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Learning to Take Their Best Shots

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UCLA men's basketball coach Ben Howland teaches youngsters proper shooting technique during his camp last week at Palisades High.
UCLA men’s basketball coach Ben Howland teaches youngsters proper shooting technique during his camp last week at Palisades High.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

By the end of the week it was hard to tell who was having more fun–UCLA men’s basketball coach Ben Howland or the 124 kids invited to his first youth basketball camp at Palisades High. “It was great,” Howland said. “The kids had a lot of fun and I think they learned a lot. That’s the most important thing.” Fresh off of leading the Bruins to the national championship game, Howland and his staff instructed boys and girls ages 6-12 on the fundamentals of basketball, using a number of fun drills, demonstrations and scrimmages to teach basic skills like shooting, passing and dribbling. Howland even invited several of his players to demonstrate intricacies of the sport like screening and spacing, ball denial and defensive stance. “I liked the dribbling drills the most,” said six-year-old Charley Wadler, a student at Village School, who played on the Auburn Tigers in the SEC (ages 6-7) division. “I liked the actual games best but everything was fun,” said Tennessee Volunteers point guard Scotty Polson, who turns 8 on Saturday. “I’ve learned to use a follow through on my shot.” Kentucky beat Tennessee by a basket in the finals of the SEC division, with Matthew Nyman of Tennessee earning the most valuable player award. Nyman also won the three-on-three competition with Luke Bennett and Santiago Cortina of Tennessee, Asher Remer of Auburn won the one-on-one competition and the Hot Shot contest, Charlie Thompson of Alabama was named SEC defensive player and Alyssa Rivera of Tennessee won the Best Attitude award. Among the volunteers who helped Howland and his staff at last week’s camp were PaliHi boys head coach James Paleno, PaliHi girls assistant coach Torino Johnson and former PaliHi players Steve McMaryion (Class of 2000) and Isaiah Sago (Class of 1999). Paleno shouldered the burden of coaching UCLA in the Pac-10 division (ages 8-9) while Scott coached the Arizona Wildcats. Johnson piloted the Pacers, Sago mentored the Suns and McMaryion guided the Spurs in the NBA division (ages 10-12). “I guess I can keep my job,” Paleno joked after UCLA came from behind to beat Arizona, 24-22, in Friday afternoon’s championship game. “It would’ve been hard to tell Coach Howland that the Bruins lost. Fortunately, the kids came through for me.” Arizona’s Spencer Freedman, Jesus Zambrano and Kerry Calender won the Pac-10 three-on-three tournament. Freedman also won the one-one-one competition and Calender earned the Best Attitude award. UCLA’s PJ Hurst won the Hot Shot competition, teammate Jasper Shorr was named Pac-10 most valuable player and Jordan Wong of Cal was chosen best defensive player. Nine-year-old Charlie Carr, who attends Palisades Elementary, was traded from UCLA to USC on Monday’s opening day of camp in order to even out the teams. “I’m the first line of defense–I don’t like to shoot,” said Carr, whose Trojans lost to UCLA in the semifinals. “I learned how to follow through and how to sweep to get out of the way.” One of the most exciting moments of the camp came on Thursday morning when Bruins’ sophomore guard Darren Collison put on a shooting clinic in the PaliHi gym while Howland implored campers to make a lot of noise and “call out the numbers” after each made basket. “A good shooter should be able to make seven out of 10,” Howland said. “And it shouldn’t matter how loud it is or how many people are watching because you go through the same routine every time.” Collison captivated his young audience with an impressive shooting display, making nine 17-foot jumpers in a row before rimming out his last attempt, after which he received thunderous applause. “I enjoy doing things like this,” said Collison, who was named CIF Player of the Year his senior year at Etiwanda High. “It’s all about the kids and everyone’s having a good time. I was once in their shoes so I know how important it is to set a good example for them because they are the future of our game.” The Suns beat the Lakers in the finals of the NBA division, with Sam Wasserman of the Suns capturing MVP honors. Kevin Eyler of the Pacers, Zach Tinker of the Spurs and Joe Rosenbaum of the Bulls won the three-on-three competition, Eyler was the one-on-one champ, JoJo Fallas of the Spurs won the Hot Shot contest, Yosef “Scrappy” Washington of the Suns was the best defensive player and the Best Attitude awards went to Cora Chan of the Lakers, Ashley Wu of the Bulls and Jared Haltrecht of the Pacers. So did Howland see anyone he might like to play for him in the not-too-distant future? “There’s definitely a lot of potential out here today,” Howland said Friday, a few hours before he was scheduled to fly to Las Vegas on a recruiting trip. “We definitely plan on coming back here next year.”

CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE JULY 20, 2006 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST

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HOMES FOR SALE 1

MALIBU 4 BDRM WITH POOL & JACUZZI. Off Las Flores (Seaview Estates). To be sold to highest bidder by July 31st. No realtor involved. Call (310) 924-4354 or email bis@baldingerins.com 1508 PALISADES DR. E-PLAN. 3 bdrm, 212 ba, 2-car garage townhome with mountain views, pool/tennis/workout, 2 decks, new carpet. $865,000. (310) 704-9008 OCEAN VIEW PALISADES HOME in prestigious Bel Air Bay Club area. 3 bdrm, 2 ba+family rm. Stunning ocean views. Walk to beach. $2,395,000. Contact Adriane Kallie Westland, ReMax, (310) 403-5535. More info, pics at: www.LivingInThePalisades.com

LOTS FOR SALE 1a

6.7 ACRES IN SAN LUIS OBISPO county, panoramic views, private yet 10 minutes from town. Includes utilities. $439,000. Agent, Alex Beckwith, (805) 440-4418 GORGEOUS 4.9 ACRES ON THE central coast in San Luis Obispo county. Views, privacy, nature. End of cul-de-sac. Utilities included. $434,000. Agent, Alex Beckwith, (805) 440-4418

HOMES WANTED 1b

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

HOME EVALUATION 1d

COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION OF YOUR HOME. It’s fast, easy and it’s free! Visit www.WhatsmyHomeWorth.com

FURNISHED HOMES 2

MAUI HOUSE WITH VIEW. 2 br, 2 ba non-smoking house in South Kihei w/ view of ocean, Lanai’i and Haleakala. Vintage Hawaiian furnishings, Lanai, BBQ, easy access to best beach on the gold coast. Available August 2006. Rent: $1,150/wk+deposits. Call (808) 879-9295. Local reference: (310) 459-7580 CABO SAN LUCAS: 1 week at beautiful Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort. Large presidential suite sleeps 6-8, ocean view, pool, spa, restaurants. Aug. 18-25. Call Hugh, (310) 459-7371, or email hughhmh0939@aol.com

