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Will Rogers Would Be Proud

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Defying gravity with deft footwork and careful twirls, one of the country's top trick ropers, Felix Lopez, awes spectators at the Will Rogers Jubilee sponsored by California State Parks.
Defying gravity with deft footwork and careful twirls, one of the country’s top trick ropers, Felix Lopez, awes spectators at the Will Rogers Jubilee sponsored by California State Parks.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Will Rogers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you get run over if you just sit there.” You get the feeling the Jubilee this past weekend had exactly the right tone and spirit that Will Rogers State Historic Park deserves: it’s back on the right track. In old photos of the Will Rogers ranch, there was always a horse in the shot. Rogers’ favorite animal was the horse, and his favorite horse was called Soapsuds. In the past few years, even the boarding of horses at the Park has been suspended. It’s been a sad absence. Saturday was different. There were 45-minute horseback rides, pony rides, horses doing tricks and even a farrier demonstrating the art of blacksmithing. At the riding arena, which is the dirt oval above the green lawn, special stands had been set up for the large crowd of spectators to view the various acts. Will Rogers impersonator Robert Basgall rode into the arena, welcomed the crowd and acted as emcee for the program. Ambassador to State Parks June Lockhart arrived riding in a horse-drawn wagon. “Our dream is that this place will become as beloved by you as it was by his family 75 years ago,” Lockhart said. “Next year the restoration of the ranch house will be complete and we’ll have a dedication then.” “We’re proud of what the state is doing here,” Will Rogers’ grandson Chuck Rogers said. “Grandpa would’ve wanted to see people use the park and enjoy it.” After introductions, Patty Mayer of Culver City, dressed in a black jacket, top hat and white gloves, rode into the arena on her 1,650-pound Dutch Warmblood horse, Exakt. She explained and demonstrated to the crowd the steps, the skips, the canter and the trot the horse is required to do for Olympic dressage. The skill of Exakt, the U.S. Freestyle Champ, became more evident once Mayer invited five children out into the arena to mimic the horse’s steps, including skipping two, flying change, and skipping two. Striding out like he was at the OK Corral was gun spinner Joey Dillon, dressed in a black cowboy outfit, his spurs jangling. He demonstrated the gun technique that the greats used in all the Western movies and television shows, including forward spins and backward spins with both right and left hands. Dillon explained that he learned to twirl play guns while watching Westerns with his dad. As a child, Dillon wanted to learn a particularly difficult skill, which involves throwing the gun from behind over the shoulder as it twirled. The problem was the possibility of hitting his head with the gun. “The neighbors were probably amused watching the small boy on the front lawn, dressed in flip-flops, shorts, with a helmet on his head, throwing a gun over his shoulder,” Dillon said. Riding a horse and stopping in front of the crowd, Ramon Becerra jumped off, gave an order, and the horse lay down. One spectator in a surprised voice said, “The horse did that just like a dog.” Becerra then called for his other horse to come into the arena. When that horse was next to him, he mounted it, then had it step carefully over the first horse, so there was a horse above the one lying on the ground. Eventually, he had both horses lie on the ground as he did roping tricks while standing on them. Felix Lopez of Whittier, who is considered one of the best ropers in the world, awed the crowd with his demonstration. He teaches team members of the Broken Horn Ropers, which is a culturally diverse and multi-generational group. They’ve been featured in the Rose Parade as well as other venues throughout Southern California. “Skills that are common on ranches throughout the middle of the United States are a novelty to city kids,” said Tom Mahar, the official roper for Will Rogers State Park. “There are two kinds of roping, there’s cattle roping and then there’s trick roping.” He explained that the rope is stiff, and keeping the loop in a circle is based on centrifugal force. As he easily moved the rope back and forth on either side, doing a “butterfly,” he said, “The rope gets kinks, so you’re basically getting the kink out; it goes back in and you get it out.” Practice steers had been set up on the lawn below the arena, and members of the Broken Horn Roping club were giving tips and showing people how to lasso the steers. In one case, a dad was trying to lasso his son. Mahar saw a 1921 Will Rogers movie, “The Roping Fool,” at the ranch house 25 years ago, and was so inspired that he took up roping. “Tricks take a long time to learn,” he said, smiling, and added, “Forever. To learn the butterfly or merry-go-round, just one trick, can take from six weeks to six months of practicing.” Visitors to the park got to admire the skill of numerous other roping artists, including Pat Puckett Riata, Cattle Cutting All-Stars and the Dave Thornbury Trick Roping Show. “Wish they had money to do this more often,” Mahar said. “They should have this every weekend.” He looked around at the large crowd on the lawn listening to the Drew Davis Band sing “All Right Now.” Across the lane, farrier Jon Childs demonstrated how blacksmiths heat metal and shape shoes over hot coals. He explained that modern-day blacksmiths use propane now instead of coal to heat the metal. Horses need to be reshod every six to eight weeks. Childs explained that farriers remove and replace the shoes on horses, blacksmiths make the shoes. Will Rogers impersonator Basgall, after emceeing the program at the riding arena, walked among the crowd, answering questions and playing the perfect host at his adopted home. He was a Fox television and kids club host in the San Jose area, when the Western Stage Repertory Company told him a year ahead of time that they’d like him to play Will Rogers in “Will Rogers Follies.” When he asked why they were asking him a year ahead of time, they explained, “You need to learn how to rope.” “It became addictive,” Basgall said. “I started roping seven days a week, seven hours a day. I lost 25 pounds learning to rope.” He explained that more than playing the part of Will Rogers, it’s learning the philosophy. “Everyone who’s done the role’it’s changed them and how they see life.” He said the beauty of Will Rogers was that his humor would cause a person in the audience sitting next to the other person to say, “You know he’s right about that.” As if to make Basgall’s point, he steers you to Rogers’ quote: “There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.” Basgall, after being smitten with the beauty of Will Rogers’ life and philosophy, started his own company, Wild West Performers. When he was contacted to work the Jubilee, he was ecstatic. “This was my goal: to come here and walk through these doors,” he said. “Then I could die today happy.” He donated his fee for the Jubilee back to the park, as well as the fee for some of the performers he had brought. As the nearly perfect day came to a close, Walter Gray with California State Parks, reflected, “It was a very mellow event, a perfect family audience,” he said. “It mirrors the kind of programs we’d like to see on a regular basis.”

