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At Home with the Rabbi and Didi

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Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben and his wife Didi, shortly after she returned home from a Pilates workout and he came home from Kehillat Israel. The couple has lived in the Palisades for 19 years and help anchor the community with their love and tolerance of diversity and differences.
Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben and his wife Didi, shortly after she returned home from a Pilates workout and he came home from Kehillat Israel. The couple has lived in the Palisades for 19 years and help anchor the community with their love and tolerance of diversity and differences.

The Steven and Didi Carr Reuben home is not only a visual delight, but a respite for the soul as well. With a personality larger than life, the effervescent Didi ushered me into their condominium which is just a short walk from the village. The rooms are alive with color, vibrancy and interesting angles. Didi simply says, ‘This whole house is my husband and me.’ One level into the living room, the deep green ceiling circled with small black-and-white tiles, the lavender walls, the blue fading to a white stucco around the fireplace, the printed red sofa delight your eyes. The room is full of curios from their world travels. ‘It’s really a visual travel journal of the last 20 years,’ Didi remarks. ‘The gifts of travel are that our eyes are opened to the world,’ says Steven, the rabbi at Kehillat Israel. ‘There’s a certain humility to it. It’s easy to think of our community as the center of the world. The humility comes from the recognition that we are all one’interconnected.’ He points out that they had traveled to the part of India that was hit last December by the tsunami. When he and Didi heard about it, there was a visceral sense of connection to place and the people. The Carr Reubens feel lucky to be in Pacific Palisades. When Steve joined K.I. 19 years ago, the synagogue leaders decided that they wanted their rabbi to live in the community. They loaned a down payment that the Carr Reubens used to buy a condo on Via de la Paz. They settled into the community, and Didi started a Jazz Night at Mort’s Oak Room the first Monday of every month. The informal setting gives her a chance to showcase her sultry voice and her expansive, fun personality. Her husband, who was principal percussionist with the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra for three years, plays in the band. Ten years ago, they moved to their current residence on Haverford. Didi worked with the architect and contractor to reshape the space. Originally it had a loft that was part of a ‘master suite.’ They closed off the loft to make a third-floor bedroom that includes a small office for Didi. The lower level of the ‘master suite’ became an expanded bathroom with a large walk-in closet and small exercise room. The bedroom is a deep salmon color, although as Steve jokingly points out, ‘Didi doesn’t even like fish.’ Didi explains, ‘That’s why I call the color a deep coral.’ The fireplace in the bedroom is tiled and inset with ‘coral’ grout. The sofa is purple, but the wood floor is a shade of green that surprisingly ties the whole scheme together. The floor also has a tint which gives it the feel of a clean smooth surface that blends into the surroundings. Didi confesses that when they were in the middle of the construction process, ‘The contractor, the architect and the painter didn’t like any of my choices. I had absolutely no support for the colors.’ Undaunted, she went ahead anyway. ‘I like to be controversial.’ Above the master bed, four small square spaces are constructed in the wall.When Didi asked the architect what was supposed to go in the spaces, the architect said, ‘You’ll figure out what goes up there.’ During the couple’s travels, they looked for various objects that might work, like masks or carvings, but neither of them could agree. Then, on a trip in New Zealand off the beaten path, they discovered an art gallery called ‘Bits of David’. They went inside and instantly both knew that it was bits of David (blue mini-sculptures of a noise, an ear, a mouth, and an eye) that had to go in the spaces. Asked how he feels about the color scheme, Steven replies sweetly, ‘I love it, because I love her.’ Didi adds, ‘I knew he loved me, but if I didn’t know before decorating, I knew it then.’ The rabbi’s job is a 24-hour-a-day job, seven days a week. His office is open from 9 to 5, and in the evenings he has meetings, teaches, counsels, and is on call for his congregants. He comments, ‘The synagogue is full of wonderful people. They are so good to us. It’s a privilege to be part of their lives.’ The Carr Reubens go away a month every year on a mini-sabbatical. ‘The congregation recognizes that when I’m here, I give myself 100 percent and that I need time off to think and recharge my batteries,’ Steve says. He and Didi travel extensively during that time and agree that one of their best choices was the William Ricketts sanctuary in Pmara Kutata, outside Melbourne, Australia. A white artist’s tribute to the plight of the aborigines, ‘it’s one of the most powerfully spiritual places in the world,’ says Didi. ‘The sculptures emerge out of the trees.’ Steven adds, ‘The sanctuary is so in touch with the essence of life. It reminds us that more unites us than divides us. As we’ve traveled, we realize kids’ smiles are the same everywhere, laughter is the same. Adults’ desire for their kids to be safe is the same everywhere in the world.’ When they’re in town, the Carr Reubens meet every night around 11 in their ‘chill room’ for a date. It’s a room with no telephone, no windows, a sofa and two chairs. Neutral with color accents, it’s an intimate and cozy place where both can unwind at the end of a day. Rabbi Reuben has written several books, including ‘Children of Character,’ and is currently completing ‘How to Answer Your Children’s Most Difficult Questions.’ Didi, in addition to her duties as the rabbi’s wife, has several other concurrent projects. She has put together ‘Didi’s Sleepaway Camp for the Terminally Vain,’ a 15-day trip to Costa Rica which can include plastic surgery or dentistry. Last year she recorded a CD entitled ‘My Romance,’ featuring her favorite love songs. Her husband adds, ‘I wanted to hear her voice when she wasn’t with me.’ Their daughter Gable is currently filming a movie ‘National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze 2: Semester at Sea.’ Twenty-one years ago, the children from the preschool where Steven was a rabbi decorated the canopy under which the Carr Reubens were married with designs and the children’s names. A fabric artist filled in some of the cloth, making it three-dimensional. The canopy hangs in their hallway. In the center of the frame are the vows they recited that day: ‘This ring symbolizes the love of our home, the home of our love and the spiritual sanctuary they create together.’ Regretting that my time in Didi and Steven’s ‘spiritual sanctuary’ was ending, I kept up our conversation as we parted in the driveway. As a mother, I steered our conversation to children and spirituality. Didi urged her husband to tell me the story of a child in his Sunday School class. Steve asked the little girl what she was doing. She replied, ‘I’m drawing a picture of God.’ Steve told her, ‘No one knows what he looks like.’ The girl replied, ‘Of course not, because I haven’t finished my picture yet.’

