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Dolphins No Match For Venice

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Palisades

Venice defenders swarm to tackle Palisades tailback Marquise Coleman in the third quarter of last Friday night
Venice defenders swarm to tackle Palisades tailback Marquise Coleman in the third quarter of last Friday night
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

The difference between the two programs was evident long before a ball was hiked last Friday night. Venice ran a squad of 53 players onto the Stadium by the Sea turf for warmups. Palisades, meanwhile, suited up only 27’barely half as much as its opponent. Such a discrepancy in manpower does not always equate to a lopsided score, but few who watched the Dolphins get routed 48-6 on their home field would dispute that the gap between the two teams was every bit as wide as the margin of victory “We expected this to be a tough game and it was,” Pali head coach Leo Castro told his team afterwards. “The key is not to let this affect how we play the next game.” Venice (5-1 overall, 1-0 in league) continued its domination of Palisades, a trend that began in 2001’the year after Ron Price resigned as head coach. In five games between the schools since then, the Dolphins have not led once and have been outscored 211 to 27. Castro and his players knew the key to turning the tables on Venice was slowing down the Gondos’ leading rusher, Ken Ashley, who entered the game having run for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. Yet Ashley needed just eight carries to gain 143 yards and score two touchdowns on Friday night, thanks in part to the Dolphins’ inability to tackle. “At times we had guys in position to make plays, we just couldn’t wrap him up,” Castro said. “Ashley’s a good back. There’s a reason he’s being heavily recruited.” Palisades (3-3, 0-1) played Venice tough for the first quarter, trailing only 8-3. Then the roof fell in on the Dolphins. On the first play of the second quarter, Ashley took a delayed hand-off 40 yards for a touchdown. That was followed by three Palisades turnovers in less than four minutes’all of which led to Gondo touchdowns. First, defensive back Andre Jones returned an interception 25 yards for a score. Then, safety Shamar Thornton returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown. Finally, Pali quarterback Raymond Elie tried to pitch to Marquise Coleman on an option play at the Dolphins’ five-yard line, but the play was botched and cornerback Oscar Duncan scooped up the loose ball at the one and stepped into the end zone to give Venice a commanding 35-3 lead. “They didn’t need our help and we gave them plenty,” Castro said. After a Palisades punt, Ashley ended the Gondos’ next drive with an 18-yard touchdown run to increase the visitors’ lead to 42-3 at halftime. Venice began subbing out most of its starters midway through the third quarter when it was clear the Dolphins were unable to move the ball. Palisades’ only points came courtesy of Esteban Moreno’s reliable foot. The Dolphins’ senior placekicker and punter booted a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter and added a 43-yarder in the third quarter. Elie was sacked four times and completed just five of 19 passes for 65 yards. But he did lead Pali with 50 yards rushing. Next up for the Dolphins is an afternoon game at undefeated University’a team that trounced the Dolphins 52-14 at Stadium by the Sea last season. “We can’t afford to dwell on this loss,” Castro said. “There’s still a lot of football left to be played and we’re still right in the thick of things. If we lose the next one, though, it’s going to be an uphill battle.” Palisades’ frosh/soph also lost, dropping to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in league.

Robert Rosenstone Piqued By His Own Family History

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By EVELYN BARGE Palisadian-Post Intern Family stories, part of a rich oral tradition that is passed down from one generation to the next, often become the stuff of legends. ”These familial tall tales are the basis of award-winning author Robert Rosenstone’s book ‘The Man Who Swam into History: The (Mostly) True Story of My Jewish Family,’ which was published by the University of Texas Press in September. Village Books will host a signing of the book next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ”Rosenstone, a Palisades resident since 1983, is a history professor at Cal Tech. He has written several biographical and historical books, including ‘Romantic Revolutionary: A Biography of John Reed,’ which was used as the basis of the Oscar-winning film ‘Reds.’ ”An academician for nearly 40 years, Rosenstone said it was his interest in modern history that led him to explore his own family’s past. ”’This book is about my family, an immigrant family,’ Rosenstone said. ‘It is 11 stories about different members of my family over three generations. The author looked for narrative possibilities in his family’s history and mythology by recalling the stories told and retold at family events over his lifetime. He also studied and researched first-hand accounts like his mother’s diary and newspaper clippings, and he conducted interviews with living relatives. Rosenstone’s research took him to Paris, the city where his grandfather had worked as a tailor, and to London to visit the synagogue where his grandparents were married. ”The book offers a glimpse of the immigration and Americanization of both his mother’s and father’s sides of the family. With educated, professional Latvians on the maternal side and unskilled, poorer Romanians on the paternal side, Rosenstone said this combination produced a divided family. ”’It was really an oil and water situation,’ he said. Using this conflict and the unique characters on both sides, Rosenstone documented the family’s passage from Romania to America. The story is constructed through in-depth fragments and ‘slices of a family,’ rather than a straightforward, linear narrative. ”With this approach, Rosenstone said he was able to use creative license and a bit of imagination to fill in the narrative blanks in his family history. For example, one portion of the book details the story of his grandfather who was known to have kept a lifelong mistress. Although no one in the family knew anything about the mistress except her existence, Rosenstone said he wanted to include their relationship in the book. ”’I used the facts and the story I know as a basis for imagining what their relationship must have been like.’ ”For Rosenstone, who also appears as a character, the book became an unexpected way of connecting with the past. ”’In my academic career, I had never written a book that deals with Judaism or my Jewish identity,’ he said. ‘This was my first book that was more self-reflective. Although I wasn’t consciously thinking this at the time, in retrospect it became a question of what it means for me to be Jewish.’ ”For 15 years, Rosenstone worked on the novel in his spare time or ‘when I felt moved to write,’ he said. ”Upon completion, Rosenstone shopped the book around at a dozen commercial publishers, but no one agreed to publish it, saying it was too unusual or had no audience. ”Nevertheless, he wanted the members of his family to have a nice copy of the book, so he decided to self publish five years ago through an author-subsidized book publisher, First Books, now called Inkwater Press. ”A surprise came for Rosenstone when a copy of the book wound up in the hands of Marie Theresa Hernandez, associate professor of modern and classical languages at the University of Houston. When Hernandez read the book, she told Rosenstone she would like to recommend it to her editor at the University of Texas Press, which had published her book. Rosenstone said he accepted her offer to share the book with her editor, thinking nothing would come of it. ”’A few months later, when I had pretty much forgotten about the conversation, I received an e-mail from Texas saying they had read it, loved it and would like to publish it,’ Rosenstone said. ‘I thought the book was over, honestly. Now it has a second life.’ ”The years spent writing ‘The Man Who Swam into History’ were a natural progression in his personal and professional life. ‘I was in my late 40s when I started working on it,’ he said. ‘In middle age, you really start to think about where you were in the past and how you got there.’ ”Rosenstone is beginning work on another book that picks up where ‘The Man Who Swam into History’ left off, with the author as a teenager. The project’s working title is ‘The Man Who Swam out of History.’

CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE OCTOBER 20, 2005 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST

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HOMES FOR SALE 1

PALISADES BEACH HOME. 2 bed+1 bath manufactured home. Ocean view, stove, fridge, micro incl. Very clean & tidy. Decks, landscape. Priced to sell. Best value on the coast. $159K. (310) 614- 9095 RUSTIC CANYON. Rare opportunity. 5 bed+3 bath Ranch home, corner lot. Move-in now or remodel & rebuild later. Asking $2,495,000. Principals only please. Agent, (310) 564-4499

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

PALISADES INVITING 2 BED+2 bath w/ gorgeous canyon vus, hardwd. & slate floors. Lrg bedrooms w/ spacious closets. Located at the base of a fantastic trailhead. Heated comm pool w/ BBQ area. Great for active lifestyles. $3,500/mo. Susan, (310) 589-2477, Coldwell Banker. susanmonus@aol.com MALIBU. STUNNING OCEAN views from this 2-story 2 bed+2.5 bath country English cottage located in desirable Corral Canyon. $3,550/mo. Susan, (310) 589-2477. Coldwell Banker. susanmonus@aol.com PALISADES HIGHLANDS MTN view home. 3 bed+ 2.5 bath. Updated 2-story charm on Avenida de la Herradura. Hi wood-beam ceil in both liv rm & lge master bed. Fam room with lots of light opens to grass yard & great views. Formal din rm. Two fireplaces, 2-car garage. Rec center steps from front door. $5,250/mo. Avail 12/1/05. Call for details, (310) 573-3841 CHARMING TRADITIONAL on a quiet street north of Sunset w/ ocean & some city views in prime Riviera. Spacious entry, large living w/ fireplace & formal dining rooms. Paneled family room w/ fireplace. 3 bdrms, 3.5 bas+maid’s rm & ba. Expansive lawn w/ swimmers pool at rear of yard. $14,000/mo. Please contact Lisa, (310) 570-0518.

FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b

OCEAN-VIEW CONDO. 1 bedroom+1 bath, chef’s kitchen, includes utilities and cleaning service. Edgewater Towers. $2,600/mo. Agent, Doreen, (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 SANTA MONICA CONDO. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. 2nd Street, north of Wilshire. Hardwood floors. Security building. $2,750/mo. Call Susie, (310) 266-6033 PALISADES 1 BED, 1 BATH, upper, sunny, views, carpet, stove, refrigerator, laundry, covered parking with storage, NO pets, NON-smoker, 1 year lease. Quiet, clean, $1,220/mo. (310) 477-6767 LUXURY CONDO. Sunny, unfurn 2 bed+2 bath, sunken living rm & master ste, dining room, breakfast nook/office, stove, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, lg balcony, sec access & parking. W/D in unit. Carpets, tile, central A/C & heating, ceiling fans, fireplace, Jacuzzi. Lg private storage, elevator, open-air courtyard/entrance, 18 units, non-smoker pref. Close to markets & park. 6-mo. min. lease. $2,700/mo. Call (310) 930-0030 LARGE 2 BED+2 BATH. New carpet, w/d, dishwasher, balcony, walk-in closet & patio. Fireplace and jacuzzi. Village close. Controlled-access bldg. Avail now. Call (310) 230-4110 CHARMING PAL DUPLEX. 2 bed+1 bath. Large private yard. Stove, fridge, microwave, W/D, d/w, Jacuzzi, tub. Walk to village. 853 Haverford Ave. $3,000/mo. (310) 454-4599 2-STORY UNFURNISHED GUESTHOUSE, 3 rooms, kitchen, bath, balcony overlooking mountains. French doors, hardwood floors, secluded garden setting. $2,100, utilities included. (310) 454-8150. $4,300. 2100 SQ FT, 3+2+den, formal dining room, oak floors, marble bath, oak & granite kitchen, 2-car garage. 16769 Livorno (Marquez Knolls). (310) 309-7714.

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

FURNISHED SINGLE ROOM, Pacific Palisades Highlands. N/S, drugs, alcohol. Use of kitchen, pool, jacuzzi. Quiet, beautiful. Nearby hiking, biking. $850/mo. (310) 459-7329.

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

LARGE CORNER OFFICE in Palisades village on Sunset. Second floor, $1,370/mo. (310) 454-0840 or (310) 600-3603.

