Hagen Smith, son of beach volleyball legend Sinjin Smith, played in his first tournament last Sunday and, as his dad did so often on the pro tour, he won. Smith teamed with fellow Palisadian Brett Elder to win the boys’ under 10 division of the Amateur Athletic Union’s Tour Championship, held at the Hermosa Beach pier. Elder and Smith, who are classmates at Corpus Christi and won the PPBA Mustang World Series this spring as teammates on the Dodgers, earned their gold medals by beating the Manhattan Beach duo of Jack Smith and James Houston in the finals. Elder and Smith were among 11 local players to receive medals during the one-day event, the final stop on the AAU tour. The event was held in conjunction with the AVP Championships at neighboring Manhattan Beach. Hagen served 15 consecutive points in the third round. In the girls’ 12-and-under division, Palisadians Christine Irvin and Kate Sommer took the silver medal while fellow residents Lauren Waters and Lanti Moye-McLaren shared the bronze with Palisadian Katie Price and her partner, Samantha Joyce Coons of Los Angeles. Irvin, Price, Waters, and Moye-McLaren played together for Sunshine Volleyball Club’s Orange team while Coons and Sommer played for Sunshine’s Crimson squad, which took second place at the Junior Olympics in Salt Lake City. In the girls’ 17s, Palisadian Kelly Irvin captured the silver medal with partner Lauren Law of Manhattan Beach while the Palisades tandem of Meg Norton and Jillian McAndrews took the silver in the 14s. Local Madison McAndrews coupled with Erin Fitz of Mar Vista to earn the bronze in the girls’ 10s. Other playoff qualifiers from the Palisades included Christine Waters and Bridget Hearst in the girls’ under 15 division and Steven Irvin and Patrick Elder in the boys’ 14-and-under. * * * * At the annual Manhattan Beach legends dinner last Wednesday, beach volleyball hall of famers Sinjin and Randy Stoklos were on hand to see Palisadian Mike O’Hara honored along with his former playing partner, Mike Bright, and longtime player and local coach Gene Selznick.
Theatre Palisades Honors Actors, Directors, And Designers for 42nd Theatrical Season
A number of Palisades residents were honored at Theatre Palisades’ 42nd annual meeting and Awards Show. The big winner of the evening was Manfred Hofer, graphic designer at the Palisadian-Post, who received awards for best graphic design, featured actor for his role in “Inspecting Carol,” as well as the theatre’s Cristofer Cariello Award, for creative achievement. Others honored included Lee and Bill Minderhout, recipients of the theatre’s special Lelah T. Pierson Award; Julia Whitcombe for featured actress in “Moon Over Buffalo”; Martha Hunter for cameo role in “Inspecting Carol,” and Michael Macready, for director of “The Dining Room.” Andrew Frew , Bill Prachar and Joyce Gale Smith each won awards for lighting design, sound design and costume design, respectively, for “Anything Goes.” Awards were also given to Steve Larkin for lead actor in “The Dining Room”; Renee Travelli as lead actress in “Anything Goes”; Michael German for supporting actor in “Anything Goes”; Lara Doucette for supporting actress in “The Dining Room”; Steve Bevins for cameo actor in “Anything Goes,” and Cindy Dellinger as producer of “The Dining Room.”
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE AUGUST 25, 2005 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
HOMES FOR SALE 1
TOPANGA HOUSE for SALE. 3 miles fr. ocean. Investors/good rentals. 2 lots, land to expand. 3 stories, 2 bed, 2bath. Open house, Sat.-Sun., 2-6 p.m. $929,000. Call (310) 263-1944 or (626) 643-7556 NEW CUSTOM HOME in Pac Palisades. No expense spared! 4 bedroom+6 baths. Walk to Village, beach & schools. Mtn views. Offered at $3.15 million. Call (310) 482-2444UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
VIEW OF QUEEN’S NECKLACE. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, family room. Remodeled kitchen, new carpet. 1 year lease. $5,750/mo. Call Dave, (310) 497-2403 2 BEDROOM + 1 BATH. Walk to Village. $3,200/mo. Call (310) 454-5519 CANYON-VIEW HOME. 2 bed+1.75 bath. Private backyard. Beamed ceilings, freshly painted, new tile, all appliances. Attached 2-car garage. Pets OK. 1 yr lease. $3,400/mo. Avail 8/1. (310) 230-9479 HIGHLANDS HOME on GATED street. 4 bedroom+ 3.5 bath. Large family room opens to kitchen. Use of Summit Club, mountain & ocean vus. 1 year lease. $7,250/mo. Agent, (310) 230-2480 SPACIOUS HIGHLANDS Tri-Level. Views, tranquillity, 3 bed (or 2 plus den)+3.5 baths. Hardwood floors, French doors, tennis, pool. $3,200/mo. (310) 573-0465 SHORT-TERM RENTAL. 3 months maximum. 2 bedroom home near Palisades High School. $2,750/mo. Call (310) 455-1501 MARQUEZ KNOLLS. 4 BED+3.5 BA. Dining and family rooms, breakfast bar, office, pool, 2-car garage. Gardener & poolman included. $4,750/mo. Call (310) 454-0067FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b
FULLY FURNISHED 1 BED, 1 BATH. Sunset and PCH. Huge beach views. 9.5 acres, pool, tennis, etc. $2,800/mo. incl maid, utils. Details at www. csbcondo.com. (310) 663-5489 or (323) 497-1884UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
CARMEL in THE PALISADES. 2 bedroom, beautiful lot. Walk to village. $3,495/mo. Agent. Call Nancy, (310) 230-7305 GORGEOUS OCEAN VU on private drive. 2 bed+2 bath, fireplace, huge patio, totally updated. Great closet space & pool. $3,100/mo. Avail. 9/1. (310) 459-6369 LOVELY SENIOR BUILDING in Pac Palisades. Furn or unfurn. Clean and bright. 1 bed+1 bath. View of lake. Close to everywhere. $1,600/mo. Broker. (310) 456-8770RENTALS TO SHARE 3a
FABULOUS FURNISHED OFFICE to share at PCH & Sunset. Ocean views. 2 private offices (holds 2-3 people). Conference room, reception & common areas. Call (310) 230-6866WANTED TO RENT 3b
GARAGE STORAGE SPACE wanted in the Palisades for a car. The owner lives on Chautauqua & drives it twice per month. Please call (818) 557-0135 ROOM TO RENT wanted. Single professional man seeking quiet private room and bath. Call (310) 927-6500 SEEKING HOST FAMILY for 17-year-old Swiss boy for the 2005-06 school year. He speaks German, English & French. Has musical interests and does not drive. We are willing to pay room, board and a fee. Please call (310) 702-9007OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
PRIVATE OFFICE SPACE. Getaway with private bathroom & shower in Brentwood condo, located 1 block from Wilshire. Avail for use morning till 8 P.M. (13′ X 14′). Immediate occupancy. $950/mo. lease. Please call (818) 645-8632 or (818) 917-8598VACATION 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
SERIOUS ENTREPRENEURS. Learn to make your annual income a monthly income. Be your own boss. Home base. Have time freedom. (800) 230-6073. www.youdeserveprosperity.comLOST & FOUND 6a
LOST: ASSISTANCE DOG. Pit bull, approx 7/27/05, around north Santa Monica (Montana-Calif St.). Female, no collar, 2.5 years old. Her ears and tail not cropped. “Abby” has AVID micro-chip. If seen or knows about, please call Mary, (310) 422-5453BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
BOOKKEEPER. Need help with getting your books in order? Help is near! Call Joannie, (310) 486-1055COMPUTER 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.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 – Furniture – Antiques – Collectibles – Junque – Reliable professionals Local ReferencesORGANIZING SERVICES 7h
Never seem to be enough time or enough you? Call I NEED ANOTHER ME! We offer temporary project coordinating & assistance, both business & personal, relocation management, jobs big & small, too numerous to say here. When asked, “What all do you do?” I say, “What is it you need done?” Call for a free consultation: (310) 459-0418MISCELLANEOUS 7j
