Two candidates were hired on Tuesday afternoon to fill the top academic leadership posts at Palisades Charter High School, ending months of uncertainty and anxiety among parents, teachers and school officials. On an interim basis, Marcia Haskin will fill the post of principal that was left vacant by Gloria Martinez in June. And Nichole Williams will become the school’s first director of instruction’a position recently created to deal with day-to-day instruction at the 2,700-student school. The PaliHi board unanimously approved the recommendations of its hiring committee to hire the two, longtime educators. That 14-member committee met for months and poured over dozens of applications, sometimes with conflicting views. After one of its top candidates for director of instruction turned down the position in June, some members worried that finding the best qualified candidates before the school year began would not be possible. ‘Before, one side of the room disagreed with the other side of the room,’ said Board member Eileen Savage, describing the committee’s deliberations. ‘But these candidates [Haskin and Williams] brought everyone together.’ Visibly elated members of the board and committee described their decision and praised the two final candidates. ‘I’m very pleased,’ Executive Director Amy Held said on Tuesday at the board’s special meeting. ‘The decision [of the committee] was nearly unanimous.’ Savage said the school wanted to hire candidates that ‘could hit the ground running.’ These candidates fit that description, she said. Haskin is a recently retired administrator from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). She has been principal of International Studies Learning Center in South Gate, Fremont High School and Palms Middle School. Haskin also worked as district director supporting and supervising secondary administrators. She will serve as principal until a permanent candidate is selected. Committee members say they chose Haskin, in part, because of her role training school administrators. ‘She had a great experience moving people up higher and grooming them,’ said Marci Crestani. Held hopes that Haskin will serve as a ‘mentor to aspiring administrators.’ Before joining PaliHi, Williams will relocate from New York where she has worked as an administrator at Long Island’s Uniondale High School. She also trained new teachers at Hofstra University. ‘She has worked as a generalist, which is good because she knows how to do everything,’ Held said. ‘She has a lot of energy. And she’s very humble.’ According to a school statement, ‘At Uniondale, [Williams] followed the ninth-grade class through their four years of high school overseeing academics, counseling, discipline and student activities. She also instituted a number of creative initiatives including a partnership with local colleges to offer dual-credit courses. And she implemented college-placement testing for all juniors to identify gaps in instruction and adjust the curriculum accordingly.’ Both candidates were offered one-year contracts. The salaries for principal and director of instruction were not known when the Post went to print. This summer, the school also hired Colleen McCarthy as the director of human resources. School Approves Teachers’ Contract On Tuesday, PaliHi’s board also ratified a contract with United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), ending negotiations that began in October. As part of the contract that ends in June 2008, teachers’ salaries will increase by six percent, retroactive to July 1, 2006. Also, the high school will ‘cover any increased costs in health benefit premiums per its current plan.’ Disagreement over the school’s proposed revisions to disciplinary procedure (Article 10) stalled negotiations for months. Union officials had said it would remove important workplace protections. As part of the agreement, the school will replace Article 10 with new teacher dismissal procedures. But those procedures will lapse after this contract unless made permanent. —– To contact Staff Writer Max Taves, e-mail reporter@palipost.com or call (310) 454-1321 ext. 28.

The state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has no authority over the hours of construction of the California Incline Bridge Replacement Project, leaving Santa Monica solely in charge of a controversial decision which pits that city against Palisades residents. During an interview in late July with the Malibu Surfside News, Caltrans District 7 Director Doug Failing, who oversees all state roads in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, said that his department had authority over construction hours of the Incline if any lanes of Pacific Coast Highway were closed. In the same interview, he said he would not allow daytime-only construction. But Caltrans’ authority over construction hours–a divisive topic to Santa Monica residents along PCH and L.A. residents in Santa Monica Canyon–applies to Santa Monica only if the city plans to close lanes along PCH, said Mark Cuneo, the city’s engineer managing Incline reconstruction. ‘If we were intending to close any part of PCH, Caltrans would have say over that,’ Cuneo said. ‘But because we’re not, [construction hours] are up to the city of Santa Monica.’ Engineers consider the 60-year-old Incline structurally unsound and fear calamity in the case of another large earthquake if the three-lane Incline, which connects PCH and Ocean Avenue, is not reconstructed. At its earliest, construction would begin in spring 2009 and last at least 10 months. Santa Monica does plan on closing a lane of PCH in 1,000-foot sections next year when it works to refurbish the bluffs–a separate project from the Incline. Cuneo acknowledged that Caltrans could dictate construction hours for that project, which could mean extending work into the night. According to current yet un-finalized construction plans, work on the Incline would take place between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. But that’s not nearly long enough, say Palisades residents. They fear that traffic diverted from using the Incline will clog Santa Monica Canyon’s residential streets. And they have demanded that Santa Monica take steps to mitigate the impact on their community, which includes building around-the-clock. The news that Caltrans would not have be able to control Incline construction hours disappointed community leaders, who worry that Santa Monica will ignore the interests of residents living outside its political boundaries in Santa Monica Canyon and the Palisades. ‘I had hoped that Caltrans would bring some sanity to the construction planning process,’ said Richard G. Cohen, vice-chair of the Community Council. ‘I fear that Santa Monica will not embrace 24/7-construction unless it is forced upon them.’ ‘Personally, the possibility that Caltrans was going to get involved was an unexpected bonus,’ said George Wolfberg, president of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association. ‘It was not something that we thought was going to happen. But we’re back to where we were before. We’re basically apprehensive.’ In early July, Santa Monica City Manager Lamont Ewell told the Post that 24/7 construction would not be considered because it would reduce quality of life for residents of PCH living across from the construction zone. And the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) rules out ‘continuing work into the night’ for the same reason. The same report projects that extended hours could reduce construction time by as much as 25 percent. Since then, Santa Monica has rejected calls for extended construction hours and a proposal for a joint Los Angeles-Santa Monica committee by L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the Palisades and West L.A. Also, Santa Monica has not yet met with the councilman or his staff to discuss possible mitigation plans despite numerous requests made by his office. While Cuneo said Santa Monica has no plans to consider around-the-clock construction, he said that the city takes Palisades residents’ concerns seriously. ‘We understand the impacts of closing the Incline on traffic,’ he said. ‘And we’re going to do everything possible and work with Caltrans to mitigate impacts.’ Last month, Santa Monica engineers met with engineers from the L.A. Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering and the Department of Transportation (LADOT). The meeting was used to begin coordinating between the two cities. No details of the Incline were discussed, said an LADOT engineer. Even without direct control of construction hours, Caltrans has an important role in finalizing Santa Monica’s construction plans. The department must ensure that Santa Monica meets state and federal guidelines before the project receives funding. Caltrans spokeswoman Jeanne Bonfilio said that her department is cooperating with the city as partners to find the ‘best hours for the project.’ Last week, Deputy District Director Frank Quon told the Palisadian-Post that Caltrans is committed to mitigating the impact of Santa Monica’s plans. ‘We are working with the City of Santa Monica to see what they are contemplating to do with PCH,’ Quon said. ‘We are very concerned about any projects that affect PCH. Our focus is to minimize impacts to traffic flow there.’ Last week, Councilman Rosendahl met with Doug Failing and pressed Caltrans to take seriously the impact of Santa Monica’s current plans on Palisades residents and Los Angeles commuters. ‘[Failing] made it clear that PCH is his street and that we must keep traffic flow happening,’ Rosendahl told the Post. ‘He has great relationships with the bureaucracy of Santa Monica. I basically want to say we had a very fruitful meeting, and I am more positive about the project after meeting with Doug [Failing].’ Cuneo expects that Incline planners will submit the EIR to the Santa Monica City Council for approval sometime this fall. That final EIR must address public comments that were accepted until mid-July. —– To contact Staff Writer Max Taves, e-mail reporter@palipost.com or call ext. 28.