California Court of Appeal Upholds Viewsite Protection in Marquez Knolls

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Marquez Knolls homeowners received encouraging news on July 20 when the California Court of Appeal affirmed their right to prevent home expansions that unreasonably obstruct views. The appeal involved a room addition by Marquez Knolls residents Lloyd McAdams and Heather Baines that partially obstructed the ocean view of their Turquesa Lane neighbors, John and Jalene Zabrucky. The court’s decision overturned a lower court action in 2001 in which Superior Court Judge Patricia Collins found that the Marquez Knolls’ Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) reference to “structures” included fences, hedges and landscaping and not to the main dwelling. Not satisfied with the lower court decision, the Zabruckys appealed to the appellate court and hired Don Franzen, a Palisades resident who specializes in business, real estate and entertainment law, to represent them. The court ruled 2 to 1 that the restrictive clause of the CC&Rs “prohibits the erection of any structures which obstruct views on an adjoining property.” The majority opinion took special note of the importance and value of ocean views in Pacific Palisades: “The prime thing the Marquez Knolls development sold its prospective homeowners was a beautiful ocean view. In fact, like most such housing, much of the value of any property within the development depends on the quality of the view. To significantly obstruct any homeowner’s view of the Pacific Ocean is to depreciate the economic worth of their property.” Franzen said, “The decision of the panel’that structures include room expansions’seems like common sense, but to reach this decision the court had to consider and harmonize three other decisions, each involving different facts and slightly different CC&Rs.” The first case, in 1971, involved the addition of a “rumpus room” that blocked an adjacent homeowner’s view. The appellate court found that the language of those CC&Rs (“No…structure shall be…erected…upon any lot in such location or in such height as to unreasonably obstruct the view of any other lot”) prohibited building the rumpus room. A decision in another case 10 years later, however, limited the CC&R language to landscaping elements: “No hedge or hedgerow, or wall or fence or other structure shall be planted, erected, located or maintained upon any lot in such location or in such height as to unreasonably obstruct the view from any other lot or lots on said tract. A third case, decided in 1979, involved a pine tree that had grown to the point of blocking a neighbor’s view. The court affirmed a trial-court decision limiting the height of the pine tree to one story, thus setting a precedent allowing the trial court to order tree heights shortened to protect ocean views. While the Zabrucky case upholds Marquez homeowners’ right to prevent new construction that unreasonably obstructs views, questions still remain, according to Marquez homeowner Bill Fado, who established the CC&R Review Committee in 1995 to help mediate view controversies. “Each case is unique and each depends strictly and solely on topography of the view and the lot in question,” said Fado, who has helped 150 homeowners resolve view issues without going to court. There are 1,200 homes in the Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association (MKPOA). Pleased with the court outcome, Fado nevertheless offered a cautionary note. Noting that the court supports the validity of the CCRs, he lamented the need to take the issue to court in the first place. “What if you don’t have the money to sue somebody?” he asked. Fado told the Palisadian-Post that in the last year, the CC&R Review Committee had suspended operations because the homeowners’ association had been sued as a consequence of another disputed viewsite between neighbors. Although the homeowner ultimately dropped the suit against MKPOA, the organization has been left to consider its vulnerability to lawsuits. “The issue is that currently our insurance carrier has taken the position that its policy excludes activities of the CC&R Review Committee, and even with a new policy, we don’t know if we would be completely indemnified,” Fado said. “Let’s say we go another year, someone sues us, the amount of time we have to spend to defend ourselves leaves you wondering if it’s worth it.” Fado said that the board has clocked about 600 volunteer hours so far in research and depositions related to the lawsuit. “Can the board expose its volunteer members and the MKPOA to another future lawsuit?” he asked. Even though all applicable CC&Rs will continue to be enforceable, Fado said that the suspension of the Review Committee is unfortunate. “What it has taken away from the community is a tragedy because the Review Committee eliminated a lot of aggravation.”

