1. travel
2. tourist destinations
3. national parks

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Vol. 1, No. 10 • March 18, 2015
Uniting the Community with News, Features and Commentary
Circulation: 14,500 • $1.00
Pfannkuche to Leave
Palisades YMCA
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
A
fter nearly 10 years as executive director of the Palisades-Malibu
YMCA, Carol Pfannkuche is leaving
to accept a similar position at the KetchumDowntown YMCA on Hope Street.
“She’s fantastic and we hate to lose her,”
said YMCA Board Chair Layth Carlson,
who was on the board when Pfannkuche
was hired in 2005. “She is dedicated, tireless
and selfless. She was like a quarterback of
the Y, meeting with elected officials, community activists and members. She was
even-keeled and always had a smile.”
Said Pfannkuche, who has lived in Pacific
Palisades for 20 years, “When I came to the
YMCA, I had been a community organizer and worked with nonprofits. My kids
took swimming lessons at the Y Pool [in
Parade Theme
Sought for
Fourth of July
Ever since American Legion Post 283
revived the Pacific Palisades Fourth
of July parade in 1961, a theme has
helped define the parade. This year is
no different, and PAPA (Palisades
Americanism Parade Association) is
asking your help to pen a clever, witty,
poignant or memorable theme.
Last year’s winner was Kim Traenkle’s
entry, “Star-Spangled Palisades.”
Submit your best idea(s) to info@
palisadesparade.org, by Friday, April 3.
The winner will be selected at the next
PAPA meeting on April 6.
If your theme is selected, in addition
to bragging rights, you can also ride in
the parade aboard a fire engine (with
selected family members) and Palisades News will feature you in a story.
Temescal Canyon] and had gone through
the Y Guides program with my husband.”
Last summer, Pfannkuche said, when
she attended the YMCA World Council in
Estes Park, Colorado, “I was moved by the
amazing mission work the Y is doing in
countries around the world. The move
downtown was inspired by that. I want to
use what I’ve learned here to move the
mission forward in Los Angeles.”
Given that executive director positions
do not often come open within the YMCA,
Pfannkuche felt it was important to capture
this opportunity to move up to a larger facility with top-notch facilities. A new pool
opened in November and there’s a massage
service, a sauna, steam rooms, and a café
that serves healthy foods, including shakes
and wraps.
More interesting to Pfannkuche, “It
serves a diverse area and includes the second largest homeless population in the nation. Plus, nearly 56 percent of the people
who work downtown, now live there.”
Rob Lowe, a Y-board member during
Pfannkuche’s employment, credits her with
the creation of Simon Meadow; expanding
the Y’s reach into the community (continuing the Palisades High School community
service program); and guiding the Y through
tough economic years in 2009 and 2010.
“She truly believed in and cared about
creating a Y with a mission to serve needs
that were both unmet and would be valuable to the community,” Lowe said.
Pfannkuche, a graduate of USC with a
degree in public administration, established
a Youth and Government program in the
Palisades that has grown from five students
three years ago to more than 70 this year.
The Pacific Palisades resident who grew
up in Manhattan Beach, was hired May 2,
2005. At that time, Y board member Duke
Osteroff told this reporter, “We have a good
one. She lives in the community, she’s smart
and she knows everyone.”
Six weeks after she took the position, the
(Continued on Page 4)
SUMMER
CAMPS
AND
SCHOOLS
Play
Ball!
Actor/comedian and
former Saturday Night
Live star Bill Hader
(right) threw out the
ceremonial first pitch
Saturday, before leaving
to fly to Texas with Will
Ferrell. Pacific Palisades
Baseball Association
Commissioner Bob
Benton (left) told Hader
to tell his friend that
even though Ferrell
played all nine positions
for ten Major League
teams in five games in
one day, it was Hader
who had the greater
honor, kicking off the
PPBA season. See
story on Page 15.
Photo: Sue Pascoe
Monument at Albright Is
Closed through March 23
Soil remediation on the north side of
Swarthmore that began in mid-February
required relocating a storm drain under
the property and under the street, resulting in complete street closures on upper
Swarthmore.
The intersection of Monument and Albright was completely closed to traffic on
March 9. It will reopen Monday, March
23. North- and south-bound traffic on
Monument remains open.
When Caruso Affiliated first entered
into a purchase agreement with Palisades
Properties in 2012, inspectors discovered
that the former Emerson-LaMay Cleaners
on Swarthmore had for decades poured
toxic material into the soil, which now requires cleanup.
Part of that remediation involved relocating the storm drain. The City is overseeing the storm drain work from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Postal Customer
**************ECRWSSEDDM*************
Pasadena, CA
Permit #422
Local resident Lynn Borland submitted this photo of Swarthmore with the note, “As I was
walking by, the skip loader backed into M. Giraud’s table (on the deck) and you might
Photo: Lynn Borland
note the parking meter is listing to starboard. A double whammy!”
PAID
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
Page 2
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
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March 18, 2015
Page 3
Palisades News
Jump Aboard the
July 4 Celebrations
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
J
oin the local residents and businesses
who have already made a commitment
to PAPA (Palisades Americanism Parade Association). Last year the Palisades
Fourth of July parade, concert and fireworks cost close to $150,000. The projected
cost is the same this year.
At PAPA’s first 2015 meeting on March 9
at the American Legion Hall, second-term
president Daphne Gronich said that she has
already received commitments from the following: The Yogurt Shoppe (Kids on Bikes
and Happy Hour donations), Realtor Joan
Sather (Most Patriotic Home decorating
contest, Spectrum Athletic Club (manager
Diane Poff), On Stage Talent (Matt Barnett), Fran Flanagan Realty, White & Co. insurance (Dennis White), Gelson’s (will allow
checkout donations), UDO Real Estate and
Sunset La Cruz (Elliot Zorensky), Robert
Munakash (Village 76), Coldwell Banker
(Anne Russell), the Donald and Nancy de
Brier family and the American Legion.
Gronich is in communication with several other entities and individuals about
their planned support, as well.
Palisades News has also committed to donate a percentage of all parade advertising
to the parade committee, so that people taking out ads in the official parade program
produced by the Palisades News, will also be
helping the Fourth of July events.
It is not too early to start thinking about
parade entries. “We would love new entrants,” Gronich said. “It’s more interesting
for residents to see different bands and
floats in the parade, and we encourage people to put them together.”
A search is on for a parade grand marshal, as well as a headline band for the
evening concert at Palisades High, which
was attended by 7,000 people last year.
Lawyer, Palisades resident and concert organizer Keith Turner said that he has already
heard from local bands that would like the
opportunity to play on the second stage.
The day, which also features the 5/10K
Will Rogers Run, a parade, a concert and
fireworks, is made possible by volunteers
and community donations.
Gronich says that the celebrations wouldn’t be possible without all the local volunteers who work hard to make July 4th the
best day possible for the entire community.
Many of these people have worked for years
Kids on Bikes was a colorful entry in last year’s parade.
with PAPA People leader Sylvia Boyd.
In addition to parade banner carriers,
volunteers are especially needed at the PaliHi stadium starting at 4 p.m., after the parade, where there are food trucks and
activities for kids, prior to the concert and
fireworks.
If you would like to donate directly or pay
Photo: Tom Hofer
to sponsor a parade entry such as a band,
please e-mail [email protected].
Parade theme suggestions can be submitted
to the same email address by April 5.
The next volunteer meeting will be
held at 7 p.m. on April 6 at the American
Legion when a theme will be selected. The
public is invited.
Book Sale
Advisory Board Seeks Parking Change Library
Saturday, March 21
T
parking spaces at the Park were not using the
park at all,” said PAB member Robert Harter. “The individuals who were parking illegally had apparently chosen to park at the
Rec Center because it was a free and convenient alternative during the work week to
the nearby metered and fee-based parking.”
In a letter to the Palisades News (see page
8), Harter notes that “The lack of parking
at the Park is not a new issue. In fact, the
upcoming change in parking hours will
culminate an inclusive and deliberative
process that began in 2013,” through community surveys and PAB meetings, which
are open to the public.
The News contacted Superintendent of
Recreation and Parks Charles Singer about
these proposed parking changes. He responded on March 3: “As far as the parking
situation, ultimately, only the Department
can request and/or approve a change in the
parking structure. Depending on what is
being requested, it may also involve other
city agencies and/or the Departments
board of commissioners.
“Superintendent [of Rec and Parks Operations] Joe Salaices has been receiving
proposals from the Palisades PAB regarding proposed parking changes. I believe at
this juncture, the Department’s position
The Park Advisory Board for the Palisades Recreation Center is recommending changing is to only review and no action is being
parking from four hours to two hours.
contemplated.”
he Park Advisory Board (PAB) has
proposed changing the parking
hours at the Palisades Recreation
Center on Alma Real Drive from four to
two hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
The four-hour limit would remain in ef-
fect after 3 p.m., in order to accommodate
park patrons who are involved in afternoon
and early-evening sports leagues and other
park programs.
“Through spot checks and interviews with
City employees and others, it was determined
that up to half of the individuals using the
The Friends of the Palisades Branch Library will hold a gently-used book sale in
the parking lot of the library, from 8:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, March 21,
at 861 Alma Real Dr.
Due to the generous donations from
community members, there is an excellent
collection of well-priced books, DVDs and
CDs. Sales depend on the continuing support of volunteers, and the library benefits
from the time and energy they provide. In
case of inclement weather, the book sale will
be postponed until the following Saturday.
Atria Offers Cooking
Demonstrations
Atria Park of Pacific Palisades, located
just west of the Shell Station at 15441
Sunset, invites all Palisades residents to
participate at its cooking demonstration
on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m.
The theme of the demonstration is
“The Growing Popularity of a PlantBased Diet.” Participants will learn how to
make delicious meatless meals that can
ward off chronic diseases and help with
weight control.
Please RSVP (310) 573-9545. Visit
atria-pacificpalisades.com.
Page 4
Pfannkuche
(Continued from Page 1)
Coastal Commission okayed the Y’s right
to exercise its option on a 4-acre parcel in
Temescal Canyon, at the entrance off Sunset.
Pfannkuche told the News that her subsequent accomplishments in Temescal were
all part of a “relay” race. “It was because
Corwin Davis, Everett Maguire, Duke and
others had been fighting for the right for
the Y to buy the property.”
She also credits the Simon family. “Certainly Simon Meadow would not be what
it is without Bill and Cindy feeling strongly
about a place for families to get together,” and
making a major donation towards that goal.
Pfannkuche also remembers reaching
out to several individuals, including Kelly
Comras, Rob Lowe, Randy Young and
Volunteers Sought
At Village Green
The monthly Village Green “spruce up”
will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday,
March 21, at the triangular park located
between Sunset Boulevard, Swarthmore
Avenue and Antioch Street.
Residents who have never volunteered before are welcome to join the “regular” Village
Green crew. Those participating are asked to
bring clippers and gloves. High school students can receive community service hours.
Palisades News
David Card, in order to achieve effective
landscaping at Simon Meadow.
She was asked about the Temescal Pool,
which closed during her watch. “The facility was 50 years old and the pipe structure
needed to be replaced. We were willing to
raise the money to do it, but our contract
[with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy] only allowed for routine repairs
and maintenance. We asked if we could do
the repairs, but we were declined.”