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

PACIFIC PALISADES WONDERFULLY UPDATED ’60s style house on the Castellammare bluffs. 3 bdrms, 2 ba, newly refinished hdwd floors, all white modern kitchen w/ all appliances, central heating and a/c. 2 car garage, pvt yd with lap pool and bonus rooftop jacuzzi with sunset views of the Pacific. $7,500/mo. 17929 Castellammare Pacific Palisades, 90272. Call Gary C. at the Beaumont Co., (323) 466-9761 (M-F, 8:30-5), (323) 314-7143 (evenings and weekends) EL MEDIO BLUFFS AREA 3 bdrm, 2 ba plus bonus rm, lrg mstr bdrm. All appliances. Corner home w/ mtn view. Priv bkyrd. Gardener incl. Avail 8/1/06-4/30/07. $4,300/mo. Call (310) 454-1669 2 BDRM, 2 BA TOWNHOUSE, 2-car garage, new carpet, paint, A/C, fireplace, patio, pool, tennis, laundry room. $2,650/mo. (909) 861-4493 PACIFIC PALISADES HOME 3 bdrm, 3 ba, large studio w/ deck and canyon view, living room with fireplace, 2 car garage, very clean. $4,200/mo. Call (661) 270-9231 2 RM GUESTHOUSE. $1,000/mo. incl/util. Single employed female, no pets. (310) 459-1744 SUNSET MESA REMODELED. 3+2 furnished/unfurnished. THE VIEW. $7,000/mo. (760) 568-9426 TOPANGA LOCATION LOCATION. Trees, view, charming, immaculate. 2 bd, 1 ba. Parking, N/S No/Pet References. $2,200/mo. Call (310) 455-1084

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

EDGEWATER TOWERS 1 BDRM, large patio, ocean view. Pools, gated security, covered parking, tennis gym and more. Available July. $2,300/mo. Telephone and fax: (310) 454-5652 NEAR OCEAN: 1 BDRM, 1 BA, Like new, patio, 2 parking, st. level. Walk to shops & rest. $1,300/mo. MUST BE OVER 62. Tel: (310) 454-0846 SUNSET IN THE VILLAGE. Spacious 2 bed, 2 bath, newly renovated, walk-in closets gated parking, security bldg, laundry. $2,700/mo. 1 yr lease. (310) 454-7743 $1,600/MO. ALL UTIL INCL. Charming, self contained 1 bdrm, private entrance, deck and garden. Great ocean view. No/pets, N/S. Call (310) 454-5444

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

MASTER BDRM & BA+patio & shared guesthouse. Private home in Pacific Palisades w/ separate entrance. Will consider small dog. Avail 8/1. $1,350/mo. (310) 454-4318

WANTED TO RENT 3b

WANTED: HOUSE TO LEASE. Nice family of 4 looking to lease a 3 bdrm, 2 ba home (min) in the Palisades. We are local business owners. Excellent credit. Will lease 1+ year(s) starting end August. $5,000/mo. Please call Tricia at (310) 717-2985

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

$950/mo. 15115 1/2 Sunset Blvd. #B. LITE & BRITE 2 room office suite. 2nd floor. Call agent, (310) 459-3493 MEDICAL SPACE: UPSCALE BUSY medical bldg. 300 sq. ft. Three office suite. Available 9/1/06. Call (310) 273-8700 OCEAN VIEW OFFICES in Palisades suite. Corner of Sunset & PCH, 4 furnished offices, minutes from Santa Monica and Malibu. DSL, Fax & phone lines. Shared conference & kitchen area. Receptionist available. $950 to $1,500/mo. Call John, (310) 566-1701 OFFICE FOR RENT. Available July 30. Sunset Blvd. Heart of Village. (310) 454-3521 PACIFIC PALISADES VILLAGE office space for rent. Excellent location with highspeed internet and phones in place. Bill, (310) 600-4484

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

WANTED: LOCAL ARTISTS WITH INNOVATIVE ART, jewelry, purses, clothing, etc. to sell in local store for the holiday season. Send photos of your work for review to oranje@verizon.net

PERSONALS 6b

SENIOR MALE ARTIST, 73, N/S, positive, optimistic, enjoys nature, walks, classical music, theatre & travel. Would like to meet positive, confident, slender lady for friendship & possible relationship. Westside only. (310) 393-2508

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SERVICES. QuickBooks, Ouicken, Word processing, Excel spreadsheets, Business Management. Professional, detail-oriented Palisades resident. Exlnt refs upon request. Victoria, (310) 454-2705

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

PUT YOUR COMPUTER TO WORK – PC BASED CAMERA SURVEILLANCE-Featuring: Live Viewing via Internet & Record to Hard Drive. Easy to Use Low Cost Solutions-4 to 16 Cameras – 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 COMPUTER CONSULTANT, MAC SPECIALIST. Very Patient, Friendly and Affordable. Tutoring Beginners to Advanced Users. Wireless DSL internet. MAC/PC SET UP – Repair – Upgrade – OS X. Senior discounts! Home/Office. William Moorefield, (310) 838-2254. macitwork.com COMPUTER PROBLEMS? Discount prices. Call now for immediate service. Local Palisadian. Taylor, (310) 382-0735

GARAGE, 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 References

ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h

HOME & HOME OFFICE MANAGEMENT. Do you need regular assistance, but not full time help? 15 yrs exper, exclnt refs. Website: www.paulapopins.com. (310) 455-4281 DO YOU NEED OFFICE HELP? Paperwork, Accounts, Computer, Internet, Organize, etc. Business/Personal. Raymond, (310) 218-6653

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

NANNY/BABYSITTER available Monday-Friday. Excellent Palisades references, experience with newborns. Call Rosie, (323) 962-8486 LVN NURSE. A 53 yr widow RN student. Energetic, reliable. Available evenings/wkends for preemies, newborns to teens. In N/S homes, offices and sets. Local references. Miss R, (310) 621-7781 NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER available 3 days, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday. Excellent local references. Love kids. Call Azucena anytime. Hm: (310) 419-7718, or cell: (310) 782-4552 NANNY EXPERIENCED WITH CHILDREN. DMV clean record, bilingual Spanish/English. Available Mon.-Sat. Live out. Please call Marie, hm (323) 292-5194, cell (310) 465-5621, cell (310) 430-3915 EXCELLENT AND QUALIFIED Nanny/babysitter available Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. References, own transportation, responsible. English. Live out. Legal. Cell, (213) 604-0380 or (323) 371-1557

