Despite being one of the most recognizable faces in his sport, having won 14 kickboxing titles around the world, Baxter Humby always looks forward to coming home to the Palisades. Especially after a victory like the one he posted June 26 in Tokyo, Japan, over the defending 152-pound Korean shootboxing champion. And how did he celebrate? By running the Palisades-Will Rogers race on July 4. “They treated me like a superstar over there but I’m glad to be back,” Humby said. “The Japanese were calling me the miracle fighter.” Known as the One-Armed Bandit because he was born with only part of his right arm, Humby has earned title belts in six different weight divisions throughout his professional career. In his most recent fight, Humby scored knockdowns in the first and third rounds en route to a five-round unanimous decision which improved his record to 54 wins, nine losses and one draw. Humby keeps as active as he can. His next fight will be August 20 at the Hollywood Park Casino. He is also scheduled to fight in Armenia and Holland later this year. “I’d like to fight for another two years and win as many titles as I can during that time,” said Humby, who teaches kickboxing classes at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center on Alma Real Drive. “There’s still a lot I want to accomplish in the ring.”
Folse Headed for Hawaii-Pacific
Palisades High baseball player Turhan Folse has accepted a full-ride scholarship to Hawaii-Pacific University. As one of the Dolphins’ starting pitchers, the senior right-hander led the Western League in earned run average (.682) while compiling a 9-1 record in 2005. In 51 innings pitched, he allowed just 22 hits, five earned runs and no homers with 90 strikeouts. When he wasn’t pitching, he played the outfield and was one of the Dolphins’ most productive hitters, batting .338 with 23 hits, seven runs batted in, five stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .464. “Turhan played a huge role in our success this year and we’re real happy for him,” PaliHi co-coach Tom Seyler said. “He can definitely play at the collegiate level and he made the right decision.” Folse was All-Western League first-team as a pitcher in 2005 and made the second team in 2004 when he was 1-1 with three saves, 26 strikeouts and a 1.47 earned run average.
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE JULY 21, 2005 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST
HOMES FOR SALE 1
Pacific Palisades, MAGNIFICENT 180′ “NECKLACE” view from lvng, dining, & master ste. Palos Verdes to Pt. Dume. 2 bdrm, 2 lg baths, 1,850 sf. triple & 1/2 mfg. home in Tahitian Terrace. Very private hillside space w/ 2 patios, largest in park. Huge 40′ deck, pond w/ 10′ waterfall, 25′ palms. New carpet, freshly painted, vaulted ceilings, lg walk-ins, 2-car carport+extra prkg. space. Must see! $565K. (972) 771-4657, owner 416 Short Trail in TOPANGA CANYON. 2 BED + 2 bath 3-story English-country home. 2 lots, where the owls do give a hoot! Open house, Sat.-Sun., 2-5 p.m. Call Marissa, (310) 401-4663 COMMERCIAL EcoSTEEL BUILDINGS. Pre-engineered or fully custom. Buy direct, save thousands. Call (800) 587-6604 or www.nsteel.com 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) 346-6601UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
VIEW OF QUEEN’S NECKLACE. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, family room. Remodeled kitchen, new carpet. 1 year lease. $5,750/mo. Call Patsy, (818) 703-7241 SERENE, 4 BED + 3 BA house. Fantastic views, high ceilings, extra-large deck, master suite+guest-room/ study. Available mid-July. 1 yr lease renewable. Non-smoking. Children & pets OK. $5,750/mo. (310) 866-0116; destrin@cs.ucla.edu $3,300/mo. CHARMING 2 BEDROOM+1 bath home with fireplace & hwd floors. Large fenced yard, just blocks from village, restaurants, shops, parks. Call Ann Christiansen, C. Banker, (310) 207-2470 HIGHLANDS BEAUTY. Former MODEL home. 3,200 sq. feet. 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. 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) 454-0067UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
CARMEL in THE PALISADES. 2 bedroom, beautiful lot. Walk to village. $3,495/mo. Agent. Call Nancy, (310) 230-7305 $3,300/mo. 3 BED, 1 large BA (1,800 sq ft). Entire upper coverage of Medit triplex near bluffs (feels like tree-house). Fireplace, hardwood flrs, ceiling fans, balconies, shutters, laundry, garden. 1 yr lease. No pets. N/S. (310) 829-6931 PALISADES STUDIO, large kitchen with dinette, stove, refrigerator, walk-in closet, covered parking, laundry, Non-smoker, No pets, one year lease, quiet and clean. $985/mo. (310) 477-6767 CONDO, OCEAN VIEW. Spacious, immaculate, 1+1 with fireplace. Great location. Steps to beach. Sunset & PCH. Pools, spas, tennis, exercise room. 24 hour security. $2,595/mo., incl utils. (310) 454-0269 TOPANGA GUESTHOUSE for RENT. 1 bed+1 bath with dining, living & office area. Views of city, canyon & ocean. Asking $2,400/mo. (310) 455-1627 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) 230-4110RENTALS TO SHARE 3a
FABULOUS FURNISHED OFFICE to share at PCH & Sunset. Ocean views. 2 private offices (holds 2-3 people). Conference room, reception & common areas. Call (310) 230-6866WANTED TO RENT 3b
GARAGE STORAGE SPACE wanted in the Palisades for a car. The owner lives on Chautauqua & drives it twice per month. Please call (818) 557-0135 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) 717-2985VACATION 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.comLOST & FOUND 6a
FOUND: RX EYE-GLASSES near Wells Fargo Bank on Ths. June 30. “Jean La Fonte” frames. To ID, call (310) 454-0351 FOUND: 3 KEYS+ALARM on keyring, found at Hartzell or Embury on July 4th. At the Palisadian-Post to ID. Call (310) 454-1321PERSONALS 6b
THANK YOU St. JUDE for answering my petition for Sarah. M.R.H.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.comGARAGE, ESTATE SALES 7f
PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? a moving sale? a yard sale? a rummage sale? an estate sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. – BARBARA DAWSON – Garage Sale Specialist – (310) 454-0359 – Furniture – Antiques – Collectibles – Junque – Reliable professionals Local ReferencesMISCELLANEOUS 7j
