In the last two months, Palisades Partners, which owns 18 of the 22 retail and commercial properties in the 1000 block of Swarthmore, has stepped up its efforts to conclude lease agreements with merchants on the street. Early last month several store owners received letters detailing the proposed terms and conditions. Then earlier this year, those merchants were again contacted by the landlord and must now decide to either accept the new leases or be replaced by more upscale retailers. Merchants in the coveted half-block of Swarthmore have been in turmoil since March, when they first learned the details of the rent increase by Palisades Partners, a multifamily trust. The new monthly rate would see them paying double (from $2.50 a square foot to nearly $5), which some of the store owners said they simply cannot afford. Another problem is the term of the leases. While most of the merchants, who are currently on month-to-month agreements, want the longer term leases being offered (from three to five years), they also want options to renew, since they have to bear the full cost of any improvements to their establishments. Marice McCrory-Irwin, who with her family has operated Michele International hair salon on Swarthmore for 24 years, is looking forward to concluding lease negotiations. “I would like to apologize to our clients for the outdated look of the salon,” said McCrory-Irwin, whose family also owns Palisades Beauty Supply across the street. “As soon as we sign the lease we look forward to remodeling.” To date, only two of the store merchants on Swarthmore involved in protracted negotiations with the landlord have signed lease agreements. Bob Benton, owner of Bentons The Sport Shop which has been on Swarthmore for 23 years, was the first to sign a long-term lease in May. Benton, who is bound by a confidentiality clause with the landlord, told the Palisadian-Post in September that while it “hurt to pay the new rent,” and that in the end “there wasn’t one concession made,” he was determined to “make the new lease work.” Contacted by the Palisadian-Post this week, Benton could only say that he moved forward on the assumption “that I have the support of this community. That’s why I’m still here.” Equally tight-lipped is Angelo Sambeat, who with his wife Cynthia has been doing business on Swarthmore for over 25 years. The couple recently refurbished both of their eating establishments’Dante’s and Atrio Cucina. While Sambeat acknowledged having signed a five-year lease in the fall, he said this week: “I have no other comment.” Palisades resident Katie O’Laughlin, founder and owner of Village Books at 1049 Swarthmore, said she was writing a response to the landlord’s proposed lease Monday night, “and I should have a new lease signed in about two weeks.” The increased rent will pose a difficult challenge, “but I really don’t have a choice,” she acknowledged, if she wants to continue owning a store she loves. The owners of Terri’s restaurant and The Prince’s Table are also not commenting. While Ivy Greene has secured a long-term lease for Rumours, the new girls clothing store she co-owns with Palisadian Ceci Dean which opened in September at 1014 Swarthmore, she is still working on an agreement for her children’s store location at 1020 Swarthmore, as is Roy Robbins, owner of Roy Robbins Gifts & Stationery. “I’m still in a holding pattern,” said Robbins, “Right now it’s business as usual, but I’m sure that will change.” A la Tarte at 1037 Swarthmore is not seeking a lease. Owners Bert and Bonnie Yellen put their popular French 2,400-sq.-ft. restaurant up for sale in September. Advertised on craigslist.org as “A bistro/bakery with super-large kitchen. Looks like you walked into Provence,” Bert told the Post at that time that “We’re not selling because of any rent increase. We have a good relationship with the landlord and they’ve offered to help us find somebody to buy the place. Basically, we’re tired, after nearly 10 years building the business, and Bonnie [a la Tarte’s renowned pastry chef] is still recovering from an automobile accident a year ago.” Unknown at this time is the lease status of Palisades Playthings, as well as Mort’s Deli and the adjoining Oak Room. While the landlord took back some 500 sq. ft. of the Oak Room in October, which was being used by Bobbie Farberow as an office, the space is still unoccupied. It was believed at the time was that the area was going to be turned back into a candy shop (as it was from 1985 to 1987). The only other storefront currently available on Swarthmore is the former Emerson-LaMay Cleaners, which has been vacant since April 2003. (Editor’s note: Three Swarthmore merchants who lease from Palisades Partners, including Wells Fargo Bank, Baskin-Robbins and BOCA Woman, are not currently in negotiation with the landlord, since all three already have existing lease agreements. There are four businesses on Swarthmore that do not lease from Palisades Partners, including Whispers, Solis Salon, Paliskate and Intima.)
Post Office Has New Officer in Charge
Monday was Jason Miles’ first official day as officer in charge at the Palisades Post Office. He replaced Rochelle Willis, who served in the position for one week following Sheryl Gardiner’s departure on December 23. Miles, a Redondo Beach native, comes to the Palisades station with almost 10 years of experience with the postal service. At age 32, he’s one of the youngest employees to hold a management position and has worked in a variety of communities, including the Bel Air/Brentwood area, which had service concerns similar to the Palisades. He worked last week with Willis at the Palisades Post Office and immediately recognized internal problems’namely, the reporting times of employees (arriving at work) and a delay in mail getting from the clerk unit to the carrier unit. “Right away I noticed that the carriers needed support and direction. They were out until 8:30/9 p.m. at night,” he said. “Not only is it poor service but it can lead to higher injuries.” Miles also noticed delayed mail volume, evidenced by the stacks of mail piled in the building last week. Since then, he said he has talked to his approximately 39 carriers about their concerns and needs, helped them set goals, and assigned them times to report to the office. Their main concern was mail flow, meaning that they felt they weren’t receiving their mail on time from the clerks at the La Cruz station who separate the mail into routes. “The mail wasn’t getting processed timely,” said Miles, who fixed this “by coming in and managing it myself.” Miles said he arrives at 5 a.m. and manages his 5-6 clerks until about 7:30 a.m., then supports the carriers as they arrive and begin sorting their mail by sequence of their delivery route. He has one supervisor working with him in the morning (a second supervisor arrives in the afternoon). “The majority of the mail gets here early, before the carriers arrive,” he said. The last truck that brings mail in the morning is scheduled to arrive at 8:30 a.m. from downtown. He usually has between 27 and 32 carriers per day working to deliver the 28 routes in the Palisades. “Even if