Armina Hastings, 53-Year Resident

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Armina Hastings, a Pacific Palisades resident since 1952, passed away on May 24 in Santa Monica. She was 84. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Armina loved to go to dances in Manhattan as a young woman, and later would fondly recall how she led the conga line at the Essex House. She met Norry Hagopian while on vacation in the Catskill Mountains. The couple married during World War II and ended up in California where Norry, an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, was stationed in San Diego. After the war they moved to Baldwin Park. Norry, a chemical engineer, began his career in the plastics industry and legally changed his last name to Hastings when he went into business. They had two children, Michael and Norene. In 1952, the family moved to the Palisades and became active in St. Matthew’s Church. Armina loved the community, knew many of the local merchants and enjoyed walking from her house into the village or down to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific ocean. In the 1960s, Armina served on the board of the Armenian Allied Arts Association and in the 1970s, she worked for five years at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. During that time she also earned a certificate in management from Mt. St. Mary’s College. Armina was highly intelligent and had little patience for the routine and prosaic parts of life, as she had a great zest for fun, adventure and learning. She was a gregarious person who continually took classes, joined organizations and traveled. She loved literature and music, and enjoyed going to concerts and the theater. An excellent cook, she loved to experiment with new recipes. Armina was also quite athletic and enjoyed playing tennis with her friends in the Palisades until she was into her 70’s. When traveling, she loved to explore new cities and countries and went on a number of trips to China, Europe, Canada and Mexico. She also enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Panama Canal. A creative person, Armina loved to laugh, entertain and tell stories. She knitted, was an excellent writer and speechmaker, and discovered an affinity for acting later in life, performing in a number of Santa Monica Emeritus College stage productions. After acting, her next venture was learning to play bridge. She took classes and enjoyed playing in her weekly games. In 1992, Armina was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she battled with her typical courage and strength. After treatment, she was cancer-free until 1998, when she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in her bones. At the end of 2003, Armina was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalous (fluid on the brain). Treatment was unsuccessful and the last seven months of her life were spent at Brentwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Santa Monica. It was there that she passed away peacefully with her daughter at her side. Armina was preceded in death by her husband Norry and son Michael, and is survived by her daughter Norene of Pacific Palisades and sister Alice Mouradian of Fowler. Donations in Armina’s memory may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Parish of Saint Matthew, 1031 Bienveneda, Pacific Palisades, CA, 90272, or the Ararat Home of Los Angeles, Inc.

Daniel R. Cleeves, 50; Palisades High Alum

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Daniel R. Cleeves, a Palisades High School alumnus, passed away on April 26 in Santa Rosa owing to complications from lupus. He was 50. Dan was born in Leadville, Colorado, and grew up in Fallbrook, California. He lived in Pacific Palisades from 1967 to 1973, attended Paul Revere Middle School and graduated from Palisades High in 1972. He was active in sports at Pali, especially in basketball and as a wide receiver on the varsity football team. After graduating from San Diego State University, Dan moved to Rohnert Park, California, and worked in Novato for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company as Western regional director for national accounts. He also spent much of his time helping with sports at the local park. He is survived by his wife Jo Anne of Rohnert Park; daughter Ashley and son Sean, both of Rohnert Park; mother Anne Cleeves of Fallbrook; brother John of Columbia, South Carolina; two sisters, Rosemary of Henderson, Nevada, and Carolyn of Sequim, Washington; and many other loving relatives and friends. He will be missed very deeply by all. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be given to the charity of one’s choosing or to Rancho Cotate Cougar Boosters, Inc., P.O. Box 1806, Rohnert Park, CA, 94927.

Memorial Set this Saturday for Harold And Edith Waterhouse

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A memorial tribute will be held for Harold and Edith Waterhouse this Saturday, June 11, at 2 p.m. in Mort’s Oak Room, 1035 Swarthmore. The public is invited. Harold Waterhouse, a former Citizen of the Year in Pacific Palisades, passed away last December 27 at the age of 94. Edith, his wife of more than 52 years, died on April 5 at the age of 90. The couple had lived on Wildomar St. since 1947.