MESSENGER SERVICE/AIR COURIERS. Santa Monica Express, Inc. Since 1984. Guaranteed On-Time! Trucking & Freight Forwarding. Air Courier Door-to-Door Anywhere in the USA. Direct, Non-Stop Service Anywhere in CA. Same-Day Court Filings. Fully Licensed, Bonded & Insured. 24 hours/day, 7 days per week. (310) 458-6000. www.SMEXPRESS.com. PALISADIAN OWNED & MANAGEDNANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
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 NANNY AVAILABLE F/T. I can drive and have good references. Please call Reyna, (310) 502-2057 NANNY or HOUSEKEEPER AVAIL. Full-time or part-time. I have experience and good references. Call Florina, (310) 597-9326 or (310) 473-5105 P/T NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER available Tuesdays & Fridays. I have a car and good references. Call Estella, (323) 493-1584HOUSEKEEPERS 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/BABY-SITTER or driver available. Monday through Friday. Speaks good English, drives own car & has references. Please call Leonor, (323) 660-9985 or (323) 632-7036 HOUSECLEANER AVAILABLE. Full-time or part-time. Has experience and good references. Please call Gloria, (310) 419-4946 F/T HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE. I drive a car and have local references. Call Aida, (323) 735-7603ELDER 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) 692-3692GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11
PALISADES GARDENING – Full Gardening Service – Sprinkler Install – Tree Trim – Sodding/Seeding – Sprays, non-toxic – FREE 10″ Flats, Pansies, Snap, Impatiens. (310) 568-0989 ERIC LANDSCAPING & GARDEN MAINTENANCE. We’ll make your garden dreams come true. Over 15 yrs local experience. References. Call Eric at (310) 396-8218 BUDGET SPRINKLERS & LANDSCAPING – INSTALLATIONS – REPAIRS – UPGRADING & SOD – YARD CLEAN-UPS – FREE ESTIMATES/CASH DISCOUNTS. Lic. #768354 – (310) 398- 8512 GARCIA GARDENING SERVICES. Landscaping, maintenance, planting, sprinkler systems and clean-ups. Call Efren, (818) 881-8523, or cell, (310) 733-7414BRUSHCLEARING 11a
GREAT GRAZING GOATS!! (310) 573-0124MOVING & HAULING 11b
HONEST MAN SERVICES. 14″ van & dollies. Small jobs to 2 bedrooms. Hauls it all. California/Nevada. Over 12 years. Westside experience. (310) 285-8688WINDOW WASHING 13h
NO STREAK WINDOW cleaning service. Fast and friendly. Quality service you can count on. Free estimates. Lic. #122194-49. Please call (323) 632-7207MISCELLANEOUS 13i
PRESSURE WASHING. Driveways, patios, walk-ways, garages, dirt, oil, rust, paint and moss removal. Concrete, brick, natural stone. Clear and colored-stain sealers. Craig, (310) 459-9000 REFRIDG-A-CARE. Pull out vacuum dust from behind & under refrigerator. Runs more efficiently, cooler, less energy consumption. Less wear & tear on your refrigeration cooling system. Owen Cruickshank, (310) 459-5485PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g
BE HAPPY TO COME HOME! Trusted house/pet care in & around Palisades since 1986. Educated responsible. (310) 454-8081 K-90272 MOBILE PET SERVICES. Grooming, customized to your pet’s lifestyle. Vehicle equipped w/warm water. Additional services: Pet sitting. Dog walking. Training. Transportation. Rebecca, (310) 238-2339 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 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.comSCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d
SWIM LESSONS. Local instructor w/ over 14 years experience. Red-Cross Certified. Children, Mommy & Me and adults. Private and semi-private lessons at your home. Call Brian, (310) 505-9231TUTORS 15e
INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. EXPERIENCED TUTOR 20+ YEARS. Children & adults, 20+ yrs teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly special ed teacher. Call (310) 313-2530. SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR, All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614 MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145 SPANISH TUTOR. All grade levels, conversational & all ages. Local refs, flexible hours. Please call Noelle at (310) 273-3593 CLEARLY MATH TUTORING. Specializing in Math! Elementary thru college level. Test Prep, Algebra, Trig, Geom, Calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722 INNOVATIVE TUTORING. Math, Reading, Creative Writing. Including reluctant readers and learning differences. Experienced Public School Teacher and Tutor. Grades 1-5. Joanie, (310) 204-0935 THE WRITING COACH: Summertime Application Prep Intensives for next year’s graduating high school/middle school students. Private school application essays. College application essays. SAT/ISEE ESSAYS. 5 individual sessions (flexible scheduling/ your home). Extensive experience, success stories, acceptances. MA, Johns Hopkins; former LA private school teacher and Hopkins CTY instructor; writer/ consultant. Outstanding Palisades/Malibu references. (310) 528-6437 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 STANFORD-educated MATH TUTOR. Want better grades & scores next fall? Better get cracking this summer! Calculus, Precalc, Physics & SAT specialist. Experienced & personable. In-home convenience. Group & volume discounts. Chris, (323) 309-6687 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 cellCABINET 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.comCARPENTRY 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) 287-1141CONCRETE, MASONRY 16c
MASONRY & CONCRETE CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pool, decks, patios, foundations, fireplace, drainage control, custom stone, block & brick, tile. Excellent local references. Lic. #309844. Bonded/insured/ workmen’s comp. Family owned & operated. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 – www.horusicky.comCONSTRUCTION 16d