MESSENGER SERVICE/AIR COURIERS. Santa Monica Express, Inc. Since 1984. Guaranteed On-Time! Trucking & Freight Forwarding. Air Courier Door-to-Door Anywhere in the USA. Direct, Non-Stop Service Anywhere in CA. Same-Day Court Filings. Fully Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 24 hours/day, 7 days per week. (310) 458-6000. www.SMEXPRESS.com. PALISADIAN OWNED & MANAGEDNANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
PROFESSIONAL BABY NURSE is available for night shifts, to help families with newborns. Contact Ms. Dennis, (310) 226-7097 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) 801-8309HOUSEKEEPERS 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 EXPERIENCED HOUSE & APT Cleaner. I have good references and experience. Please call Victoria, (310) 836-4682 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE TUESDAYS. I have local references, a car, am reliable & do excellent cleaning. Call Anna, (323) 233-1699, or (323) 229-2011, cell OUR honest, kind & dependable HOUSEKEEPER/ NANNY is available Tuesday & Thursday. Our children adore her. Please call Ana, (310) 230-4234 EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPER AVAIL. I am reliable, responsible and hard-working. Great service at a great price. Great references. Call Mariat at (323) 620-1501 cell or (323) 227-5204 P/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE. I am moving to Santa Barbara and my housekeeper is staying local. She is an immaculate, professional, honest, loyal, mature woman who takes pride in her work. Please no snobs. Has other Palisades clients. Please call me for details. (310) 230-7863 DO you NEED HELP with everyday chores? I can walk dogs, cook, after-school housesitter, weekends. Over 20 years experience. I have refs. Call Ruth, (310) 429-2459 or (818) 757-3976 P/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE, Thursday & Sunday. Own transportation, reliable, neat and has local references. Please call Carol, (323) 299-1797 CAPABLE, MATURE, BROTHER and/or sister can: cook (nutritious), groceries, drive, tutor, computers, do laundry, repairs, coordinate other services. Bilingual. (310) 218-6653 or (310) 459-2066ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
CAREGIVERS/COMPANIONS: Live-in or out, minimum 2 years experience and 3 work-related references required. Driving preferred. CNA’s/CHHA’s welcome. Bondable. (323) 692-3692GARDENING, 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 ERIC LANDSCAPING & GARDEN MAINTENANCE. We’ll make your garden dreams come true. Over 15 yrs local experience. References. Call Eric at (310) 396-8218 GARCIA GARDENING SERVICES. Landscaping, maintenance, planting, sprinkler systems and clean-ups. Call Efren, (818) 881-8523, or cell, (310) 733-7414BRUSHCLEARING 11a
GREAT GRAZING GOATS!! (310) 573-0124MOVING & 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
NO STREAK WINDOW cleaning service. Fast and friendly. Quality service you can count on. Free estimates. Lic. #122194-49. Please call (323) 632-7207MISCELLANEOUS 13i
PRESSURE WASHING. Driveways, patios, walk-ways, garages, dirt, oil, rust, paint and moss removal. Concrete, brick, natural stone. Clear and colored-stain sealers. Craig, (310) 459-9000 REFRIDG-A-CARE. Pull out vacuum dust from behind & under refrigerator. Runs more efficiently, cooler, less energy consumption. Less wear & tear on your refrigeration cooling system. Owen Cruickshank, (310) 459-5485COOKING/GOURMET 14a
SHEILA’S KITCHEN. Personal CHEF, catering at your home. Call (310) 270-6761 or (818) 728-0801PET 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.FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
NORDIC WALKING. Nordic Walking burns up to 46% more calories than regular walking and is excellent for weight loss. Perfect for all ages. Makes a great gift and get the 1st instructional DVD in the U.S. for only $29.50! Personal Training walking classes and Nordic walking poles avail. Check at www.nordicwalkingonline.com or call (310) 573-9000SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d
SWIM LESSONS. Local instructor w/ over 14 years experience. Red-Cross Certified. Children, Mommy & Me and adults. Private and semi-private lessons at your home. Call Brian, (310) 505-9231TUTORS 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 SPANISH TUTOR. All grade levels, conversational & all ages. Local refs, flexible hours. Please call Noelle at (310) 273-3593 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 INNOVATIVE TUTORING. Math, Reading, Creative Writing. Including reluctant readers and learning differences. Experienced Public School Teacher and Tutor. Grades 1-5. Joanie, (310) 204-0935 THE WRITING COACH: Summertime Application Prep Intensives for next year’s graduating high school/middle school students. Private school application essays. College application essays. SAT/ISEE ESSAYS. 5 individual sessions (flexible scheduling/ your home). Extensive experience, success stories, acceptances. MA, Johns Hopkins; former LA private school teacher and Hopkins CTY instructor; writer/ consultant. Outstanding Palisades/Malibu references. (310) 528-6437 SCIENCE & MATH-Get A Head Start! B.S. Biochemistry, SUNY Stony Brook, M.A. Columbia University, Teacher’s College. Certified New York (Westchester) public school teacher, now teaching in LA! Prefer students 7th grade to college. I live in Brentwood, but prefer to tutor at your home. Practice tests available! SAT II subject test coaching! Academic progress monitoring & notebook organization! Alex Van Name, (310) 442-1093 (hm) or (914) 837-0569 (cell) 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 assessing the student’s needs, developing an individualized education program and implementation of that program. Pacific Palisades resident. (310) 230-9890 LA TUTORING. Private tutors specializing in all subjects and all grade levels, AP assessments, SAT, college placement. We come to you. Contact for a free consultation: (310) 663-2441 or go to www.latutoring.com CHEMISTRY & MATH GURU. Recent college graduate with tons of energy and enthusiasm. He will help students conquer fears to excel. Call Edward, (310) 991-3783CABINET 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 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.comCONSTRUCTION 16d
PARADISE CONSTRUCTION Building Contractor – All Trades – Lic. #808600. Call (310) 383-1659 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 – 1 (877) 360-6470 Toll-Free. Local References Avail. Lic. #375858 HOWESWORKS, General Contractor. Improve – Build – Install – Repair. Professional Reliable Service. Happiness Guaranteed. Lic. #858904. Daniel Howe, (310) 877-5577 ALAN PINE GENERAL CONTRACTORS. Additions, remodels, plans. Local. (310) 457-5655ELECTRICAL 16h
PALISADES ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437. Insured. Professional Service ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. All Phases and General Repairs. 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 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 WILSON HARDWOOD FLOORS. Complete installation, refinish and re-coat. Fully insured. License #380380. Ask for Kevin Wilson, (310) 478-7988HANDYMAN 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 PETERPAN – Quality Home Repair -Serving Entire Westside. (Not lic.) Ask for Peter, (310) 663-3633 THE HANDY GUY. Any job, big or small. Over 15 years experience. Free estimates. Lic. #B-858574. Call (310) 216-9034HEATING & 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 – 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 MASTERPIECE PAINTING & DECOR – Stenciling/Faux/Plaster effects – License #543487 MFA ’84 – Bill Lundby, (310) 459-7362 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 GreekPLUMBING 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) 827-4040REMODELING 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
