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PaliHi Science Team Wins National Contest

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Left to right, Palisades High freshmen Josh Korn, Kelly Ohriner and Brandon Chow won the national ExploraVision contest and will each receive a $10,000 savings bond. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Left to right, Palisades High freshmen Josh Korn, Kelly Ohriner and Brandon Chow won the national ExploraVision contest and will each receive a $10,000 savings bond. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Concerned about global warming, three Palisades Charter High School freshmen invented a technology that would create more energy-efficient cars. Now, their idea is receiving national acclaim. PaliHi students Brandon Chow, Josh Korn and Kelly Ohriner have won the national ExploraVision contest for creating a four-way catalytic converter that would turn carbon-dioxide emissions from vehicles into electrical energy to power automobiles. ‘Global warming is the biggest harm to nature,’ Chow said in an interview. ‘Most people don’t think about it because it’s so far in the future. But if we don’t do something now, we will be screwed.’ Students in kindergarten through 12th grade entered the contest, and the PaliHi team placed first in the seventh-through- ninth-grade category, competing against 1,654 teams. The students worked on the project as part of teacher Sarah Crompton’s science research class. She submitted four groups’ projects to ExploraVision, which is sponsored by Toshiba and hosted by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The winning freshmen will now receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., from June 4-8. They will attend an awards ceremony, meet actor Bill Nye (‘The Science Guy’) and present their invention to reporters, Toshiba executives and NSTA representatives during a science showcase at the National Press Building. The PaliHi team will be highlighted in USA Today on May 30, and each student will receive a $10,000 savings bond. ‘The team’s eco-friendly invention addresses a prominent global problem, so their forward-thinking invention stood out,’ said Paloma Olbes, spokeswoman for ExploraVision. To compete, the students had to select an existing technology and learn how it works and why it was invented. They researched the three-way catalytic converter, invented by Carl Keith and John Moony in 1981 to reduce nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. The converter does not reduce carbon dioxide. The teens then had to imagine how that technology could be improved. They studied chemical reactions and figured out a way to combine carbon dioxide with magnesium to produce electrical energy for the car without polluting the air, Chow said. They had to explain their process in a 10-page report ‘ the longest research paper each of them had ever written. They learned how to cite all of their sources in a bibliography and how to paraphrase to avoid plagiarism, Crompton said. ‘This group’s paper is extremely well written; it’s creative, informative, engaging and, in some places, even humorous,’ she said. Ohriner said it took a while for their group to think of their invention. ‘We were the underdog group. We kept changing our idea and everybody else kept with theirs from the start. Everyone in the class was surprised we won.’ They are now thinking of patenting their invention, since Ohriner’s father is a patent lawyer. ‘My dad is really proud of me,’ Ohriner said. When the students won the regional contest in March, they were asked to create a Web site about their invention. Chow designed a 3-D computer automated drawing of their converter, while Ohriner and Korn created a model out of cardboard. All of the models are featured on their Web site: http://dev.nsta.org/evwebs/3368/Home/home.htm. After Crompton visited the site, she was fairly positive that they would win nationals. ‘The Web site is so professional,’ she said. ‘You’d never guess that 14-year-olds created it.’ ‘I am thrilled that my students did so well, especially since this is the first year that Pali students have entered the ExploraVision contest.’

Home Builder Hoyt Pardee Celebrates 90 Today

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Hoyt Pardee aboard his beloved Par III.
Hoyt Pardee aboard his beloved Par III.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Hoyt S. Pardee, the second son of the eponymous homebuilding company founders, known for ‘having a head for numbers,’ turns 90 today. More than 15 relatives will fete the family patriarch with a birthday party Saturday night at the Los Angeles Country Club. The longtime Palisadian, who still works from home and is active in his businesses, which now include the Pardee Tree Nursery in San Diego and real estate holdings, was born on May 15, 1918 in Beverly Hills. Hoyt graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in 1941 with a degree in accounting, which he put to use in his father’s construction company in 1946, after serving in the U.S. Navy. He started at the bottom at his dad’s company, keeping the books and answering the phone. Over the years Pardee has maintained close ties to his alma mater, serving on the UCLA Chancellor’s Associates and Board of Trustees UCLA Foundation, and established the Hoyt S. Pardee Fund with the UCLA Foundation. An avid sportsman, Pardee offers priceless memories of his classmate Jackie Robinson, who was a four-sport letterman at UCLA in 1940-41 before going on to be a major league baseball player with the Brooklyn Dodgers. ‘One day back in 1941, we were hitting golf balls, being instructed by Bill Spaulding, the head football coach,’ Pardee recalled in a 1981 interview with the Palisadian-Post. ‘Jackie Robinson came out and we stopped and watched him. He had never hit a golf ball before. He teed up the first ball and smack; the ball sailed straight, well over 200 yards. He had the superb coordination.’ He expressed his admiration for the talented Robinson by funding the Jackie Robinson Stadium on the Veterans Administration campus, insisting, ‘UCLA should have a baseball facility second to none in the Pac-10.’ Pardee moved to Pacific Palisades in 1946 and worked in the contracting business until the economics of the post-World War II and advice from the Pardee company accountant convinced him that there was a lot less risk in the housing business than there was in the contracting business. In 1953, the company moved into the subdivision business with its first project, 160 duplexes in the Las Vegas area. In 1969, Hoyt and his brothers George and J. Douglas merged the firm with Weyerhaeuser, whose capital infusion allowed the homebuilding firm to expand their vision to develop entire communities, including the infrastructure. Pardee’s largesse extended to the Palisades, where in 1955 he donated 30 acres of the 74-acre Garland estate off Bienveneda for St. Matthew’s parish. A longtime parishioner, Pardee commented on the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of Pacific Palisades despite the increasing urbanization in Los Angeles. In 1986, Pardee founded the Pardee Tree Nursery with his three sons, Douglas, Wesley and David. He had just retired from his president positions and directorships of Weyerhaeuser Venture Company, Westwood Insurance Agency and Par-West Financial. Pardee has been rewarded in his long career with loyal and admiring employees. Known for his fair-mindedness and for being a good boss, he is respected for his integrity and ‘being one of the good guys whose word is gold.’ ‘In my 18 years of working with him, I’ve come to realize that Mr. Hoyt S. Pardee epitomizes true integrity,’ says his accountant for the last 18 years, Carlos Lopez. ‘Captain,’ as his Hoyt Pardee Associate Kris Graves calls him, was an avid boatsman, who was the happiest aboard his ‘beloved Par III,’ which he donated to the Sea Scouts in 1973. Nowadays Pardee spends his leisure time with friends, enjoys telling stories of the past and is quite the historian, Graves says. He and his wife Viorica love to travel to such places as Hawaii, Europe, and especially Romania, where he supports the Caring for Life Orphanage in Arad, Romania. ‘He is a philanthropist with a golden heart and deeply cares about people,’ Graves says. ‘We wish him a happy 90th birthday and we are looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday.’

