It took every ounce of energy, every bit of skill and even a little help from a camcorder, but in the end Palisades High’s girls varsity volleyball team overcame a heckling crowd and a determined Santa Monica squad to prevail 25-17, 23-25, 27-25, 19-25, 15-13, in last Thursday’s intersectional match. After two and a half hours of intense give and take, all that separated the victors from the vanquished was four measley points. In fact, it was almost a carbon copy of last year’s match between rival beach schools, which Palisades won 17-15 in the decisive fifth game. “Their fans were yelling obnoxious things right when we were about to hit or about to serve,” said PaliHi junior hitter Alex Lunder, who finished with a match-best 20 kills and five stuff blocks. “It was sort of like Verdugo Hills [in the playoffs] last year. The crowd was very, very loud and it was hard to concentrate. When it was over I was really tired and hungry and I could barely lift my arm.” Pali junior Jennifer Donohue served an ace to end the first game, setting the stage for a bizarre sequence. With Santa Monica leading midway through Game 2, the head referee awarded the Vikings a point and a sideout when informed by the official scorer that Palisades had served out of rotation. Pali Head Coach Matt Shubin protested, even providing video proof that the player in question, setter Jenna McCallister, had served in turn. “We have one of our team managers record all of our matches so we can go back and review them later,” Shubin said. “We use it mostly as a learning tool but if it helps us settle an argument I guess that’s okay too.” The referees deliberated for 15 minutes and ultimately overturned the call. Santa Monica held on to win the game, but the Dolphins overcame a 24-21 deficit to steal Game 3 and built an 11-6 advantage in the fifth game before Lunder finally ended it with a crosscourt kill on Pali’s second match point. “Winning that match really brought us together as a team,” junior middle blocker Teal Johnson said. “Before that, we hadn’t hit that level yet. We hadn’t had to fight through that kind of adversity. It’s just what we needed heading into league.” Riding an emotional victory over Santa Monica, Shubin feared his team might suffer a letdown Monday in its Western League opener against Westchester. Instead, the Dolphins barely broke a sweat on their way to a 25-6, 25-8, 25-22 sweep at the Palisades Recreation Center gym. “Some of the other teams we play will be a little tougher than this one,” Johnson admitted. “I’m sure Venice will be much better–they always are.” Palisades was sharp from the get-go against the Comets. Freshman Tait Johnson, Teal’s younger sister, reeled off 15 straight service points to give Pali a commanding 18-3 lead in the first game and middle blocker Kelly Yazdi was a force at net in the second game Lunder and sophomore hitter Laura Goldsmith each had seven kills and libero Rachael Ehrlich served five aces as Pali built a seemingly insurmountable 20-8 lead in Game 3. The only drama occurred when Shubin opted to rest his starters, only to watch in dismay as Westchester began winning point after point and eventually caught Pali at 22-22. “I wanted to give the younger girls as much playing time as I could because they work hard in practice too,” Shubin said. “But I had to bring some of the starters back at the very end to make sure we won the game.” Palisades hosts Hamilton in a league match today at 3:30 p.m. and travels to University next Tuesday.
Carl Lewis Keeps Youth on Track
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
It’s been 10 years since Carl Lewis last stood on the victory platform at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta with a gold medal around his neck. He moved to Pacific Palisades six years ago and since his retirement from track and field, he has found numerous ways to keep busy. He has acted in movies (most recently “Material Girls,” in which he plays a newspaper reporter), written an autobiography and even created a website that “talks” to you. Now 45, he remains as outspoken today as he was at the height of his career. Lewis participated in four Olympiads and won nine gold medals, including four at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He won the 100 meters twice, the 200 meters once, the 4 x 100 Relay twice and the long jump four times. He was voted “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee and named “Olympian of the Century” by Sports Illustrated. He was also instrumental in transforming his sport from amateur to professional status, paving the way for today’s athletes to earn more money and endorsements than ever before. Aside from his unparalleled accomplishments in track and field, what Lewis is most proud of is the Carl Lewis Foundation, a nonprofit organization he founded in 2001 in an effort to help inner city and abused and neglected youth feel good about themselves through fitness and educational programs. On Saturday, October 14, his Foundation is sponsoring the Carl Lewis Family Fitness 5K Run/Walk at The Home Depot Center in Carson. Palisadian-Post Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo caught up to Lewis recently to talk about his Foundation, his career and his life in the Palisades… PP: What was your motivation for starting the Carl Lewis Foundation? CL: I’ve always enjoyed being active in the community. I used to live in Houston and I was involved in Best Buddies and the Special Olympics there. I have a sincere desire to help kids because my mom and dad were teachers. It is so important for our young people to have good self-esteem. That is what builds a solid foundation for life. PP: Where will the proceeds from the Carl Lewis 5K Run/Walk go? CL: The whole event is benefiting the American Diabetes Association. So many people, my own family included, have either been afflicted with it themselves or know someone who has and it is important to raise the awareness. Anyone can participate in the 5K and we’re handing out awards for the top three finishers in each age division. PP: When did you realize it was time to call it a career? CL: After I won that last medal. I remember stepping off the podium and I felt total closure. I knew right there that I was done. Since then, I can honestly say I haven’t had any desire to compete. In fact, what I miss more than anything else is working out with my teammates. PP: What was your favorite event? CL: The long jump, without a doubt. The reason is that there are so many variables that come into play. I think the reason I was so successful is that I was consistent. In my last two Olympics I started my jump 8-10 inches behind the board just to be safe but I made up for it because I didn’t have to decelerate. You have to be technically sound to succeed. PP: More and more athletes are testing positive for steroids. What needs to be done to clean up not just track and field, but all sports? CL: There are three things that need to happen. First and foremost, athletes need to speak up about it. Otherwise, they may as well stop testing. Secondly, every athlete who tests positive needs to be investigated thoroughly. Thirdly, the federations that conduct the tests and institute the laws need to be held accountable. But it needs to start with the athletes themselves. PP: Why are athletes willing to jeopardize their health and risk being caught? CL: Sports is about competition. Everyone wants to be the best at what they do. Athletes today are being paid so much money, too, and that is a factor. It comes down to how hard you work. You don’t have to cheat. You don’t have to take steroids. Nothing in the world would get me to try any of that. PP: What are some telltale signs that athletes might be using steroids? CL: Obviously, there are physical signs. For instance, I weigh 190 pounds now and I stayed between 175-185 pounds my entire career. The whole time I was training, my weight never fluctuated that much. You can also look at an individual’s age and performance. In track, for instance, if an athlete is running record times every meet that looks suspicious because the human body typically needs time to recover after a peak performance. PP: Flashing back to your first Olympics in 1984, when did you start to believe you could actually win four gold medals? CL: After finishing the Olympic Trials, I said to myself ‘I can do this.’ The reason is that by that point you pretty much know the competition. My mindset was this: ‘I’ve beaten these guys before, why can’t I do it again?’ Of course it’s easier said than done, but that’s the way you have to approach it. PP: Which of the four Olympics you competed in was the most difficult and why? CL: Seoul [South Korea] in 1988 was the hardest by far. The media pressure was intense because of my rivalry with Ben Johnson and because I brought the whole drug issue out in the open. I was only saying what everybody else knew but didn’t have the guts to say. PP: In the sprints, what lane would you pick to run in? CL: I actually preferred Lane Seven because it’s on the outside, the turn is less severe and I could concentrate better on running my own race. When you’re in the middle, you tend to get distracted by the guys around you. I never cared about being able to see anyone else. I was too locked in on what I was doing. PP: What made winning the 4 x 100 Relay in Barcelona so gratifying? CL: Even though I was sick during the Trials I still felt like I was the fastest man in the world. That was the only time I ever had the mindset that I really wanted to prove myself. Another reason that race was so special is that we set the world record on a day when I didn’t think we could do it because of the wind. PP: What do you enjoy most about living in the Palisades? CL: The main reason I moved here was to get into acting. I’ve lived in the Highlands for three and a half years and before that l lived up Bienveneda. I like it because it’s very low-key and community-oriented. It’s close to L.A. and yet the Palisades is its own little world. Also, there are so many famous people here that I’m just a face in the crowd. PP: Can you name a few things you like to do for fun? CL: I like to spend time with my family. I like to go talk to kids at schools. I actually do that quite a lot. I don’t go out to movies that much, although I will watch them at home. I like to eat at several restaurants in the village. PP: What do you to stay in shape these days? CL: Funny you should mention that. I’m participating in the Nautica Triathlon at Zuma Beach with my sister Carol and [Carl Lewis Family Fitness Run/Walk Event Coordinator] Kym Begel. Carol is swimming, I’m doing the bike portion and Kym is running. (Editor’s note: The trio finished eighth overall in the Co-Ed Celebrity division at the Nautica Triathlon on September 17, completing the half-mile swim, 18-mile bike ride and four-mile run in 1 hour, 55 minutes and 21 seconds. Carol Lewis and Kym Begel (formerly Carter) are also ex-Olympians. Carol competed in the long jump at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and Begel was a heptathlete at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain.) PP: What words of wisdom can you pass on to youth in our society? CL: Make your life relevant. Be somebody, do something meaningful. Stand up for what you believe in and don’t be afraid to let people see who you are. To register for the Carl Lewis Family Fitness 5K Run/Walk online, log on to www.w2promo.com or call 310-828-4123. For more information about the Carl Lewis Foundation, visit the Web site at www.carllewis.com.
A Frank Look at Wright’s Fellowship
A new book exposes Frank Lloyd Wright’s cloistered Taliesin Fellowship as a less than ideal world for young architects.
No individual in American architecture has a more towering legacy than Frank Lloyd Wright. Perhaps equal in fame to Wright’s long career as an architect is his turbulent private life, a subject almost as well-documented as his buildings. Scandal and controversy were a constant throughout his life, beginning in 1909 when he abandoned his wife and family and sailed to Europe with the wife of one of his clients, Mrs. Edwin Cheney. Wright’s life with his third and final wife, Olgivanna, and their establishment of an architectural colony where he trained hundreds of devoted apprentices is now the focus of a new book ‘The Fellowship: The Untold Story of Frank Lloyd Wright & The Taliesin Fellowship’ (Harper Collins), co-authored by Roger Friedland and Harold Zellman. The Fellowship began at Taliesin, Wright’s estate in Spring Green, Wisconsin in 1932 and a second outpost, Taliesin West in Arizona, was established in 1937. As conceived by Wright and Olgivanna, the Fellowship was to be a self-contained, self-sustaining community of apprentices who would learn and practice the philosophy of organic architecture. Unconventional from the start, the Fellowship had cultish overtones, with residents forbidden from forming outside relationships and not allowed to leave without permission. The drawing card was the magnetic power and genius of Wright. All of Wright’s late masterpieces–Fallingwater, the Johnson Wax Administration Building and the Guggenheim Museum–were realized as part of the Taliesin Fellowship, yet the idealistic village Wright and Olgivanna hatched and reigned over was not exactly utopia. Their minions were overwhelmingly male, many homosexual, and they often paid a high personal price for their loyalty, a quality often cruelly manipulated by the famously outsized ego of their ‘master,’ and his controlling wife. The influence of the Greek-Armenian mystic Georgi Gurdjieff, who Olgivanna considered her spiritual master, is a thread throughout the book, with Gurdjieff’s teachings about transcendence and self-awareness coming to bear on the Fellowship at Taliesin. Marketed by Harper Collins as ‘an unforgettable story of genius and ego, sex and violence, mysticism and utopianism,’ the book is an unusual hybrid of page-turning storytelling–often unflinching in its sordid details–rooted in solid, groundbreaking scholarship. Ten years in the making, the epic-sized publication was co-authored by Roger Friedland, a professor of religious studies and sociology at UC Santa Barbara, and Harold Zellman, an architect and historian whose firm, Harold Zellman and Associates, is based in Venice. The two first collaborated in 1997 as Getty fellows working on a chapter for another book about Crestwood Hills. Their research on two former members of the Fellowship led to rare access to Wright’s archives in Scottsdale. ‘It became clear pretty quickly that this Fellowship was something beyond just a labor pool for Frank Lloyd Wright,’ Zellman says. ‘It was a very grand idea indeed, much more so than had ever been represented in previous histories.’ During a recent interview in his Pacific Palisades home, Zellman spoke at length about the book, a project he’s been consumed by for more than a decade. How did the Taliesin Fellowship first come about? Zellman: When Wright formed the Fellowship in 1932, he was out of work and it was three years into the Depression. In fact, he hadn’t had any serious amount of work since the 1920s. It wasn’t the Depression that caused all the problems. He was in deep trouble long before that in part because of his scandalous personal behavior. He was completely written off by architectural critics and historians at that point. There’s the famous line by Philip Johnson who, when asked about Wright, referred to him as the greatest architect of the 19th century. Behind that quip was a very serious and widespread belief that his career was over. The Fellowship certainly, in part, was inspired by a need to survive and to support Taliesin, which was an enormous and emotionally important part of Wright’s life. The bank was forever trying to repossess it. He desperately needed a financial base outside of his architectural practice, and that’s what the Fellowship was designed to be. It’s not that he didn’t have an interest in passing on his ideas about organic architecture, but there was a strong financial motivation, too. What kind of instruction did apprentices receive from Wright? Zellman: Wright was very hostile to formal education. His idea was that the way to learn architecture was by apprenticing and working on projects. The problem was he had no projects; that’s where the moxie comes in. He promoted this idea of the Fellowship, and many young people came without having any idea he had no work. What the apprentices did for a long time, for close to two years, was work on his estate, farming, cooking and serving meals. This worked into Wright’s theory of education: you can’t design a kitchen unless you’ve worked in one. Early on they got one really small house project and, with 30 apprentices, only a couple of them could be doing any kind of architecture work. There was a lot of frustration among apprentices, and many left. Some of them took to going at night into Wright’s vaults of drawings and independently studying them in order to learn something. Wright wasn’t about to start giving lectures and forming classes because that was the approach to education he very publicly reviled. In the book, you conclude that ‘the Fellowship did a better job of making architecture than of making architects.’ How so? Zellman: Many detected early on there was no opportunity for upward mobility. The highest rank you could expect to achieve was something called senior apprentice. Our conclusion after interviewing a lot of these people is that if you had any kind of strong sense of yourself and were looking for your own voice as an architect, there was no room for you there. There were several people, Fay Jones is a good example, who figured it out right away. He left within three months, and went on to an important career. However, many stayed long periods of time. Not everyone had huge ambitions. Many felt honored to be in Wright’s presence and to be serving this larger purpose. From their point of view, as they told us, they could be out in the world and doing mediocre, unimportant things or they could be devoting their life to what they considered to be this extraordinary architect. How did the Fellowship fit into Wright’s grander vision of restructuring American society? Zellman: Wright had an idea that pretty much developed around the same time as the Fellowship, a scheme for decentralizing America. He was very hostile toward the modern industrial city and, of course, it’s well-known how he was partial to the relationship of architecture and nature. He saw the city as alienating citizens from nature, among other things. He, like many others, was critical of the impact of industrialization—traffic, pollution–all those things we still really haven’t figured out how to deal with. Out of this critique of the industrial city, Wright came up with this alternative pattern of settlement called Broadacre City, essentially a network of relatively small villages connected by rail and highways. Ultimately, his dream was that cities would disappear. At the same time he was forming the Fellowship he wrote a book called ‘The Disappearing City,’ and he meant that quite literally. It was his hope that New York and Chicago and all these American cities would completely disappear and be replaced by a network of small, close to nature, village-like communities which, not coincidentally, were to be governed by architects. He saw the Fellowship as a seed people could replicate. This would be the method by which these Broadacre Cities would emerge. Did you set out to knock the mythical Wright slightly off his pedestal by unearthing more of his dark side? Zellman: We didn’t set out to do anything like that. The logic is almost the reverse. It isn’t so much what we did, but how other people treated him who have done research. The Wright bibliography is enormous. Architectural historians have tended to focus on, as they should, the architecture. There’s also been a number of pure biographies over the years, many fine ones, such as Brendan Gill’s ‘Many Masks,’ that started to move in the direction of demystifying Wright. Essentially, we just went where the information took us. One of the biggest advantages was that we weren’t writing a full-life biography, so it allowed us to dig a little deeper into this part of his life. We made a commitment to write the book and portray Wright as we understood him from our sources. If there were any marching orders we gave ourselves, it was not to use genius as a sort of rationalization for his behavior, as many of his followers tended to do. If he did horrible things to somebody, he did horrible things to somebody. In the end, people are pretty shocked by what they’ve read. It’s what we learned. Do you mind that some reviews have focused on the more sensational aspects of the book, in particular the chapter entitled ‘The Sex Clubs?’ Zellman: Aspects of sexuality that appear in the book are essential aspects of the Fellowship. It’s in no way gratuitous. This was an insular place, a world unto itself in which all satisfactions were to be found within. It’s evident in the structure and organization of the place, one that was predominately male, that there was a problem of sexuality. Olgivanna set about to solve or at least control it. Early on–and this is one of the most shocking aspects of the book to most people–she tried to encourage a certain amount of homosexuality at the Fellowship. She understood that if people didn’t find sexual release, they wouldn’t stay. It wasn’t that gay men joined disproportionately, but they stayed disproportionately, often rising to the ranks of the inner circle. Olgivanna also encouraged married women to spread themselves around in order to deal with the gender imbalance. You might say it was an experiment within an experiment. She had a problem and sought to solve it. But there was huge price paid. How did you manage to take years of scholarly research and cast it in the form of a compelling narrative? Zellman: That was the charge and that’s what we wanted to do. We didn’t want to write a book that was only of interest to scholars. It’s really an exercise in storytelling. We wanted to give a visceral sense of what it was like to be with Frank Lloyd Wright and in his world, to create an intimacy between people and the day-to-day life of the Fellowship. We also wanted to bring out of the shadows of history books these people who had devoted their lives to Wright, to give them a voice.