R.E. INVESTMENT Partner sought for arch developments. Custom residences, proj by proj., local & dev. of vacation homes. Princ only. (No brokers, lenders, etc.) $1.0 MM, 2 yrs. Active participation, financial qualifying docs req’d. Great R.o.I. (25%+). Call (310) 454-0685, lv msg SEEKING Full-Time HOUSEKEEPER. Monday thru Friday. Must have experience, speak English and have local references. Will pay top dollar!! Please call (310) 454-3659 RETAIL SALES, PT/FT (incl. Sat). Montana Ave. upscale women’s specialty store seeks confident, motivated and energetic sales professional w/ an ability to develop a clientele. Previous exp preferred but not req. We train. Fax or email resume to Weathervaneii@aol.com or fax (310) 393-2077 P/T RECEPTIONIST & KENNEL help needed. Must work weekends. Hours are flexible. Apply at Blue Cross Pet Hospital @ 15239 La Cruz Drive. No phone calls please. Sales: MC/VISA REPS. Wkly Pay/Mo. Residuals/Highest Commissions. Woodland Hills, CA. Call Edward, (818) 992-4894 PALISADES Professional firm seeks F/T RECEPTIONIST/Director of First Impressions. Must be detail-oriented; prior Accts. Receivable experience helpful; some seasonal overtime. Good salary, plus health insurance; 401K and flex-time. Please fax resume to (310) 313-0242 BABYSITTER/TUTOR WANTED. Palisades family looking for a responsible college student for daily week-day babysitting and tutoring for two 8-year-old boys. Hours vary, but will average 3-5 hrs/day (afternoon to early evening). Must have reliable car and local references. (310) 573-1291 LOCAL DRY-CLEANERS looking for counterperson. No experience OK. We’ll train you. Part or full-time available. Please call (310) 454-7244 P/T ART TEACHER NEEDED for grades TK-2 for Fall, 2005. Salary $12K. Fax resume (310) 230-9268 or e-mail LGlick@CalvaryChristian.org. LIVE-OUT NANNY/housekeeper wanted. Mon. through Fri., 1:00-8:00 p.m. Must drive, be great with kids & speak English. Must have experience, local references. Call (310) 387-7722SITUATIONS WANTED 17a
PERSONAL ASSISTANT/NOTARY Public avail. Let me help you run your life more smoothly. I’m proficient in bookkeeping, clerical duties, event coordination, mailing/research. Honest, reliable, discrete, local. Excellent refs. Patti, (310) 720-8004AUTOS 18b
1969 CORVETTE C-3 COUPE. 350 C.i.d. 480+ HP new, fully-rebuilt, by Phil Cocuzza ($15K). New interior, new suspension, tires, rims, sweet. Loaded, great car. Blk/blk, orig. paint, total 39K miles. $35K Firm. Call (310) 454-0685 SUZUKI HAYABUSA 2003 Motorcycle. Like NEW. Garage kept. Only 1,283 miles. $5,000 obo. E-mail me at: mhilr509@aol.com CASH FOR YOUR CARS. Foreign or domestic. Running or not. We come to you. We handle all paperwork. Friendly, professional buyer. Please call (310) 995-5898 2005 LEXUS ES330. Green, 530 miles. Brand new condition. $31K (incl. tax). OR assume lease, $380 x 48 months+$300. (310) 454-7380FURNITURE 18c
MINT CONDITION. Double-Pedestal dining table, VENECIA by Stanley with 8 chairs, including 2 armchairs. $4,200 obo. Call (310) 871-7916 CONTEMPORARY TECHLINE COMPUTER desk. 65″ w x 30″ d. White, with separate shelf & drawer units. Purchased at Functions in Santa Monica. Mint condition. $750. Can e-mail photo. (310) 459-2482GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
ANTIQUES, COLLECTORS, EVERYBODY. Fridge, paintings, collectibles, crystal, silver, BBQ, tapes, CDs, new dishwasher, bunkbeds, linens, china, quilts. Fri.-Sun, 8/27-8/29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 767 Haverford MOVE-OUT SALE. SAT. 8/27, 8 A.M. to 3 P.M and SUN. 8/28, 9 A.M.-12 P.M. Electronics, software, desks, furniture, music, Barbies, toys, clothes, books, etc. 16769 Livorno, off Sunset, past Marquez. MULTI-FAMILY SALE. Household items, adult’s & kid’s clothes, toys, furniture, appliances & more. FRI.-SAT. 8/26-8/27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 613 Swarthmore.WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.comWashington Mutual Bank Robbed by Lone Gunman
A takeover robbery occurred at Washington Mutual Bank, corner of Sunset and La Cruz, on Monday evening, shortly before closing. It was the fifth bank robbery in Pacific Palisades this year, following two at Bank of America, one at Citibank and one at First Federal. Police said that a single suspect, described as a white male in his 60s, entered the bank with a handgun at approximately 5:35 p.m. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of money and left what appeared to be an explosive device in the shape of a pipe bomb. The employees were evacuated, the area was sealed off for public safety, and the LAPD bomb squad responded with a remote-controlled robot used to handle and move suspicious devices. Morgan Genser, a freelance photographer, was watching from Sunset when the robot entered the bank. “I heard the police shout, ‘Fire in the hole!’ and then there was an explosion,” he said. “I was standing 150 feet away and it was still pretty loud.” LAPD Senior Lead Officer Chris Ragsdale, who was on duty and one of the first policemen to arrive at the scene, said he believed it was not a charged device. He explained that in such situations, “the bomb squad detonates [the device] with a secondary device in a protected zone. It is then taken into custody as evidence and for further examination.” According to FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller, the suspect was about 6 ft. or taller, unshaven, with gray hair and a slim build. He was wearing a straw hat, dark pants and a plaid shirt. Eimiller added that the unidentified suspect is known as the “Armed Old-Man” bandit, and is “a bandit that we believe has robbed at least six banks,” including one in Glendale on August 17. A police report confirmed that the suspect has been connected to three robberies, two in the San Fernando Valley and one in Glendale. Meanwhile, a July 15 Los Angeles Times article referred to a “Senior Citizen Bandit” believed to have been responsible for three Orange County bank robberies, and questioned “whether there’s any chance under the warm California sun that he’s James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, a crime figure legend in Boston and on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List.” The suspect responsible for Monday’s robbery “victimized multiple tellers and asked for large bills,” Eimiller said, describing what is known as a takeover robbery. “He also threatened to detonate the device.” In addition to officers from the bomb squad, 16 uniformed patrol officers and a patrol supervisor responded to the scene, as well as detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division and Criminal Conspiracy Division and special agents from the FBI. Sunset was closed off in both directions from Carey to Swarthmore. Ragsdale was at Chautauqua and Sunset when he received the call about the robbery, and responded in just under a minute. “The [bank] employees were across the street by the pharmacy [Pharmaca],” said Ragsdale, who put out a request for eight units (16 officers). “Not far from [the employees] was a pile of money dumped by the suspect, still smoldering with the red dye.” A dye pack is a tool often used by banks because it explodes over the stolen money, thus making it unusable by the robber. The Robbery Homicide Division and the FBI are handling the investigation. Washington Mutual opened and was fully functioning at 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
Palisadians Support Sheehan on the Green