Parking Officials Hear Residents’ Anger

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There is nothing more unpleasant than dashing back to your car to put more change in the meter, only to find a parking ticket. Most people grumble and vow to remember to be better about feeding the meter. But, what if you return to your car as the meter expires and there’s already a ticket? Or what if the meter is fine, but you received a ticket because your car’s bumper is poking into the red? Over the last six months, especially, Pacific Palisades residents have complained that the ticketing process is overzealous and unfair, prompting L.A. Department of Transportation Assistant General Manager Amir Sedadi and Western Division Captain Sean McCormick to speak at the Community Council meeting last Thursday. The two officials started with an overview of the enforcement division and specific plans for the Palisades business district. ‘In the Western division, we have 130 officers assigned to 98 square miles,’ McCormick said. ‘We deploy two officers on a regular basis to the Palisades, although others come through on their way to and from other areas.’ Sedadi said there are plans to change the single-space meters in the Palisades to Park and Pay stations (one of which is already located in the lot at 15216 Sunset, adjacent to the Washington Mutual building). Council member Richard Cohen asked Sedadi if anything could be done about the traffic jam that ensues at that location when westbound cars on Sunset try to make a left-hand turn into the lot. ‘We’re studying that right now,’ Sedadi said. ‘We might have to shift [lane] stripping so that a left-hand pocket can be created.’ This could happen in about six to nine weeks, and would eliminate the space used for illegal parking in front of the post office. Area representative Paul Glasgall asked if a person can park at a failed meter without fear of receiving a ticket. ‘Absolutely,’ McCormick said. ‘You can park for the existing time limit.’ When several people responded that tickets had been issued to them even though the meter was broken, Sedadi answered that each meter has a number to call if it has failed, and he urged residents who park at a failed meter to do so. He also reminded everyone about the appeals process. ‘Last year we issued three million tickets,’ Sedadi said. ‘We work with the constituents, but we need specifics. If you have been ticketed in error go to www.ladot.lacity.org or call 311.’ Another council member wanted to know if it’s wise to put a bag over a meter that isn’t functioning. ‘No need,’ McCormick said. ‘The officer can tell from the street whether the meter is functioning.’ Sedadi explained Park and Pay spaces should minimize the town’s problem with malfunctioning meters. The new system could be implemented in as early as four months. Council members also spoke out about ‘attitude problems’ on the part of several parking enforcement officers. ‘I was parked in a cul de sac on a private street and got a ticket for parking 19 inches from the curb,’ area representative Michael Styer said. ‘I understand that it was illegal [18 inches is legal], but it seems that the officer was overzealous.’ ‘A few months ago, I saw an officer sitting in a parking lot talking on her phone for 15 to 20 minutes, just waiting for the meters to expire,’ Glasgall said. ‘We’ll investigate and see if there’s a pattern,’ McCormick answered. ‘We’ll look into the citations.’ Local business owners have been arguing that UPS/Federal Express trucks delivering their merchandise have been unfairly targeted. ‘I would ask you to look at the tickets that were given two years ago and compare them to now,’ Swarthmore storeowner Roy Robbins said. ‘We could bring the attorney general in here to tell you about deaths and accidents because of the trucks in the city,’ said Sedadi, who explained that the city is stepping up enforcement of UPS, FedEx and DHL trucks that park in the red. He suggested that the trucks park in an alley. Robbins and fellow storeowner Bob Benton told him there wasn’t an alley. ‘This is an observation,’ representative Stuart Mueller said. ‘When the enforcement people do their job, they obstruct traffic.’ Another council member pointed out that he was told by an enforcement officer, ‘We can park wherever we want to.’ ‘There’s a spirit missing here,’ Benton said. ‘If a UPS truck is parked at a meter and extends beyond, it is ticketed for taking extra space.’ He then explained to Sedadi and McCormick that the parking enforcement officer is like a hunter, sitting and waiting for the UPS trucks to pull up at Antioch and Via de la Paz so that he or she can give the driver a ticket. ‘There may be technical issues,’ said Council chairman Steve Boyers, closing the hour-long discussion. ‘But it seems clear to me that we have an attitude issue’the word arrogant [in reference to the enforcement officers] has been used repeatedly. If the people enforcing rules and regulations were a little more understanding of the residents and merchants, it would be helpful.’