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 HOUSECLEANING OR BABYSITTING available Mon. thru Fri., 7 a.m.-4 p.m. L/O. References, experienced with children. Own transportation. Please call Imelda, (323) 752-5244 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Monday & Wednesday, live out, local references, own transportation, 10 years experience, good English and Spanish. Please call Maria, (323) 587-5393 OUR MAID OF MANY YEARS service is looking for additional work. Reliable, trustworthy, personable, Spanish speaking. (310) 230-5902 HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER 15 years experience. Great references. Please call hm. (323) 662-7515 or (323) 828-4180 DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE? I have experience. Local references. Call Margarita, (213) 321-3581 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Monday-Thursday, own transportation, good record. Please call Dulce, (213) 747-2219 HOUSECLEANER AVAILABLE ON Monday & Wednesday only. Own transportation. Local references. Please call Marisa, hm: (323) 232-7668 or cell (323) 687-8816

ELDER 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) 692-3692

GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING – Full Gardening Service – Sprinkler Install – Tree Trim – Sodding/Seeding – Sprays, non-toxic – FREE 10″ Flats, Pansies, Snap, Impatiens. (310) 568-0989 POND CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN: Water gardening. Japanese Koi fish. Filtration pond service, repair & maintence. Free estimates. Cell, (310) 498-5380, (310) 390-1276. Visit us at www.TheKingKoi.com GARCIA GARDENING SERVICE – Maintenance – Sprinkler Systems – Planting – Clean-up – Landscape – (310) 733-7414

MOVING & HAULING 11b

HONEST MAN SERVICES. 14″ van & dollies. Small jobs to 2 bedrooms. Hauls it all. California/Nevada. Over 12 years. Westside experience. (310) 285-8688

WINDOW WASHING 13h

HAVING A PARTY? SELLING some real estate or just want to do some spring cleaning? Get those WINDOWS SHINING by calling No Streak Window Cleaning, where we offer fast friendly quality service you can count on! For a free estimate call Marcus, (323) 632-7207. Lic. #122194-49. Bonded EXPERT WINDOW CLEANER 20 years Westside. Clean and detailed. Free estimates, sills and screens included. Up to two stories only. Brian, (310) 289-5279

MISCELLANEOUS 13i

PRESSURE WASHING. Superior cleaning, driveways, walkways, patios. Craig, (310) 459-9000

PET 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 yrs Pali resident. References. Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog. HAPPY PET – Dog Walking – Park Outings – Socialization. Connie, (310) 230-3829

SCHOOLS, 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 PRIVATE PIANO INSTRUCTION IN YOUR HOME: Customized learning made FUN! Classical – Modern – Jazz – See results. KIDS & ADULTS. Palisades Chamber member. Sandra, (310) 666-4149 HIGHLY GIFTED CHILDREN WANTED. Small school, Santa Monica, Project based, individualized instruction. Ages 9-14. (310) 880-9369

TUTORS 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 grade levels, conversational & all ages. Local refs, flexible hours. Please call Noelle at (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, indivdualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722 INSPIRATION & ORIGINALITY. Articulate your ideas with dramatic writing. Realizing one’s imagination with words is a formidable tool for improving confidence. The same process used in verbal communication is an essential skill in social interaction. 8-15 years. Taught by screen and short story writer who has worked with LA’s Young Storytellers Program and the Writers Guild foundation’s High School Screenwriting Workshops. (310) 993-3037 or mayleparis@hotmail.com WANT REAL GUITAR LESSONS? Palisades local teacher. Beginning to advanced. Any genre or style. Private lessons $30/hr. Flexible hours. (310) 454-8222 or leave message at (310) 359-3942 MATH TUTOR/CHESS LESSONS. Three-time USA Math Olympiad participant, Stanford freshman. All levels: test prep, algebra, geometry, calculus and more. Call David, (310) 569-2166 HARVARD GRADUATE MAKES SUMMER READING FUN! Effective in-home tutoring fosters a love of reading, strengthens vocabulary and builds self-esteem. Call Andrew, (773) 405-5576

SUMMER CAMPS 15f

CAMP HIGHLANDS SUMMER DAY CAMP. 6/26-8/25 Flexible Use, sports, games, swimming, different activities weekly, 17005 Palisades Circle. Call (310) 459-4083

CABINET 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.com

CARPENTRY 16a

CARPENTER AVAILABLE MONDAY-FRIDAY. Non lic. Great local references. (210) 747-2219

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pools, decks, patios, foundations, fireplace, drainage control, custom stone, block & brick, tile. Excellent local references. Lic. #309844. Bonded/insured/ workmen’s comp. Family owned & operated. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 – www.horusicky.com

CONSTRUCTION 16d

CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237

ELECTRICAL 16h

PALISADES ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437. Insured. Professional Service ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. Local Service Only (Not lic.). Please Call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286

FENCES 16j

THE FENCE MAN. 14 years quality workmanship. Wood fences – Decks – Gates – Chainlink & overhang. Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996 INDEPENDENT SERVICE CARLOS FENCE: Wood & Picket Fences – Chain Link – Iron & Gates – Deck & Patio Covers. Ask for Carlos, (310) 677-2737 or fax (310) 677-8650. Non-lic.

FLOOR CARE 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.com

HANDYMAN 16n

HANDYMAN, Since 1975. Call for your free est. Local ref. Lic. #560299. Member, Chamber of Commerce. 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 AVALON ESTATE MAINTENANCE. Specializing in all aspects of home repair. Reasonable rates. Refs available. Prompt service. Non-lic. Call Dustin, (310) 924-2711

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16o

SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686

PAINTING, 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

PLUMBING 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

REMODELING 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 BASIX DESIGNS & REMODELING, INC. WE DO IT ALL – Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Specialist – Room Additions – Interior/Exterior Paint – Windows/Doors – Custom Carpentry – Plumbing – Electrical – Call For Free Estimate – Toll Free: (877) 422-2749 – Lic. #769443 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) 230-2930

ROOFING 16v

“WE SEAL LEAKS” PLUS, carpentry, painting, roofing, masonry, tile, patios, gutters, windows, skylights, landscaping, retaining walls, drainage, stucco, plaster, concrete asphalt driveways, remodels. (310) 457-4652