Cingular to Move Cell Site

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Neighbors in the 300 block of Mount Holyoke were cheered this week to hear that Cingular Wireless is pursuing alternate locations for the antennas that the company erected on their street near the Via de las Olas bluffs two months ago. In a letter addressed to Cris Armenta, attorney for homeowner Jim Holcomb, Cingular’s Martha Ventura, executive director of network operations, said that “when we are able to secure an alternate location, we will dismantle the existing installation and relocate it to the new site.” The equipment, installed in early June, consists of various transporters, fuse and electrical boxes with vertical antennas hanging on an outrigger high on an existing telephone pole. In a Joint Point Agreement, cellular companies can piggyback onto an existing telephone pole in an administrative procedure that provides no regulatory restraints. Mount Holyoke neighbors, worried that the construction would set a precedent for cell phone companies to place future installations in neighborhoods without regard to aesthetics, appealed to City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski and the Palisades Community Council. Cingular’s Ventura recognized their strong concerns, which prompted the company to pursue other sites, with no specific date set for dismantling the equipment. “Presently, the cell site is not ‘on-air’ and we will give you at least seven days’ notice before it is fully operational,” Ventura wrote. “When we are able to secure an alternative location, we will dismantle the existing installation and relocated it to the new site.” Ventura went on to say that she thought “finding a replacement site may not be an easy task. Besides finding a willing landlord, Cingular will need to obtain appropriate government approvals. “This effort may take several months.” Taking the company at its word, attorney Armenta told the Palisadian-Post that her client was willing to forestall further litigation. “We fully anticipate that Cingular will honor its commitment and conduct itself like a corporate citizen and neighbor to this community.” Her client Jim Holcomb, whose property and that of his neighbor Andy Dintenfass abut the cellular facility, was pleased with the outcome. “We’re delighted that Cingular has heard our pleas and is planning to relocate their wireless facility,” Holcomb said. “I really do think it could have had a serious impact on the neighborhood.” Holcomb, who rented his house for six years before buying in January 2005, said that he loves the community. Originally from Dallas, he told the Post that “the Palisades reminds me of University Park in Dallas; it’s an upscale neighborhood with a small-town feel.”

Christa Meola’s Bambino Photos Focuses on Babies and Children

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NIKILA SRI-KUMAR Palisadian-Post Intern Photographer Christa Meola, who specializes in pictures of babies and families, opened her new business Bambino Photos on August 1. She officially closed her old business, CLM Photography, on the same day. “A baby goes through a wonderful range of emotions in just one minute, and they’re completely unselfconscious,” Meola said as she explained why she switched exclusively to photographing children. “While children a little older are a bit self-conscious in an adorable way, once you start having fun they completely open up and share their joy with you. I couldn’t image a photo subject that’s more fulfilling,” Meola’s new company, named for her Italian heritage and its focus on babies, offers on-location baby, child, family and pregnancy photography, custom portraits, framing, albums and announcements. Her mission is to capture the joy of family, all the emotions of parenting, the fun of being a kid, and the wonder of a newborn. “I shoot intimate portraits that capture emotion and tell a story,” Meola said, “And with babies, I shoot all the little parts that are so dear’the tiny toes, the chubby thighs, the cute little bum.” Meola, who grew up in New Jersey before moving to California in 1993, gained her special interest in photography when she was six years old. “I asked my parents for a camera for Christmas that year, and they gave me this professional Canon SLR camera. I had my own darkroom by the time I was eight, and I have been photographing ever since. My favorite subject was my little brother, who was two at the time, so it’s no wonder that I’m happiest shooting babies and kids.” Meola attended UC San Diego where she worked as a university photographer and shot pictures for the college newspaper. “I worked in advertising in San Francisco for three years after college,” she said. “Friends kept asking me to shoot portraits, and I was doing that so often that I just realized, ‘This is what I should be doing,’ so I started making a business in 2000 by shooting actors and professional portraits.” Meola has a studio in her home on the Westside, but is looking for a storefront in Pacific Palisades or Santa Monica. “I just need to find the right space,” she said. “It needs to have good light.” However, Meola prefers on-location photography. “I think that people are too stiff and uncomfortable in a studio. I prefer taking pictures of kids or families in their homes or at the beach, somewhere they are comfortable. I focus on the love between family and the joy of childhood or pregnancy. “I focus on what’s fun, humorous and joyful in each child and each moment,” Meola continued. “I frame shots so they are classic and artistic yet informal and unexpected. The final portraits are more of a photo essay on a day in the life of a family, or a mom’s busy day with her new baby, rather than a formal studio portrait.” Bambino Photos is also involved with a number of children’s charities both in Pacific Palisades and greater Los Angeles. Meola donates her photography service to help raise funds for organizations such as Lifesteps Foundation and Zeitgeist Community Learning Center, which was founded by Palisadians Jake Phillips and Jennifer Welsh. Meola’s portrait packages start at $195. Tips on how to photograph your baby and children can be found on her Web site at www.bambinophotos.com or by calling 383-6494.