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 15, 2008

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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

ONE OF THE LOWEST PRICED HOMES IN THE PALISADES! Priced to sell $1,389,000. 2 BR, 1 BA, hardwood floors, breakfast nook, dining area on a large lot. Located between the Huntington and the Palisades Village. Remodel or build new. Call for details. Broker, Marco Rufo, (310) 552-3017

PRICE TO SELL! PRIME RIVIERA * LARGE LOT! * $3,795,000. 4 BR, 4 BA. Breakfast room, formal dining, LRG living room, master suite, pool, guest house, etc. Remodel or build new. Don’t miss this opportunity! Broker, Marco Rufo, (310) 552-3017

HOMES WANTED 1b

WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887

FURNISHED HOMES 2

FULLY FURNISHED/UNFURN & tastefully remodeled. 3 bdrm, 2 ba cul-de-sac home in Marquez school district. Great floor plan. New kitchen & bath. 6 mos.-1 yr. $6,250/mo. Agent Gwen, (310) 749-8821

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

3 BDRM, 1 BA. $4,000/mo. util. incl. 2 car pking, close to village, schools, shops & beach. No pets. Appliances, W/D, D/W refridg. By appt only. Eric, (310) 428-3364

EL MEDIO BLUFFS 3 bdrm, 2 ba, Cape Cod. Corner lot, charming. 1/2 blk walk to bluffs. $6000/mo. Call Elizabeth, (310) 293-8999

Via Bluffs, one-story, 3 bdrm, 2 ba. Plus bonus room, new kitchen & baths. Hardwood, granite, ref, w/d, patio & yard. Walk to schools & village, $5,950/mo. (310) 454-5601

2 bedroom, 2.25 bath (with upstairs office) in Castellammare. Full of light. Wood floors throughout, large enclosed front courtyard, large rear deck with views of Zuma and S.M mountains, 6 month minimum. $7000/mo. Call (310) 454-9006

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

BEAUTIFUL 2 BDRM guesthouse + fam rm, view, rec/rm, NO KITCHEN. Small ref., hot plate, MIC/W, AC/heat. Cable, internet, util. incl in rent. $1,800/mo. (310) 454-9337

HALF BLOCK TO BEACH off Sunset. Patio, newly tiled flrs thru out, 1 bdrm, 1ba, pool, security building, parking, hiking close by. $1,650/mo. (310) 459-6369

BEST LOCATION in Santa Monica. Lincoln @ trendy Montana, restaurants, shopping, buses, ocean 8 blks. 2 bdrm, 11⁄2 ba upper front. Windows on N, W & S. Balcony, pking, ldry. $2,495/mo. (310) 393-0798

PALISADES SINGLE apt, with dinette, new paint, carpet, large kitchen, gas stove, fridge, one year lease, covered parking, storage, laundry. No Pets. Non-smoker. $1,085/mo. (310) 477-6767

BEAUTIFUL 2 BD + 2 BA * $2,595/mo. Small pet ok with deposit, Quiet build-ing, new carpet, marble floors, crown molding, gas fireplace & appliances, Private balcony with ocean view, walk to village & beach. Call (310) 454-2024

1 BDRM, 1 BA six unit vintage building. Hdwd & tile, ldry in bldg. Front & back patio. Light and bright. Parking avail. 1 yr. lease. (424) 228-4570

PAC PAL APT w/ Mtn & Ocn vus. Unfurn upper 1 bdrm, 1 ba quiet ‘50s bldg w/pool. Light & airy. Laundry on-site. Hdwd flrs, granite cntrs, vaulted ceiling. 1car prkg inclded. 1 yr min lease. Credit ck. Sm pet ok w/dep. $1,795/mo. + $1,795 dep. Call Jay, (310) 200-0063 (shown by appt only.)

CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

PANORAMIC UNOBSTRUCTED ocean views. Luxury penthouse. Walk to beach. 5 min. to SM. 2 bdrm, 2 ba. All new interior. Hwd, granite, stainless steel. Ocean view, deck. W/D, garage. Quiet & safe. Reduced $4,300/mo. (310) 230-4200 www.MalibuCoastline.com

SUMMER LEASE, furn/unfurn. Flexible dates. Immaculate, nicely furnished 1 bdrm condo. Minimum age 62 yrs, close to everywhere. $1,350/mo. Broker, (310) 795-3795 or (310) 456-8770

WANTED TO RENT 3b

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

GUESTHOUSE/STUDIO wanted to rent. Local employed male. Trustworthy. Contact Alex, (310) 454-6463

FEMALE PALISADES resident seeks housing. Guest house/studio/condo or home to share. Quiet, clean, responsible, spiritual, genuine. N/S, Local refs. (310) 801-8877

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in Prof. bldg. in Palisades Village. Completely remodeled. 748 sq. ft. Call Ness, (310) 230-6712 ex 105

VACATION RENTALS 3e

FULLY SELF CONTAINED 24’ Fleetwood Terry trailer across the street from Will Rogers State Beach. Pacific Palisades. $1,395/mo. (310) 454-2515