NIKILA SRI-KUMAR Palisadian-Post Intern More than 200 people gathered on the Village Green last Wednesday evening in a vigil to support Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a marine who lost his life in Iraq. Sheehan had been camping outside President Bush’s Crawford, Texas, ranch for more than two weeks in an unsuccessful effort to meet with him and discuss the Iraqi war. Supporters stood on the edge of Sunset Boulevard with candles and signs with slogans like “Vietnam 2, Relive the Tragedy,” “Question Motivation, Explore Alternative Solutions” and “Honor Casey [Sheehan’s son] by Bringing the Troops Home.” As cars driving by honked constantly’in support and dissent’the people at the vigil sang songs for peace as author Jose-Luis Orozco strummed a guitar. “Somebody has finally broken through to the mainstream media,” said Pacific Palisades resident Karen Fairbank, “and that’s why we’re all out to support her.” “I want the White House to know that the number of people who are against this war is growing fast,” said Gary Nash, emeritus professor of history at UCLA. “It’s time to end it. This was a war fought on lies and deception. The Mexican-American War was also fought on a tissue of lies, and it was called Mr. Polk’s war. This is Mr. Bush’s war.” There were hopes for another vigil of its kind soon. “I think if we repeat this, twice as many people will come,” Nash said. Meanwhile, Palisadians Maria Kelly and Carol Sanborn flew to Texas the next day to join the protest set up by Sheehan at “Camp Casey.” “We left early Thursday morning and arrived late afternoon in Crawford,” Sanborn told the Palisadian-Post. “We went straight to Camp Casey and arrived as Cindy Sheehan was leaving.”(Sheehan had to return to the San Fransisco Bay area to take care of her mother, who had suffered a stroke.) As Kelly and Sandborn drove down Prairie Chapel Road., where the president’s ranch is located, the first thing they saw were the 1,800 white crosses put up around Camp Casey. The crosses had been mowed down by someone driving a tractor, but volunteers set them all back up again. “There was a large bedsheet hanging that said ‘Camp Casey,’ and there were satellite trucks and tarps and tents pitched all around it,” Sanborn said. “There were people there from all different peace groups.” A number of cars were parked along the road, most of them personalized with pictures, paintings or signs. “One car jumped out at me because it had the birth date written on it,” Sanborn said. “The year was 1986, which is the same year my daughter was born, so I just thought ‘This could be my child.'” People at the campsite were warm and friendly, Sanborn said. “It was hardly like a protest. The atmosphere was very calm and welcoming.” At an interfaith prayer service, she and Kelly met soldiers’ parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers who had traveled from all over the country to Crawford. “I talked to one man whose 18-year-old son was killed 12 days before he was scheduled to come home,” Sanborn said. “There were many people there sharing their stories of their relatives in Iraq.” Hundreds of volunteers in Crawford were constantly directing traffic, bringing people water, or making food, Sanborn said. “A lot of people think that the protest failed because Cindy Sheehan had to go home to care for her mother [without meeting the president], but they are wrong. The volunteers there are so inspirational; they have kept it going.” Sanborn and Kelly stayed in a motel in Waco, Texas, that night, and returned to Camp Casey the next morning. Sanborn remembered going past the white building called the “Peace House” in Camp Casey, and hearing someone driving by yell “Go home!” to a volunteer. “The volunteer just said, ‘I am home. Home is where the heart is,’ and it was very moving. The entire experience was very moving.”
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE AUGUST 18, 2005 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
HOMES FOR SALE 1
This PALISADES HIGHLANDS TOWNHOME feels like a home with an open floorplan, with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, A/C, 2-car garage, pool/spa & tennis. $875,000. Broker, (310) 459-7653 TOPANGA HOUSE for SALE. 3 miles fr. ocean. Investors/good rentals. 2 lots, land to expand. 3 stories, 2 bed, 2bath. Open house, Sat.-Sun., 2-6 p.m. $929,000. Call (310) 263-1944 or (626) 643-7556
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
VIEW OF QUEEN’S NECKLACE. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, family room. Remodeled kitchen, new carpet. 1 year lease. $5,750/mo. Call Dave, (310) 497-2403 2 BEDROOM + 1 BATH. Walk to Village. $3,200/mo. Call (310) 454-5519 CANYON-VIEW HOME. 2 bed+1.75 bath. Private backyard. Beamed ceilings, freshly painted, new tile, all appliances. Attached 2-car garage. Pets OK. 1 yr lease. $3,400/mo. Avail 8/1. (310) 230-9479 MALIBU POINT DUME home for lease. 4 bedroom+ 2 bath. Acre fenced yard. Available Sept 1. Open beams, tile floors. $4,100/mo. (310) 454-8927 HIGHLANDS HOME on GATED street. 4 bedroom+ 3.5 bath. Large family room opens to kitchen. Use of Summit Club, mountain & ocean vus. 1 year lease. $7,250/mo. Agent, (310) 230-2480 SPACIOUS HIGHLANDS Tri-Level. Views, tranquillity, 3 bed (or 2 plus den)+3.5 baths. Hardwood floors, French doors, tennis, pool. $3,200/mo. (310) 573-0465 SHORT-TERM RENTAL. 3 months maximum. 2 bedroom home near Palisades High School. $2,750/mo. Call (310) 455-1501
FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b
OCEAN VIEW CONDO. 1 bedroom + 1 bath. Remodeled kitchen, great view, nicely furnished, incl utilities. Edgewater Towers. $2,950/mo. Agent, (310) 255-3458
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
CARMEL in THE PALISADES. 2 bedroom, beautiful lot. Walk to village. $3,495/mo. Agent. Call Nancy, (310) 230-7305 GORGEOUS OCEAN VU on private drive. 2 bed+2 bath, fireplace, huge patio, totally updated. Great closet space & pool. $3,100/mo. Avail. 9/1. (310) 459-6369 MALIBU BEACHFRONT APT for lease. This is a cozy 1 bedroom+1 bath on the best beach in Malibu. Great location. $3,200/mo. Min. 6-month lease but can negotiate. Call (310) 230-9980 or cell (310) 948-6236
RENTALS TO SHARE 3a
FABULOUS FURNISHED OFFICE to share at PCH & Sunset. Ocean views. 2 private offices (holds 2-3 people). Conference room, reception & common areas. Call (310) 230-6866
WANTED TO RENT 3b
GARAGE STORAGE SPACE wanted in the Palisades for a car. The owner lives on Chautauqua & drives it twice per month. Please call (818) 557-0135
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
MALIBU PLAZA, INC. Prime commercial space in a landmark Malibu bldg. Up to 5,900 sq ft with spectacular views of Malibu pier and Surfrider Beach. Available October 1, 2005. For info and showing, call Bldg Mgmt, (310) 456-9095
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
LOST & FOUND 6a
LOST: ASSISTANCE DOG. Pit bull, approx 7/27/05, around north Santa Monica (Montana-Calif St.). Female, no collar, 2.5 years old. Her ears and tail not cropped. “Abby” has AVID micro-chip. If seen or knows about, please call Mary, (310) 422-5453 FOUND: single PIERCED EARRING on Swarthmore in front of Sav-On Drugs last Wed or Thurs near parking meters. Tagged with hand-made ticket. Call to ID. Kathy, (310) 454-1321
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
Never seem to be enough time or enough you? Call I NEED ANOTHER ME! We offer temporary project coordinating & assistance, both business & personal, relocation management, jobs big & small, too numerous to say here. When asked, “What all do you do?” I say, “What is it you need done?” Call for a free consultation: (310) 459-0418
MISCELLANEOUS 7j
MESSENGER SERVICE/AIR COURIERS. Santa Monica Express, Inc. Since 1984. Guaranteed On-Time! Trucking & Freight Forwarding. Air Courier Door-to-Door Anywhere in the USA. Direct, Non-Stop Service Anywhere in CA. Same-Day Court Filings. Fully Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 24 hours/day, 7 days per week. (310) 458-6000. www.SMEXPRESS.com. PALISADIAN OWNED & MANAGED
NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
