“If you didn’t have fun in high school, you’re not going to like this,” Sarah Kelly says about her feature-length film “The Lather Effect,” which will make its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival June 26 in Westwood Village. Kelly, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, wrote and directed the comedy about a group of high school friends in their mid-30s who reunite for one final weekend at the house where they spent most of their teenage years partying. The set is modeled after her parents’ home in the Alphabet Streets, and two scenes were shot at Palisades High School. The story was inspired by Kelly’s own nostalgia about her teenage years in the 1980s, and her desire to address the issues that she and her friends are now experiencing. Those issues include the responsibilities of marriage, balancing career and family and the pressure to have a baby. Kelly, who is happily married to fellow Palisadian Steve Prough, wanted to make a movie that speaks to her generation the way Lawrence Kasdan’s 1983 cult-classic “The Big Chill” resonated with those who grew up in the ’60s. “I was trying to figure out how to do that reunion movie without a funeral or high school,” says Kelly, who made her directorial debut with the 1997 documentary “Full Tilt Boogie,” about the making of Robert Rodriguez’s “From Dusk Til Dawn.” Two years ago, around the time of Kelly’s 34th birthday, her parents were going out of town, so she and a friend decided to throw themselves an 80s-style birthday party. The invitation, which is still on her refrigerator, was an old photo of them dressed in ’80’s attire that dared everyone to “come as they were.” “Everybody raged,” Kelly says, explaining that people came in costume and with an adolescent mindset. She realized that so many of her peers were feeling the same way she was’missing their youth while dealing with “grown-up” emotional issues. Being an adult “is much harder work than anyone told us it was going to be,” says Kelly, who now lives in Mar Vista. “We were a privileged generation but maybe we weren’t quite prepared for even minor stuff hitting the fan.” Cleaning up the mess at her parents’ house after the party, Kelly realized that she had a movie to make. She wanted people to know that “it’s okay to have dichotomies in your life’to be married and miss an old boyfriend. It’s okay to admit it.” In order to bring her characters together, she set the film in her main character’s family home, which had recently been sold. Kelly’s own parents still live in her childhood home, which had a tree house, hot tub and “rat room,” where she, her younger brother Dominic, and their friends used to hang out. Kelly admits she longs for the Palisades of yesterday, from the House of Lee and its popular Wing Ding Room bar to the Hot Dog Show and The Hacienda Galvan, which she claims had “the best taquitos in the world.” She remembers that her parents, Andy and Marea, used to bring home end rolls of blank newspaper from the Palisades Post’s backshop so she and Dominic could draw on them. Kelly was determined to make her movie within a year, in part because she had spent six years after “Full Tilt Boogie” trying to sell her script of a teen film in the mold of John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club.” That project, called “The Blessed Virgins,” was based on Kelly’s experiences at Marymount, an all-girls Catholic high school. Several studios showed interest but were deterred by Kelly’s insistence that one of the characters die in a car accident, as had happened to one of her friends in real life. For “The Lather Effect,” Kelly collaborated with co-writer Tim Talbott, and wrote the first draft in a month. The plot centers around characters who reminisce about their years at PaliHi, which Kelly describes as a place that “seemed like this dream place to go.” Her husband, the son of former Palisades bookstore owner John Prough, graduated from Pali in 1984; Steve and Sarah met growing up in their Alphabet Streets neighborhood. The main character, Valinda, is Kelly’s age (36) and is named after “a cool baby-sitter” who took care of Sarah and Dominic when they were kids. In the production notes, Kelly writes, “If two of those John Hughes kids [from “The Breakfast Club”]’namely Molly Ringwald [who played the prom queen] and Ally Sheedy [the basket case] combined’survived enough Saturdays in detention to make it to their 30s, it’s very possible they would have turned out something like Valinda.” “She’s me, but they’re all me,” Kelly says of her characters. Valinda is played by Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights” and the TV series “Spin City”). Ione Skye, who starred in the 1989 teen classic “Say Anything,” plays Zoey, who is married to Valinda’s high school boyfriend Jack (William Mapother). Kelly’s friend and mentor Eric Stoltz, an actor, producer and director, plays Valinda’s older, laid-back neighbor who still likes to crash high school parties. “He sort of believed in me a long time ago,” says Kelly, who worked as a production assistant on several of Stoltz’s movies, including “Killing Zo’,” “Kicking and Screaming” and “Pulp Fiction.” “He treated me like a filmmaker even when I was aspiring.” “The Lather Effect” also stars Sarah Clarke, Tate Donovan, Peter Facinelli, David Herman and Caitlin Keats. Kelly says the film’s metaphorical title means “rinsing and repeating your past,” then describes that “sudsy” feeling one gets when intoxicated: “You have to be aware of the extra bubbles.” The movie was filmed in Studio City over a span of 18 days, and Kelly says directing it was “everything I though it was going to be.” Dominic, a composer, wrote the score for his sister’s film, which also includes a host of ’80s hits by bands such as English Beat and Violent Femmes. “I can’t believe it’s playing in Westwood,” Kelly says, laughing. “Talk about nostalgic. That’s where I went on every date with boys in the ’80s.” But she adds that making “The Lather Effect” was therapeutic in helping her get over some of her teenage nostalgia. She has begun writing a new screenplay, “50/50,” an ensemble comedy/drama about modern marriage, and still plans to develop and direct “The Blessed Virgins.” Rated R for language, “The Lather Effect” was produced by Rachel Rothman, David Grasso, Gary Bryman and Mike Jackson, and edited by Darren Ayres. It opens June 26 at 7:15 p.m. at the Mann Festival, followed by screenings on June 29 at the Landmark Regent and June 30 at the Laemmle Sunset 5. For tickets, call (866) 345-6337 or visit www.lafilmfest.com.