Angels in Your Neighborhood

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ER Angels working in the emergency room at St. John's this day include, from left front clockwise: Ann Harter, Karen Hand, Pam Shea, Melinda Casey, Janie Crane, Mary Ann Weiss, Silgia Grass and Margaret Given.
ER Angels working in the emergency room at St. John’s this day include, from left front clockwise: Ann Harter, Karen Hand, Pam Shea, Melinda Casey, Janie Crane, Mary Ann Weiss, Silgia Grass and Margaret Given.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

By Brenda Himelfarb Palisadian-Post Contributor It’s one thing to volunteer to work in an emergency room. It’s another, however, to work in an emergency room and, on occasion, assist your child, who is an emergency room physician. Yet, that’s exactly what Palisadian Silgia Grassl has done as an Angel of the ER at Saint John Hospital’s Emergency Department. Grassl had been in the Angel program for two years, when her daughter, Sabrina Grassl-Diaz, who grew up in the Palisades, began working at St. John’s, after interning in the emergency room at County/USC. ‘Needless to say, it’s very special. I just try not be in the way,’ admits Grassl, with a smile. More than 30 adult volunteers, 13 of them Palisadians, are part of the Angels of the ER, a program that was created by Carla Hummer, an RN who worked at Saint John’s for 25 years. From wrapping a patient in a blanket or merely holding a hand, Angels are there to comfort and calm all those who enter St. John’s emergency room. ‘I give patients verbal first aid,’ Hummer once said. ‘I tell them, ‘You’re in the right place. We’re only here to make you feel better.’ Most important, the Angels are a vital link in the communications chain between the patient and their families and the ER staff. The Angels also allow the ER physicians and nurses to spend more time doing what is most needed’providing patents with the best possible medical care available.’ The idea for the Angels came about because Hummer was disturbed that patients had to sit and wait so long in the emergency room. She voiced her concerns to Russ Kino, director of the hospital’s emergency department, who approached the hospital’s Irene Dunne Guild, which raises funds and organizes volunteers for the hospital. Soon Hummer was organizing the Angels in the ER. ‘The Angels assistance has greatly improved patients’ relationships with the medical staff, because they are there to listen and answer questions, allowing physicians and nurses to focus on treating patients as quickly as possible,’ Kino says. Ranging in age from 19 to 65, the Angels undergo extensive training that includes an eight-hour orientation, followed by 25 hours in the emergency room. After completing their training the volunteers spend the first six months on the job with an experienced partner, under the supervision of an ER physician, an RN and a physician’s assistant. For the duration of their volunteer work, they also attend monthly meetings at the hospital. ‘It’s very rigorous training and we have been extremely selective with our recruitment of Angels because it takes a very special person to handle the enormous responsibilities involved,’ says Ann Harter, who currently runs the program. ‘The ER is extremely busy and can be very stressful for someone who isn’t prepared to cope with crisis situations.’ Palisadians Hummer and Harter were the first Angels. But soon the word spread, and the group continues to grow. ‘ Recently the Palisadian-Post invited other Angels who live in the community to share their feelings about the work they do in the St. John’s emergency room. ‘I have been an Angel for about four years,’ says Teddi Tindall, who has recruited some Angels through her job at the Nest Egg on Sunset. ‘I feel, other than caring for my husband, that it is the most important thing I do in my week. It embarrasses me when the patients express their appreciation, because the work is so personally gratifying and gives me so much spirituality. I should be thanking them.’ On one frantic day, a mental patient was experiencing extreme emotional highs and lows. ‘One minute he was crying, the next he was all smiles,’ Tindall recalls. ‘When he was put in a public area he became agitated and disruptive to the people around him. In talking with him, I discovered he loved to dance. I asked him to dance and we spent a lovely few minutes waltzing, which soothed him and created a bond between us.’ Lou Andrews, a retired Marine, has been an Angel for a year. ‘My job as an Angel encompasses two functions: one oriented toward the patients and the other toward the ER staff,’ he says. ‘In a phrase, for the patients I make ‘nice.’ The patient is typically anxious, discomfited and depressed. It is simply heartwarming to see the effect of walking to a gurney, placing a hand on an arm, smiling and asking, ‘Are you warm enough?’ The ER staff is dreadfully overworked and I do whatever I can to help. I make beds, empty urinals, clean, run errands, deliver and retrieve food trays, transport patients in wheelchairs and most importantly, am of good cheer. I feel that I am truly part of the ER staff team’a team in the finest sense of that word. I can think of nothing I have done in recent years that has given me a greater feeling of worth.’ ‘ Mary Ann Weiss became interested in becoming a volunteer because of the compassion and medical skills of the staff during her stay as a patient. ‘I wanted to show my gratitude in some way. Each time I help in the ER, I have such a good feeling, as I know that I have helped some people through a difficult time.’ Melinda Casey has been volunteering for over two years. ‘The interaction with the staff and people who come in for help is a life experience,’ she says. ‘Each shift is a new experience. People come in afraid and confused. But before long we make them comfortable and at ease and let them know that everything is being done for their proper care’whether it’s giving blankets, getting juice, being a liaison between the nurse and patient or simple letting family members know what is going on. ‘One time a chef, who had cut off his finger and had saved it in a bag of ice so it could be sewn back on, came in to the ER. Although he had done the right thing, it was hard to believe. We cared for him and he is back to work in the kitchen.’ Helen Cranmer, a Palisades piano teacher, says that as she enters the ER for her shift, she leaves her own life behind and totally devotes herself to trying to comfort and ease away concern of both the patient and the family. ‘The magically medicinal affect of a smile and reassuring words disarm the fear of a patient. I love to give away smiles, hope and optimism. Humor works well, also.’ Mary Martin, who has four sons, has been an Angel for over two years. ‘Having been a stay-at-home mom, I found that I had a skill that I didn’t know I had’that of being a cool, calm caregiver when the boys got hurt. Needless to say, we made several trips to the ER over the years. ‘The thing I find myself wondering is how the story comes out for everyone. How did the heart operation come out? But we are only involved for an hour or two in the process. People come in and the Angels get to know them a little. It’s not like television where you find out the ending. This job brings reality to my life and reminds me that every day is a gift.’ Grassl says that many elderly people come in, often alone. ‘It’s nice to be able to make a phone call for them or to even just hold hands. For me, these simple things are very rewarding.’ Ann Harter felt the helpfulness of the Angels first-hand when her son was admitted with a serious lung problem. ‘It was an Angel who gave me a hug and provided comfort and assurance, which allowed the ER staff to care for our son. It was an Angel who inquired as to our needs and brought a comfortable chair to our son’s bedside. For an anxious mother, these acts of kindness were very much appreciated. The ER team cared for us in a time of crisis and our Angel was a part of that team.’ With all the chaos in our world, it’s good to be reminded that there are a lot of good people doing good things’many of them your neighbors. And they make a difference every day in the lives of people who, in most cases, they have never met before and probably will never see again.