Pfannkuche said that several members
of the pool committee wanted to sue for
the right to make the repairs, but the legal
costs and the possible ill will resulted in a
decision not to go ahead.
When Pfannkuche arrived at the Y, the
exercise equipment was mismatched and
not of professional grade. State-of-the-art
equipment is now leased and renewed on
a regular basis.
“What the Y offers, in addition to top
equipment, is a personal relationship,” she
said. “It’s those relationships that help people become successful in fitness programs.
My staff is friendly and knows everyone—
it’s hard to find that anywhere else.”
While serving as director, Pfannkuche
has looked at other possibilities to build a
new facility in town, but that quest remains
elusive.
“Every Y has to ask what the community
needs,” she said. “This community is short
of playing field space for kids and Simon
Meadow has turned out to be great for that.”
She believes that bringing in a new direc-
March 18, 2015
YMCA Executive Director Carol Pfannkuche with board member and contributor
Photo: Shelby Pascoe
Everett Maquire in Simon Meadow.
tor will help “give the Y a new perspective”
on what to do about acquiring or building
a larger facility.
Pfannkuche, who starts full-time downtown April 1, is currently working at both
locations.
She and her husband Tony, a management consultant in the health field, have
two daughters. Molly is working on a graduate degree in clinical exercise physiology
at the University of Wisconsin and Katie
is majoring in psychology at Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo.
Although the Pfannkuches might like
to move downtown in the future, Carol is
grounded here with an 18-month-old
golden retriever named Princess Bella
Samantha Cupcake (her girls couldn’t decide on the name), and presidency of the
Palisades Rotary Club, starting in July.
March 18, 2015
Page 5
Palisades News
Stress Can Provide Insight
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
E
arlier this year, stress expert Amanda
Enayati asked an assembly of about
500 Marquez Elementary School
students to say “bad” if stress could be really bad.
“The entire assembly erupted,’” she said.
“I then asked the kids to say ‘good’ if stress
can be really good. Nobody said anything.”
And yet, Enayati, who has written on the
subject for CNN, NPR and the Washington
Post, has found that stress can actually be
beneficial on many levels, and it’s our cultural view that stress is always bad that is
the problem.
In her new book, Seeking Serenity: The
10 New Rules for Health and Happiness in
the Age of Anxiety” (Penguin Publishing
Group), Enayati discusses ways to help
people take advantage of stress and turn
life’s challenges into growth experiences.
“There is good stress. Stress helps you be
more creative. It helps you recover from
wounds better,” said Enayati, who moved to
Pacific Palisades two years ago. It is important that “we try to see stress in the right way
as a path to evolution, a path to growth.”
Enayati became an expert on stress in
part through her own life experience. She
was flooded with adversity. At nine years
old, while growing up in Iran, she lost her
home during the Iranian Revolution and
for five years became a refugee living in various parts of Europe without her parents.
In September 2011, she was in New York
City and saw the World Trade Center collapse, which caused severe post-traumatic
stress disorder owing to her childhood experiences. Most recently, when her children
were toddlers, she developed cancer, which
she has fought successfully.
Strangely enough, the latter event put
Enayati on the path that led her to her current jobs—writing about stress for CNN
Health and PBS Media-Shift. In the process,
she became an expert on the role stress
plays in our lives, which resulted in book.
“Seeking Serenity” is full of fascinating
insights about stress. For example, in one
section, Enayati talks about post-traumatic
growth—”the ability not only to bounce
back from adversity, but also to flourish.”
As an example, she describes the experience of Major Rhonda Cornum, a young
flight surgeon who survived a Black Hawk
helicopter crash with two broken arms and
a bullet in her back only to be sexually assaulted and imprisoned, but who then triumphed through the adversity and is now
a brigadier general who has helped de-
Estates Director & Westside Specialist Since 1988
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post-traumatic growth.
This skill for resilience is not necessarily
in-born; it can also be learned, and Enayati
provides readers the tools to develop it
themselves.
Drawing from scientific studies, philosophy and individual stories, she also details other ways to enhance positive
reactions to stress.
Her book has chapters on the power of
belonging, the benefits of giving to others,
and the importance of creativity. She describes skills using meditation and mindfulness that can help with handling everyday
stresses, such as traffic and the demands of
our modern world.
In addition, she delineates the physiology
of stress and the stories that we tell ourselves about the inevitable stresses of life.
“What can make stress dangerous is the
way you see stress,” said Enayati, who has
two children, Mina, 10 and Rohan, 8, with
her husband Jaime Uzeta. “It’s those stories
that pave the way for whether we evolve
and learn and grow instead of saying
‘Why me?’ and ‘Why is this adversity happening to us?’”
Amanda Enayati
velop a program to teach resilience skills
to other soldiers.
Statistically, the human response to extreme stress tends to lie on a bell curve,
according to Dr. Martin Seligman, whose
work Enayati describes. On one end are
people who have an intense, long-lasting reaction and may suffer from depression, anxiety and PTSD with a higher risk for suicide.
In the middle are those who are mostly
resilient and may have a hard time for
several months, while on the far end are
(Amanda Enayati’s tips for helping kids
those who emerge from the trauma even handle stress can be read on Page 3 of the
stronger than before it—experiencing camp section in today’s paper.)
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Page 6
Palisades News
Heard
About Town
March 18, 2015
ANN CLEAVES
Monitor Your
Sprinkler System
If we get another rainstorm this spring,
remember to turn off your lawn sprinklers or ask your gardener to do so. California’s water supply thanks you.
(Editor’s note: If you’ve lost the directions
to how to turn off the sprinkler system,
many of those instructions can be found
online.)
Smoking in the Park
I observed students going behind the
maintenance building at the park and
smoking. The ground is littered with pine
needles and abuts property along Alma
Real. With the towering eucalyptus
nearby, it seems that fire danger could
be a real problem.
(Editor’s note: We’ve alerted Recreation
Center director Erich Haas about the situation.)
VIEWPOINT
Movies in the Library
Once a month the Palisades Branch Library offers a free movie. Last Saturday,
I saw the movie about Stephen Hawking
that was up for an Oscar [The Theory of
Everything]. It seems that more people
would like to know about this opportunity.
High School Show
The Palisades High show Nickel and
Dimed was great. The director was Nancy
Fracchiolla, who now teaches at Pali. She
used to do shows all over town for kids.
Why don’t you do a story about her?
No Hand-held Devices
On Sunday at the farmers market, I
watched a woman try to turn a pickup
and the horse trailer hooked to it into the
bank parking lot. Although she didn’t
have her phone to her ear, she was holding it in one hand, talking into it as she
was trying to steer the truck—probably
had it on speaker. I don’t want to be judgmental, but maybe she should have taken
the call after she was safely parked.
Incline Fears
After last Saturday and all the traffic
backed up on Pacific Coast Highway, I’m
really worried about the summer and the
California Incline closure. I may never
make a Dodger game unless I get a hotel
room downtown.
(Editor’s note: The closure really shouldn’t impact PCH traffic, because the light
at the Incline will be mostly green.)
———————
If you’d like to share something you’ve
“heard about town,” please email it to
[email protected]
Read the Labels Carefully
By JULIA M. BREITMAN
D
the course of a lifetime adds up and has been
linked to cancer, hormone and reproductive
issues, autoimmune diseases and other health
issues. This is why we have to be so careful to
place pure, safe products on our bodies.
Some harmful chemicals in common
personal-care products include petroleum/
mineral oil/baby oil (a byproduct of gasoline
that prevents skin from detoxing), formaldehyde,
parabens (linked to cancer and early puberty),
sodium lauryl sulfates, propylene glycol, PEGs,
dioxin (found in triclosan), phthalates, and
artificial color and fragrance (leading case of
skin irritation).
There are more than 1,000 ingredients still
allowed in personal-care products in the United
States that were banned years ago in other
countries.
There’s so much we can do to heal our bodies
simply by using safer food and products around
the home. As a result of my family changing our
lifestyle, my children recovered from their special
needs, I had a fourth child without any health
issues, and my own health issues disappeared.
This journey encouraged me to start my own
business to teach others about healthier choices
and to offer safer alternatives for personal-care
products used regularly in the home.
The reality is that most people don’t care
about healthier products until they or someone
they love has health issues or their doctor tells
them they have to change their lifestyle. My goal
is to reverse this mindset with education—
one family at a time.
espite the rise in consumer awareness
about food processing and labeling,
many people have no idea that our
personal-care products (such as shampoo,
conditioner, soap, lotion, sunscreen, deodorant,
toothpaste, makeup) and household cleaning
products can be toxic, too.
Just as with our food, we need to read labels
on our personal-care and household products,
as many contain harmful ingredients that were
banned in other countries years ago but are
still allowed in the United States.
I discovered this more than 10 years ago
when I was trying to figure out why three of
my children had developmental delays and
special needs and what was causing my own
thyroid and infertility issues.
My research revealed that there are many
products on the market that contain harmful
ingredients and toxins our bodies don’t know
what to do with. My family’s health issues were
directly linked to these toxins. We changed our
food, household cleaning products and lastly,
our personal-care products when I discovered
that what we put on our skin goes directly into
our bloodstream and reaches every major
organ within 26 seconds!
Our skin is our largest organ and the primary
method by means of which our bodies detox.
Unlike food that travels through the gastrointestinal tract where toxins are filtered through
the liver and kidneys, personal-care products
aren’t filtered when applied to our skin.
The average child uses five products a day
(Brietman is an executive area manager for
and an adult uses 15—but many of us are
Arbonne International and a mother at Marquez
above-average. A little toxin every day during Elementary.)
Thought to Ponder
“‘Thank you’ is the best
prayer that anyone could
say. I say that one a lot.
Thank you expresses
extreme gratitude,
humility, understanding.
― Alice Walker, American
author and activist
Founded November 5, 2014
———————
15332 Antioch Street #169
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 401-7690
www.PalisadesNews.com
———————
Publisher
Scott Wagenseller
[email protected]
Editor
Sue Pascoe
[email protected]
Graphics Director
Manfred Hofer
Digital Content and Technology
Kurt Park
Advertising
Jeff Ridgway
[email protected]
Grace Hiney
[email protected]
Advisor
Bill Bruns
Contributing Writers
Laura Abruscato, Laurel Busby,
Danielle Gillespie, Libby Motika
Contributing Photographers
Wendy Price Anderson,
Bart Bartholomew, Shelby Pascoe
———————
A bi-monthly newspaper mailed on
the first and third Wednesday of each
month. 14,500 circulation includes
zip code 90272 and Sullivan, Mandeville and Santa Monica Canyons.
Online: palisadesnews.com
All content printed herein, and in our
digital editions, is copyrighted.
Palisades News
March 18, 2015
A forum for open discussion of community issues
Page 7
EDITORIAL
Daylight-Saving Time Rationale Questioned
I
f someone told you a national policy would increase
the risk of having a heart attack and getting into a
traffic accident, would you blithely go along with
it? Never question it?
Welcome to Daylight-Saving Time. Repeated studies
have shown that traffic accidents increase on the Monday
following the start of DST, and the risk of having a heart
attack increases in the first three days after switching to
DST. Maybe California should join Arizona and Hawaii
and leave the clocks alone.
DST was called “fast time” when President Woodrow
Wilson signed it into law in 1918 to support the war effort.
