Mary Anita (Burford) Rameson passed away October 14 at home in Rustic Canyon. She was 92. Born June 15, 1915 on a canal in Venice, California, Anita was the epitome of life itself. A lifelong resident of Los Angeles, she attended St. Brendan’s Catholic School, Ramona Convent Boarding School and UCLA. While attending Ramona Convent, she met her future husband, William Watson Yager Rameson, through his sister, a classmate. They were married at Cathedral Chapel in Los Angeles in 1937, and thus began what would become the best times of her life with her four children, 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. In 1952, the family built a home in Rustic Canyon, where she and Bill raised their children and where Mary Anita resided until the time of her death. Some of her greatest joys were traveling the world with family and friends and spending summers on Catalina Island and Hawaii. Preceded in death by her husband, survivors include her daughter, Patricia A. Honey (partner Kenneth J. Krueger) of Malibu; son William L. Rameson (wife Karen) of Gaviota; son Ronald A. Rameson (wife Colleen) of Lompoc; daughter Mary Rameson (life partner Robyn King) of Carlsbad. Funeral services were held October 17 at the Little Chapel of the Dawn in Santa Monica. Interment was private at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, P.O. Box 951780, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1780.
Michele Scheiperpeter, 52; Cancer Walk Organizer
Michele Scheiperpeter, who lived in Ventura for the last eight years, passed away peacefully October 21 at age 52, surrounded by her family in her home in Ventura. Michele grew up in Pacific Palisades, where she attended Corpus Christi School, St. Monica’s High School and Palisades High. She met Carl Scheiperpeter of Pacific Palisades in high school. They were married for 34 years and lived in Mar Vista before moving to Ventura. After raising two children, Michele went back to school at Cal State Northridge, where she earned a degree in physical therapy. She was working in Ventura and Ojai prior to her death. She fought Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors cancer for three years before finally succumbing to it. In 2006, Michele organized the first West Coast cancer walk to raise money for GIST cancer research. The 2007 walk was held October 21 in San Diego. She was a caring, loving person and was always there for her family and friends. Michele was a runner and a hiker and loved camping with her family and friends. Her favorite place to camp was along the Kern River in Kern County. The last few years they camped along the coast in Ventura in their five-wheel camper. Michele was the daughter of Bonnie and Wally Miller of Pacific Palisades. She is also survived by her husband, who works for the City of Ventura; her daughter Naomi, 33, a teacher in Boise, Idaho; her son Jason, 31, who works in Las Vegas; her grandson Jacob; her sister Lisa Miller, who lives in Cambria with daughter Rose and son Brian; and her brother Jeff Miller, who lives in Seattle with his wife Colleen and their sons Brendan and Devon. A Rosary and Vigil will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Joseph Reardon Funeral Home, 757 East Main St., in Ventura. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed at the Life Raft Group for GIST cancer research, 40 Galesi Dr., Suite 19, Wayne, New Jersey 07470.
PaliHi Football Falls at Fairfax
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
If the Palisades High varsity football team thought it had taken a step forward in its league-opening victory at Hamilton two weeks ago, it took two steps back last Friday night against Fairfax. The host Lions trounced the Dolphins, 51-7, scoring on three of their first five possessions and forcing Palisades kicker Joe Berman to punt eight times. Palisades (2-5 overall, 1-1 in league) entered the game tied for first place in the Western League but now finds itself mired in the pack with only three games left. Fairfax (5-2, 2-0) moved into a first-place tie with Venice (6-1, 2-0), which had a surprisingly difficult time with Hamilton, winning only 17-13. “I don’t know if they are 44 points better than us but they were Friday night,” PaliHi Head Coach Kelly Loftus said. “They moved the ball on us at will and we gave them a lot of help.” The Dolphins’ lone highlight was a 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Latt to wide receiver Gerald Ingram that pulled Palisades to within 14-7 late in the first quarter. But Fairfax responded with two scores of its own in the second quarter and led, 28-7, at halftime. Due to the ongoing renovation project at Stadium by the Sea, Palisades will hit the road again this week. The frosh/soph game kicks off today at Westchester at 3 p.m. and the varsity game is Friday at 3 p.m. The Comets (2-5, 0-2) are coming off a 32-6 loss to University. “We haven’t been able to practice on the new field yet,” Loftus said. “I’ve been told the plan our first home game will be [November 2] against Venice.” Palisades High kicker Joe Berman punts the ball during the Dolphins’ 51-7 loss last Friday night at Fairfax. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
PTC Dominates in Orange County
One of the largest junior national tennis tournaments in America took place at 11 sites in Orange County this past weekend and, not surprisingly, the Palisades Tennis Center was well represented. Nearly 2,000 players from California, Nevada, New York, Illinois, Utah, Texas and Oregon participated and numerous PTC players survived the opening weekend. Playing through strong winds on Sunday, many top players had tough time getting through early rounds. Not so of the PTC contingent. Five of its best players got through 12 rounds without dropping a single set and nine of those sets were 6-0. “A huge tournament like Orange Country brings out the best tennis players in the Western United States,” PTC Head Pro Chris Harradine said. “Our top kids absolutely breezed through the draws. We have about 10 players through to next weekend which is unheard of for a little tennis center like ours.” Among the PTC standouts was Brandon Michaels, seeded ninth in the Boys 10s. He defeated PTC teammate Nick Kolin in the first round when Kolin, trailing 5-0 in the first set, retired. Michaels then routed Omead Moinin of Santa Ana, 6-1, 6-0, to advance to Saturday’s round of 16. In the Boys 12’s, eighth-seeded Alex Giannini of the PTC got a first-round bye, then blanked Kevin Bondar of Calabasas and Jake Douglas of Rolling Hills by 6-0, 6-0 scores to reach the round of 16. PTC teammate Robbie Bellamy, seeded No. 7, also received a first-round bye before beating Anthony Dellovade of Huntington Beach, 6-3, 6-2, and 17th-seeded Justin Chanthalangsy of San Marcos, 6-2, 6-0, in the third round. In the Boys 14s, ninth-seeded Connor Treacy of the PTC got a first-round bye, then beat Andrew Yu of Arcadia, 6-3, 6-0, Dylan Brown of Camarillo, 6-0, 6-3, and 17th-seeded Jimmy Fernandez of Fullerton, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the round of 16. In the Boys 18s, PTC player Clay Thompson, seeded No. 7, got a first-round bye, then beat Aaron Hamilton of Woodland Hills, 6-2, 6-1, Chad Rubin of Encinitas, 6-2, 6-1, and 17th-seeded Henry Chi of Alta Loma, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the round of 16. None of the girls divisions were started because of the increasing winds, but the PTC will have players in several of the draws when they begin Saturday. In the Girls 10s, Ilana Oleynik is seeded No. 3 and Mary Profit is No. 7. In the Girls 12s, Elizabeth Profit is seeded No. 7. The PTC currently has five players that either are or have been ranked No. 1 in their respective age divisions: Thompson, Eduardo Nava, Walker Kehrer, Josh Rosen and Elizabeth Profit.
