The Parish of St. Matthew and St. Matthew’s Parish School hosts its annual Christmas Faire at 6 p.m., Friday, November 17 at the Sprague Center, 1031 Bienveneda Ave. The annual event serves not only as a kick-off to the holidays but more importantly as a great way to help those less fortunate in our community. All of the proceeds go directly to the parish’s outreach partners–19 organizations in total. Among some of the local ministries that receive funds are Angel Interfaith Network, which provides housing and transportation for needy families with children at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center; OPCC, which provides food and shelter for the homeless and counseling and aid for victims of domestic violence; CLARE Foundation, which supports teens at risk for substance abuse; Common Ground, which supports HIV/AIDS- related services including education, prevention and counseling; and Westside Food Bank, among many others. The faire offers something for everyone to enjoy–including the gift boutique, which features handmade goods and unique specialty items; the food boutique, selling delicious homemade treats wrapped and ready to go; the St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop, which showcases some of its best finds; the wine auction for all the wine connoisseurs; the silent auction offering amazing items in categories such as travel, sports, jewelry, shopping and more; and the parties auction, which entices with a wide variety of fabulous parties, including a private art tour, in which guests will visit a world renowned private art collector’s collection and are treated to a fabulous dinner–and a ladies progressive shopping party, which will include cocktails and limousine transportation to preselected hot spots like Diane von Furstenberg and Tory Burch. This year’s Christmas Faire will also feature a raffle offering items such as iPod Nanos and UCLA basketball tickets. All of the funds from the raffle will be specifically used to support the work of the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA). Admission is free and open to adults and children over 12.
Nicole Vaupen, Brian Sheard Exchange Vows in Malibu
Nicole Vaupen and Brian Sheard were married on July 2 at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. About 120 people attended and judge Bernie Kamins (a Palisadian) performed the ceremony. Nicole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vaupen of Pacific Palisades, graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. degee in liberal studies in 1995. She spent the past 10 years teaching at Palisades Elementary Charter School. Recently she was promoted to assistant principal, splitting her time between Topanga Elementary and Kenter Elementary (both part of the Palisades Charter complex). Brian grew up in Brentwood and attended California School of Culinary Arts after graduating from Palisades High School. For the past four years he has been working as a sous chef at Napa Valley Grille in Westwood. The couple met 10 years ago at the Westside YMCA, where they both continue volunteer work with a residence camp summer program. They just purchased their first home in Mar Vista where they plan to live happily ever after with their dog Kona.
Marisa Aronoff and Thomas Cox Plan June Wedding
Steve and Marina Aronoff of Pacific Palisades announce the engagement of their daughter Marisa Lia Aronoff to Thomas Newton Cox of Branson, Missouri. Marisa attended Marquez Elementary, Paul Revere Junior High and Palisades High School. She is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, and works as a development and production executive for Fox Reality. Newt attended the University of Missouri. He is a freelance television writer and is currently working for the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show. The couple met while both were working for Comedy Central. They plan to be married on June 23 at Rancho Sol del Pacifico in Malibu.
Chautauqua: A Grove of Trees, A Body of Water
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Certainly no history of Pacific Palisades can be understood without knowledge of the Chautauqua movement, a phenomenon that grew out of the religious revival in the late 19th century, manifested in Protestant camp meetings across the United States. After the Civil War, large groups of people were attracted to the exhortations of evangelists who brought a personal message of salvation. At the same time, the lyceum movement began to flourish, which offered ordinary people the opportunity to expand their knowledge through the study of history, art, science and public issues. The Chautauqua movement grew out these social, religious and educational impulses that average middle class Americans enjoyed with their newfound leisure time following the Industrial Revolution. We can think of the Chautauqua assemblies as summer camps for adults with a religious, intellectual and recreational component. John Vincent, a Methodist minister from New Jersey who was involved in the countrywide Sunday school movement, and Lewis Miller, a successful businessman from Ohio who was superintendent of his Methodist Sunday school, founded the original Chautauqua in upstate New York. Both men valued Sunday school education, which in the late 19th- century was often the only opportunity ordinary people had for formal education. The men proposed offering a summer school to prepare Sunday school teachers, and opted to hold the first Chautauqua Sunday School Assembly in 1874 ‘in the woods’ on Lake Chautauqua in upstate New York, chosen for its convenience, ‘midway between Chicago and New York, and accessible by two railroad lines.’ ‘Chautauqua’ is an American Indian word that has been given several different meanings, among the most popular being a ‘bag tied in the middle,’ which describes Lake Chautauqua’s hourglass shape. The notion of holding the meeting outdoors was in tune with a popular belief at the time that nature has spiritual, inspirational and even curative powers, and displays the hand of God. In her new book ‘Frontier Chautauqua: The Chautauqua Movement on the Pacific Coast,’ Palisadian Betty Lou Young describes the extraordinary scope of these community gatherings, and characterizes in successive chapters the unique assemblies that took root in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Idaho. A noted historian and co-author of the definitive history of Pacific Palisades (‘From the Mountains to the Sea’), Young was logically the best one to bring this integral part of American education into a book, although, she says, her early knowledge of the Chautauqua movement was thin. ‘When Randy (son and co-author Randy Young) and I were asked to write a history of Pacific Palisades, I had only two connections with a Chautauqua: I grew up in Long Beach, the site of a large Chautauqua, and my husband Tom almost drowned in a swimming pool in Elsa, Illinois, the site of another Chautauqua on the Mississippi River.’ Chautauquas began to spring up around the country, spurred on by the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle students who were unable to make the long trip east to attend summer courses offered by the ‘mother’ Chautauqua. The ‘circles’ were sort of correspondence courses based on a letters and sciences curriculum, which by 1900 had an enrollment of more than 2.5-million students. Many communities started their own Chautauqua patterned after the New York Chautauqua Institution, and by the turn of the century, between 200 and 300 communities had established Chautauquas. Pacific Palisades was the site of the last, most ambitious Chautauqua, Young says. An outgrowth of the Methodist’s Chautauqua assemblies, the Palisades Chautauqua was always intended to be more than a summer assembly; it was to incorporate a town, from the beginning. As with many Chautauquas, the idea was to sell lots, with the proceeds helping to support the programs. Patterned on the ‘mother’ circle in upstate New York, the Palisades location was ideal. As with all outlying assembly leaders, the Palisades founders strived to emulate the original by locating their site in a grove of trees and on or near a body of water. ‘If the grove didn’t occur naturally, one was planted, and the bodies of water ranged from trickling brooks to frontage on the Pacific Ocean,’ Young writes. Dr. Charles Scott, charged with finding a location for a growing Methodist community in Los Angeles, held the first Methodist summer camp meeting in Rustic Canyon on a site that today remains the historic eucalyptus grove. He chose the level mesa to the west for the town. Pacific Palisades officially came into being in 1922, and the first Chautauqua and summer assembly began in Temescal Canyon that summer. For many years, large gatherings were held at the outdoor amphitheater, which held 1,600. Meals were served in the cafeteria (which still stands). Guests lived in tents or casitas, and the large assembly hall (tabernacle) hosted a variety of programs and lectures. Highlight of the first season was a performance by the world’s greatest contralto Madame Schumann-Heink. Other celebrities included Dr. Rufus B. von Klein Smid, president of USC, poet philosopher James W. Foley and a young baritone named Lawrence Tibbett. The opening of the new campus for UCLA in Westwood in 1929 also provided a broad range of intellectual talent for Pacific Palisades. Nationwide, the Chautauquas drew speakers from all fields, often men who were as renowned for their rhetorical flair as for the subject at hand. William Jennings Bryan, a prominent leader of the Progressive Movement and one of the most popular speakers in American history with his deep, commanding voice, was a popular draw. President Theodore Roosevelt was an anticipated speaker at the Yosemite Chautauqua, and John Muir gave lectures and led nature walks at the 1879 Yosemite assembly. Topics were controversial, such as women’s suffrage and evolution, but balanced with speakers on both sides of the issue. The aim of the founders was to provide learning with a religious bent, but without sectarian bias, in the belief that such programs would have a broad appeal for knowledge-hungry visitors. Although Young has traversed the Pacific Coast many times and visited numerous Chautauqua sites along the way, which she includes in her book, two favorites stand out. ‘Perhaps La Grande really got to me more than any other one,’ she says of the site on the banks of the Grande Ronde River in eastern Oregon. ‘There it is, way out in the east; there’s nothing out there. It feels like the bleakness of the Oregon Trail. But to those people, the Chautauqua meant so much. They believed so deeply in its values for opportunities for learning.’ La Grande was once touted as the pioneer Chautauqua assembly town in eastern Oregon, bringing music, light entertainment and philosophy right to the threshold, but the story ends sadly, as in the waning years the independent-spirited town struggled with recruiting talent. In what turned out to be the last summer (1924), they had invited three speakers to talk on utterly ridiculous topics, Young says. ‘The attendance was sparse, and due to the lack of printed programs, a large part of the audience left at intermission.’ On the other hand, Young picks Gladstone Park in the Willamette Valley and the third largest Chautauqua in the country after New York and Ocean Grove in New Jersey, as ‘the darndest place.’ ‘Eva Emery Dye ran it for 33 years and recruited great speakers, including rabbis and African Americans, and very daring programs, such as women’s suffrage,’ Young says. ‘She believed that ‘its intellectual privileges were meant to apply equally to college men and women and to worn-out farmers’ wives, teachers, preachers, and working men.” Although it survived for 35 years, Gladstone became more of a commercial enterprise, as did many assemblies, as they began to rely more on the Chautauqua circuit’s booking agency for ‘talent.’ Over the years, Young has visited Gladstone several times. She has befriended the head of the historical society and attended the summer festival, which they still call a Chautauqua. Events include games, carnival rides, tours of historic houses and Senior Citizens Day, featuring the crowning of a local resident as ‘Queen Victoria’ and recognition of her prime minister, ‘William Gladstone’–a surprise bestowed on Betty Lou and Randy one summer. Today, there are about 15 Chautauquas going strong across the country, and another 20 or 25 exist in some form, including the Chautauqua speakers’ series, sponsored by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy at the site of the original site in Temescal Canyon. Young has spent 20 years researching and writing this book, interrupted, she says, by other books, including the ‘Street Names of the Palisades’ and ‘Santa Monica Canyon: A Walk through History,’ yet her knowledge and fondness for all the sites she has visited remains fresh and lively. ‘I can smell a Chautauqua,’ she says. ‘I can go through a town, whether it’s Northampton, Massachusetts, or Biloxi, Mississippi. There is a feeling you get, where there is a grove of trees near a body of water, a funny feeling of peace.’