Writing for the History Channel (“8 Things You May
Not Know about Daylight-Saving Time”), Christopher
Klein points out, “In fact, the agriculture industry was
deeply opposed to the time switch when it was first
implemented. The sun, not the clock, dictated farmers’
schedules, so daylight saving was very disruptive. Farmers
had to wait an extra hour for dew to evaporate to harvest
hay, hired hands worked less since they still left at the same
time for dinner and cows weren’t ready to be milked an
hour earlier. Agrarian interests led the fight for the 1919
repeal of national daylight-saving time, which passed
after Congress voted to override President Woodrow
Wilson’s veto. Rather than rural interests, it has been
urban entities such as retail outlets and recreational
businesses that have championed daylight saving over
the decades.” Despite the repeal, some cities—including
Pittsburgh, Boston, and New York—continued to use
DST. During World War II, DST was called “War Time”
and was implemented after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
After the war, states and localities were free to choose
when and if they would observe DST. Time confusion
led Congress to establish the Uniform Time Act of 1966,
stating that DST would begin on the last Sunday of April
and end on the last Sunday of October. States could pass
a local ordinance to be exempt.
The current DST schedule was introduced in 2007
and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005, starting on
the second Sunday in March and ending on the first
Sunday in November.
How much energy does the country save by moving
clocks an hour ahead in the spring and one hour back in
the fall? In the 1970s, a U.S. Department of Transportation
study concluded that total electricity savings associated
with daylight saving time amounted to about one percent
in the spring and fall months.
By contrast, in the summer months, economists at
UC Santa Barbara have calculated that Indiana’s move to
statewide daylightsaving time in 2006 led to a one-percent
rise in residential electricity use through additional
demand for air conditioning on summer evenings.
Additionally, there are no current studies to document
the increased demand for energy during evening hours
for electronic devices such as cell phones and computers.
There are no studies to document the effect on the
increasing number of people who work split and
evening shifts and the amount of energy savings, if any.
The California Energy Commission did a report on the
effects of Daylight-Saving Time on California electricity
use in 2001. The study concluded that both winter
daylight-saving time and the summer season double
daylight-saving time would probably save marginal
amounts of electricity.
That same year, the California state legislature sent a
Senate Joint Resolution to the White House and Congress
asking to be allowed to extend DST year-round, but it
was never acted on.
A 2007 California report stated that DST effects had
no statistically significant effect on total daily electricity
use in the month of March 2007. And according to a 2013
Rasmussen Report, only 37 percent of Americans see the
purpose of DST, compared to 45 percent the year before.
Maybe it’s time to re-examine a policy instituted
during World War I that today has questionable energy
conservation effects.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Hard Facts about
Measles Vaccination
measles was eradicated due to the vaccine.
Guess what? It’s back and it is time to start protecting
our babies, our children who cannot get the vaccine,
and our immune-compromised friends and neighbors.
Ryan Morelli’s letter [“Objections to Editorial and
There is no downside unless you have a medical reason
Cartoon about Measles”] in your March 4 edition
to not get the vaccine. Please vaccinate. The alternative
suggests that the measles vaccine has caused more
can be tragic.
deaths than measles itself between 2004-2015.
Sue Marguleas, RN, MPA
While I do not know Mr. Morelli’s background, I have
been a pediatric RN since 1989 with an advanced degree
in health service administration. I am currently a pediatric
triage nurse at Cedars-Sinai. I feel I am qualified to
Thanks for the article, “Doggy Politics in the ‘Hood’”
comment on his letter.
by Marci Slade Crestani, February 18.
The writer quotes his facts from the VAERS database,
My 12-pound dog has been attacked by large off-leash
which is co-sponsored by the CDC and the FDA. What
dogs three times. I asked a man to leash his dog this
he fails to cite is that VAERS clearly states that “no cause
morning; he ignored me. I asked a man last week to
and effect relationship is established between vaccines
leash two dogs; he ignored me. I now carry pepper
and resulting deaths. The event (of severe adverse
spray whenever I walk my dog.
reaction/death) may be related to underlying disease or
Patty Detroit
a condition, by concurrent meds or by chance.”
According to data from the World Health Organization,
15.6 million deaths from measles were prevented by the
vaccination between 2000-2013. The National Vaccine
Information Center, which uses data obtained from
I thought I had become inured to the outlandish price
VAERS, states that since 1990 there have been 329
tags on public projects, what with the surcharges for
deaths linked to the measles vaccine. Those statistics
nepotism, graft, fraud, mismanagement and downright
are overwhelmingly in favor of vaccination.
incompetence.
There is no money to be made on vaccines for the
Even I was shocked, however, to learn, from the
physician. The only vested interest health professionals
cover story in the February 4 issue [“California Incline
have in pushing vaccines is that they save lives and
Update”] that Wallace, Roberts & Todd will be paid
prevent debilitating complications.
The reason there were no cases of measles in the U.S. “almost $3 million” [according to Santa Monica City
records] to provide 365 days of “technical support” to
between 2004 through the start of this year is because
Dog Also Attacked
Cost for Technical Support For
Incline Project Is Outlandish
the Incline project as “engineer of record.”
Apparently, the time and expertise of this firm is worth
$8,219 per day or $1,027 per hour for an eight-hour
workday. Given that the median income, even among the
affluent, highly-educated citizens of the Palisades, is less
than $100 per hour, I am left to wonder how those elected
to represent our interests sleep at night after approving
such high expenditures of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Lisa Wolf
In Response to
‘No Monday Breakfast’
I read in the March 4 “Heard about Town” column
that locals are bummed about the lack of places to eat
breakfast. Please let Palisadians know that The Yogurt
Shoppe on Swarthmore is open for breakfast.
We offer 20+ different cereals (and yes, some healthy)
along with regular and flavored yogurt, granola options,
oatmeal, a wide variety of fresh fruits and choice of milk
(oh, and we also offer shakes). Open daily for breakfast
7 to 10 a.m. and 8 to 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Kevin Sabin
(Editor’s Note: Additionally, Tivoli owner Sohail
Fatoorechi has started opening at 8 a.m. daily for people
who need a meeting place for breakfast.)
Palisades News welcomes all letters, which may
be mailed to [email protected]. Please
include a name, address and telephone number so
we may reach you. Letters do not necessarily
reflect the viewpoint of the Palisades News.
Page 8
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
Park Advisory Board
Proposes Parking Changes
(Editor’s note: The Park Advisory Board is proposing
changes for parking at the Palisades Recreation Center.
See related news story, page 3.)
In order to increase available parking at the Recreation
Center on weekday afternoons after 3 p.m. and lessen
the impact on neighborhood streets, the Park Advisory
Board is proposing the following changes:
First, the hours for the main lot accessed from Alma
Real will be changed from a maximum of four hours to
a maximum of two hours between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
on Monday through Friday.
Second, parking hours for the tennis lot accessed
from Frontera Drive will be changed from a maximum
of two hours to a maximum of four hours.
All parking spaces at the Park will continue to be exclusively available to patrons of the Park. Equally important, the Department of Transportation will
enforce these parking restrictions by issuing citations
to those who violate the posted limit.
The lack of parking at the Park is not a new issue. In
fact, the upcoming change in parking hours will culminate
an inclusive and deliberative process that began in 2013.
That year, the Park Advisory Board held two wellpublicized meetings to receive comments from the
community on the improvements that should be
implemented at the Park. Residents made it clear that a
major ongoing concern was the lack of available parking.
Through spot checks and interviews with Park
employees and others, the PAB determined that up to half
of the individuals using the parking spaces at the Park
were not Park patrons. These individuals had apparently
chosen to park there because it was a free and convenient
John Closson,
Vice President
and Regional
Manager of
Berkshire
Hathaway
HomeServices,
congratulates
Dan on
being the
Top Producing
Agent in the
Pacific
Palisades
office
for 2014.
alternative during the workweek to metered and feebased parking. As a consequence, many Park patrons
attempting to use the Park were unable to find a parking
place.
At its quarterly meeting in January 2014, the PAB,
including the Park Director and parents and officials
actively involved in baseball, soccer and other Park
programs, thoroughly discussed the parking enforcement
issue. The Board concluded that a plan should be
implemented that would make more spaces available for
Park patrons by discouraging people from using parking
spaces for non-Park purposes. The agreed upon solution
is what I described earlier.
Following this meeting, the community was notified
that the Department of Recreation and Parks would
consider the recommendation that parking hours be
changed, and that the subject would be on the PAB
agenda last July. All residents were invited to comment
on the proposed change.
The Palisades News editor has questioned whether
the change in parking hours will help solve the parking
problem. We believe it will have a positive influence by
limiting the number of illegally parked cars at the Park
after 3 p.m., when various after-school programs and
youth sports begin to impact the parking lot.
I believe we can all agree that there are people working
in the offices and stores near the Park who, given the
choice of paying for metered parking or parking in the
Park lot all day for free, will choose to park for free. Our
spot checks showed an average of 33 cars parked illegally
on the three days we counted cars.
If there are only 20 cars in the lot at some point before
3 p.m. and those cars remain there for the remainder
of the day, this presents a real problem because there
are only 92 generally available spaces. It means that 20
Park patrons are deprived of the spaces to which they
are entitled. The new two-hour limit will discourage
car owners from parking at the Park all day because it
will become inconvenient for them to keep moving
their car.
Bob Harter
Vice Chair, Park Advisory Board
Vandalism on the Green
Is Disheartening and Evil
On March 4, a group of dedicated volunteers put
colorful, handmade quilts on the trees, branches,
benches, and light poles on the Village Green, a project
headed by Michelle Villemaire.
This effort was in honor of Women’s History Month,
as explained in the poster and signs on the Green.
Passersby seemed to enjoy this colorful decoration,
smiling as they walked by our little private park. It
brought surprise and joy into folks’ daily lives.
Unfortunately, on March 11, between noon and 4:30
p.m., some damage was done to this display: the yarncovered bike was thrown down, the quilt on the grass was
covered with food scraps; some blue foam-like substance
was sprayed around; and some of the explanation papers
were ripped up and tossed around.
It is very sad to think of the unhappy folks who did
this. Some would say that kids who gather on the
Green after school might have had something to do
with this, as they are often seen abusing this park. I
would ask them to consider the time and effort of this
project, done by local volunteers for the enjoyment by
all, than a place to vandalize. Perhaps they didn’t know
that these quilts will be washed and sewn together and
donated to the women’s shelter downtown, to help
others in need.
Betsy Collins
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S P E C I A L I Z I N G I N P A C I F I C P A L I S A D E S , M A L I B U , S A N TA M O N I C A
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
Page 9
Nahai to Speak at Library
About The Luminous Heart
Best-selling author and University of
Southern California creative writing professor Gina B. Nahai will speak about her
new book, The Luminous Heart of Jonah S.,
at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, in the
Palisades Branch Library community
room. The free event is sponsored by the
Friends of the Library.
Nahai, author of Cry of the Peacock,
Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith, Sunday’s
Silence and Caspian Rain, will discuss her
new novel, set in Tehran and Los Angeles.
It is the story of an immigrant family
caught in a murder mystery and a multi-
generational feud.
Nahai’s novels have been translated into
18 languages and have been selected as
“One of the Best Books of the Year” by the
Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune.
Nahai’s writings have appeared in the Los
Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the San
Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles magazine
and the Huffington Post. She writes a
monthly column for The Jewish Journal of
Greater Los Angeles and has twice been a
finalist for an L.A. Press Club award.