CLASSIFIED ADS FROM THE JUNE 2, 2005 ISSUE OF THE PALISADIAN-POST

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HOMES FOR SALE 1

MAGNIFICENT 180′ VIEWS. Palos Verdes to Malibu. 2 bed+2 lge baths. 1,824 sq ft. Triple & 1/2 mfg. home in Tahitian Terrace. No age limit “family park,” as of May 05. Exceptional schools! Largest space in park, huge deck, pond w/ 10′ waterfall, 25′ palms. New carpet, freshly painted, vaulted ceilings, lge walk-ins. 2 car carport + extra pkg space. Must See! $615,000. Owner. Call (972) 771-4657 PAC PAL. STUNNING ocean, mtn views. This stunning 1,200 sq. foot 2 BD, 2 BA remodeled manuf home in Tahitian Terrace offers the beach seeking buyer a quiet, private oasis across from Will Rogers State Beach. Rent control. Pets ok. $469K. SC Realty, Franklin, (818) 346-6601. Lic.# 01039561 SEAL BEACH, LEISURE WORLD. 2 bd, 2 bath. Corner unit. Covered patio. Nicest location. $299K. Call (562) 431-3395 or (310) 454-5157 PACIFIC PAL. 1+1 CONDO for sale by owner. Hardwood flrs, tiled bath, light and bright. Walk to beach. Partial ocean & lovely mtn vus. 24 hr. guard gated. 9+ acres. Pools, spas, exercise room. $449,500 obo. Call (310) 497-8227

FURNISHED HOMES 2

PALISADES 2 BEDROOM, furnished home for s/t lease. Large deck, garden, all appliances, cable TV. Avail August 15 to November 15, 2005. Canyon view, village close. $3,000/mo. Please call (310) 459-6920

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

VIEW OF QUEEN’S NECKLACE. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, family room. Remodeled kitchen, new carpet. 1 year lease. Available April 1st. $5,950/mo. Call Patsy, (818) 703-7241. FABULOUS COUNTRY TRADITIONAL near bluffs. 2 bed, 1 bath, large. Big sunny office, hardwood floors, formal dining room, huge living room. Redone kitchen. 2-car garage. Private backyard. Perfect. Principals only. Available. $4,500/mo. (310) 571-1368 BEAUTIFUL 4 BED+3 BATH: Alphabet streets. Steel & granite kitchen w/ center island. Cozy great room. Patio & landscaped yards. $8,800/mo. Surinder, (310) 503-2185 3 BED & 2 BATH HOUSE for rent. 2-car garage. Available now. $4,450/mo. Please call (818) 997-4242 SPECTACULAR OCEAN VIEW. Castellammare area. Walk to beach. 4 bedroom + 3 baths. $6,800/mo. Call (310) 454-5055 TOPANGA MOUNTAIN VIEWS new home. 3 bed, 2 bath. Yard, garage, Jacuzzi, 1,430 sq. feet. Huge deck, 2 stories. New appliances. $2,600/mo. (310) 837-1777

FURNISHED APARTMENTS 2b

GREAT 4 IN-LAWS. Sr citizen summer lease. Bright, sparking, clean with new furniture. 1 bed, 1 bath condo. Available June thru Oct ’05. $1,600/mo, incl utils. Broker. (310) 456-8700