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE NOVEMBER 2, 2006 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
HOMES FOR SALE 1
LAS VEGAS HOMES, CONDOS. Interested in a 2nd home or relocation? I will customize a search free to you. Call Rob Steel, (702) 882-1454. Realty One Group, Robsellsvegas.comHOMES WANTED 1b
WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
DUPLEX, 863 HAVERFORD. $3,150/mo. Pets welcome. 2 bdrm, 1 ba, all app., gardener, garage & yard included near beach & village center, quiet street. Call Linda Taylor, agent, (310) 994-0168 CHARMING 3 BDRM, 1 3/4 BA HOUSE near El Medio bluffs, living room w/fireplace, formal dining room,study, laundry room, garage, walk-in closet, large backyard, new paint & carpeting. $5,000/mo. Call (310) 457-5657UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
SUNSET IN THE VILLAGE. Spacious 2 bdrm, 2 ba, newly renovated, walk-in closets. Gated parking, laundry. 1 yr lease. (310) 454-7743 CHARMING 1,200 SQ. FT. UPPER APT in Mediterranean triplex near bluffs. 3 bdrm, 1 ba, tiles, wood floors, plantation shutters, frplc, ceiling fans, garden. 1 year lease. $3,500/mo. Available 11/15. N/S, no pets. (310) 804-3142 SPACIOUS APARTMENT. 3+2 UPPER unit. QUIET bldg. Garage, laundry, new carpets, bright. Lots of storage space. $2,600/mo. 1 year lease. No pets/smoking. (310) 498-0149ROOMS FOR RENT 3
ROOMMATE NEEDED. 2 bdrm apartment in Westwood area. Female/student. $600/mo.+1/2 util. (310) 625-6494VACATION RENTALS 3e
ENJOY CALIFORNIA DESERT RANCHO MIRAGE. 3,000 sq. ft. home, $5,000/mo. 3 bdrm, 3 ba, Wi-fi, Springs Club, pool, spa, gym, many golf courses available. 3 minutes from cineplex and restaurants, 2 minutes to Eisenhower Hospital. Contact (212) 583-1796 or unoneill@aol.com LUXURY PARIS APT. $2,500/2 wks, Jan.-Feb.-Mar. 2007, 2,000 sq. ft. 3 bdrm, 2 ba, elevator, parquet floors, Wi-fi, all util incl., 2 blks from Luxembourg Gdns. Walk to movies, cafes etc. Contact (212) 583-1796 or unoneill@aol.comCONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 3f
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ST. JUDE NOVENA. May the sacred heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved thruout the world now & forever. Sacred heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. Hope of the hopeless, pray for us. Must be said nine times daily. Prayer will be answered on 8th day. Publication must be promised. Thank you, St. Jude, for granting my request. SEMPER FI. SUPPORT THE US MARINES who give their lives for our peace and freedom. Ray Nasser, US Marine, Purple Heart, 16321 PCH #63 – (310) 454-7432COMPUTER SERVICES 7c
COMPUTER SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT -HOME & BUSINESS – 20 Years Microsoft Experience -HELPING WITH: Windows XP – Windows Media Center FRANKEL CONSULTING 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. End Run-around. Pop-up Expert! Satisfying Clients since 1992. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! COMPUTER WORKS! Alan Perla, (310) 455-2000 THE DETECHTIVES TM – 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 ADONIS COMPUTERS. Around-the-clock computer sales & service. We handle viruses, pop-ups, Internet, tutoring, repairs & upgrades. 25% off your first visit. (866) 423-6647FINANCIAL SERVICES 7e
ARE YOU IN NEED of a mortage, 2nd mortage, refinance, business, personal or education loan? Let our professional, dedicated and bondable reps assist you in finding the financing that best suits your needs. No upfront fees, good or bad credit accepted. FAST APPROVALS. We specialize in the lowest: – APRS – Closing costs – Lawyer referrals – Home & Auto Insurance. Modern Finance Corp. Call today, (888) 239-1464GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 7f
PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? a moving sale? a yard sale? a rummage sale? an estate 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 – Furniture – Antiques – Collectibles – Junque – Reliable professionals Local ReferencesORGANIZING SERVICES 7h
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZATION & BOOKKEEPING. Superior services provided with discretion & understanding Palisadian resident. Local references. Call Sarah, (310) 573-9263NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
VIP NANNY AGENCY. “Providing very important people with the very best nanny.” (818) 907-1017, (310) 614-3646 GREAT PRE-SCREENED Nannies available. Let us help you with your nanny search. We are a dedicated, professional agency and we will find the right match for you. Whether you are looking for full time or p/time, L/I or L/O help, we can help you. Sunshine Nannies, (310) 614-5065, (310) 801-8309 OUR NANNY IS CURRENTLY SEARCHING for a new job because our children are now grown. She has 20+ yrs of nanny experience. We are sure she will be a great help to any family as she was to ours for 9 years. If interested, please call Edys at (213) 291-4890. References available upon request.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 – Local references – Own transportation – Avail Thursdays. Call Marta, (213) 365-6609 or leave a message, please HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER available M-F, own transportation, CDL, references. Call Maria, (310) 907-6520 HOUSEKEEPERS AVAILABLE. GREAT REFERENCES. We work as a team to clean your house. Many years experience. Please call Amanda or Ruben, (213) 481-2545 HOUSEKEEPER EXPERIENCED 17 YEARS, reliable, local references, own car, CDL, insurance. Available Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Please call Rufina, (310) 836-8853 or (310) 663-4853 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Own transportation. Call Margarita. I have good references. (310) 459-5739 HOUSEKEEPERS AVAILABLE M-F. Own transportation, 10 years experience. Great references. Call Marlene or Dinora, (323) 758-8964 EXCELLENT HOUSEKEEPER Great with kids & cleaning. Prefer live in. Perfect references. (310) 689-8015ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