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

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

I’M THE CEO of my life. Are You? Executive Pay Without Executive Stress! (800) 841-8702 FreedomMyWay.com ESTABLISHED SKINCARE BUSINESS FOR SALE. PACIFIC PALISADES LOCATION. Contact (310) 230-4266

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

COMPUTER SUPPORT – Home – Business – Desktop & Network Support – Low Rates – One Or One Hundred PCs, We Can Help. WWW.FRANKELCONSULTING.COM. Providing Solutions for 18 Years – (310) 454-3886 MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL. I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: Consultation on best hard/software for your needs – Setting up & configuring your system & applications – Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC – Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows – Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access – Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken – Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup – Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning – FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL – BEST RATES – (310) 262-5652 YOUR OWN TECH GURU – Set-up, Tutoring, Repair, Internet. End Run-around. Pop-up Expert! Satisfying Clients since 1992. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! COMPUTER WORKS! Alan Perla, (310) 455-2000 COMPUTER CONSULTANT, MAC SPECIALIST. Very Patient, Friendly and Affordable. Tutoring Beginners to Advanced Users. Wireless DSL internet. MAC/PC SET UP – Repair – Upgrade – OS X. Senior discounts! Home/Office. William Moorefield, (310) 838-2254. macitwork.com

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 7f

PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? a moving sale? a yard sale? a rummage sale? an estate sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. – BARBARA DAWSON – Garage Sale Specialist – (310) 454-0359 – Furniture – Antiques – Collectibles – Junque – Reliable professionals Local References

ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h

DO YOU NEED an able, versatile p/t office person? Paperwork, accounts, computer expertise, eBay sales, internet, research, organizing, other. Business/ personal. Call (310) 218-6653 or (310) 459-2066. PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZATION and bookkeeping. Superior services provided with discretion and understanding. Local references. Call Sarah, (310) 573-9263.

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

EUROPEAN live-in AU PAIRS. US government approved and regulated. Cultural exchange. English speaking. Call Mrs. Fox, (310) 230-2646

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 Monday through Friday. I speak English well, have good experience, transportation and references. Please call Adelina, (323) 737-7158 or (323) 527-4538 LIVE-IN/LIVE-OUT HOUSEKEEPER. I am available Monday thru Friday, speaks some English. I am very experienced, am pleasant, neat and have references. Please call Gloria, (323) 571-8299 I AM OFFERING my services as a housekeeper. Live-out, avail Monday through Friday, good references, speak very good English. Please call Veronica, (323) 665-4421. HOUSEKEEPER, LIVE-OUT. Excellent references, 14 years experience, good English. Please call Isabelle, (213) 220-4797 or (213) 389-5297 HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTNG, FULL-TIME, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Local references. Very experienced. Pleasant. Please call Tina, (818) 759-5361.

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

HOUSEKEEPING/CHILD & Elderly CARE. Experienced, CPR & first aid certified with medical backgrounds. Live-in or live-out. Fluent English. References avail. Call (888) 897-5888

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 MARTINEZ GARDEN SERVICES. Landscape, tree-trimming, sprinkler systems, planting, yard clean-up. Good workers. 19 yrs experience. Call Fortino, cell: (323) 397-6255, or hm: (323) 935-0841 FULL SERVICE YARD & sprinkler systems. 15 years of experience. References available. Call Javier anytime, cell: (310) 634-5059 or pager: (310) 495-0533

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

HEALING ARTS 12

MARION MAYER, LIFE COACH RN, MS, NP assists busy women in taking better care of themselves and reducing stress while achieving clarity, purpose and passion in their lives. Lean mind-body awareness, practical self-care tools and get the support and motivation you need. Holistic focus on mind, body, and spirit. Call for a FREE 40 minute phone sample session. 16 year resident. (310) 573-0400.

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 sealer. Craig, (310) 459-9000

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

BE HAPPY TO COME HOME! Trusted house/pet care in & around Palisades since 1986. Educated responsible. (310) 454-8081 PET HEAVEN – TOTAL PET CARE – Training. Walking. Play groups. Does your dog need manners? Call (310) 454-0058 for a happy dog.

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

VIOLIN INSTRUCTION. Expert friendly guidance at all levels by highly qualified teacher. Home or studio. Teaching in Palisades 20 years. Laurence Homolka, (310) 459-0500

TUTORS 15e

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. EXPERIENCED TUTOR 20+ YEARS. Children & adults, 20+ yrs teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly special ed teacher. Call (310) 313-2530. SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR, All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614 MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145 EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR. All grade levels, conversational & all ages. Local refs, flexible hours. Please call Noelle at (310) 273-3593 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 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 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. Palisades resident. Call Brandi, (310) 230-9890 STANFORD-EDUCATED TUTOR. Physics and Calculus (incl. AP), Precalc, Geometry, Algebra, SAT (all sections). Engineering degree. Experience making abstract concepts tangible. Young (-ish) and personable. In-home convenience. References. Chris, (323) 309-6687 SPANISH TEACHER, CERTIFIED TUTOR. 15 years experience. Conversational & writing skills, all levels. Local refs. Palisades resident. Affordable rates. Call Marietta, (310) 459-8180 PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134 EXPERIENCED MASTER TEACHER. Private & public schools. Elementary school K-5, Reading specialist, language development specialist. Tutoring all subjects. Your home. Local refs. (310) 450-2657 SPANISH TUTOR AVAILABLE. Please call Jill Liberman, (310) 828-5087 (H) or (310) 617-1115 (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

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

CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237 PALISADES CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. KEVIN B. NUNNELEY. (310) 454-5029. Local References Avail. Lic. #375858