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AWARD-WINNING MASSAGE by Natalie. Deep tissue specialist. Call (310) 993-8899. www.massagebynatalie.faithweb.comPOOL & SPA SERVICES 13e
SWIMMING POOL SERVICE. Repair – Remodel – Over 20 yrs exper. – Licensed. Call (310) 230-POOLWINDOW 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 20 years Westside. Clean and detailed. Free estimates, sills and screens included. Up to two stories only. Brian, (310) 289-5279PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g
BE HAPPY TO COME HOME! Trusted house/pet care in & around Palisades since 1986. Educated, responsible. (310) 454-8081 PET HEAVEN – TOTAL PET CARE. Training. Walking. Playgroups and hikes. 30 years Pali resident. References. Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog. HAPPY PET – Dog Walking – Park Outings – Socialization. Connie, (310) 230-3829 FOR ALL YOUR PET NEEDS! Daily doggie walks – Overnight stays in my WLA home. Call Rosa, (310) 779-8643 TRUSTED HOUSE/PET CARE in Palisades area. Retired teacher with 3 golden retrievers. Walking, playgroup pet therapy. References. Call Chris, (310) 454-4768SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d
PIANO INSTRUCTION. Give the life-long gift of music! Very patient, creative teacher. Music degree, USC. Qualified, experienced, local. Lisa Lukas, (310) 454-0859. www.palisadesmusicstudio.com MUSICAL TRAINING IN YOUR HOME. Piano – Voice – Guitar – Drums – Percussion. “Genius Without Education Is Like Silver In The Mine” -Franklin. Call Cathleen, (310) 390-1969 START YOUR FALL SCHEDULE WITH PIANO LESSONS! Mozart would approve! All ages. (310) 453-1604 DRUM LESSONS WITH A FORMER BLUE MAN! For kids of all ages! Individual & group sessions available. Call Andrew, (773) 405-5576 LOCAL CREDENTIALED TEACHER. Experienced tutor specializing in math & science. Works well with students with special learning needs. Call Carole at (310) 749-3378 SINGING LESSONS – ALL LEVELS – ALL AGES – All styles – Specializes in young voices. My home or yours. Kelly Kernohan, (310) 575-3756TUTORS 15e
INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. EXPERIENCED TUTOR 20+ YEARS. Children & adults, 20+ yrs teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly special ed teacher. Call (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 EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR – All ages – All levels – Local refs – Flexible hrs. Noelle, (310) 273-3593 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 TUTORING. Specializing in math! Elementary thru college level. Test prep, algebra, trig, geom, calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722 WRITER/TUTOR/EDITOR: Middle school college. Excellent time to complete college application essays. FARE FEES References available. Call Karen, (310) 230-7856 ESSAY WRITING EXPERT! Excellent instruction from a Harvard graduate who specializes in expository writing. PERFECT PREPARATION for college applications. Call Andrew, (773) 405-5576 PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTOR (mathematics, science, SATs, ACTs) 9+ yrs exper., UCLA graduate w/ degree in Mathematics. 1st lesson half off! Please call Janice, (949) 351-5717; www.TheLATutor.com MATH & SCIENCE TUTOR, Middle school-college level. BS LAUSD credentialed high school teacher. Test Prep. Flexible hours. Available to help NOW! Seth Freeman, (310) 909-3049 SCIENCE & MATH TEACHER for hire. SUPER ORGANIZER. Start on the right foot! B.S. Biochemistry, SUNY Stony Brook, M.A. Columbia Univ. Teachers College. Certified New York, (Westchester) public school teacher, now teaching in LA! Prefer students 7th grade to College. Practice tests available! SAT II subject test coaching! Academic progress monitoring & notebook organization! Alex Van Name, (310) 295-8915 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS IN THE PALISADES. Energetic and experienced school band teacher provides positive instruction for students of any age. Piano, flute, saxophone, clarinet and oboe. I come to you. Karen, (310) 454-2747CABINET MAKING 16
CUSTOM WOODWORK AND CABINETS. Craftsmanship quality, 20 years experience, local resident. Local references available. General Contractor Calif. License #402923. Ron Dillaway, (310) 455-4462. rondillaway@yahoo.comCONCRETE, 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.comCONSTRUCTION 16d
CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237 ALAN PINE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR. New homes – Remodeling – Additions – Kitchen & bath. Planning/Architectural services – Licensed & Insured. #469435. (800) 800-0744 or (818) 203-8881ELECTRICAL 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 (Not lic.). Please Call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286FENCES 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 16l
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. Senior 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 & refinishing. National Wood Flooring Association member. Lic. #732286 Plenty of local references. (877) 622-2200. www.goldenhardwoodfloors.comHANDYMAN 16n
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) 455-0803 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 THE HANDY GUY. Any job, big or small. Over 16 years experience. Lic #B-858574. We’re proud to donate our services to Habitat for Humanity. (310) 216-9034 PETERPAN – Quality home repair. Serving entire Westside. (Not lic.) Ask for Peter, (310) 663-3633 LOCAL ENGLISH HANDYMAN serving the Palisades 10 years. You can trust me to do the job right. Hourly rates/bids. Not lic. (310) 454-3838 – (310) 367-6383 HANDYMAN – PAINTING – DRYWALL REPAIRS – Water damage repair – Small carpentry work – molding & crown molding. 17 years EXCELLENT service & experience. FREE ESTIMATES! Call (310) 502-1168. Non-lic.HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16o
SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16q
PAUL HORST – Interior & Exterior – PAINTING – 52 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 SPIROS PAINTING, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR. Painting on the Westside since 1980. Lic. #821009. Fax and phone: (310) 826-6097. NO JOB is too small or too big for Spiro the Greek ZARKO PRTINA PAINTING. Interior/Exterior. 35 years in service. License #637882. Call (310) 454-6604 “WE SEAL LEAKS” +, carpentry, painting, roofing, masonry, tile, patios, gutters, windows, skylights, landscaping, retaining walls, drainage, stucco, plaster, concrete asphalt, remodels. (310) 457-4652PLUMBING 16s
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 EXCELLENT PLUMBER.14 years experience – Non-lic. Call Juan, (310) 966-7341, cellREMODELING 16u