PROFESSIONAL BABY NURSE is available for night shifts, to help families with newborns. Contact Ms. Dennis, (310) 226-7097 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
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
“PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.” We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419 F/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Mon-Fri. Has her own car, good references and speaks English. Call Imelda or Carolina, (323) 752-7589 or (323) 758-1902 EXPERIENCED HOUSE & APT Cleaner. I have good references and experience. Please call Victoria, (310) 836-4682 P/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE 1-3 days per week. Lives in Huntington for 20 years. Excellent references. Call (310) 459-8250 HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE TUESDAYS. I have local references, a car, am reliable & do excellent cleaning. Call Anna, (323) 233-1699, or (323) 229-2011, cell F/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experience, has references and transportation. Call (310) 450-4809
ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a
WOMAN NEEDED to HELP a partially handicapped lady with her daily exercises & housework, 5 days per week for a FAMILY of TWO. Prefer you to live-in. Must be able to drive OUR car. No children or pets. Malibu area. Salary is open. Call (310) 457-3393 CAREGIVERS/COMPANIONS: Live-in or out, minimum 2 years experience and 3 work-related references required. Driving preferred. CNA’s/CHHA’s welcome. Bondable. (323) 692-3692 CAREGIVER NEEDED for OLDER lady. Evenings from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M. Good food preparation is important. Call (310) 454-9467
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 ERIC LANDSCAPING & GARDEN MAINTENANCE. We’ll make your garden dreams come true. Over 15 yrs local experience. References. Call Eric at (310) 396-8218 GARCIA GARDENING SERVICES. Landscaping, maintenance, planting, sprinkler systems and clean-ups. Call Efren, (818) 881-8523, or cell, (310) 733-7414
BRUSHCLEARING 11a
GREAT GRAZING GOATS!! (310) 573-0124
MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. 14″ van & dollies. Small jobs to 2 bedrooms. Hauls it all. California/Nevada. Over 12 years. Westside experience. (310) 285-8688
WINDOW WASHING 13h
NO STREAK WINDOW cleaning service. Fast and friendly. Quality service you can count on. Free estimates. Lic. #122194-49. Please call (323) 632-7207
MISCELLANEOUS 13i
PRESSURE WASHING. Driveways, patios, walk-ways, garages, dirt, oil, rust, paint and moss removal. Concrete, brick, natural stone. Clear and colored-stain sealers. Craig, (310) 459-9000 REFRIDG-A-CARE. Pull out vacuum dust from behind & under refrigerator. Runs more efficiently, cooler, less energy consumption. Less wear & tear on your refrigeration cooling system. Owen Cruickshank, (310) 459-5485
COOKING/GOURMET 14a
SHEILA’S KITCHEN. Personal CHEF, catering at your home. Call (310) 270-6761 or (818) 728-0801
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. SPECIALTY PET CARE. Birds, Reptiles, Aquatic, Exotic. We specialize in animal environments, cages, ponds, water features, R/O. water filtration, dog runs/doors, dog walking/adventures, pet access., pet travel local/interstate, help with CITIES. Insured. (310) 230-7960
FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
NORDIC WALKING. Nordic Walking burns up to 46% more calories than regular walking and is excellent for weight loss. Perfect for all ages. Makes a great gift and get the 1st instructional DVD in the U.S. for only $29.50! Personal Training walking classes and Nordic walking poles avail. Check at www.nordicwalkingonline.com or call (310) 573-9000
SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d
SWIM LESSONS. Local instructor w/ over 14 years experience. Red-Cross Certified. Children, Mommy & Me and adults. Private and semi-private lessons at your home. Call Brian, (310) 505-9231
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 SPANISH TUTOR. All grade levels, conversational & all ages. Local refs, flexible hours. Please call Noelle at (310) 273-3593 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 INNOVATIVE TUTORING. Math, Reading, Creative Writing. Including reluctant readers and learning differences. Experienced Public School Teacher and Tutor. Grades 1-5. Joanie, (310) 204-0935 THE WRITING COACH: Summertime Application Prep Intensives for next year’s graduating high school/middle school students. Private school application essays. College application essays. SAT/ISEE ESSAYS. 5 individual sessions (flexible scheduling/ your home). Extensive experience, success stories, acceptances. MA, Johns Hopkins; former LA private school teacher and Hopkins CTY instructor; writer/ consultant. Outstanding Palisades/Malibu references. (310) 528-6437 SCIENCE & MATH-Get A Head Start! B.S. Biochemistry, SUNY Stony Brook, M.A. Columbia University, Teacher’s College. Certified New York (Westchester) public school teacher, now teaching in LA! Prefer students 7th grade to college. I live in Brentwood, but prefer to tutor at your home. Practice tests available! SAT II subject test coaching! Academic progress monitoring & notebook organization! Alex Van Name, (310) 442-1093 (hm) or (914) 837-0569 (cell) 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 assessing the student’s needs, developing an individualized education program and implementation of that program. Pacific Palisades resident. (310) 230-9890
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
CONSTRUCTION 16d
PARADISE CONSTRUCTION Building Contractor – All Trades – Lic. #808600. Call (310) 383-1659 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 – 1 (877) 360-6470 Toll-Free. Local References Avail. Lic. #375858 HOWESWORKS, General Contractor. Improve – Build – Install – Repair. Professional Reliable Service. Happiness Guaranteed. Lic. #858904. Daniel Howe, (310) 877-5577
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. All Phases and General Repairs. 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 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 WILSON HARDWOOD FLOORS. Complete installation, refinish and re-coat. Fully insured. License #380380. Ask for Kevin Wilson, (310) 478-7988
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 PETERPAN – Quality Home Repair -Serving Entire Westside. (Not lic.) Ask for Peter, (310) 663-3633 THE HANDY GUY. Any job, big or small. Over 15 years experience. Free estimates. Lic. #B-858574. Call (310) 216-9034
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16o
SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686
PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16q
PAUL HORST – Interior & Exterior – PAINTING – 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 MASTERPIECE PAINTING & DECOR – Stenciling/Faux/Plaster effects – License #543487 MFA ’84 – Bill Lundby, (310) 459-7362 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
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
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
HELP WANTED 17