Palisadian 8-Year-Old Sends Joy to Sri Lanka Children

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By NATALIE NELSON Special to the Palisadian-Post It is almost impossible to imagine the scene of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia last December 26. The chaos that unfolded was inconceivable, and the rebuilding projects are still in the beginning stages, seven months later. After learning about the orphans, the homeless and the unemployed people who were greatly affected by the tsunami, 8-year-old Jade Brenner-Katz knew that she needed to do her part. “I’m lucky to have a great life and I want to help kids who don’t have as much as I do,” Jade said. She wanted to send toys, stuffed animals and clothes to the children who had to go through this traumatic experience, hoping to bring a little light into their lives and let them know that she cared.’ Jade’s mother, Lauren Brenner-Katz, searched for ways in which Jade could get these items overseas and to those who lived in an area that needed a great amount of aid. Jade wanted to make sure that what she sent actually reached children in need rather than be lost in storage or barred from entering the country. As Lauren’s search continued for several months, she met Dr. Martina Fuchs, a pediatrician who had already traveled to Sri Lanka once to help the victims deal with their experience and with their health problems.’Lauren and Dr. Fuchs met through a Buddhist meeting, and Dr. Fuchs agreed to bring the collected items and personally hand them out to children in need. ‘ Jade wanted to collect as much as she could for Dr. Fuchs, so Lauren sent out notices through her homeschooling community. Dr. Fuchs took the 300 collected stuffed animals, toys and clothing from Jade, and packed them into five suitcases to take with her to Sri Lanka. But she was told she was allowed to bring only four suitcases, and would have to leave one behind, or put it into storage.’Dr. Fuchs was determined to get everything that Jade gave her through, and told the Singapore Airlines workers that she would not leave the United States without the extra luggage.’Her intention was so clear that they allowed her the extra bag, and she was able to bring every toy with her. Once Dr. Fuchs arrived in Sri Lanka, she joined with fellow unpaid volunteers from countries such as England, Australia and Germany to set up a children’s clinic within a week. As a doctor with a Ph.D. in pediatric psychiatry, Dr. Fuchs gathered children who needed medical attention or help dealing with their experience, and had them draw pictures of what they saw the day the tsunami hit.’Many children gathered and created their own interpretation of what occurred, and in return, Dr. Fuchs handed out the toys, clothes, and stuffed animals from Jade. Once she did this, Dr. Fuchs saw children smiling and playing for the first time since her arrival. She saw the effect that a young girl with a big idea had and the impact it created. Dr. Fuchs made sure that the pink Converse tennis shoes that Jade had so graciously given away with the pile of goods reached a young girl in great need. Jade wanted to adopt a child to whom she could send money and toys to every month, and Dr. Fuchs found a young girl for her: Nimasha Madhuwanthi. The 3-year-old, who lives with four siblings and her two parents, lost her home and most of her belongings in the tsunami. Now Jade is excited and focused on sending over toys and clothing to her “little sister.” Jade, her sister older Hana, and their mother have joined Dr. Fuchs’ organization, the Real Medicine Foundation.’Jade is the youngest member of the Real Medicine volunteer team, and also a junior volunteer at the animal rescue organization Bichons and Buddies. She continues using her creativity to raise money for Real Medicine. Cash donations can be made through the Real Medicine Foundation Web site: www.realmedicinefoundation.org

Golden Couples of Pacific Palisades

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1946: Millie and Joey Baker

Millie and Joey Baker will celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary on October 21, 2005. Both were living on the West side of Los Angeles before they met. Millie Lubin and her mother Lena had moved from Memphis, Tennessee, when Millie was still in high school. Joey grew up in Pasadena, but had spent his summers in Venice, California, with an aunt. He went into the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. They met through B’nai B’rith youth organizations. She was president of the Santa Monica women’s chapter, he the men’s. It wasn’t love at first sight. “I wasn’t impressed,” Millie says. “He had on a monkey suit (a navy uniform) and I was wearing a leather jacket.” “I took a look at her in that jacket,” Joey says. “And wondered, ‘Where’s your motorcycle?'” As fate would have it, she didn’t have a car, so whenever the organization needed representatives at other chapters, he would give her a ride. As they got to know each other, things changed. Millie says, “When you open a box and go farther down you see a lot of good.” Millie invited Joey to her brother’s wedding in Lexington, Kentucky, so that he could meet her family. Airplane travel wasn’t the norm then, so Joey was set to drive her mom, his mom, her sister and a nephew to the wedding. He called Millie, who was already in Memphis and asked if she’d marry him. Millie handed the phone to her brother Dr. Milton Lubin and he told Joey that Millie would marry him. “The next thing I knew I was engaged,” Millie says. By the time the car arrived in Memphis, Joey’s and Millie’s wedding was all arranged. They would be married in Louisville on Monday, since all the relatives were already together for her brother’s Sunday wedding in Lexington. Millie admits she didn’t know Joey too well before they were married. Her brother asked, “Did he go to college?” She answered, “I don’t know.” Her sister asked, “Are you getting a ring?” She said truthfully, “I don’t know.” “When we were married, her uncles were taking bets,” says Joey. “They said it wouldn’t last a year.” Millie did get a ring. When Joey left the service, he had $2,000 and spent half of it on the ring. Even today Millie enthusiastically says, “It’s magnificent!” The 19 year-old Millie Lubin and the just 25-year-old Joey Baker were married on October 21, 1946. They took the other thousand dollars he had saved and went on a six-week driving honeymoon, visiting relatives and seeing sights like the Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns. “When we got back,” Joey says, “we were broke.” Joey got some money from the GI Bill and bought a little property in Venice. It had two small houses on it. He had his office in the front of the house, and they lived in rooms in the back, including a bedroom, living room, kitchen and bath. He rented out a house in the back for $25 a month. On their little back porch, they kept their icebox, until Joey’s mother bought them a refrigerator. Joey, who had taken his realtor exam two weeks before he left the service, became so successful in real estate, he was known as the “The Broker of Venice.” They have three children. Norm worked as a lifeguard before he was thrown from a three-wheeler and became paralyzed on one side. Through grit and determination, he didn’t allow it to interfere with life. He also works in real estate. A daughter Jan is a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, and another son Don is one of the largest commercial developers of real estate in Tucson. They have two grandchildren. The Bakers are reflective as they talk about how their marriage has thrived. Millie says, “It’s not that it wasn’t bumpy sometimes, but if you love each other you marry for good or bad.” “Just try,” Joey says. “Tell your wife ‘I love you’ and ‘Yes, dear’ and you’ll make it through.” Their children planned a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for them, including an exact replica of their original wedding cake. Joey was resplendent in a tux, with a red vest and red cummerbund. Millie surprised everyone when she came down the aisle in a long white wedding dress, the dress she didn’t have in 1946. “I went to Santa Monica and had the best time buying it,” she says. “All the young girls trying on gowns got a kick out of it; so did the rabbi when he saw me.” Joey thoughtfully says, “I guess we’ll celebrate when we get to our 60th.” Millie says, “We’ll make it.” “I’m still in love with her,” Joey says. Millie asks, “Good or bad?” “Good,” he replies. “I’d never met someone I’d rather be with.” Millie adds, “After you’ve lived a long time you start to realize the important things’being healthy, being together, sharing things. What are the main things? Life, family, friends, keeping a good name.”