ELECTRICAL 16h

PALISADES ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437. Insured. Professional Service ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. 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. 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 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 ROBERT OVERBY PAINTING. 25 yrs exper. Interior/exterior. Small jobs. Low rates. Local free estimates. Not lic. Call (310) 968-4113

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 JLK PLUMBING. Re-pipe and sewer specialist & all plumbing repairs. Mention this ad & receive 10% off. Lic. #722414. Call (310) 678-6634

ROOFING 16v

WE SEAL LEAKS. “Don’t wait for the rains.” Roofing, gutters, windows, carpentry, painting, slope retention, drainage systems, drywall, plaster, concrete, Carmel-style waterfalls. Call (310) 457-4652

HELP WANTED 17

P/T CHILD-CARE NEEDED for 10 year old boy & 6 year old girl. Flexible hours. Must have and drive own car. Please call Rebecca, (310) 454-7490 NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER for Brentwood family NEEDED. 12 p.m.-6:30 p.m. M-F (mornings free); boy & girl twins, age 11 (girl has Down Syndrome); drive to activities; general cleaning/laundry; typically $325 plus $40 car expense; paid time off, starting year 2. Call Cheryl, (310) 780-8115 GELSON’S the SUPER MARKET. Immediate So Cal openings: Chef/Cook/Prep-Cook/Service Deli Clerk/ Courtesy Clerks. Kitch ops: must have solid skills, customer service & 1+ year of food industry exp. Comp wages, vac/holiday/sick-pay, positive environ. Open interviews: Tues., 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 16400 Ventura Blvd., 2nd floor, Encino. For more info, call our recruiting hotline: (800) 700-0912 EOE ORGANIZED & EFFICIENT ASSISTANT needed for growing Pacific Palisades company. Phones, fax, internet. $28K+benefits. Call (310) 230-1295 HIGH-SCHOOL students needed as p/t TUTORS for Palisades 9th grader. Proficient in most subjects. Energetic, well-organized and available 2 afternoons per wk. $10-15/hr. E-mail PacPalTutors@aol.com, describing strengths, any prior experience, availability and refs. BOOKKEEPER. SMALL FAMILY LAW FIRM located in Santa Monica is looking for a bookkeper (20-25 hrs per week). Duties include client billing, receivables, payables & Quickbooks. Knowledge of Tussman billing system a plus. Please fax resume to Stefanie Hall, Polin & Hall at (310) 449-0014. WANTED WEEKEND NANNY/housekeeper for 2 children. Start Fri morning-Sun evening. Live-in. Must be willing to travel 2-3 times per month in small plane to Mammoth Lakes, California. English-speaking & energetic. Call Doreen @ (310) 454-4696.

AUTOS 18b

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 1997 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. 100K miles. New brakes, new tires, new battery. $5,000 obo. Call (310) 457-3393 1993 VOLVO 4-DOOR 940 SEDAN. 128,000 miles. Original owner, good condition. $3,000. (310) 459-9712 CASH FOR UNWANTED VEHICLES. Cars or trucks, running or not. No hassle, we take care of paperwork, same day free towing. (310) 593-1272

FURNITURE 18c

ANTIQUE WHITE WROUGHT IRON BED. CIRCA 1905-1920. $200. 459-4239

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

CONTEMP ’60s HSE! Custom-blt furn/cabinets/side tables/desks/desgnr upholsted sofas, chairs/lots of electronics/big, small TVs/stereo recvrs, tuners/ amplifiers/components. VCR tapes/bikes/books. Dansk kitch ware/hsehold appliances, w/d/flatware. 336 Bellino (Sunset/Los Liones/Tramonto). FRI.-SAT., Oct. 21-22; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

ELECTRIC Golf KADDY KART. Excellent condition with two batteries & remote charger. Orig cost $1,200. Will sell for $700. Call Zimmerman, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (310) 454-9453

WANTED TO BUY 19

WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.com

Mountain Lions: The Top of the Food Chain

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”In the 1920s and 30s, Temescal Canyon in the Pacific Palisades was home to the largest independent Chautauqua in the nation, which featured music, art, science, and religious programming under the canopy of oaks and beside the stream. On October 25, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservation (SMMC) and Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA) will present the seventh program in the new Chautauqua Series, ‘Mountain Lions in Los Angeles,’ a lecture by National Park Service wildlife biologist Dr. Ray Sauvajot. This free program will be held at Temescal Gateway Park in the Temescal Dining Hall at 7:30 p.m. Parking is free. ”As the top predator in Southern California’s wild landscapes, mountain lions are vital to the health of the ecosystems of the Los Angeles area. The mountain lion populations of Los Angeles face many difficult challenges as a result of their proximity to urban areas. Their survival, and therefore the continued existence of the ecosystems with which they are inexorably linked, is in question. Dr. Sauvajot will discuss his work monitoring the mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains, Simi Hills, and Santa Susana Mountains. Using radio collars, remote cameras, and tracking stations, he and his team of researchers have made great strides in understanding how these animals, including the last known adult in the Santa Monica Mountains, survive in an increasingly urbanized landscape. Dr. Sauvajot is Chief of Planning, Science and Resource Management at the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and is a Senior Science Advisor for the National Park Service. He also holds adjunct faculty positions at the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge. ”It is the goal of the MRCA and SMMC to recapture and foster the original spirit of the Chautauqua movement, described by Theodore Roosevelt as ‘the most American thing in America.’ Honoring the tradition of the original Chautauqua philosophy, we will present a lively monthly series of lectures and events showcasing regional, local, and national talent in a variety of art forms.