HELP WANTED 17

DRIVERS: EARN MORE AT WERNER ENTERPRISES. Western region runs. Also seeking inexperienced and seasonal drivers. (800) 346-2818 ext 123 WANTED: INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES, Palisades Elementary. Hrs: 15/wk. Time: 8:30-11:30. Days: Mon.-Fri. Making a difference in a child’s life: Priceless! Call (310) 454-3700 or fax resume, (310) 459-5627 LADY WANTED FOR LIVE-IN position. Light housekeeping. Help with handicapped daughter. (310) 457-3393 PERSONAL ASSISTANT/CHILDCARE helper needed for afternoons. Monday-Friday. 15 hours per week usually after 3 p.m. $15/hr. Rebeccalobl@earthlink.net RECEPTIONIST/ADMIN ASSIST wanted for busy doctors office. Friendly, sharp, multitasking, motivated with computer and phone skills. F/T wage depending on experience. Apply in person, 16624 Marquez Ave. Fax resume: (310) 230-1646 email resume staff@palichiro.com. CAREGIVERS: LivHOME needs experienced male and female caregivers. $500 Sign-On bonus for live-ins. All drivers must have: car/auto insurance/license. 2 references required. Call today for appt.: (877) 454-8466 CUSTOMER SERVICE, PART TIME. Leading service organization seeks outstanding customer care coordinator in Woodland Hills, CA. Phone exp. requires; typing 35wpm. computer literacy and excellent telephone skills a must. Email/Fax resume to: employment@onecallmedical.com. Fax: 973-257-3686. EOE SALES OPPORTUNITY FOR T.V. SHOW. Work from home for 8 weeks. Start immediately. Call (310) 829-4800 LOOKING FOR PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS & TEACHER AIDES. Our school is NAEYC accredited with a developmental philosphy. Beginning September. ECE units required. Contact Julie @ Palipress.org FULLTIME RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ASSIST for growing Palisades office. Excellent community organization & clerical skills required. Opportunity for growth. Please email resume & salary requirements to admin@interventionplanner.com

AUTOS 18b

CASH FOR YOUR CARS $$ Foreign or domestic. Running or not. Friendly professional buyer. We come to you & handle all paperwork. Local references. Please call (310) 995-5898 2004 DODGE DURANGO. Take over lease. $564/mo. lease with 18 months left. Great condition! Available to purchase. Call Mike, (310) 230-1080 2000 BLAZER, 68,890 mi. 4-dr, black/tan, 4 whl dr. Power wds, sunroof, leather seats, cd player, new tires. $7,000. (323) 899-4868

FURNITURE 18c

ALL ITEMS UNUSED. Queen mattress set, cost $595, sacrifice $195. Dinette set cost $495, sacrifice $195. Sofa sectional, cost $1,295, sacrifice $695. Chest of drawers, cost $595, sacrifice $295. (310) 451-2319

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

BIG MALIBU CHURCH YARD SALE! 3625 Winter Canyon. July 22-23, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Designer boutique, antiques, fine china, quality items, e-bayers welcome. No Early Birds, please! GARAGE SALE! Large off-white sectional couch, $575. Bunkbed w/ mattresses, $725. Toys, clothes and many $1 items. Sunday, July 23rd, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (310) 459-1763 GARAGE SALE, 636 Haverford Ave. SAT., July 22nd, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. No early birds! Antiques, toys, books, etc. LARGE YARD SALE, SAT.-SUN., JULY 22nd & 23rd, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 1923 Euclid Street, Santa Monica COLLECTIBLES/CHINA/KNICK-KNACKS/Silver plate/costume jewelry/sofas/queen, trundle beds/ BR sets/side tables/clothes/linens/china/prints/ lots of “dig’n find” stuff! 14714 Whitfield (Via de la Paz to Bestor). FRI.-SAT., JULY 21-22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

DODGER TICKETS: 4 Field seats behind home plate plus parking. August 9th, 11th, 14th, 29th. GREAT SEATS. (310) 459-3458

WANTED TO BUY 19

WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.com

Beach Parking Lot Remains Closed

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Workers install a storm drain next to the busy bike path adjacent to the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot along PCH. A natural-gas pipeline will be installed before the lot can be repaved and open again to the public.
Workers install a storm drain next to the busy bike path adjacent to the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot along PCH. A natural-gas pipeline will be installed before the lot can be repaved and open again to the public.
Photo by

In the near-record heat of summer 2006, it’s been a major challenge for Pacific Palisades residents to reach Will Rogers State Beach, which is ironic, since the town practically rests on the ocean. The reason for this inconvenience (and loss of parking revenue) is the fact that parking lot 2, which holds approximately 500 cars and is situated along PCH from Temescal Canyon to Potrero Canyon, has been closed down since January. Originally, the County’s repaving of that lot and construction of a new lifeguard station and bathrooms on that site were scheduled to be completed in June, by the start of summer. A delay occurred because the County received a grant last November that would help implement natural gas for beach vehicles. It did not receive approval from the Board of Supervisors until May 25. After it was approved, the new completion date for Phase Two was set for mid-July. In order to provide natural gas, a pipeline would have to be laid that would extend under the Will Rogers beach parking lots to the maintenance yard at the far end of the west parking lot. Last Friday, Andy Gump fencing was being installed along the bike path/pedestrian walkway. “The fence went up today for safety reasons,” said a worker who did not wish to give his name. Even as the fence was being installed, heavy equipment continued to dig in the parking lot as workers finished laying new storm drains. According to a second worker on site, that portion of the project is supposed to be completed this week. “The existing storm drains were too small and were made of a metal that was corroding,” the worker said. “We ran into moisture when we dug up the pipe.” Water that drains from the Palisades seeps underground until it reaches the ocean. “We had to dig down farther, than back-fill with gravel and compact it,” he explained. In addition, several boulders were found near the Temescal Canyon entrance and had to be dealt with before the new ABS pipes could be laid. Dusty Crane, a public affairs representative for L.A. City Beaches and Harbors, did not have a new timeline for the completion of the natural-gas pipeline or the parking lot, although she did acknowledge that the completion date of the entire five-phase project including the reconfigured Temescal entrance has been pushed back from March 2007 to May 2007. Crane said the lifeguard station’s completion was also delayed. “There was unanticipated deferred maintenance not originally included in the project that needed to be addressed,” she told the Palisadian-Post. She could not provide a new timeline. Meanwhile, some residents cope with the lack of beach parking by parking across PCH from the old lifeguard station at the mouth of Potrero and waiting for a lull in traffic before dashing across the busy road to gain access to the beach. The Junior Lifeguard program, as well as the Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos Beach Volleyball Camp and the Sand and Surf camp, were all relocated this summer. Approximately 150 children from the Will Rogers Lifeguard program had to transfer to a Santa Monica site with drop-off in a small lot north of the Jonathan Club. “The Junior Lifeguard program my son has been in for the last four years was moved from Will Rogers tower 15 to tower 8 in Santa Monica due to construction,” Virginia Plavec wrote in an e-mail on July 12. “Now that the Santa Monica lot is being repaved, is it possible to re-do beach parking over the winter season? This is a hazard to the children, the traffic is horrendous, and someone is going to get hurt.” “How stupid is that?” said parent Denise Marsh. “They’ve had all winter to work on this project and they pick the middle of summer to do it.”