Annual Meeting of Palisades Residents Association and No Oil on Monday, October 22
Author and Journalist Joy Horowitz to Speak about the “poisoning” of Beverly Hills High School
Pacific Palisades Residents Association and No Oil, Inc. invites the community to a combined annual meeting on Monday, October 22, 2007, in the main meeting room of the Pacific Palisades Women’s Club, 901 Haverford Street, Pacific Palisades CA. Beginning at 7 p.m. refreshments will be available, followed at 7:30 by a short business meeting and election of the 2007 ‘ 2008 Board of Directors. Ms. Joy Horowitz, author and journalist, will discuss her recently published book parts per million, the poisoning of Beverly hills high school. Guest speaker, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, will discuss important community and regional district issues. There will be time for audience discussion with the speakers.
Calendar for the Week of October 18
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 All are invited to join a Peace Vigil hosted by Palisadians for Peace every Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Swarthmore and Sunset. Palisadian Janette Rainwater discusses and signs ‘2060: A Love Story in a Utopian Future,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Rainwater is a retired clinical psychologist who earned her Ph.D. from Berkeley in 1964. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 Palisades Beautiful meeting, 10 a.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Upcoming neighborhood tree planting will be discussed. Members, friends and the general public are welcome. Contact: www.palisadesbeautiful@earthlink.net.’ A free screening of ‘Call Me Madam,’ starring Ethel Merman and Donald O’Connor, 1 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. This monthly program is co-hosted by Friends of the Library and the Palisades AARP chapter. Gala opening concert of the 2007-2008 season by the St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Neenan, 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda. Tickets at the door: $25. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 Friends of the Library used book sale, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Palisades Branch Library parking lot, 861 Alma Real. All proceeds benefit the library. Volunteers are invited to join the monthly work party on the Village Green from 9 to 11 a.m. Just bring shears and gloves. Contact: Marge Gold of the Village Green Committee at 459-5167. Holiday Boutique & Crafts Fair, today and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple, 17080 Sunset Blvd. Free parking and free admission. (See story, page TK.) Singer/musican Shakeh and guitarist Chris Pinnick (formerly with the group Chicago) present a concert of adult contemporary eclectic music, 2 to 3 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Free admission; donations are accepted. Everyone is invited to an Oktoberfest meal, 6 p.m. in Luther Hall at the Palisades Lutheran Church, corner of Sunset and El Medio. For ticket prices and other information, call (310) 459-2358. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 Tenth Annual Town Fair, sponsored by the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Antioch, between Swarthmore and Via de la Paz. The Westside Waldorf School holds a benefit event to help pay for a traffic signal at Sunset Boulevard and Los Liones Drive, 3 to 7 p.m. at The Outdoor Room at 17311 Sunset, across the street from the school. Palisades Symphony will perform ‘The Newspaper Suite for Trombone and Orchestra’ and other classical music, 7:30 p.m. at the Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset. Free admission. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22 Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Stewart Hall in Temescal Gateway Park. Public testimony begins at 8 p.m. Pacific Palisades Residents Association and No Oil, Inc. invites the community to a combined annual meeting on Monday, October 22, 2007, in the main meeting room of the Pacific Palisades Women’s Club, 901 Haverford Street, Pacific Palisades CA. Beginning at 7 p.m. refreshments will be available, followed at 7:30 by a short business meeting and election of the 2007 ‘ 2008 Board of Directors. Ms. Joy Horowitz, author and journalist, will discuss her recently published book parts per million, the poisoning of Beverly hills high school. Guest speaker, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, will discuss important community and regional district issues. There will be time for audience discussion with the speakers. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23 Chamber Music Palisades opens its season at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s parish, 1031 Bienveneda. Tickets at the door: $25. Artist and educator Ruth San Pietro addresses the Palisades Art Association at 7 p.m. at the Palisades Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24 Palisades AARP Travel Group features a slide presentation on Myanmar by television’s Dr. Art Ulene, 2 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Weekly writing meeting for members of all 12-Step programs or anyone with a habitual problem or illness, 7 to 8 p.m. at 16730 Bollinger Dr. Telephone (310) 454-5138 or e-mail info@12stepsforeverybody.org. A three-hour writing workshop is held at the same location every third Saturday at 9 a.m. Pacific Palisades resident John Stein discusses and signs ‘The World’s Fastest Motorcycle: The Day the Bonneville Salt Stood Still,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 8.) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Public invited. ‘Thanking Father Ted: Thirty-Five Years of Notre Dame Co-Education,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 18, 2007
HOMES WANTED 1b
LAST GOOD DEAL AT THE BEACH! Best ocean views in Palisades. 10 homes. Up to 1,500 sq.ft. $233,000-$659,000. Call Agent, Michelle Bolotin, (310) 230-2438
HUNTINGTON GEM FOR SALE. By Owner. 820 Alma Real Drive. Four bedroom, four bathroom ranch located a block from Palisades Park and the town center. The property includes a generous lot with lovely pool and adjacent sitting area. Distinctive features include spacious living room with high, broad-beamed ceiling and large English stone fireplace and hearth; family area with indoor brick gas grill and beautiful slate floor. Ideal for renovation or building your dream home. List price: $3.2 million. Contact dignam820@yahoo.com with all inquiries and offers. Viewing by appointment only; do not contact occupants.