Lisa Hilton Reaches Out with Jazz

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Jazz artist Lisa Hilton recently kicked off the ARTSReach program at Pepperdine. Photo by Gayle Goodrich
Jazz artist Lisa Hilton recently kicked off the ARTSReach program at Pepperdine. Photo by Gayle Goodrich

By EVELYN BARGE Palisadian-Post Intern It may be uncommon to see 450 schoolchildren pile into a theater to listen to the warm melodies of a jazz artist, but that’s exactly what happened earlier this month when pianist and composer Lisa Hilton kicked off the ARTSReach program at Pepperdine with a taste of the classic American musical style. ‘Are you ready for some jazz music?’ Hilton asked as the lights in Smothers Theatre dimmed. The audience of children bused in from area schools cheered and shouted in affirmation. The ARTSReach program began at Pepperdine in 1991 to introduce public and private school students to professional theater performances. Today, the program provides 16 free shows and art museum tours to more than 10,000 Los Angeles-area children each season. Flamenco dancer Jose Porcel, the Los Angeles Opera and break-dancers from ‘Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular’ are among the artists slated for ARTSReach performances this season. The children’s performances are scheduled for weekday mornings, but many of them are also part of the Center for the Arts’ regular performance series that sells tickets to the general public. Coordinator Carol Kmiec said each program offered by ARTSReach is tailored to the students. ‘We really work with the performers and make it educational,’ Kmiec said. ‘It’s not stuffy, and it’s really brought down to their level. Also, it still has adult elements so the kids are challenged to learn.’ Hilton said she was proud to open up this season’s ARTSReach program. ‘If you can inspire kids to love music, that’s an amazing thing,’ she said. During her performance, the longtime Malibu resident played music from her recently released CD, ‘My Favorite Things: Everyone’s Jazz Favorites,’ and her No. 1 Jazz World single from July 2004 titled ‘Malibu.’ She also introduced the visiting students to the different styles, characteristics and history of jazz. Bassist Reggie McBride, drummer Tal Bergman and saxophonist Brian Scanlon rounded out Hilton’s standard four-piece jazz ensemble. Among the children in attendance at Hilton’s survey of jazz was a group of 120 children from Piru Elementary School in Piru, California. The large group was able to attend the performance through grants from the Fillmore Family Resource and Education Center and the Support the Kids Foundation. The grants helped the school purchase transportation and lunch for all the students attending the musical education program. ‘The kids really enjoyed the performance,’ said fourth- and fifth-grade Piru Elementary teacher Jennifer Weir. ‘This has been a great experience for them.’ The children also voiced positive feedback on Hilton’s jazz performance. ‘I can’t choose my favorite part,’ said 9-year-old Fabiola Magana. ‘I just loved all of it.’ Jacob Prado, also 9 years old, said he enjoyed the field trip to Smothers Theatre. ‘I liked the whole show,’ Prado said. ‘I could see myself on stage someday.’ Fourth grade teacher Cathy DeCecco said the jazz concert was an eye-opening experience for some of her students. ‘Thirteen or 14 of my students play in the band, so it was really neat for them to see what the next steps are for musicians,’ says fourth-grade teacher Cathy DeCecco. ‘Many of them didn’t realize that playing an instrument can lead to a career, so it was really special for them to hear that.’ Hilton’s performance included 10 jazz songs, ranging from the classic jazz of Miles Davis to the reflective sound of Henry Mancini. She also performed her international hit single ‘Malibu,’ which was inspired by her hometown. ‘I love living in Malibu, and I think the seasons are perfect here,’ Hilton said during the concert. ‘I wanted to write something that would create that feeling in others.’ The program also featured an extensive question and answer session with Hilton and her band. Both the drummer and bassist received requests for brief solo performances that were followed by rounds of applause and cheering from the audience. ‘These are the kinds of memories that will last forever,’ Kmiec said. ‘I think they may even listen to jazz after the show.’ Hilton also expressed a similar hopefulness about the future of jazz appreciation in her young audience members’ lives. ‘I hope they all go home tonight and tell their parents at the dinner table that they love jazz. As a child, I just remember loving my piano and really wanting to play. If my performance reaches out to children and motivates them, there’s nothing better.’

Herbert Stothart II, 74; Art History Professor

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Herbert Stothart II, a longtime professor of art history at Santa Monica College, died on October 6 from complications of a stroke. He was 74.’ Herbert was born on November 23, 1929 in Santa Monica, the son of artist Mary Wolfe Stothart and the pioneer Broadway and MGM film composer Herbert Stothart, best known for the original score for the 1939 film classic ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Stothart was raised in Brentwood and lived for many years in Pacific Palisades, at 50 Haldeman Rd. in a house designed by architect Richard Neutra. He attended The Harvard School and UCLA, where he earned a master’s degree in art history. He married Roberta Ann Bates and together they built a home on Old Malibu Road in Malibu, a location he carefully selected for its perfect surf break. Driven by his great passion for Italian art, Stothart moved his family to a tiny village in the Provincia di’Como in northern Italy, where he was a contributor in the founding of nearby Franklin College. The family traveled extensively together, often crossing the Atlantic Ocean on ‘banana boats’ and other nontraditional forms of transportation. Eventually returning to Southern California, he taught art history at Santa Monica College and UCLA. Professor Stothart was well known for inviting students and friends on day-long field trips to his mountaintop property in Solstice Canyon (he called it a Center for Spiritual Renaissance) and for passionate discussions of and lectures about ancient art and architecture, Greek tragedies, opera, ethics, gardening, sculpture and nature.’He was a consummate dreamer and was deeply intrigued and committed to the idea of living off the land. He was also a great supporter of The Film Music Society and its efforts toward film music preservation. Determined to uphold his father’s musical legacy, he maintained many of his music manuscripts and papers. The Herbert Stothart Collection is now being catalogued for UCLA Music Special Collections and will include rare information about Broadway and Hollywood history. Stothart is survived by his four daughters: Lisa, Camille, Anna Lucia and Betta; his sister, Constance Stothart Bongi, and Roberta Bates Stothart. A memorial service will be held on ‘The Mountain’ next spring.

