Austin Price, a former Pacific Palisades real estate broker and low-handicap golfer, passed away on May 3. He was 88. Born Lois Austin Price on October 23, 1917 in Kiln, Mississippi, to Beulah Beauregard Parker and Ruben Aloysius Price, Austin was in sales all of his life. He started out by selling newspaper subscriptions door-to-door, as a primary source of income for his parents at the age of 13, during the Depression. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, class of 1935, and obtained his real estate and broker’s license in 1953. He was an owner of Townsend & Simpson Real Estate in the Palisades and was an active citizen, performing in local plays and serving as president of the Los Angeles Realty Board and the Palisades Optimist Club. He was a lifelong optimist, and a great raconteur who also also enjoyed dancing, A-level tennis and all kinds of fishing. Price was blessed with lifelong health–physically and mentally–and retained his marvelous sense of humor and clever wit, right to the end. He had requested that his ashes be buried with those of his late wife, Margaret O’Brien Price, in the roots of a lovely yellow rose bush that he kept outside his window ever since her death in 1996. He had moved the bush from Sarasota, Florida, to Novato, California and, most recently, to the Veterans Home in Barstow, where he passed away of natural causes. Price is survived by his daughters, Janis Grabowski of Upland and Jean Price Lewis of Novato; his son, Jonathan Austin Price of Seaside, California; and eight grandchildren: Patrick, Michael, and Neal Grabowski, Julie Vaughn, Michelle Marquis, Noelle Barron, Angela Perkins, and Jeffrey Price; and 18 great-grandchildren.
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE MAY 11, 2006 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
HOMES FOR SALE 1
HIGHLANDS 3 BDRM, 3 BA TOWNHOME. Bright, quiet, updated unit. Featuring hdwd flrs, smooth ceilings, updated bathrooms, plantation shutters and much more! 1,823 sq. ft. Offered at $849,000. Contact Rick Chanin, (310) 888-3309, (310) 780-3100. www.RickChanin.comHOMES WANTED 1b
WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887FURNISHED HOMES 2
GUESTHOUSE FOR RENT. Furnished, util included. Prefer professional female. N/S, no pets. $1,300/mo. Call (310) 459-3650UNFURNISHED 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. $7,900/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) BEAUTIFUL LOW-INCOME CONDO at Casa Gateway, Highlands. 1 bdrm, 1 ba, patio, lovely green belt. Available now. $965/mo. 62 years of age. Income under $41,618. (310) 454-6048 HIGHLANDS TOWNHOME. 3 BD, 2 1/2 BA, new carpet, floors, counter tops, appliances, patio and balcony with views. New HUAC. $3,500/mo. Agent, (310) 459-5886, ext. 250 GUESTHOUSE. PRIVATE, QUIET 1 bdrm, enclosed separate garage, large private patio. W/D, large sunny kitchen, stove, refrig. Convenient location. No pets, N/S. $1,890/mo. (310) 456-5527UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
EDGEWATER TOWERS 1 BDRM, large patio, ocean view. Pools, gated security, covered parking, tennis gym and more. Available May. $2,300/mo. Telephone and fax: (310) 454-5652 $1,400/MO. 1 YR LEASE. CUTE, charming studio in tri-plex near bluffs. Full kitchen and bath. Garage, laundry, garden, plantation shutters, no pets, N/S. (310) 804-3142 PACIFIC PALISADES. S.M. BAY OCEAN VIEWS on private drive, gdn style. Pool, private garage, huge patio, 2 bdrm, 2 ba. $2,900/mo. 2 lease until Feb 07. No extension. (310) 459-6369 3 BDRM, 2 BA, F/P, 2-car private garage, huge master suite, sweeping ocean view on private drive, garden style, pool. $3,550/mo. Lease until Feb 07. No extension. (310) 459-6369WANTED TO RENT 3b
PALISADES FAMILY WITH 2 young children seeks affordable 2 bedroom house with den/office for long-term lease. Excellent credit, references. (310) 454-7020OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
$950/mo. 15115 1/2 Sunset Blvd. #B. LITE & BRITE 2 room office suite. 2nd floor. Call agent, (310) 459-3493 PRIVATE OFFICE SPACE in the Palisades Village. Excellent location. Flexible. Call for details, (310) 600-4484RENTAL SPACE, STORAGE 3d
ENCLOSED STORAGE GARAGE in village. Available 1 July. $300/mo., $750 security deposit. (310) 454-4668VACATION 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.comBUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5
MAKE MONEY TRAVELING. $100-$100,000 per month. For more information call (310) 651-0135. This call can make you a millionaire.MISCELLANEOUS 6c
DO YOU HAVE MEDICARE? I can find the best and least expensive Medicare Part D prescription plan for you. Private and confidential. (Save $$-join by 5/15). Paula, (310) 454-8694 SEMPER FI: TO BE ALWAYS FAITHFUL. US Marines code of honor. A class by Ray Nasser US Marine, CA cred/teacher. Purple Heart. 16321 PCH #63, Pacific Palisades. (310) 454-7432BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
ACOUNTING-All Tax Services. Palisades Resident. Silverman & Co., (310) 454-5822. Accounting-Bookkeeping/Quickbooks. Public Accounting Experience in all Service: Retail, Wholesale, Construction & Entertainment Business. Tax Services: Individual, Partnership, Corp, Trust/EstateCOMPUTER SERVICES 7c
PUT YOUR COMPUTER TO WORK – HOME & BUSINESS SURVEILLANCE-Featuring: PC Based Solutions to View your Property Remotely – Live Viewing from Internet & Wireless Handhelds! – 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
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZATION & BOOKKEEPING. Superior services provided with discretion and understanding. Local references. Call Sarah, (310) 573-9263 DO YOU NEED A BUSINESS MANAGER (part-time)? Paperwork, Accounts, Computer, Internet, Organize, etc. Business/Personal. Raymond, (310) 218-6653, (310) 459-2066 Do you have projects you’ll never get around to? ORGANIZERJESS. Your Professional Organizer & Personal Assistant by the Hour – Home & Office Organization Time Management – Clutter Catch up – Bill Paying – Create Effective Systems, More Space & Clarity – Gift Certificate Available – Impeccable Palisades References – Jessica Schooler Gleason, (310) 429-3289MISCELLANEOUS 7j