OCEAN VIEW HOME FOR SALE at Palisades Bowl Mobile Home Park. Call R.E. Agent Franklin, (310) 592-6696. Mfg. Home Lic. #SP1136798. Your Mfg. Home Specialist
PETITE PARADISE COVE MOBILE HOME. Steps to sand. Charming writer’s pad, surfer’s paradise retreat. Indoor/outdoor living. Light, airy, serene, fun. Fully furnished. Best deal in Malibu. Only $340,000. Call now: (310) 454-0920
HOLLYWOOD HILLS MEETS THE PACIFIC. Enjoy sweeping ocean, mtn & canyon views from this new remodel on the village bluffs! 4 bds, 4.5 ba Contemp. mod. style w/ open floor plan w/ hdwd flrs & F/P. Large pvt. mstr. ste. upstairs w/ French doors that open to large deck. Over $40,000 worth of glass that surround 3 full decks. Each bdrm has its own remodeled bath. Gated for privacy. Light & bright. Great for entertaining. Walk to schools & village. Permitted guest unit w/ pvt entry. $1,849,000. Agent, Ron Evans, (310) 403-9951
HOMES WANTED 1b
WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887
FURNISHED HOMES 2
CHARMING COTTAGE, fully furnished, 1 bdrm, 1 ba, frplc, close to village & bluffs. Flexible terms. No pets. (310) 459-0765
SHORT TERM LEASE AVAILABLE for 6 months (Dec.-June). Contemporary Monterrey Colonial home in Palisades Village newly built. Main house has 3 bedrooms, 21⁄2 baths, & library. Master bedroom has walk-in closets and steam shower. Ocean views from the second floor. Large gourmet kitchen with indoor/outdoor dining area w/ huge custom door opening from ground to ceiling. Beautifully furnished. Hardwood floors throughout. Outdoor gas barbecue. Pool is heated, saline, & safety pool cover. Gorgeous detached pool house has separate 3/4 bath with shower, treadmill, & large sectional sofa w/ fold out queen bed. Projection system with DVD, cable TV, 8 ft. screen & full surround sound. Move-in condition fully equipped w/ linens, silverware, etc. $18,000/mo. Contact Steve Sawaii at (310) 979- 4165
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
OCEAN VIEW 4 bdrm, 3 ba, remodeled with beautiful detail, gourmet kitchen, private deck to watch sunset. 1 yr. min. $6,950/mo. Agent, Suzanne Anthony, (310) 230-7393
SMASHING WHITEWATER VIEWS from this very private 5 bdrm, 4 ba home. Hdwd, walls of glass, updated kitchen, bath & decks+expansive grounds. Great for entertaining. 2 year lease preferred. Available now. $12,500/mo. Agent Paula Tebbe, (310) 820-9331
OCEAN VIEW 4 BDRM, 2.5 BA, rec. room, F/P, hdwd flrs, remodeled kit, patio w/ firepit+BBQ, pool, spa, deck, garden. $7,500/mo. (310) 633-0470.
SHORT TERM LEASE. Light filled spotless ranch style 2 bd, 1 bath updated kit, oak flrs, deck view of tree-filled property. Lg brick patio, W/D & gardener incl. 2-car garage w /side entry. Gated rear lot perfect for boat or RV storage. $3,450/mo. (310) 993-4007
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
PRIVATE OCEAN VIEW GUESTHOUSE, partially furnished; small but cool; gated, tropical gardens, patio. Near old Getty villa. No pets, no smoking. $1,450/mo. Ready now. (310) 459-1983
$2,500/mo. LARGE, LIGHT 1 bdrm, 1 ba, Mediterranean triplex near bluffs. Mucho charm! Unique touches. Built-in bookcases, cabinets, drawers, tile, hdwd. flrs, bay window, gar/gdn. 1 yr lease. N/P, N/S. (310) 829-6931
1 BDRM+OFFICE/DEN 2 ba, 2 F/P, hdwd flrs, new paint, wood blinds, 1 garage space, laundry on premises. $2,300/mo.+sec. Call (310) 459-5576
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
NEW LOFT in Playa Vista. 2 bdrm, 2 ba +den. Security bldg. All new appliances. 1 mile from ocean & walking distance to LMU. $3,300/mo.+security. (310) 569-1190
WANTED TO RENT 3b
USC PHD EUROPEAN female N/S, seeks private guesthouse, studio, 1 bdrm/rm Palisades, Santa Monica, Mar Vista. Kasia, (310) 625-0254
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
PALISADES OFFICE spaces available in the heart of the VILLAGE including those measuring approximately: 1) Single suites ranging from 245 sf-500 sf, windows in each office and balconies. 2) Larger offices ranging in size from 950 sf-2,000 sf. All have large windows with great natural, light. Amazing views of the Santa Monica mountains, private balconies and bathrooms. Building amenities include high speed T1 internet access, elevator and secured, underground parking. Call Kim at (310) 591-8789 or e-mail leasing@hp-cap.com
OFFICES FOR SHORT to medium term sublet available with potential for long term with the right person in the heart of Pacific Palisades. Prefer media-oriented and creative ventures. Office furniture and many business tools included as well as potential use of world class recording studio. Available immediately. (310) 230-2050
OCEAN VIEW OFFICES for rent in creative suite on Sunset and PCH in Spectrum Club bldg. Near great restaurants. 3 brand new offices available now. DSL/fax and phone lines with call answering will be in. Furnishing available. Shared conference room, kitchen area. Just sit down and do business. $1,100 to $1,200/mo. Call Pam, Jen or Rob, (310) 230-6866
RENTAL SPACE, STORAGE 3d
STORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE for lease at The Atrium Building (860 Via de la Paz) in Palisades Village. Secured units ranging in size from 67 sf to 168 sf. Please contact Pietra @ (310) 591-8789 or email pietra@hp-capital.com
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 3f
FULL SERVICE Property Mgt. Co. To rent out &/or manage your house rental. No more tenant hassles. We Do It All. Illana, (310) 498-0468
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5