Buerge’s Topanga Mermaid Sings
Perched on a ridge above Topanga Canyon, the historic Mermaid has endured more lives than the proverbial cat. Originally built as a country club in 1930, the statuesque Spanish Colonial-style structure later became a gambling casino and brothel, a private Jewish boy’s school, an American Legion hall, a gay bar and a celebrated concert hall. Joni Mitchell immortalized it in her song “Carey” (“Come on down to the Mermaid and I will buy you a bottle of wine”). During its various incarnations, it was known as the Sylvia Park clubhouse, Rancho Topanga, the Canyon Club and the Mermaid Tavern. The current owner, Bill Buerge, renamed it the Mountain Mermaid, perhaps alluding to the monumental climb he’s faced in restoring the property, which had fallen into a profound state of disrepair by the time he bought it 17 years ago. “It would have been easier to take it down and start over,” says Buerge, a longtime preservationist who has tackled dozens of renovation and restoration projects over the years, including spearheading the restoration of Aldersgate Retreat Center, one of the oldest buildings in Pacific Palisades. “There were holes in the floors such that you could see through to the basement, parts of the building had caught fire, and everything was at a half-tilt,” Buerge recalls. Nonetheless, he fell instantly for her, especially smitten with the 1,500-sq.-ft. Great Room, where a massive fireplace and three expansive arched windows anchor a space defined by a raised, beamed ceiling. The only problem was the Mermaid was already in escrow. Undeterred, Buerge made a backup offer. When the first buyers underwent the inspection of the building and discovered what Buerge describes as “a chamber of horrors,” he became the proud owner in 1989. It must have been true love, as the day Buerge moved in, his welcome mat consisted of piles of dead bees (exterminated along with the termites after escrow closed) and horse manure covering the floors. “Animals pretty much ran the place,” says Buerge, who shared his new digs with bats, rats and pigeons. One of the lowest points came when rain leaked through the attic, causing the ceiling to collapse in Buerge’s living quarters, depositing a mountain of rotten plaster laced with pigeon droppings. In Buerge’s own lively account of bringing the Mermaid back to life, soon to be published in a newly revised book on Topanga history, he makes note of having felt a special kinship with Tom Hanks’ character in the movie “The Money Pit.” In fact, midway through reconstruction, he ran out of money and put the Mermaid on the market. The half-finished property, still seductive in its charms, prompted people like Diane Keaton and Sharon Stone to request showings, but no offers were made. Thus began Buerge’s renewed commitment’with the aid of a significant bank loan’to go the full mile with the Mermaid’s makeover, an effort that culminated with the property being declared a State and Los Angeles County Point of Historic Interest in 1993. The Mermaid’s first life was as the Sylvia Park clubhouse, named for the daughter of one of the original developers. The imposing structure was built to lure homeowners to settle in this remote, newly subdivided land in Topanga. The Depression intervened, and the development never got off the ground. During World War II, mobster Mickey Cohen operated the property, placing slot machines in the basement and women upstairs. Buerge interviewed a Topanga resident from this era who remembers regularly seeing Cohen, always surrounded by bodyguards, coming out to collect his money. In the late ’40s, the Mermaid briefly became a Jewish boy’s school, and in the 1950s, veterans used it as an American Legion hall. In the 1960s, a former vice officer for the Santa Monica Police department purchased the property and transformed it to a gay bar. It was during this time that the Mermaid sustained the most abuse, with it original artifacts being sold or carried to the dumpster, the tile roof dismantled and the exterior clad in metal sheets. In the 1970s, it became the Mermaid Tavern, attracting a bohemian crowd (Joni Mitchell was a frequent patron) to concerts ranging from classical to such popular acts as Little Feat and Frank Zappa. The youngest of four, Buerge was raised in the