CUT IT OUT PRODUCTIONS video & editing services. Family albums (weddings etc.), actor’s demo reels, corporate promos & short films. (323) 580-4557, www.cutitoutproductions.netNANNIES/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) 614-5065 or (310) 801-8309 MY WONDERFUL SPECIAL NANNY needs work full time. M-F, Live out. Own transportation. CDL. Legal. Experience with newborns. Call Rosa, (818) 620-7507 BABYSITTER/NANNY available Monday-Friday. Own transportation, CA DL, legal. Excellent references. Speak English. Call Blanca, (213) 925-0046 NANNY/BABYSITTER, 11 years experience. Teacher’s education, citizen, own transportation. Looking for part time job. Have experience with newborns. Nadia, (323) 491-4694 MS. VEE BABYSITTING, dog walking care and services. College student, energetic. Ages 3-10 years. After school, P/T and some F/T days available in your home. No driving. (310) 586-0162 EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER/HOUSEKEEPER Excellent references. Available M-F. Call Miriam, cell, (323) 329-1492HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
“PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.” We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419 HOUSEKEEPER, 10 YEARS experience. References. Available M-F. I drive. Some English. Call (213) 383-7260 HOUSEKEEPERS/BABYSITTERS AVAILABLE immediately. Can work as a team. Own transportation. Great references. Call Ruth, (213) 925-4049 HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTING, Full time, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Local references, very experienced. No car. Pleasant. Please call Tina, (818) 759-5361 HOUSECLEANING! ALICIA AVAILABLE Tuesday. Cleaning supplies furnished. Call (310) 795-8828 HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER AVAILABLE M-F. Can work together. Excellent references. 15 years experience. Call Marina, cell, (213) 804-9522 or Arely, (310) 974-8871 HOUSEKEEPER/CAREGIVER AVAILABLE Mon.-Fri., hours open. Great refs, own car, has own equipment if needed. Fluent English. Please call Irma, (323) 525-1960 or (323) 440-7240ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
CAREGIVERS/COMPANIONS Live in/out. Minimum 2 years experience. 3 work related references required. CNA’S/CHH’S welcomed. Bondable. Call (323) 692-3692 EXPERIENCED COMPANION/CAREGIVER. Live in 24/7, $9/hr., one-on-one. Capable of light housework, meal preparation and drive. References available. Call Precious @ (323) 404-5043, email preciosazgarcia@yahoo.com PRIVATE CAREGIVER/COMPANION available with car. Reliable with good references. Exchange considered for guest house or private room. (310) 383-6593 CAREGIVER/NANNY with car. Experienced, registered. Great references. Live/in, M-F. Please call Dolores, (626) 536-1232GARDENING, 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 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 POND CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN: Water gardening. Japanese Koi fish. Filtration pond service, repair & maintence. Free estimates. Cell, (310) 498-5380, (310) 390-1276. Visit us at www.TheKingKoi.com GARCIA GARDENING SERVICE – Maintenance – Sprinkler Systems – Planting – Clean-up – Landscape – (310) 733-7414MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. 14″ van & dollies. Small jobs to 2 bedrooms. Hauls it all. California/Nevada. Over 12 years. Westside experience. (310) 285-8688WINDOW 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
PRESSURE WASHING. Superior cleaning, driveways, walkways, patios. Craig, (310) 459-9000PET 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. 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.pianoteachers.com/ldlukas WOULD YOU LOVE TO LEARN to play piano? Skilled piano teacher specializing with beginners/intermediate children, adults. Karen Barton, B.S. USC trained. (310) 486-1995 INCISIVE SAT Mastery Program developed by Thomas Heys, Stanford graduate. Classes begin end of June. Sign up now: (310) 663-2441TUTORS 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 MATH & SCIENCE TUTOR Middle school-college level. BS LAUSD credentialed high school teacher. Test Prep. Flexible hours. AVAILABLE to help NOW! Seth Freedman, (310) 909-3049 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 ADMIRAL TUTORING! All subjects. One call does it all! (310) 454-1862 PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTOR (Mathematics, Science, SATs, ACTs). 9+ years experience, UCLA graduate w/ degree in mathematics. First lesson half off! Janice, (949) 351-5717; www.TheLATutor.com FRENCH TUTORING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. 90 min sessions or more, all ages. Good for speakers or non speaker. Great help for Lyc’e Fran’ais students. (310) 621-3113CABINET 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.comCONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c
MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pools, decks, patios, foundations, fireplace, drainage control, custom stone, block & brick, tile. Excellent local references. Lic. #309844. Bonded/insured/ workmen’s comp. Family owned & operated. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 – www.horusicky.comCONSTRUCTION 16d
CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237ELECTRICAL 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 HANDYMAN SERVICES. No job too small. 10 years experience in the Palisades. Please call (310) 454-3838 for prompt, friendly service. Not licensed. 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: RUN WESTERN STATES. Also seeking seasonal and inexperienced drivers. Start! Earn! WERNER ENTERPRISES, (800) 346-2818 x123 AAA HOME INCOME. 23 people needed NOW. Apply online to get started: www.wahusa.com. Enter Ad Code: 235 DRIVER BABYSITTER needed for 3 kids. Monday-Thursday, 2:30-7 p.m. Own car, references. Santa Monica area. C.Raiss@Verizon.net or (310) 617-1170 TEMP POSITION AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY: Art school seeks friendly receptionist to assist w/ admin, tasks & classroom set-up. 25-40 hrs/wk. Could lead to a perm position for the right person. Email resume to info@brentwoodart.com. No phone calls, please. AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY: Art school with 2 positions: Office Mgr & Admin Assist. Must be attentive to detail, friendly & outgoing, have a fantastic work ethic & good phone personality. FT (36-40 hrs), incl some Saturdays. Salary based on exp. Resumes to: info@brentwoodart.com. No phone calls please. ROBEK’S JUICE, CORNER OF ANTIOCH & Swarthmore, is hiring F/T, P/T. Good pay, no prior experience needed. Call (213) 952-5211 or fax resume to (310) 230-3971 SEEKING TEEN SITTER for 14 year old boy when parents travel. Must have references, drive, speak English. Currently seeking someone for 4-day weekend in May, week in June and July. Call (310) 459-5472 SEAMSTRESS WANTED, PART TIME: Small Pac Pal business looking for an experienced seamstress for sewing projects. Not necessary to have professional sewing experience, but should be skillful using a sewing machine. Please speak English, have your own transportation and be a nice, friendly, honest person. (310) 454-9554 PALISADES PROFESSIONAL FIRM needs an experienced bookkeeper proficient in Peachtree, Quickbooks, Excel, and Word, Knowledge of ProFX Tax Program a big plus. Responsibilities include bank account reconciliations; accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll tax returns; financial statements; input of tax data, etc. Organizational skills and detailed orientation a must. Benefits include good salary, health insurance, 401k Plan and flex-time. Please fax resume to: (310) 313-0242 ADMISSIONS & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Full time, to work independently and as a team player. Must be MS Word and Excel proficient, have good communication and writing skills, multitasking in a busy office. Duties: coordinatinating events, schedules, admissions, program development, client education on our philosophy and programs. Education background needed. Located in woods of Temescal Gateway Park, a special place to work. The school mission is to foster and promote an educational philosophy dedicated to reaching the inner spirit of each child through experiences in dance, music, visual arts, nature, literature and drama. Position available immediately. Fax resume to (310) 454-7203 or email to skinnertrish@hotmail.com OFFICE MANAGER AND ADMIN SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL. Provide F/T hands-on support, admin, and executive assistance for two executives and one client relations person. Deliver timely, accurate results, juggling many duties with the help of an assistant. $45-52K plus bonus. Send resume to info@milestonesinc.com HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER WANTED 1 day per week. Thursday, flexible hours, must speak English and drive, wash and iron. Local references. Call (310) 387-7722AUTOS 18b
1994 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 4×4, 2 door hunter green. Alloy wheels w/ BFGAT’s. Brand new master cylinder and brakes. 125,000 miles good condition. $3,200 obo. GREAT CAR! (310) 576-0622 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT, Black, leather seats, new tires, 4 wheel drive, excellent condition, 47,800 miles. Call Rhonda, (310) 573-9169 CASH FOR YOUR CARS $ Foreign or domestic. Running or not. Friendly professional buyer. We come to you & handle all paperwork. Local references. Please call (310) 995-5898 2000 BLAZER. 66,000 miles. 4-dr, black/tan, 4 whl dr. Power wds, sunroof, leather seats, cd player, new tires. $7,500. (323) 899-4868FURNITURE 18c
PLAYER PIANO, BALDWIN, 1988, stainglass panels, bench, 25 rolls, $2,500 obo. (310) 472-9771 2 TWIN BDS, SLEIGH style w/ wood & iron, mattresses incl, good cond, med brown, $550. 2 matching bedside tables, grt cond, $150 pair. Matching bunk beds/desk w/ hutch, 2 side tables, light wood ,grt/cond, mattresses incl, $950. Pine hutch, grt cond, $450. (310) 230-9947GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
PALISADES GARAGE SALE: Spring Cleaning. Toys, books, H.O. trains, cameras, clothes, sofa, Ikea chairs, dishes, oil heater, knick-knacks. 665 Las Lomas Ave., south of Sunset. Saturday, 5/13 ONLY, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. MOVING SALE: FRI.-SAT.-SUN., May 12-14th, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Rugs, sofa, leather desk chair, dropleaf table, rattan, luggage, Cal-King bedding, Neova cookware, silver coffee service, punch bowls, CDs, collectible; Henn Baskets, Denby Harlequin, Royal Doulton, Lesal. 1526 N. Sorrento, off Capri. (310) 230-9218 MOORE THAN A GARAGE SALE Several estate collections: furniture and accessories, silver, china, knick-knacks, linens, household items, children’s accessories, original art, garden furniture. NEGOTIABLE PRICES. Clothing: new and current designers; purses and shoes. Friday & Saturday, May 12 & 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 3802 Surfwood Dr., Sunset Mesa, Malibu. (turn on Coastline) GIGANTIC MOVING SALE! Furniture, clothing, bicycles, toys and much MORE! SAT., May 13th, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. 16060 Temecula St. W. LA MOVING SALE! LR/DR/BR Furn/Bookshelves/ fridg/large Safe/Console Piano/knick-knacks/Collectibles/kitch/hsehold goods. More! 10425 Almayo (1blk N. of Pico/W. of Beverly Glen). FRI.-SAT., May 12-13, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. TG 632 D-5MISCELLANEOUS 18g