PARADISE CONSTRUCTION Building Contractor – All Trades – Lic. #808600. Call (310) 383-1659 CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237 PALISADES CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. KEVIN B. NUNNELEY. (310) 454-5029 – 1 (877) 360-6470 Toll-Free. Local References Avail. Lic. #375858 HOWESWORKS, General Contractor. Improve – Build – Install – Repair. Professional Reliable Service. Happiness Guaranteed. Lic. #858904. Daniel Howe, (310) 877-5577ELECTRICAL 16h
PALISADES ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437. Insured. Professional Service ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. All Phases and General Repairs. Local Service Only (Not lic.). Please Call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286FENCES 16j
THE FENCE MAN. 14 years quality workmanship. Wood fences – Decks – Gates – Chainlink & overhang. Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996FLOOR CARE 16l
GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references. (310) 230-4597. Lic. #455608 CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR. Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com. centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net – (800) 608-6007 – (310) 276-6407 HARDWOOD FLOORING. Best pricing. Senior discounts, quality workmanship. Bamboo, maple, oak and laminate. Installation & refinishing. Call for free quote. Lic. #763767. Ron, (310) 308-4988 WILSON HARDWOOD FLOORS. Complete installation, refinish and re-coat. Fully insured. License #380380. Ask for Kevin Wilson, (310) 478-7988HANDYMAN 16n
HANDYMAN, Since 1975. Call for your free est. Local ref. Lic. #560299. Member, Chamber of Commerce. HOOSHMAN (310) 459-8009, 24 Hr. LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 455-0803 LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy’Marty, (310) 459-2692 PETERPAN – Quality Home Repair -Serving Entire Westside. (Not lic.) Ask for Peter, (310) 663-3633 THE HANDY GUY. Any job, big or small. Over 15 years experience. Free estimates. Lic. #B-858574. Call (310) 216-9034HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16o
SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16q
PAUL HORST – Interior & Exterior – PAINTING – 51 YEARS OF SERVICE – Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 – (310) 454-4630 – Bonded & Insured TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Ref’s. Lic. #715099 MASTERPIECE PAINTING & DECOR – Stenciling/Faux/Plaster effects – License #543487 MFA ’84 – Bill Lundby, (310) 459-7362 SQUIRE PAINTING CO. Interior and Exterior. License #405049. 25 years. Local Service. (310) 454-8266. www.squirepainting.com SPIROS PAINTING, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR. Painting on the Westside since 1980. Lic. #821009. Fax and phone: (310) 826-6097. NO JOB is too small or too big for Spiro the GreekPLUMBING 16s
ROBERT RAMOS, Plumbing Contractor – Copper repipes – Remodels – New Construction – Service & Repair – Water Heaters – Licensed – Bonded – Insured – St. lic. #605556 – Cell, (310) 704-5353 BOTHAM PLUMBING AND HEATING. Lic. #839118. (310) 827-4040REMODELING 16u
KANAN CONSTRUCTION – References. BONDED – INSURED – St. Lic. #554451 – DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN LABOR OF LOVE HOME REPAIR & REMODEL. Kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, tile, doors, windows, decks, etc. Work guar. Ken Bass, General Contractor. Lic. #B767950. (310) 455-0803 BASIX DESIGNS & REMODELING, INC. WE DO IT ALL – Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Specialist – Room Additions – Interior/Exterior Paint – Windows/Doors – Custom Carpentry – Plumbing – Electrical – Call For Free Estimate – Toll Free: (877) 422-2749 – Lic. #769443HELP WANTED 17
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 P/T GENERAL OFFICE help wanted. Santa Monica. Part-time flexible. $9.50/hr. Call (310) 739-3833 F/T RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ASST. needed for growing Palisades office. Mon.-Fri,. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Excellent communication, organizational & clerical skills req. Opportunity for growth. Email resume & salary req. to admin@interventionplanner.com EXPERT PET STYLIST for well-established grooming salon in upscale neighborhood. F/T preferred; p/t optional. Benefit options. Send resume or letter of experience or inquiry to 865 Via de la Paz, #133, Pacific Palisades, CA. 90272 RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ASSISTANT for local travel business. Full-time. Good phone skills required. Some computer experience. Please call Pat, (310) 459-9891 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. Mon-Fri. Good with kids, must drive car, do light cooking & speak English. Refs and experience required. Call Mary, (310) 387-7722 OPTOMETRIST OFFICE. Needs person with excellent customer service skills for general office tasks. Will train. Immediate. Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (310) 459-0056SITUATIONS 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) 720-8004AUTOS 18b
2002 HONDA ACCORD EX. V-6. 2 door white, with tan leather interior & CD changer. Original owner. 36K miles. $14,900. Call (310) 476-1200 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 1997 AUDI A4 1.8L TURBO. Original owner. 74K miles. 5-speed manual trans, new engine and turbocharge at 53K miles. Silver, 4-door sedan, sunroof, CD, very good condition. New tires. $8,500. (310) 459-2454 2005 LEXUS ES330. ONLY 470 miles. Green, perfect condition. $31,450, incl tax (KBB invoice price) OR assume lease. $380/mo. for 50 months, +$300. Call (310) 454-7380FURNITURE 18c
SHABBY-CHIC COUCH & chair. French Bread Dough table. Pine dressers and Armoire. Call for info. (310) 573-0067 MOVING, MUST SELL! Beautiful pine bookcase, nearly new, 5.5 ft. x 5 ft., $350. Custom pine couch, loveseat, chair. Great beach look. $550. Call for more info, (310) 459-2756 ITALIAN COUCH, soft beige leather, 8 feet long. Like new. Orig $1,200, asking $550. LOVESEAT, fabric. Subtle beige design. Brass & wood trim. Asking $150. For info, call (310) 444-9240 EXCELLENT PINE TABLE 6′ by 3′. 4 pine chairs and 2 chairs with arms. Orig cost $1,200. Asking $550. Call (310) 459-2613GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d