Palisades by parents who were well-known in the community for their lively household and farm, where giant pumpkins were harvested every fall (the estate was sold last year and the construction of four new houses is underway). Buerge graduated from Palisades High in 1965. He went on to Cal State, Long Beach, where he received a degree in painting and drawing. For many years, he was a freelance illustrator and graphic designer for the Saturday Evening Post, NBC, and Capitol Records, among other clients. Along the way, Buerge’s interest in homes and gardens steadily evolved, and he increasingly lent his artistic vision and construction know-how to various projects until it became his full-time pursuit. Buerge and his longtime girlfriend, Gail McDonald Tune, are always on the hunt for antique furnishings for the Mermaid, whether at swap meets and estate sales, or during chance encounters, such as one Buerge had at a gas station in the Palisades. “I saw a guy who had this wonderful old door in his truck and I asked How much?” says Buerge, pointing to a weathered, Spanish-style door that now blends seamlessly into the Mermaid’s d’cor. None of the Mermaid’s original furnishings remains except one Monterey-style table. The property is awash in cleverly reused materials, from leftover terracotta roof tiles retrieved from the renovation of Mission San Jose, to second-hand ceramic tiles used in the reconstruction of the pool. A collection of vintage iron garden furniture dots the four-acre property, where unusual succulents thrive amid mulberry, fig and eucalyptus trees. Old horse troughs form the base of fanciful fountains that accent the meticulously tended grounds, where winding paths lead to a variety of enchanting outdoor rooms. The splendor and distinctive character of the property make it a magnet for the entertainment industry and fashion world. Buerge frequently rents the space for commercial projects as a way to help underwrite his ongoing work on the property (since purchasing the Mermaid for $650,000 in 1989, Buerge estimates he’s invested nearly $2 million in its renovation). J. Crew and Smith & Hawken have drawn upon its old-world charm for catalog shoots. Hollywood made it the backdrop of such films as “Speechless” with Gina Davis and Michael Keaton and “The Next Best Thing” starring Madonna and Rupert Everett. The civic-minded Buerge, who is an active member of the Topanga Historical Society, also hosts a variety of fundraisers at the Mermaid, including a special performance, “Reminiscences of Mozart by His Sister,” written by and starring Jane Marla Robbins, that will take place twice’at 2 and 5 p.m.’on Saturday, July 16. The event benefits the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness. Under Buerge’s stewardship, the Mermaid appears to finally have found bliss’and stability’with one man. “I’ll be here for the rest of my life,” says Buerge, who envisions the property one day becoming a landmark and botanical garden preserve open to all.
Predators Romp in Mira Loma
The Palisades Predators, an all-star team consisting of 11-year-old PPBA players, was one of eight Southland teams invited to the Father’s Day tournament at the Big League Dreams’ replica fields in Mira Loma. The replica stadium in which the Predators were assigned to play was the Polo Grounds, longtime home of the New York Giants. The Predators’ roster consisted of Nathan Dodson, John Fracchiolla, Chris Groel, Charlie Jeffers, Jack Jordan, Austin Kamel, Chad Kanoff, Michael Lamb, Jackson Nethercot, Chris Sebastian, Hagen Smith, Taylor Stokes, Kyle Warner and Joshua Yoo. The Predators rallied from a 7-1 deficit against the West Hills Bomb Squad by scoring eight runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by inside-the-park home runs by Chris Sebastian and Jeffers and the pitching of Kamel and Stokes. Later Saturday evening the Predators showed their stamina by beating the Las Vegas Demons, 10-8. Pitchers Jeffers and Dodson combined for the victory. Playing for the championship of their pool, the Predators met the Mid-Valley Fear on Sunday. The Northridge-based Fear had racked up 34 runs in their two previous wins, but the Predators took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Fear scored four runs in the fifth and held on for a 7-5 win.
