that street and Donna Ynez Lane. The slide was apparently caused by rain and poor geology, the Palisadian-Post reported in its February 10, 1966 issue. Miller and his neighbors are worried the hill could slide again under the weight of the new houses or as a result of the new homeowners irrigating their lawns. There is a significant amount of groundwater in the neighborhood, and many residents have sump-pumps in their basements. ‘The main goal is to work with the neighbors and with the city to make sure the hill is safe,’ said Regina Minor, representative for the developer, Reza Savebauwa and his family, The RS Family Partnership. Minor, principal of ARC Land Surveying and Engineering, said the RS Family Partnership doesn’t want the new homes to slide down the hillside either. Many residents would be trapped if a slide happens because the streets are one way. The partnership hired Sassan Geosciences to conduct a geological study and has since submitted a 1,000-page geology report for the city to review as part of its tentative parcel map application. ‘The whole hill is being studied, not just the four parcels,’ Minor said. RS Family Partnership is asking to create a subdivision by taking two large parcels and dividing them into four. Minor would not give specifics for how the hill would be stabilized, but said that the improvements would make the hill more secure than it is now. ‘There are different ways to go about stabilizing the hill, and I am not sure which one will be chosen,’ she said, adding the city will make the final decision. The entire application process could take a year or more. The neighbors, however, are asking for an independent geological report, encompassing the entire hillside. ‘We believe that an independent and unbiased geological study is an absolute necessity to protect the physical safety of those residing in the neighborhood,’ the residents wrote in their petition. At a L.A. Department of City Planning hearing on August 13, residents pointed out that RS Family Partnership also owns another adjacent lot on Via Santa Ynez. ‘It would be short-sighted and dangerous not to consider the totality of the project in terms of soil stability, impact of water tables, impact on traffic and impact on the character of the neighborhood,’ they wrote. Minor said that RS Family Partnership does not have plans to develop the additional lot right now and has decided to continue with the parcel map application process for the four lots rather than submit a tract map application, which is needed for the development of five or more. Nate Kaplan, communications deputy for Councilman Bill Rosendahl, said the city does not conduct its own geology report, but asks developers to hire a third-party engineer to do a report, which the city reviews. It is the developer’s responsibility to prove to the city that the site is sound for construction, he said. ‘The only way they can build on the site is if the City is satisfied with the report, and all conditions to ensure safety are implemented in the approval,’ Kaplan said. RS Family Partnership has also asked the city for the right to include the north fork of Via Santa Ynez (a dedicated public road that was never created) as part of the property. The partnership purchased the two small islands between the north fork and south fork of Santa Ynez. The neighbors do not want the city to turn over the north fork road to RS Family Partnership because it would make the parcels larger with different setback requirements, Miller said. The lots would be the largest in the neighborhood ‘ all of them greater than 12,000 square feet and two of them in excess of 15,000 square feet, Miller said. ‘[Homeowners] are afraid there will be mansions going in,’ said Haldis Toppel, president of the Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association. ‘They would like to have some distance between themselves and the new development.’ The north fork road has also become a meadow, where children play and deer graze. ‘People would like to see that land remain public parkland for all the neighbors to enjoy,’ Miller said. Minor responded that the developer asked for the public road in order to widen Via Santa Ynez to the required 36 feet and add a sidewalk. ‘Nobody is trying to move the property line,’ she said. After the 1966 slide, the city paved over part of the slide to re-create the south fork of Via Santa Ynez without disturbing the toe. As a result, the road is 20 feet wide with no sidewalk. ‘If the map is approved, then the developer will be required to comply with the Bureau of Engineering recommendation for street widening and improvements,’ Kaplan said. The neighbors have asked that the widening be done on the northeast side so as not to impinge on the existing properties and before construction begins. The main concern regarding the entire development, however, is safety. ‘We are not anti-development, but we want the development to be safe,’ Toppel said.