FULLY SELF CONTAINED 28’ Kit Road Ranger trailer across the street from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. $1,595/mo. (310) 454-2515

Summer lease: 2 bedroom, 2.25 bath (upstairs office can be 3rd bedroom); Wood floors throughout, large enclosed front courtyard, large rear deck with views of Zuma Beach and S.M. Mountains. $3500.00/week. Rate negotiable for monthly stay. call (310) 454-9006

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

SEEK PRIVATE INVESTOR for short term $200K bridge loan. 10 pts. for 6 mos or less. Secured by real estate. No brokers please. (310) 454-0685

BETTER THAN BOTOX & SURGERY! Motivated people call me 310 454 4121! Looking for the latest in skin care treatment from Europe? It’s about to take the USA by storm. Make serious money!

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

COMPUTER SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT. HOME & BUSINESS–Windows Vista/XP–20 Yrs exp. frankelconsulting.com (310) 454-3886

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

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 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

PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZATION & bookkeeping. Superior services provided w/ discretion & understanding. Pali resident, local references. Call Sarah, (310) 573-9263

AUTO DETAILING 7o

ECOPRO DETAILING.COM Mobile auto detailing. Big or small. We do it all. Serving the westside, local Palisadians. (310) 993-9233

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

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

BABYSITTER w/ lots of experience & references in the Palisades. F/T or P/T. L/O preferred. Sorry don’t drive. Please call Loweeda, (310) 390-5308

DOMESTIC AGENCIES 9

NEVERLAND NANNIES & DOMESTICS. We assist local families in finding domestic professionals for their household needs. Caring nannies, doulas, nurses; attentive assistants, housekeepers, chefs & more. Please call at any time. (818) 888-9894, (818) 653-6999. www.NeverlandNannies.com

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

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

SUNSET HOUSE & CARPET CLEANING • Window washing • House cleaning • Carpet cleaning. Over 33 years experience. Call Barry at (818) 887-7150

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER available Monday & Thursday. Own transportation. Local references. CDL. Call Marion, (323) 424-5671

HOUSEKEEPER, EXPERIENCED. Will keep your home sparkling clean with personal care. CDL, car, English-speaking. Pet friendly. Housesitting while you are away. Refs. (310) 227-5132

HIGH & MIGHTY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE. for homes, apts. & offices. Construction, painting, elec., gen. maintenance. Honest, reliable. Refs. Teresa, (323) 823-8947, or Jose, (310) 713-1250

HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTING available F/T Mon-Fri. Own car, clean DMV, great references. Call Doris or Aurlene Stella, (424) 208-3051

HOUSEKEEPERS/BABYSITTERS full time Monday-Friday. Excellent local references. Own transportation, clean DMV. Call Imelda or Carolina, (323) 944-7210 or (818) 941-9768

HOUSEKEEPING/ BABYSITTING Avail. Mon-Fri. Excellent references. Own transportation. Clean DMV. Trustworthy. Very fast & efficient. Call Brenda, (323) 304-3153

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Monday-Friday. References. Experienced. Call Violeta, (310) 425-9015

HOUSEKEEPER avail Tues.,Wed. & Fri. Own car, CDL, many years experienced. Local References. Call Isabel, c (323) 244-5977 or (323) 759-4264

MY LOVELY HOUSEKEEPER Caroline is looking for day work. Spks Eng., cleans, does ldry, errands, has car. Reliable & honest. Lives W.L.A. Excellent references. (310) 279-6016

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

ELDER CARE in your home. Available in the day. M-F. Excellent local references. 10 years experience. Own transportation. CDL. Insured. Call Sandy, cell, (818) 272-3400, or hm, (818) 834-2524

HOUSEKEEPING, CHILD & ELDERLY CARE. Exp. CPR, 1st Aid cert. w/ Med. bkgrd. L/I or L/O. Fluent Eng. Refs. avail. Call Ed, (888) 897-5888, (818) 486-6432

CAREGIVER FOR ELDERLY • Errands • meal prep • outings • Good references • 5 years experience • Call (310) 266-6215

NURSING CARE 10b

BABY NURSE LOOKING for a newborn. Saturday & Sunday. Day or night. Good references & experienced. Call Ana, (310) 586-1049

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

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

NUTRITION 12d

CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST/LIFESTYLE COACH. Been less energetic, having sugar cravings, feeling heavy around your middle, want to make a few changes and need help? Call Karen Cohen (310) 444-9755. Local

WINDOW WASHING 13h

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

HOUSESITTING 14b

LOOKING TO HOUSESIT. Greenwich Connecticut Realtor, wonderful person looking to locate to area, looking to housesit for negotiable period of time. Exceptional references, including local refs. Call Silvanna, (203) 912-4022

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

PERSONAL ASSISTANT/NANNY, great local references. Errands, bill pay, home management, organization & childcare. BA Human resources. Own car. Very experienced. Courtney, (310) 924-1004

ORGANIZER/PERSONAL ASST that specializes in personal shopping. Highly experienced, works with upscale clientele. Can handle projects minute or grand with ease. Impeccable references. Kristin Bungart, (310) 922-7142

HOME ORGANIZATION! Errands, driving, light hskping, cooking, babysitting. Refs upon req. $15/hr. Call Michelle, (310) 453-5577

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

PET HEAVEN • TOTAL PET CARE • Training. Walking. Playgroups and hikes. 30 years Pali resident. References. Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog!