Satos “Golden” on Palisades Elementary Olympics Day
No one knows winning quite like the six children of Richard and Elissa Sato. All were athletes in high school. Five played volleyball in college, three played on U.S. National volleyball teams, two played in the Olympics, one was a coach for three different Olympic teams and two just finished coaching their high school teams to CIF championships. On Tuesday, Sato siblings Gary, Liane and Eric were invited to Olympics Day at Palisades Elementary to share their thoughts on competition, teamwork and the value of family and sports. Gary, the oldest child, started the volleyball tradition in his family. He played on the U.S. National team for many years and went on to coach at Pepperdine University where he led the Waves to an NCAA championship. Gary was the assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National team and traveled to three different Olympics. His teams won a gold medal in Seoul, Korea, in 1988 and a bronze in Barcelona, Spain, in 1992. “There’s a high percentage that some of you will be in the Olympics,” Gary told a captivated audience of kindergarten through fifth-grade students. He then listed a number of Palisadians who have competed in the Olympics. Later Gary explained what makes a good competitor great. “An athlete needs to study the game, study their opponents and study themselves.” “A competitor looks to see what previous people have done and looks for common threads,” he continued. “They put in the hard work and use different training techniques. An athlete needs to evaluate his or her own strengths and weaknesses, but also has to be aware of “paralysis over analysis,” which means at a certain point they have to get out of the brain and let the body take over.” Liane is currently the head coach for boys and girls varsity volleyball at Santa Monica High, where the boys just won a CIF title. Her “boys” asked her if their win was better than when she won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. “At this time in my life, it’s better than the Olympics,” she told them. “I think playing has helped me become a better coach,” Liane told her attentive audience. “It gives me insight into the athlete.” Liane also played in the Seoul Olympics and on the U.S. national team for six years as well as playing pro volleyball. “Sports helps provide responsibilities that prepare you for life,” she said. “Sports also teach one of the most important things–how to be a gracious winner and loser. “To be successful in life you need to be responsible, surround yourself with positive role models and have a supportive family,” Liane said. The youngest of the Sato siblings, Eric credits his sister with the advice she gave him in seventh grade: “Choose your friends wisely.” He cited his family as his role model growing up. In the 1988 Olympics, Eric’s jump serve scored the point that clinched the gold medal for the U.S. He also played in the 1992 Olympics and won a bronze medal. He is now the head volleyball coach at Francis Parker High in San Diego, where both his boys and girls teams won CIF championships. “There was always competition in the Sato household,” Eric said. “My siblings taught me how to compete.” Gary was Eric’s Olympic coach, which both agreed can be tricky because they had to figure out how to put the sibling issues aside. “Make good choices, surround yourself with good people and when you fall, get back up and try again,” Eric advised the students. The other Sato siblings are Tedi, Glenn, and Scott, who lives in the Palisades.
Senior Athletes Honored At Pali
Graduating athletes at Palisades High were recognized for their excellence during a senior awards program Friday night in Mercer Hall. Brock Auerbach-Lynn, an All-City performer in both soccer and track, was presented the James A. Mercer Scholar-Athlete Award for his leadership qualities and service to his school and the community. All-City girls soccer player Lucy Miller, who scored 26 goals in 20 games and finished her PaliHi career with a school-record 88 goals, was awarded a the PCHS Exceptional Scholar Athlete Award. Also receiving that award was Ben Tom, who earned All-City honors and won the Sportsmanship Award at the All-City Tennis Individual tournament and also earned All-League honors in soccer. Coaches’ Awards for outstanding athletic achievement went to tennis players Seth Mandelkern, Stephen Surjue, Yasmire Navas and Lotte Kiepe, football and track standout Christopher Henderson, swimmer Brian Johnson and baseball players Bobby Hicks and Matt Skolnik.
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE JUNE 22, 2006 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
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 PACIFIC PALISADES BLUFFS. Ocean view home for sale. See and hear the surf. www.ahomeinthepalisades.comHOMES WANTED 1b
WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887HOME EVALUATION 1d
COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION OF YOUR HOME. It’s fast, easy and it’s free! Visit www.WhatsmyHomeWorth.comFURNISHED HOMES 2