CAREGIVERS/COMPANIONS Live in/out. Minimum 2 years experience. 3 work related references required. CNA’S/CHH’S welcomed. Bondable. Call (323) 932-8700GARDENING, 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. Cell, (310) 498-5380, (310) 390-1276. www.TheKingKoi.com GARCIA GARDENING SERVICE – Maintenance – Sprinkler Systems – Planting – Clean-up – Landscape – (310) 733-7414MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Hauls it all. Homes and businesses. 14 foot van/dollies. 15th year Westside. Delivers to 48 states. (310) 285-8688TREE SERVICE 11d
JOHNSON TREE SERVICE. TREE – SHRUB – STUMP REMOVAL SINCE 1924. St. lic. #685533. (310) 454-8646, BradMASSAGE THERAPY 12b
AWARD WINNING MASSAGE by Natalie. Deep tissue specialist. Call (310) 993-8899. www.massagebynatalie.faithweb.comWINDOW WASHING 13h
EXPERT WINDOW CLEANER, 20 years Westside. Clean and detailed. Free estimates, sills and screens included. Up to two stories only. Brian, (310) 289-5279HOUSESITTING 14b
YOUR PALISADIAN HOUSESITTER, reliable, experienced, loves animals, lives in the Palisades. References upon request. Call Karen, (310) 570-7297PET 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 TRUSTED HOUSE/PET CARE IN PALISADES AREA. Retired teacher with 3 golden retrievers. Walking – Playgroup therapy – References. Call Chris, (310) 454-4768FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Nordic walking instructor teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. Call for schedule & rates. (310) 266-4651SCHOOLS, 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. A system of communication which allows for miraculous & immediate results. Cathleen, (310) 390-1969 PROFESSIONAL PIANIST with UCLA degree & 30 years experience with children & adults. Offers PIANO & HARPSICHORD lessons. Call (310) 453-1064 PRIVATE GUITAR LESSONS IN YOUR HOME. Rock – Jazz – Blues etc. – 20 years experience teaching & performing. $30 per 1/2 hour. Paul, (310) 429-4784TUTORS 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/ESL: 25 yrs teaching experience. Extraordinary results with application essays from middle school-college. Grammar becomes logical & beneficial. Higher level critical thinking & reading comprehension become intertwined skills. Fare fees. References: Karen, (310) 230-7856 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 PROFESSIONAL ACTING COACH: for you, your son or daughter. On-camera coaching in your home for film & TV auditions, school plays or to improve skills. www.OurCommon.com/PrimeTimeCoaching. Justin, (310) 874-5765 ELEMENTARY TUTOR: Palisades Teacher with MA in Education. Available for students K-8 who need help with academics or ISEE test prep. Help your child have a great year. Call Lara, (310) 294-0123 SPANISH TUTOR, CERTIFIED teacher for all levels. Has finest education, qualifications, 17 yrs exper. Palisades resident. Many good references. Amazing system. Affordable rates. Marietta, (310) 459-8180 LOCAL CREDENTIALED HS TEACHER. Experienced tutoring specializing in Algebra and Chemistry. Experienced in helping students with learning differences too! Call Carole at (310) 749-3378 PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTOR (Mathematics, Science, SATs, ACTs) 9+ years experience, UCLA graduate w/ degree in Mathematics. First lesson half off! Janice, (949) 351-5717, www.TheLATutor.com 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.comCABINET 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) 203-8881 PALISADES CONSTRUCTION NOW ACCEPTS VISA, MC & AMEX! Custom remodel – Decks – Floors – Kitchen – Bath – Elec. – Plumbing. Nobody does it better! Lic. #784088. Jason, (310) 980-2463ELECTRICAL 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 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) 454-6604PLUMBING 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 WHITTLE’S PLUMBING. Drain & sewer problems – Garbage disposal & H2O heaters – Copper repiping & gas lines – Fixtures, remodels – Gen. Construction – Free est. Lic. #668743. (310) 429-7187REMODELING 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
HOME IMPROVEMENTS, PREVENTIVE maintenance, roofing, carpentry, painting, concrete masonry, retaining walls, slope retention, gutters, skylights, decks, drywall, tile, sealing, “we seal leaks” Local. (310) 457-4652HELP WANTED 17
DRIVERS: 150K PER YEAR-TEAMS! Earn more plus GREAT Benefits! Western Regional Solo and Team Runs. Werner Enterprises, (800) 346-2818 x123 LADY WANTED FOR LIVE-IN position. Light housekeeping. Help with handicapped daughter. (310) 457-3393 ESCROW OFFICER & ASSISTANT wanted F/T. Make a positive change now. Call Sharon, (310) 451-5411 Fax resume: (310) 458-1988 PART TIME CHILDCARE helper needed weekday afternoons, CDL & excellent driving record required. rebeccalobl@earthlink.net INCREASE YOUR NET WORTH! Business authority with passion for celebrating life & success. Shares proven wealth strategies, critical company info. www.xlr8wealth.com PALISADES FAMILY NEEDS MOTHER’S HELPER. M-F, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. plus extra time for sitting & teen transport. Very light housekeeping and some cooking. Must be legal with excellent driving record. Call Mary Lee, (310) 633-3463 LOOKING FOR PLEASANT FEMALE CAREGIVER with experience and references to help care for senior male individual, Palisades resident. Live-in. Call Manuel, (562) 644-0919 WANTED COLLEGE STUDENT who drives own car, CDL, homework helper. Fun & friendly. Two times a week. 