Alyce Raymond, 79; Businesswoman, Volunteer

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Alyce Catherine Raymond, an active resident of Pacific Palisades since 1967, passed away on July 29 from complications related to colon cancer. She was 79. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Alyce was the youngest of four children. Her parents were among the founders of Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church there. Alyce attended Lincoln High School, where she was student body treasurer. After graduation, she studied at Barbizon College and became a catalog and runway model for some of New York City’s leading fashion houses. She later worked as a buyer for Jonathan Logan, specializing in coats. In 1950, Alyce married Joseph Raymond, a student at Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. During his studies, she trained as a healthcare professional at Hahneman University Hospital. With her husband, she established and ran his first general practice in Scotch Plains, NJ, a role she would continue to play through their marriage. In 1959, Alyce and Joseph spent six months traveling in Europe by car. The trip changed her life and thereafter she traveled widely’and always with her family’to the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia. Alyce had her first child, Anthea, at age 33, in 1959. Soon after came Toby (in 1960), Zachary (in 1961), Briony (in 1962), Melissa (in 1964) and Joshua (in 1965). The couple moved to Los Angeles in 1959 for Joseph’s pathology residency at UCLA and lived in the Westwood and Mar Vista areas during this time. The family returned to New Jersey briefly, but came back to Southern California permanently in September 1967 to live on Kagawa Street in the Palisades. They later moved to Pampas Ricas in the Huntington Palisades and finally to the Riviera. In 1975, Alyce helped her husband establish a family medical practice in the Palisades, which she managed until the mid-1990s, when Joseph retired. Joseph was honored as Pacific Palisades Citizen of the Year in 1977. But it was Alyce, her husband always said, who made this possible, as well as his career as a practitioner of family medicine and associate dean at the UCLA Medical School. Alyce was a strong advocate for higher education, and encouraged all her children to study at the graduate level, which they did, accumulating 10 graduate degrees among the six of them. In her later years, Alyce was active in the Westside Committee of the L.A. Philharmonic Association, the UCLA Medical Faculty Wives, and the UCLA Medical Center Women’s Auxiliary, serving as an officer for each group. She also continued to own and manage commercial property in Pacific Palisades and Yucca. In September 2004, Alyce, Joseph and four of their children spent two weeks in the Abruzzi region of Italy. Alyce’s children take pride in the fact that their mother passed away on the day a 10th planet was discovered in our solar system. Joseph also noted the coincidence of the ground-breaking cabaret singer Hildegard’s death. In addition to her husband of 55, Alyce is survived by six children, two grandchildren, and two sons-in-law as well as the many people she touched in her roles as mother, homemaker, community leader, and local businesswoman. Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, with a reception to follow at the family’s Palisades home at 1:30 p.m. A scholarship fund has been created through UCLA Medical School. Please make checks to UC Regents/Alyce Raymond Scholarship and mail to 15332 Antioch St. (#536), Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE AUGUST 4, 2005 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST

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HOMES FOR SALE 1

SPECTACULAR OCEAN/mtn views from newly remodeled 2 bd+2 ba mobile HOME (18 Bali). This double-wide home (1,200 sq. ft) located in desirable Tahitian Terrace offers the beach seeking buyer a very private oasis across from the beach. Over 55 community resort living at its finest. Offered at $469,000. SC Realty, Franklin, (310) 592-6696 or (818) 346-6601 This PALISADES HIGHLANDS TOWNHOME feels like a home with an open floorplan, with granite counter tops, stainless-steel appliances, A/C, 2-car garage, pool/spa & tennis. $950,000. Broker/owner. (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, 2-6pm. $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 HIGHLANDS BEAUTY. Former MODEL home. Partially furn. 3,200 sq ft. 5 bedrooms+4 baths. Ocean & mountain views. 2 fireplaces. Summit Club, pool, tennis. Avail 8/7/05. $7,100/mo. Call (800) 638-4354 LARGE 3 BED+2 BA CONDO. Highlands. Partially furn. 2-car garage. Ocean & mountain views. 2 fireplaces. Very serene environment. Avail 8/7/05. $3,300/mo. Call (800) 638-4354 RESORT LIVING in the HIGHLANDS. Gorgeous, bright, remodeled 2,000 sf. 3 bed, 2 bath+den. Private backyard. Community pool, tennis court. $4,950/mo. Call Alisa, (310) 990-8515 CHARMING, TRADITIONAL HOME in the Riviera with ocean & city views. 3 bedrooms+3.5 baths+ maid’s room & bath. Gracious formal living & dining rooms, plus den. Very large private backyard with pool. Avail now. $7,000/mo. Lisa, (310) 459-7163 or (310) 570-0518 MARQUEZ KNOLLS. 4 BED+3.5 baths. Dining and family rooms, breakfast bar, office, pool, 2-car garage. Gardener & poolman incl. $4,750/mo. Call (310) 454-0067 LUSH PRIVATE YARD. Charming 3+2+office home. Great room with fireplace & vaulted ceilings. New country kitchen & designer baths. 2-car garage. W/D. $4,750/mo. 16413 Akron. Call (310) 502-3665 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 CHARMING must see HOME IN MARQUEZ. Private garden courtyard entrance. 2 bed/3bath + den. Hardwood flrs, appl., backyard, street parking, fireplace. Gardener incl. $3,950/mo. (310) 454-3253 $4,500/mo. MARINA del Rey PENINSULA. 2 bedroom + loft, 2 bath, high ceilings, 2 fireplaces, 2-car enclosed garage. Steps to beach. W/D hookup. Wet bar, 2-unit bldg. Avail. early Sept. (310) 821-2953 SERENITY in TOPANGA. Surrounded by oaks, wrap-around deck, 2 bed/2bath beautiful wood/glass home. Huge family-media room or master-suite. New stainless-steel appls., new carpets, wood flrs, W/D. $3,200/mo. (310) 455-9616

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 PALISADES STUDIO, large kitchen with dinette, stove, refrigerator, walk-in closet, covered parking, laundry, Non-smoker, No pets, one year lease, quiet and clean. $995/mo. (310) 477-6767 LARGE 2 BED+2 BATH. New carpet, w/d, dishwasher, balcony, walk-in closet & patio. Fireplace, Jacuzzi. Village close. Controlled-access bldg. Available now. Call (310) 230-4110 EDGEWATER TOWERS CONDO for lease. Large 2 BD. + 2 BA. ground-floor adj. to pool. Gated, fireplace, tennis/gym, hiking trail, walk to beach. $3,100/mo. incl. utils. Diedra (310) 450-3889 or (310) 238-0104 GORGEOUS OCEAN VU on private drive. 2 bed + 2 bath, fireplace, huge patio, totally updated. Great closet space & pool. $2,900/mo. Avail. 9/1. (310) 459-6369

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

FURNISHED BEDROOM, plus den. Private entrance & bathroom. $700/month. Call (310) 454-1159 ATTRACTIVE, PRIVATE ROOM and bath available in Huntington Palisades home. References req. Mature woman preferred. Rent negotiable. Phone or fax (310) 459-0351

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 SPECTACULAR OCEAN VUS. $1,350/mo. Master-suite, double bath/dressing rooms, large closets, pool, hiking, more. Call Sal (310) 837-1777.

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 NICE, local PALISADIAN FAMILY of 4 looking for 3 bedroom SFH to lease for 2 yrs, preferably in Palisades or Malibu. We are local business owners. Ideally $3,800 to $4,200/month, starting 9/1/05. Please call (310) 717-2985 LOCAL Palisades COUPLE of 15 yrs just sold home. LOOKING for at least 2 bedrooms + 1.5 baths for 1 yr or longer lease on quiet street in Palisades, SM or Brentwood. We have 832 and 813 FICO scores. Looking to spend $3,800 to $4,300/mo. Will consider more. Any potential landlord is welcome to see the immaculate condition with which we’ve maintained our home. (310) 570-3839

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

PERSONALS 6b

SEMPER FI; HONORABLE Combat Purple Heart disabled US Marine that seeks volunteers and donations from individuals & groups to help other vets. Call Ray Nasser (310) 454-7432

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

Our LONG-TIME NANNY will be avail Monday thru Friday, 9-5 beginning in Sept ’05. She’s a rare gem. She’s energetic, fluent in English, dependable, has her own car & is loving (treats our son like her own). Xlnt refs. Call Julie, (323) 350-0017 P/T NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER available Tuesdays & Fridays. I have a car and good references. Call Estella, (323) 493-1584 PROFESSIONAL BABY NURSE is available for night shifts, to help families with newborns. Contact Ms. Dennis, (310) 226-7097

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 P/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE 2 days per week, Mondays and Wednesdays. I have a car, local references and good experience. Please call Carol, (323) 299-1797 F/T HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER or driver available. Monday through Friday. Speaks good English, drives own car & has references. Please call Leonor, (323) 660-9985 or (323) 632-7036 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 APT. CLEANING, BABYSITTING or companion for elderly. Errands, appt’s, shopping, etc. Competitive rates. Avail. Fri, Sat. and Sunday. Reliable, honest, excellent refs, own transportation. Pls. call Julie (213) 300-8805 GOOD HOUSEKEEPER AVAIL. every other week on Wednesday & Thurs. Excellent references, experience, transportation. Pls. call Zoila or Francesca (323) 296-1387