we’re down two or three, it’s not a problem,” said Miles, who has not yet hired any new carriers. “I talk to them every day and set expectations with them. They want to be off the street by 5 p.m. as much as I want them to,” he said, adding that this group of employees is “one of the best groups I’ve ever worked with.” As of Wednesday morning, not one of his carriers had been on the street delivering mail after 5 p.m. this week. “I don’t want to delay time-sensitive mail,” said Miles, who was given three-days’ notice of his assignment at the Palisades Post Office. Prior to assuming his position, he met with former officer in charge Sheryl Gardiner as well as senior management to discuss the problems here but said they didn’t have to inform him about the main concerns. “It was in the news. They said, ‘Go up there and improve service.'” Miles started by instructing the carriers to deliver all the mail that was piled up in the office when he arrived. “I pushed every piece of mail out of here,” he said, explaining that he wanted “a clean slate.” This week, he’s focused on getting every piece of mail that comes in each day delivered the same day. While he acknowledged that late trucks coming from the Los Angeles Processing and Distribution Center would impact mail delivery in the Palisades, he doesn’t foresee this happening and, if it does, he plans to call the district office to remedy the situation. Miles said the departure times for trucks leaving downtown for the Palisades has been adjusted so that the trucks arrive here on time. The closure of the Marina Processing and Distribution Center last July “does not contribute to the decline-in-service issue that Pacific Palisades has experienced.” Neither are the machines that automatically sort the mail at the L.A. center an issue, he said. “The machines are very reliable, very effective.” Plus, “there are people running them.” He noted that First Class mail, including credit card bills, is “the type of mail that is not delayed.” Rather, “it’s business or third-class mail that’s delayed.” In his experience with the postal service, he’s only seen a “handful” of cases of delayed First Class mail. The late delivery and missorted mail problems that Palisades residents are experiencing is a result of internal, local issues, Miles said. “It all comes down to getting [the carriers] out of here [on time].” He admitted he was a little surprised that more residents haven’t already contacted him with their concerns. “I really expected an influx,” he said, adding that he’s only heard from “maybe a dozen” who are mainly concerned with late delivery. Miles encouraged residents to come talk to him “whether they were satisfied or not with the prior management.” He said that while he has to attend to his daily duties, he has an “open-door policy” and “will get to every single one of them” The best time to reach Miles is between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., at 454-3475.
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE JANUARY 26, 2006 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
LOTS FOR SALE 2a
20 ACRES ZONED RESIDENTIAL 30 minutes northwest of Spokane, Washington near river and lake for water sports. Bids starting at $250,000. (208) 704-3385
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
MOUNTAIN VIEWS ON El Medio bluffs with privacy. 2+2. $4,295/mo. 610 Muskingum Ave. Mary Beth Woods, Coldwell Banker, (310) 571-1358 WALK TO VIA BLUFFS or village. 2 bdrm, 1 1/2 ba, hdwd floors, fireplace, appliances, yard. Available now. $3,200/mo. No pets or smokers. Principals only. Agent, (310) 454-0054 PAC PAL/MALIBU GEM! 180′ ocean view home. 4 bdrm, 2 1/2 ba, 3,000 sq. ft. $5,590/mo. Lg liv rm, din rm, fam rm, fireplace, panoramic windows, white water ad coastline views. 2 lg balconies, 2 car garage, walk to beach and Getty. 7 minutes from Santa Monica. malibucoastline.com (310) 702-1154 PICKET FENCE HOUSE, 2 bdrm, 1 ba, hdwd flrs, completely remodeled, lg walk-in closets, d/w, new elec/plumb/paint. 24th & Wilshire, SM. $2,495/mo. loggiedog@aol.com, (310) 471-0359. FOR LEASE. 2455 La Condesa, 5 bdrm, 3 1/2 ba, Brentwood Hills, 2 story home. Updated, granite bath and kitchen. Mountain view pool and waterfall. $6,900/mo. Call Agent Ellen, (310) 454-9447
FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b
HUGE LUXURY 1+1 at BEACH. Non stop views. Resort lifestyle on gated 9.5 acres. Piano, fireplace. $2,975/mo. incl utils, cleaning, parking. Photo details www.csbcondo.com. (530) 758-5765
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
CHARMING PALI DUPLEX. 2 bed+1 ba extra large garden/deck. Stove, fridge, microwave, W/D, d/w, Jacuzzi tub. Walk to village. 853 Haverford Ave. Alarm. $2,800/mo. obo. (310) 454-4599 SUNSET IN THE VILLAGE. Spacious 2 bed, 2 bath, newly renovated, walk-in closets, gated parking, security bldg, laundry. $2,700 per month. 1 yr lease. (310) 454-6074 CONDO, OCEAN VIEW, SPACIOUS, immaculate 1+1 w/ fireplace, great location. Steps to beach. Sunset & PCH. Pools, spa, tennis, exercise rm. 24 hrs. security. $2,595/mo., include utils. (310) 454-0269 HAWAII IN PALISADES 3 bd, 1.75 ba, 1,800 sq ft. Ocean views. Gorgeous gardens. Huge backyard, patio, heated pool. Granite stainless steel appliances. $4,200/mo. Utilities incl. (310) 948-3886 SAILBOATS OCEAN VIEW! FIVE STAR CONDO. Blonde wood floors, 1+1. Custom gem w/ balcony, 2 pools, tennis, gym, 24-hr sec. 17352 Sunset Bl. #304 D. Open Sat., 1/28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Must see! (Some classy furniture stays). NS, NP. $2,250/mo. Rent incl utils. Mikki, (509) 263-5873
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE. The Atrium Building, 860 Via de la Paz. Bright window offices. On site management. Parking attendant. Short and long term leases. High internet access. Please call (310) 454 1208 OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE February 1st. 180 sq. ft. for $700/mo. Call (310) 454-3521 GREAT SANTA MONICA LOCATION 26th St. and San Vicente. Top floor, bright 2 rm office in smaller bldg. Approx. $500 sq. ft. $1,600/mo. (310) 395-7272 OCEAN VIEW OFFICES for rent in creative suite on Sunset and PCH in Spectrum Club bldg. Near great restaurants. 4 brand new offices. Available Feb 1. DSL/Fax and phone lines with call answering will be in. Furnishing available. Shared conference room/kitchen area. Just sit down and do business. $900/mo. to $1,200/mo. depending on size and view and services. Call Pam, Jen or Rob, (310) 230-6866 OFFICE FOR RENT in Pacific Palisades. Great, quiet location. Available immediately. $800/mo. (310) 454-1566
VACATION 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 HAWAIIAN LUXURY. PREMIUM ONE BEDROOM CONDO. Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort villas, Maui. Seven nights. Sleeps upto to 4. Request your 2006 week. Call (310) 459-4891
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5
I’M THE CEO of my life. Are You? Executive Pay Without Executive Stress! (800) 841-8702 FreedomMyWay.com
MISCELLANEOUS 6c
SPA CIEUX LOVELY NAILS under new ownership. Gift certificates dating from 2000-2003 are redeemable up to January 31st 2006.
BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
BOOKKEEPER BY THE DAY. Need help with getting your books in order? Help is near! Call Joannie, (310) 486-1055
COMPUTER SERVICES 7c
COMPUTER SUPPORT – Home – Business – Desktop & Network Support – Low Rates – One Or One Hundred PCs, We Can Help. WWW.FRANKELCONSULTING.COM. Providing Solutions for 18 Years – (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
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 – Furniture – Antiques – Collectibles – Junque – Reliable professionals Local References
ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h
DO YOU NEED an able, versatile p/t office person? Paperwork, accounts, computer expertise, eBay sales, internet, research, organizing, other. Business/personal. Call (310) 218-6653 or (310) 459-2066
NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
GREAT PRE-SCREENED nannies available. Let us help you with your nanny search. We are a dedicated, professional agency and we will find the right match for you. Whether you are looking for full-time or p/time. L/I or L/O help, we can help you. Call Sunshine Nannies at (310) 801-8309 or (310) 614-5065 NANNIES AND MORE. Now accepting families and nannies. Call today for more information and to learn about our New Year specials. (310) 892-8836
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
HOUSEKEEPER 10 YEARS experience. References. Available M-F. I drive. Some English. Call (213) 383-7260 EUROPEAN CLEANING SERVICE Reliable, honest, local references. Own supplies. Call today, (818) 324-9154 HOUSECLEANER AVAILABLE Tuesday and Thursday. I have 15 years experience. Good references. I speak some English. I have a car. Please call Ruth, (323) 752-8015 HOUSECLEANER AVAILABLE Tuesday and Thursday. References and experience. Own transportation. Call Erika, (213) 385-7922 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Tuesday-Friday. Local references. Trustworthy. Will clean your house and make it sparkle. Call (323) 807-7342 LOOKING FOR HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTING, Has car insurance, speaks English, experience, references. Available Mon-Fri. Please call hm, (310) 313-7249, or cell, (310) 894-3505. HOUSEKEEPING BABYSITTING FULL TIME 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Local references. Very experienced. No car. Pleasant. Please call Tina, (818) 759-5361 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Thursday and Friday every other week. Local references. Many years experience. Try me. Will work first day for free! Francesca or Zoila, (323) 296-1387 HOUSEKEEPER AND OFFICE, 5 years experience. Call Ruth, (323) 737-2394 HOUSEKEEPER/NANNY/BABYSITTER L/I M-F No car, some English. Experience w/ newborns, infants & children of all ages. Excellent local references. Margarita Ruiz, (213) 389-1439, or cell, (323) 774-430
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
CAREGIVERS/COMPANIONS: Live-in/out. Minimum 2 years experience. Three work related references required. Driving preferred. CNA’S/CHHA’S welcomed. Bondable. Call (323) 692-3692 EXCEPTIONAL CARE GIVER. Honest, reliable, personable, strong male. Experienced in W.L.A. Doesn’t drive. Call former employer at (310) 454-3966. HOMECARE (Male). Excellent references. (310) 435-6003
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 GARDEN SERVICE, FULL MAINTENANCE. Monthly and weekly. Clean ups ok. Call Javier anytime, cell (310) 634-5059, or pager (310) 495-0533 TREE AND LANDSCAPE EXPERT. Horticulturist, arborist, landscape manager/designer. Tree diagnosis, trimming, removal, appraisal/donation for tax deduction. Lawn diagnosis, repair. Sprinklers, drip systems. Expert maintenance. Greenhouse/ veggie/herb gardens Comprehensive plant & landscape consulting. Darren Butler, (818) 271-0963
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
MASSAGE THERAPY 12b
AWARD WINNING MASSAGE by Natalie. Deep tissue specialist. Call (310) 993-8899. www.massagebynatalie.faithweb.com
WINDOW WASHING 13h
NO STREAK WINDOW cleaning service. Fast & friendly. Quality service you can count on. Free estimates. Lic. #122194-49. Pressure washing available. Please call (323) 632-7207
MISCELLANEOUS 13i
HARDSCAPE RESTORATION. Driveways, patios, walk-ways, garages, dirt, oil, rust, paint and moss removal. Concrete, brick, natural stone. Clear and colored-stain sealer. 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. Play groups. Does your dog need manners? Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog.
SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d
VIOLIN INSTRUCTION. Expert friendly guidance at all levels by highly qualified teacher. Home or studio. Teaching in Palisades 20 years. Laurence Homolka, (310) 459-0500
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 PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134 CLEARLY MATH TUTORING. Specializing in math! Elementary thru college level. Test prep, algebra, trig, geom, calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722 SPANISH CERTIFIED TUTOR for all levels. Has finest education qualifications and experience. Palisades resident. Many good references. Amazing system. Affordable rates. Marietta, (310) 459-8180 TUTORING BY JARED SINCLAIR. Recent Berkeley graduate. Cum Laude at Loyola High School. “I’m an expert in all subjects, and soon your son or daughter will be one, too.” Call (310) 459-2312 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 MULTI-SUBJECT CREDENTIALED TUTOR. Elementary, middle & high school subjects. ELL. Local references. Palisades resident. Marit, (310) 454-8520 FRENCH TUTOR, MA IN FRENCH. Tutors high school through university. Local references available. Great with teens and adults. Call me at (310) 890-8318
CABINET 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.com
CONCRETE, MASONRY 16c
MASONRY & CONCRETE CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pool, 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 DAN’S MASONRY AND REPAIR Brick, block, stone, concrete, stucco, tile. Big or small we do it all. In Palisades 20 years. Cell, Danny, (310) 261-0536
CONSTRUCTION 16d
CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237 PALISADES CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. KEVIN B. NUNNELEY. (310) 454-5029. Local References Avail. Lic. #375858
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
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 HANDYMAN SERVICES. No job too small. 10 years experience in the Palisades. Please call (310) 454-3838 for prompt, friendly service. Not licensed. CARPENTRY PAINTING DRYWALL, tile, vinyl, stucco, roofing, landscaping, brick, stone. Honest, good references. Please call Jorge at (310) 770-3834
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16o
SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686
LOCKSMITH 16p
EVERYWHERE LOCKSMITH SINCE 1981. 24-hour service. 7 days a week. A professional locksmith service for commercial and residential properties. Call (310) 395-9193
PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16q
PAUL HORST – Interior & Exterior – PAINTING – 51 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 QUALITY PAINTING PLUS: Free estimates. Family-owned and operated for three generations. Serving southern California since 1979. Interior/exterior residential/commercial. Only high grade materials applied. Lic. #698939. James Welsh, (310) 663-3914
PLUMBING 16s
ROBERT RAMOS, Plumbing Contractor – Copper repipes – Remodels – New Construction – Service & Repair – Water Heaters – Licensed – Bonded – Insured – St. lic. #605556 – Cell, (310) 704-5353 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
RAINGUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS 16t
GUTTER: Clean-out no more “overflow”, replace dented, rusty, leaky sections, or install new gutter. Call Owen Cruickshank, (310) 459-5485
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
ROOFING 16v
“WE SEAL LEAKS.” Roofing, skylights, gutters, windows, carpentry, painting, slope retention, drainage systems, drywall, plaster, concrete foundations, rock waterfalls, landscaping, patios, remodels, consultation. (310) 457-4652
WROUGHT IRON 16x
IRONWORKS. Lic. #811785. Bonded, insured. 20 yrs exper. Ornamental, structural ironworks. Residential/ commercial. Specializing in artistic ironworks. Excellent service, excellent prices. Call (800) 700-9681
MISCELLANEOUS 16y
RENE’S WOOD REFINISHING. Kitchen & bath cabinets, wall units and antiques. License #00020808280001-8. Call (310) 397-9631
HELP WANTED 17
DRIVERS 150K PER YEAR-TEAMS! Excellent benefits and home times! Regional and team opportunities @ WERNER ENTERPRISES, (800) 346-2818, ext. 123 MEDICAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY in the Palisades looking for FULL time receptionist to answer phones, light office work. Starting $10.50/hr. Available immediately. Fax resume (310) 454-3382 AFTER SCHOOL NANNY for 10 & 12 yr old boys to help with homework and drive to activities. M-F 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Excellent English preferred. Call Lisa, (213) 680-7939 LIVE-IN NANNY for twin infants. Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Light housekeeping. Call Lisa, (213) 680-7939 CUSTOMER SUPPORT/ADMIN ASSIST: Support on-line payroll processing and distribution for our national restaurant clients. Will train candidate in computer operations. Position requires attention to detail and good organization skills. General Office and Accounting a plus. Work 3 days/wk (Tuesday-Thursday) w/ full time potential. Send resume to Realtime Computer Corporation, Santa Monica at personnel@rt.net. LOVING RELIABLE NANNY needed for infant. 30-40 hrs. per week, flexible hours. Housekeeping, own car, references required. Good pay and benefits. Call Jacqui, (310) 459-3956 ADMIN/PR. Really great position in Pacific Palisades. Will train, develop and reward. Call (310) 454-0317 DENTAL-ORTHODONTIC ASSISTANT. Exclusive office in Pacific Palisades. Exceptional opportunity. Call (310) 454-0317. 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 RECEPTIONIST/ADMIN. Fast-paced, upscale office in Pacific Palisades. Will train and reward. Salary DOE. Call (310) 454-0317 SALES POSITION. Retail women’s luxury goods specialty store in Santa Monica seeks professional salesperson with confident selling skills. Must be able to build and maintain a customer book. Compensation: Commission with guarantee. Benefits and pension plan. No Sundays or evenings. This is an excellent opportunity for the right person as a top salesperson is relocating. Email or fax resume to Deanna. Email Weathervaneii@AOL.com Fax# (310) 393-2077 PART-TIME CHILDCARE, light housekeeping. Sundays, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. for 10 year old daughter. Must have car and good DMV. English speaking. Excellent references required. Call Linda, (310) 451-4068 SELF CENTRE IS LOOKING for an esthetician Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and a front desk position Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To set an appointment for interview, call Kathy, (310) 713-7685. AU PAIR WANTED, PART TIME, L/I, L/O, CDL. Speak English, great with kids, warm. Great for college student. Pac Pal family. Call (310) 387-7722 WEAVING TEACHER WANTED at my location. (310) 573-7656 ADMINISTRATION/ASSISTANT, FULL TIME, Palisades village office location. Great benefits. Call Scott, (310) 454-7741 MOTIVATED ENTREPRENEURS. Part time or full time. Help introduce new line of natural skin care from the rain forest. Easy to learn. Fun to share. Profitable. Complete training. Immediate income. Must be willing to learn and grow in a professional positive environment. Call now: (310) 230-7787. TEACHER’S ASSISTANTS WANTED, Palisades Elementary. Hours: 15 per week. Time: 8:30 a.m.11:30 a.m. Days: Monday-Friday. Make a difference in a child’s life-priceless. Call (310) 454-3700, or fax resume, (310) 459-5627 PEDIATRIC DENTIST: Treat & advise patients & family on dev & problems; preventative services. Multiple office locals. DMD or foreign equiv. & 2 yrs DPG Pedo. Apply to Nazli Keri D.D.S.; REF: NAZ001, 2226 Otay Lakes Road, #A, Chula Vista, CA 91915. EXPERIENCED MANICURIST & EXPERIENCED HAIRSTYLIST needed for high end Brentwood salon. (310) 600-9582 P/T GROWING PROMOTIONAL products company seeks team player. Computer saavy. 