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Please call (310) 573-5041 GENERAL MAINTENANCE POSITION is available NOW! F/T, flexible hours, full benefits. Pay commensurate with experience. Email resumes to PBrown@CalvaryChristian.org or fax (310) 230-9268 LAUNDRESS 3-4 DAYS A WEEK. Must be very experienced & able to iron shirts. References needed. (310) 573-1891. WANTED: HYGENIST. For Thursday only. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (310) 454-3732 DRIVERS: LOCAL SANTA FE SPRINGS RUNS. Make up to $1,200 weekly! CDL-A 2 yrs. exp. req. Call Foodliner For benefits From Day One! (800) 251-9569 x 2695 GETTY VILLA MUSEUM STORE ASSOCIATE Malibu, CA. P/T, varied sched (eve, wknds). 2 yrs retail exp., H.S. Diploma. $10.70/hr. Cover letter, resume to jobs@getty.edu ICE ACCESSORIES IN THE BRENTWOOD GARDENS is now hiring sales associates! The perfect candidate can work 4 days a week, which may include many weekends from 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Prior experience in upscale ladies apparel or accessories is a MUST, along with a sparkling, enthusiastic, upbeat attitude. We offer a competitive salary and benefits plus commission. Please email your resume, availability and salary history to: T9460@earthlink.net. BENTONS SPORT SHOP: full- & part time retail sales personnel needed. Positions avail for both mornings &/or afternoons. Exper helpful but not mandatory. Apply in person: 1038 Swarthmore, (310) 459-8451AUTOS 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) 390-5144 1969 CORVETTE STINGRAY, blk/blk, original paint, 350 c.i.d., recent prof. rebuilt, 101K miles, automatic t-tops, fully restored. $35,000 firm. Great driver, no accidents! (310) 454-0685, leave message 2005 BMW G51150 ADVENTURER, BLACK, like new, 3,000 miles, tank bag, cover, always garaged heated, grips, Eng. guard, must sell. $15,000. (310) 454-0685, leave message INTERSTATE TRAILER, 12′ L x 6′ W x 7′ H, enclosed, single axle metallic gray, 2005 rear loading door ramp, side door, lockable, like new, carpeted interior. $5,000. (310) 454-0685, leave message CASH 4 MERCEDES BENZ $ 1980-1995, running or not. Any questions please call (310) 995-5898FURNITURE 18c
CAL KING CANOPY BED. Iron with green patina. 85″ tall. Lovely design on head and footboard. $300. (310) 454-0069 BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE TURN-OF-CENTURY mahogany dresser (mirrored wood grain design), Walnut glass fronted book case with lower cabinet. 1930s French armoir, 1930s Thonet style single head and footboard. 1900 brass head & footboard (double) with mattress. Tall 1930s oak glass front supply cabinet. California King with navy upholstered base. Two matching white 7′ modern couches. (310) 472-0883 STEINWAY BABY GRAND PIANO & BENCH. Walnut. Louis XV. Mint condition. $50,000. Call (310) 459-3448GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
BIG GARAGE SALE! After 30 years we are cleaning the house. Several items available, kitchen, knick-knacks, clothes & more. 1157 Fiske St., Pacific Palisades. Saturday, Nov. 4th, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. MULTI-HOME GARAGE SALE #528, #534 & # 540 Erskine Dr. Old radios, tools, clothes, household items, glassware, good stuff! Saturday, November 4th, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. MOVING SALE: CHINA CABINET $200, white trundle daybed $200, upright piano $350, pine coffee table, 2 night stands, child rocking chair. Call after 6:00 p.m. (310) 454-4364 or (310) 459-7775 LARGE GARAGE SALE! Furniture: marble table, hall-tree, chairs, rocking chair, revolving library bookcase & more! Household items, decorative items, framed artwork, clothes, books, older TV. Nov. 4th & 5th 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 730 Lachman Lane.WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.comCalendar for the Week of November 2
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 The Palisades Jewish Early Childhood Center will hold an Open House at 11 a.m. for the community to view the school, which is located in Temescal Gateway Park. Please RSVP to 454-7781. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Inexpensive flu shots, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Knolls Pharmacy on Marquez Avenue. First come, first serve. Immunizations are $25 for customers age 9 older. Medicare Part B patients (non-HMO) are invited to participate at no charge. Onsite Wellness Service, Inc. bills Medicare directly. Palisades Art Association reception and awards for the November group show of prints, drawings, photography and mixed media, 10 a.m. to noon in the community room of the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Playwright Naomi Karz Jacobs discusses her memoir, ‘The Builder’s Daughter,’ 2 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Public invited. (See story, page 6.) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Full Moon Hike, a one-mile hike full of moonlit landscapes, fragrant smells, and peaceful sounds, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Temescal Gateway Park. Bring water and a jacket; flashlight optional. Meet in the front parking lot; parking is $5. First Monday Jazz, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Mort’s Oak Room on Swarthmore. No cover charge. Contact: Bill Minderhout at 454-9950. Scott Daigre, landscape and garden writer, will be the guest speaker at the Palisades Garden Club meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. (See story, page 15.