Call: (310) 459-2754 or visit friendsofpalilibrary.org.
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f you need a good laugh, or many laughs
and maybe even a few belly laughs,
come watch the Spolin Players perform
at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd.
This improvisational troupe plays the
theater games of Viola Spolin, “the High
Priestess Of Improv,” who created the techniques used by the cast of Chicago’s Second
City in the early 1960s, as well as every other
improvisational comedy troupe since.
The Players, who include Palisadian Gail
Matthius plus Casey Campbell, Donna
Dubain, Jim Staahl, Danny Mann, John
Mariano, Anna Mathias, David McCharen,
Edie McClurg and Pat Musick, were among
the last group to study with Spolin, who
died in 1994 at the age of 88.
The hour-long, completely improvised
show is based solely on audience suggestions. Every show is completely different
and original. No sets, no props, no costumes, and yet you “see and hear” all three.
Audiences are asked to bring their imagination and suggestions.
“We’ve had very successful shows in
years past,” said Matthius, explaining that
the group has been together off and on for
almost 30 years and every member is a
working actor. “We haven’t been in the Palisades for almost four years, so we wanna
pack the house with our fellow Palisadians
and leave ‘em laughing!”
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at
the box office or through www.brownpapertickts.com or call (800) 838-3006.
Dark Street Corners? Pacific
Palisades Takes Second Place
Pacific Palisades and Southeast Los Angeles have something in common. They are
among the neighborhoods where streetlight
bulb replacement takes the longest.
According to an investigative piece written by Mike Reicher for the Los Angeles
Daily News in February, it takes an average
of 7.1 days to repair a lightbulb in Southeast
L.A., and 7.5 days in the Palisades.
The slowest place for replacement was Silver Lake/Echo Park/Elysian Valley at 8 days.
The place for fastest street bulb replacement was the Port of L.A. (0.2 days), followed by Sherman Oaks (2.3 days). On
this side of the hill, Westwood averaged 3.8
days, LAX 3.9 days and Venice 3.9 days.
Reicher analyzed city data, obtained
through the state open records act, from
January 2009 through early October 2014.
He wrote: “Over those years, the bureau averaged a five-day repair time. Broken poles
and incidents of multiple outages were excluded from the analysis, which focused on
single lights turned dark.
“Bureau of Street Lighting officials blame
the delays on equipment, geography, copper theft and budget cuts. Some neighborhoods have 90-year-old systems and the
bureau doesn’t stock replacement parts;
crews have to wait for orders.”
The City has only two maintenance
yards: one is in North Hollywood, the second is in Sun Valley. Reicher found “officials
installed new LED lights there before other
districts. From the complaint to the repair,
it took an average of three days to fix a light
in the Valley.”
His report said that the City collects
about $42 million of annual property assessments for its streetlight maintenance
fund and a typical homeowner pays $70 to
$95 a year through an annual assessment.
Since expenses are projected to exceed
revenue in coming years, the bureau is
planning a citywide ballot proposition to
increase assessment rates.
Page 10
Palisades News
March 18, 2015
Martin Town Center Promotes Transit
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
B
umper-to-bumper traffic on the
westbound 10 Freeway in the a.m.
and the eastbound 10 in the p.m. is
causing many Westside residents to avoid
the area near the 405/10 intersection during peak hours.
Therein lies a major challenge for the
proposed Martin Expo Town Center project at the corner of Bundy and Olympic.
If ultimately approved by the City of
L.A., the Center would include 516 residential units, 67,000 square feet for retail
and restaurants, and a 12-story office
building anchored by the Martin Cadillac
showroom.
The five-acre development, which currently includes a Martin Cadillac showroom and a body and repair shop on the
site, has generated controversy because
many people feel that it will add to traffic
congestion.
“Studies have shown that if transit is
available, more people will use it,” said
Philip Simmons of the Simmons Group, a
land and development management firm.
“There is a huge jobs/housing imbalance in
this area. There are close to 10,000 workers
and little housing for them.”
Located only a half block from the up-
Rendering of the proposed Martin Expo Town Center project proposed for the intersection
of Olympic and Bundy Avenues in West Los Angeles.
coming Expo/Bundy light-rail station, the
Town Center project is called a Transient
Oriented Development (TOD). People living near this station will be able to go from
Santa Monica to downtown L.A. and beyond on public transportation.
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“In the first two months the apartments
are available, we will open them up to people who work within a quarter of a mile of
the complex,” Simmons said. There will be
studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments,
at market-value, with an affordable hous-
ing component.
Riot Games [video game producer of
League of Legends] and its 1,200 employees
are moving from Santa Monica into the
area just north of Martin Cadillac.
“They’ve talked to us several times and
are interested in the project because they
would be close to public transit and there
would be housing for their employees,” said
Martin Cadillac CEO Dan Martin and a
Brentwood resident.
He added, “This [TOD] project has been
an educational process.” As part of his research, he visited Germany, London, Paris,
Russia and Sweden, and lived in locations
near mass transit. “I wanted to see how it
worked. I walked everywhere, I never had
to use a car.”
In California, if people rent an apartment, they expect at least one free parking
space, but that would not be the case at the
Town Center apartments.
“Parking will be available, but just like in
Manhattan (New York City) it will be decoupled from the rent and people will pay
more to have a parking space,” Martin said.
“The reality is people will not have to buy a
car and there will be a car-share program
on site.”
Martin was asked about the counterintuitiveness of a Cadillac dealer promoting
(Continued on Page 11)
March 18, 2015
Page 11
Palisades News
Martin
(Continued from Page 10)
a development that promotes public transit
rather than car ownership.
“We need to modernize for employees
and customers,” he said. “With a more attractive store, we will sell more cars. But we
also need to support the alternative.
Martin also noted, “There are almost no
lunch places around here. People have to
get in their car and drive to Brentwood or
Westwood just for lunch.”
The Town Center would have amenities
needed for living within walking distance.
Additionally, there are plans to rent office
space to creative companies, whose employees generally work off-hours.
If the development is approved, construction could start in 2016 and be completed in 2018.
In the environmental impact review for
Martin Expo Town Center, which just
closed for public comment, traffic impact
was analyzed. Not surprisingly, many of the
intersections that may be affected already
have failing grades during at least one of the
peak times. (http://cityplanning.lacity.org/
eir/MartinExpoTownCenter/DEIR)
JUMBLE SOLUTION
The Martin family has owned and operated Martin Cadillac for three generations.
The dealership was founded in Santa Monica in 1947 by Clarence Daniel (“Dan”)
Martin, Jr. after he returned from World
War II as a naval officer.
While running Martin Cadillac, Dan
served as Undersecretary of Commerce for
Transportation, working as the principal
adviser to Presidents John F. Kennedy and
President Lyndon Johnson on national
transportation policy.
In 1974, Dan relocated his dealership to
West Los Angeles. Nephew Dana took over
as CEO in 1976 and he and his wife Mary
raised their four boys (Dan, Chris, Brian
and Matthew) in Pacific Palisades (and still
live here). They have been active members
of St. Matthew’s Parish for more than 40
years. Dana’s son, Dan, said the impetus
for the Town Center started when General
Motors strongly encouraged all dealers to
participate in an “image enhancement”
program by modernizing facilities and
showrooms.
“Complying with this program required
a significant capital investment,” Martin
said. “That became hard to justify given that
we’re on an oversized property of five acres,
where we only need about three. With the
arrival of the Expo line just 500 feet from
the corner of Martin Cadillac, these two
factors caused us to step back and rethink
the vision for the property and for transportation in general. We asked, ‘What is the
right thing to do?’”
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“Wavegirl,” a painting by Pacific Palisades Art Association president Annette Dugdale-Alexakis.
Dugdale-Alexakis Art on
Exhibit at Palisades Library
T
he paintings currently on the walls
of the community room at the Palisades Branch Library were done by
Annette Dugdale-Alexakis, and are available for viewing through March 21.
The 43-year Palisades resident, a selftaught artist, attended a Pacific Palisades
Art Association (PPAA) meeting, which
has been in this community since 1947, to
learn more about art. “I wanted to better
my technique,” said Dugdale-Alexakis, who
runs a full-time pet-care business.
Five years ago, she became the organizing force for the Art Association, taking
over from Ellen Travis, Susan Coddington
and Carol Gee, and is currently the president. In addition to seeking new members
and organizing shows, Dugdale-Alexakis
finds speakers and art demonstrations for
the club’s monthly meetings.
She also co-chairs the annual Village Green
Art Show and Sale with Terri Bromberg
and arranges scholarships for art students
at Palisades High School’s Showcase night.
Annette credits her brother Eric Dugdale, husband Glenn, and sons James and
Christopher for helping her make the
events happen.
The PPAA, which is open to all ages,
meets on the fourth Tuesday of most
months (with the exception of December,
June, July and August) at the Woman’s
Club. Members gather for lectures and
demonstrations on oil painting, sculpting,
watercolor, photography and animation.
Membership is $50, and those interested
do not have to live in Pacific Palisades to
join. Contact: [email protected].
Blood Drive March 22
Dr. Mike Martini is organizing a community blood drive, sponsored by Providence St. John’s Health Center. The event
will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, at Corpus Christi Hall, 890
Toyopa Dr. For an appointment, call (310)
829-8886 or e-mail [email protected].
Donors are reminded to eat a nutritious
meal beforehand, drink plenty of fluids
and bring a photo identification. Donors
will receive a coupon for a pint of BaskinRobbins ice cream.
Ninkey Dalton
Your Local Neighborhood Agent
NEXT ISSUE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
Send us your comments and suggestions to
[email protected]
The Agency
Get Your Advertising in Place Now!
(424) 400-5921
www.TheAgencyRE.com
Contact Jeff, (310) 573-0150 or [email protected]
or Grace at [email protected]
THANK-YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS!
Please patronize them, and tell them
you saw their ad in the News!
Pacific Palisades, Brentwood,
Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Venice
CalBRE#01437780
Page 12
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
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©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered
service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that
information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. * Based on information total sales volume from California Real Estate Technology Services, Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS,
REALTORS, SANDICOR, Inc. for the period 1/1/2013 through 12/31/2013 in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego,
Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Due to MLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy, this data is only informational and may not be completely accurate. Therefore, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the data accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS’s may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Palisades News
March 18, 2015
Page 13
Ogden Cleaners Changes Hands
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
D
aniel and Yanna Sapozhnikov
closed a chapter of their lives on
Saturday, February 28, after selling
Ogden Cleaners on Sunset Boulevard to
Tommy Goullais.
The following Monday, the couple was
in the store, helping with the transition and
saying goodbye to customers and friends.
“I’m sorry, I’ll miss you,” said long-time
customer Helena Lara. “Who’s going to do
my pants? Don’t go, I don’t like change.”
Long-time customer, Norman Beegun,
said: “I’ve become friends with Daniel and
Yanna. We’ve gone out to dinner with
them; gone to services with them. They’ve
become part of the community.”
Beegun was one of many who praised
Daniel’s tailoring ability on that Monday.
“My son would come in with a pair of
pants and say he needed them tomorrow
and Daniel would do it,” Beegun said. “He
would never say no. He just altered a
tuxedo I hadn’t worn in 20 years and
couldn’t get into, but now it fits.”