PHOTOGRAPHY 14h

PROFESSIONAL HEAD SHOTS for all occasions by a Professional Photographer. Digital or Film. Call Gayle Goodrich, (310) 230-8388 or (310) 502-6733

FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a

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

SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d

PAINTING CLASS. Aspiring artists come for fun instruction. Peaceful garden studio setting. Pvt & small groups. Contact Susan, (310) 459-7783

TUTORS 15e

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. Children & adults. 25+ years teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, ESSAY WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly Sp. 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 grades • Levels • Grammar • Conversational • SAT/AP • Children, adults • Great references. Noelle, (310) 980-6071

SPANISH TUTOR CERTIFIED TEACHER for all levels. Has finest education, qualifications, 20 yrs exper. Palisades resident, many good references, amazing system, affordable rates. Marietta, (310) 459-8180

CREDENTIALED MATH & STUDY SKILLS TEACHER (BA-UCSD, M.Ed-UCLA, Ph.D. candidate-USC) Tutor K-College. Most subjects. 15 years recent classroom experience in the Palisades. Libby, (310) 963-0093

SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS: FINALS IN SIX WEEKS! Get help from an experienced tutor and buff your grades to a college shine. English, History and Spanish. Justin, (310) 801-1048

NEED A TUTOR?? Certified Elementary Teacher • 2005 Arizona State graduate • Qualified to teach students K-6th, all subjects • Will strengthen and reinforce learning while building academic confidence and self-esteem • Motivational, creative, positive relationship with students • Will come to your home. Caroline, (310) 577-2171

FRENCH TUTORING by Native. Experienced • grammar • conversation • test prep. Reasonable rates • Any level • (310) 459-1417

PERSONALIZED SPANISH TUTORING! South American teacher with Univ. degree. All ages & levels. Learn, improve, get confident for studies & traveling. Exp. with children. (310) 741-8422

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

BUILDERS & REMODELING. New construction & additions. Bathroom & kitchen remodels. Custom painting. Fences, decks, driveways. Concrete work. Lic. #B824686. Free estimates. (323) 877-8505, (323) 898-6127

CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 25 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237

PROFESSIONAL CARPENTER. Custom kitchen cabinets & installation. 1003 E. Young St. Wilmington, CA 90744. Free est. Antonio Velasquez, (310) 740-6336, (323) 821-9149 or fax (424) 477-5567

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

FENCES 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.

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

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. Ref’s. 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

PACIFIC PAINTING SINCE 1979 • Interior/Exterior Residential/Commercial • Custom painting • Wallpaper removal • Drywall repair • Bonded & Ins. Lic. #908913. (310) 954-7170

ALL SEASON’S PAINTING Interior/exterior, local licensed color specialist for 30 years. Kitchen cabinet clean-up. Fast, clean & on time. Lic. #571061. Call (310) 678-7913

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, (310) 230-2930

CASALE CONSTRUCTION Since 1977 • New Homes • Additions • Remodeling • Kitchens • Bathrooms • BBQ Islands & more. • Full service from inception to move-in. Free consultation. (323) 964-9707, (800) 974-7420. www.remodeling-4u.com Lic. #512443

HELP WANTED 17

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

WORLD-RENOWNED PLASTIC surgeon looking for an admin assist & patient relations coordinator to join our team in Pac Pal. Will train & reward generously. Call (310) 459-6792

COSMETIC RN. World-renowned plastic surgeon. Pacific Palisades. Injectables/laser. Call (310) 459-6792

POSSIBLE CAREER CHANGE! L.E.D. lighting & environmental solutions. Great opportunity for talented individual. Call (310) 917-3399

ACCOUNTANT, FLEXIBLE P/T. Santa Monica service & retail store requires Bachelor in accounting & 3-5 yrs. exp. w/ Quickbooks, Excel, Word & Outlook. Retail exp. preferred. Call Elisa at (310) 998-1981 x22. Submit resume www.pumpstation.com

G-K SALON & SPA Booth Rental. $150 P/T $250 F/T & sell your own products. In the Village. Pking avail for clients. (310) 459-1363

AUTOS 18b

1999 FORD F250 Super Duty V10 Supercab longbed, black w/ lumber rack & Weatherguard tool box 265K miles. Great work truck! $8,500. Call John, (818) 621-0061

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

CONDO-WIDE MULTI-FAMILY SALE. Recreation Room at 15480 Antioch St. PP. Saturday May 17, 9:00 to 3:00. DON’T MISS THIS ONE!

BRENTWOOD ESTATE SALE 331 N. Bundy, May 17 & 18. SAT & SUN 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ‘71 Rolls Royce, furniture, silver, carved birds, paintings, cookbooks & WWII books, kit. collectibles & more.

SALE MAY 17, SAT 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. 16640 Linda Terrace. Dishwasher, tools, paintings, jewelry & much, much more!

WANTED TO BUY 19

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

Spirited Novelist Isabel Allende at Seven Arrows

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Seven Arrows fourth grader Ruby Wilks with Isabel Allende during the author's visit to Pacific Palisades.
Seven Arrows fourth grader Ruby Wilks with Isabel Allende during the author’s visit to Pacific Palisades.