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Baby and Toddler Storytime, a mix of songs, finger plays, stories, and flannelboards for babies and toddlers under the age of 3, 10:15 a.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. LAPD Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore and family therapist Florence Bienenfeld will speak at the monthly Palisades AARP chapter meeting, 2 p.m. in the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. Public invited. Shelly Fredman signs ‘No Such Thing As A Good Blind Date: A Brandy Alexander Mystery,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. A recent parolee suggests he exchange plumbing services for room and board in out-of-work Brandy Alexander’s new house. A great idea until she discovers a dismembered body in the freezer. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Sasha Engelmann, a senior at Palisades High, will speak about her recent trip to Ghana, 7:15 a.m., Palisades Rotary Club breakfast meeting at Gladstone’s restaurant on PCH at Sunset. Public invited. Community Council meeting, 7 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Palisadian Lisa Rosenbaum signs her debut novel ‘A Day of Small Beginnings,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. A luminous tale packed with Jewish history, this is ‘The Lovely Bones’ meets ‘Fiddler on the Roof,” said Publishers Weekly. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Rorem’s Violin Concerto are the featured works in an 8 p.m. concert at St. Matthew’s Church on Bienveneda. Tickets at the door: $25. (See story, page 15.) Opening night for the Theatre Palisades production of ‘Charley’s Aunt,’ 8 p.m., Pierson Playhouse on Haverford. Ticket reservations: 454-1970. This classic comedy runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. for six weeks. Palisades resident Michael Sitrick, chairman and chief executive officer of a prominent PR/crisis management firm, inaugurates a new monthly speaker series, 8:30 p.m. at Kehillat Israel on Sunset. (See story, page 14.) _________________________________________________________ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Rustic Canyon Recreation Center will hold its annual fine arts and crafts show and sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 601 Latimer Rd. Contact: 454-5734. The Pacific Palisades Junior Women’s Club (PPJWC) will put on its 21st annual Holiday Home Tour and Boutique from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 The Department of Recreation & Parks will hold its Board of Commissioners meeting, 5:30 p.m. at the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center, 601 Latimer Rd. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 Auditions for Theatre Palisades Youth production ‘Bubba The Cowboy Prince,’ an original musical directed by Nancy Fracchiolla, based on the popular children’s story by Helen Ketteman, 4 to 6 p.m., and tomorrow, December 2, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. (See story, page TK.)
Local Author Debuts Novel on Family Roots
‘How do you know who you are if you don’t know where your family came from?’ This question inspired Pacific Palisades resident Lisa Rosenbaum to write her first novel, ‘A Day of Small Beginnings,’ about a Polish-American Jewish family’s search for roots. Rosenbaum will discuss her book on Thursday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Published by Little, Brown, it has been selected by Barnes & Noble as one of 17 books highlighted in the ‘Discover Great New Writers’ program for the 2006 holiday season. The novel opens in 1906 in a small Jewish cemetery in Zokof, Poland, where young Itzik Leiber wakens the spirit of Friedl Alterman from death. Trapped in the world between life and death, Friedl helps generations of the Leiber family unlock the mysteries of their past. Zokof is a fictionalized version of Rosenbaum’s in-laws’ rural hometown of Zwolen, southeast of Warsaw, which she visited in 1995. ‘I’m not sure I would have dared to set it there if I hadn’t visited,’ she said, adding that her novel ‘gives you a flavor of what it’s like there–how the people look at you, how they respond to you.’ The idea for the book, however, started with a story her own uncle Lloyd Rodwin told about his trip to Poland in the late 1970s. As an MIT professor, he had been invited to speak at Warsaw University. Following the talk, he asked a driver who had been hired for him to take him to a town called Lomze, the birthplace of his father (Rosenbaum’s grandfather). ‘When they arrived at a small city with a cathedral, he realized he didn’t know of a single landmark by which he might recognize his father’s world,’ Rosenbaum writes at the beginning of her book. ‘The story, scarcely an anecdote, suggested to me something so uniquely part of the American experience, the loss of one’s family history once the journey to the New World has been made. I wondered, what if a gatekeeper had remained in the Old World to tell the tale. And so began ‘A Day of Small Beginnings.” Rosenbaum has worked as both a choreographer and a lawyer. She studied religion and philosophy at New York University and completed postgraduate work in international relations at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She and her husband, Walter Lipsman, have two daughters, Ariana and Maya.