At a standing-room-only meeting last Thursday, the Palisades Community Council unanimously supported a motion opposing a plan to replace the Shell station’s garage with an automated car wash and a 24/7 mini-mart. The Council, a nonprofit organization with representatives elected from all areas of the Palisades, has no legal authority. But its members hope to influence the Department of City Planning ahead of an August 9 hearing when a zoning administrator could award Shell station owner Jin Kwok a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). If approved, the 24-hour mini-mart would occupy 1,640 sq. ft.. The car wash, operating from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., would occupy 756 sq. ft. Increased lighting would be used. The fuel pumps would remain. The zoning administrator could have large discretion over the project because Kwok has requested a deviation from the city’s planning code, says Marina Martos, assistant planning deputy to L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl. ‘I’ve been through enough of these to know that you can’t predict what will happen,’ she told the Palisadian-Post on Tuesday. ‘They could require drastic changes to the permit, or they could approve it as is, or just deny it.’ The council made its decision after hearing an outcry of opposition from neighbors of the Shell station on Sunset Boulevard at Via de la Paz. More than 25 neighbors attended the meeting to express their fears of increased noise, traffic and crime. ‘We’re very upset,’ said Helen Berman, a resident of Albright Street. ‘Most of us have paid very high prices to get away from things like this. There are more deaths on Sunset every time you pick up the paper. This is going to increase crime. And it’s going to be a place to hang out, get a beer and particularly encourage teenagers to engage in risky behavior.’ (Kwok’s application does not include a permit to sell alcohol despite rumors to the contrary.) ‘I’ve been a resident here on Charm Acres Place for over 30 years,’ Allen Dunne said. ‘I’ve seen [Albright Street] go from a sleepy street to a boulevard. I forsee a line going out the [car] wash onto Via de la Paz onto Monument.’ On a permit application completed last October under penalty of perjury, Kwok representative Juan Sandoval wrote that the property was surrounded in all four directions by ‘commercial properties.’ Also, in response to a question on the application about the possible detrimental impacts of the development, Sandoval wrote, ‘This operation does not impact any of the surrounding areas.’ Kwok’s application made no mention of an adjacent large condominium complex that sits directly behind the proposed car wash. False information on the application angered many council members and fomented their opposition to the project. ‘I’m very concerned by the answer on the application that said this was surrounded by commercial property,’ Jack Allen, who represents the area on the council, told Kwok. ‘The whole application doesn’t answer the question [about its impact on surrounding property]. How can we trust anything you say?’ ‘This is just the wrong project to bring to this neighborhood,’ said Paul Glasgall, a council member living in the Highlands. ‘This is low class. There’s no redeeming value to this project.’ Kwok, who owns multiple Shell stations throughout L.A., attended the meeting with his wife. His chief engineer, Ahmad Ghaderi, defended the project against widespread criticism at the meeting. ‘There was no intent to deceive anyone,’ Ghaderi said. ‘[Sandoval] made a mistake. Ghaderi, who has managed the construction of more than 200 car washes, said that plans would accommodate as many as five cars waiting to enter the car wash, but he expects no more than two in queue simultaneously. To assuage neighbors worried about noise, he said a ‘muffler’ would be used, and that he has ordered an acoustical study to guard against other potential noise pollution. Also, at the meeting, Ghaderi projected, ‘Our traffic flow is not going to increase from what it is now.’ ‘Yes, it will!’ retorted council members and the audience in unison. Beyond urging that City Planning reject a Conditional Use application, the council’s motion also requested that a ‘focused’ Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be mandated. City officials involved in planning say that is highly unlikely given the relatively small size of the project. The motion opposing the project does not contain specific mitigation measures. Deputy Martos told the Post that the community should be prepared with compromises in case the zoning administrator approves any part of the project. —– To contact Staff Writer Max Taves, e-mail reporter@palipost.com or call (310) 454-1321 ext. 28.

There is no end to movement in Potrero Canyon–no shifting earth this time, but revised plans and new discoveries. At the Potrero Canyon Citizen Advisory Committee meeting two weeks ago, members learned that the seven lots located on the canyon side of Friends Street can be included in the inventory of lots that will one day be sold, with the proceeds added to the proposed trust fund to be used exclusively to complete the landfill project. ‘The L. A. City Attorney was unable to prove that those lots have been dedicated as parkland,’ said Committee chairman George Wolfberg. ‘And so the approach of the city attorney is to draft the long-awaited Trust Fund Ordinance in a flexible manner to include those Friends lots.’ The ordinance would allow certain rim lots to be sold, with the proviso that any liability for geological problems would be the responsibility of the buyers, not the Coastal Commission or the city. City Engineer Robert Hancock reported that his department has been updating plans for completing the fill, based the most current data. Because of the instability of the Pardee property, located on Alma Real before it turns into Corona del Mar, the city will add a berm on the hillside south of the canyon mouth, which will stabilize that part of the canyon. A full geological study of the canyon must wait until the grading is complete. Wolfberg questioned whether the additional build-up at the mouth of the canyon might eliminate that area as a potential site for future parking. ‘Any parking would have to be moved west, where the fill ends,’ he said, adding that the old Occidental oil-drilling site might be a possibility. Hancock also reported that it might not be safe to establish a riparian habitat in the canyon, after all. The centerpiece of the restoration project, the proposed 7.2-acre riparian habitat as part of Phase III, is one of the Coastal Commission’s primary requirements. ‘The city has decided to ask the Coastal Commission to waive the riparian requirement,’ said Dave Card, chairman of the Recreation Subcommittee. ‘Apparently, it’s not safe to have water in that canyon, which is prone to landslides. It may jeopardize the stability of the canyon.’ Water from landscape irrigation flows into huge underground pipes that were laid as part of Phase I of the fill project. The original draft proposal called for the surface runoff to flow into a cistern located under the baseball diamond and used for the riparian area; additional rain runoff within the canyon would flow into an open streambed. The committee agreed that there must be no standing water in the canyon, but wanted a clear definition of what is riparian. According to author Milt McAuley (‘Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains’), a riparian woodland is distinguished by its proximity to water and is the habitat found along the shore of a stream or a pond. The continuous source of water needed by some of the species may not always be visible on the surface since underground water available at the root zone is also important. Characteristic plants include black walnut, coast live oak, California blackberry, willow, poison oak, scarlet monkey flower and veronica. Malibu Canyon, Topanga Canyon and Santa Ynez Canyon are some examples. Another good example of a riparian habitat is Los Liones Gateway Park, which was cleaned up and replanted seven years ago and relies on intermittent rain. The next Potrero Canyon Citizen Advisory Committee is scheduled for Wednesday evening, August 15 at the Palisades Recreation Center.