R.E. INVESTMENT Partner sought for arch developments. Custom residences, proj by proj., local & dev. of vacation homes. Princ only. (No brokers, lenders, etc.) $1.0 MM, 2 yrs. Active participation, financial qualifying docs req’d. Great R.o.I. (25%+). Call (310) 454-0685, lv msg SEEKING Full-Time HOUSEKEEPER. Monday thru Friday. Must have experience, speak English and have local references. Will pay top dollar!! Please call (310) 454-3659 RETAIL SALES, PT/FT (incl. Sat). Montana Ave. upscale women’s specialty store seeks confident, motivated and energetic sales professional w/ an ability to develop a clientele. Previous exp preferred but not req. We train. Fax or email resume to Weathervaneii@aol.com or fax (310) 393-2077 CREATIVE, ENERGETIC SALESPERSON needed in fine stationery/gift-store. Full-time. Weekends a must! Call (310) 573-9905 P/T RECEPTIONIST & KENNEL help needed. Must work weekends. Hours are flexible. Apply at Blue Cross Pet Hospital @ 15239 La Cruz Drive. No phone calls please. Sales: MC/VISA REPS. Wkly Pay/Mo. Residuals/Highest Commissions. Woodland Hills, CA. Call Edward, (818) 992-4894 PALISADES Professional firm seeks F/T RECEPTIONIST/Director of First Impressions. Must be detail-oriented; prior Accts. Receivable experience helpful; some seasonal overtime. Good salary, plus health insurance; 401K and flex-time. Please fax resume to (310) 313-0242 PUBLIC WORKS LABORER, TEMPORARY-MALIBU/AGOURA. Exam Number: C-5922-U. Salary: $2,158.36-$2,681.91. Immediate openings with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works open for filing August 16, 2005 through September 12, 2005. No training or experience required. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment and must have a California Class “C” Driver License. This position performs a variety of arduous manual labor tasks. Current vacancies are in Malibu, West Los Angeles, Lawndale, Lomita and Agoura areas. Interested individuals should submit a completed application to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, 900 South Fremont Avenue, Ground Level, Alhambra, CA 91803-1331. Applications may be obtained at http://dhr.lacounty.info. For more information, please visit us at http://ladpw.org or call (626) 458-2141.
AUTOS 18b
1969 CORVETTE C-3 COUPE. 350 C.i.d. 480+ HP new, fully-rebuilt, by Phil Cocuzza ($15K). New interior, new suspension, tires, rims, sweet. Loaded, great car. Blk/blk, orig. paint, total 39K miles. $35K Firm. Call (310) 454-0685 SUZUKI HAYABUSA 2003 Motorcycle. Like NEW. Garage kept. Only 1,283 miles. $5,000 obo. E-mail me at: mhilr509@aol.com CASH FOR YOUR CARS. Foreign or domestic. Running or not. We come to you. We handle all paperwork. Friendly, professional buyer. Please call (310) 995-5898
FURNITURE 18c
TWO BEAUTIFUL BABY Cribs. Wonderful condition. Must see. $150/each. Please call (310) 454-1878 MINT CONDITION. Double-Pedestal dining table, VENECIA by Stanley with 8 chairs, including 2 armchairs. $4,200 obo. Call (310) 871-7916 ONE of a KIND FURNITURE. Beautiful antique armoires, Ralph Lauren bookcases (3), Shabby Chic love-sofa. By appt only. Call (310) 459-3692
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
2 FAMILY GARAGE Sale. Lots of goodies, household items, clothes, misc. Check it out! SAT. Aug. 20, 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. 935 Chautauqua Blvd. Leaving LA! 42-YEAR MOVING SALE. Furniture/furnishings/dressers/cabinets/mirrors/lamps/crystal/china/TV/CD/VCR/tools/books/linens/plants. Wonderful water colors by Calif artist. Great prices! 1039 Las Pulgas (Sunset/Bienveneda). FRI.-SAT., Aug 19-20; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. GREAT GARAGE SALE. SAT. 8/20, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. 800 Napoli Drive. No early birds! GREAT ESTATE SALE! Antiques, Furniture, etc. 17091 Palisades Circle. SAT. 8/20, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. PALISADES GARAGE SALE. SAT. 8/20. Starts 8 a.m. 1075 Villa Grove. Furniture, electronics, lawn mowers, patio furn, clothes, toys, heat lamp, mattresses, bedding, etc. YARD/GARAGE SALE. SAT. Aug. 20, 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. 1400 Longworth Drive, Brentwood. Nice furniture, rugs, patio furniture, bikes, toys, books, kid’s and adult’s clothes, portable grill/cooler. MOVING-ALL MUST GO! Furn, antiques, TV, decorative, dresser, bkcases, iron daybed, media cabinet, old Pepsi cooler. SAT. 8/20, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 1423 Harvard St., Santa Monica.
MISCELLANEOUS 18g
VIKING PROFESSIONAL GAS range. Current top-of-the-line model (VGRC485-6QDWH) lists new for over $6,500. Asking $4,250. White finish, 48″ wide, 6-burners, 12″ wide char-grill, double ovens. Used, but in excellent condition. Perfect for high-end remodel or gourmet kitchen. (310) 207-0085
WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.com
Jack Hirshleifer, 79; Prominent Economist, 45-Year Palisadian
Jack Hirshleifer, a prominent economist who had lived in Pacific Palisades since 1960, died on July 26 after a year-long battle with prostate cancer. He was 79. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 26, 1925, Jack was the son of Rose and Herman Hirshleifer, who owned Hirshleifer’s women’s apparel store in Brooklyn and later in Forest Hills. He attended Erasmus High, where he was elected class president and met his wife of 59 years, Phyllis Zimmerman. As a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve, Hirshleifer served on active duty during World War II as a radar officer on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hancock, which was situated off the coast of Japan at the time of the Japanese surrender. After his discharge, he received from Harvard University a B.S. degree in 1945 and a Ph.D. in economics in 1950. He was employed as an economist at The Rand Corporation in Santa Monica from 1949 to 1955. Thereafter he was a professor of economics at the University of Chicago from 1955 to 1960, and at UCLA until his “retirement” in 2001. He spent one sabbatical year at a research center in Palo Alto, and another at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium. As a professor emeritus he continued an active research program, and continued to interact with many colleagues in different departments at UCLA. Hirshleifer was an economic theorist with broad-ranging interests. He made fundamental contributions to the theory of interest and capital, was considered to be one of the founding fathers of information economics; more recently he had expanded the scope of economic analysis with his work on bioeconomics and conflict. He authored seven books and over 70 significant articles, a number of which have become classics in economic theory. His books have been internationally influential and translated into many languages. In 2000, Hirshleifer was elected a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association, one of the highest honors accorded to economic scholars. In tribute to his admission, the American Economic Review noted that “[f]rom among the many different approaches taken by economists, Hirshleifer’s stands out as a most noble path, to be admired and appreciated even by those who follow other roads. He is a true intellectual’full of bright-eyed curiosity, voracious to learn and understand, and without even a touch of snobbishness or pedantry. Above all, he is a meticulous scholar and true scientist, who believes that both science and words matter. Ideas must be carried to their logical conclusion, and words must be carefully chosen to express those ideas’.Jack Hirshleifer’s low-key manner, brilliant insight, and attention to detail mark him as a worthy addition to the company of Distinguished Fellows.” Jack was kind, loving and generous, had a quick wit and delightful sense of humor, and was a devoted family man. He took great pleasure in family activities, whether it was playing catch in the front yard, sharing amusing conversation during a dinner out, or admiring scenic drives through the towns and countryside of Europe. On an almost nightly basis he could be seen taking his evening walk along Sunset Boulevard, with or without the family German shepherd. In addition to his wife Phyllis, he is survived by sons John and David; daughters-in-law Linda and Siew Hong; and grandchildren Daniel, Rachel and Michael. He was also close to the New York branch of the Hirshleifer family. He was preceded in death two years earlier by his beloved younger brother, Paul. Jack leaves behind countless friends, colleagues, students and former students.