IMPECCABLE 3 BR, 3.5 BA HM w/ ocean/mt/cyn vus. Apx 5 min to town & beach. Available for 3 mos. min. Mstr ste w/ pvt study, cooks kit, fam rm, vaulted ceilings, FR doors thruout open to patios, BBQ area & gardens. This home has it all. $12,000/mo. Adele Carlson, Prudential CA Realty. (310) 230-3747. ADELLE.MC@verizon.netUNFURNISHED 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) LOVELY OCEAN VIEW 4 bdrm, 3 ba, 2 fireplaces, jacuzzi tub, yard, patio, coastline view. Available now. (310) 459-4441 or (310) 393-1165 PACIFIC PALISADES. BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED home on mountain edge of alphabet streets, within walking distance to village, 3 bdrms, 2 ba in main house, modern kitchen, Subzero, Viking, granite countertops, hardwood floors, extensive mouldings, updated bathrooms, separate guesthouse with bathroom and kitchen area, 2-car garage, big flat tastefully landscaped yard. Can come partially furnished. $8,000/mo. Call Lisa at (310) 203-7952 or (310) 454-9274 PACIFIC PALISADES. BEAUTIFULLY UPDATED 4 bdrm, 3 ba, ocean views, outdoor kitchen, private yard with jacuzzi, decks. $8,500/mo., short or long term lease. Call (310) 230-3333 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) 454-1669UNFURNISHED 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 PACIFIC PALISADES. S.M. BAY OCEAN VIEWS on private drive, gdn style. Pool, huge patio, private garage, huge patio, 2 bdrm, 2 ba. $2,900/mo. To lease until Feb ’07. No extension. (310) 459-6369 ONE ROOM, 1 BA APT, kitchenette, carpet, close to village, secluded, bus at corner, 1 car garage, W/D. Available early July. $950/mo. Call (310) 454-9894 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 $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) 454-5444RENTALS TO SHARE 3a
QUALITY LIFE, HEART OF PAC PAL village, mtn view, Sunday market, restaurants, shops, activities. Beautiful 3 bdrm, 2 ba condo w/ vaulted ceilings, hdwd flr, balcony, W/D, parking space. Seek considerate, responsible, active, professional like myself. Female preferred. No drugs, smokers, pets, negative thinkers. Ideal for someone on a project here and goes home weekends. $900 + 1/2 util. Call (310) 890-6687 SEEKING ELDERLY WOMAN roommate to share expenses. Beautiful ocean view apartment in the Palisades. Call Martha, (310) 459-8072WANTED TO RENT 3b
PEDIATRIC L.V.N. A 53-yr widow w/o children/pets. R.N. student seeking 1 bdrm, 1 ba, 1-car garage on the westside in exchange for healthy baby/child care weekends/nights N/S. Miss R., (310) 621-7781 WANTED TO RENT: ROOM with private bath or guest house. Peaceful, quiet area in Pacific Palisades. Quiet, mature, single male. N/S professional business owner. Please call Frank at (310) 459-9070 or e-mail fdwilliamsjr@yahoo.comOFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
$950/mo. 15115 1/2 Sunset Blvd. #B. LITE & BRITE 2 room office suite. 2nd floor. Call agent, (310) 459-3493VACATION RENTALS 3e
PRIVATE FURN APARTMENT IN PARIS. Services available. 24-hour hotline. Starting at $75 a night for 2 persons (studios to 4 bedrooms). Privacy, economy, convenience as you live like a Parisian. 5 day minimum. Established in 1985. PSR 90, Ave Champs-Elysees. PSR, Inc. (312) 587-7707. Fax (800) 582-7274. Web address: www.psrparis.com. Email: Reservations@psrparis.com DO YOU HAVE FAMILY or friends coming in town? Our beautiful 2 bdrm apt will be available 8/10-9/5. Pool, yard. Call (310) 279-8968BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
BOOKKEEPER BY THE DAY. Need help with getting your books in order? Help is near! Call Joanie, (310) 486-1055 BOOKKEEPER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. QuickBooks, Ouicken, Word processing, Excel spreadsheets, Business Management. Professional, detail-oriented Palisades resident. Exlnt refs upon request. Victoria, (310) 454-2705COMPUTER 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.comGARAGE, 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
HOME & HOME OFFICE MANAGEMENT. Do you need regular assistance, but not full time help? 15 yrs exper, exclnt refs. Website: www.paulapopins.com. (310) 455-4281NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
HOUSEHOLD ORGANIZER! Cook, kids, after school, pets, plants, office, light cleaning, errands, laundry, ironing. 20 years experience. Local references. Ruth, (310) 429-2459 EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER available M-F. Very good references. Own transportation. Call Sheila, (310) 270-6761 MS. VEE BABSITTING, dog walking care and services. Responsible energetic. Ages 5years and up. After school, P/T and some F/T days available in your home. No driving. (310) 586-0162HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
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CAREGIVERS/COMPANIONS Live in/out. Minimum 2 years experience. 3 work related references required. CNA’S/CHH’S welcomed. Bondable. Call (323) 692-3692GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11
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HONEST MAN SERVICES. 14″ van & dollies. Small jobs to 2 bedrooms. Hauls it all. California/Nevada. Over 12 years. Westside experience. (310) 285-8688HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE 12a
NEED A PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER? I can customize a workout program just for you! Please call Karen, (818) 368-1205WINDOW 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) 289-5279MISCELLANEOUS 13i
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HOUSE/PETSITTER AVAILABLE: Currently sitting for Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. Looking for next job. Has house/pet sat $2M home in BH. References: well known actor, exec producer. (917) 754-6735PARTY ENTERTAINMENT 14e
LA’S PREMIER EXOTIC PARTY & event staffing firm. Theme parties available. Bartenders, servers, etc. domesticdesires.com. (323) 969-0840PET 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) 230-3829SCHOOLS, 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 APPLYING TO COLLEGE? Need help? A. Bartle, experienced college counselor. (310) 594-1833 PRIVATE PIANO INSTRUCTION IN YOUR HOME: Customized learning made FUN! Classical – Modern – Jazz – See results. KIDS & ADULTS. Palisades Chamber member. Sandra, (310) 666-4149 PALISADES LEARN AND PLAY creative & nurturing Pre-K program. Crafts, music and educational curriculum. All staff CPR certified. Openings for summer/fall. Full or P/T. (310) 459-0920TUTORS 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 & AP). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134 PIANO TEACHER IN PACIFIC PALISADES! 20 years experience. I teach in your home. Great with children and adults returning to the piano. Call Karen Rae, (310) 383-0200 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 TOP TUTOR. Harvard-Westlake “A” Student: History, Algebra I & Latin I, for enrichment or getting ahead, summer is a great time to become the student you want to be. $25 per hour. Ryan, (310) 663-2317 LANGUAGE ARTS TUTORING. Secondary credentialed teacher in English from USC, ten years experience. Specializing in grammar, writing and test preparation. Call Louise, (310) 459-2433CABINET MAKING 16