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

PALISADES ON THE BLUFFS. 2 bd, 2 ba w/ unobstructed ocean views! Lush gardens, large yard, heated pool. $3,500/mo., utils included. No cats/dogs. 1 year lease. Call for details: (310) 454-1042 CARMEL in THE PALISADES. 2 bedroom, beautiful lot. Walk to village. $3,495/mo. Agent. Call Nancy, (310) 230-7305 $2,200/mo. 1 BED, 1 BATH. (1,200 sq ft.) in unique Medit triplex near bluffs. Picture window, hardwood flrs, built-in shelves & spacious tiled kitchen, tiled bath, fireplace, laundry, garden. 1 yr lease. No pets. N/S. (310) 829-6931 $3,300/mo. 2 BED, 1 BA, spacious & tiled. Kitchen, bonus room (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 SPACIOUS, NEWLY RENOVATED 2,400 sf single-level condo. 2 bd/den+2.5 ba+new kitchen. 2-car park. Small lux bldg, close to village. Exceptional value. $3,500/mo. 1 yr lease. Agent Nancy, (310) 230-2480 LIKE-NEW, 3 BED, 2.5 BA or 2 bd+den. Patio w/ BBQ, balcony, view, hardwd flr, new kitchen. Huge storage. Steam shower, jacuzzi, tennis, pool, spa, gym. $4,300/mo. Long-term lease. (310) 454-9337 SUNSET in THE VILLAGE. Spacious 1 bed, 1 bath penthouse. Newly renovated, large rooftop patio, walk-in closets, gated parking, security bldg, laundry. $2,400/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 454-7743 SUNSET in THE VILLAGE. Spacious 2 bed, 2 bath penthouse. Newly renovated, large rooftop patio, walk-in closets, gated parking, security bldg, laundry. $2,800/mo. 1 year lease. (310) 454-7743 SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL, CHARMING, garden setting guesthouse. Situated behind gated drive. Light, bright, windows everywhere. Wood floors, 2 lge rooms, walk-in closets. Wood paneled. Fridge & dishwasher, new W/D. Major storage. Female, N/S. $1,850/mo. (310) 230-8661 WANTED: RENTAL HOME OR Apt. Qualified renters require summer properties in all areas. Call Francesca, (818) 451-8883 SPACIOUS & TRANQUIL 3 bd, 2 ba Palisades apt. Village/ocean close. New paint, gas/wd-burning fplace. Priv wooded patio area. Stove, oven, d/w. Covered tandem pkg. Pool, community W/D. $2,350/mo. 1 year min. lease. Robert at Poptsis Realty, (310) 393-4506

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

LOVELY FURNISHED ROOM & bath with mini-kitchen opens to garden w/ separate entry. Quiet, single, female, mature person or student. N/S. $750/mo. Refs req. Avail 7/1/05. (310) 459-5261

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

2 OFFICE SPACES AVAILABLE in professional bldg in Palisades village. 750 square feet. Call Ness, (310) 230-6712, ext.105

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 SEEKING PALISADES HOME or apt to swap for renovated, furn Manhattan 2 bedrm upper Westside apt in doorman building. July flexible. Weekly OK. Call former Palisadian, (212) 662-3111

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. $350K+/yr. business opportunity. Already successful but on someone else’s terms? Leaders wanted. www.beyourworth.com (800) 336-6497

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

MISCELLANEOUS 7j

SANTA MONICA EXPRESS, INC. Messenger Service/Air Couriers 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

SEEKING p/t or f/t live-out BABYSITTER or HOUSEKEEPER position. I am honest, pleasant, responsible and speak English well. Please call Marcela, (310) 936-7133 SEEKING LIVE-IN nanny/housekeeper for Palisades family. Must speak English with excellent references. Please call Lisa, (213) 680-7939 F/T LIVE-OUT BABYSITTER. Over 14 years experience and I have my own transportation. Speaks English. Local refs. Please call Marta, (323) 777-4136 FULL-TIME BABYSITTER available Monday to Friday. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 19 year-old University of Michigan student. Lauren, (310) 717-1794 GREAT PRE-SCREENED NANNIES available. Let us help you with your nanny search. We are a dedicated professional agency and we will find the right match for you. Whether you are looking for a full-time/pt, L-in or L-out help, we can help you. Call Sunshine Nannies, (310) 614-5065 or (310) 801-8309 F/T NANNY/HOUSEKEEPER available. Live-out. Good references. Over 5 years of experience. Great with babies and toddlers. Own transport. Some English. Call Connie, (323) 898-7056

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 SEEKING P/T HOUSEKEEPER 2 days, Wednesday and Friday. Must be organized, reliable, efficient and pleasant. Must speak English well and have car available for errands. Call Nicole, (310) 573-0350 OUR WONDERFUL HOUSEKEEPER is available full-time Mon.-Fri. Extremely reliable and pleasant. Has own car, speaks English; same family for 5 yrs. Please call Lisa, (213) 680-7939 HOUSECLEANING; PROVIDES a QUALITY cleaning program for your home, office or business at competitive rates. Reliable & honest. Excel references. Own trans. Please call (213) 300-8805 P/T HOUSECLEANER or NANNY with good experience available 3 days/week. Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. Call Paula, (213) 380-0287, or cell, (818) 613-4323 F/T HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER avail Monday thru Friday. I have good refs. and experience and speak a little English. Please call Martina, (213) 926-3593 or (323) 737-4629

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

WOMAN NEEDED to HELP a partially handicapped lady with her daily exercises & housework, 5 days per week for a FAMILY of TWO. Prefer you to live-in. Must be able to drive OUR car. No children or pets. Malibu area. Salary is open. Call (310) 457-3393 COMPASSIONATE & RESPONSIBLE LICENSED nurse. Extensive experience includes rehab, geriatric, hospice, psyche and post-surg. care, as well as high-profile clients who require confidentiality. Refs available. Call (323) 691-4707 or (323) 734-2520

GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING – Full Gardening Service – Sprinkler Install – Tree Trim – Sodding/Seeding – Sprays, non-toxic – FREE 10″ Flats, Pansies, Snap, Impatiens. (310) 568-0989 ERIC LANDSCAPING & GARDEN MAINTENANCE. We’ll make your garden dreams come true. Over 15 yrs local experience. References. Call Eric at (310) 396-8218 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) 733-7414

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

HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE 12a

MOBILE MANICURING SERVICE. For the best manicures and pedicures. Call Cyndi, (310) 213-7223

WINDOW WASHING 13h

NO STREAK WINDOW cleaning service. Fast and friendly. Quality service you can count on. Free estimates. Lic. #122194-49. Please call (323) 632-7207