Fran Dunner, who has three daughters,
said her youngest, Susie, would typically
buy something in the morning and need
it that evening, but that Daniel always
came through with the alteration.
Daniel remembered Patty Pappas as his
first alteration customer when the couple
took over the cleaners in 1997.
“We had a special arrangement,” said
Pappas, the mother of three girls. “Daniel
would always agree to the shorter hem
length they sought,” she said, “but when he
altered it, he always let it down lower.”
After the Sapozhnikovs took over the
cleaners, Daniel estimates business grew by
100 percent. He said that several thousand
Temescal Garden
Cleanup March 28
Daniel and Yanna Sapozhnikov welcome Tommy Goullais, the new owner of Ogden
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
Cleaners on Sunset.
people went in and out of the shop’s door
every week—and he knew most of them
by their first name.
The owners were asked if the Caruso
Affiliated purchase of nearby Swarthmore
influenced the sale. “It didn’t have anything
to do with it,” Daniel said. “It was just time
to let it go.”
He cited his difficulty with finding good
help because of the town’s geographical
location. “I’m sure many businesses have
the same problem.”
The Sapozhnikovs live in Tarzana, and
six days a week would fight the traffic on
the 405 going and coming from the Palisades. He said even when he was away
from work, “my head was thinking of work,
of situations, of people.”
Daniel said Yanna wants him to rest,
read a book, go to the beach, travel, and
“do all of the things I haven’t done in the
past 17 years.”
Before coming to the Palisades, he sold
a previous dry-cleaning business, but stayed
home for a only month before he couldn’t
take the inactivity.
“This time I’m going to try to stay home
for six months,” Daniel jokingly said, but
then reflected: “I may have a hard time
doing it.” The couple has a three-year clause
that does not allow them to open a similar
business in Pacific Palisades.
Daniel and Yanna shed tears as customer
after customer gave hugs and asked for
their phone numbers so they could stay in
touch.
“It’s too emotional about leaving,” said
Yanna whose mother is suffering from dementia, which is demanding more of
Yanna’s time and is another reason for
selling the shop.
The couple have two grandchildren, ages
1 and 3, and would also like to spend more
time with them.
“If I had known it would be this difficult,
I’d reconsider,” Daniel, 63, said.
Goullais, the former owner of Fame
Cleaners on La Cienega, was helping at the
counter. “I enjoy a service business,” he said,
noting that he doesn’t plan to make any
changes at Ogden’s. The Woodland Hills
resident will continue pickup and delivery,
as well as the environmentally friendly
cleaning processes the cleaner uses.
The new owner will retain all of the
current employees, including the women
at the front counter, Jesse Hernandez and
Gina Vargas and tailor Fernando Pena,
who worked with Daniel. A second tailor,
Enio Aguilar, who worked at Fame Cleaners, has been added.
“We just wanted all our customers to
know we appreciated their business. We
weren’t able to tell everyone in person, but
please tell them ‘thank you,’” Yanna Sapozhnikov said.
Winning Strategies for Buyers in a Bidding War
By MICHAEL EDLEN
M
ultiple offers” occur either when
a seller receives more than one
purchase offer at the same time
or receives another offer before a counteroffer is presented to the first buyer. This
has occurred fairly often since 2012 and has
created a frustrating environment for wellqualified buyers who repeatedly are outbid
in their attempts to buy a home.
The following suggestions are based on
my having participated in hundreds of
multiple-offer negotiations and observing
the various dynamics that can occur.
•
•
The Pacific Palisades Garden Club and
Palisades Beautiful co-sponsor the beautification efforts at the N/E/X/T/Garden in
•
the northeast corner of Temescal Canyon
Park. This new acronym for the long-established garden area spells: Native/Environmental/Xeriscape/Temescal.
Hands-on help is needed with various
•
gardening tasks on Saturday, March 28 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can come any time • Ideally, being an “all-cash” buyer with the
and volunteer as long or short as they want.
cash available or, at a minimum, being
Street parking next to the site (just south
fully approved for financing before
of Bowdoin) is available on Saturdays.
writing an offer, will usually give you •
Contact: [email protected] or
the advantage.
call Barbara Marinacci (310) 459-0190.
• Know the market inventory well by at-
tending open houses and becoming familiar with what has recently actually sold.
Have a family or personal photo to be
presented with your offer, as well as an
introductory letter which your agent
can help you prepare.
Be as rational and disciplined as you
can, willing to either step up or pull
back depending on the circumstances.
Take the long view. Remember that you
may be living in this neighborhood for
many years. The house can often be
changed in various ways, but the location cannot.
Ask your agent to counsel you on contract details that may improve your position at little cost or risk to you. A
seasoned agent will know ways to make
your offer stand out over others.
Be prepared to make decisions in a
short amount of time, as timing your
offer and any responses to the seller is
essential to success.
• Select an agent who has successfully
guided many other buyers in multipleoffer situations.
Although the highest and best offer usually succeeds, it is not uncommon in this
market that a seller will receive more than
one strong offer. The seller will at times ultimately select the buyer based upon personal or other nonfinancial reasons rather
than one who offers a higher price.
Michael Edlen has been involved in hundreds of multiple offer negotiations since 1987,
including several that had 20-35 offers. He
and his team have carefully developed strategies for multiple offers when working with
both buyers and sellers. More tips and information are available at MichaelEdlen.com.
He can be reached at (310) 230-7373 or
[email protected].
Page 14
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
Parking Kiosk Design Ongoing
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
W
e were all astonished when we
saw it,” said a member of the
Pacific Palisades Design Review
Board at its March 11 meeting, referring to
the new parking attendant kiosk in the lot
next to Bank of America on Sunset.
At meetings on last October 8 and 22, a
representative from TOPA, which manages
the parking lot, came to the board with a
proposed kiosk design, to replace the one
knocked over by a vehicle in June.
The DRB is an advisory board, appointed by Councilman Mike Bonin, Council
District 11, operating under the Brown Act
and tasked with reviewing exterior design,
site layout, landscapes, signs and other design elements governed by the Pacific Pal-
Happy LA to Host
Hudson Trunk Show
Happy LA, one of Pacific Palisades’ premiere clothing boutiques, will be the
site of a Spring 2015 Trunk Show, debuting Hudson Jeans’ spring collection.
“This will be our first Hudson trunk show,” said boutique owner Dawn Baker.
“But we’ve been carrying the product in the store for more than seven years.”
Hudson Jeans is one of the top leading denim brands in the world and carries
a variety of cuts for all body types including: super skinny, skinny, straight leg,
baby boot, bootcut and flare.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 26, at the store,
542 Palisades Drive in the Highlands Plaza. Hors d’oeuvres and champagne will
be served.
“We are looking forward to a fun day and there will be a gift with purchase
on the day of the event provided by Hudson Jeans,” Baker said.
Call (310) 459-5511 or visit dawn@ happy-la.com.
Broker Associate
Fine Home Specialist
30+ Years Experience
isades specific plan.
The kiosk does not fall under DRB purview, but members were delighted that
TOPA had come to them for suggestions.
“They didn’t need to, because they didn’t need a permit,” DRB President Barbara
Kohn explained. But members discussed
it at length and made suggestions that included color, size, windows and even the
possibility of landscaping to make it more
attractive.
When the kiosk was installed, DRB
members found that many suggestions had
not been implemented.
“We thought they were going to put a
window where the wall was,” said member
Sarah Griffin, “and a sliding door on both
sides so that Roman [the attendant] could
access ingoing and outgoing cars easier.”
Also, the giant air conditioner on one side
of the building, in addition to being unattractive, had other issues. “It’s oversized,”
said member Donna Vaccarino. “The line
going to it doesn’t have the correct power,
so in order for it to operate, they would
have to put in a new electrical line.”
“There were good suggestions given by
everyone around the table,” said Kohn, who
contacted TOPA management and discovered that they agreed with the need to revisit the kiosk design and implementation.
This kiosk has come under fire for its design.
She and DRB member Kelly Comras
met with TOPA on March 13 to discuss
what happens next, and they are confident
that several improvements will be made,
but caution that implementation will take
a couple of months.
“Communications and the relationship
with TOPA continues to be highly cordial
with ongoing meetings in an effort to resolve the issue,” Kohn said on March 14.
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March 18, 2015
90404 Changing
Film Hosted by
Conservancy
The historically culturally diverse Pico
neighborhood of Santa Monica is the subject of the film, 90404 Changing, to be presented by the Santa Monica Conservancy
on Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium at the
Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Admission is free but seating is limited.
Producer/director Michael Barnard will
introduce the film, and after the screening
he and leading cast member and co-producer Paulina Sahagun will conduct a Q&A.
The film captures the once historically
rich and culturally diverse neighborhood in
the 90404 zip code. It follows a local Latina
teacher and an African-American poet in
their quest to piece together the history of
this area.
Blending narrative and documentary storytelling, 90404 Changing includes a wide
range of personal stories of former and current residents, clergy and business owners.
Founded in 2002, the Santa Monica
Conservancy is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to promoting understanding
and appreciation of the cultural, social,
economic and environmental benefits of
preserving the historic resources of Santa
Monica’s unique urban landscape.
Visit: www.smconservancy.org.
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management services to businesses
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• Bookkeeping & Payroll Services
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310.230.8826
fax: 310.454.8917
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Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
www.ilanaroman.com • [email protected]
Page 15
Palisades News
OPENING DAY 2015
Tim McCaffrey, a member of the PPBA Board,
with wife Natasha and daughter Carly. Son Jake is Matt Moore’s brother Asher is a Pinto
Coco Kennedy sang the National Anthem. a second-year Tiger Pinto.
Yankee.
Photos: Sue Pascoe
PPBA Kicks Off Season at Park
R
ecord heat did not stop players,
coaches, former coaches and even
former fans from attending the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s 63rd
annual pancake breakfast on Saturday
morning at the Palisades Recreation Center.
Alice Wroblicky may be the event’s biggest fan: this was her 54th pancake breakfast. Her husband Emil, now deceased,
coached teams in the 1960s, when their
three boys played. She had attended every
breakfast since then until last year, when
Emil was sick.
On Saturday, Alice was wearing a jacket
and explained, “I know it’s supposed to be
hot, but I remember when the wind came
up the canyon, I’d freeze, sitting in the
bleachers.”
A group of 11 Palisades men, all former
Troop 223 dads who walk together every
Saturday and coached AYSO, basketball and
baseball when their boys were younger,
stopped by for the breakfast. They included
Andy Breech, who coached the Phillies
from 1991-2001; former Unocal station
owner Frank Jakel, who sponsored a team
for 35 years and coached the Indians from
1985 to 1990; and Bud Kling, the longtime
Palisades High tennis coach, who helmed
the Dodgers in 1995.
Rich Wilken, who once coached the Phillies, said: “I had a perfect record, we went
0-17—totally unblemished by a single victory.” He remembered how actor David
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Niven, who had a son on the team, would
show up with his silver case and then mix
martinis. James Arness would join Niven
in the bleachers.
Susan Samama, her son Shane and
grandson Mason (5) were in attendance.
Shane recalled playing with Peter Wallin
and Bill Bruns as his coaches. “We won
every year,” he said, noting that his brother
Mark also played in the PPBA. “We’ll have
Mason in the line-up soon.”