4 days per week. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $14/hr. Call Lynne or Fred, (310) 230-1295 PART TIME RESTAURANT cashier. Flexible hours, weekends a must. Ask for Bobbie, (310) 454-5511 LOOKING FOR COLLEGE STUDENT to be after-school nanny for 2 boys. M,W, F and Saturday. Must be fun, energetic and sporty. (310) 633-1895
AUTOS 18b
2000 DODGE RAM 1500 pick-up, 4 wheel drive, V8, loaded. Camper shell, grill guard. 65K miles. $14K obo. (310) 924-9558 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE LS, charcoal gray exterior with gray fabric interior. 34K miles. Good condition. Includes CD player and lojack. One owner. $23K obo. (310) 710-4156
FURNITURE 18c
VINTAGE ORIENTAL RUGS and misc. antiques and furniture. Sterling silver misc. pieces. Please call (310) 454-4210 CREAM LEATHER COUCH, LOVESEAT. Soft cushions. Just 2 years old. $400 or best offer. (310) 454-6206
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
PALISADES WOMEN’S CLUB. TRASH’TREASURES. 901 Haverford. Saturday, January 28th, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. ESTATE SALE! HUGE-50 years! Tools, Furniture, Collectibles and MUCH MUCH MORE! January 28th & 29th, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 7161 Fernhill Dr, Malibu (Point Dume). ESTATE SALE 1927 SPANISH FARMHOUSE in the Castellammare Area. French, Spanish country antique furnishings and accessories, French pottery, Bruce Graney custom table, Minton Spidell dining chairs. Karges furniture. China and silver. Large collection: Jewelry: designer, vintage, costume. 216 Notteargenta Rd. (off Tramonto Dr.), Fri.-Sat., Jan. 27-28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ENTIRE HOUSE! Rustic pine bookcase/desk/file cab/dresser/nite stands/drop leaf table. Cherry ent. cent, dish rack. Ital coffee table/leath sofa/chandelier. 6 Mission chairs/draft table/knick-knacks/ kitch, kids’ stuff/bikes/’01 Chrysler PT Cruiser! 17014 Bollinger (off Marquez); FRI.-SAT., Jan 26-27; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
MISCELLANEOUS 18g
PIANO FOR SALE. Excellent condition. Highly regarded Sohmer, 42″ console, walnut finish. $1,500. Jim, (310) 503-0815
WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.com
Rustic Canyon Residents Ordered to Vacate Their Greentree Residence
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
On January 5, the L.A. Department of Building and Safety ordered Mehr and Vickey Beglari to vacate their residence at 909 Greentree Road in Rustic Canyon by February 20. The Beglaris were also ordered to either demolish the house or “submit plans and obtain approvals to remodel the home to comply with the required front yard setbacks, height and all other requirements of the Los Angeles building code.” According to public records, a request was submitted to Building and Safety on Monday asking to “reinstate building permits to document correct prevailing setbacks.” Exactly what that entails is unknown at this time. What is known is that the existing house is 14 feet closer to the street (Greentree) than permitted by the governing sections of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. The City’s order to comply comes after a five-year battle between the Beglaris and five of their neighbors, who sued both the couple and the City. The Beglaris had obtained a building permit in January 2001 that authorized the construction of a 6,550-sq.-ft., two-story addition to their existing 2,000-sq.-ft. ranch-style house. The problem began in April of that year when the couple started excavating the front of their 10,000-sq.-ft. lot to build an underground garage. The neighbors thought the Beglaris were digging too close to the curb and that the setback was not in keeping with those of nearby homes. The legal wrangling on both sides resulted in the California Supreme Court ordering Building and Safety to revoke all permits issued to the Beglaris, as well as the 2002 certificate of occupancy. At the center of the dispute was how the setback was originally measured’from the Beglaris’ next door neighbor’s detached garage to the curb instead of from the neighbor’s house to the curb, as required by law as a detached garage is not considered part of a house.
Chamber Music Concert Salutes Mozart’s 250th Birthday
A quartet of featured players from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic will join Chamber Music Palisades’ co-artistic directors, flutist Susan Greenberg and pianist Delores Stevens in a concert salute to the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The performance will be on Tuesday, January 31 at 8 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Matthew’s Parish at 1031 Bienveneda. The program’s featured work will be Mozart’s famous “Kegelstatt” Trio in E flat Major for clarinet, viola and piano. Also on the program will be a trio for flute, viola and harp by Debussy and a Brahms trio in A minor for clarinet, cello and piano. Alan Chapman, KUSC/FM afternoon music host, will provide his usual entertaining and informative commentary before each work. Guest artists from the ranks of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra include violist Roland Kato, clarinetist Joshua Ranz and cellist Trevor Handy. The L.A. Philharmonic’s harpist Jo Ann Turovsky completes the group. The concert will be the second program of the ninth season of chamber music presented by Chamber Music Palisades. The series was started in 1997 by four Palisades citizens, Ann Robbins, Tanya Evtuhov and the two professional musicians now serving the organization as artistic directors, Susan Greenberg and Delores Stevens. “We were, and continue to be, dedicated to the promotion and support of classical music by producing professional chamber music concerts, commissioning new works and providing educational opportunities for young people by sponsoring free school concerts,” said CMP Vice President Evtuhov. For information on the CMP series call 459-2070 or go to the Web site cmpalisades.org. Single admission tickets will be available at the door for $25, and students with ID will be admitted free of charge.