Local Vineyard Ripens

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The Pacific Ocean can be seen in the distance from Ardie Tavangarian
The Pacific Ocean can be seen in the distance from Ardie Tavangarian

‘Benvenuto a Tuscany.’ That’s what the welcome mat to Ardie Tavangarian’s upper Bienveneda hillside home should say. On a clear day, with soft and diffuse sunlight blanketing his four-acre vineyard, and the ocean peeking out in the distance, it looks remarkably like a shot from ‘Under the Tuscan Sun.’ Tavangarian’s vineyard began as a major landscaping project almost three years ago, on the long stretch of steep, open land behind homes on Bienveneda and Tellem. A designer and builder who owns the West L.A. firm Arya, Tavangarian built his Tellem home in the mid-1990s and subsequently purchased a handful of adjacent landlocked properties. When brush clearance became ‘a monumental task’ in 2002, he decided to transform his land into an Italian-style kitchen garden. This plan, he told the Palisadian-Post at the time, would reduce the area’s fire danger as well as his yearly maintenance costs, and improve the view from his house, which looks down on the hillside from Tellem. Concerned neighbors questioned Tavangarian’s intentions. They worried about the noise caused by clearing the brush, as well as potential mudslides once the area had been denuded, and whether Tavangarian planned to build on the land. He said he simply wanted the garden. ‘We had to think about what would be a good, deep root structure that we could plant without grading,’ says Tavangarian, who originally planned to plant many citrus trees. Realizing that the ground wouldn’t support them, he chose to plant mainly grapevines, in addition to a variety of English roses, Italian cypresses, and Italian and French olive trees, among other vegetables and fruits. Some neighbors were upset about the idea of a vineyard, and they created a Web site in protest. But Tavangarian was not in violation of city codes and there was no evidence that he was going to use the vineyard for commercial use; he said he planned to grow grapes for personal use, to make wine for his family and for gifts. A drip irrigation system was installed, and Tavangarian began working with UC Davis professors and attending classes there to learn about viticulture. ‘I’m really a layman; I’m not a wine connoisseur,’ he says. ‘The process has been really interesting to me.’ In addition to his learned knowledge of grapes and winemaking, Tavangarian also has been inspired by trips to Tuscany, the hill country of northern Italy, where his company is converting a 17th century village between Siena and Montalcino into an exclusive resort while preserving its old-world charm and history. Tavangarian’s involvement in the area influenced his decision to emulate a Tuscan-style vineyard, which made sense because the Bienveneda hillside (with a slope greater than 40 percent) and topography are similar to that of Tuscany, where sloped vineyards are common. Planting roses within the vineyard to protect the grape vines from disease is also consistent with Tuscan-style vineyards, according to Tavangarian. The roses would be first to catch a disease that could afflict the grapes. He initially wanted to grow a Cabernet/Merlot mix but he reconsidered after planting in early 2003, and ended up replanting entirely with a different red grape, Sangiovese, a Tuscan variety from Brunello. Sangiovese is the primary grape used in Tuscany to make Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Tavangarian says the grape hasn’t been as much of a success in California, which is why it’s not a household name like Cabs and Merlots. ‘It generally hasn’t been a major commercial product.’ Tavangarian is using a certified Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello) clone of the root stalks grown in the Montalcino region, on a 1,200-acre vineyard with a winery and stable. ‘This is a true replica miniature version of that vineyard,’ he says of his backyard vineyard. The grape, he adds, ‘has done incredibly well here.’ Tavangarian’s vineyard benefits from Pacific Palisades’ temperate, Mediterranean climate’warm days and cool evenings’which allows grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. This climate is similar to Napa Valley, but there are also soil and climate differences (such as foggy mornings and evenings, or the heat wave we recently endured), which make his vineyard a real experiment. Tavangarian is using native, existing top soil and limestone to grow his grapes. ‘You have no idea what’s going to come out of it,’ he says. ‘Our goal is to maintain a high-quality process for a winemaking vineyard.’ He’s using a trellis system, modeled after trellising in Montalcino, in which the vines grow one meter apart on rows that are spaced 7 ft. apart. Planting the grapes tightly together like this produces fewer grapes per vine but a higher quality of wine. ‘The amount of fruit we get is not a lot,’ says Tavangarian, who has 9,000 vines and expects about 1,500 bottles of wine to come from the harvest. Starting in mid-September, his team of workers begins measuring the sugar brix (sugar content) of the grapes daily, using a refractometer; this measurement helps determine when to harvest the grapes. ‘Timing is extremely sensitive,’ says Tavangarian, who also measures the pH levels with other equipment. He recently had his second harvest, on October 3, and the grapes were transported by truck to Napa for custom crushing. Meanwhile, Tavangarian prepares to start the whole process all over again. ‘It takes almost five years for grape vines to mature, and this is the end of the third year,’ says Tavangarian, who has tasted samples of his first vintage (harvested last year) over the last few months. ‘We think it’s a good quality for what it is.’ He describes the wine as ‘full-bodied, with a deep color, strong aroma and characteristics, with great tannin and flavor.’ Tavangarian says that an Italian wine consultant, Alberto Antonini, who traveled from Italy to see his vineyard during the summer before the first harvest, and then after fermentation and barreling, was pleasantly surprised by the Tuscan look of the vineyard and the taste of the grapes, though the latter really depends on the DNA. In order to maintain the vineyard and surrounding garden areas, Tavangarian has three to six workers at any one time, cleaning, trimming and pruning. ‘I believe it has added value to the neighborhood,’ he says. He’s received kind e-mails from some of his neighbors telling him that they like having it there. ‘People are understanding it better, that more than anything it’s a major commitment. I think that, longterm, it’s not something a lot of people would want to take on.’ Tavangarian acknowledges that some neighbors are still unhappy about the vineyard, especially after a section of the land that borders homes on Bienveneda slid down the hill during the heavy rains in January. ‘The City has made recommendations, and we’re going to take care of those,’ Tavangarian says, explaining that one recommendation is to build a wall at the top of the slope where the hillside moved. ‘I hope we can show the community that it’s a well-intended process,’ he says. For Tavangarian, the process of land transformation and the creation of the vineyard is ‘consistent with what I do, what my passions are and what I very much enjoy.’ He’s referring not only to his profession but also to his passion for the Italian culture, and cooking with the fresh vegetables and fruits grown in his garden. In addition to the grapes, Tavangarian has planted oranges, tangerines, sour lemons, sweet lemons, apples, pears, persimmons, watermelon, mulberries, tomatoes, zucchini, parsley, cilantro, basil and walnuts. His Tuscan olive trees produce olives generally used for oil while the French varieties are for eating and making olive oil. Asked if he has the desire to have his own winery, Tavangarian says, ‘Winemaking is not my dream at this moment. The winemaking part is a whole different ballgame; it takes resources.’ Furthermore, he says that for the minimum amount of product that his vineyard produces, it doesn’t make sense to have a winery. ‘If I choose to, it would be a different scale.’ Tavangarian’s first vintage is scheduled to be bottled before the end of the year, in bottles imported from France, with a label that includes the name of Tavangarian’s firm and a topographical map of the vineyard. The label will read: ‘Sangiovese 2004 Los Angeles.’ ‘At the end of the day, we’ve done everything we can to get a good product,’ he says. ‘It’s like kids; you’re not sure how they’re going to turn out but every day you do it [parenting] as best you can.’ Tavangarian and his wife, Tania, have lived in the Palisades since 1991. They have four daughters, Sade, Shana, and twins Emila and Nila, three of whom attend Village School. Tavangarian’s company is in charge of the school’s two-story expansion project at the corner of La Cruz and Alma Real.