CUSTOM CARPENTRY – Entertainment Units – Cabinets – Libraries – Bars – Wall Units – Custom Kitchens – Remodeling – Designed to your Specifications – Free Estimates – CA Lic. #564263 – (310) 823-8523 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.comCARPENTRY 16a
QUALITY CRAFTMANSHIP. Skylights, windows, doors, fencing, decks, kitchens, bath, etc. (310) 428-3822CONCRETE, 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) 450-6237ELECTRICAL 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) 706-1996FLOOR 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, 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) 924-2711HEATING & 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 – General construction. #1 PLUMBING. Mobile, (310) 429-7187. Lic. #668743REMODELING 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. #769443HELP WANTED 17
DRIVERS: EARN MORE AT WERNER ENTERPRISES. Western region runs. Also seeking inexperienced and seasonal drivers. (800) 346-2818 ext 123 ADMIN/PR. Fast-paced, upscale office in Pacific Palisades. Will train & reward. PT/FT. Call (310) 454-0317 RECEPTIONIST FOR CONST. CO. Exp. required. $10 to start. Avail. immed. Fax Res.: (310) 573-1686 MEDICAL OFFICE, Santa Monica. Part-time position. Front and back office. Experienced, or we will train the right motivated person. (310) 829-3303 or fax resume to (310) 829-3301 RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE assistant full time for Pacific Palisades travel agency. Excellent phone skills required and general office experience. Call Pat or Geri at (310) 459-9891 PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER NEEDED who loves children, art, music. Team player, must have experience, and 12 ECE units. Begins September 2006. Fax resume to: (310) 454-7203 WANTED: ENERGETIC, ENTHUSIASTIC “PEOPLE” person. Responsibilities: Answering phones, scheduling, checking in classes, customer calling. Need to be computer literate, good phone skills. Knowledge of Yoga & website maintenance a plus. P/T or F/T. Please contact Denise, (310) 454-7000 PACIFIC PALISADES PROFESSIONAL FIRM seeks receptionist/admin ass’t who can multi-task; is detail oriented; and has professional telephone manner. Accounts receivable detail experience helpful; seasonal overtime. Excellent salary; 401k Plan; health insurance; and flex-time. Please fax resume to (310) 313-0242. HOUSEKEEPER/NANNY NEEDED Tues.-Sat., 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Excellent English & refs req’d. Must drive. Please call (310) 581-8891 and lv message.AUTOS 18b
2004 GLS CONVERTIBLE Volkswagen Beetle Turbo. 15,000 miles, leather heated seats, tiptronic xmission. Please call (310) 592-2817 1980 DATSUN 280 ZX 2+2, auto, tape, red, one owner, good shape. $4,000. (310) 454-8120FURNITURE 18c
FOR SALE! Small pine entertainment center. 50″ high, 2 door w/ lower drawer. Good condition. $175. (310) 459-2613GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
GARAGE SALE SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 721 Hampden Place (off Swarthmore). Jewelry, housewares, old records and much more! REDECORATING! CLEAR-OUT, CLEAN-OUT! Dutch door/farm table/Swed. Wood chair/Child’s bed/trundle/wash-dryer/cabinet hardware/storage racks/window treatments/fabrics/pillows/kitchware/clothes/kids things’n toys. Come ‘n browse! 705 El Medio (So. of Sunset). FRI.-SAT., June 23-24, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. SANTA MONICA, FRI.-SAT., 6/23-24, Noon-4 p.m. Prices slashed, additional vintage jewelry & beads, some shabby and chic antiques, art, books. 694 San Lorenzo St. In backyard. ESTATE SALE, SAT., 6/24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 760 Iliff St. Furniture, vintage, housewares, collectibles, clothing. Many treasures. Come see!MISCELLANEOUS 18g
GE APPLIANCES, EXTRA large self cleaning stove. Built in dishwasher, built in microwave. (310) 459-0765WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.com WANTED: 1940-1970 vintage wrist watch, Omega, Rolex, Chronograph, others. Not working ok! Top cash. Private collector. Ray, (310) 534-5452Standing out from the Crowd
Krista Slocum and Paris Hays Win Post Cup as Outstanding Senior Athletes
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Krista Slocum has a lot in common with fellow Palisadian-Post Cup winner Paris Hays. Both love spending time at the beach, snowboarding and hanging out with their friends. Both are also accustomed to winning, which explains why they have been chosen this year’s outstanding senior athletes at Palisades High. Friends since they were seventh-graders at Paul Revere Middle School, Slocum and Hays even sat next to each other at last Friday night’s Senior Awards Program in Mercer Hall. Now they have one more thing in common–an honor shared by only 65 other athletes in the school’s 45-year history. Slocum was co-captain of the girls’ tennis team, led the Dolphins to their first City Section championship in seven years and won 34 of her 39 singles sets–most of those at No. 1, where she was up against the other teams’ best players. A four-time All-City selection, she finished