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) 455-0803 COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION. New homes, kitchen+bath remodeling, additions. Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large and small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction today, (310) 230-2930ROOFING 16v
EARLY 2 BED, EARLY 2 RISE, We seal leaks & advertise carpentry, painting, roofing, masonry, tile, gutters, windows, skylights, landscaping, drainage, stucco, plaster, concrete, asphalt. (310) 457-4652. Non-lic.HELP WANTED 17
DRIVERS: EARN MORE AT WERNER ENTERPRISES. Western region runs. Also seeking inexperienced and seasonal drivers. (800) 346-2818 ext 123 LADY WANTED FOR LIVE-IN position. Light housekeeping. Help with handicapped daughter. (310) 457-3393 MOTHER’S HELPER wanted for 4-month-old boy. About 10 hours/week, flexible times. High school/college student preferred. Approx $8/hr. Call Nicole, (310) 573-1695 HAIR STYLIST STATION for rent in friendly work environment. Back bar shampoo, laundry included, parking available. In heart of Palisades Village. (310) 454-3521 PR/ADMIN: PRESTIGIOUS ORTHODONTIC Office in Pacific Palisades. Great position. Full time or part time. Will train and reward. (310) 454-0317 ADMIN: PRESTIGIOUS ORTHODONTIC Office in Pacific Palisades. Great position. Full time or part time. Will train and reward. (310) 454-0317 GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE in Pacific Palisades seeking a front office/patient coordinator. Special opportunity for energetic, optimistic, detail oriented individual with great people skills. Help us pamper our patients in a warm and caring environment. Send resumes via fax (310) 454-3168 or e-mail dremmakim@sbcglobal.net WANTED: INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES, Kenter Canyon Elementary. Mon.-Fri. 60 units of college education, assist teachers. “Making a difference in a child’s life, Priceless.” Fax resume: (310) 476-9189 NEEDED AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR 7-year-old boy. Highschool student with car ok. 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday and possibly other days. Call Deidra, (310) 450-3889 TELEVISION PRODUCTION CO looking for telephone solicitors for new sports show on ESPN. Call (310) 476-1924 FULL OR PART TIME RETAIL SALES position available. Also seeking notary public position. Good pay. Inquire within. Mail Boxes Etc., Pacific Palisades. Carey, (310) 459-7939 DRIVER FOR CHILDREN NEEDED, ages 10 & 15. After school hockey from Palisades to El Segundo & back. CDL, good record, insurance. Please call Dana, (310) 428-4822 NEW PALISADES BOUTIQUE seeking P/T sales person or F/T sales manager. Retail exper required. Retail Pro, QuickBooks exper desired. Call (310) 230-1249 or email resume & refs to sarajstein@yahoo.com FULL TIME HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED 2 working adults. Must drive, have California license, insurance. Light cooking, shopping, errands, knowledge of Palisades, Santa Monica. (310) 459-3091 ESCROW OFFICER & ASSISTANT wanted F/T. Make a positive change now. Call Sharon, (310) 451-5411 Fax resume: (310) 458-1988 SPECIAL NEEDS NANNY, PART TIME for the care of our beautiful son. M-W & Fri., 3:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. in the Highlands. Our son’s challenges from CP include: communication/articulation, feeding/chewing, balance/walking, life skills. We seek an experienced nanny, nurse, PT student or Sp. Ed. professional confident in the care of a moderately challenged, but capable child. This is a “hands-on” position requiring multi-tasking, reliability and maturity, giving back enormous gratification. Legal, sec. ck, references, payroll & transportation to our home required. Work experience can be documented toward degree. Salary negotiable DOE. Email resume/summary: KCARNO@AOL.COMAUTOS 18b
1989 CADILLAC EL DORADO super clean, 112K, new alt., new battery, new radiator, new front brakes. $3,000 obo. Ask for Roger, mention ad: (310) 450-5644 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 59,000 miles, excellent shape. Original owners moved to India. $16,000 OBO. Call John, (310) 390-5144FURNITURE 18c
BALDWIN BABY GRAND piano, black. $3,000 obo. (310) 472-0883GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
GARAGE SALE! Women’s clothing (small)/furn/kitchen ware/pottery/items galore! 1101 Hartzell, Pacific Palisades Saturday, September 30th, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE YARD SALE! Furniture, clothing, kitchenware, kids stuff, antiques, jewelry & much much more. 861 Chattanooga Ave., Pacific Palisades. Saturday, Sept. 30th, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ESTATE SALE, SANTA MONICA. Fri.-Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 370 25th St., between San Vicente & Montana. Antiques, residential furn/China, crystal, kitchen & garage items. Complete household. Pacific Estate Sales SANTA MONICA ESTATE MOVING SALE. Bronze, porcelain, paintings, designer-antique furniture, books. Fri. & Sat., 9/29 & 9/30, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 1110 20th St., front unitPETS, LIVESTOCK 18e
HORSE FOR HALF-LEASE in Pacific Palisades – Some exp. req. Call Kelly, (310) 666-7038MISCELLANEOUS 18g
SAILPLANE. I-35 SN15 w/ trailer, retractable, water, oxygen, ready to fly. Sierra Waves, $15,000. (310) 454-5367 / 633-3740 or atg4jsg@aol.com YAMAHA C3 GRAND PIANO for sale. Shiny black Japanese model 2 pedal $9,000. Schafer & Sons baby grand, black satin finish, $3,950 both pianos, excellent condition. Please call Natasha, (310) 454-7665WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.comKnock, Knock: The Doc Calls
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Dr. Timothy Lee pulled up in front of Genevieve Kvasnicka’s home about 10 minutes before their 1 p.m. appointment. Dressed in slacks, a shirt and tie, he parked his black BMW across the street and, with a stethoscope around his neck and a black leather bag in hand, strode up the driveway of her one-story home in the quiet, Inglewood neighborhood. “She’s one of my favorite patients,” Lee said of Genevieve, 86, who greeted the doctor in her embroidered house dress and white slippers. Instead of a shivering in a sterile white room on a doctor’s table covered with a thin sheet of paper, Genevieve sat comfortably in her living room chair, with her four-wheel walker a foot away. Lee sat in an identical armchair on the other side of a wooden side table. Medical house calls are an old-fashioned concept but a new way of living for patients like Genevieve, who is part of a Care Level Management-Medicare three-year pilot program providing doctor house calls to chronically ill elderly. The program, called Personal Visiting Physician (PVP), began a year ago when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded Care Level Management a contract to test the effects of increased access and quality of care to chronically ill elderly, and to study the effects of doctor