MISCELLANEOUS 13i

PRESSURE WASHING. Driveways, patios, walk-ways, garages, dirt, oil, rust, paint and moss removal. Concrete, brick, natural stone. Clear and colored-stain sealers. Large/small jobs. 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 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. HAPPY PET – FEEDING – EXERCISING – SITTING. In-home care or park outings. Connie, (310) 230-3829

MISCELLANEOUS 14i

NEED a RIDE in TOWN? I’m available for errands, hair & MD appts & grocery shopping. Friendly, reliable and safe, w/ local references. Call Catherine, (310) 927-7212

FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a

NORDIC WALKING. Nordic Walking burns up to 46% more calories than regular walking and is excellent for weight loss. Perfect for all ages. Makes a great gift and get the 1st instructional DVD in the U.S. for only $29.50! Personal Training walking classes and Nordic walking poles avail. Check at www.nordicwalkingonline.com or call (310) 573-9000 FITNESS FOR WOMEN. ZIMMERMAN FITNESS FOR WOMEN specializes in weight loss and body shaping. Our private studio near the village offers professional & individual services, using the finest equipment and products. This specific one-on-one training is safe, natural, efficient and exclusively for women. Appointment only. Local references. Call us for a free consultation: (310) 573-9000. www.zfit.com

SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d

PRIVATE SWIM LESSONS. Certified swim instructor w/ 16 years experience. Local refs. available. I can come to your home. Introductory lessons are 75% off. Call (626) 797-2777

TUTORS 15e

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. EXPERIENCED TUTOR 20+ YEARS. Children & adults, 20+ yrs teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly special ed teacher. Call (310) 313-2530. SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR, All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614 MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145 SPANISH TUTOR. All grade levels, conversational & all ages. Local refs, flexible hours. Please call Noelle at (310) 273-3593 CLEARLY MATH TUTORING. Specializing in Math! Elementary thru college level. Test Prep, Algebra, Trig, Geom, Calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722 SPANISH TUTOR, CERTIFIED teacher. Palisades resident. Over 14 years experience. All levels. Local references. Affordable rates. Marietta, (310) 459-8180 THE WRITING COACH: Student essays/homework/ reports/research papers (all subjects). Focus on structure, technique, style, vocabulary, content, analysis. Improves skills, confidence and scores. Also, college/private school application essays, counseling, prep. SAT/ISEE essays. Extensive experience, success stories. MA, Johns Hopkins; former LA private school teacher and Hopkins CTY instructor; writer/consultant. Outstanding Palisades/Malibu references. (310) 528-6437 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

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. 30 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 ALAN PINE GENERAL Contractors. Remodeling, additions, kitchens, baths. Local resident. California License #469435. Call Alan, (800) 800-0744

CONSTRUCTION 16d

PARADISE CONSTRUCTION Building Contractor – All Trades – Lic. #808600. Call (310) 383-1659 CASTLE CONSTRUCTION. New homes, remodeling, additions, fine finish carpentry. Serving the Westside for 20 yrs. Lic. #649995. Call James, (310) 450-6237 PALISADES CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. KEVIN B. NUNNELEY. (310) 454-5029 – 1 (877) 360-6470 Toll-Free. Local References Avail. Lic. #375858

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 HANDYMAN, Comprehensive Home Repair – Improve – Build – Install – Repair – Professional Reliable Service – Happiness Guaranteed. (not lic.) – Daniel Howe, cell (310) 877-5577 PETERPAN – Quality Home Repair -Serving Entire Westside. (Not lic.) Ask for Peter, (310) 663-3633 THE HANDY GUY. Any job, big or small. Over 15 years experience. Free estimates. Lic. #B-858574. Call (310) 216-9034

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16o

SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686

PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16q

PAUL HORST – Interior & Exterior – PAINTING – 51 YEARS OF SERVICE – Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 – (310) 454-4630 – Bonded & Insured TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Ref’s. Lic. #715099 MASTERPIECE PAINTING & DECOR – Specializing in Faux Finishes – Stenciling & Plaster Effects – Interior/Exterior – Free Estimate – Lic. #543487. Bill Lundby, MFA in Palisades, (310) 459-7362 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. SQUIRE PAINTING CO. Interior and Exterior. License #405049. 25 years. Local Service. (310) 454-8266. www.squirepainting.com

PLUMBING 16s

ROBERT RAMOS, Plumbing Contractor – Copper repipes – Remodels – New Construction – Service & Repair – Water Heaters – Licensed – Bonded – Insured – St. lic. #605556 – Cell, (310) 704-5353 BOTHAM PLUMBING AND HEATING. Lic. #839118. (310) 827-4040

REMODELING 16u

KANAN CONSTRUCTION – References. BONDED – INSURED – St. Lic. #554451 – DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN LABOR OF LOVE HOME REPAIR & REMODEL. Kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, tile, doors, windows, decks, etc. Work guar. Ken Bass, General Contractor. Lic. #B767950. (310) 455-0803 BASIX DESIGNS & REMODELING, INC. WE DO IT ALL – Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Specialist – Room Additions – Interior/Exterior Paint – Windows/Doors – Custom Carpentry – Plumbing – Electrical – Call For Free Estimate – Toll Free: (877) 422-2749 – Lic. #769443