Coco Kennedy, a fifth grader at Corpus
Christi School, sang the National Anthem.
Baseball commissioner Bob Benton afterwards told Coco, “You hit a homerun.”
Eon Sullivan was recognized for selling
the most pancake tickets and will be a batboy for one UCLA game. The PPBA board
was recognized, as well as Oscar Gonzales,
who works nonstop on field maintenance.
Then it was time for Pacific Palisades
actor/comedian Bill Hader to throw the
first pitch to the waiting glove of Pinto
Cub Jett Teegardin, and the 2015 PPBA
season was underway.
Michael C. Solum
, Principal
Insurance and Financial Services Agent
881 Alma Real Dr., Suite T-10
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 454-0805
[email protected]
PaliInsurance.com License #OG51003
Palisades News
March 18, 2015
Page 16
Hoops Coach Johnson Savors City Title
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
A
fter winning the City Section Open Division
championship on March 7, Palisades High girls
basketball coach Torino Johnson said, “I’d like
to make a new dictionary. I’d put in the word team,
and below it I’d put a picture of my girls. They define
that word.”
By the same token, many would put down the word
“coach” and then put Johnson’s photo next to it. This
soft-spoken coach, who works as a special education aide
at PaliHi, has helmed the girls program for eight years.
The Dolphins beat Narbonne 60-56 in the final,
winning the first open-division basketball playoffs in
City history. Johnson said the new division was created
to allow the best teams to play more competitive games.
Johnson was reflective before practice, preparing for
his team’s State playoff opener by watching a taped game
from early November. The large City trophy sat on his
desk in a closet-sized office.
“We don’t need hardware to be champions,” he said.
“We control our own destiny by winning or losing.”
To make it to the finals against Narbonne, Palisades
overcame a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to defeat
Fairfax. Johnson was asked what he told his team during
a key timeout. “I told them to have fun,” he said. “Playing
should be fun, it shouldn’t be a job.”
Johnson’s philosophy was tested two days after their
championship game. As a Section winner, the Dolphins
were scheduled to open the State playoffs at home
against second-seeded Mater Dei, the number-one
ranked girls team in the nation. Mater Dei had been
PaliHi head girls basketball coach Torino Johnson looks
for challenges for his team, and in the process pushes his
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
girls to success.
The Dolphins celebrate the 60-56 win over Narbonne, which clinched the first City Section Open Division championship.
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
upset by Chaminade. But Monday afternoon, Johnson
was told the game had been moved to the Monarchs’
court in Santa Ana.
“In one way it’s a lack of respect [to take away the
home advantage], but I get it,” Johnson said. “If Mater
Dei loses to Chaminade, is that an actual loss? I can’t
get involved in the politics. We will go to their place and
do what we can do. We look at this as an opportunity,
rather than an adversity.”
Reflecting the life lessons he tries to impart on his
players, Johnson said: “We can’t control the place or
time, but we can control how well we shoot and how
well we play.”
A graduate of Manual Arts and USC (2005), Johnson
doesn’t back down. “I never schedule bad teams—there
are no cream puff games here,” he said. His young team
had only three seniors when it played Mater Dei in the
second game of the season and was thrashed, 74-32.
He called the second chance to play Mater Dei, “an
exciting position for us,” despite his team’s underdog
status. At Mater Dei, a private school, athletics is king
and money is pumped into the program and facilities—
everything is state-of-the-art. “They care about athletics,”
Johnson said.
At Palisades High, that same level of support for
facilities and equipment doesn’t exist. This is the first
year the girls have had a locker room, but as Johnson
points out, “We won a championship without it.”
Mater Dei defeated Pali, 99-73, after taking a 32-12
first-quarter lead. Although PaliHi outscored the
Monarchs in the second and third quarter, in the fourth
quarter Mater Dei came back with a vengeance.
“We worked very hard and although the score will tell
a story of us losing, we played hard and put ourselves in
a very good position throughout the game,” Johnson
said afterwards.
The Dolphin scoring was led by junior K. Merrill-Gillett
(23 points), senior Bianca King (21) and sophomore
Chelsey Gipson (16).
Johnson also praised players that don’t always get press,
such as, “Chaniya Pickett has to guard the opposing
team’s best ball handler, and Sammy Spanier (Fr.) Rita
Herbstman (Sr.), Julia Ide (So.), Hannah Akahoshi (Jr.)
and Arianna Haghani (Sr.) because they always work
hard in practice, helping us to get good.”
Pali does have a major advantage that many other
programs lack: Coach Johnson, but he gives all the credit
back to the girls. “We have a really great group of girls
who are creating their own destiny. They’re champs.”
He works with his players year-round. “The kids are
dedicated student-athletes who sacrifice weekends,”
Johnson said, noting that the girls who are on varsity
or trying to make the team practice Monday through
Saturday.
In addition to drills, the girls do weight training,
conditioning and skill building. “We partnered with
the football team and did the Navy Seals training with
them,” said Johnson, who is also strict about girls keeping
their grades high. His players are routinely recruited:
Dominique Scott went to USC, Nicole Flyer to the
University of Michigan and Molly Ross to Carleton.
“Study hall is mandatory during lunch and at seventh
period (2:27 to 3:08 p.m.) and sometimes they stay
until 4 p.m.,” Johnson said. This means some players
have to miss practice time to make sure their grades
are kept high.
His team doesn’t go unnoticed on campus. “This is
one of the best climates of one of the best programs at
the school,” said journalism teacher and former
sportswriter Lisa Saxon. “The girls support each other,
they know how to bring the best of each other on and
off the court.”
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
Page 17
Wrestlers Fail to
Advance at State
SUMMER CAMPS
& SCHOOL
PROGRAMS
Special Section—
April 15, 2015
Place Your Ads NOW in the
Palisades News!
Full-Color Pages, Full-Color Ads
Distribution to the entire 90272 Palisades
Community (by US Mail to 13,300 addresses
& 1,200 distribution around town)
Special Section Pricing—
PLUS, additional ads on the Camps Page
in a following issue available (call for details)
Make your Ad Reservation Today!
Ad Space Reservation Deadline: April 6
Camera-ready Ad Artwork Deadline: April 7
(ads must be supplied by advertiser)
Contact for Information:
Jeff at (310) 573-0150
[email protected]
Grace at (310) 454-7383
[email protected]
The top 40 wrestlers at each of the 14 individual weight classes participated at the
CIF State meet in Bakersfield on March 6
and 7.
Among those participating were Palisades High School seniors David Rheingold
(115 pounds), Brad Boorstein (170 pounds)
and Kenny Jones (heavyweight), who qualified by taking first in their weight class at
City Section finals. They made history by
being the first PaliHi wrestlers to achieve
this goal since the program was started
three years ago by Randy Aguirre, who
passed away in January.
Although no one advanced to the semi’s
or finals, Coach Aldo Juliano cited lack of
experience at large venues as one of the reasons. Six matches went on at the same time
and the bleachers were filled to capacity.
“There were no fish there.” He was asked
about the term. “A fish is someone who is
easy, who flounders around. If you want
fish you came to the wrong pond.
“Kenny should have won,” Juliano said.
“He got a bad call and that changed everything.” Juliano said the person who beat
the PaliHi senior heavyweight went onto
take third.
“David Rheingold lost his first match,
then won his second, before dropping the
third,” the coach said. “It’s a whole mind
game, you could see the more seasoned
wrestlers handle the crowds and noise.”
Boorstein lost his first match, won his
second, and lost in his third to a wrestler
who went to the finals. “It’s a luck of the
draw,” Juliano said.
Rustic Canyon Offers
All-Ages Tennis Classes
T
he tennis courts at Rustic Canyon
Park were resurfaced last year
through a fundraising effort by the
community and are in impeccable condition, according to Santa Monica Canyon
resident Debbie Alexander. “The vibe is relaxed, shady and mellow,” she reported.
Weekly one-hour tennis classes for adults
and children are $165 and provide a variety
of options depending on age and skill level.
Tiny Tot classes geared to three- and
four-year-olds are now offered. They serve
as an introduction to the sport, and classes
are Tuesdays at 1, 1:30 and 2 p.m.
Peewee classes (ages 6 to 9), are offered
at 2 p.m. on Tuesday and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
A beginner/intermediate class for kids 9
to 13 teaches the basics of play, how to keep
score, serve and play for points. Classes are
4 p.m. Tuesday, 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Adult classes for beginners, advanced
beginners and intermediates are held on
Tuesday and Wednesday under the direction of tennis pro Park Liu.
An adult tennis workout class is held on
Monday and Friday from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
and the fee is $180 for 10 weeks.
A Rustic Canyon Tennis Club has been
formed. The program is uninstructed and
participants must be of USTA level 3 or
higher to register. The club meets Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m.
The Rustic Canyon Live Ball Tennis Club
meets from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and is
uninstructed. The cost is $15 and partici-
pants are asked to bring a can of balls on
the first day of class.
An adult advanced drills class involves
a half-hour lesson, then an hour match
play with the instructor. Fee is $180 for 10
weeks, 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday.
Adult drills intermediate class is a halfhour lesson to serve and volley, then an
hour instructed play. Fee is $180 for 10
weeks, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays.
On-line registration is closed. Walk-ins
can go to Rustic Canyon Park, 601 Latimer Road, to register before the start of
the new session on April 12, which runs
through June 6.
Contact park manager Tracy Field at
(310) 459-7594.
Visit: [email protected].
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker
Coming on May 9
The second annual Rotary Texas Hold
‘Em Poker Tournament will be held from
5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, in Janes
Hall at the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian
Church. Proceeds will benefit the Palisades-Malibu YMCA and the Rotary
Club of Pacific Palisades Foundation.
The prize pool will be more than
$5,000. The initial buy-in is $200 (includes dinner) and the maximum number of players is 100. The deadline is May
1, unless player spaces are sold out sooner.
Contact Pete Crosby at (310) 454-6387
or [email protected]; or Perry Akins at
(310) 459-8551 or [email protected].
Page 18
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
A Home with Architectural History
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
T
here’s something reassuring about a
home built decades ago with architectural insight and graciousness
that people don’t instantly feel the need to
renovate it or tear it down. Those buildings,
like grand dames, have a history and are the
more interesting for it.
One property that fits into that category
is the Trippet House at 13535 Lucca Dr. in
Pacific Palisades. The Los Angeles Times featured this historic French Tudor house in
December 2006 and it is now on the market for $8.15 million.
“Gerard Colcord was only 29 when he
designed the Trippet House in 1930,” the
story read. “Inspired by farm houses in the
Normandy region of France, its exterior
is rough field stone masonry. A dramatic
high-pitched roof drives the design. Thick
stone walls lend an air of stolidity and give
the impression of a house built to last for
generations.”
Two years later, the house was featured in
the entire first chapter of Bret Parsons’ book
Colcord Homes (Angel City Press, 2008).
Parsons wrote: “Rough fieldstone masonry veneer exemplifies the picturesque
quality of Trippet House. A massive masonry wall with no window openings facing the street emphasizes the fireplace and
the solidarity of farm buildings that were
designed to be protective.
“Colcord often modified traditional details. For example, the steel-easement windows in Trippet House were generally found
only in the most expensive residences—
not farmhouses. Even the proportions of
the thin steel-framed windows are quite
different from the heavier wood-framed
casement windows found in a French
farmhouse.”