OUR LADY of MALIBU Church sale. 3625 Winter Canyon Road & Civic Center Drive. SAT July 23 to SUN July 31. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Treasures from all over Malibu EVERYTHING MUST GO! 759 El Medio. SUN. JULY 24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Waterbed, lawn furniture, couch, clothes, potted plants, beauty products, glassware, toys, garden tools, lawn sculptures. PALI ESTATE SALE. SAT. 7/23 & SUN. 7/24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1526 Sorrento Drive/Capri. Oriental rugs, Victorian settee, chairs/chaises, vintage toys, couches, coffee service, pedestal table & 4 chairs. Office equip & more! MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE. SAT. JULY 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 601 Via de la Paz. Furniture, home items, toys, skate ramp/grind rail. No early birds.MISCELLANEOUS 18g
MAYTAG ENSIGNIA SET. Top-of-the-line. Electric washer, gas dryer. White with sloped front, heavy-duty, extra capacity, quiet with 5 wash-settings, incl hand-wash. Front-load dryer has sweater-rack. 6 mo. old. In storage. Orig. paid $1,200. Asking $550. Call (310) 230-1445 KNIGHT UPRIGHT PIANO for sale. Made in England. Excellent condition. $1,200 includes free tuning at your home. Call (310) 459-2192 eves.WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, ’50s, ’60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 306-7746 – profeti2001@yahoo.comThe Half-Blood Prince Arrives in Town
Close to 300 people of all ages and sexes lined up along Platform 9 in front of Village Books last Friday at midnight. The festive mood gave Swarthmore'”Diagon Alley”‘a party atmosphere as people milled around, greeted friends and worked on Harry Potter trivia and word searches while waiting for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to go on sale. There were no Dementors around (in Harry Potter’s world, the kind of people who suck out happiness and hope, leaving misery) as the line stretched past Mort’s Deli. A thick fogged creeped in, mixing with the street lights, lending an air of Holmesian mysteriousness. Before joining the line, Corinne Bourdeau and Andrew Koski held a Harry Potter wizard gathering at their home for 26 children and 14 adults. “We had a martini party to help ease the pain of coming out here,” said Corinne, who had read all five books. Many had ulterior motives for standing in line so late. “My son goes to sleep-away camp at 7 a.m. and I wanted him to have it,” Suzy Pion said. “We’re driving to Idaho tomorrow with our two children,” Ruth Wesson said. “We’re gettting Harry Potter on tape for the 21-hour car ride.” Seven women from the Smith College class of 1976 were visiting Colleen Quinn for a mini-reunion. They were in line to buy the book. One of the women, Mimi Dolan, a professor of biology at the University of Indiana, was headed to the airport. “Colleen got a pre-paid copy for me, so I can read it on the red-eye tonight.” At the very end of the line was Charlie Pasternak and his girlfriend, Taylor Fisher. “I have not read any of the books and I’m not reading any of them until the seventh is out,” said Pasternak. “I’ll read them all at once. I’m only here because of Taylor.” Taylor conceded that it was a nice boyfriend who would come and stand in a midnight line with her. Mrs. Weasley’s chocolate chip cookies, Honeydukes’ Avalande Surprise, cauldron cakes, cockroach clusters and butterbeer (cream soda) were available to waiting customers, many of whom were in costume. Donna Shapiro-Castillo, dressed as Dumbledore, laughed and said, “One of my children had it as a Halloween costume this past year and I stole it.” Once inside the store, Muggles and wizards over 21 were treated to glasses of Muggle juice (champagne). Signs around the store reflecting the Wizarding World, like potions, defense against the dark arts, and sorcery, were made especially for the occasion by Jackie Doyka, 16, a student at Marymount High School. At exactly 12:01 a.m., the doors opened to customers eager to purchase the sixth installment in the wildly popular J.K. Rowling series. Greg Aspell, 14, was at the front of the line. Store owner Katie O’Laughlin had donated the first spot as an auction for the Relay For Life, a cancer benefit held at Marquez in May. Rex Kirshner originally won the raffle, but he gave his winning spot to his friend Aspell for his birthday. There were 17 entries in the poster contest. Winners were Jake Boyle, 7, in the 7-and-under; Mia Ahmet, 11, in the 8-11; and Kathryn Wilson, 13, in the 12-15 category. Honorable mentions were given in all categories, with imaginative awards for “striking use of red,” “magnificent use of watercolor,” and “excellent depiction of a Quidditch match.” Boyle also won best Harry Potter costume in the 7-10 group; Lili Boyle, 9, was best witch; Patric Verrone, 10, Sirius Black (most original); and Marianne Verrone, 8, Dobby (best representation). In 6-and-below, Tommy Daigle, 6, and Teddy Verrone, 5, tied for first for best Harry Potter costume. In the 11-13 category, there was a tie for first between Johnny Lazebnik, 11, a Dementor, and Tait Johnson, 13, Draco Malfoy. Palisadian-Post intern Alex Boone read the book in one sitting. “It’s good’a fantastic story with excellent characters,” he said. “It has the same qualities as her other books, but I was disappointed that it was shorter (652 pages) than her previous novels. She could have gotten into the story quicker.” When the series originally started, Boone had no interest in the “other” world fantasy that Rowling’s books inhabit. Friends offered to give him $50 if he would read the first two books and tell them truthfully that he didn’t like them. After Boone finished, his friends kept their money. Boone was in London when the fourth book came out at midnight. He was one of the first Americans to have a copy and read it before booksellers in America were even allowed to sell it. Village Books opened at 8 a.m. Saturday, with eight people already in line. By the end of the weekend, 558 copies of the Potter book had been sold. “I’m super grateful for everyone who bought it here, ” O’Laughlin said. She still has copies available.