HELP WANTED 17

DRIVERS: GREAT HOME time. Pay and benefits! Regional drivers make up to $55,000/yr. Team drivers make up to $150,000/yr. Werner Enterprises. Ph: (800) 346-2818, ext. 561 SCHOOL BUS DRIVER to & from school, Sept.-June. Route is Topanga to & from Westside. Must have Class B license, with P endorsement, 2 years experience, DMV printout and your school bus cert. Call Renee or Judy, (310) 455-3725 or fax (310) 455-7209. Apply by 6/15. $15.30/hr. RECEPTIONIST at SKINCARE SALON in the Palisades needed. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from, 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Call Kathy, (310) 713-7685 or (310) 459-8757, after 6 p.m. WANTED: PRESCHOOL TEACHER with experience & ECE units. Starts in September 05. Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please fax resume to (310) 573-3684 or mail to Methodist Preschool, 801 Via de la Paz, Pac Palisades, CA 90272 WANTED: PRESCHOOL TEACHER’S Aid. Working with children 412 hours/day. Monday to Friday. Please fax resume to (310) 573-3684 or mail to Methodist Preschool, 801 Via de la Paz, Pac Palisades, CA 90272 WANTED: PERSONAL ASSISTANT. Must have good writing & computer skills. Be outgoing with a friendly personality. Be able to work w/ staff and families. Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Must be able to work later if needed. Please fax resume to (310) 573-3684 or mail to Methodist Preschool, 801 Via de la Paz, Pac Palisades, CA 90272 CAREGIVER NEEDED for ELDERLY lady 24 hours, 7days per week. Lite housekeeping and shopping. Must cook & have your own car. Call Barbara, (310) 459-2861 P/T BOOKKEEPER NEEDED. +/- 5 hrs/wk. for mortgage broker. Work from your home-office. Must know Quickbooks, Quicken. Guy, (310) 454-6061. guy@realpromortgage.com WORK FROM HOME. International company. Part-time, $500 to $2,000/month. Full-time, $2,000 to $8,000/mo. Call (310) 281-3000

SITUATIONS WANTED 17a

PERSONAL ASST/NOTARY Public avail. Let me help you run your life more smoothly. I’m proficient in bookkeeping, clerical duties, event coordination, mailing/research. Honest, reliable, discrete, local. Excellent refs. Patti, (310) 720-8004

AUTOS 18b

HONDA GOLDWING GL 1000 motorcycle. Runs great. Perfect restoration project. Only 36K miles. New tires, tuned-up. New seat. $4,000 firm. Leave message, (310) 454-0685 1985 ALFA ROMEO Spider, red. Runs well. Car is located in the Palisades. $2,500.Call (801) 604-2334 2003 CARRERA CABRIOLET. Arctic silver/black. Full leather. 18″ Alloy wheels. Absolutely MINT condition. 11K miles. Had 15K mile service. $67, 500. (310) 490-6449

FURNITURE 18C

PINE FURNITURE. Beautiful pine desk: $150 AND pine chest that could be used as toy chest for child’s room: $100. Call Lisa, (310) 459-3063

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

SPRING CLEANING SALE. Cleaning out “old” stuff. Lots of misc. items from chandelier to small tools. SAT., June 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1006 Fiske Street, Pac Palisades.

MISCELLANEOUS 18g

CHIRO-PLUS MATTRESS, box spring & frame. Full-size. Medium firm. Barely slept on. Best offer. Bring truck. (310) 459-9516 ELECTRIC BIKE made by E-Bike. 36 volts, goes 18 mph. Check out ebike.com. $600. Call (310) 471-6006

WANTED TO BUY 19

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

Getty Buys Site on Sunset at Los Liones

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The fate of the two-acre site on the corner of Los Liones Drive and Sunset was known last week when the Getty Trust closed escrow on the parcel located at 17311-17315 Sunset. The site, which had been on the market for a year for an asking price of $9 million, is currently home to The Outdoor Room and Color Design Art and the parking lot. Located just two blocks from the ocean and described as ‘a beautiful flat parcel in front with a rear slope,’ the parcel is zoned to allow the development of 62,000 square feet of commercial and/or office space, but found no buyers. Last fall, a proposal to build 64 condominiums fell out of escrow when the developer, Bob Bisno, chairman of TransAction Companies Ltd., decided it was too small a project for the risk involved. The risk he was referring to involved potential delays in consideration of the height variance required and possible traffic mitigation measures, including a traffic light at Los Liones. For sometime, Castellammare residents have asked for traffic mitigation at the corner, which currently has no light and have requested that a traffic study be done. Commuter traffic along Sunset often results in traffic backing up from the signal at Sunset and PCH, beyond the Castellammare light. According to Community Council representative Norma Spak, who serves as the council’s liaison with the Getty oversight committee, the Getty purchased the property with the intention of using the former Color Design Art building as office and storage space. In addition, the Getty said that they had no intention of doing anything with the nursery, which has a lease through July 2007, assuming the nursery would want to continue. Color Design Art, an interior design and merchandising firm for homes, which occupied part of the site since 1984, relocated to larger quarters in Culver City early this year. The Getty, which closed the Villa in Castellammare in 1997 for renovations, announced this winter its plans to reopen the facility in January 2006. The Villa, a replica of a Roman imperial country house, will exhibit the museum’s collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.