Board Approves Lacrosse Teams
Thanks to several years of hard work and persistence by local parents, an effort to bring a lacrosse program to Palisades High is two small steps away from becoming a reality this spring. Since Palisadian Lori Mendez and her friend Andrea Dyke started a local club team 24 months ago, the fastest growing sport in the country has become one of the most popular games in town. “At first it was just the two of us moms,” Mendez said. “Our sons played and we got the kids together who were interested, we hired a coach and we did it. We’ve had a lot of fun.” While a dozen parents and 20 kids (all wearing lacrosse jerseys and carrying sticks) watched in eager anticipation, Andrea’s husband Rhos made a presentation before the PaliHi Board of Directors on Tuesday afternoon, January 17. Jim Suhr made the motion to approve Dyke’s proposal, Booster Club President Dick Held seconded the motion and the subsequent vote was unanimous. “When they voted it in, the kids all cheered,” Mendez said. “It was a great experience for them. It’s going to be a good thing because its another sports option for these kids.” “As far as I know, Pali is the first Los Angeles Unified school to field a lacrosse team on campus and I know for a fact it’s the only City Section team to ever do it,” said Rhos Dyke, who started the ball rolling last spring before the start of the Palisades Lacrosse Club’s second season. “The first hurdle was convincing [Athletic Director] Leo Castro, [Principal] Gloria Martinez and [Vice Principal in Charge of Athletics] Charlotte Atlas that there was enough interest and support from the community to warrant making lacrosse an official school sport.” Because lacrosse is not sanctioned by the City Section, Martinez has mailed letters to both L.A. City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege and CIF-Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton requesting that Palisades’ team be allowed to play in the Southern Section for at least the 2006 season. If those two petitions are granted as expected, Pali would be allowed to start practicing in mid-February with games beginning in early March. As of January 10, the Southern Section had 27 boys teams and 16 girls teams. By rule, 80 percent of all schools must offer a given sport before playoffs can be implemented, so there will be no postseason. “This wouldn’t be possible without the support of the parents,” Dyke said. “We raised almost $20,000 ourselves. We’re not asking a dime from the school. All the money has come from the pockets of the families behind it. The reaction on campus has been very positive.” Atlas confirmed that lacrosse wasn’t on the athletic budget for this year but the feedback she got from student athletes made the sport worth pursuing. “Because there aren’t any teams in the City, I explored the possibility of playing in the Southern Section right from the start–otherwise there would be no point in going any further,” Atlas said. “The only tricky part is that we have to meet the rules and regulations of both the City and Southern Sections. Also, we may have to play all or most of our games on the road. But it’s exciting for the kids. You should’ve seen how happy they were at the meeting!” Nearby schools like Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Culver City, Harvard-Westlake, Loyola, Mira Costa and Windward all have lacrosse teams and would be logical opponents for Palisades, which could have as many as 55 boys and 30 girls sign up to play–enough to field boys and girls varsity teams and a frosh/soph boys team. Former Rutgers University player Dave Schaller, who coached Torrey Pines’ club team to the state finals in 2002 and coached Whittier College to a No. 1 national ranking in 2003, will be Pali’s program director and, at least for the first season, the boys’ varsity coach. “The parents are thrilled, I’m thrilled and I’m going to make sure that every kid who wants to play will play.” PALISADES PACESETTERS Corinne O’Brien took the gold medal on the balance beam at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Classic last week in Dallas, Texas. The 12-year-old, competing in Level 8, won the event with a score of 9.75 and her all-around score of 37.1 was third overall in an international field that included gymnasts from Russia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, England, Mexico and Jamaica. The Academy Classic was O’Brien’s first meet of the season. She had trained only sparingly the previous nine months due to injuries. The daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Walter O’Brien, she is now homeschooled but previously attended Calvary Christian School. Madeline Amos took first place at the Southern California Scholastic Fencing League Individual Women’s Epee tournament last weekend in San Diego. Amos was seeded No. 1 at the end of pool competition and remained undefeated in Direct Elimination. Amos also won the Division III National Women’s Epee title this past summer at the United States National Championships. Amos, a freshman at Marymount High, is the school’s first ever Individual League Champion. She is currently ranked 24th in the national point standings for her age group. A four-year starter and team captain for two years at Palisades High, D’Andre Bell is now a freshman on the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team, where he has earned starting time. Bell had six points, one block and one assist in 19 minutes in the Yellowjackets’ 73-63 loss to Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson last Saturday. A 6-5, 200-pound forward, Bell overcame injury to average 21.4 points and 14.5 rebounds as a senior at PaliHi, leading the Dolphins into the City playoffs. Despite being sidelined from September to December with a stress fracture in his right foot, Bell had 30 points and 17 rebounds his senior year against Westchester–the top-ranked team in the state at the time. Bell averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks as a junior and was named All-City twice.
Pali Boys Hoops Are No Match for Fairfax
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Playing in the same league with two of the best teams in the state has both advantages and disadvantages. Although he relishes every chance to knock off perennial powers Westchester and Fairfax, Palisades High boys varsity basketball coach James Paleno also knows that having to play each of them twice every year leaves little margin for error when it comes to making the City Section’s upper division playoffs. ‘I’ve always looked at it as a positive because those are programs you want to measure yourself against,’ Paleno said. ‘If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.’ After opening Western League play with victories over Hamilton, University and Venice, the Dolphins hosted Fairfax last Friday night with a chance to take sole possession of first place by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in school history. It didn’t happen. Fairfax, last season’s runner-up and the pre-season favorite to win the City title this year, pulled away in the second half for a convincing 99-68 victory. The Lions (14-2 overall, 4-0 in league), coming off a comeback win at Westchester two nights before, were not guilty of overlooking Palisades. Instead, they raced to a 12-3 lead in the first five minutes and led 24-15 after the first quarter. The Dolphins trailed by as many as 13 points in the second quarter but pulled to within 46-36 at halftime. Before the game, Paleno had stressed rebounding and foul shooting the keys to the game and Palisades did neither well enough to knock off the Lions, who won the state title two years ago. The Dolphins were outrebounded by more than a two to one ratio and made only 20 of 35 free throw attempts. ‘Free throws have cost us several games already,’ Paleno said. ‘And missing that many certainly doesn’t help your chances against a team as good as Fairfax. This was a big game. We weren’t just playing to stay close and put up a good fight. We wanted to win.’ Junior forward Paul Davis led the Dolphins (10-8, 3-1) with 17 points, senior wing Marshall Johnson had 14 and junior guard Ashton Roberts added 10. Pali hosted defending City and state champion Westchester yesterday and opens the second round of league play Friday night at Hamilton. JV The Dolphins’ junior varsity team was also playing for first place Friday night and seemed to have the game won with possession of the ball and a two-point lead in the final seconds. But Kendrick Thomas’ layup was blocked by Fairfax’s Mark Wilson, who grabbed the rebound, dribbled to halfcourt and launched a desperation three-pointer that rattled in at the buzzer. Coached by Mike Teller and Dave Gordon, Pali (12-2, 3-1) posted four blowout victories to win the Beverly Hills Tournament, then won its first three league games. The roster includes Che Borja, Albert Yu, Fred Martin, Jeff Fujimoto, Jeff Dolliole, Josh Gilmore, George Hudak, Michael Creer, Chris Cooks, Josh Whalen, Alan Gordon and Thomas.