DOUBLE YOUR INCOME IN 90 DAYS! We will show you how to be self employed, earn executive level income and live the lifestyle you deserve! www.haveanamazinglife.com (800) 892-3165
INCOME PROPERTY 5b
WANTED SOPHISTICATED INVESTORS to purchase highly desirable 5 bdrm, gate guarded, Mediterranean Ocean view home. (310) 947-1844
LOST & FOUND 6a
REWARD: LOST PARROT. May answer to “Bogie.” It is a black parrot (about 20”) and looks more like a pigeon or a crow. Lost on October 13th. Belongs to Carol and Richard Milton, in Pacific Palisades. Makes cat-like sounds. (310) 454-2979, (310) 779-7074
FOUND: Floppy eared bunny. Corona Del Mar Dog Park. (310) 573-1684
BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
BOOKKEEPER/PERSONAL ASSISTANT/Notary Public, personal bookkeeping & financial organizing, clerical duties, honest, reliable, discreet. Excellent references. Patti, (310) 720-8004
QUICKBOOKS Bookkeeping Service. Call (310) 977-7935
LOCAL BOOKEEPER/Exec./Pers. Assist. My home office or yours. Confidential, honest and reliable. Celebrity clientele. Excellent references. (310) 403-8654
SMALL BUSINESS OR PERSONAL BOOKKEEPING. The Mess Untangler is again available in the Palisades. Fast, discreet, loyal, friendly, excellent references. saekorn@aol.com or (310) 570-6085
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
BUSY AND OVERWHELMED with household/office clutter? Call for help and make life easier. I put things in order and make a difference for you. (310) 477-6489
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZATION & Bookkeeping. Superior services provided w/ discretion & understanding. Pali resident, local references. Call Sarah, (310) 573-9263
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
WEST LA NANNIES • Caring • Committed • TRUSTED • (310) 584-4555
EUROPEAN EXPERIENCED NANNY looking for full or part time job. Legal to work. Clean DMV record. Call Vera, (951) 454-4079
PROFESSIONAL LOVING NANNY seeking F/T job. Last 7.5 years in Palisades. Excellent local references. Excellent driver. Clean DMV. Call Aida, (323) 496-4984
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
“PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.” We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419
HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Mon., Tues. & Fri. Own transportation, Very good local references. Call Ayda, (310) 397-7586
HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Wed., Thurs. & Fri. Own transportation. Excellent local references. Call Judith, (310) 482-8267, (310) 386-5948
HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTING. Excellent English, Avail. Mon.-Fri., some Saturdays. Experienced, references, own transportation. Call Edith at (213) 256-9107 or (213) 745-4931
HOUSEKEEPER. Own transportation, references, available now, days open, light English. Please call Ethel, (323) 734-0362
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
ELDER/CAREGIVER. Available Mon.-Fri. Refs. Exp. CNA. Call Argentina, (213) 384-6156
SUGAR & SPICE Nanny Service. Elder/child care. Experienced (special needs), Alzheimers & dementia. Can cook. Personal & house sitting. Call (323) 474-8943, (323) 758-6271
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) 498-5380. www.TheKingKoi.com
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
EDIBLE GARDENING CLUB: Now Forming. Get connected to other Pac Pal and Malibu edible gardeners to swap advice and visit gardens. Contact Wendy at wstretten@verizon.net or (310) 456-9520
GARDENING SERVICE • General maintenance Svcs • Sprinkler installation (manual & automatic) • Hillside cleanups • Tree service • New lawn (topping, pruning & removal) • Block/brick planters • Cement work • Free estimates • All work guaranteed. Daniel Velasco, Hm. (323) 934-9284, Cell (323) 839-0819
MOVING & HAULING 11b
BC HAULING & CLEAN-UP • Houses • Garages • Apts • & Yards. All junk removed. Home demolition, i.e., patios, yards & walls. Truck with liftgate. (310) 714-1838
HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs big or small. Hauls it all. Homes & businesses. 14’ van/dollies. 15th yr. Westside. Delivers to 48 states. (310) 285-8688
TREE SERVICE 11d
STUMP REMOVAL, since 1924. Get rid of those ugly termite-infested stumps. 10% off w/ ad. Lic. #685533. Brad, (310) 454-8646
DON’T PANIC, IT’S ORGANIC! Fall Special. 50% off all new local services with 6 mos. contract. Free housecall w/ mention of this ad. Since 1972. Natural pest control, lawn, roses, tree, pond, fruit trees, veg. gdns, natural spraying, whole property restoration, water mgmt & more as seen on PBS, NBC, CBS YOUTUBE & more. Invisible Gardener Inc. (310) 457-4438. Doing it organically keeps the oceans clean. www. InvisibleGardener.com
HEALING ARTS 12
SOUND THERAPY for health & regeneration with Marion Mayer R.N.M.S.N.P. Using cutting edge sound healing technology of the Cyma1000. Cymatherapy is safe & effective for all types of ailments, physical & emotional. Specializing in Women’s Health & integrating Mind/Body techniques. Call for an appt. today. (310) 573-0400 or go to www.cymatherapy.com for more info.
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, Bonded
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
PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g
HAPPY PET • Dog Walking • Park Outings • Socialization • Insured. Connie, (310) 230-3829
PET HEAVEN • TOTAL PET CARE • Training. Walking. Playgroups and hikes. 30 years Pali resident. References. Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog!
FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Advanced Nordic walking instructor, Palisades resident teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. (310) 266-4651
PERSONAL TRAINER 15c
PEAK PERFORMANCE Fitness Training. Ivan Baccarat, A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer • Body Shaping • Strength • Endurance • Prenatal/Post Partum • Cardio Kickboxing • Stretch/Flexibility • Plyometrics • Fat Loss • Core Work Individualized Program Design • 20 Yrs. Experience • Insured • References • Call for a free consultation: (310) 829-4428
SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d
NEED HELP WITH COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY? Recent graduate & professional writer available. Will help to perfect essay for admissions success. Call (310) 985-1607 or e-mail maxtaves@gmail.com
PIANO IN YOUR FUTURE? Dedicated & patient piano teacher. Children, adults. Professional pianist, UCLA graduate. Call (310) 453-1064
TUTORS 15e
A TUTOR FOR A JUMP START WITH SCHOOL. 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
READING SPECIALIST • Master of Education—Reading and Learning Disabilities • Special Education Teaching Certificate: K-12 • Regular Education Teaching Certificate: K-9 • Elementary Education Teaching experience: 12 yrs • Services provided for special & regular education students of all levels • Academic areas taught include reading (phonics and reading comprehension) writing and spelling • Private tutoring includes accessing the student’s needs, developing an individualized education program and implementation of that program. Palisades resident. Call Brandi, (310) 230-9890
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 • Children, adults • Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593
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
TUTORING & HOMEWORK HELP. Teacher with credentials in Elementary, Special Ed., and Reading. Masters in Education & 23 years teaching experience including 2 years as Reading Recovery specialist. Palisades resident. Affordable rates. Call Diana, (310) 717-5472
CREDENTIALED MATH & STUDY SKILLS TEACHER (BA-UCSD, M.Ed-UCLA, PhD Candidate-USC) Tutor K-College. Most subjects. 15 years recent classroom experience in the Palisades. Libby, (310) 963-0093
SPANISH TUTOR & PALISADES resident from South America is back in town! All ages, students, housewives, travellers, business people, all professionals, SAT & AP Prep. Call (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
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
HART HARDWOOD FLOORING. Best pricing. Sr. discounts, quality workmanship. Bamboo, maple, oak and laminate. Installation & refinishing. Call for free quote. Lic. #763767. Ron, (310) 308-4988
GOLDEN HARDWOOD FLOORS. Professional Installation and refinishing. National Wood Flooring Association member. License #732286. Plenty of local references. (877) 622-2200 • www.goldenhardwoodfloors.com
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 • 53 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
WALLPAPER REMOVAL • REPAIR • INSTALLATION • Plus minor household repairs. 32 years in business. Lic. #576445. Owen Cruickshank, (310) 459-5485
PLASTERING, DRYWALL 16s
THE WIZARD OF WALLS • Invisible repairs • Popcorn on/off • Textures • Paintings • Renovations • Plumbing • Wallpaper • Stucco repair • Instant quotes. 35 yrs experience. (800) 637-9994
PLUMBING 16t
BOTHAM PLUMBING AND HEATING. Lic. #839118. (310) 827-4040
JLK PLUMBING. Re-pipe and sewer specialist & all plumbing repairs. Mention this ad & receive 10% off. Lic. #722414. Call (310) 678-6634
WHITTLE’S PLUMBING • Drain & sewer problems • Garbage disposal & H2O heaters • Copper repiping & gas lines • Fixtures, remodels • Gen. Construction • Free est. Lic. #668743. (310) 429-7187
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
D SQUARE CONSTRUCTION. Bonded, Insured. References available. St. Lic. #822701 B, C-33. David R. Dwyer, (310) 699-7164
HELP WANTED 17
DRIVERS: 150K PER YEAR-TEAMS! Earn more plus GREAT Benefits! Western Regional Solo and Team Runs. Werner Enterprises, (800) 346-2818 x123
LOOKING FOR A HOUSEKEEPER/nanny. Tues.-Sat. Must have excellent local references. Must be legal. Inquiries, (310) 696-9139
SUPERSTAR HOUSEKEEPER WANTED. We are looking for an experienced live-out Housekeeper to start immediately. Tues., Thursday & Saturday. Must be flexible on hours. We have one school-age child and a small dog. Must have good English, driver’s license and own car. Must be organized and have great references. Job includes laundry, ironing, closet organization, cleaning, running errands and simple meal prep. Please call (310) 780-8622
DERMATOLOGY OFFICE. Front and back office. Computer knowledge. Experience preferred. Refs. required. F/T. Fax resume: (310) 459-1014
AUTOS 18b
CASH 4 MERCEDES BENZ/BMW $$ 1980-1995, running or not. Any questions, please call (310) 995-5898
2003 ACURA TL, white with beige leather. Local, professional owner. Perfect condition, 61,000K. ABS Anti-lock, air, alloys, Bose 6 CD changer, moonroof. $16,995. Steve, (310) 459-5662
FURNITURE 18c
PIANO SPINET SHONINGER. Maple, perfect condition. 50+ years. One owner. $595. (310) 573-1735
Unique Furniture Sale in the Palisades! Contemporary Italian Furniture. Purchased only 3 months ago. Substantial discounts. We are moving. www.nmrjapan.com/la. Call Maria, (310) 454-3676
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
MULTI FAMILY GARAGE SALE! Children’s clothes, toys & more. Sunday, OCT. 21, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 507 Via de la Paz. No early birds.