Council Endorses School Cop Reassignment
The Palisades Community Council passed a resolution unanimously last Thursday that calls on the Los Angeles School Police Chief and the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District to consider reassigning an investigated school police officer based on parent and community concerns. The LAUSD Board met Tuesday in a closed session to examine the record of Officer John Taylor and the LASPD’s refusal to reassign him. The results of that meeting are not yet publicly available. According to District records, the LAUSD has spent more than $152,000 in legal expenses for two existing lawsuits in which Taylor is a defendant. The Community Council’s decision came weeks after parents and community members grew frustrated with the officer’s continued presence in Pacific Palisades despite an ongoing internal investigation. Taylor was involved in a violent confrontation with local youth and adults on September 19 at the Sav-on loading dock on Swarthmore. Two teenagers were arrested and students and adults were pepper sprayed by Taylor during the incident. The L.A. School Police began an internal investigation into his conduct following a complaint of excessive force. The council’s approved resolution will be sent to the Chief of Police and the Superintendent asking that the ‘current atmosphere of tension, upset and concern by parents and students in Pacific Palisades be given due consideration in determining whether Officer Taylor should be reassigned.’ On Tuesday afternoon, the L.A. School Police Department would not comment on the approved resolution because it had not yet received the Council’s letter. The letter was not sent until Wednesday. Janet Turner, a Community Council member, sponsored the original resolution in response to vocal frustration from the community. Her original resolution directly requested that LASPD Chief Lawrence Mannion reassign Officer Taylor based on community concerns. But Council member Harry Sondheim successfully amended that resolution to reflect a less direct tone. Officer Taylor’s long history of excessive-force complaints has been a significant source of concern in the community. In 2002 his superior officer blocked his promotion based on his ‘pattern of excessive force.’ The two current lawsuits allege that he used excessive force. Internal Affairs investigated him three previous times for excessive-force complaints. It is unknown whether he has ever been disciplined as a result of those investigations. The Palisadian-Post’s request for the disciplinary record of Taylor was denied by the LAUSD. For Carolin Herrmann, a Palisades Charter High parent and PTSA treasurer, the council’s decision was a relief. ‘I was on the same page with the council. I want him to be reassigned during this investigation.’ Bruce Ishimatsu, a PaliHi parent, was a vocal supporter of the resolution and instrumental in drumming up support for it. But he was surprised how quickly the council passed the resolution. ‘It articulates a message from our community that the School Police need to hear. It was the right decision,’ he said. The resolution was supported by 18 council members. Paul Glasgall and Susan Nash abstained from the vote. Nash said that she understood both sides of the issue, but she did not want to interfere with Taylor’s right to ‘due process.’ Glasgall said that although the resolution targets this specific officer, it sends a ‘bad message to the police.’ Originally a wary voter, council member Jack Allen eventually voted in favor of the resolution because the issue had become ‘so important’ for community members. At two previous council meetings, parents and students rejected the School Police’s decision to not reassign Officer Taylor out of the area. As a patrol officer, Taylor serves the Palisades’ public schools and areas of high student concentration. He is not assigned to a specific school. ‘We were not taking a position whether he is guilty or not,’ Allen said. ‘And I don’t think it’s a denial of due process. It’s a routine in a lot of police departments to reassign officers during controversial investigations.’ The Palisades Community Council has no legal power, but it is recognized as the community’s only representative political body. Council members are elected from eight geographical areas in the Palisades, joining representatives from a cross-section of civic groups. The internal investigation into Taylor’s behavior could take as long as nine weeks. A large backlog of other internal investigations at the School Police department could delay the investigation further.
After Costly Delay, County Commits to Beach Timeline
Despite a four-month delay caused by a planning error, L.A. County representatives asserted last week at a Palisades Community Council meeting that plans to refurbish Will Rogers State Beach will be completed on schedule in May 2007. The miscalculation of the depth of an L.A. City sewer located in the eastern end of the beach’s parking lot stopped construction there and is expected to add as much as $200,000 to a more than $12- million project. ‘It was a judgment call by the County,’ said Maria Chong Castillo, a County deputy who oversees the Department of Public Works and the Department of Beaches and Harbors. ‘They [designers] didn’t put [the sewer] in the specs. It’s the County’s fault.’ County and City officials spent much of the four months negotiating an agreement to reinforce the sewer main. Actual construction on the sewer took only three days once the two government bodies reached a compromise. That construction was completed September 21. Beyond the additional costs, that mistake could mean less certainty for public access to the beach parking lot during the next summer beach-going season. The timeliness of the project might depend on the weather, said Gilberto Garcia of the Department of Public Works, who directly oversees the project. A wet winter could hamper construction during an already tight timeline. According to current projections, the Lifeguard headquarters (at Potrero Canyon) and a nearby restroom should be completed by January. Construction on those structures was unaffected by the delay, Garcia said. By next May, the County expects the completion of Mission-style concession stands, refurbished bathrooms, a rebuilt Lifeguard substation, repaved parking lots, and a natural gas pipeline and vehicle filling station. To meet the County’s timeline and avoid financial penalties, the contractor, Gonzales Construction, has hired more workers and has begun work on multiple projects simultaneously. Originally, construction of the project’s various structures was planned to be completed after the parking lots were repaved. But now workers are constructing new restrooms, concession stands and lifeguard substations concurrently with the parking lot construction. ‘We need accountability,’ said Stuart Muller, Community Council member. ‘We’re not going to get it for the past mistakes. But we have to make sure the clock is ticking.’ Muller had invited County representatives to answer community concerns at last Thursday’s council meeting. Council members expressed frustration with the escalating costs of the project and the lack of any visible progress. ‘What hours do the crews work?’ asked Alice Beagles, a council member who lives above the ocean. ‘I never see them.’ County officials said at the meeting that the sewer miscalculation stopped substantial work at the project, but that crews have returned to work. Muller plans to tour the facilities with the project’s managers. He said he wants to have a first-hand understanding of the construction’s improvement. When the County originally approved the project in 1999, $4.9 million was set aside for construction costs. But the region’s construction boom has meant fewer bids and higher rates for contractors. By the time the Will Rogers contract was awarded to Gonzales Construction in 2005, the County settled for $8.3 million. That figure does not include the recent additional changes to the contract. Reporting by Max Taves, Staff Writer. To contact, e-mail: reporter@palipost.com
Political Opposites Face Off in Assembly Race
Next week’s general election to replace termed-out Assemblywoman Fran Pavley pits two candidates in a contest that is as predictable as it is unlikely. Like most state assembly districts, AD 41’s gerrymandered boundaries mean limited competition between political parties. The District stretches along the coast from Santa Monica to Oxnard and runs inland from Pacific Palisades to Tarzana, encompassing Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Woodland Hills and Encino. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 19 percent, and that registration gap has helped ensure Democratic success for decades. It has also meant that the Democratic primary has all but decided the winner of the general election. If the past is any indicator, then that’s good news for Julia Brownley, the Democratic candidate and president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board. In what might be considered one of the state’s most improbable contests, the liberal education advocate and environmentalist is running against Republican Tony Dolz, an activist opposing illegal immigration. Brownley, a former marketing executive, won an expensive, five-way Democratic primary last June. She has spent nearly $600,000 during her campaign, but only a small fraction of that amount since her primary success. Perhaps as a sign of confidence in victory next Tuesday, she has contributed more than $50,000 of her own campaign’s war chest to other Democratic campaigns. Strong support from local Democratic heavyweights Pavley and State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) helped Brownley compete against better-financed competitors in the primary. Brownley has been an elected SMMUSD Board member since 1994, and she has made improving education one of the cornerstones of her candidacy. Among her education goals are lowering student-teacher ratios and increasing California’s low per-pupil spending, which she blames for the state’s low achievement. ‘The state needs to make a more significant investment in education,’ Brownley told the Palisadian-Post on Tuesday. ‘California ranks 46th in education spending and 48th in achievement. We need to look at how revenue can be enhanced.’ She has suggested that she would favor easing the rules for raising parcel taxes that fund education. State law mandates that most new property taxes must be approved by a two-thirds vote. In most states, such increases require only simple majorities. In her campaign, Brownley has also prioritized conserving the environment and expanding mass transit. She wants to raise water-quality standards by reducing urban runoff and hopes to continue Fran Pavley’s legacy of air-quality legislation by promoting the use of alternative fuels and high-efficiency vehicles. She strongly opposes the proposed LNG facility off Malibu’s coast. She wants to reduce congestion on the District’s freeways by extending the light-rail Expo line to Santa Monica and expanding local bus routes. She is endorsed by the Palisades Democratic Club, the California Democratic Party and several environmental and labor groups, including the Sierra Club and the California State Federation of Labor. In contrast to Brownley’s more broad political focus, her competitor Tony Dolz has focused his campaign exclusively on the perils of illegal immigration. Dolz, a resident of Santa Monica, said that he became committed to stemming the flow of immigrants after reading the 9/11 Commission Report, which recommended stricter border control. He speaks about illegal immigration with a sense of apocalyptic urgency. He attributes almost every state woe to illegal immigration, including budget deficits, high health care costs, traffic congestion, terrorism and environmental degradation. But he offers few details of plans for legislative action that do not intersect with stopping illegal immigration. ‘I care about the environment,’ Dolz told the Palisades Republican Club gathering late last month. ‘What about the millions of toilets that are being flushed because of illegal immigrants?’ Two years ago, the Cuban-born legal immigrant said he stopped working full-time on his online business to dedicate more time to the Minuteman Project, an anti-illegal immigration group, and to run his campaign for state assembly. His exact relationship with the Minutemen is clouded by conflicting accounts. Dolz describes himself on his Web site as a ‘founding member of the Minuteman Project,’ but a Minuteman spokesperson said that title was inaccurate. The spokesperson did say that Dolz had been an early member of the group. Dolz’s job description on the ballot has been the target of scrutiny in newspapers statewide. In campaign literature and the ballot, he describes himself as a ‘national-security analyst,’ which observers have said is misleading because Dolz considers writing articles about illegal immigration for anti-immigration Web sites to constitute national-security analysis. He has also never received money for ‘national-security’ analysis. There is no publicly available campaign finance data for Dolz. It is unknown how much his campaign has received. All candidates must disclose campaign contributions and expenditures to the Secretary of State. Dolz is endorsed by the California Republican Assembly, U.S.A. Border Alert and Barbara Coe, the founder of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform. Despite numerous debates and candidate forums during the primary campaign, there has been no debate between Brownley and Dolz. Conrad Stefan Frankowski is representing the Liberterian Party in the race. The Woodland Hills-based human resource executive has not campaigned actively. Reporting by Max Taves, Staff Writer. To contact, e-mail: reporter@palipost.com