‘I hate kids,’ Chilean author Isabel Allende told the audience of children, parents and teachers at Seven Arrows Elementary, mere minutes after she took to the dais last Thursday afternoon. Her point, as an internationally renowned writer with more than 55 million books sold worldwide, was that carving out the peace and quiet to write her famous novels was sheer battle. ‘I wrote ‘The House of the Spirits’ in the kitchen, wrote ‘City of the Beasts’ in the closet,’ Allende continued, discussing her struggle to get away from family while creating her award-winning works. Looking fresh-faced and elegant with an avocado-on-black ensemble and her dark hair tied back in a pony tail, the spunky Allende kept everyone on their toes mentally and on the edge of their seats, literally. ‘Everybody lives in the noise, in a hurry, on a cell,’ she said. ‘There is no time to go inside. All conceptions come from a very quiet place inside.’ Here in the U.S., the writer has become best known for ‘Spirits’ (1982), the subject of a 1993 Hollywood adaptation, and the 2005 genre fiction ‘Zorro: A Novel.’ Her ‘City of the Beasts,’ magic realism fiction aimed at young teens, centered on an adventure in the heart of the Amazon. She also wrote a memoir, ‘The Sum of Our Days.’ Her latest novel, ‘In’s of My Soul,’ came out in 2006. Allende’s informal lecture (mostly questions and answers from the audience of about 75 people) proved as robust and spicy as the salsa verde and mole sauce being served on freshly baked tortillas prior to her talk. Following a Spanish-language performance by Seven Arrows students, the charismatic and unpretentious Allende assumed the mike and comically gave direction to her host on microphone etiquette. Allende, who was born in Peru in 1942, revealed that she grew up sharing books with her predominantly male adult household (‘there were no books for children in my house when I was growing up’), and that she has never met the great practitioner of magic realism Gabriel Garcia Marquez. She had the opportunity, once spotting the legendary Colombian author of ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ in a bar. But she was too chicken to introduce herself to him. When a parent and Allende loyalist in the audience said that she enjoyed the film adaptation of ‘Spirits,’ Allende shot back, ‘I actually liked the movie better than the book because Antonio Banderas is in it!’ Allende explained the difference between her medium and Hollywood’s: ‘In a book, you’re inside the characters. In a movie, you’re watching them from the outside.’ As for any criticism that the ‘Spirits’ movie was not Latin enough, Allende quipped, ‘Why would it look Latin when it was financed with German money and shot by a Danish director in Denmark with American actors?’ Allende spoke about the time when, as a journalist, she visited the great Chilean author Pablo Neruda (focus of the 1994 Italian film ‘Il Postino’). After spending the better part of the day with Neruda, Allende was ready for their interview. ‘What interview?’ Neruda snapped. ‘You are the worst journalist in the country. You lie all the time and you are always inserting yourself into your articles.’ Then he said something that Allende would never forget: ‘Why don’t you turn to literature, where these defects are virtues?’ And so, she did. Allende’s next memoir will pick up from where ‘Sum’ left off’ with the 1992 death of her 29-year-old daughter Paula”beginning with the scattering of her daughter’s ashes. Her preview of this work-in-progress proved as entertaining as all the rollicking, off-the-cuff bantering that came before it. Allende detailed how her son married Celia, a vile Venezualan woman who practiced the most radical form of Roman Catholicism (the Opus Dei, as demonized in ‘The Da Vinci Code’) and was outwardly provincial, racist and homophobic. During the course of her marriage, after moving to America, Celia went from religious to agnostic, and she dropped the racist front when she realized that, as Allende put it, ‘In America, she’s not white, she’s a minority!’ Late one night, Celia phoned Allende from California. The call woke up Allende and her husband in the middle of the night, while they were vacationing in India. ‘I have news for you, Isabel,’ a histrionic Celia declared. ‘I am bisexual!’ Allende’s husband took the news so seriously, he rolled back over and fell asleep. To add insult to injury, Celia, the former homophobe, had taken up with the fianc’e of Allende’s stepson. ‘Can you imagine what happened to the family?’ Allende said, smiling. ‘A mess!’ After another round of audience laughter, Allende quipped, ‘With a family like mine, you don’t have to invent anything.’

Gavin MacLeod Joins Oprah for ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ Reunion

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Gavin MacLeod, honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, will appear on the May 19 ‘Oprah Winfrey Show’ as part of a reunion devoted to the seminal television sit-com ‘Mary Tyler Moore,’ which ran from 1970 to 1977. MacLeod, who portrayed Murray Slaughter on the Emmy-winning comedy, flew to Chicago two weeks ago to tape ‘Oprah.’ He marveled at the efforts the producers undertook to make him and other cast members feel at home, including recreating the ‘Moore’ newsroom and Mary Richards’ apartment. ‘Those sets were completely accurate,’ MacLeod told the Palisadian-Post. ‘If you remember the pilot, Rhoda wanted that apartment. That was the first combat between the two.’ He continued, ‘They started with the WJM-TV set, and brought out Ed (Asner), Betty (White) and myself. Later, they brought out Valerie (Harper), Cloris (Leachman) and Georgia (Engel).’ MacLeod, who calls Winfrey ‘sensational,’ paid tribute on the air to a late ‘Moore’ colleague, friend and fellow honorary mayor. ‘During the show, we all had glasses of water,’ MacLeod said. ‘It dawned on me. I said, ‘Oprah, could we all make a toast to Ted Knight?” And so they all raised their beverages in honor of the comic actor from the Palisades Highlands who portrayed the buffoonish Ted Baxter so memorably on ‘Moore.’ Of course, what would the ‘Oprah’ show be without an ‘Oprah moment’? ‘They made a big ‘O’ for Oprah, like Mary’s ‘M,’ and we all signed it,’ MacLeod said. ‘[Moore] saw our names on the back and she started to cry.’ After the show, MacLeod pitched a friend’s project to Winfrey: a musical based on Eddie Cantor and Bert Williams (‘the first black actor ever to be allowed to work on Broadway’) by composer Dick De Benedictus (‘The Damsel Dialogues’), titled ‘Bert and Eddie.’ ‘It’s a part of American theater history that many people don’t know about,’ MacLeod noted. Even the flight home from Chicago was eventful. ‘We all flew American, so we had a nice little time in the Admiral’s Club,’ MacLeod said. Then aboard the plane, MacLeod and Harper had such a great time conversing that Asner, in true Lou Grant spirit, began shushing them. One last question, Gavin: did Hizzoner, at any point, have the urge to pull a Tom Cruise on Oprah’s sofa? ‘If I did, the couch would crumble,’ MacLeod said, laughing. ‘Oprah’ airs locally on ABC Channel 7 at 3 p.m.