AMERICAN GIRL DOLL, horse, bedroom furniture and misc. clothes. Like new! Take all for $475 or make offer. (310) 459-9639 TWO US OPEN GOLF TROPHY CLUB TICKETS at Winged Foot Country Club, 6/12-6/18, Mamaroneck, N.Y. Face value, $550 each. (310) 459-0227WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.comMarquez Knolls: An Oral History
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
When Crystal Lachman Pritchard showed up at the annual Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association’s annual meeting in April, she brought a mother lode of memories with her. Having grown up in the neighborhood, she remembers when the Welcome Wagon arrived to greet each new neighbor and Helms Bakery delivered fresh bread right to the door. She said it was also a time when goats wandered in the chaparral behind the houses, Easter egg hunts were held on Marquez Terrace, and she would decorate her beloved horse Toffee and go Christmas caroling with her friends around the block. “That’s the kind of neighborhood it was back then, very family-oriented,” said Pritchard, who was in the first class to graduate from Marquez Elementary school (1957). “It was at school that we got our polio shots and there would regularly be drills because of the Cold War where we’d have to quickly jump under our desks. And we all loved to dance to ‘Rock Around the Clock,'” recalled Pritchard, who also graduated from Palisades High School (1963), then UCLA. The Palisades resident is now a therapist, dividing time between her chemical-dependency practice in Oregon and her family practice in Woodland Hills. She still lives in her family home on Lachman Lane, which she shares with her mother Lila. Their 3,000-sq.-ft. house was the first two-story on the block and had a built-in fish tank in the downstairs den’a real novelty back then. “We also had quite a view in those days,” Pritchard said. “So many of the trees have grown since we moved here.” Pritchard’s family moved to the Palisades from Culver City when she was eight. Her father, Eugene, along with her uncles Earl, Mel, Henry and Lou, developed Marquez Knolls, starting in the 1940s. When she was young she remembers lots of “earth being moved” and the electrical wires being put underground, “which was not an easy thing to do. They had to dynamite the hill.” Pritchard said that at its peak, the Lachman family had 1,000 employees working for half a dozen companies they owned operating under several names, including Basin Builders, Lincoln Lumber and Centinela Pipe. “The company was unique in that it was involved in every aspect of building the homes and everything was done in-house, including the kitchen cabinets,” said Pritchard. “My uncle Earl was the visionary, Uncle Mel worked with the heavy equipment crews, Uncle Henry was in charge of the lumber yard, my dad supervised the construction and Uncle Lou sold the houses. In the ’50s and ’60s they worked hard just to keep up with the demand and insisted on quality. My father would always tell the workers: ‘Build this house as if it was your own, because if it’s not good enough for you, then it’s not good enough for the people buying it.'” Pritchard, 61, said she is enamored with the style of the original homes in Marquez Knolls, which initially sold for around $20,000. These “mid-century” properties are now selling in the $2 million to $3 million range. When Pritchard asked the more than 150 residents gathered at the MKPOA meeting how many of them are the original owners, she was delighted when three-quarters of them put up their hands. “These ’50s houses are a style onto themselves,” Pritchard said. “The design is almost cosmic to me. What I love are their sweeping lines and simplicity. I look at our house and it sort of looks like it’s about to take off. I think they are a real reflection of the time in which they were designed, when we were just starting to move into the space age and people felt free to use their imagination, even putting fins on cars. These houses were built after the war. Everyone was optimistic then.” In 1955, the Lachman family was honored for the contribution it made building the original Kehillat Israel synagogue on Sunset, donating all of the labor for the rough carpentry and supplying other workers at cost. In the early 1960s, the Lachmans built The Americana at 101 California Ave., the first high-rise in Santa Monica, followed by the Huntley Hotel on 2nd Street. The family also acquired a hotel on Ocean Avenue by default. “It happened at a time when my uncles needed funds to expand,” Pritchard said. “Santa Monica Bank, which they were dealing with at the time, said ‘Okay, providing you take over this debt we have on our books.’ So that’s how our family came to own The Surfrider Motel where the Loews Hotel is now. It had a bar with a jazz band and coffee shop. Actors dropped by all the time. I remember Julie Christie being there. We had a lot of good times. Then when my uncles wanted to tear it down and build a bigger hotel the Coastal Commission put the kibosh on it.” Pritchard said it was the L.A. Planning Commission that vetoed the Lachmans’ plans to build several high-rises and a golf course at the top of Marquez, arguing that the project would generate too much traffic. Pritchard regrets that the golf course was never built “as it would have provided some wonderful green space in the neighborhood.” One of the reasons the golf course was never built was because, in the end, the Lachmans were unable to raise the necessary funds. Pritchard said that soon after that her family fell on hard times, a combination of the late 70s recession, coupled with a devastating fire that hit Marquez Knolls in 1978. The last of the property the family owned on the Westside, a lot in Marina del Rey, was sold off in 2003 and is now a car dealership. Pritchard’s father passed away in 1999. “Although there were a lot of difficult times financially, our family always