Wolfberg Receives L.A. Pearls Award

The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office is honoring Pacific Palisades resident George Wolfberg with a L.A. Pearls Senior Citizens of the Year Award on September 9.
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is honoring Pacific Palisades resident George Wolfberg with a L.A. Pearls Senior Citizens of the Year Award on September 9.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Whether Pacific Palisades resident George Wolfberg is refereeing a soccer game or calling a meeting to order, he’s always busy helping out in the community. For that dedication, the City Attorney’s Office has chosen him for the L.A. Pearls Senior Citizens of the Year Award, representing the West Los Angeles Division. One senior citizen is chosen from each of the 19 neighborhood prosecutor divisions. ‘The selection committee, consisting of community members, selected George for his contribution to improving Los Angeles residents’ quality of life and promoting a positive and productive image of senior citizens,’ said Frank Mateljan, press deputy for City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. Wolfberg will be honored at a 10 a.m. reception on September 9 at the Pico House in the Olvera Street Plaza in downtown. This is the fifth year the City Attorney’s Office has presented the award to deserving seniors. The Pacific Palisades Community Council nominated Wolfberg at its July 10 meeting and Palisadian-Post publisher Roberta Donohue wrote a letter of recommendation, reiterating that the newspaper had honored Wolfberg with a Civic Leadership Award in 2005. There were eight nominees from the West Los Angeles Division. ‘I think there could be no better candidate for this type of award in all of L.A. than George, given everything he has done for both the Palisades and the larger community,’ Council Vice Chair Susan Nash wrote to the Post. ‘It was very gracious and nice,’ Wolfberg, 70, said of the nomination. He worked for more than 35 years in the Los Angeles City administrative office before retiring in 1996. He first became involved in the community in 1972, when he moved to the Palisades with his wife, Diane. He joined the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association, and has served as president for more than 30 years. Tuesday night, Wolfberg led the association’s monthly meeting at the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center and received congratulations from many of the members. Wolfberg said he enjoys leading the meetings because ‘It’s rewarding to come to a consensus outcome, and it’s team building. I don’t think you can accomplish much with conflict.’ Wolfberg has also volunteered for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) for close to 30 years. During that time, he has served as the Region 69 registrar, regional commissioner, area director and a member of the National Board of Directors. He now referees year-round and is on the Region 69 board. ‘He’s just the best,’ said Debbie Held, AYSO regional commissioner. ‘He’s reliable, and he’s a top-level referee.’ ‘He’s the ultimate in volunteerism,’ she continued. ‘His children [Anya, David and Michael] have been gone from AYSO for years, but he is still involved and totally committed.’ Since 2000, Wolfberg has also been active in the Community Council, serving as chair from 2002-04 and chair emeritus from 2004-06. ‘It’s a wonderful opportunity to have an impact on government and other actions that could impact the quality of life in the community,’ said Wolfberg, who is now the at-large representative. In 2004, former City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski appointed him chair of the Potrero Canyon Community Advisory Committee in order to devise a plan that will guide the creation of Potrero Canyon Park. He worked with citizens, Los Angeles City and County agencies, California Department of Transportation and the California Coastal Commission to bring about this plan. As the committee leader, Wolfberg said he tried to facilitate fair discussions. ‘I have my personal ideas of what I’d like to see in the canyon ‘none of which ended up in the plan,’ Wolfberg said, chuckling. ‘I took it upon myself to let others give their input.’ The committee adopted a plan by a vote of 14-0 with one abstention in January 2008. ‘George was an incredible leader on that committee,’ said David Card, the vice chair. ‘He’s very collegial and open to ideas ‘ He’s an inclusive kind of leader.’ With his son’s help, Wolfberg also volunteered to create and maintain a Web site with information about the canyon and the park’s progress. The city is now using the plan as a guide, said Norm Kulla, northern district director and senior counsel for Councilman Bill Rosendahl. The Coastal Commission has granted a permit that allows the city to sell two city-owned properties on Alma Real Drive by the end of the calendar year. The money from those lots will be used to resume work on the park. ‘George is a treasure,’ Kulla said. ‘He never stops bringing stuff to our attention and working with us to find solutions. He’s a remarkable citizen.’

Back to School Next Week

Mr. Palisades, Chris Alexakis
Mr. Palisades, Chris Alexakis
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Forget about easily finding a parking space in the business district or quickly navigating through town next week because classes begin again at two high schools, a middle school and nine private and public elementary schools’all located within a five-mile radius of the Village. All schools start on Wednesday morning, with the exception of Corpus Christi (which starts Tuesday) and Seven Arrows (which starts on Thursday). By Thursday, more than 8,000 students will be back in school’and that doesn’t include hundreds of students in 10 local preschools. Drivers are warned to allow extra time to account for near-gridlock conditions on Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard near Temescal and Palisades Highs, which enroll a combine 2,885 students, many of whom are bused. Other congested areas include (l) Sunset and Allenford by Paul Revere Middle School (mornings and mid-afternoons alike), with an estimated 2,100 students, and (2) the six-block section bordered by Carey Street and Via de la Paz, where four elementary schools’Corpus Christi, Seven Arrows, Village School and Palisades Elementary’have a combined enrollment of about 1,100 students. Meanwhile, Chris Alexakis, a.k.a. Mr. Palisades, has waved good-bye to Palisades High, his alma mater, and is now a freshman at Cal State Channel Islands, an hour drive up the coast in Camarillo. ‘I will be majoring in communications with a minor in art,’ said Alexakis, a budding animator who will continue to fulfill his duties as Mr. Palisades, attending various Chamber of Commerce functions through year’s end. But as he prepared for the start of classes August 22, the teenager’s mind was on the grand new chapter in his life. ‘I look forward to attending college and living on campus,’ Alexakis said. ‘I can’t wait to meet people with similar and different interests. However, I am also terrified! I don’t know if I will be able to handle sharing a room with a complete stranger without a kitchen. I am still up for the challenge and experience. I just hope he is as clean as I am. If not, then cleaner!’