A Superhero’s Welcome: This Summer’s Comic Book Movies

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A scene from the movie “Speed Racer” starring Emile Hirsch, a Palisades native.

Comic book superhero movies will continue to dominate the box office this summer’heck, this year! Nowhere have comic books been bigger than in Hollywood, where the mega-success of the X-Men, Spider-Man, and Batman franchises has inspired studios to green-light myriad film versions of superhero titles. As ‘Iron Man’ continues to prove its mettle (and metal) in the multiplexes, we kick off our annual Summer Fun supplement one week early. Here are the latest comic books to come alive on movie screens. The Marvel Comics man of armor has already proven invincible, launching the summer season with a jet propulsion jump on next weekend’s highly anticipated sequel in the aging ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ adventure franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Earlier this month, ‘Iron Man’ enjoyed the second-biggest non-sequel debut in cinematic history ($100.7 million), lagging behind only another Marvel adaptation, ‘Spider-Man,’ which opened with nearly $115 million in 2002. Debuting in ‘Tales of Suspense’ in 1963 during the Vietnam War, the Iron Man comic book followed as Tony Stark, a Howard Hughes-esque billionaire industrialist with a heart injury, creates a superpowered suit not only to thwart his adversaries but to keep himself alive. Complicating things: Stark turns alcoholic. The movie, starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Stark and Terrence Howard as Jim Rhodes, insinuates that Rhodes’ alter ego, War Machine (a popular, Iron Man-on-steroids version introduced in 1979) will appear in the sequel. This past weekend, the Wachowski Brothers (the ‘Matrix’ trilogy) offer their souped-up, all-ages take on “Speed Racer’ (based on the popular ’70s anime series) starring Paul Revere Middle School grad Emile Hirsch. Apparently, not every hero is bulletproof. Despite an estimated budget of $100 million, ‘Speed Racer’ failed to out-race ‘Iron Man’ with its meager $18.5 million opening. Some pundits blame ‘Speed”s 2 hours and 15 minutes”excessive for a teen flick. Part of the fault might also rest with the simple fact that the original cartoon series enjoyed only a cult following at best. Nevertheless, some critics have commended the film’s ambitious attempt to stand out visually with its stylized, candy-colored universe. ***** In 2003, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ director Ang Lee failed to realize his ‘green destiny’ when he made a Hulk movie that angered critics and audiences alike. To paraphrase Bill Bixby on the ’70s ‘Incredible Hulk’ TV show, audiences said of his Hulk movie, ‘You wouldn’t like me when I’m Ang Lee.’ Cut to five years later, and “The Incredible Hulk,’ with an all-new take on the classic Stan Lee-Jack Kirby creation, is set to smash screens on June 13 with a new star (Edward Norton), new director (Louis Letterier), and a new hope among fans that the new talent will get the comic-book aesthetic right. With ‘Iron Man,’ Marvel began financing its own movies, using studios as distributors. Now that ‘Iron Man’ has proved that Marvel is capable of making blockbusters on their own, the new ‘Hulk’ movie will decide whether or not Marvel’s second-most-popular character (after a certain wall-crawling web-slinger) will appear again on the big screen in the future. Other releases: ‘ Perennial Hollywood ‘it’ girl Angelina Jolie (“Tomb Raider”) returns to comic book-flavored territory on June 28 with an adaptation of Top Cow’s “Wanted,’ an inverted tale about super-villains. ‘ Ron Perlman returns in “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” (July 11), based on cartoonist Mike Mignola’s retro tales of a Nazi-fighting demon. Once again, ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ director Guillermo del Toro will direct Dark Horse Comics’ flagship character. ‘ “The Dark Knight” (July 18) would have been big on its own merits, but this ‘Batman Begins’ follow-up will benefit from a morbid curiosity boost following the unfortunate demise of Heath Ledger, who completed his work as psychotic villain The Joker before his January 22 death. Regardless, Christopher Nolan’s 2005 ‘Begins’ successfully brought a darker and more faithful-to-the-comics version of the vigilante hero to the silver screen, and you don’t need a bat’s radar to know that Batman readers and non-readers alike are brimming with anticipation for Nolan’s latest installment. (Next week: Our ‘summer’-ization of all things comic books continues in our Summer Fun supplement, with a look at a plethora of comic book-related DVDs, happenings, graphic novels and manga worth checking out this summer.)