worked hard,” Pritchard said. “My uncles grew up during the Depression, then had to go to war. My dad was a reconnaissance photographer. When he came back he joined the family business. But there were several booms and busts. I remember a time when my father would put his own paycheck in his night table drawer. He was afraid to cash it and of there not being enough to pay the workers. People think our family made a fortune building Marquez Knolls. We might have if we had only built on the flats. But houses were built up the hill to create views, at tremendous cost.” Sixteen homes are currently for sale in Marquez Knolls. Most of them have views. Asked what she thinks of the ongoing controversy over view protection, Pritchard said she finds it “sad. One would hope in the name of civility, neighbors will do the right thing. We all have to trim back our trees so everyone can enjoy the view. What’s nice is the way the houses blend so well into the landscape around here. This was and still is a beautiful place. I urge everyone to keep it that way.”
Parade Organizers Seek July 4 Entries
Entry forms are available for individuals, businesses, clubs, youth groups, organizations, churches and synagogues who wish to enter the annual Pacific Palisades Americanism Parade on Tuesday, July 4. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. at the corner of Bowdoin and Via de la Paz. This year’s theme is “Celebrating America’Proud, Strong and True.” Applications can be found at the Chamber of Commerce office, 15330 Antioch, and must be returned by May 29. Parade orders and staging information will be sent to accepted entries 10 days prior to the parade. As per tradition, there is no entry fee for non-commercial, nonprofit organizations, and they can apply for reimbursement of up to $500 in float expenses (excluding vehicle rental) from PAPA, the organizing committee. Float judging will be based on execution of theme, originality of design and spectator appeal. Tax deductible donations to help PAPA defray $70,000 in expenses (for the parade and the fireworks show at Palisades High) are greatly appreciated and can be sent to: PAPA, P.O. Box 1776, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. The parade’s organizing committee, known as PAPA (Palisades Americanism Parade Association), is chaired this year by Cheryel Kanan, business manager of the Palisadian-Post and a past Chamber of Commerce president. She and her husband, Dan, were honored as parade marshals in 2000.
Revere Hails 50 Years with Festival Saturday
“Judy Robson, in room A9 at Paul Revere, doesn’t think that parents should yell at their kids and Jeff Wasserman, B8, said his parents are too strict. Louise McFarland, A8, felt that it was important for parents to be understanding and Anne Coen, A9, thinks parents try to understand their children too much and think they’re authorities on everything.” (From “The Town Crier,” April 25, 1956.) Fifty years after students revealed those sage insights while attending Paul Revere Junior High, the school will celebrate its golden anniversary this Saturday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the second annual Music Fest. Admission is $5 and parking is free. At noon, Revere principal Art Copper will take the stage to introduce the first PTA president of Revere, Mrs. Silvia Sher, as well former administrators, teachers and other dignitaries. The Battle of the Bands will start at 1 p.m., featuring middle school bands that have already submitted an audition tape and an application. Each band will have a maximum of 10 minutes or two songs to convince a distinguished panel of professional judges that they should win a prize in one of the following categories: Hottest Band, Best Stage Presence, Most Original Song, Best Vocals, Most Popular, Best Instrumentals, Most Fun, Best Costumes and Best Song. Other entertainment will feature The Bassix, last year’s first-place band from Oak Park Middle School, and Paul Revere’s Madrigals. There will be numerous games and activities for the entire family, like the velcro obstacle course, baseball throw, duck pond and toilet-paper toss. For a small fee, festivalgoers can design their own T-shirts and get airbrushed tattoos. Raffles will give people a chance to win one of six electric guitars, a skim board, t-shirts, and iPod shuffle accessories. Former Revere students, teachers and administrators are urged to sign in at the alumni booth, hook up with long-lost friends, enjoy a piece of cake and look at photos. Alumni are also encouraged to tour the campus and see the changes that have occurred since the graduated. Science teacher Craig Honda’s farm will be open with fun activities. The gym will feature a display of “then” and “now” technology, such as 45s and CD’s, plus a 16-mm film showing the actual construction of Revere. Donations will help pay for converting the film to a CD. All donors will receive a copy once it’s made. Science projects will also be on display, along with “old” yearbooks and school newspapers. While browsing through old yearbooks, look for some of Paul Revere’s most famous students like Ryan O’Neal (who graduated with Darryl Stolper, a current eighth grade history teacher), Randy Newman and Christie Brinkley. The younger generation might have better luck identifying Emile Hirsch (class of 1999), who had the lead role in the skateboard movie “Lords of Dogtown.” Food will be available from from the In-N-Out Burger truck, International Deli salads, Bowers Italian sausages and hot dogs, Robeks, and Sandy Candy. The idea for the Music Fest came from Paul Revere parent Renee Farrer last year. “All the elementary schools have fairs and we wanted something for Paul Revere that would promote community, be for the family and raise money,” she said. “But it had to be an idea that would appeal to the middle-school age, and a Battle of the Bands seemed like the best idea.”