Riordan Continues to Seek Lease Agreement for Mort’s Delicatessen

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Longtime Palisadian Robert Klein, a vice president at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, confirmed to the Palisadian-Post on Tuesday that he and a group of investors are no longer interested in buying Mort’s Deli. “While we would like to do the right thing for the Palisades, by keeping Mort’s as it is, we’ve come to the conclusion that it is too big an investment for us at this time,” said Klein, who had been in negotiations for some time with both the landlord, Palisades Partners, and owner Bobbie Farberow. He also said that the plan was to keep the name and enhance the menu. While Klein’s group has bowed out, former Mayor Richard Riordan, who owns The Pantry downtown and has an interest in Gladstone’s restaurant on PCH at Sunset, is continuing his efforts to take over the popular deli on Swarthmore. “I am still trying to put all the pieces together to buy Mort’s,” Riordan said Tuesday. “I’m working with both the landlord and Bobbie.” Riordan lives in Brentwood and has been a regular customer at Mort’s for years. On Tuesday, Farberow said that while she had no comment on lease negotiations’which have been going on for over a year’she said there was no truth to the latest rumor that her employees had been encouraged to find other work as of September. “That is simply not true,” she told the Post. “There have been so many rumors lately. One of them even has me getting married. To whom? A ghost?” Farberow ran the deli with her husband, Mort, from 1974 until his death in 2002. Since then, she has been doing all the ordering for the restaurant, overseeing her 45 employees, and working the cash register several days a week’between trips to Hawaii to visit her son Stuart and his family, including three grandchildren. Is Farberow ready to retire? How soon does she plan to sell? “No comment,” is all she will say. Although Farberow is not prepared to sign the new lease recently offered to her by Palisades Partners, a close friend said she is still trying to negotiate in good faith.

Council Meeting: Asilomar & Bike Path

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Community Council chairman Steve Boyers began his first meeting on a high note last Thursday by re-honoring Bobbie Farberow with the Golden Sparkplug award she received in 1981. (See story, page 7.) The evening’s wide-ranging agenda challenged a realigned council, which includes new members Susan Nash as secretary, and Matthew Rodman, who was appointed under former chair Kurt Toppel to fill a vacancy as the Area 5 representative. o o o The council heard from June Payne of the Palisades AARP chapter, who proposed a motion to name the beach bike path after its creator, former City Councilman Marvin Braude. He passed away last December 7. “A group of [my] friends have been riding the bike path for years and we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could name this after Marvin Braude?'” Payne said. Andrea Epstein, field deputy to City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, announced that Rosendahl had received that request “a while back” and that “it’s either happened or it’s happening.” Upon further research, the Palisadian-Post learned that State Sen. Sheila Kuehl introduced SB 1583 on February 23. The bill, which was approved unanimously by the City Council, “would name the Los Angeles County beach bicycle path, which runs 22.3 miles from its northern end at Will Rogers State Beach to its southern end in the City of Torrance, ‘Marvin Braude Bikeway’.” A resolution presented by Councilmember Wendy Greuel and signed by Rosendahl stated that “the late Marvin Braude was a visionary member of the Los Angeles City Council for 32 years and led efforts to create the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, protect Griffith Park from development; preserve the Pacific coastline, and improve air quality in Los Angeles.” Braude “was also instrumental in the creation of the city’s bikeway system and has been called the father of the Venice beach bike path, where he was often seen bicycling with his family.” The County will ultimately be in charge of implementing the change because the bike path crosses various city boundaries. o o o An update on the Asilomar Boulevard slippage was almost taken off the Council agenda during the meeting because there was nothing substantial to report, but Asilomar resident Dick Wulliger stood up and asked to give a report on the work being done on the storm-damaged area. “It’s true the city has patched the depression,” Wulliger said, referring to a large depression in the southbound lane of Asilomar. “The big problem is the slide.” The Asilomar landslide, about a quarter of a mile northwest of PCH and Temescal Canyon Road, was first documented in 1957-1958. In 1998, the city repaired the sewer beneath Asilomar because of damage caused by the Northridge earthquake, but in subsequent years city engineers discovered two weakened areas underlying the street. The hillside was further damaged during the heavy rains in January and February of 2005, which caused the federal government to declare disasters in the area. The city applied for funding to the Federal Highway Administration, asking for approval and designation of the road as an Emergency Relief project, but the application was denied in early April. Asilomar Boulevard was originally designated as a federal highway and is still under the jurisdiction of the FHWA, even though it was never made into one. The FHWA did, however, give the city some money to do minor repair work. “The city’s contractor has replaced all three sewer reaches as requested,” said Cora Jackson Fossett, director of public affairs for the Department of Public Works, in an e-mail to the Palisadian-Post on Tuesday. “These three connecting sewer reaches extend from directly in front of 15927 Asilomar Blvd., westerly to the intersection of Asilomar and Almar. In all, 675 ft. of 8-inch vitrified clay pipe (VCP) sewer was replaced with an equivalent size and amount of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. The segments of new HDPE sewer pipe were connected to each other using electro-fusion couplers, thereby insuring leak-proof joints in the mainline sewer.” Jackson Fossett explained that the sewer was replaced by open-trench excavation in the roadway surface. “Upon replacement of the sewer pipe, the trench was backfilled with a cement slurry mixture, which also insures proper compaction below the roadway surface.” She added that the city’s contractor is currently making final repairs to the roadway surface directly over the new sewer. Public Works expects this sewer replacement project to be fully completed by tomorrow, July 21. Asilomar residents like Wulliger will be watching closely to see if this repair work is successful. “I hope this will help,” Wulliger told the council. “I don’t know.” o o o LAPD Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore reported that there was a “slight increase in vehicle-related crime” in June. He referred specifically to break-ins in which laptops and iPods were stolen, and reiterated that people should not leave property in their car, or the door unlocked. The people burglarizing cars, residential and commercial properties are “looking for high-value small electronic items that are easy to sell and in high demand,” Moore said. “They’re also looking for cash and jewelry.” Council members and audience members raised questions and concerns, including how residents can learn why helicopters are circling their neighborhood and if they could be notified as to the danger level of a crime-scene investigation in their area. “The LAPD helicopter can come out for everything from a robbery in progress to a loud party,” Moore said. “It’s really hard to tell [what it is] unless the officer working that [area] takes the time to let me know.” Moore added that if residents call 911 and request police presence in their area to handle a problem, they have to tell the 911 dispatcher whether they expect to meet with the officers. Otherwise, the officers may come and go without making their presence known to the person who made the request.