St. Matthew’s Historical Walk

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Photo: Reynaldo Macias.
Photo: Reynaldo Macias.

By JANET FELDSTEIN MCKILLOP Special to the Palisadian-Post More than 350 students, teachers and parents from St. Matthew’s Parish School participated in the first Founders’ Day Walk to School on May 2. The school opened 59 years ago on the southeast corner of Swarthmore and La Cruz with 24 students and two teachers. The mile-and-a-half walk, which started at that location and went to the school’s current site on Bienveneda Avenue, was done to honor the founders of the school and the generations of students it has served. Fourth grader Emily Kolsky was excited to have the chance to participate in this inaugural event. ‘It was so great walking with my friends, teachers and my mom, who also went to St. Matthew’s,’ she said. Before the walk, Head of School Les Frost spoke to the group about the history of the school’s location. In addition, the walk gave current students an experience that was a traditional aspect of school life in past generations but is increasingly rare today. Frost wrote in a letter to parents, ‘When I was a young child, the carpool had not been invented. While I cannot quantify it or succinctly describe why, I do believe there is something intrinsically good about walking to and from school: something healthy, enjoyable and useful that children miss out on today.’ After the walk, Frost narrated a slide show that featured photos from the school’s earliest days, including the first all-blacktop playground as well as the ‘turkey coops’ that served as the original classrooms. Following his presentation, two current teachers who had attended the school in the ’60s sang an a capella version of the school’s first song.

PaliHi’s John Rauschuber Wins 2008 Petrick Educator Award

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Palisades High teacher John Rauschuber.
Palisades High teacher John Rauschuber.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

When John Rauschuber looks toward the sky, he can see President George Bush smiling down on him. Or Al Gore. Posters of the political archrivals adorn the ceiling of Rauschuber’s Palisades Charter High School classroom, where he teaches the AP Government course–and where his sophisticated teaching style has won him notice. Rauschuber, 39, is one of five local teachers to win a Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award from the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation. He will receive $2,000 and a crystal trophy during an afternoon ceremony at a Palisades residence this Sunday. The Petrick Award has been granted annually since 2003. ‘I received word from my administrator,’ Rauschuber says. ‘And yes, I was surprised and honored to win the award. ‘I’m in good company,’ he continues, praising the ‘talented faculty’ at PaliHi and fellow 2008 Petrick winners Stephen Klima (English) and David Schalek (science). Originally from Lompoc, Rauschuber attended UC San Diego and taught at Eagle Rock High School for three years before moving to the Westside, where his wife’s family lives. Eleven years ago, Rauschuber joined the PaliHi faculty and now teaches three classes with about 36 teenagers in each class. The social studies teacher rattles off what he covers in his AP Government classes: ‘Constitutional underpinnings, political socialization/behavior, elections, political parties and interest groups, media analysis, campaign contributions, the branches of government, civil rights and liberties, and public policy.’ Rauschuber says he benefits from the fact that he has another role at the high school. ‘I’m also the data management coordinator, so I’m using the technology to improve student achievement.’ In turn, his students benefit from his technological acumen. This year, Rauschuber used the Web-based program Mastery Manager to analyze student writing and assist them to improve their analytical writing over the course of six months. ‘This is the first year I’ve used data to back it up, and it was really validating,’ he says. Mastery Manager ‘uses a rubric for grading essays and assigns scores. I’m able to look at all 110 of my students, in the area of strengths and weaknesses, and then come up with strategies to improve those areas, using the data to guide my practice.’ Rauschuber also employs simulation games to give his students a virtual look at what might otherwise remain abstract concepts. ‘We’ll create a mock U.S. Senate,’ Rauschuber says. ‘Or we’ll have a simulation game where the students form little countries and choose how much of the resources they will use to produce guns and butter. They create alliances and learn to deal with rogue nations and the nature of war,’ a la the philosophy of Carl Von Clausewitz. ‘These simulation games bring out a lot of real-life events,’ Rauschuber continues. ‘We do a lot of discussion boards online. It’s a great opportunity for students to communicate with each other outside of class. We recently discussed Obama’s speech on race from a few weeks ago.’ For Rauschuber, it’s a pleasure to enter Pacific Palisades every morning. His day begins at his Marina del Rey home, which he shares with wife Shelly and their children, Aden, 10 (who attends Marquez), Weston, 6 (Open Charter in Westchester), and Sarah, 1. ‘It’s a beautiful drive up the coast,’ Rauschuber says, smiling. ‘The students are fabulous and diverse. I love what I do. I look forward to coming to work each day and teaching the kids.’ Ultimately, working at PaliHi has been more fulfilling than the last school he worked at. ‘Eagle Rock wasn’t as diverse as here,’ Rauschuber points out. ‘We’re also an independent charter, so we’re in control of our own destiny, our own finances. We’re able to fund programs that are most beneficial to students.’ Indeed, PaliHi has become cutting edge in many areas. As recently reported in the Palisadian-Post, the high school offers one of the most sophisticated film and animation programs in the Los Angeles school district. But as Rauschuber points out, ‘This wasn’t always so. A lot of this has happened over the last five years,’ thanks to independent charter status.

Memorial Services Held for Longaker

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A memorial service was held for Richard P. Longaker II at St. Matthew’s Church on Saturday, May 10. Longaker, a Pacific Palisades resident and an attorney, died on April 22 after a six-week battle with lung cancer. He was 58.

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