Bulldozers Level Controversial “Addition” in Rustic Canyon
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
On Monday morning, a house in Rustic Canyon that played a key role in saving local residents Mehr and Vickey Beglari from having to demolish their primary residence two doors down at 909 Greentree Rd., as ordered by the Department of Building and Safety in January, was torn down. The demolished house, at 921 Greentree, was purchased by the Beglaris two years ago, and they later built a five-foot “addition” to the front of the ranch-style bungalow. The addition’essentially a “lean-to” attached to the brick chimney and consisting of a sloped composite roof supported by two wood pillars (four-by-fours)’not only decreased the house’s setback from the street, but in doing so, altered the “prevailing” setback for the entire block, consisting of four residences. This new setback immediately set off a chain of events, all in the Beglaris’ favor. It instantly rendered the couple’s residence at 909 in compliance with the municipal code, resulting in the city rescinding its order to comply, which had come after a five-year legal battle between the Beglaris and five of their neighbors’a case that went all the way to the California Court of Appeal, which affirmed the neighbors’ civil suit against both the Beglaris and the City of L.A. The Beglaris had obtained a building permit in January 2001 to build a 6,550-sq.-ft., two-story addition to their existing 2,000-sq.-ft. ranch-style house at 909 Greentree Rd. Their problem began in April of that year, when they 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 suspected that the setback was not in accordance with the municipal code. The Beglari residence was found to be 14 feet closer to the street than permitted by the zoning code, resulting in the Court of Appeal ordering Building and Safety to revoke all permits issued to the Beglaris, as well as their 2002 certificate of occupancy, last spring. The plaintiffs felt vindicated until they discovered that in February, Building and Safety not only rescinded the order but reinstated the Beglaris’ building permits and occupancy certificate “to reflect the revised front-yard prevailing setback based on the current circumstances.” Public records show that on May 2, the Beglaris obtained a permit to build a 7,000-sq.-ft. house and three-car garage at 921 Greentree. The plaintiffs are considering further legal action.
Young Palisadians
JASON B. SCHALL, son of Steve and Wendy Schall and a sophomore in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, was named to the dean’s list for the winter quarter of the 2005-06 academic year. Students on the dean’s list have attained a grade-point average of at least 3.70. Schall, a Palisades High School graduate, is majoring in history. TARA BRISCO, daughter of Linda and Len Brisco, was named to the dean’s list at the University of San Francisco. ANDREW PANKIN, son of Stuart and Joy Pankin, was named to the merit list at Kenyon College for the first semester of the 2005-2006 academic year. To be eligible for merit list recognition, a student must earn a grade-point average of at least 3.45 on the college’s 4-point grading scale. Pankin, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, was also a member of the chorus in the Kenyon College Dramatic Club production of “The Gospel at Colonus,” conceived and adapted by Lee Breuer, with music composed by Bob Telson, at Kenyon College’s Bolton Theater in Gambier, Ohio. The work was inspired by the story of the dying Oedipus, accursed king of Thebes in ancient Greek legend, as depicted in Sophocles’ trilogy, “Oedipus Rex,” “Oedipus at Colonus,” and “Antigone.” Breuer and Telson based their production primarily on the adaptation of the middle play by poet Robert Fitzgerald, incorporating passages from versions of the first and third plays by Dudley Fitts and Fitzgerald. But instead of a Greek chorus providing counterpoint and commentary to the action, there’s a preacher telling the story of Oedipus as a sermon, backed by a full-throated gospel choir and a six-piece jazz band. Director Jonathan Tazewell and set designer Hugh Lester also incorporate references to the devastation of New Orleans in this parable about life, death and redemption. Pankin is a graduate of Crossroads School. BERIT E. AUERBACH-LYNN and ALEXANDRA P. KALINOWKSI were named to the dean’s list at Boston University for the fall 2005 semester. NATHANIEL KLEIN, son of Sue and Irv Klein, was named to the dean’s list at Washington University in St. Louis for the fall 2005 semester. To be eligible for this recognition, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher, and be enrolled in at least 12 hours of graded course work. Nathaniel, a graduate of Windward School, is currently enrolled in the university’s John M. Olin School of Business. Marine Corps Cpl. RAUL A. VELASQUEZ, a 2004 graduate of Palisades Charter High School, was recently promoted to his current rank while serving with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, in Iwakuni, Japan. Velasquez was promoted on the basis of sustained superior job performance and proficiency in his designated specialty. Velasquez joined the Marine Corps in July 2004. DAVID WEINER-CRANE was named to the academic honor roll for the winter term at Northfield Mount Hermon School, an independent boarding school in Northfield, Massachusetts. He is currently in his junior year at the high school.