If a store is named Happy, shoppers walk through the door with high expectations. Fortunately, Happy LA, the new women’s clothing shop located in the Highlands Plaza between Mogan’s Caf’ and Palisades Video, lives up to its name. The first retail-clothing store in the Highlands is owned by Lori Bzura and Dawn Baker and features not only clothing, but Missoni beach towels, baby gifts like flip-flop booties and a few assorted house wares. The bright and cheery 1,065-sq.-ft. space, formerly Christina of Sweden Hair Design, has been completely renovated. Ceiling tiles were removed, expanding the store’s height to 9 ft., and track lighting was installed. Capiz sea-shell chandeliers (which are for sale) were hung from the ceiling and give a light tinkling sound as afternoon breezes gently blow through the store. On a hot summer day, the store is cool and pleasant. Also, 25-year-old white tiles were removed from the floor and the cement was acid-washed and painted a light turquoise. The walls, which had been covered in textured wallpaper, were sanded and painted white. Even the dressing rooms are fun, enclosed by Missoni beach towels hung on curtain rods. The overall result of the interior design, which Bzura and Baker call ‘mod-beach,’ is that this chic store has the same feel as shopping in SoHo in New York City. Not only is the ambiance happy, so is the clothing, which is both fun and practical. Prices range from $38 Tom shoes to $200 cashmere cardigans and $400 dresses. Tom shoes, a traditional Argentine shoe, come in a variety of colors; for every pair purchased, the maker donates a pair of shoes to a child in need in South America. When Bzura and Baker planned the store, they envisioned it for women in their 20s to 40s. Although they’ve only been open since July 23 and business has been steady, they’ve had a few surprises. ‘We sold one shirt to a teenager and a 72-year-old grandmother bought the same shirt,’ said Bzura, who had not expected the crossover appeal. ‘A lot of clothes are so universal that you don’t have to be a certain age,’ said Baker, who had expected that the store would appeal to all ages. She did admit surprise that a 10-year-old purchased one of their t-shirts. ‘That’s the ease of the store,’ Baker said. ‘You should feel happy in your clothes,’ Bzura added. Both women lived in New York for about 10 years and met through their husbands. Bzura’s husband Andrew is the CEO of a hedge fund in Los Angeles. The Bzuras have two boys, Billy, 5, and Lucas, 1, and they moved from New York to the Highlands four years ago. Baker and her husband, David, who is in finance, have a daughter Elle, 3, and live in Brentwood. Baker had worked as a merchandiser for J. Crew, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Isaac Mizrahi, who ‘was a big mentor for me,’ she said. Baker dropped out of the fashion business just before September 11, 2001, and started working as a preschool teacher in New York City. A friend who worked as Ellen DeGeneres’ make-up artist convinced Baker to work as the star’s clothing stylist, which is what brought the Baker family to Los Angeles 18 months ago. Baker was nominated for an Emmy for dressing DeGeneres. With Bzura already in Los Angeles, the two friends reconnected and started talking about owning their own shop, which has since become a collaborative effort for both families. ‘I live in the Highlands,’ said Bzura, ‘and I thought this area needed a store like this.’ The store’s name came from Baker, who was watching a special program on happiness on CNN when an expert noted that optimistic people live longer. Baker thought ‘Happy’ would be a great name for a store because ‘the name epitomizes my attitude about life. I’m an optimistic person.’ She called Bzura and asked her how she felt about Happy for a store name. ‘Absolutely,’ Bzura said. They are already receiving good feedback from customers. ‘Everyone is happy to have us here,’ Bzura said. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact: (310) 459-5511.