Calendar for the Week of July 20, 2006

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THURSDAY, JULY 20 Scott Frost, author of the Village Books bestseller “Run the Risk,” returns to sign his second Alex Delillo mystery, “Never Fear,” 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Weekly campfire program in Temescal Gateway Park, 8 p.m. at the campfire center next to the dining hall, through August 24. Enjoy a fireside program led by local naturalists and celebrate the campfire tradition with stories, songs and (free) marshmallows. Bring stories to share and a picnic dinner. Parking is $5. Contact: 454-1395, ext. 106. FRIDAY, JULY 21 Palisades Beautiful meeting, 10 a.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Agenda discussions include planting of residential parkway trees in the Palisades this fall and facilitating the removal of dead trees and stumps. The public is invited. SATURDAY, JULY 22 Friends of the Palisades Library will hold a slightly-used book sale, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the library parking lot, 861 Alma Real. All proceeds benefit the branch library. Author Cynthia Spoon will sign her new book, “The Can-Do Stories,” for children of all ages, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 12.) SUNDAY, JULY 23 Weekly Summer Splash program, featuring family games, activities and music, 5 to 7 p.m. at the YMCA pool in Temescal Gateway Park. Free admission. Bring a swimsuit, bring a picnic, bring a friend. MONDAY, JULY 24 Monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Civic League, 7:30 p.m. in Gabrielson Hall at the Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. The Teen Summer Reading Club presents “Animation: The Power of the Pencil,” 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Gary Perkovac, who has worked for 20 years as an animator for Disney, Dreamworks and Don Bluth Productions, will discuss the artistry of classical animation. Admission is free. Pajama Story-time for children of all ages, 7 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Parents and teddy bears welcome. TUESDAY, JULY 25 Story-craft time, for children 4 and older, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Listen to stories and build on them. Tuesday Night Hikes, organized by the Temescal Canyon Association, will take the beautiful Los Liones Trail to enjoy the views from the East Topanga Fire Road. Meet at 6 p.m. in the Temescal Gateway parking lot at the corner of Sunset and Temescal Canyon Rd. for carpooling. Public invited. Expect to return between 8 and 9 p.m. THURSDAY, JULY 27 Sandra Beckwith will talk about “The New Agenda for the Aldersgate Retreat Center” at the Palisades Rotary Club breakfast meeting, 7:15 a.m., Gladstone’s on the beach. The public is welcome. Monthly Chamber of Commerce mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., hosted by Wilshire Fireplace (formerly Palace Fireplace), 15335 Sunset. Public invited. Weekly campfire program in Temescal Gateway Park, 8 p.m. at the campfire center next to the dining hall, through August 24. Enjoy a fireside program led by local naturalists and celebrate the campfire tradition with stories, songs and (free) marshmallows. Bring stories to share and a picnic dinner. Parking is $5. Contact: 454-1395, ext. 106. FRIDAY, JULY 28 Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce quarterly networking breakfast, hosted by The Office Supplier, 8 a.m. at Mogan’s Caf’, 548 Palisades Dr. Members only; RSVP required by calling 459-7963. Cost: $10.

Lizards and Bobcats and Snakes – Oh My!