Upcoming Events
Third Annual Palisades Film Fest Begins Tonight The Palisades Film Festival opens tonight, May 11, and continues through Saturday, May 13 with a variety of screenings taking place at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Blvd. The opening night’s film, shown at 7:15 p.m., is the L.A. premiere of “Crossing Arizona,” Joseph Mathew’s gripping documentary about the tensions along the Mexican/American border. Focusing on personal stories of local people on both sides of the border, the film follows a dynamic array of individuals including Minutemen, Latino activists and the emigrants themselves. Also showing will be the short film “Intelligence” by director Allen Martinez. Opening-night festivities culminate at 9:30 p.m. at Chefmakers Cooking Academy, 862 Via de la Paz, where Dom DeLuise will be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by his longtime friend Burt Reynolds. Tickets to the opening-night party, including the screenings, are $50. The film-only price is $10. Another highlight is the screening of “Always Will” at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 13. Earlier this year the movie won the audience-favorite award at the International Family Film Festival. Written and directed by Michael Sammaciccia, “Always Will” centers on the tumultuous years of a high school adolescent who discovers a time capsule that allows him to achieve the kind of popularity that every teenager yearns for. Tickets are $5. For a complete list of screenings, go online to www.FriendsofFilm.com. Credit card reservations for all screening parties and packages can be made by calling the Theatre Palisades box office at 454-1970. Ann Taylor Fleming Explores the Ever-Fascinating Family Ann Taylor Fleming will sign her first novel, “As If Love Were Enough” on Thursday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Fleming is a television commentator and writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times and The New Yorker. Her two novellas, “Marriage: A Duet,” were published to critical acclaim, and an earlier nonfiction book, “Motherhood Deferred,” a woman’s journey, is a passionate and personal exploration of the generation of women who came of age during the women’s movement. Fleming, an on-camera essayist for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and a CNN NewsNight contributor, lives in Brentwood with her husband, Karl Fleming. Her novel tells the story of the intricate relationships of a family as its members grapple with love, loyalty and their meaning to one another. When Clare Layton’s actress mother abandons her husband and small daughters for her lover, Clare’s comfortable Hollywood family and lifestyle are shattered forever. But a reunion with her long-estranged sister, Louise, who hopes to enlist her aid to save her ailing teenage son, forces both women to come to terms with their childhood, family, and personal lives. Kehillat Lecture Aims on Fatherhood “Fatherhood” is the subject of a talk to be presented by Edward Dreyfus, Ph.D. at Kehillat Israel, 16019 Sunset Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15. Most fathers think of themselves merely as breadwinners in the family. At best, they become a “mother’s assistant” rather than recognize that their role is unique and as important as the mother’s role. As a result, children often suffer from what might be called “father-hunger.” This workshop will help you understand more fully your psychological role as a dad and how you can become more active in your child’s life. Contact: 459-2328. Author Thomas Perry To Speak at Library Thomas Perry, the author of many popular mysteries, will be speaking at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real Dr., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. His most current novel,”Nightline,” is the story of a woman who changes identities each time she commits a murder. Perry is a Los Angeles writer who has won an Edgar award from the Mystery Writers of American for his first crime novel. The program is sponsored by the Pacific Palisades Library Association. Contact: 459-2754. Malibu Garden Tour Set for May 20 The Malibu Garden Club will hold its 9th Annual Garden Tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. Featured this year will be some of Malibu’s most beautiful gardens hosted by docents and renowned landscape architects and designers at each location. Refreshments are included with the $25 tax-deductible donation. For tickets or for more information, go to www.malibugardenclub.com or call 455-1558. The Da Vinci Code Opens Discussion Palisadians Gerald McLaughlin and Sara Taft will discuss the Knights Templar and Mary Magdalene on the eve of the motion picture release of “The Da Vinci Code” on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room, 861 Alma Real. McLaughlin is dean emeritus and a professor of law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and is the author of “The Parchment.” Sara Taft is a local artist whose artwork entitled “A Legendary Biography of Mary Magdalene” is currently circulating. Some of her work will be displayed during the discussion.