Shula’s 347
Restaurant Review
SHULA’S 347 Sheraton Gateway Hotel 6101 Century Boulevard Los Angeles 642-4820 Shula’s 347’Hall of Fame football coach Don Shula’s first west coast restaurant’opened recently at the newly renovated Sheraton Gateway Hotel just outside of LAX. Los Angeles-based Kor Hotel Group, renowned for its boutique hotel image, has put $14 million into the 802-room hotel. The new Shula’s 347 restaurant fits right into the new sophisticated urban design of the hotel. Shula owns two dozen successful steak houses located primarily in the South and the East. Part of Coach Shula’s restaurant success can be attributed to the custom center cuts of certified Angus beef and the particular aging process. I can attest that this is a terrific piece of beef. Furthermore, the restaurant is most attractive with black ebony furnishings and red faux ostrich print embossed leather, along with plasma televisions and state-of-the-art audio/video system. A starter sampler gave us a taste of both east and west with Chinese five spice seared ahi tuna served with a bit of avocado and an excellent cilantro-ginger vinaigrette; a Maryland-style crab cake with a fine cajun remoulade; and barbecued shrimp wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon and stuffed with basil. Each was well executed and full of flavor. Filet mignon with sauteed mixed peppers and button mushrooms was superb. Not only was the beef delicious, but the vegetables were flavorful and perfectly cooked. These same vegetables accompany all of the steaks from the 10-ounce filet mignon, to the 16-ounce bone-in cowboy steak, or 16-ounce New York strip steak, or the 24-ounce slow roasted prime rib. For non-beef lovers, there is a seared ahi tuna steak, or French cut chicken breast, as well as an Australian lobster tail. A true vegetarian will find Mediterranean linguine with tomatoes, basil, garlic, kalamata olives, capers, olive oil and crispy fried feta cheese. We tried two of the sides; tasty creamed spinach and smashed potatoes (all of which are whimsically priced at $3.47). Other sides include roasted vegetables, cole slaw, jumbo baked potato, French fries and more. Freshly made coffee and an apple cobbler made a fine finish to our dinner. This is a first-rate destination restaurant despite being near the airport. Because this is still a hotel restaurant, you may get a hickory burger, chicken or fish sandwich, or French dip composed of thinly sliced prime rib on a toasted ciabatta roll, at dinner time, along with the dozen entree listings. Prices are just as you would expect. Starters are $9 to $14, salads are $8, and entrees start at $17 for the linguine; the chicken breast is $19, and steaks range from $29 to $34. Desserts are $8. Wine prices are moderate and a number are served by the glass. Shula’s 347 is so named as a tribute to Coach Shula’s 347 game-winning record. Naturally, the restaurant bar features a special variety of pre-game and post game cocktails. The restaurant opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and serves until 10 p.m. except on Friday and Saturday when they remain open until 11 p.m. Parking is validated for diners.