third out of 64 players in the Individual tournament. “I wanted my team to win City, which we did,” says Slocum, who lives in Topanga Canyon. “I also wanted to play singles in the Individuals and beat my seeding. I was seeded sixth and came out third, so I was happy.” Displaying uncanny cool under pressure, Slocum went undefeated in Western League matches, losing only 10 games in 10 pro sets. Her success is born out of belief in herself. “No matter your opponent, your biggest competition is yourself,” she explains. “I never let an opponent bother me because I will get too frustrated. Tennis is an extremely mental game, so I just try to relax and take one point at a time.” When Slocum was a sophomore, teammates voted her “most inspirational” and that, she says, meant more than any personal triumph. “I felt you can always win a match or a tournament but it doesn’t take talent to be inspirational, rather just a positive attitude and a generous heart.” Slocum’s concentration helps her in the academic arena as well. Her favorite class is AP English because she views writing as a form of self-expression. “You can never write enough in life and there is always a brilliant book to read that will engender some epiphany,” she says. What impresses PaliHi tennis coach Bud Kling most about Slocum are her determination and adaptability. “Krista is a fierce competitor, she never says die, she always hustles,” he says. “She’s also extremely flexible during her matches. If she has to hit hard and use the power game to win, she will. If she realizes the other girl hits as hard as her, she can mix it up, slow the pace for five games, then go back to hitting hard. She’ll do whatever it takes to win.” Whether during practice or in matches, Slocum made a conscious effort to provide more leadership as a senior. “Being a team captain has been the biggest learning experience for me,” she says. “It has taught me the value of responsibility and dedication, along with patience. I’ve tried to set a positive example by being cooperative and loyal to my team.” Slocum’s next step is to continue her tennis career while she majors in Communications at UC San Diego and she is confident the lessons she learned between the lines will prove valuable outside of them too. “Tennis teaches you that nothing is really over until it’s over and that you must see something all the way through in order to succeed,” she says. Hays not only won all of his races this spring, he clocked personal-best times when it counted most. At the City finals in May, Hays won the 50 Freestyle in 21.82 seconds, won the 100 Freestyle in 47.76 seconds and swam the anchor legs on Pali’s winning 200 Medley Relay and 200 Freestyle Relay. However, his most satisfying result came in a meet at the beginning of the season. “I am most proud of winning my two individual events at the Beverly Hills Invitational because it was really competitive this year,” Hays says. “Our varsity finished fourth behind just Harvard-Westlake, La Canada and Palos Verdes. That meet proved we could be a powerhouse even in other CIF divisions.” Though Hays achieved all of his personal goals, one goal was not reached. Palisades’ quest for a fifth-straight City boys title fell three points short. Yet, like Slocum, he showed leadership in what is primarily an individual sport by working hard in practice, taking his coaches seriously, befriending his younger teammates and sharing stroke and race advice with them. “Paris has been an incredible asset to our whole program,” PaliHi swim coach Maggie Nance says. “Having someone that fast sets the bar for the rest of the team. The younger kids come in and see what’s possible and what’s expected. I’ll miss his cheerful demeanor and obviously we’ll miss what we were able to accomplish as a team with his four first-place finishes.” Hays has grown so accustomed to breaking his own records the last two years that it’s a disappointment if he doesn’t. “If I don’t swim a personal-best that means something went wrong and there is still something I need to work on. When I feel good I have an impeccable mindset. The perfect race is one where I don’t remember what I was thinking about in the pool. It is time lost.” Lost amidst the attention he attracts from his athletic accomplishments is the reality that Hays is also among the top students in his graduating class. He will take his talent and smarts to the Ivy League in the fall when he begins his freshman year at Brown University, which he says has everything he has ever looked for in a school. “From its size, to the campus, to the swim team, to its amazing academics, to its social life, Brown has always been screaming for me,” says Hays, who is interested in studying political science, economics, business or international relations and plans to attend law school after college. “I narrowed my search down to two schools, Brown and Harvard. I went on recruiting trips to both campuses and both experiences reinforced my ubiquitous love for Brown.” Just as Slocum’s education on the tennis court has proved as valuable as the knowledge she’s acquired in the classroom, so too has Hays learned valuable life lessons in the pool. “Swimming has taught me the benefits of dedication, determination and discipline,” says Hays, who lives near The Village. “It has also taught me that good things usually don’t come about without working for them.” In being named outstanding senior athlete at Palisades High, Hays knows he has joined a special fraternity of Dolphins and he is proud to carry on that legacy. “Winning the Post Cup is great because the whole time I’ve been swimming, I felt as if I was only competing for my school, my club team and myself,” Hays says. “Now I know I’m swimming on behalf of the whole community. My victories are victories for the Palisades.”