Playing for Her Mother
For classical concert pianist Ritta Bardakjian, playing piano is a gift her parents gave her when she was just a child growing up in Kuwait in the 1970s. The gift originally came in the form of a piano that her parents shipped from England, where they traveled frequently on business. “I sat at the piano whenever I felt lost, lonely or sad,” says Bardakjian, a Pacific Palisades resident who earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from USC last May. The rich and soothing power of music has inspired Bardakjian throughout her life, and became particularly resonant last July, when her mother passed away. “I wanted to do something in my mom’s memory,” says Bardakjian, who organized a concert that will take place on May 20 at 7 p.m. at Pepperdine University’s Raitt Recital Hall. “I just know she would want me to continue to practice and perform.” Bardakjian’s program will include Beethoven’s Opus 13 (Path’tique), Chopin’s Sonata No. 2 (“Funeral March”) and Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes because her mother, Jackline, “adored Schumann.” Bardakjian, who is Armenian, grew up listening to Western as well as Eastern music. She started playing piano when she was about 5 years old and studied with a teacher from South America who was “very focused and intense.” As young Ritta developed her playing skills, the teacher advised her mother to send her outside Kuwait where she would have the opportunity to seriously pursue her talent. So, when Bardakjian was 13, she went off to a boarding school in Uppingham, outside London. Her choirmaster at the school encouraged her to audition for a conservatory in London and, two years later, she was training at the London School of Music, where William Lloyd Webber (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s father) was director. Bardakjian received her music degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and made her Canadian debut in 1981, performing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. In 1983, at age 20, she got the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall because the Armenian Ladies’ Guild was looking for Armenian talent and chose her to perform at an event. She says she wasn’t nervous because “when you’re young, you’re more gutsy. Egos don’t play as big a role.” It was a thrilling experience just knowing she was “touching the keys the greats have touched.” Bardakjian was accepted to The Julliard School and the Paris Conservatory on scholarships but declined them both to study with Hungarian pianist Georgy Sebok at the University of Indiana while working towards her master’s degree in music. Sebok “taught me that I had to use the piano as an instrument but not battle with it,” says Bardakjian, who has also studied with other renowned artists such as Polish pianist Marek Jablonski and American pianist Leon Fleischer and Kevin Fitz-Gerald. Currently, Bardakjian teaches piano to students as young as 5, though she says that children at that age have to be “exceptional” in their skills. Bardakjian has a 10-year-old daughter, Angelica, who studies piano and ballet. To inquire about lessons with Bardakjian, contact: 573-9622. For tickets to the Pepperdine concert, contact: 506-4522.
Woman’s Club Turns 80
It all started in 1925, three years after the official founding of Pacific Palisades, when 54 women met to discuss books and current events. Calling themselves “The Forum,” the group chose the California poppy as their flower, orange and green as their official colors, and “Let Something Good Be Said” as their motto. “This motto reminds us always of the far-reaching effect of our words,” one of the early members wrote. Scrapbooks filled with yellowed newsprint are all that survive of the early decades of the club, which changed its name to the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club in 1931, joining the federal and state federation of women’s clubs. Now in its 80th year, and carrying the distinction as the oldest club in Pacific Palisades, the Woman’s Club will host a celebratory open house at its clubhouse, 901 Haverford Ave., from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. Everyone in the community is invited. Membership has ebbed and flowed over the years, with the peak coming in 1952 when it climbed to 500 after two new divisions, junior and evening associates, were created. These days, while membership is a more modest 80, the activities of the club remain much the same, ranging from philanthropic projects to author teas, fashion shows, bridge luncheons, music recitals and topical lectures. The year 1942 was a pivotal one for the club, when the site of the future clubhouse was purchased for $301.10. The following year, members bought an additional one-half lot for $150. Construction and dedication of the clubhouse didn’t come until 1951 and since that time the sleek, modernist building has been remodeled and enlarged twice. While the clubhouse originally was built primarily for Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club functions, over the years it has become a meeting place on a community-wide scale. The club is approached on a regular basis with proposals from those who wish to purchase and develop the valuable land. “This is our clubhouse and we have every intention of keeping it that way,” says current president Jean Aroeste. “While we give money to over 25 charities each year, I think the biggest contribution we make to this community is maintaining the clubhouse and making it available to other groups. With a kitchen and stage, along with a public address system, it’s really the only fully equipped meeting place in town.” Dorothy Hill, at 95 still active in the club, joined in 1958 when her first son went off to college and she “didn’t have much do.” She remembers the days when shopping and preparing the luncheon were required. “We got smart and now have it catered,” she says. She points to membership numbers as one of the biggest changes she has witnessed over the years. Back in the 1960s, membership was over 250. “This is before Juniors changed the rules and became their own entity [the Pacific Palisades Junior Women’s Club],” Dorothy says. “It used to be that when Juniors reached 35, they would join our group. Now they can be a Junior until they’re 90.” Marion Marshall, who in 40 years as a member has held every board position including serving as president four times, agrees something was lost when the Juniors splintered off, but acknowledges how societal changes, particularly women entering the work force, have had an impact on the popularity of women’s clubs in general. Nonetheless, she’s quick to list the club’s many undertakings as evidence of continued vitality. “We still conduct a literature section four times a year, we sponsor a free flu clinic, we provide scholarships to students at Palisades High, and we have a wonderful annual fashion show.” Mary Dean, one of the younger members at 59, conducts free tai chi classes, open to the community, every Thursday morning throughout the year. Dean has organized a special exhibition of paintings by women artists in the community, including one of her own paintings, to coincide with the 80th anniversary. “These women are such an inspiration to me,” says Dean of her fellow members. She joined the group when she moved to the Palisades in 1974. “There has been such deep community involvement among them for so many years,” she adds. At 91, Phyllis Keely is one of the newest members, having joined only a couple years ago. For 50 years, she was busy operating her own business, “The Letter Shop,” on Via de la Paz. “We’re still plugging along, still playing bridge and having a lot of fun,” says the spry nonagenarian. She gets a big laugh from her gal pals when she adds “Getting older isn’t for wimps.” Regular club meetings with entertainment and lunch are held every second Tuesday and bridge luncheons every third Tuesday, from October through June. For membership information, contact Judy Grosh at 454-7144.