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Assistant director Chandra Comstock takes time to play with Jay, the Eco Station's beloved bobcat.
Assistant director Chandra Comstock takes time to play with Jay, the Eco Station’s beloved bobcat.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Off a humdrum industrial stretch in Culver City lurks a lush indoor jungle filled with exotic animals. Taking a walk on the wild side is made easy at Star Eco Station, an 18,000-sq.-ft.-facility on Jefferson Boulevard, where a faux Mayan temple is home to over 100 threatened and endangered species: wild cats, tropical birds, reptiles and marine animals. Visitors are transported along mossy, dimly lighted paths to meet a lively cast of characters including Jay the bobcat, an 18-ft.-long python named Brutus, and Ozzie, a chatty, sometimes screeching cockatoo. Star Eco Station is less a mini-zoo and more a last-chance sanctuary for the nearly 200 animals who live there. The nonprofit organization works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to rescue illegally imported animals and give them a home. Another big percentage of the center’s inhabitants are pets that people no longer want or can handle. The main mission of Eco Station, an offshoot of the STAR after-school enrichment program, is to teach children about wildlife preservation and the environment in a hands-on museum. Every year, 50,000 kids tour the facility; through a variety of ambitious outreach programs, the staff estimates they reach a total of nearly 2 million students. Camp is now is full swing, with 1st through 6th graders participating in themed weekly sessions such as “Reptiles Rock,” “Creepy Crawling Bugs” and “Animal Parts Up Close and Personal.” “We are so grassroots you can almost taste the manure,” says Erick Bozzi, Jr., vice president and director of wildlife management. “Doing things on a global level is really important, but if you don’t start with the kids,you’re lost.” Eco Station was founded in 1997 by Bozzi, his parents Erick, Sr. (now deceased) and Katya Bozzi, and his sister Katiana, who is director of education and outreach. It is one of the stellar spin-offs of the STAR (Science, Theatre, Art, Recreation) education program, an award-winning series of after-school enrichment classes, administered in public schools throughout California, that Bozzi’s parents created in 1986. The idea for Eco Station grew from the family’s love of animals, both big and small, wild and tame. Part of the Bozzi family lore is how the children were conspicuous in their Westside neighborhood. “While other kids would walk their dogs, my kids would walk their monitor lizard,” Katya Bozzi once told a reporter. At 18, Erick, Jr. took a job with L.A. Animal Care and Control; soon after, the family’s garage became a makeshift rescue center for exotics. Providing safe haven for unusual animals began this way in the early ’90s and has continued ever since. Red-eared sliders, one of the only animals kept at the Station that is native to the U.S., is one of the first attractions in the center. Once upon a time these turtles, easily recognized for the characteristic red stripe behind their eyes, were a staple of pet shops and popular among children. Since 1976, it has been illegal to sell sliders under four inches in diameter. “These turtles are not ideal pets for children,” cautions assistant director Chandra Comstock during a recent tour. “They are hard to care for and need lots of sunlight and vitamins.” However, with the proper care, a four-inch turtle can grow as large as a foot in diameter and live for 45 years. The oldest turtle in this crowd is Fern at 20. “We allow adoption of these turtles only to people with ponds,” notes Comstock. “It’s the most appropriate home.” The Oscars, a freshwater fish native to South America, were all pets until they became too big. Eco Station is a shelter for these castoffs. “It’s one of these fish they sell at the pet store when they are two inches long, but grow to over 75 pounds,” Comstock says. “They’re known as tank busters.” Carlos the alligator is another resident who outgrew his owner’s backyard. In fact, when Animal Control needs to seize illegally kept alligators, they call the Eco Station to tackle the task. “They’re trained to handle dogs, cats and raccoons, not gators,” Comstock says. Preservation extends even to coral, where a tank shows off brilliant samplings stolen from reefs in places like Fiji and the Philippines that have been confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Coral takes a couple hundred years to grow back,” Comstock says of the devastating impact caused by those who break off sections as souvenirs. “They’re really stealing the home for these fish.” By far the most famous tenant of the Eco Station is Jay, a tame bobcat with a playful personality. Jay, kept illegally as a pet in someone’s home, has undergone several operations since his rescue to alleviate pain caused by having been declawed. He is a winning mascot when Eco Station goes on the road to visit classrooms. Another popular character is Ozzie, a Salmon-crested Cockatoo from Indonesia, who is often part of the center’s “road show.” Ozzie will live to about 30, while the life span of macaws is over 100 years. At 15, one of the macaws living at Eco Station had already lived in four different homes. The center will offer birds for adoption when they approve of conditions. “Birds like these are highly social and need at least three to five hours of attention daily,” says Comstock. “They’re pretty much like a human child.” Surprisingly, iguanas are the third most popular pet in the United States, something the Eco Station is reminded of daily by the contrast stream of calls from owners wanting to get rid of their “pet.” In L.A. County alone, 40,000 iguanas are put down every year. “They can be a good pet if you know you’re getting a six-foot-long lizard with claws,” Comstock says. “They need a lot of attention when they’re babies in order to be able to handle them when they get big.” Many of the Eco Station’s iguanas have been transferred to Sacramento, where a new center opened last Saturday. The enormous success of the Culver City facility, which is completely funded by donations, allows the Bozzis to continue to expand. A third Eco Station is scheduled to open in San Francisco in 2008. When 7-year-old Noelle Jimenez is asked about her favorite animal at Eco Station, she leans toward the less exotic. “I like the hamsters,” she says. “They all have different personalities.” STAR Eco Station is located at 10101 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Culver City. The center is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 1-1/2-hour tours beginning on the half hour. Contact: 842-8060 or go online to www.ecostation.org.

Students Support Great Causes

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By CHARLOTTE COHEN Special to the Palisadian-Post The Student Council at Palisades Elementary Charter School has been saving up its money for a good cause. We are very happy to be able to give $400 to each of these great charities: ‘ Heal The Bay–Key to the Sea, a group focused on keeping the beaches clean, educating the community and schools about how they can help, and measuring the ocean water for cleanliness. ‘ Ronald McDonald Charities of Southern California, which provides apartments to entire families who travel away from their home to get their kids into hospitals. These apartments are built near hospitals, and the family can stay there for a very small fee. This housing is given to families whose kids have serious illness like cancer. ‘ Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, a hospital that cares for children who are very sick from here and all over the world, and does a lot of their work for free. We are hoping that our money can help a sick child get well. ‘ UCLA/Orthopedic Hospital Center for Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral palsy is a medical condition that affects control of the muscles. We are hoping that our money will help those with this condition. Pali Elementary’s Student Council hopes it can stay connected to the community by helping them. (Charlotte Cohen was the fourth grade historian at Palisades Elementary School.)