Palisadians Win PTC Junior Open
For several years, the Palisades Tennis Center has played host to an annual tennis tournament. Yet until last week it had never held an event sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association. Tournament Director Scott Wilson changed all that with a lot of persistence and a few well-timed phone calls to make the inaugural Palisades Tennis Center Junior Open a reality. Strictly for junior players, the tournament was staged on courts at the Palisades Tennis Center and Santa Monica High last Tuesday through Friday. Wilson was concerned that holding a tournament right after a holiday weekend might affect the turnout, but he was pleased that the event drew 127 participants. “Everything turned out great and we had some great tennis out here,” Wilson said. “All of the divisions were very competitive.” Players from all over Southern California and as far away as Nebraska and Nevada showed up to participate in the event, which included 10 divisions–five each for boys and girls ages 8-18. Several Palisadians won their age divisions, including Robbie Bellamy in the boys’ 10-and-under division and 15-year-old Katie Nikolova, who won both the girls 16s and 18s divisions. Nikolova beat Caroline Richman in the 16s final and Dalya Perelman in the 18s. Bellamy, son of PTC founder and The Tennis Channel co-founder Steve Bellamy, lost the first set of his championship match against Kaelan Hicks in a tiebreaker but recovered to win the last two, 6-4, 6-2. Neither Bellamy nor Hicks lost a set en route to the finals. Bellamy has been on quite a roll recently. He took second place in the 10-and-under division of the Santa Barbara Tennis Open–one of the largest annual junior tournaments in Southern California. The following week he played up an age group (in the boys 12s) and won the 10th annual USTA Mountaingate Tournament. Palisadian Spencer Pekar advanced to the round of 16 in the boys’ 12s while Jordan Alper reached the quarterfinals of the 14s. Kathryn Cullen reached the semifinals of the girls’ 14s and the girls’ 16s draw featured Palisades High players Mary Logan and Sarah Yankelevitz. In the 18s, Krista Slocum, PaliHi’s No. 1 singles player, beat Erika Lee in the first round, 6-0, 6-1, before losing to the eventual champion, Nikolova. Local player Anthony Rollins was runner-up to Justin Gold in the boys 16s and Thomas Norminton won the boys 18s singles, defeating Chris Nguyen, 7-6, 6-0 in the finals. Jordan Brewer won the girls’ 12s championship with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Andrea Kinnerk. Brett Alchorn won a three-set final over Brian Foley in the boys’ 12s and Evan Teufel beat Tom Griffiths in straight sets in the finals of the boys’ 14s singles. Many other local players reached the finals and semifinals in their respective draws. Meagan Wilson lost in the 10-and-under girls finals, 12-year-old Krystal Hansard lost in the girls’ 14s finals to Marie Zalameda, Alex Baettig advanced to the semifinals of the boys 12s, Naomi Rosenberg reached the semifinals of the girls 10s and Perri Zaret made the semis in the girls 12s. The PTC will be hosting another event, called The Tennis Channel Open, August 15-19, which will be open to all USTA junior players. “We’re hoping we get as good a turnout for that as we had for this tournament,” Wilson said. Since 2001, the PTC has been the site for the Palisadian-Post Tennis Open–a tournament for players of all ages. PTC teaching pro Francesco Franceschini reached the final of the men’s Open draw each year.
A True Comedy of Manners: “Fashion” Lights Up the Stage
Theater Review
With the current taste in theater for verisimilitude, where audiences are obligated to take sides, mistake the plot for truth and make moral judgments, the comedy of manners has become extinct. Even revivals of Restoration comedy (Sheridan and Congreve) are far and few between, so Theatricum Botanicum’s revival of Anna Cora Mowatt’s “Fashion” is a bold move. The play is a keen good-natured satire on American nouveaux riches, and Mowatt was more than equipped to dissect the New York social scene, with all its pretense and gullibility, its tendency to ape Parisian customs, and its exaltation of money. Born in 1819, Mowatt came from a respectable New York family, and was the first American woman of society to help set the American theater on the path from social and moral contempt to respectability. Written in 1845, “Fashion” was her most popular play, and one of the first examples of a distinctly American comedy of manners. The play opens with Mrs. Tiffany (Barbara Tarbuck), the wife of a newly rich business man (Steve Matt) whose extravagance is ruining him. He, unbeknownst to her, has been caught in financial misconduct by his clerk Snobson (Jeff Bergquist), who will say nothing as long as he is promised Tiffany’s daughter Seraphina’s (Elizabeth Tobias) hand in marriage. Meanwhile Count Jolimaitre (Mark Lewis), an impostor with his own designs on Tiffany’s money, is wooing Seraphina. The source of “Fashion”‘s comedy is its satirizing of social pretensions, which starts right off with the hilarious repartee between Mrs. Tiffany and her French maid Millinette (Abby Craden), where butchering the French language (jenny-says quoi) is played to the hilt. Director Ellen Geer recalls that when she was 16 her father, actor Will Geer, was in an Off- Broadway production of “Fashion.” “It made an indelible impression on me and has stayed with me all these years,” she said. “Fashion” was first produced at the Park Theatre in New York in 1845 in a splendid production, which has been repeated at the Theatricum. The cast, which includes several Theatricum veterans, moves in and around the bucolic stage in Topanga. But the opulence is magnificently displayed in the costumes. Designer Kim DeShazo defines the arriviste’s uncertainty in matters of taste by overdressing Mrs. Tiffany in the most outlandishly inappropriate silks and satins. The colorful palette of men and women’s attire saturates the stage. While letting the script stand on its own funny two feet, Geer has also added tunes from the era, accompanied on piano by Evan Alparone, including “The Pig and the Inebriate,” and “I Wish I Were Single Again.” The delightful part about this show is that these characters, despite their vanities and banalities, do not offend our moral sense. We are amused. Performances continue through October 2 at various times, depending on the dates, at the Theatricum, 1419 Topanga Canyon Blvd. There will be a pre-show discussion on Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m. For tickets, call 455-3723.
