Classic Vintage Cars Will Join Hybrid Cars of the Future
Pacific Palisades, get ready for an old-fashioned block party! The Chamber of Commerce is organizing its first Community Expo, an event designed to involve local businesses of all stripes”this Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Antioch Street and Via de la Paz, in the heart of the village. Both streets will be closed to traffic. The Community Expo, with 44 participating local businesses, will include booths promoting local health, environment, technology, financial, home and garden-related businesses, nonprofits and other businesses, vendors and organizations. ‘This year, because of the economy,’ said Community Expo Committee member Sandy Eddy, ‘we knew many people were struggling, so we decided to consolidate the individual fairs of years past. We lowered the prices of the booths, and we opened it up to the entire business community.’ The strategy appears to have worked. As of a couple of weeks ago, booths for this Sunday’s event had sold out. ‘The Chamber deemed that it would be more fun and more educational if all of our spring events were held on one day and not on separate days,’ noted Arnie Wishnick, the Chamber’s executive director. ‘We feel that this single event is going to be a kick!’ Ramis Sadrieh, founder and owner of Technology for You!, is chairing the organizing committee, which includes Brett Bjornson, Esq. (Professional Law Corporation), Joyce Brunelle (Suntricity, Inc.), Roberta Donohue (publisher, Palisadian-Post), Sandy Eddy (SJE Nonprofit Consulting), Angela Parker (Body Inspired Fitness), Christopher Scott (C. Scott Design Group) and Greg Wood (chief financial officer at Palisades Charter High School). Heading the various sub-committees: Brunelle (Environmental), Bjornson (Financial), Eddy (Health), Scott (Home and Garden Design), Sadrieh (Technology) and Donohue (Classic Auto Display). Bjornson, who spearheaded last year’s Financial Fair, said this year’s strategy makes sense. ‘I think the festival feel will permeate an event like this, especially with the auto show that’s included. I understand the Rotary Club is going to have a basketball hoop with prizes.’ Eddy, who co-chaired the Health Fair from 2002-2007, said that she will join the Expo right after Dr. Susan Love’s Love Walk event wraps up in the Huntington, and she’s encouraging all Love Walk participants to do the same: ‘We worked really hard, and we’ve secured great sponsors, such as Pharmaca and Time-Warner.’ At the Expo’s Health and Fitness section, Parker said visitors can get a ‘free body-fat test’ at her booth and receive one free class, while gaining free information and other goodies at adjoining booths. Another highlight will be the return of a local tradition that rolled into town every year from 1995 to 2004: the Palisades Auto Show, chaired once again by Donohue, publisher of the Palisade-Post and president of Post Commercial Printing. Her committee consists of Tim Marschall, president of TMC General Contractors; Ed Lowe, the Post’s graphics supervisor; the YMCA’s Carol Pfannkuche and Nicole Rosenloecher; Phil Kamins, DDS; and the Chamber’s Marilyn Crawford. Donohue also singled out Jon Stokes, the Palisadian behind Stokes Tire Pros of Santa Monica, for sponsoring this portion of the Expo. More than 30 cars will be hand, from a 1933 Ford three-window coupe and a 1936 Bentley drophead coupe, to a 1960 Studebaker Lark convertible, a 1968 Ford Thunderbird, and a 1967 Porsche. The ’60 Austin Healey Roadster is another head-turner: va-va-va-vroom! ‘Not only will we have some awesome cars,’ Donohue said, ‘but, at the end of the street (Via), we’ll have a moon bounce and a slot-car race game for the kids.’ She added that Patrick Hildebrand, founder of the venerable music academy and instruments shop, Amazing Music, will provide live entertainment. He will perform on the main stage at Via and Antioch with his band, comprising youth of all ages who have learned to play at his studio. Hildebrand’s band will jam all day long, rocking out with some car-themed rock and surf music. ‘The car display is a really great addition because it will bring a lot more people and families,’ Eddy said. ‘It’s going to be a lot of fun.’ In addition to hot rods of years past, visitors can get a glimpse of the cars of the future. ‘I always feel that solar is the ultimate green,’ said Brunelle, on behalf of the Environmental section, which will include her solar installation business, Echo by Design, Environmental Sculpturing, E Center, Ford’s Plumbing and Heating, and The Maid’s Home Services. ‘Mike Sullivan’s L.A. Car Guy Family of Dealers [based in Santa Monica] is our sponsor,’ Brunelle said. ‘They’re going to bring out the 2010 Prius, which is not even on the market yet, plus a hybrid Volkswagen and an RXH Lexus hybrid SUV.’ ‘The Home and Garden section and the Eco section represent a new foray for the Chamber,’ said Scott, who will share a booth with Susan Carroll, owner of Gift Garden Antiques. ‘We’ll have a comprehensive overview of what the Palisades has to offer, including Barry Shaw, a design/building contractor; the interior design firm Susan Jay Designs; and Claire Buchanan from Carpets West. ‘This is a great chance for people to realize just how many services are offered in our community,’ Scott continued. ‘They’ll see that they can fulfill most of their home needs right here in the Palisades without having to drive to Santa Monica or beyond.’ On Sunday, said Bjornson, ‘people can wander up one side of the street and down the other, while visiting a wide spread of businesses. Bringing them all together on one day makes for a more interesting event.’
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