house calls on cost savings to Medicare. In October 2005, 15,000 qualified beneficiaries in California, San Antonio, Texas, and the Orlando/Melbourne area of Florida became eligible for the project. Medicare’s selection criteria for qualified beneficiaries included patients with two chronic illnesses and with a history of at least two hospitalizations within the past 12 months. Genevieve suffers from gastritis, severe arthritis and anxiety, which elevates hypertension. “I’m old,” she explains. “I’ve fallen so many times. I’ve hurt myself and I’ve had broken ribs.” Since Genevieve started the PVP program five months ago, Lee has identified some of the sources of her problems and helped alleviate her anxiety. For example, he was able to see for himself that she needed a bed with side rails to prevent her from falling out of bed at night. He also walked around her house to make sure there were no “trip hazards.” Lee sees Genevieve once a month for routine check-ups that last 30 minutes to an hour. Genevieve also has the doctor’s cell phone number for direct, 24-hour access, and he is available to come to her house at any hour of the day, any day of the week. On this recent visit, he chats with her while checking her vital signs. Lee: Are you drinking plenty of water? Genevieve: Three to four bottles a day. Lee: Exercising? Genevieve: Not much. Because the [physical] therapist didn’t come. Lee tells her that it’s important that her caretaker get her outside to walk in the neighborhood. Genevieve’s husband died in June 2005 and her children don’t live in the vicinity, so a caretaker comes three times a week to take her to appointments and run errands. When Lee takes her blood pressure, he is pleased that it’s at 114/78, compared to last month when it was 160. He quickly accesses this data by pulling his laptop computer from his black bag and unfolding it on his lap, where he can then make notes and update her charts. Lee also has an hand-held wireless PDA (personal digital assistant) that he can use to look up hospital files and send e-mails to the office. Lee: How did the appointment with the ophthalmologist go? Genevieve: I was going to have cataract surgery, but now he’s going to try changing my glasses. As Lee talks to Genevieve, who has glaucoma, he discovers that she has stopped taking one of her eyedrop medications and asks her to show him the other medications she’s taking. He does this mainly so that he can observe how she gets up and moves around the house. From the living room, he peers around the doorway at the exact moment he knows she’ll be crossing the hallway into her bedroom. Prior to her experience with the PVP program, Genevieve was frustrated with the health-care system, mainly because her primary care physician “didn’t pay much attention to me.” In recent years, she was in and out of the hospital for six months straight, and says, “They didn’t tell me much. They just let me lie there.” “I think time is the issue,” says Lee, who is board certified in family practice. “With today’s health care system and insurance, medicine is almost a volume practice. You give the best care you can, but you have to keep in mind that you have another five patients to see in that hour. I don’t have the pressure of another patient.” Lee earned his medical degree from UCLA and completed his residency program at USC and California Hospital. A father of three, he closed his private practice last October and joined Care Level Management in November. He is one of about 100 physicians currently employed by the company. “I have a young family,” he explains. “It was time to cut back [hours].” Lee usually makes seven to eight house calls a day. “It’s a different way of helping patients. You establish a rapport with your patients, gain trust faster and meet their families.” When he first took on Genevieve as a patient, Lee says, “She was a very anxious person. Her blood pressure was all over the place. Her appearance was not the best.” Knowing that Lee is a phone call away has helped ease her anxiety. He says she’s more mobile and talkative, and his routine visits have given her something to prepare for. “It’s a social call as well as a medical call,” Lee says. “She’s at home and she’s comfortable. I’m the stranger here. I’m out of my element because I’m not in a white coat.” Equipped with many of the tools one would see in a doctor’s office, including a glucometer to measure blood sugar, eye equipment, and even a portable scale, Lee can perform a variety of tests at a patient’s home. He takes Genevieve’s temperature and measures the oxygenation of her blood with pulse oximetry, a sensor placed on her fingertip. He listens to her lungs and heart with his stethoscope. When Lee presses lightly on Genevieve’s stomach, she tells him that someone brought her a casserole yesterday. Later, he goes to look in her refrigerator and cupboards to make sure she has food and, most importantly, water. Her freezer is stocked with Lean Cuisine meals, and she has water bottles in the cupboards. Genevieve asks Lee to change her sleep medication, which she says isn’t working any more. He encourages her to exercise and says he will try to find her another sleep agent, although he’s hesitant to give her something that might be addictive. “My prescription for sleep is: Tire yourself out during the day,” Lee says. “My guess is you’re just too rested.” With a cell phone attached to his ear, Lee calls in Genevieve’s five refill prescriptions while she watches him closely. “He’s a good doctor,” she says. “He’s kind and he listens.” Visiting physicians are “the eyes and ears for the doctors in the office,” says Lee, who believes that people get better at home faster than in any ER. However, he adds that he would not hesitate to send one of his patients to the ER in an emergency. There are also certain “sensitive” exams and procedures, such as mammograms, that he cannot perform at a patient’s home. Beginning this month, a new group of 13,600 chronically ill patients will be invited to participate in Care Level Management’s PVP program. Medicare estimates that chronically ill elderly make up only 3 to 5 percent of beneficiaries, or approximately 1.5 million Americans. This top 5 percent uses 43 percent of total Medicare costs, primarily through hospitalization. Medicare estimates that the beneficiaries selected for this pilot currently cost the program $800 million annually. Working with managed care operations in six major cities across the nation, the PVP program has reduced acute hospital admission by an average of 60 percent, resulting in an average net savings of 30 percent in institutional costs alone. “House calls,” Lee says, “is a completely different world for patients. They’re getting health care where they would not otherwise have it.” For more information on the PVP program, visit www.carelevel.com.