‘Star Wars,’ the 30-year-old classic produced and directed by George Lucas, will open the fourth annual Movies in the Park season on Saturday, August 4, at 8 p.m. Presented by the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Movies in the Park committee, this free community event is held on the grass playing fields at the Palisades Recreation Center on Alma Real. Children and adults are invited to dress as their favorite ‘Star Wars’ character Saturday. Honorary Mayor Gavin MacLeod will serve as judge and then award gift certificates donated by Benton’s Sport Shop and Mogan’s Cafe for the best contestants. Arnie Wishnick, the Chamber’s executive director and currently on hiatus as the Palisadian-Post’s movie reviewer, recalls when he saw ‘Star Wars’ for the first time. ‘My wife Cathie and I saw the film on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in 1977 at the AVCO Theater in Westwood. I remember that we arrived in the early morning for the first showing of the day. The film had opened the previous Wednesday, but the line for the theater was around the block. As we stood in line, we heard the young people waiting in line reciting dialogue from the film. This meant that these fans had already seen the film one or more times in the past four days and that it was on its way to becoming a cult classic. More proof of this came when the film ended and everyone stayed in their seat just to watch the closing credits and listen to the wonderful John Williams score rather than immediately running out of the auditorium.’ This year’s major sponsor is again Greg Schem & Family, joined by the Galier Family as a generous supporting sponsor. The gold sponsor is Jackie Resnick of Mold USA, and silver sponsors are Erica Simpson (Paliskates), Ramis Sadrieh (Technology For You!), Shela Winston (Affinity Bank-Pacific Palisades), Pam Conway (Spot Runner), the Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades, California National Bank and Body Inspired Fitness. Donations have been received from Palisades Screen & Glass, the Denis and Betty Lee Family, Cheryel Kanan, Lee Calvert and Jenney Miller. At Movies in the Park, families and friends gather to watch films on a huge blown-up screen. Once again, local Boy Scouts will sell candy and soda, and popcorn will be available. Picnic baskets filled with goodies are welcomed, but please, no alcoholic beverages, stick chairs or pets. ‘One way or another we’ll have our traditional free hot dogs,’ said Mike Skinner of the Palisades Community Center Committee, ‘but we need two or three volunteers to work the grill from about 7 to 10 p.m. We can vouch for community service hours, or pay $15 an hour.’ His contact is (310) 478-5041.. Security will be provided by Bel-Air/ADT Patrol and maintenance will be handled by Chrysalis-Street Works. The Chamber has initiated a recycling program this year and requests that audience members use the recycling bins provided.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 Weekly campfire program in Temescal Gateway Park, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the campfire center past the General Store. Sing songs, tell stories, and roast marshmallows, courtesy of the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority. Admission is free; parking is $5. FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 Ongoing performances of the Theatre Palisades Youth production of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ 7:30 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Tickets are $12. Reservations: (310) 454-1970. Other performances are Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m. (See Melissa Beal’s review, page 11.) SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 Summer Splash, a free, family-oriented activity hosted by the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, 5 to 7 p.m., in the Y’s Temescal Canyon pool. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 Story-Craft Time, ‘suggested’ for ages 4 and up, 4 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Public invited. Tuesday Night Hikes with the Temescal Canyon Association will seek out the secret stairways of Pacific Palisades. Meet at 6 p.m. in the Temescal Gateway parking lot. Please, no dogs. Expect to be back between 8 and 9 p.m. Visit temcanyon.org or call (310) 459-5931. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 Monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades AARP chapter, 2 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. The public is invited. Refreshments will be served. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 Palisadian Ray Briem, for many years a late-night talk radio host, will talk about ‘The Political Radio and TV Fairness Doctrine,’ Palisades Rotary Club breakfast meeting, 7:15 a.m. at Gladstone’s restaurant, PCH and Sunset. Weekly campfire program in Temescal Gateway Park, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the campfire center past the General Store. Sing songs, tell stories, and roast marshmallows, courtesy of the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority. Admission is free; parking is $5. Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Public invited. Palisadian Dr. Stewart Lonky and Rik Deitsch discuss and sign ‘Invisible Killers: The Truth about Environmental Genocide,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. This is an expose about the environmental toxins that can build up in our bodies, causing disease and even death. Deitsch and Lonky identify the problems and offer solutions that will help you reduce your toxic burden and live a healthier, longer life. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 The Palisades-Malibu YMCA hosts a family kickball challenge for the entire community, 6 p.m., at the northeast corner of Temescal and Sunset. Residents are invited to enjoy a barbecue (for purchase) and friendly competition. Families are invited to make their own 9-player teams or join a team when they arrive. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place, and all ages are welcome. Parking in Temescal Gateway Park is $5.