Seeing the Ancients Anew
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
When it reopens this Saturday after eight years of renovation, the Getty Villa can boast of being the only museum entirely devoted to Greek, Etruscan and Roman art. The world-class collection of antiquities is now the sole occupant and star of the gloriously renewed museum, the centerpiece of an entirely reimagined campus dedicated to the study of ancient life that includes a 450-seat outdoor classical theater where Greek dramas will be performed. Although derided by some critics as a theme park and an affront to modernism when it first opened in 1974, the Villa, based on the Villa dei Papiri, a first-century Roman country house, quickly won status as a well-loved Los Angeles landmark. The public embraced it from the start. “Traffic was blocked all the way into Santa Monica; it was a huge mess in both directions on Pacific Coast Highway,” says Burton Fredericksen, one of the museum’s first curators, of the original opening. The reservation system was born of this instant popularity and is still intact. In fact, openings to gain entry to the new complex are scarce until fall. Fredericksen was appointed curator of the J. Paul Getty Museum in 1965 when the collection was still relatively small and housed in the original Ranch House. “At that time, we were only open twice a week, two hours a day, and had room for just 24 cars,” Fredericksen recalled during a recent interview in his Brentwood home. “There was no way of knowing in 1965 that anything was going to come of the place.” It was in the late 1960s that J. Paul Getty’directing everything from afar at his home in England’decided to expand his cultural operation by stepping up acquisitions, hiring more staff and making plans for a new structure. Fredericksen, who remained one of three main curators until the late 1970s, didn’t even meet his boss until 1969 (Getty never returned to the U.S. after 1951). “One had to go there [to England] to see him,” he says. “I always thought people might have viewed him as an authoritarian-type person, which he was not. He was actually very personable. He was tightfisted, that’s well documented, but aside from wanting to keep expenses to a minimum, he was an easy man to work for.” Getty’s early collecting was mostly focused on decorative arts and paintings. His love affair with the ancient world and its objects began in 1939 with his first purchase and continued until his death in 1976. According to Fredericksen, Getty’s collecting style was distinguished by how often he trusted his own instincts rather than seeking others’ advice and the way in which the billionaire connoisseur was ever-conscious of cost, never wanting to set record prices. “This had its benefits and problems,” he says with a laugh, adding, “There were many things we should have bought.” “He always liked big things,” says Fredericksen. “It was characteristic of his collecting throughout. He enjoyed big pieces of furniture, big statues and big paintings. It was hard to sell him a small painting, small statue or even a chair.” Getty’s taste for the monumental is evident with the Lansdowne Herakles, a life-size marble figure of the young Herakles found near Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. One of Getty’s most prized possessions, the statue, purchased in 1951, was one of the inspirations for building his museum in the style of an ancient Roman villa. Many significant purchases were made with the new museum in mind, including the entire contents of a Madison Avenue antiquities gallery in 1971. One thing Getty had little interest in were Greek vases, purportedly because of their use as funerary urns. “He didn’t want to collect objects that had an association with death,” says Karol Wight, the Getty Villa’s acting curator. This is a part of the antiquities collection, along with Cycladic art and funerary objects, that has notably grown since Getty’s day, aided, of course, by his enormous bequest. Of the 44,000 artworks that make up the collection, 1,200 of the 2,000 displayable objects are now exhibited in thematically arranged galleries. Wight, a long-standing member of the curatorial staff whose specialty is ancient glass, is sensitive to the great nostalgia people have for the original museum. She feels the essence has been preserved, while now complemented by such striking enhancements as opening the galleries to floods of natural light and bringing bright, vivid color to the walls. “Choosing wall colors was one of the hardest decision-making processes of all,” notes Wight of the reinstallation, an overall experience she describes as a breathtaking opportunity. The original Villa cost $17 million and took three years to build. “It was done as cheaply as we could do it on instruction,” Fredericksen recounts. By contrast, the revamped Villa, costing $275 million and following the winning design of architects Rodolfo Machado and Jorge Silvetti, is perhaps the most carefully done building of its kind ever built, with a state-of-the-art systems installed throughout to ensure the safety of the works of art. Every inch of the complex has been thoughtfully considered, right down to the smart new labeling system that allows objects to be cleanly displayed while a single panel handsomely mounted under each case has an easily identifiable icon of each piece and its information. Even museum fatigue has been addressed, with bars installed on the cases to allow hands to rest while studying an object. Wight recommends that visitors refresh their knowledge of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art in the new Timescape room, where interactive exhibits focus on time, place and artistic style in the ancient Mediterranean. Given the exacting and meticulous nature of the renovation, does Wight wish anything had been done differently with the installation? “I only wish the galleries were a little larger,” she says. “We were working on paper for years and when the exhibition furniture was delivered and installed, we realized there was too much in each room. We had to make some tough decisions, with some objects ending up in the storeroom.” Still, she says, the goal was to allow each object to breathe, not to overwhelm or make things overcrowded. “Less is truly more in this case.” Although he never personally visited his original Villa museum, nor could he have imagined the transformations to come, J. Paul Getty and his desire to create an intimate oasis in which to contemplate the ancient world has a timeless resonance. He wrote: ” I would like every visitor at Malibu to feel as if I had invited him to come and look about and feel at home… I hope that it will prove to be as beautiful as I imagined it and that everyone who wants will have a chance to see it.” The Getty Villa is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades. Admission is free. Advance, timed tickets are required and can be obtained online at www.getty.edu or by calling 440-7300. Hours are Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $7 per car, cash only.