Pali Film Fest Screens Doc on Vote Robbery
The Palisades Film Festival presents “American Blackout,” a multiple award-winning film directed by Ian Inaba that chronicles the recurring patterns of voter disenfranchisement witnessed from 2000 to 2004, on Sunday, September 24, 7:30 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse on Temescal Canyon Road at Haverford. The events in the film are told through the life of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who took an active role investigating the scrubbing of the Florida voter rolls and then found herself in her own election debacle after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the terrorist attacks of 9/11. “American Blackout” travels from Florida to Georgia to Ohio, examining the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence political dissent. “Cries from Ramah” will also be screened. Written by Nathan Scoggins, the 15-minute film is a story about two mothers, an Israeli and a Palestinian, who lose their sons in a suicide bombing and then meet in a Tel Aviv police station. “After the finger pointing is done, we usually still have a problem to work out,” says Friends of Film director Bob Sharka. “‘Cries From Ramah’ illustrates this often-overlooked fact in a brilliant 15-minute piece that will surely capture the attention of the Oscar votes.” For more information, visit www.AmericanBlackout.com.
Young Palisadians
Calvary Students Chosen for Youth Leadership Council Six Calvary Middle School students were selected by their teachers to participate in The Congressional Youth Leadership Council in June 2006. Scott Sanford, McKenzie Caldwell, Tyler Caldwell, Michael Johnson and Olivia Faze and Allison Van Konynenburg attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference, which is designed to sharpen their awareness of current affairs and to strengthen their leadership potential. The theme of the conference was “The Legacy of American Leadership,” and they examined the concept of leadership in the context of historical events and time periods ranging from Colonial America to the present. Students were introduced to leadership skills and attributes such as character, goal-setting and teamwork. They participated in leadership groups and studied a particular historical time period or event that became the focus of their work for the week. In addition, they visited historic locations from Harper’s Ferry to the monuments and museums of Washington, D.C. They led exercises and activities designed to enhance critical thinking skills and promote problem solving, which exposed them to different ways of thinking. o o o TOMMY SANFORD, son of Scott and Carolyn Sanford, completed an Outward Bound Passages expedition with Thompson Island Outward Bound. Passages is an adventure-based course for 12- and 13-year old boys that encourages teamwork and compassion. This expedition includes activities such as hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, high ropes courses and sea kayaking. Students hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, canoe on the Connecticut River, or sail and kayak in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. Of his experiences, Tommy’s favorite was spending the night on an island. “It was a sort of final test,” Tommy said. “We got to stay up from 6 until whenever we went to bed. It was great to really get to know the other guys… All in all, it was pretty fun.” Tommy is in seventh grade at Calvary Christian School.
Watercolorist Shows at Library
New works by Marilyn Mackie Hamilton, whose technique is Chinese brush painting, are featured in a new show entitled “Garden of Delight” at the gallery of the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. An opening reception for the artist will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 23. The show continues through October 28. Contact: 463-4607.