Sri Lanka Orphans Tell Colorful Stories
Even in disaster, color abounds. The aqua blue, lime green and saffron-colored images that brighten the walls of Terri’s Restaurant in Pacific Palisades tell many stories of life in Sri Lanka before and after the tsunami pummeled the island off the coast of India last December. Most of the narrative paintings are colorful expressions of women harvesting the fields or bathing in a stream, but some portray scenes of upturned cars, people and houses swirling in a blue sea or a tearful woman clutching her baby. The striking images pop off the walls at Terri’s, many accompanied by photographs of the children who created them. The young artists live at the Sri Yasodara Orphanage, located near Colombo, the capital, and only half a mile from one of the tsunami disaster areas. Many of them are girls who have lost their parents to the civil war between the Tamil Tigers terrorist group and the Sinhalese government; others to suicide or extreme poverty. What is perhaps most moving is that these orphans’ illustrations, which are available for sale at Terri’s, will help raise funds for the orphanage to take on an additional 50 children who lost their parents in the tsunami. The money will go to basic needs for the orphans, such as clean food and lodging, as well as to their education and endowment funds. Loku Maniyo, a Buddhist nun who started Sri Yasodara in 1985, has already rented another facility to house some of the children in Weligama, a southern coastal village that was hit particularly hard by the tsunami. The home, called Yasodara Shanti Nikethanaya Hostel, will provide lodging for 23 girls, pending government approval. “The fact that these amazing paintings come from children of war is one thing that gets to people,” says Gable Carr, a Palisades resident who brought the artwork to Terri’s through her work with Loku Maniyo and Art Refuge, a program in which children who have experienced trauma or loss paint and tell their stories. Sponsored by Friends of Tibetan Women’s Association, Art Refuge first came to Sri Yasodara in 1999. The painting program is about “bringing all the kids together and teaching them about nonviolent, peaceful conflict resolution,” says Carr, 25, daughter of Didi Carr Reuben, whose husband is the senior rabbi at Kehillat Israel. One painting of two soldiers helping a woman is inscribed with “We don’t wont wor, We wont peas.” Providing the children with the opportunity to tell their stories has evoked some startling images and memories. One girl, named Nimali, painted “Disaster” about her last memory of her mother, whom she lost when she was a very young child to landslides, or “earthslips” during the monsoon season. “Nimali remembers her mother had on a green blouse and she remembers her carrying her when the hillsides started crumbling,” says Kitty Leaken, program director of Art Refuge, who photographed the artists. “Then they were separated and Nimali woke up in a relief camp in Nuwara Eliya. It was there that Loku Maniyo found her, after she had lost both of her parents.” Because Sri Yasodara Orphanage is not government-funded, the orphans, who range in age from one to 24, do not have to leave when they turn 18. “It’s important that we are able to send them to international schools so that they can learn English [in order to qualify for better jobs],” Carr explains. Currently, two of the older girls are studying English through an exchange program in New Zealand. “Terri’s really doing a good deed by having the paintings in the restaurant,” Carr says about owner Terri Festa. The restaurant is located at 1028 Swarthmore, across from Mort’s Deli. Carr reproduced the children’s original watercolor and oil crayon paintings as giclee prints (high resolution prints in which the image is sprayed in ink onto archival, museum-quality paper). For the 11″ by 14″ paintings, she is asking a minimum donation of $100; for 16″ by 20″, a minimum donation of $150; and for 20″ by 24″, a minimum donation of $175. Note cards with the images are also available for $10 at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore. “I do have some originals,” says Carr, who has already sold 19 pieces. She began working with Loku Maniyo and Art Refuge in January, and started selling the paintings at Terri’s more than two months ago. “It’s just another way that I want to educate and make people aware of what’s going on at the orphanage, and that there’s another way to donate to tsunami relief.” For more information on the Art Refuge project, visit www.artrefuge.org. To purchase a painting, visit Terri’s or contact Gable Carr at gablecarr@adelphia.net.
Joe Napolitano Succumbs at 105
Joe Napolitano, an Italian entrepreneur who was born on a freighter off Gibraltar in 1899 and lived an active, colorful life until his final weeks, died peacefully on July 4 at his home in Pacific Palisades. He was 105, and the town’s oldest known resident. “I’m now feeling fine,” Napolitano wrote in a letter to the Palisadian-Post in April, as he recovered from cancer surgery. “I can still pass the DMV tests for driving. No glasses needed.” Indeed, he delivered the letter in person, driving to our office from Iliff (he had a restricted driver’s license) and parking just down the street. He even renewed his subscription for another two years. After his third wife, Reva, died in 1996, Joe lived independently at home, cooking his meals, keeping the place tidy, cultivating his numerous backyard fruit trees and tending to his stock market investments'”not for the money,” said his niece, Tonia, “but as something that was challenging for his mind.” Last August 19, when photographer Rich Schmitt and I visited Joe on his 105th birthday, he was still mentally sharp, with eyes so good he could read his birthday cards without glasses. Face beaming, he welcomed us into his modest home and led us to the kitchen, where he was cooking a large pan of homemade applesauce, made from the gala apples he had picked from his own tree. “I freeze it and then I have frozen applesauce every night for dinner,” Joe said. “It tastes wonderful’just like apple ice cream.” He spooned out a bowl for me to sample and said, “With my compliments!” I told him, quite honestly, that it was indeed delicious. When we sat down to visit, I asked Joe how he felt. “I feel good today,” he said, lighting up his beloved pipe. “I don’t take any pills or medicine and I don’t have any aches or pains’just old-age wear. I want to die like my grandfather back in Italy. He was 97 and he smoked a pipe up until a week before he died. He wasn’t sick or anything; he just didn’t want to live anymore.” In the mid-1890s, before Joe Napolitano was born, his parents, Carlo and Antonia, accepted a free boat trip from Italy to Brazil in hopes of becoming rich by working on the coffee plantations. Instead, after three years, they realized they had become indentured slaves to the plantation owner, and when Antonia