Brad Grey Makes Fortune Magazine

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Brad Grey and his wife, Jill, at the Vanity Fair party after this year's Oscar ceremonies.
Brad Grey and his wife, Jill, at the Vanity Fair party after this year’s Oscar ceremonies.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Palisadian Brad Grey, chairman and CEO of Paramount Studios, has made Fortune magazine’s list of ‘The 25 People We Envy Most.’ For this year’s Power issue, said Fortune writer Reed Tucker, ‘we eschewed the idea of ranking dealmakers and corporate chieftains in terms of raw power and instead chose a slightly different metric: envy. Whose jobs do we covet most? Whose life is so fabulously filled with private jets, mogul confabs, and Cristal-drenched parties that we would ditch our careers in a second to trade places with them?’ On that basis, Fortune noted that at age 48, ‘Brad Grey hangs out with movie stars, lives like one, and could probably pass for one too. But instead of having to answer to studio chiefs, he is one…He drives a $125,000 black Mercedes and travels by private jet. He lives in a seven-bedroom, 12-bath mansion in posh Pacific Palisades, Calif., with his wife and kids and owns another home in the mountains of Utah.’

Where’s My Mail? Residents Raise Concerns

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In the past few weeks, the Palisadian-Post has received numerous complaints from local residents who said their mail wasn’t being delivered on time. One woman wrote that her mail had arrived at 8 at night and that the person who delivered it wasn’t wearing a postal employee uniform. Citizens from several locations around town reported similar problems, including mail that was supposed to be held but wasn’t. On Monday morning, the editor sent this reporter to the post office at La Cruz to inquire about the apparent problems. At the postal facility counter, I identified myself as a reporter for the Post and asked for Joe Harris, the current postmaster, according to the Palisadian-Post’s files. I was told by a clerk that he had been replaced by Sheryl Gardiner, who was on a conference call and would be unavailable for several hours. I left my name and number for her to call me back. Tuesday morning at 9, I returned to the post office to speak to Gardiner, and supervisor Dennis Willis said that she was on a conference call and that she would be unavailable for several hours. Willis told me that the regular carrier was back on the Alphabet Streets, and that I should contact Consumer Affairs with any concerns. I called Felicia Smith at Consumer Affairs, and she promised me she would call back Tuesday afternoon. At 11 a.m. I went back to the post office and asked to speak to Gardiner, but was told that she just went on a conference call. That afternoon, at 2, I stopped by again, and Tony Ficklin, a finance supervisor at the postal store on Sunset, who was on the floor at the La Cruz site, said that Gardiner would return my call. Tuesday afternoon at 3, she called me back. Gardiner, who is the new interim postmaster, said Monday was her first day at this new location. Harris is working on a special assignment within the postal service. ‘I have been here less than a week, so I’m unfamiliar with the concerns that the Post has identified for me today,’ Gardiner said. ‘However, I will investigate and work towards resolution. I appreciate you bringing them to my attention.’ She promised to contact the Post with her findings.