Ann Wright, 81; Community Builder and Inveterate Learner
A resident of Pacific Palisades for 55 years, Ann McCoy Wright died peacefully at home with her family on August 13. She was 81. Ann was born September 16, 1923 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the eldest of four children of John Martin and Anne Brown McCoy. As a child, Ann enjoyed an extended Irish family of McCoys, Browns, Geohegans, McCarthys and Parkers. Following graduation from Marblehead High, she entered Radcliffe College and was one of the first women to attend engineering classes at all-male Harvard. In October 1944, shortly after receiving her physics degree, Ann accepted a position as junior engineer at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. As one of a very few female engineers, Ann had her choice of many suitors. In October 1945, she married fellow engineer Fred A. Wright. A year later their first son, William, was born. Soon after, the young family followed their dream of living on a farm, moving to Northridge in the San Fernando Valley. Their second son, John, was born in 1948. The valley proved too hot and dusty for the woman from Marblehead, so the Wrights purchased land overlooking the Pacific Ocean above the Bel-Air Bay Club in 1949 and built what was to become their home of 55 years. Their third son, Robert, was born in 1952, and the family settled into their cozy rural neighborhood in the hillside bowl over the ocean. Though Ann’s career as an engineer was put on hold following the birth of her first son, she found an intellectual outlet in her boys’ schooling. For many of their class projects, she became library researcher, editor and typist. It was during this time that the children came to better understand their mother’s heritage. For, though she had lost her strange “Boston” accent in everyday English, it surfaced when she tried to help them with French pronunciation. She sounded just like President Kennedy. As the boys began leaving home for college in the 1960s, Ann returned to college to study computer programming. This led to work at The Rand Corporation. Later, Ann began a long “career” as a volunteer bookkeeper at the Palisades Letter Shop. In the late ’60s, Ann grew increasingly concerned about the accelerating development of the Palisades and began a long-time commitment to the Pacific Palisades Civic League. She worked tirelessly on zoning and CC&R issues in her immediate neighborhood. Ann was also active for years in the Pacific Palisades Historical Society and Library Association. After her husband Fred retired from Douglas, the couple frequently traveled to their cabin in southwestern Washington state. There in Deep River, they developed close ties with their middle son’s in-laws. Ann also traveled frequently to San Diego and Fairbanks, Alaska, for special events in the lives of her children and grandchildren. When Fred was slowed by illness in 2001, Ann cared for him in their home. Their travel became limited to walks in their immediate neighborhood, allowing them to maintain ties with old neighbors and initiate friendships with the new families moving in. With her incredible memory and insatiable thirst for information, Ann was the neighborhood’s data bank for historic and current events. Ann is survived by her husband of 60 years, Fred; sons William (wife Susie), John (wife Kathleen) and Robert “Rusty” (Susan); grandchildren Amy Roach, Morgan Wright, and Maia, Katrina, and Grant Wright; her brother John McCoy and sister Marjorie Doherty; and nieces and nephews from California to Massachusetts. Friends are encouraged to join the family to share memories of Ann at the Wright home, 230 Arno Way, on Sunday, August 21, from noon to 3 p.m. Donations in Ann’s memory may be made to the Pacific Palisades Historical Society, P.O. Box 1299 Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 and the Pacific Palisades Library Association, P.O. Box 1370, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
Knowing When to Fold ‘Em
Q &A with Palisades’ Poker Champ Chris Ferguson
In person, Chris Ferguson looks like a slim, young college professor. His famous poker-playing pictures, on the other hand, present a different image: one of him in a dark cowboy hat and Oakley sunglasses. The 42-year-old Palisadian, nicknamed “Jesus” because of his super-long hair and gentle manners, is reputed to be one of the nicest guys in poker. He is also one of the pickiest. He plays only the most select tournaments but, more often than not, he wins big. PokerPages.com rates Chris Ferguson the seventh highest money-maker on the poker circuit. He has won $3 million over the past five years and is proud owner of five championship bracelets in the World Series of Poker. Palisadian-Post contributor Nancy Myers caught up to Ferguson this spring and conducted the following interview: NM: How did you get started playing poker? CF: I grew up in the Palisades. My father taught Game Theory at UCLA and my mother is a mathematician. My dad used to bring home games for me and my older brother to play and analyze. I’d walk to Marquez Elementary School, meet my friends in what was called the “art alley” behind rooms 2, 4 and 6, and play cards. Games were a way of life for me. I had a knack for remembering cards and figuring out odds. By the time I was 10, I could beat my brother’s friends at poker. That was quite a thrill for a younger sibling. When I attended Palisades High there was a regular group of about 20 players and we’d get together on weekends. I’d tell my parents I was babysitting because I was making about the same money I would have made doing that. NM: How did your expertise evolve over time? CF: I learned by playing against the best players I could find. That meant I had to come up with money to get into the most expensive games I could afford. I thought the cheaper tables would be a waste of my time. I felt they didn’t attract serious players because there wasn’t much money to lose. It turned out to be true. So I played in the $200-$300 tournaments because even the average player took the game more seriously when he had money to lose. It wasn’t about gambling. It was about playing the best I could play. As my winnings grew, I started playing the $10,000 buy-in tournaments. NM: Growing up, did you play other sports or games? CF: I played a lot of basketball and baseball at Paul Revere and PaliHi. I also loved Othello; it’s a board game with black and white chips on a grid. My brother and I created a computer program for playing Othello. We actually programmed the computer to play and then it showed us how to play the game better. So we taught the computer more, it showed us more, and so on. NM: Is that when you began your interest in computers? CF: Actually, I learned to play poker online in 1989. I went into a chat room and played poker for pretend money. It was a lot of fun. In fact, I spent a lot of my college time here. I graduated from UCLA with a degree in math/computer science, then earned a Ph.D. in computer science with an emphasis on artificial intelligence. Now, I own a computer software business called Tiltware, which makes software for poker. The outcome is FullTiltPoker.com, a poker-playing Web site. NM: At what point did you realize poker might become your main career? CF: I decided I wanted to become a great poker player in 1994. It never occurred to me I would become a professional. I loved the game and knew I was talented. My goal was to learn how to play poker, not to make a living at it. I didn’t do it to look cool or be able to sleep in late. NM: Do you ever gamble on anything besides poker? CF: Not really. I don’t play in cash games either. I prefer tournaments because there’s a goal in mind’to win. It doesn’t get monotonous