METHODIST COUNTRY BAZAAR, 801 Via de la Paz. Shop Early Thurs., Oct. 25, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. $5 includes dessert. Fri. Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. free adm. Lunch $12. Resv, (310) 454-5529. Handcrafted Gifts, Quilts, Collectibles, Food
GREAT GARAGE SALE: Mid-century books, games, ceramics. Kids toys, groovy furniture, lamps. NOT JUNK. Great stuff! Sat., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 1130 Maroney Lane
PETS, LIVESTOCK 18e
LOOKING FOR LOVING homes for cats. Brothers/sisters. Take one or more. Emerald eyes. Gorgeous. Ask for Delanie. Mention cats. (310) 456-9810
HORSE FOR LEASE in Pacific Palisades, unique opportunity to ride in Will Rogers Park. Very calm and sweet Warmblood/Quarter mix. $650/month. E-mail: louise@stockholmdesign.com
MISCELLANEOUS 18g
FOREST LAWN, HOLLYWOOD HILLS Hillside “Lincoln Terrace” companion plot. Currently selling for $15,400. Asking $5,900 neg. (310) 454-0893
WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, working or not. ‘50s, ‘60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 895-5057 • profeti2001@yahoo.com
6 (ca.1170) E-Indian RARE COINS Old/New Int’l collecting since 1969. 1075 (coins), 1300 (stamps), 619 (wacky collectibles). Serious buyers. Call Ehsan Syed, (562) 468-0533, Mon.-Fri. only 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
When Construction Never Stops (or Re-Starts)
City, Castellammare Neighbors Powerless to Complete a House 10 years in the Making
The house at 17484 Tramonto Dr. is 4,000-square-feet, pink, three stories tall and made of stucco. But that’s not how neighbors describe it. They prefer “the never-ending nightmare next door.” Construction began at the steep Castellammare site, which looks south over Santa Monica Bay, 10 years ago last month; but the house owned by Hans Schollhammer is still incomplete. There are open trenches in the front yard where utility lines are supposed to lie. Windows are broken, boarded or both. Loose conduits lie haphazardly. The front door is covered with pierced paper-board. Rebar and PVC protrude from a smashed–or is it half-finished?–concrete pillar. For several years while the house has lain vacant, near completion and under siege–literally–from vermin and vandals, neighbors have faced a dilemma: What do you do when a homeowner, for all intents and purposes, lets his house go? In the summer of 2006, L.A. County’s Health Services Department found a rat infestation on the property. It ordered Schollhammer, a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, to eliminate the rats and close the openings to his house through which they entered. The Castellammare Mesa Homeowners Association said it received complaints about the infestation from neighbors and even people driving past the property. For Schollhammer’s next-door neighbor Vince Flaherty, a producer and 1980’s TV actor, the problem had become so bad that rats and ground squirrels burrowed underground into his cliff-side basement. “You can still smell the urine in the basement,” says Flaherty, who claims he spent more than $10,000 pouring concrete to fix the problem. “The only good thing about [the house] is that there’s nobody there, so we have privacy. But it’s such a blight on the neighborhood. People call it the abandoned Taco Bell.” Neighbors of Schollhammer even admit to offering to buy the property from him. “I live directly across the street,” says Cort Wagner, a Grand Am race-car driver. “It’s such an eyesore, and I have to look at it. I asked him how much he wanted and offered to write a check right there.” Schollhammer rejected Wagner’s offer and numerous others. The homeowners association contends that the professor has broken the due-diligence clause of its CC&Rs, which demands that construction be pursued diligently and continuously and within two years from its start. But the association, which only collects voluntary dues, has been wary of a long, expensive lawsuit, so it has turned to the city for help–with negligible results. Only after repeated efforts over several years has the city’s Building and Safety Department responded to Castellammare residents’ concerns, says Kim Clary, the association’s president. In June 2006, the city declared the building a ‘vacant structure’ that had violated several building codes. It ordered Schollhammer to waterproof the house and fix its “general dilapidation.” With few signs of progress at the house, the City Attorney took Schollhammer to court last January. There, the owner pledged to finish the house by January 2008. But even if he reneges, the city has little power. “As long as the property is kept clean and secure, there isn’t anything we can legally do to him,” said Frank Bush, the city’s chief building inspector. In other words, the city can’t force property owners to finish their houses. Despite Schollhammer’s new pledge, neighbors aren’t optimistic. That’s because the professor, who specializes in business ethics and intra-organizational conflict, has plowed through other deadlines before. In September 2004, he told the Canyon News that he hoped to complete construction within five months. And in February 2006 when the house was still incomplete, Schollhammer told the homeowners association that the house would be ready for occupancy by August 2006. That deadline came and went. “I don’t understand his motives,” says Cort Wagner, who lives across the street. “The real estate boom has come and gone.” (Still, nearby houses on the street were recently sold for $3 million and $7 million.) Schollhammer says his neighbors have unfairly blamed him for the delay, which he attributes to a series of unfortunate and uncontrollable events. He cites his contract with an “admittedly slow” contractor, Ralph Herman (the contractor rejects that characterization). He points to a series of vandalisms, which he insinuates his neighbors have caused. His windows have been smashed, rocks thrown on the roof and ‘dog feces smeared’ on his house’s walls. (Before Schollhammer began building his controversial home, he built and sold an adjacent house in the mid-1990s. That house, he says, was built on schedule–a fact he attributes, in part, to using a different contractor.) In April 2003, his nearly complete house was severely vandalized. In addition to breaking windows and the front door, someone flooded his and Flaherty’s house with a hose over a long weekend. To make things worse, says Schollhammer, the insurance company forced him to use a different contractor to repair the damage. The police never caught the wrongdoer, but they suspected Wagner. “The cops came over and named me as a suspect,” Wagner says. “I told them it doesn’t surprise me because I hate the house and despise [its] owner. But I told them if I had anything to do with it, I would have done much worse. I would have burned it [to] the ground!” Schollhammer says that vandalism in 2003 delayed construction by 18 months. This summer a drunk driver caused $11,000 of damage when he smashed through his fence and knocked off a corner of the house, Schollhammer says. But his neighbors reject his explanations. “So what!” Clary says. “These are all excuses. Even if some of these things are true, it shouldn’t have stopped him from completing it. And many of these events wouldn’t have occurred if [the house] had been completed and occupied.” Schollhammer’s contractor attributes much of the slow construction delay to the professor’s indecisiveness. “The whole house has been design-as-you-go,” Herman says. “It takes [Schollhammer and his wife] a long time to make a decision. They spend a lot of time deciding what color the stucco will be, what the door will look like, etc. And then sometimes, they change their minds. I’m not sure even he knows what to do.” According to the contractor, the house still lacks underground utility and site plans, which are needed for completion. Ten years into construction, both Schollhammer and his neighbors are embittered and resigned. “I would never want to live in this neighborhood,” says Schollhammer. “I’ve thought many times about letting someone else finish the house, but I have a contract.” For one of his neighbors living across the street, she’s stopped caring. “The thing that is really disconcerting to me is that I’ve had to call their contractor to push them as if I were the owner,” says the neighbor, who requested that her name be withheld. “I’m not wasting my time anymore. I’ve let my tree grow large, so I don’t have to see the place.” —– To contact Staff Writer Max Taves, e-mail reporter@palipost.com or call ext. 28.