Canter Addresses School Bond, Parent Concerns at Paul Revere

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Marlene Canter, president of the L.A. school board, explains to an audience of about 50 parents at a recent PRIDE meeting at Paul Revere why they should back Measure Y in the November election.
Marlene Canter, president of the L.A. school board, explains to an audience of about 50 parents at a recent PRIDE meeting at Paul Revere why they should back Measure Y in the November election.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

The audience was noisy and at times contentious as LAUSD School Board President Marlene Canter addressed the monthly PRIDE and PTSA meeting at Paul Revere Charter Middle School last Wednesday morning. The meeting began calmly as Canter urged parents to vote for the $3.985-billion Measure Y in the November 8 election. Part of the money would be used to build new schools and part for renovation of old schools. ‘This area has the least amount of schools being built, but this is the area where the highest concentration of people vote,’ Canter said about her campaign stop. Canter explained that the BB bond (which passed in 1997 and provided $2.4 billion in bonds), didn’t cover all proposed building and maintenance projects because the amount needed wasn’t estimated correctly. ‘They had the wrong people building them and they had to reallocate,’ she said. ‘They really screwed it up.’ According to Canter, the District has hired a new chief facilities executive, Jim O’Connell, who is making sure things are being done right. The tone of the meeting became more confrontational when Canter said that Paul Revere had benefited from BB. The parents wanted to know how, because it wasn’t apparent. She told them that since it was a middle school and they were there only three years they wouldn’t have seen the improvements. Many parents disputed that, saying they had more than one child and had been at the school during the BB expenditures. Canter promised to get a list of the projects that had been completed at Revere. She also noted that parents at all LAUSD schools say ‘It’s not enough and we’re not satisfied.’ ‘By 2015, the District would like all children who want to be able to go to neighborhood schools to do so,’ Canter said. ‘We hope to bring kids back to public schools. By building more schools the District could accomplish that.’ A parent asked, ‘What would Paul Revere get from measure Y?’ ‘It’s unclear exactly what they would get because the District has to look out for all of its schools,’ Canter said. Although the Revere campus is beautifully landscaped, a slide show of maintenance problems was played for Canter and Diane Elander, co-chair for PRIDE, explained: ‘When constituents walk into a school and see all the construction and maintenance that needs to be done and hasn’t, then it’s hard to get people to vote for more money for another bond issue.’ Two years ago, when leaks were discovered in the breezeway overhangs, the plaster was stripped to investigate further. The moisture in the wood had caused dry rot. A year later it was discovered that other overhangs had the same problem. Currently, there are three large overhangs with exposed wood and wires waiting for repair. From LAUSD maintenance records it appears that the last time any of the buildings were painted was six years ago. ‘We would paint it ourselves, but we can’t because the District won’t let us,’ one parent pointed out. ‘We frequently find, in dealing with the District, that there’s incompetence,’ said Jill Frank, who has an eighth grader at the school. ‘It’s a bureaucracy with people who write us memos and tell us why things can’t get done.’ Elander added, ‘There’s been garbage and old classroom equipment just thrown in a pile in the middle of the campus, and after four years, it’s still sitting there. There are holes in buildings, falling ceiling tiles and windows that haven’t been repaired. It’s embarrassing to take people on a tour and ask them to come here when the property looks like that.’ Canter listened and responded: ‘Bruce Kendall, deputy chief facility executive for existing facilities at LAUSD, will come here and walk with you. We’ll see what you’ve got and what you need and how we can get it done. If the District can’t pay for it, we’ll see where we can get the funds to get it done.’ Principal Art Copper added a plea to Canter: ‘We’re a California Distinguished School. We have excellent teachers. Our students are some of the brightest in the state. We’d like to have a school that’s a visible showcase as well.’ Last year, PRIDE hired a seventh grade English teacher, which reduced class sizes to under 27 in seventh grade. The state already mandates a class size of under 26 for eighth grade English. This year, with enrollment down by 136 students, the District said Revere would have to let three teachers go. In response, Copper was able to get a waiver to retain one teacher, and parents raised money to help pay salaries for the other two teachers in order to keep smaller academic classes. Revere is considered a desegregated/receiver school, and those schools are told they should have an average of 37.5 students for each teacher for an academic class. Canter was asked why the District pays for a lower student/teacher ratio in schools designated PBHAO (predominately black, Hispanic, Asian and others, which is 76 percent of the District). That average class size is 32. Canter said that PBHAO was started by a federal mandate to stop racial isolation. Another parent pointed out that if kids live in a community that is all Korean, for example, and the District wants them to go to their community school, then by definition it’s racially isolated and the District still pays for a lower class size. Canter said that class-size reduction is a high priority for the school board. Other parents said it seemed as if Revere parents were discriminated against, and they wondered why the minorities at Paul Revere don’t receive the same treatment as the minorities at schools labeled PBHAO. Amy Dresser Held, Canter’s director of policy, pointed out that Paul Revere has a block grant that they can use to fund additional teachers’ salaries. The state funds charter schools through a general-purpose block grant and a categorical block grant. Fiscally independent charter schools like Palisades High receive both funds directly from the state. Dependent charters like Revere and the three Palisades elementary schools basically get the money the District decides to allocate. Parents battled hard four years ago to make the District give the school the categorical block grant directly, although the District still takes an administrative fee. The problem with funding teachers out of the categorical block grant is that the amount given to a school changes every year. Currently, the block grant and donations from parent groups help fund part of the school nurse and psychologist, plus a mandated attendance clerk, technical support for computers, substitute days, seven auxiliary periods (which helps to reduce class size), a dean of discipline and now part of the salaries for two teachers. At the meeting with Canter, parents responded by pointing out that many of the PBHAO schools also receive Title I funds, which Paul Revere does not receive. At that point the room was so noisy that Canter complained, ‘The way you are all communicating is not going to get anything accomplished.’ Eileen Savage, a parent, once again raised the question about how different schools are allowed to have different class sizes depending on their demographics. As Canter’s time was limited, she promised to talk about that issue with parents at a later time.

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