Lucille Mary Zaller, 87
Lucille Mary Zaller, who raised five children and lived in Pacific Palisades for 50 years, died peacefully at her home on June 19 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 87. Lucy was born in David City, Nebraska, and came to California in 1941. She worked for the navy during World War II and afterward in real estate and modeling. She married Raymond C. Zaller in 1948 and remained his wife until her death 58 years later. Lucy was admired by all who knew her as a kind, thoughtful, beautiful, and deeply religious person. She was a member of Corpus Christi Parish, where she participated in many activities. She was an expert seamstress and spent countless hours at her sewing machine making clothes for her family. She was an avid tennis player at Palisades Recreation Center and Palm Desert Tennis Club, and also enjoyed playing bridge with friends in the Palisades. She was a fine music talent, playing the piano and singing melody and harmony in a beautiful soprano voice. She continued these activities even after being struck by Parkinson’s. She was able to sing harmony long after losing the ability to speak clearly. Lucy was born to Henrietta and Ernest Litty on March 29, 1919. She was the honorary school piano accompanist at Brainerd High School. She was an excellent student and went on to study at Duchesne College in Omaha, Nebraska. After marriage, she lived with Ray in Culver City, Brentwood, and Santa Monica before moving to the Palisades in 1956. She is survived by her loving husband and her children, John Zaller (wife Barbara) of Pacific Palisades, Greg Zaller (Laurie) of Nevada City, Paula Miller (Jim) of Seattle, Mark Zaller (Sharon) of Los Osos, and Mary Munds (Ron) of Grenoble. She also has 10 grandchildren: Faren, Julia, Eva, Lucy, Zachary, Demetria, Noah, Jimmy, Jacob, and Luke. She is also survived by her brother Ernest Litty and sister Rose Collins. Lucy’s family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to Digna Rios Shaver, Tomasa Mauro, and Ana Tovar, her dedicated caregivers, and the Vitas Hospice Team for their skilled and compassionate care. There will be a gathering of friends and family at Corpus Christi Church at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 23, and the rosary service will begin at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at Holy Redeemer Chapel at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City at noon on Saturday, June 24.
Stella Henrietta Eiermann, 98
Stella Henrietta Pederson Eiermann was born on November 29, 1907 near Willmar, Minnesota, and grew up on a farm near Willmar with her parents, older sisters Amy, Gladys, and Ethel, and younger brother, Earl. She attended grade school, junior and senior high school in Willmar, which often required travel by horse-drawn sleigh in the winter. She graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. As an English teacher in Minnesota she helped with drama productions and journalism. Her lifelong love of learning continued as she took classes at the University of Minnesota, Washington University (St. Louis) and later UCLA. During World War II, Stella taught a radio receivers class for the Air Force in Madison, Wisconsin. It was there that she met her future husband, Robert Revere Eiermann, who was teaching a radio transmissions course. She and Bob were married on March 28, 1945 in Florida while he was stationed there. Susan was born in Florida, and when Bob completed his service they moved to Queens, New York City. The Eiermanns lived in Queens for almost 10 years, during which time Lynda was born. While in New York, Stella was active in the PTA and also a Brownie Scout leader. In 1955, the family moved to Los Angeles. Since the girls were older, she began teaching and substituted at first but soon had a permanent position at Louis Pasteur Junior High and later at Webster Junior High. After retiring, Stella kept busy as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She traded in grading English papers for creating hand-stitched quilts to grace the beds and walls of her granddaughter and daughters’ rooms. She loved to work in her garden and nurtured her cattleya and cymbidium orchids. Stella was very active in the Palisades Garden Club and served at least two terms as president. During her terms of office, the Garden Club dedicated a new tree in front of the library to President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan. She also initiated and carried through plans for the design and development of the mini-green at the intersection of Monument and Sunset. Stella was a member of the Palisades Historical Society, Palisades Lutheran Church and the Westwood Women’s Bruin Club. She was an avid follower of UCLA basketball and especially admired John Wooden. Stella leaves her husband of 61 years, Bob, her daughters Susan (Jami) Olson and Lynda, her grandchildren Kristin and Jonathan, and her sister Ethel. Stella died on May 31 at the age of 98. In lieu of flowers, send donations in her memory to The Scholarship Fund, Pacific Palisades Garden Club, P.O. Box 261, or Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset.
Vivian Braun, 87, Citizen of the Year
Former Palisadian and 1970 Citizen of the Year Vivian Braun passed away on June 9 in Santa Barbara. She was 87. Born and raised on the North Shore of Chicago, Vivian graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in business. She and her husband, the late Ernest Braun, moved to California in 1956, and lived in the Palisades for 47 years. She was an extraordinary community volunteer, and honored for her work with the Palisades-Brentwood hotline with the Citizen of the Year award. In 2004, she moved to Santa Barbara to be with her daughter, and enjoyed new friendships at the Maravilla Seniors community and Congregation B’nai B’rith. A longer obituary will appear in the Palisadian-Post next week. Donations may be made in her memory to Congregation B’nai B’rith or the Breast Resource Center of Santa Barbara.