Residents Angered by Cell Tower Loophole

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When Mt. Holyoke resident Andy Dintenfass peered out of his window last week, he looked no farther than the telephone pole in front of his house, which according to him was being saddled with four 5-ft. Cingular cellular antennas ‘at eye level.’ ‘The installation starts at eye level on the pole with various transporters, fuse and electrical and equipment boxes, and works its way to three vertical antennas hung on an outrigger high on the pole over the street,’ Dintenfass told the Palisadian-Post. The equipment was installed on an existing telephone pole without the necessity of a public meeting because of what Dintenfass characterized as ‘a loophole for cellular companies.’ In a Joint Point Agreement, cellular companies can piggyback onto an existing telephone pole in an administrative procedure that provides no regulatory restraints. According to the L. A. Department of Water and Power, the JPA is just an operating agreement between utilities, said Community Council Chairman Norm Kulla, whose appointed council subcommittee has been studying the issue for 18 months. ‘Any signatory can use any other signatory’s poles,’ Kulla explained. ‘More importantly, though, companies are not required to adhere to the City’s Above Ground Facilities (AGF) ordinance, enacted in January 2003. All notice requirements, public input provisions and aesthetic restraints of the AGF ordinance are not applicable to any signatory to the JPA.’ When Dintenfass questioned the chief engineer from Bechtel, the contractor for the installation of the equipment, he empathized, but said ‘they’ve got this loophole.’ When Dintenfass talked to the AT& T Cingular manager, he responded by pointing out that ‘it’s not savory, but it’s not illegal.’ While Dintenfass and his neighbors value and support the need for improved communication via cell phone coverage in the bluffs area, they worry that the construction ‘sets a precedent for our neighborhoods to place future installations without regard to aesthetics. He and his neighbors on Mt. Holyoke, including Karen Dawn, Jim Holcomb and Tom and Roz Nieman, have enlisted the help of Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski and the Palisades Community Council. ‘We know that Cingular and Bechtel have the resources to find a solution that will not have everlasting effects on our street and potentially on any street they deem to be an appropriate cell site,’ the neighbors stated in a letter to the Palisadian-Post. ‘This construction sets a precedent for our neighborhoods and we call on you, our friends and neighbors, to support us in our determined effort to have this facility removed and any future installations placed in a more suitable spot, away from homes.’ In his plea before the council last Thursday, Dintenfass stressed once again, ‘It is large and ugly, an aesthetic and emotional encroachment.’ Kulla registered the Council’s support by agreeing to draft a letter to Cingular, urging the company to relocate the equipment and any future pole-mounted facilities away from homes.

Canyon Service Station Gains Monument Status

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Canyon Service Station in Santa Monica Canyon gained historic-cultural monument status yesterday after the Los Angeles City Council voted to preserve it as a local landmark. This designation recognizes the structure as important to the history of the City, state or nation, and requires Cultural Heritage Commission review for proposed exterior and interior alterations. It also prevents the demolition of the station for one year. “The City Council approved the landmarking by a unanimous vote,” said George Wolfberg, president of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association. The SMCCA, which represents neighbors and residents, has been tirelessly pursuing the preservation of the 80-year-old station since learning that the property was going to be sold last November. At that time, owner Monica Queen closed the station, which sits on a small portion of the 17,000-sq.-ft. lot on Entrada Drive. Queen is a descendant of the Marquez family, the original holders of the Rancho Boca de Santa Monica land grant. The SMCCA, fearing that there would be nothing to stop the new owner from demolishing the station, appealed to the L.A. Cultural Heritage Commission to designate Canyon Service as a historic-cultural monument. With approval from the Commission, the proposal then went to the City Council’s Planning and Land-Use Management Committee, which voted last week to preserve the station as a landmark. Wolfberg said that he assumed that there would be a positive outcome since Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski was supporting it. The designation has also been backed by the Pacific Palisades Historical Society, the Palisades Community Council, the Society for Commercial Archeology and the Route 66 Association. In a strange and complicated twist, Queen officially closed escrow just two days before the PLUM Committee’s vote. The new owner, Santa Monica Canyon resident Chris Hoffmann, purchased the property for $2.1 million. “I just hope that he will be a person the advocates can have a fruitful discussion with,” Wolfberg said, emphasizing that the community goal is to save the station. “We’re assuming he’s not a developer.” Local homeowners and businessmen such as realtor Mike Deasy, who is also on the SMCCA board, had expressed interest in buying the station to preserve it on site if Hoffmann had not proceeded with the sale. They considered a joint venture between Brian Clark, who operated the station from 1995 to 2004, and neighbors/investors. “The councilwoman was pleased that the [Queen] family was able to reach a sale with the designation in place,” Kevin Keller, chief planning deputy for Councilwoman Miscikowski, told the Palisadian-Post. “I think everyone’s indicated a real willingness to work together and move forward from this step.” Wolfberg said that the SMCCA is soliciting ideas from anyone who might have input about the future of Canyon Service Station. Contact: www.smcca.org.

Pali Burners Stay Hot in Lancaster Tourney

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The Burners, a local boys 10-and-under AYSO all-star team, entered last weekend”’s Quartz Hill Shootout on a hot streak, having won 12 straight games and three straight tournaments. And although the win streak came to an end, the Burners emerged as champions again with a 5-2 victory over Granada Hills in the finals”’the same team that had beated the Burners 4-1 in pool play. The Burners regrouped to shut out Culver City, 6-0, and Fontana, 7-0, to advance to the finals. As a result of their four straight tournament victories, the Burners were invited to march on the field at the Home Depot Center in Carson during the ”’Parade of Champions”’ festivities prior to Saturday”’s L.A. Galaxy game. Having won consecutive tournaments in Culver City, Riverside, Santa Clarita and now Quartz Hill, the Burners”’ record stands at 37-4-1. They are coached by Ron Dorfman and Peter Gilhuly.

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