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 F/T CAREGIVER/BABYSITTER avail. Good refs, reliable and loving care. Speaks English & Spanish. Own transp. Avail. now. Please call Judy (310) 806-1463 or (310) 673-9144

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

MASSAGE THERAPY 12b

AWARD-WINNING MASSAGE by Natalie. www.massagebynatalie.faithweb.com. Ask about free massage offer. Call (310) 993-8899

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 DOG WALKER AVAILABLE. Experienced dog/pet owner who loves animals. Pls. call Colin (323) 462-4428

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 FITNESS FOR WOMEN. ZIMMERMAN FITNESS FOR WOMEN specializes in weight loss and body shaping. Our private studio near the village offers professional & individual services, using the finest equipment and products. This specific one-on-one training is safe, natural, efficient and exclusively for women. Appointment only. Local references. Call us for a free consultation: (310) 573-9000. www.zfit.com

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 PROFICIENT AP PHYSICS/Math Tutor. Ranked #1 UCLA Physics, Ph.D. + top 10 TA list. Long experience in making hard science easy. Ivailo, (310) 980-8173 SCIENCE & MATH TEACHER for hire. 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

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

CARPENTRY 16a

COMPLETE FINISH CARPENTRY – Architectural Specs, Custom Design – Decorative: Doors, Molding, Mantels, Paneling, Columns, Stair Balusters & Railing, etc. – For new Construction & Remodeling – Superior craftsmanship, utmost care for details. Lic. #772783. (310) 287-1141

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

REGIONAL DRIVERS NEEDED. Team drivers & trainers. Trainers receive 1st day approval. Receive full benefits, great pay and home time. Call today! Werner Enterprises. (800) 346-2818, ext. 561 WANTED: REGISTERED DENTAL assistant. Fast-paced Brentwood dental office. Experience preferred; Salary based on experience. FAX resume to (310) 826-6369 Live-out HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER WANTED. Tue & Thur only. Good with kids, must drive car, do light cooking & speak English. Refs and experience required. Call Mary, (310) 387-7722 P/T BOOKKEEPER NEEDED for local office. Quicken and Excel experience is required. Approx. 15-20 hrs per week. E-mail resume to: postjobs101@yahoo.com 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 P/T SALES REPRESENTATIVE wanted. Commission-based. Must drive to sell women’s & children’s clothing. Great opportunity to earn extra cash. Students & seniors welcome. Call Brian (310) 230-1087 P/T ADMIN. ASST. Sta. Monica Elem. School. Strong clerical & communication skills req. Microsoft Office, Excel, FileMaker pro. Be detail oriented & team-player. Email resume: carolina@psone.org 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 TELEMARKETING. APPOINTMENT SETTER for Financial Services Co. All leads supplied, no cold calling. Work from home. Call Len (310) 459-8242 P/T ADMINISTRATOR NEEDED. Database mgt., coordinate meetings, compose correspondence, develop PR materials. Required: Excellent writing, interpersonal, organizational skills. Proficient in Word/Excel/Outlook. (310) 459-2328, ext. 255 P/T FILE CLERK/SECRETARY wanted for local office. Approx. 15-20 hrs. per week. Fax resumes (310) 459-1978 or Email to info@festaent.com

SITUATIONS WANTED 17a

PERSONAL ASST/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) 720-8004

AUTOS 18b

CASH FOR YOUR CARS. Foreign or Domestic, not running, old cars OK. Missing pink slip/paperwork, no problem! Top Dollar for Classic Cars. Free towing. We come to you. Honest professional buyer. Local refs. Any questions, please call (310) 995-5898 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

FURNITURE 18c

REDECORATING KID’S ROOM sale. Antique white full-size bed + mattress, matching night table, doll-carriages, beanie baby shelves, calico-critters w/ 2 houses & furniture. Please call (310) 633-0230

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

PALISADES YARD SALE. 1032 Kagawa St. SAT. 8/6, 9-2pm. Changing table, 30-60 lb child’s carseat, toys, stuffed animals, books, hse. hold items, older kid’s clothes. No Early Birds.

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

1920s CHALLEN & SONS, London Baby Grand. Ebony & ivory keys. Needs work, original owner. Leaving country, must sell! Best offer. (310) 454-2612 CYMBIDIUM/ORCHID SALE. Reducing inventory with sharply discounted $$. Bulk rates avail. Varieties from 1960 forward. SAT. 8/6, 1-4pm. 516 Frontera Drive or call (310) 454-7337 for appt. VIKING PROFESSIONAL GAS range. Current top-of-the-line model (VGRC485-6QDWH) lists new for over $6500. Asking $4250. 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