became pregnant with Joe (after already giving birth to a daughter in Brazil), she told her husband, “If I have to have another child in this country, I’m going to kill myself.” And Carlo told her, “If I don’t get you out of this country before the child comes, you can kill me.” Fortunately, the Napolitanos were able to board a French freighter bound for Italy, just ahead of their self-imposed deadline. Joe was born at sea, “two days before I reached earth,” he liked to say. After a few years, Carlo Napolitano followed his four sisters to America, where he worked his way across the country as a railroad surveyor. When he saw Los Angeles, he remarked: “This is so much like Naples, this is where I will bring my family.” About 1911, Joe and three of his brothers came to America, penniless and not knowing a word of English. In fact, their luggage had been stolen at the docks in Genoa and all they owned were literally the clothes on their backs. “We arrived on a large ship and when they put down the gangplank [at Ellis Island], everybody crowded into that giant hall,” Joe recalled in a 1999 interview, his brown eyes glistening. “Everybody found their way until not a soul was left, just us four brothers. There had been a mix-up outside, but nobody told us what to do or where to go. So we just stood against the wall because we were scared that somebody would come up behind us. We were there all day, without any food, and I remember thinking, ‘We’re in America’but where is it?’ “Finally, my mother arrived with one of our uncles and when she saw us, she started crying and shouting to the guards in Italian, “Those are my sons! Those are my sons!” and we were brought together. A great moment. I wish I could draw the picture.” After a boat ride to Manhattan, a long ride on the ‘I’ to the Bronx, and another lengthy ride by street car, the boys reached their aunt’s apartment. “She set the biggest table and served the best Italian meal you could imagine,” Joe recalled. “I’ll tell you’the joy of that first meal in America!” Several months later, Joe and his siblings and their mother rode the train out to Los Angeles to join Carlo, and within two years, with all the kids working at odd jobs, the Napolitanos had scraped together enough money to buy a little brick house with dirt floors next to Chavez Ravine. Although Joe left school after the ninth grade, he had tall, dark and handsome features that might have yielded a Hollywood career. When he began taking drama classes (with the likes of Ramon Navarro) in his early 20s as a way to sharpen his English-speaking skills, the teacher was impressed. “She said, ‘You should go into acting. You have a personality, you have a voice,'” Joe recalled. “And other people said, ‘You can run rings around Valentino.’ The guy was short and had a squeaky voice. But I didn’t like the acting life that I heard about’the wild parties, the drinking, taking dope, and having to sign slave contracts. I’m glad I didn’t go into that whole mess.” Instead, Joe capitalized on his sharp mind for business and a work ethic built upon wise advice from his father: “A bull has his horns, a man has his word.” In 1924, he started his own olive oil business, buying a press in Redlands that he moved onto a lot in East L.A. and building a two-story plant with his brother, Nick, where they processed olives from all over California. Napolitano Olive Products lasted until 1950, when Joe realized he couldn’t survive against larger, well-heeled rivals, plus the fact that farmers were selling their olive trees to make way for housing developments. Over the years, Joe earned his real estate license and an insurance broker’s license, worked for an Italian newspaper printed in English, and even ran for L.A. City Council (13th District) in 1931. He lost that race, despite the fervent support of one newspaper editor who wrote on the eve of the election: “Joe Napolitano is NOT A DYED IN THE WORLD POLITICIAN, neither is he past the age of discrimination to the best needs of the district; he is youthful, energetic and with an ideal in mind….A new broom sweeps clean, and a strong character does a good job. Go to the polls and ELECT JOSEPH NAPOLITANO, you worthwhile people of the THIRTEENTH!” In 1951, Joe and his beloved second wife, Lila, bought the 17th Street Nursery on Wilshire in Santa Monica, moving into a little house on the property. He operated the business until 1961, when the owner sold the land to an insurance company. By that time, Lila had fallen ill with cancer. “I spent three years taking care of my wife,” Joe said. “She was the sweetest thing in the world but she suffered from so many things. When she died [in 1994], I sold our house on Chautauqua and moved in with my sister for six months. They gave me everything free but I decided I had to do something different. So I came back to the Palisades and bought my house on Iliff.” Soon he met Reva Aronson Grant at a Democratic Club meeting and they got married when Joe was 81. “She was the baby in her family, so she never learned to cook, never learned to sew, not a damn thing,” he said affectionately. “But we had so much fun together, traveling to places like Mexico and Canada.” As I left Joe’s home after a visit in 1999, he pointed out his latest pride, a scrawny little apple tree that he had recently planted in the front yard (since there was no more room for fruit trees in the back yard). “It’s just a sapling right now,” he admitted, “but I’ve got it going pretty well, so I have to live long enough to enjoy it, maybe two or three years from now. When you have a reason to live, something to look forward to, it helps. Always look for the next day.” Joe Napolitano was predeceased by the two children from his second marriage, Joe Jr., who was a fireman and arson investigator, and daughter Nita. Survivors include eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 21 nieces and nephews. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Corpus Christi Church in the Palisades this Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, and a reception will be held at his home in the afternoon.
Jim Braunger; Former Palisadian, Carpenter
Jim Braunger, a former Pacific Palisades resident, died on March 27 in Camarillo. He was 84. Born on September 28, 1920, Braunger graduated from Hollywood High School and serve 2-1/2 years in the Air Force during World War II. He and his family lived in the Palisades for 35 years before moving to Camarillo 20 years ago. Braunger spent many years as a finish carpenter until his retirement. He traveled extensively with his wife of 63 years, Bettie, and enjoyed bicycling. He also volunteered his time to help Food Share. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Giannone of Woodside, California; son Kyle of Santa Barbara; and grandchildren Monica Braunger of New York and Matthew Giannone of Woodside. He was predeceased by his son Greg, who died in an accident in Big Sur 15 years ago.