Tuesdays at the Hauns’ and 1000s of Books

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By GARRETT WAIT Palisadian-Post Intern The smell of old manuscripts is subtle but strong when one steps through the front door of Jim and Judith Haun’s home in Pacific Palisades. Thousands of books of short stories and essays, their pages yellowed over time, line the staircase up to the second floor. All of them have been read, and all of them have been discussed thoroughly by a group of friends who meet every Tuesday night. That’s not surprising; the reading club has had 42 years to get through them all. That’s exactly what they’ve done, according to Jim, the founder of the Palisades reading club. The group has met regularly for more than four decades, with each weekly meeting’s discussion based on a new short story or essay. They’ve gotten through thousands of well-known stories and plenty that aren’t nearly as well known. Jim has been the leader of the group as long as it has been around. But he doesn’t just see himself in the role of discussion leader. The meetings are part of a larger, continuing sociological experiment in which he sees himself as an outside observer more than an active participant. “I guess what we’re looking for is the overview,” he said. “I describe myself as an anthropologist from outer space.” On any given Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., between 15 and 20 people file into the Hauns’ home. All have been there before; most have long-designated seats ready for them as they enter. These are loyal group members, some of whom travel from as far as Palos Verdes and the San Fernando Valley. The group has spawned lifelong relationships among the members. It is how the Hauns met and eventually married 26 years ago, according to Judith. “We met in an odd way in a restaurant,” she said. “We weren’t together, but we were sitting real close to each other. I knew the woman he was with and we were seated so close to each other that we got to talking. He invited me to come to the group.” The Hauns’ relationship has allowed them to be partners in hosting the meetings. However, Judith defers to Jim once the discussion begins. “Jim is just a fabulous leader,” she said. “He holds the group together, they respect and love and appreciate him. I’m just there to be part of the group, to put out the cake, to be there and to participate and to help out any way I can. I really think people come because of Jim.” For about half an hour, the group mills around the kitchen, eating cake, catching up on the week’s happenings and telling jokes with old friends. These are people who have had decades to get to know each other. After all, the youngest person in the group is in his 50s, with many members in their 80s. They have a good sense of when tea time is over, thanks to years of attendance, but if they’ve forgotten, Jim reminds everybody with a few swift strikes of a gong in the corner of the reading room. The topic of discussion on this night is an essay on feminism by Maureen Dowd. Everybody in the room had read it thoroughly, dissecting parts they agreed or disagreed with. It’s the disagreements, obviously, that spark the most fervent discussion. One bold statement can set off a cacophony of sound. Arguments are deftly prepared and thoroughly discussed. No stone is left unturned. However, political statements aren’t allowed. “Politics get too personal and particular,” Jim said. “We’re looking for a philosophical overview of humanity.” Through it all, Jim works as a vocal traffic cop. He guides the discussion in all the right directions, making sure that anybody who wants to speak gets a chance to say what’s on his or her mind. “I try to make it possible for everyone who wants to speak to get in,” he said. “When the group gets off topic, I try to bring it back. I also try to bring up things in the reading that haven’t been talked about yet.” This has been the tradition since the group’s humble beginnings, when Jim led a discussion of “Contemporary Moral Issues,” a book of essays edited by Harry K. Girvetz. The book was chosen as part of a UCLA outreach program. Participants paid $10 for the 11-week course, and got the book with the payment. One particular group liked the meetings so much that they decided to continue getting together, and they’ve been doing it ever since. In the past few months, the group has gone through stories such as “The Ninth in E Minor” by Frederick Busch, “Chekhov’s Journey” by James McConkey, “A Memorial to the Slain” by William March and “Lappin and Lapinova” by Virginia Woolf. Some authors and stories get special attention, according to Judith. “Sometimes we have repeated stories,” she said. “It’s always interesting because it’s different the second time. “It’s different from any other book group. We’re substantial in some way. These are very bright people, very eclectic people. They all come from different points of view.” The group has changed a little over time, with members moving away or passing on, but the core and the driving force behind the group remains the same. “The meetings will go on as long as the leader survives and as long as the group holds out,” she said. “People keep coming. Just when you think this is the group, other people hear about it or come. The group seems to sustain itself.” The embodiment of the group’s passion for reading is summed up by a Logan Pearsall Smith quote that hangs on the wall in the Hauns’ reading room: “People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading.”

Weddings

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Anne-Elisa Schaffer Weds Jared Yeager at Marina Anne-Elisa Schaffer and Jared Tyler Yeager were married on May 27 at the Marina del Rey Marriott in a rooftop ceremony that was officiated by longtime friend of the bride and groom, Asa Shumskas-Tait. The bride, 24, is the daughter of Mark and Barbara Schaffer of Pacific Palisades. She attended Palisades High School and the USC School of Cinema-Television, where she received her B.A. in critical studies. She is the story editor at East of Doheny, a film/television/theater production company in West Hollywood. The bridegroom, 26, is the son of Bill and Kathy Yeager of Pasadena. He attended the USC School of Cinema-Television, where he received his B.A. in critical studies. He is an associate producer at Vivendi Games in West Los Angeles and also works as a voice-over artist. The bride’s maid of honor was Normandie Zeidler. Bridesmaids were Elizabeth Megel, Deidre Moore, Alison Veneto, Jenny Krochmal and Maya Kuttan. The best man was Ryan French. The groomsmen included Lawrence Everson, Adam Rauscher, Doug Spice, Zach Turner, Jesse Vigil and David Schaffer, the bride’s brother. The flower girl and ring bearer were Shelly and Alex Schaffer, the bride’s cousins. The bridegroom’s sister, Adrianna Yeager, read a selection from Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet.” Following their honeymoon in Australia and Hawaii, the newlyweds are living in West Los Angeles. Kao and Fritzsche Wed in Taiwan Palisades native Thomas Jones Fritzsche and Faye Kao were married February 24 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the bride’s hometown. Both bride and groom are respiratory therapists at UCLA Medical Center. The couple met at respiratory therapy school in Los Angeles. The bride is the daughter of Julie and Paul Kao of Temple City, California. She is a graduate of East Los Angeles College. The groom is the son of William and Delores Fritzsche of Pacific Palisades. He graduated from Corpus Christi School, Loyola High School and Humboldt State University. The bride was attended by matron of honor Vera Wang Chu. Her daughters Suzie Chu and Tammy Chu were flower girls. Vincent J. Fritzsche was his brother’s best man, and brothers William V. Fritzsche and James H. Fritzsche were groomsmen. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii and are at home in Temple City. Dunsmore and Barre Announce Engagement Brenda Dawn Dunsmore and Joshua Lessing Barre, both of Pacific Palisades, have announced their engagement. The future bride is the daughter of Margaret Dunsmore of Victorville and Bill Dunsmore of Oceanside. She is a 1996 graduate of Vista High School in Vista, California, and a 2000 graduate of UCLA, where she received a bachelor’s degree in economics. She is a supervisor at a real estate asset-management firm based in West Los Angeles. The future bridegroom is the son of Laurie Barre of Altadena and Guy Barre of Pacific Palisades. He is a 2002 graduate of American InterContinental University in Los Angeles, where he received a bachelor’s degree in information technology. He is a licensed real estate broker in the states of California, Nevada and Texas and the co-owner of RealPro, a real estate and mortgage brokerage firm headquartered in Pacific Palisades. The wedding is set for August 21 at Shutters on the Beach Hotel in Santa Monica. The couple plan to spend their honeymoon in Tahiti. They will live in Pacific Palisades. Kaszubowski and Cheng Exchange Vows in Miami Martin P. Kaszubowski and Jean Cheng were married on April 29 at Doral Resort and Spa in Miami. The bridegroom is the son of Drs. Krystyna and Pawel Kaszubowski, longtime Palisadians. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Tina and Mr. Ray Cheng of Coral Springs, Florida. The bride is a very talented musician and plays on various instruments. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. degree in music and political science. After graduation, she played violin in the Atlanta Orchestra. The bridegroom, a doctor in the Air Force, graduated from the Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences in Washington D.C., in 2004 and currently works as a staff physician at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. He attended Corpus Christi School and Loyola High School and obtained his B.S. degree cum laude from UCLA in 2000. The groomsmen were Michael Kaszubowski, his older brother; Sergio Antoniuk, his best friend (also from Pacific Palisades); and the bride’s younger brother John. After enjoying a honeymoon trip to Hawaii, the young couple reside in their new home in Tucson. Just before the wedding, Martin served his first medical duty in Afghanistan.

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