Las Pulgas Canyon On Sale For $25 Million
Neighbors Fear Development and the Loss of L.A.’s “Last Wild” Canyon
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
The following is not an excerpt from the archives of the Palisadian-Post: Las Pulgas Canyon is for sale–and for ‘only $25 million,’ according to its Sotheby’s listing. On October 2, when the property came on the market, prospective buyers and interested neighbors were treated to obstacle-jumping horses, free lunch and an invitation to what its realtor, Rodrigo Iglesias, calls a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to build one’s ‘own dream estate in Los Angeles.’ The buyer wealthy enough to purchase the coastal canyon east of Sunset Boulevard and west of Temescal Canyon Road will lay claim to 16 lots, a three-bedroom, two-bath 1930s-era ranch house, the former dwelling site of the Gabrielino Indians, six horse corrals, ‘beautiful ocean vistas,’ hiking trails and waterfalls–and 33 acres fraught with a history (and probable future) of political headaches and geological calamity. For members of the nonprofit Save Las Pulgas Canyon, Inc. (SLPC), it’s deja vu all over again. Mostly residents from the canyon’s rim along finger-like streets–Grenola, Marquette, Bienveneda, Muskingum and Puerto del Mar–SLPC members spent thousands of hours in the late 1980s and early 90s rallying against development there. Now, its leaders and organizers find themselves preparing to fight yesterday’s long, epic land-use battle today and wanting closure more than ever. ‘This issue should be settled once and for all,’ says Puerto del Mar resident Bob Locker, who has helped restart SLPC. ‘It’s been hanging over residents’ heads for years.’ In 1989, then-owner and would-be developer Neil Senturia presented his plan to build 45 single-family homes (down from more than 125 homes in previous years) in the canyon. That proposal, and the illegal bulldozing of the canyon’s vegetation-rich floor that preceded it, incited residents into action. They raised money, hired lawyers, land-use consultants and archaeologists and lobbied the city, county and state to protect ‘the last undeveloped coastal canyon in Los Angeles’ from development that they say threatened its natural springs and abundant ecosystem of birds, deer, coyotes and bobcats–and their property values. Owing as much to their political effort as nature’s obstacles, Senturia’s vision of a subdivided canyon went down in flames. Geologists described the canyon as practically un-developable. In fact, an extensive, independent valuation study commissioned by the SLPC and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy in 1990 estimated that the property was worth negative $10.5 million. It cited a flood-prone creek, ‘inadequate’ drainage and water runoff, unstable soil and hillsides pockmarked by landslides. (A collapsed dam still sits on the property, a witness to–and victim of–devastating floods in 1979.) The study’s conclusion was damning: The price that Senturia’s company, Pulgas Canyon Venture, had asked for the property fell from $10.1 million to $5.9 million and then kept falling. The conservancy, which residents and local activists had urged to buy the property in hopes of preserving it as open space, declined to purchase it at any price because of the canyon’s hazardous liability. By the time real-estate investor Barry Maiten bought the property in 1996, the asking price of the canyon had fallen below $1.4 million–the exact purchase price is unknown. Maiten has owned the property ever since but has made no improvements to brace the property against its geology. ‘Nothing has changed there [since I was involved],’ said Jack Allen, a lawyer and former president of the Pacific Palisades Residents Association, which has opposed development there since the late 1980s. ‘There’s been no remedial work, so selling it for $25 million is crazy. If that were mine, I’d be glad if I could give it away. As the property owner, you’re liable for the property of the dozens of houses that surround it. Whoever owns it owns the liability! Allen added: ‘Mother nature is going to have its impact regardless. That’s the history of the Palisades. It’s been going on for 100 million years. You can slow it down, buy you can’t stop it. It’s a big gamble.’ Maiten would not respond to the Post’s request for an interview. However, his realtor, Iglesias, contends that the property’s sale price is realistic. ‘What [Maiten] paid and what some nutcase said in 1990 is irrelevant,’ says Iglesias, referring to the market-valuation study. ‘If you look at all the different land sales with about three or four acres that have flat land in the Palisades or Brentwood, they sell for $200 per square foot for the flat land. There’s nine flat acres of level land in Las Pulgas. There are properties that have been sold all over the Palisades with [geological] problems like this.’ Still, Iglesias acknowledges that geological and political obstacles pose barriers to construction in Las Pulgas. Of the property’s 16 lots, 12 lie on a steep, landslide-stricken hillside with no direct road access; two are on Pacific Coast Highway; and the rest of the canyon, largely resting on uncompacted fill, is one lot. In the property’s first two weeks on the market, no one has made a bid, according to Iglesias. In recognition of widespread community opposition to large-scale development in Las Pulgas, the realtor says he is prioritizing buyers who want to build a ‘large, single-family estate.’ ‘What I am trying to accomplish is what’s best for the neighborhood and what’s best for the buyer,’ Iglesias says. ‘That would be a single-family home.’ Lloyd Ahern, who once led the SLPC, isn’t convinced of the property’s viability or its current price tag. He moved to Malibu in 1997, but he said he plans to spearhead the organization’s efforts to fight development. ‘Anyone who does their due diligence will spend a year and realize they can’t do anything with it,’ Ahern says. ‘It’s uncompacted fill. The canyon is more geologically unstable than Potrero [Canyon]. What it means is that it’s a fool’s journey to go into this canyon!’ Ahern and other SLPC members say they want the conservancy to consider buying the property again and permanently protecting its habitat. Frances Tibbits lives on Puerto del Mar in a house overlooking the canyon. As a former member of the SLPC, she fought against its development. Tibbits rejoined the nonprofit last year when it reformed to fight Maiten’s installation of thirteen 20-ft streetlights–a conflict still unresolved. But she doesn’t fear an imminent or even realistic threat of development. ‘Twenty-five million dollars is a lot of money for an unstable canyon,’ she says. ‘And frankly, I don’t think it’s going to happen. I’m having a hard time getting excited about it.’ —– To contact Staff Writer Max Taves, e-mail reporter@palipost.com or call (310) 454-1321 ext. 28.