Board Toughens Standards for Beaches
A decision last Thursday by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board promises to radically remove dangerous bacteria from L.A. beaches. Visitors to local beaches will benefit from the change in the form of fewer stomach, ear and respiratory infections, according to environmental groups. “My expectation is that we will have more bacteria-free days in the Santa Monica Bay,” said Fran Diamond, a board member and Pacific Palisades resident. “We won’t have to worry as much about people, especially children, getting sick at the beach.” The Board’s unanimous decision forces all cities and unincorporated areas within L.A. County to stop the flow of any dangerous bacteria into Santa Monica Bay through storm drains. The policy will affect only storm-water runoff during dry months of the year, April to October. Wet months of the year have significantly higher bacteria levels, which are more difficult to control during these months, November to March. Palisades, Malibu and Santa Monica beaches have the most to gain by this stringent regulation. In fact, the stretch of beach between Topanga Canyon and Chautauqua Boulevard has consistently ranked among the unhealthiest waters in California. An intricate web of storm drains winds through L.A. County, collecting animal and human waste along its way to local beaches. In the years before this decision, storm water, sometimes heavily laden with fecal bacteria, has been allowed to flow uninterrupted into Santa Monica Bay. The common result for swimmers and surfers is skin rash, eye and ear infections, respiratory disease and, most frequently, gastrointestinal illness (GI). But now, as a result of the decision, storm-water runoff will have to be diverted to sewage treatment centers. A UCLA-Stanford study, which was central to the Board’s decision, estimated that removing harmful bacteria from L.A. beaches during summer months would prevent as many as 804,000 people from contracting GI. They also estimated that the savings to public health could be as high as $28 million, for preventing GI cases alone. Environmental groups applauded the strict standards set by the new rule. A 1999 lawsuit against the EPA by Heal the Bay, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Santa Monica Baykeeper ultimately led to last week’s decision. Their suit charged the EPA with not enforcing the Clean Water Act of 1972. The environmental groups won the suit, and the Board was forced to make significant changes to L.A. County’s storm-water policy in order to comply with the Clean Water Act. “I think that Thursday’s decision was one of the most significant decisions to protect Santa Monica Bay in 30 years,” said David Beckman, director of the Coastal Water Quality Project at the NRDC. “The history of the past 30 years has shown that enforceable requirements like this one help the bay.” Although beachgoers will benefit from reduced bacteria levels, L.A. County and a large coalition of non coastal cities strongly opposed the regulations, citing the high costs of compliance. They also said that the UCLA-Stanford study overestimated public-health savings. In expectation of Thursday’s decision, the County has raced to divert the runoff to treatment plants and avoid daily fines as high as $32,000. But the County expects that avoiding fines in unincorporated areas such as Topanga will be a constant challenge. For small cities and unincorporated areas without sewer systems, diverting and treating storm water is more difficult and more expensive. Despite its large size, the City of L.A. has an extensive sewer system and treatment facility, so compliance has been easier. But for areas that rely on septic tanks rather than sewer systems, removing harmful bacteria requires building new treatment plants or paying the City to use its facilities. “It’s a zero-tolerance regulation, which sets us [the County] up for immediate violation,” said Mark Pestrella, assistant director of Pubic Works with L.A. County. “What we still don’t understand is why make an outright prohibition. [The problem] is so varied and complex that we want to be able to do this on a trial-and-error method.” Although the Board’s decision was not made official until last week, the new regulation has been expected for three years. During that time, the City of L.A. and the County spent millions to comply with the expected regulation. Of the 21 historically problematic storm drains in Santa Monica Bay, 18 have been restructured to divert urban runoff to the Hyperion sewage treatment center in El Segundo. There is now local evidence that those efforts have started to pay off. After two years of restructuring, Chautauqua’s storm drain, which collects runoff from Santa Monica Canyon, was largely free of harmful bacteria this summer for the first time in decades. Dozens of storm drains in the Bay still require restructuring. County authorities could not say how long it will take before all of their drains would meet the requirement. But the prospect of litigation could delay the need for the County’s cooperation. Environmental groups fear that a County appeal could delay or reverse the Board’s decision. The County Board of Supervisors is being briefed on the financial consequences of last Thursday’s decision, and the County has until October 14 to appeal the new regulation to the State Water Board.
Police Use Pepper Spray on Students after School
According to eyewitness accounts, LAUSD School Police responded to a complaint about skateboarders in the loading dock area behind Sav-on on Swarthmore at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Paul Revere eighth grader Harrison Ginsberg described what happened next. “The police said, ‘Everyone with a skateboard against the wall.’ When they saw I didn’t have a skateboard, they told me I could go.” Conor Ishimatsu, a ninth grader at Palisades High, told the Palisadian-Post: “Officer Taylor was about to write tickets to the skateboarders, when my friend walked by on the sidewalk.” The Los Angeles Municipal Code states that bikers and skateboarders under 18 are required to wear a helmet. Ishimatsu’s friend, a 14-year-old male, uttered a profanity at the police officer. The officer signaled the boy to come over, and cited him with California Penal Code, Section 415 (3): “Any person who uses offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.” The boy was handcuffed and put in the back of the police car. A 13-year-old male, who had come out of Sav-on and was walking towards the Village, saw his friend being put in the police car and went up to the officer. According to Ginsberg, the boy said, ‘I just want to know why you’re arresting my friend.'” “The officer grabbed the kid and turned him around and sprayed him in the face with mace,” Ishimatsu said. (The mace referred to by several witnesses was actually pepper spray.) Around this time, Palisades resident Philip Rose joined a gathering group of people walking towards Sav-on to see what was happening. “I saw this kid on the ground, with his backpack, handcuffed and crying desperately.” Rose went up to Officer Taylor and told him he knew the boy and would call his mother. “The officer swung around and pointed the mace at me. I backed off,” Rose said. “Then he started spraying mace like it was cologne in a department store.” Lanette Hackman, a mom who had come on the scene, said: “It was awful’a kid was lying on the ground throwing up and another kid was handcuffed, too. This little girl ran over to help the kid on the ground and she also got maced.” The “little girl” was actually Palisade High senior Jenna Caravello, who had been watching the incident with friends. Reports vary, but at least six other people were sprayed. Said tenth grader Elliot Karlin, “I called 911 because I wanted the police to control this cop because he was out of line.” Resident Elliot Zorensky, who watched the scene, said: “Instead of talking to the children, they used their force because they are police. These were just kids.” Paramedics from Station 69 arrived on the scene to treat people. According to one account, the teen on the ground was hyperventilating and vomiting. He was not released to paramedics by Officer Taylor until he had received a citation for “disobedience to a police officer.” At one point during the incident, school police put out a call for additional assistance. Four cars from Palisades Patrol, 11 LAPD patrol cars and an LAPD police helicopter responded, closing off a portion of Swarthmore. “We responded to a request involving a large disturbance,” said Officer Chris Ragsdale, who formerly worked in the Palisades. Sergeant Duane Smith, a supervisor with the LAUSD School Police Department, responded to the scene and said Wednesday: “The whole incident is under investigation and we are still collecting witness statements.” Witnesses who would like to offer statements can contact Smith at (213) 393-4718. Calls by the Palisadian-Post, seeking comment from the school police who were involved in the incident, were referred to Sgt. Smith.