Villa de Leon: An Architectural Gem

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Villa de Leon, the first house built in Castellammare, photographed last September from PCH. The palatial estate went on the market Monday for $14,995,000.
Villa de Leon, the first house built in Castellammare, photographed last September from PCH. The palatial estate went on the market Monday for $14,995,000.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Wednesday was a busy day for Prudential John Aaroe realtor Randy Freeman. He started showing the historic Villa de Leon, a landmark estate on the bluffs of Castellammare, which went on the market Monday for $14,995,000, currently the highest listing in Pacific Palisades. Villa de Leon was designed in 1926 by renowned architect Kenneth MacDonald (Flood mansion in San Francisco) and took entrepreneur and wool magnet Leon Kauffman more than five years to build. It was featured in the 1928 issue of Architectural Digest and remains the most visible landmark along the Palisades-Malibu coastline, often mistaken for its tucked-away neighbor, the J. Paul Getty Villa. “This is one of the jewels of the Palisades and it just could never be duplicated today,” Freeman said of the Italianate mansion, listed as 12,000-plus sq. ft. with more than 35 rooms, including nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. Considered one of Southern California’s finest examples of old-world craftsmanship, Villa de Leon features hand-carved beams, molded corbels, pediments, hand-painted frescoes, double-vaulted arches, coffered ceilings and sculpted iron railings. “All the bathrooms still feature original tile and several rooms have actual gold grouting,” said Freeman, who has already received 20 to 25 inquiries about the listing and had four official showings and one preview on Tuesday. “People were absolutely blown away by the living room and quality of the workmanship.” Depending on the interest of individual clients, each showing requires about 45 minutes to an hour “just to walk the house and effectively see it.” Villa de Leon has three levels of living space, including a main salon with three handmade crystal chandeliers, a library, a circular formal dining room overlooking the ocean, a marble entrance hall with a sculpted circular staircase and a large attic. A private driveway leads to a seven-car garage and a car wash, or spinning pipes that you can attach a hose to, according to Freeman. A gated entrance leads up a grand staircase to sweeping terraces with unobstructed ocean and coastline views to the west, and courtyard areas with commanding mountain views to the east. “The type of detail, quality and craftsmanship belongs to an era gone by,” said Freeman, who first communicated with the property owners four or five years ago, and was selected from a group of interested real estate agents to represent the property. “I’ve been working towards this,” said Freeman, who’s been with Prudential for five years but has worked in real estate in the Palisades since 1990. He guessed that his expertise in the Palisades bluffs and hillside properties was probably what got him the listing. The property has changed hands several times over the last 50 years, and eight individuals currently share ownership of the palatial estate, which is occupied. “The owners of the property have lovingly restored as much as they could over the years,” Freeman said. “It’s an ongoing project. There have been some landslide issues over the years, but there are plenty of geological and structural reports available about the property.” Asked how long he thinks Villa de Leon will be on the market, Freeman said, “It’s so difficult to tell. It’s one of a kind. It will take someone who appreciates not only the historical [element] but the type [of house]’it’s not your normal Mediterranean type of home, it’s more like a museum than a home. It’s a piece of art.” Showings are by appointment only. For more information or to view photographs of Villa de Leon, visit www.portomarinaway.com/download. Call Randy Freeman at 230-3719.

Summer Splash Is a Sunday Hit at Y Pool

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Improvising pool noodles into mini-boats, 6-year-old Grace Ramsey (left) and twins Kathryn Clark and Lindsey Clark, 6, float on their crafts. Photo: Gayle Goodrich
Improvising pool noodles into mini-boats, 6-year-old Grace Ramsey (left) and twins Kathryn Clark and Lindsey Clark, 6, float on their crafts. Photo: Gayle Goodrich

Community members from the Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga spent a postcard-perfect evening at the YMCA pool in Temescal Canyon on Sunday. This was the fifth week of Summer Splash, a popular family-friendly program sponsored by the Palisades Rotary Club. Gabe Soufo from the Palisades-Malibu Y greeted people by the gate and passed out parking passes. “It’s been successful,” he said. “It’s so successful, the upper lot is full and people have to park in the lot below.” Every week, Splash is centered on a theme of a different country. Last Sunday, children who could guess the capital of Australia and its population received a prize of a boomerang, sunglasses, stickers or peel-on tattoos. “Crowds have been great,” said Y volunteer Lance Bregel, “and it’s getting more crowded every week.” There were so many families enjoying the balmy weather that at one time the pool was completely packed. Many of the families, like Paul and Lisa Loptman and their four children, attend every weekend that they’re in town. Cindy Freedland, holding a rolled up magazine, has been coming for three years. “I always bring a magazine along to read in case there’s no one to talk to, but there’s always someone.” “My favorite thing has been seeing how my kids have gotten taller each year by watching them stand in the shallow end,” Freedland said. “The first year my daughter’s head was barely visible above the water line, and my son, who was three, couldn’t touch at all.” Looking over, her daughter was swimming with friends and her son, now six, was bobbing along in the shallow end, with his head barely peeking over. Claudia Ross was sitting in the sun, arms around her children, 10-year-old Molly and four-year-old Gabriel. “This is the first Splash for us this summer, but it’s really fun.” Picky Stull, the Y’s aquatics director, organized two children’s activities: a cannonball contest and a pi’ata. Children were divided up into two groups according to age and size. In the cannonball contest, the swimmers had fun trying to splash the lifeguard who was judging the contest. All contestants received a blowfish squirter. The rules for the pi’ata were established up front. “I want to play this game next year, so we need to keep it safe,” Stull said. “Do not cross this line until it’s your turn.” One contestant at a time was blindfolded and spun around. Many of the children were so muddled, they missed the papier mach’ whale entirely. Admission to Summer Splash is free, and runs from 5-7 p.m. Participants can bring a picnic dinner, or buy tacos, rice, beans, cheeseburgers, and spinach pie from Fiesta Feast for a modest cost. The series will end August 28.

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