When Parsons published his book, he
received a phone call from actor Harrison
Ford, who owned two of the architect’s
houses. Other celebrities who have owned
Colcord homes included Tom Jones,
Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, Debbie
Reynolds, Richard Chamberlain and
The historic Trippet House in the Riviera neighborhood of Pacific Palisades is now on the market.
Reese Witherspoon.
“Every owner I talked with said they love
having guests over,” Parsons wrote. “The
problem is they don’t want to leave because
they feel so comfortable.”
There is some notoriety about the Trippet House’s second owner, Dr. Ernst C.
Fishbaugh, a physician to the oil-rich Doheny family.
In February 1929, Edward “Ned” Doheny, 36, and his friend and assistant
Theodore Hugh Plunkett, were found dead
in the Greystone mansion in Beverly Hills.
Historical accounts vary but Fishbaugh
may have helped up cover up a crime surrounding the possible murder/suicide of
the two men.
According to the doctor, “I received a call
at the Hollywood Playhouse from my maid
at 10:30 p.m. and was told to go to the Do-
heny home immediately. Upon my arrival
there, one of the watchmen let me in the
house . . . As I entered, Mrs. Doheny was
standing in the middle hallway approximately eight feet back from the door and
greeted me. She said her husband was in a
guestroom on the first floor, to the left of
the hall leading from the front entrance.
“Both Mrs. Doheny and I started down
the hall, side by side. A door, which partitions the hall, was slightly ajar, and I saw
Plunkett walking toward it. ‘You stay out of
here,’ he shouted at me and slammed the
door shut. I then heard a shot. ‘You go back,’
I told Mrs. Doheny, and she returned to the
living room, which was about 75 feet away
from the guest room. I pushed the door
open and saw Plunkett lying on his face
opposite the door to the bedroom where
I later found Mr. Doheny. Plunkett, to the
Photo: Courtesy of Amalfi Estates
best of my recollection, was fully clothed.
The door to the bedroom was open, and
when I looked in I saw Mr. Doheny lying
on his back, a chair overturned between
him and the bed.”
An ensuing media storm soon called
Ned Doheny a hero because of a rumor he
was trying to help a troubled friend, and
had been killed for his efforts.
The forensic investigator, Leslie White,
doubted Fishbaugh’s story. He found a smoldering cigarette in Hugh’s fingertips, who
supposedly had just killed his best friend
and then himself. The gun used in the murder lay under Plunkett’s body, very warm,
as if someone had heated it in the oven.
Indeed, the doctor was caught in several
lies, including withholding the fact that
Ned had been alive when the doctor burst
(Continued on Page 19)
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for the notice, nor the photo. For questions, or to submit, please
e-mail [email protected]. The desired deadline for submissions is Thursday before the intended publication date (the
first and third Wednesday of the month).
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Page 19
Palisades News
Trippet House
(Continued from Page 18)
into the room. White also observed that
Ned had been shot at very close range,
Hugh had not.
The case initially hit all of the local papers, but 36 hours later District Attorney
Buron Fitts officially closed the investigation, killing any further investigation.
Several theories had been floated, including that the two men were lovers, but there
was also a financial aspect that cannot be
discounted.
The elder Doheny had become involved
in the Teapot Dome scandal, in which Doheny, Albert Fall [U.S. Secretary of State]
and oilman Harry Sinclair were charged
with conspiracy. Earlier, Ned and Hugh had
gone to New York and after withdrawing
$100,000 from a banking account, gave
the money to Fall.
Doheny was acquitted in December
1926, but was later charged again, this time
with bribery.
Ned and Hugh had been called to testify
in the upcoming bribery trials of Albert Fall
and E.L. Doheny. And although Ned had
been assured immunity, Hugh had not.
After the murders, Fishbaugh purchased
the Trippet House.
Today, the 4,976-sq.-ft. home has 6 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms on a 20,877-sq.ft. flat lot in the Riviera, plus a guest house,
a pool/spa and an outdoor kitchen. The listing agent is Palisadian Anthony Marguleas,
who can be contacted at (310) 293-9280.
Documentarian Brian Ivie Will
Speak at ‘Food for Thought’
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
D
ocumentarian Brian Ivie is the
next speaker in the monthly “Food
for Thought” series on Thursday,
March 26, after the free luncheon at 11:30
a.m. in the Palisades Presbyterian Church’s
community room, Janes Hall. Ivie will
speak about The Drop Box, which opened
at 750 theaters on March 3.
Clips will be shown from this featurelength documentary, which tells the story
of one man’s efforts to protect and care for
newborn babies who might have otherwise
been abandoned on the streets of Seoul,
South Korea.
Pastor Lee Jong-Rak built a “baby
box”—a safe harbor to welcome and care
for these babies. So far, more than 600 babies, many of whom have disabilities, have
been helped. A portion of the film’s proceeds will go to support Pastor Lee’s ministry. He has been quoted as saying, “They
aren’t the unnecessary ones . . . God sent
them here for a purpose.”
“The Drop Box is a profoundly moving
documentary that sheds much-needed
light on the inherent dignity and mission
of each human person, especially those
with a serious disability. In a world that
Brian Ivie will speak at Janes Hall.
often emphasizes the need to be perfect,
this real-life story gets to the heart of love,
life, and the unique giftedness of every
human being,” said one reviewer, Jeanne
Monahan, president of March for Life.
“Through this movie, we’re hoping that
people will see more than Christians working on behalf of orphans,” said Ivie. “We’re
hoping that people will see a God who has
always and will always love the broken and
the lost.”
A graduate of the University of Southern
California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Ivie
became interested in the hidden world of
child abandonment in South Korea and
other countries. While making the film, he
became a Christian.
Afterwards, he co-founded the nonprofit
Kindred Image, which works on preventing
abandonment, meeting mothers in crisis
and offering alternatives to abandonment
in unsafe places and providing long-term
solutions for single mothers and children.
The nonprofit is committed to holistic solutions through counseling, care packages
and adoption support.
Ivie is a published film critic and recreational songwriter; he was the only white
male in the Saved by Grace Gospel Choir.
With four other like-minded individuals,
Ivie founded Arbella Studios, whose mission is to tell truthful stories that can expose
the heart to its most desperate need. The
company believes that film communicates
stories with unique authority and authenticity, and believes that the gospel of Jesus
Christ is the most beautiful story ever.
Please RSVP to (310) 454-0366 in order
to ensure enough food for the luncheon.
Teen Poets Can Win Book Deal
The Los Angeles Public Library is offering free creative writing workshops for
teens, culminating in the opportunity to
become the Los Angeles youth poet laureate
and to secure a book deal to publish a first
book of poems.
Attend any or all of the workshops at
the Palisades Branch Library from 3:30 to
5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23; Tuesday,
March 31; and Monday April 6 and 13 with
Rachel Kann. During the workshop, teens
will also be able to work on their professional resumes.
Kann has taught poetry workshops at
the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program
since 2008 and is a TEDx Poet who has
performed her work at venues from Royce
Hall to San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
She has won a James Kirkwood Award for
fiction.
After attending a workshop(s), teens
(ages 13 to 19) will write five poems and
fill out the resume form at urbanword.org.
The top poets will perform at the L.A.
Youth Poet Laureate Finals on Sunday,
June 28 at the Mark Taper Auditorium.
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Palisades News
March 18, 2015
Page 20
J.W.M.
Turner:
Master
of Sea,
Mist and
Light
By LIBBY MOTIKA
Palisades News Contributor
“The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, October 16, 1834.”
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art: The John Howard McFadden Collection, 1928
I
f the renowned 18th-century British
artist J.W.M. Turner could have slipped
into the eye of a hurricane, he most certainly would have rendered the power and
intensity of the storm looking from the inside out, with an emotional intensity that
seemed impossible with paint on canvas.
But this was the man who claimed that
he was tied to the mast of a ship on the
night of a storm and witnessed it for four
hours. When looking at the finished painting, “Snow Storm: Steamboat off a Harbour’s Mouth,” the viewer is caught up in
that very vortex.
Turner was captivated by natural phenomena—sunrises, fog and the mutable skies—
J.M.W. Turner self-portrait
and he was obsessed with natural catastrophes, raging storms and conflagrations.
Turner was captivated by natural phenomena—sunrises, fog and the mutable
skies—and he was obsessed with natural catastrophes, raging storms and conflagrations.
“When the Tower of London was burning down in 1821, Turner applied to the
Duke of Wellington to go into the Tower
and make studies, but he was denied. So he
made the studies from across the water,
which are so incredibly fresh to our eye,”
says Julian Brooks, co-curator of the exhibition “J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free”
at the Getty Museum through May 24.
The 60 watercolors and oil paintings on
view represent the last 15 years of Turner’s
life. Remarkably, these are the most expressive, dynamic and innovative of his life’s
work, says Timothy Potts, director of the
J. Paul Getty Museum.
“This is an exhibition with a thesis,” Potts
continues. “It wants to look at Turner’s late
work and understand it going back to the
end of the 18th century and early 19th century when he is consciously drawing on the
work of other great landscape artists. Then
you have this flourish that is so totally different. Instead of defining and representing
reality in a traditional way, the artist’s late
work is much more expressive. It flows between solid and liquid, air and wind and
sea—all these elements of nature in a very
expressive and atmospheric way. That’s
what appeals to modern audiences.” It has
been seen as, in a sense, proto-modern.
Turner was born in London in 1775 and
lived as the Industrial Revolution was transforming England from hand production
methods to machines. He showed an early
talent for drawing and watercolor and was
admitted to the Royal Academy of Art in
1789 at age 14. During these early years, he
developed the custom of traveling throughout Britain, producing a wide range of
sketches for working up into studies and
watercolors.
Throughout his life, Turner continued to
travel every summer on his own, often on
foot, having no retinue carrying his bags. He
had his boots resoled and re-heeled countless times, but he was just driven to carry
on. This was where his subject matter was.
He expanded his itinerary to the Continent,
after the end of the Napoleonic wars in
1815 when Continental travel was possible.
Venice was one of his favorite places
and it was easy to see why. It was all about
(Continued on Page 21)
“Venice at Sunrise from the Hotel Europa, with Campanile of San Marco,” about 1840.
Photo © Tate, London 2014
March 18, 2015
Page 21
Palisades News
“Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth,” exhibited 1842.
(Continued from Page 20)
atmosphere. As he said to John Ruskin,
the leading English art critic at the time,
“Atmosphere is my style.”
Success followed Turner’s recognized talent, which allowed him financial independence. His early works stayed true to the
traditions of English landscape, but as he
aged he began to push the envelope by introducing new subject matter that his contemporaries weren’t painting.
“He painted contemporary scenes and
Photo © Tate, London 2014
much more assiduously than his contemporaries, who were generally working on
medieval subjects or pure landscapes, descriptive, photographical landscapes,”
Brooks says.
By 1835, when Turner was 60 years old,
he was at the top of his game, had made a
great deal of money, and could have easily
settled into a quiet life, but continued to
paint. Everything in the Getty exhibition
is what he did after that period.
About half of his subject matter over his
whole career focuses on the sea. These maritime scenes capture more than just pretty
seascapes, but rather show his intensely
emotional observations of the play of light
on the water and the radiance of the skies.