because as the money builds, the cost to stay in the game increases. This changes the strategy and helps keep me interested. NM: What does your family think? CF: I have a very close relationship with my family. My parents think I should do something more valuable with my time, but they have pretty much given up. My brother engineered the sounds for FullTiltPoker.com, so I think he approves. I don’t have a wife to approve because I am not married, although some day I would like to be married. Currently, I am traveling way too much. NM: What do your colleagues think? CF: My colleagues are fellow poker players. We all work together at FullTiltPoker.com. We went online May 2004, and are doing fantastically well. We have made three television commercials for the site. I star in one. NM: How has Internet poker changed the game? CF: In a casino, you’re lucky to play 50 hands an hour whereas online you can play 300 hands an hour. There’s more opportunity to practice. When you play at a table it can be slow. It’s very hard to play tight and fold a lot of the time, but you should. It gets boring, so sometimes players go out on a limb and risk too much. Online poker is faster and you can play more than one game on your computer monitor at a time. You don’t have to go out on a limb. If you fold one hand, perhaps another in another game will hold your interest. NM: You’ve obviously got a very memorable image with the hat, sunglasses, long hair and nickname. How much do you think that image has helped make you one of the best-known and most marketable players? CF: It was a conscious decision; the cowboy hat, sunglasses and long hair. When I started playing in 1994 I didn’t want to look like a college student. I never thought I’d be a celebrity, but taking the costume off allows me to walk around the Palisades without a lot of recognition. NM: Did you have to work on developing a poker face? CF: I don’t think my personality changes when I play. I’m an aggressive player and naturally sneaky; but away from the table I’m laid back and approachable. NM: What’s the best strategy to use in terms of managing a career in poker? CF: Build a bank roll by flipping hamburgers. Use money you know you can reproduce, like money from a regular job. If you lose it you can always work and make it up. Play at lower stakes until you’re ready to up the ante. A great way to learn is to play online because you can play more. NM: How is your math background essential to your success? CF: It’s my strong suit. The hardest part is concentrating at the table. It can get tedious. At the World Series, I have to play every day for 30 days straight, four to 12 hours a day. It’s exhausting. Sometimes, early in the tournament I don’t concentrate very much. I play easy to conserve strength. NM: How much of poker is luck? CF: The longer you play, the less luck is a factor. A single hand of poker is about 99 percent luck. After eight hours of playing, it is about 88 percent luck. Over a year, it is 10 percent luck. And, over a lifetime, perhaps only one percent is luck. NM: Do you study your opponents? What books or course of study do you recommend? CF: Absolutely. It is essential to understand your opponents. With the large numbers of players competing now, many are new to the scene. So I have to pay more attention and make quicker judgments about my new opponents. I think the best book ever written about poker is David Sklansky’s, “A hold’em for the Advanced Player.” My father’s class at UCLA teaches critical thinking along with game theory. It is not specific to poker, but it is helpful. NM: Can you name the worst thing about being a poker professional? CF: Traveling. I’m really a homebody and love flicking the remote from the couch. I used to only play tournaments in Los Angeles and the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Lately, I’ve added tournaments in Ireland, Aruba, Costa Rica, Monte Carlo, on a Caribbean cruise, a Mexican cruise, in New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, San Jose and Reno. NM: What would you like to see changed about the way poker is shown on television? CF: Nothing. I’m so happy. If you asked me two to three years ago, I’d have said we needed to clean up the public’s perception about poker. Good poker takes incredible skill. I think that’s what shows on television today. The best players really do get to the top. NM: Does it concern you that many poker players go broke? CF: You can be a great poker player but not a successful one if you don’t manage your money properly. On this subject, I’d like to share a little story. Over the holidays I was at my parents’ house and my mom sent me to Gelson’s to buy some yogurt, cereal and bananas. I forgot my wallet so I asked the manager to hold my selections while I drove home. He told me to hurry because the store was about to close. I decided to dig for loose change in my car, and I returned to the store with a pile of change. Turns out, I didn’t have enough for all three items. By the time I left, customers were looking at me strangely. So I’d like to inform all Palisadian-Post readers that I’m not broke from playing poker, I just left my wallet at home.
Our Lessons Come From Unforeseen Teachers
Theater Review
There are lessons to be learned all around in Wendy Graf’s play of the same name presented by the West Coast Jewish Theatre and the Group at Strasberg at the Lee Strasberg Institute through August 27. And perhaps the biggest lesson is for Ruth (Mare Winningham), the Rabbi, whose study and knowledge of the Torah have prepared her for a life of teaching and guidance, but who forsakes that calling through crisis of faith. A great and sorrowful tragedy has crippled her with guilt and numbed her to the greatest lesson of life’the healing that love teaches. Ruth is hired by Ben, a secular Jew, to teach him Hebrew in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. She agrees, reluctantly, but adamantly rejects Ben’s hope that she prepare him for the hallowed ceremony that marks the transitional phase into Jewish adulthood. Remote, sleepless and living on coffee and cigarettes, which she hides hither and yon around the apartment in a wan attempt to quit, Ruth gradually gives into Ben’s ebullient and loving self-confidence. The play, tightly controlled by director Adam Davidson, unfolds in a series a vignettes, like too many sitcom breaks, which is an unfortunate structure, no doubt attributable to Graf’s many years as a television writer. As their relationship deepens into a friendship, Ruth and Ben become comfortable in their gentle repartee, lightened by Ben’s joy and deepened by Ruth’s credible scholarship. Graf, a Palisades resident, portrays Ruth and conveys the Jewish teachings with respect and seriousness. As a non-Jew, I liked learning about the significance of the Torah passage and was quite moved by the simultaneous recitation of the Kaddish, in Hebrew and English. Certainly the strength of this play lies in the work of Mare Winningham (“St. Elmo’s Fire”) and Hal Linden (“Barney Miller”). Both accomplished actors, these two have created characters who find a place of reference in all of us. Produced by Gail Katz (“The Perfect Storm,” “The Agency”), “Lessons” is the second in Graf’s trilogy exploring Jewish philosophy. Her first play “The Book of Esther” premiered in 2001 at Theater East. The West Coast Jewish Theatre is devoted to the quality production of dramatic and comedic plays, musical theatre, revues and special performance that portray Jewish history, philosophy and culture. “Lessons” plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Lee Strasberg Institute’s Marilyn Monroe Theatre, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets, call (323) 650-7777.