Collection Ignites Creativity
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Phillumeny is the word ascribed to the hobby of collecting matchbooks or other match related ephemera. Some people pick up matches as souvenirs or reminders of places they’ve visited; others seek out matchbooks because they are interested in the different labels and advertisements; and still others save them for their obvious function, lighting cigarettes. Native Palisadian Tom Hofer, though, has a different reason. Part phillumenist, part artist, Hofer recently created 18 matchbook collages, 11 of which are on display at The Hidden Cafe in the Palisades Highlands, by recreating his favorite matchbooks, on a much larger scale, complete with striker and staple. ‘I don’t consider myself a matchbook collector, but I am collecting them,’ Hofer says. ‘I collect them for their artistic resource, so I can turn it into something else.’ Hofer began creating collages several years ago. In an attempt to recreate the artwork of one of his favorite artists, Hofer quickly became aware that paint was not his medium. He was much more adept in working with paper and glue, in part due to his job as a graphic artist at the Palisadian-Post, since 1989. ‘It was a lot easier for me to recreate something by cutting out paper and creating different layers,’ Hofer says. ‘It was easier for me to do it with paper than paint.’ Soon after making his first collage, based on a painting by Shag, Hofer discovered his father’s large collection of matchbooks, mostly from places he had been. His father, Arnold, who came to America from Germany in the 1950s, had been collecting matchbooks since he arrived. ‘I happened to see my dad’s matchbook from the House of Lee and I thought, ‘Hmm, I can reproduce that and I’m not limited to paper if I’m doing an object,” Hofer says. ‘I can go for different texture for the striker and stick a staple on the bottom.’ After completing the House of Lee collage, representing the legendary Chinese restaurant on Sunset, and several others, Hofer moved on to other artistic endeavors. A bass player, songwriter and vocalist, he focused his creative energy on his music for a couple of years. But after cleaning out an art file at work, and beginning to compile a portfolio, Hofer’s interest in creating collages was sparked once again. ‘Earlier this year I was trying to work on music, but it was creatively just not happening, so I thought I would give the collages another go. Suddenly I began throwing myself head-first into those and having a blast doing it.’ Working at his parents’ house in Pacific Palisades, Hofer completed several collages the first weekend. ‘I had always meant to come back to them because I had plenty of matchbooks I had left to do,’ he says. ‘Now that pile is growing daily.’ The variety of collages he has created range from Las Vegas hotels, to bars and diners, from beverages to historical establishments such as Don the Beachcomber. And although many of his inspirations are from his father’s extensive collection, Hofer is always on the lookout for visually interesting matchbooks to recreate. ‘The first dozen or so that caught my eye were from my dad’s collection,’ he says. ‘Now I just go on eBay and spend far too much time looking up matchbooks I haven’t seen before that feature good artwork.’ In the beginning Hofer was much less selective, bidding on small lots of matchbooks, confident that somewhere in the pile would be a matchbook he could recreate. ‘Now I take closer looks at the images on eBay and make sure there is something worth my while before I even start to bid.’ After Hofer selects the matchbook he wants to recreate, the artistic process begins. He scans the image into his computer and blows up the image to the size he wants to recreate, then visits the art store to find the paper or matboard whose colors match the original matchbook most closely. After creating a template on his computer, he begins the tedious process of cutting out each individual element of the matchbook, and assembling the pieces to create the final product. ‘Working on them is my version of meditation because I get sort of lost in the period and the art of the matchbook,’ Hofer says. ‘By doing the collage it’s almost like I’m dissecting the artwork of the original piece and seeing it for its elements of shape and color and rebuilding it.’ After completing 18 collages, and receiving numerous compliments from those who had viewed his work, Hofer began exploring the idea of having it displayed somewhere. After reading a story in the Post about a local artist whose work was shown at The Hidden Cafe (1515 Palisades Dr.), Hofer scouted the location and then contacted owner Mary Autera. ‘It was amazing. It went great,’ Hofer says of their meeting. ‘She even suggested that I could start hanging them that night.’ Although Hofer waited a few days before doing so, giving him a chance to frame them, he soon had 11 of his collages on display in the restaurant, and the following week held an artist’s reception, where he received enough positive feedback to encourage him to continue this artistic endeavor. Hofer now hopes to begin selling his pieces commercially and displaying them in more places. He plans to take some of his Vegas-inspired collages, which are among his favorites, to different hotels or restaurants in Vegas, to see about having them hung there. With three more collages in the works, Hofer intends to continue recreating matchbooks, incorporating new media like fabric, wood or found objects and he wants to begin new collages inspired by stained glass art, stamps, album covers and comic books. For more examples of Hofer’s work, go to www.tomhofer.org