Roach Twins Find Themselves Bit Players in Lawford’s Saga
In Christopher Kennedy Lawford’s autobiography, there is no index, so those combing through for their celebrity gossip have to read the whole book. Except, of course, if you’re looking for the tidbits about the Roach twins’aka Kathleen McRoskey and Eileen Ogilvie. Not since the twins and Lawford were in third grade together at St. Martin’s School in Brentwood in the mid 1960s, had the trio reunited’until last Friday night at Village Books. Lawford was in town talking about his memoir “Symptoms of Withdrawal,” which recounts a life both gilded and gored by the Kennedy aura. Christopher’s father was actor/Rat Packer Peter Lawford, his mother Patricia Kennedy, the sixth child in the brood of Kennedy children, which also included John and Robert. When Kathleen and Eileen had first learned of their inclusion in the book, a flood of memories of their little friend resurfaced and they resolved to attend the book signing together. In the passage, Lawford recalls his 8-year-old friends. “I had been in love with the Roach sisters since kindergarten. They were adorable. I didn’t have a preference, I would have taken either one, but until my rather dramatic incapacity, they hadn’t given me the time of day.” That “dramatic incapacity” was the result of a fall from a trampoline which rendered the risk-taking Christopher laid up with a broken leg. The twins proved to be willing attendants, taking turns wheeling him around in his wheelchair. On the night of the book signing, the twins, their mom, husbands and siblings, decided to dine across the street at Dante’s with an eye on the activities at the bookstore. “At one point before 7:30 we could see a lot of commotion, so we decided to go over to the bookstore,” Kathleen said. “As we crossed the street Christopher came up to greet us. ‘Well hello,’ he said. We melted, I’m surprised we stayed on our own two feet.” In his talk, Lawford gave an overview of his life and told stories that described how terribly tragic his family dynamic was, with no parenting whatsoever, Kathleen said. “We learned how he smoked pot with his dad at an early age, and that Marilyn Monroe taught him the Twist.” The Roach twins, who grew up in Mandeville Canyon, recalled that “every girl remembers him and had a crush on him. I remember one time that he and another friend who lived up the street, came up to our house and knocked on our bedroom window. You would have thought that we were just living on the line, when all he did was knock on the window and say hello.” The girls were later admonished by their parents for receiving visitors without first clearing it with them. Lawford said that he wrote the book, despite the fact that there were already enough books out there on the Kennedys. “But he decided to write it ‘my way’ so that it would be his story and not somebody else’s. Although he passed everything by the family, nobody got back to him, so he went on with the book,” Kathleen said. “Bobby Shriver said ‘I hear you’re writing a book, what’s it about?’ ‘My life,'” he said. Katie O’Laughlin at Village Books has several signed copies of the memoir.
Winning One Stroke at a Time
Like many athletes her age, Hannah Kogan dreams of one day competing in the Olympics. What distinguishes her from many of her peers, however, is the self-discipline and hard work she devotes to her chosen sport. That inner drive to succeed has made Kogan one of the best swimmers in the nation in her age group. Swimming for Team Santa Monica, the 12-year-old Palisadian was one of 32 swimmers from California, Nevada and Arizona to be invited to the Southern California Swim Festival last Saturday at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach. And Kogan didn’t just show up–she won the 100 Butterfly in 1:03.46, the fastest time she has ever clocked in that event. “I’d have to say the Butterfly is my favorite stroke because it’s the hardest to learn,” Kogan says. “Your technique has to be really good.” Kogan also finished seventh in the 500 Freestyle and eighth in the 100 Freestyle. She then anchored the 200 Medley Relay and, despite leaving the block late, swam the 50 Free leg in a personal-best 26:23. She also swam the second leg of the 200 Free Relay. The competition featured four teams (North, South, East and West), each consisting of eight swimmers of varying ages. Kogan was placed on the West team, which finished second overall. “It’s a really cool meet because you go representing yourself and they just randomly put you on a team with people you’ve never met before,” says Kogan, who lives in Sunset Mesa. “By the time it’s over, you get to know your teammates and even the other teams fairly well.” Kogan’s results are the product of tireless dedication. She spends a minimum of two hours in the pool six days a week and sometimes even wakes up at the crack of dawn to make practices at Santa Monica College before school. Every summer, she attends swimming camps every aimed at improving proficiency in specific strokes. “I like hanging out with my friends but between swimming and homework I don’t have much time,” says Kogan, a seventh-grader at Paul Revere Middle School. “Competing year-round means I have to sacrifice other things sometimes, but it’s worth it.” Though swimming is her sole focus now, Kogan participated in many sports as a young child. While at Marquez Elementary, she tried gymnastics and ballet. She played club basketball for the Santa Monica Surf and was a point guard in the Pali Rec League for two seasons. She started swimming seven years ago and was a standout on the Palisades-Malibu YMCA team before switching to Team Santa Monica, a club team affiliated with USA Swimming, when she was 11. “That was really hard [leaving the Y] because I was there for three years and I made so many friends there,” Kogan says. “It’s a smaller team so everyone knows each other. But I still have my old friends and I’ve made new ones on my new team.” Kogan faced another personal challenge when her identical twin, Samantha, quit swimming around this time last year. “That was hard too because we were so used to going to workouts together and we had a lot of fun,” Hannah says of her sister. “But I’m still supportive of her and she’s supportive of me. In fact, she plays tennis now and I go to watch her matches whenever I can.” Hannah and Samantha also have a nine-year-old brother, Jackson, who plays in the Palisades Pony Baseball Association and is a member of the Palisades Pirates all-star travel squad. In addition to excelling in the pool, Kogan is an honors student at Revere, where she especially likes studying world history. She was a Palisadian- Post Athlete of the Year in 2004 and juggles her academics with a rigorous training schedule designed for swimmers of the Junior Olympic level. Kogan has posted Southern California reportable times in all of her Freestyle and Butterfly events, and has Top-16 times in the 50 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly and 100 Individual Medley. “My immediate goal is to meet sectional time standards in all of my events,” Kogan says. “I’m off by three seconds in the 100 Fly and by one second in the 50 Free.” Kogan is tapering for the Lost Dutchman Invitational in Tempe, Arizona, at the end of February. By that time, she will have turned 13 and, if effort has anything to with it, her times will be right on target.