“In ‘Snow Storm,’ the steamboat is absolutely at the mercy of the elements,”
Brooks says. “This new technology (steam
power) is nothing compared to the power
of nature. Here you can’t even see the horizon, it’s a vortex. These veils of spray that
come up, you feel it also in the coloring,
there is hardly any blue or green—the normal colors you’d find in a maritime picture.
It’s really black and white; you feel a seething power of the ocean underneath.”
Critics were outraged by this exhibition.
One opined, “It’s just a load of soapsuds
and whitewash.” Turner replied, “Well, I
wish I’d been in it.”
Notably eccentric, Turner had few
friends, except for his father, who lived with
him for 30 years until his death in 1829.
While he never married, later in life Turner
lived with Sophia Caroline Booth, in whose
house he had rented a room in the seaside
town of Margate. The two lived together
in Chelsea until his death in 1851. (Mr.
Turner, director Mike Leigh’s film currently
in theaters, received high marks from the
director of the Tate Galleries, who said:
“Mike Leigh and star Timothy Spall’s great
achievement is showing us how the artist
approached the physical business of painting. But they also convey the spirit of a man
whose reputation as a curmudgeon is un-
warranted, given his passionate interest in
people and the world around him.”)
Turner left the majority of his works,
over 19,000 works on paper and 200
paintings, finished and unfinished, to the
English nation, which are housed at the
Tate Britain. The Getty exhibition is the
first major exhibition on the West Coast
devoted to Turner’s paintings, organized
by Tate Britain.
On Tuesday, April 14, at 1:30 p.m., Assistant Curator of Paintings Peter Bjorn Kerber and Curator of Drawings Julian Brooks
will lead gallery tours of the exhibition.
Want a Free
Street Tree?
Palisades Beautiful, a nonprofit local organization, will plant new trees in the parkways in front of homeowners’ houses. Every
street in Pacific Palisades has a designated tree
and those planted will follow that pattern.
When signing a request form, people
promise to follow instructions for a tree’s
future care. Palisades Beautiful will arrange
to obtain the tree and plant it. “Get Your
Free Tree!” flyers are available at the Palisades Branch Library or the Chamber of
Commerce. The form is also available online at palisadesbeautiful.org.
Contact [email protected]; or
phone Barbara Marinacci at (310) 459-0190
or Marjorie Friedlander (310) 459-7145.
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Page 22
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
Local Teachers Featured in Photography Show
P
alisades High School teachers Steve
Engelmann and Paula Riff will be
featured in a Los Angeles Center of
Photography exhibition entitled “f16–New
Photographic Visions.” The opening reception is 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March
21, at the Center, 1515 Wilcox Ave. in Hollywood. The exhibition is free and runs
through April 17.
This fine art photography collection includes multiple processes and highlights the
varying points of view of artists: Maureen
Bond, John Bosma, Tom Carmichael, Ladini Conder, Cindy Crane, Sheri Determan,
Beth Dubber, Engelmann, Carol Erb,
Samantha Geballe, Crystal Dickerson-Hancock, Shari Yantra Marcacci, Maureen Price,
Riff, Anne Slattery and Isabella Vosmikova.
Engelmann, who teaches AP environmental science and coaches the Environthon team, received a bachelor’s degree in
marine biology from UCLA.
A lifelong Palisadian (his parents moved
here in 1962), Engelmann started taking
photos when he was a student at Paul Revere Junior High. He continued studying
photography with Rob Doucotte at PaliHi,
graduating in 1982.
In addition to the L.A. Center of Photography, Englemann’s work has been exhibited many times at the Santa Monica
College Photography Gallery and at the
Happening Gallery in Marina del Rey.
Englemann was the sole artist featured
at SMC in a 2012 show “Natura Humana,”
with the theme of how human beings relate to nature—in each photograph, he
juxtaposed two images into one.
In an earlier interview, he explained, “I
isolate a form from nature and incorporate
a human shape or detail within. Each image
Steve Engelmann uses multiple negatives to has a complement with either a positive or
combine the human form with the twisted negative background. The duality of these
heartwood of the ancient bristlecone pine. pairings emphasizes the struggle to find a
new equilibrium.”
The photographer said that people have
difficulty deciphering both images. “People
see something totally different, like psychology’s figure-ground tests.”
The environmentalist added that he is
“exploring our senses as our connection to
natural elements. Nature feeds us, quenches
us, nurtures us, heals and soothes us, and
yet we increasingly insulate ourselves from
our environment. What does ‘natural’
mean to our mind and senses today, as they
are continually altered by new technologies
and the built environment? I am fascinated
by our changing perceptions, subconscious
contradictions and the conflicts that ensue.”
Englemann’s wife, Diana, is an English
professor at SMC. The couple have two
children, Sasha and Elliott.
Paula Riff has worked as a special education teacher at PaliHi for the last five years.
She grew up in Ohio and attended UC
Berkeley, where she majored in Japanese
language and studies.
After college, she lived in Tokyo for several years. When she returned to the U.S.,
Riff became an interpreter for Japanese film
production companies in Los Angeles.
As a self-taught photographer, Riff
switched careers, landing an internship in
the photo department at the Los Angeles
County Museum of Art. Although she
had a fairly successful career shooting
This is one of nine photographs that are part
of a larger series called “Russian Postcards”
by Palisades High teacher Paula Riff.
portraits and hand-coloring photographs,
she entered graduate school and received
a teaching credential.
Riff often hand-colors her black-andwhite photographs using a subtly colorful
palette. She recently purchased a digital
camera, but still prefers film.
Visit: f16newphotographicvisions.blogspot.com/or juliadean.com.
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March 18, 2015
Palisades News
April Group
Show Seeks
Art Entries
The Pacific Palisades Art Association
will host its April Group Show, featuring painting on canvas, painting under
glass and sculpture. This show is open
to all paid members. Art may be submitted at the Palisades Branch library
from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday,
March 25.
The entry fee is $10 per item and
there is a maximum of three entries
in each category. All work must have
a sturdy hanging wire across the
back, with a maximum size of 42
inches on any side. Framing should
be of professional quality or canvases
may have wrapped sides. Sculpture is
picked up after judging, about 1 p.m.
March 25, and brought back for the
reception only.
A reception and awards ceremony
will be held on Saturday, April 4,
from noon to 2 p.m. Ribbons will be
awarded in each category. (The show
in November will include art in the
mixed-media, photo, print and drawing categories.)
Page 23
Palisades Postal Worker
Sentenced for Hit-and-Run
P
acific Palisades postal worker Marguerite Dao Vuong, 67, was sentenced
to three years in prison for a December 2013 hit-and-run crash that killed 23year-old David Pregerson. Her husband,
Michael, 67, received one year in jail and
three years’ probation for claiming he drove
the vehicle at the time of the crash.
At the sentencing on March 6, Deputy
District Attorney Marna Miller told Los
Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathryn
Solorzano that Marguerite Vuong, who was
driving to work at the Post Office facility on
La Cruz, turned her vehicle around after
it struck Pregerson. Miller said it was clear
that Vuong drove back by his body before
she went home and switched cars so she
could drive to work without notifying authorities about what had happened.
Judge Solorzano was also told that
Vuong’s husband was responsible for having the car’s windshield replaced after the
crash, resulting in destruction of evidence.
Pregerson, a recent UCLA graduate, a son
of U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson and
a grandson of U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Harry Pregerson, was walking
on the 600 block of Chautauqua Boulevard.
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According to the L.A. Times, “The victim, drunk after a party, was struck as he
was walking home about 3 a.m. For
months, the case went unsolved, but surveillance videos from homeowners in the
residential area where the collision took
place helped lead police to identify Marguerite as the driver. He was found later
in the bushes by the side of the road by a
Palisades Patrol officer, transported to the
hospital and died four days later.
“In a secret recording made at the police station, Marguerite told her husband
to ‘lie about everything.’”
A City News Service report noted the
victim’s father called what had happened
a “horror” and said his son had been “annihilated by a three-ton vehicle.”
“You never get over the loss of a child,” he
said. “Every day is just pain management.”
Dean Pregerson wondered, “What kind
of person is capable of leaving a broken
body on a highway?” The family and the
Los Angeles City Council each offered
$50,000 rewards for information leading to
the driver’s arrest and conviction.
Dao Vuong’s son Andrew, an emergencyroom physician, told the Pregersons how
deeply they were affected by the tragedy
and that his parents were not evil, but had
made mistakes, and asked for forgiveness.
Another of the couple’s sons, Johnny,
said his parents came to the United States
from war-torn Vietnam. “They are not
monsters,” he said. “Ultimately they are
imperfect people.”
In addition to her state prison sentence,
Marguerite Vuong’s California driver’s license
will be revoked for a one-year period that will
begin when she is paroled from state prison.
Rain Report
The February 28 drizzle plus the March
1 downpour resulted in 1.01 inches of rain,
per an official Los Angeles County rain
gauge, located at Carol Leacock’s home on
Bienveneda Avenue.
Deputy assistant rainmeister Ted Mackie
said normal to date is 12.48 inches; currently Pacific Palisades has received 7.59
inches. Last year’s total at this time was 5.94
inches. He reminded us that 2006-2007 was
the driest year in recent history, when only
4.11 inches of rain were reported.
Page 24
Palisades News
March 18, 2015
The Fine Art of Paint
Cox Paint, Santa Monica
1130 Santa Monica Blvd.
310.393.7208
Cox Paint, Culver City
11153 Washington Blvd.
310.838.2284
March 18, 2015
Page 25
Palisades News
Fundraiser Showcases Top Fashion Lines
T
he Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club
hosted its annual fashion show and
luncheon on March 3. More than
120 guests watched as 18 models strutted
down a runway in clothing provided by
BOCA Man, BOCA and Vivian’s Boutique.
The tradition began more than 30 years
ago, as not only a way to showcase local
stores and available fashions, but also as a
fundraiser for the club.
This year the organizing committee responsible for securing fashions, finding
models and decorating the room included
Nichelle Toomire, Stephanie Smith, Terri
Webb, Dr. Jane George, Terri Lyman,
Haldis Toppel, Roberta Donohue and
Brook Dougherty.
Smith crafted the ceiling floral overhangs, using flowers from her own garden,
and joined with Toomire to create floral
centerpieces for the tables.
The normally drab yellow curtain on
the stage was partially pulled to reveal a
colorful backdrop hung by Smith. Once
she had selected the material for the backdrop, she used that color theme to design
invitations, banners and the menus
tucked into the napkins.
Toomire and Smith chose Taste restaurant in the Highlands to provide the food.
Guests were able to select from a Mexican-style salad with chicken or a roasted
vegetable salad. Wine was donated by club
members. Dessert, also from Taste, included a selection mini-cupcakes, chocolate-chip cookies and brownies.
Servers were from the Midnight Mission:
men who are honing skills in food services.
The nonprofit offers a self-sufficiency path
and job opportunities to men and women
who have lost everything. The Mission provides the accountability and structure that
homeless individuals need to rejoin their
communities. After securing a job, participants gradually move into the Midnight
Mission’s Transitional Housing Center or
back into the community.
Palisadian Greg Alper performed on
his saxophone, providing live background
music.
Dr. George was in charge of securing raf-
Cindy Jones is in BOCA clothing.
Reny Cantu wears clothing from Vivian’s.
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
fle items. Webb arranged and wrapped the
items, aided by Phyllis Nelson, Judy Grosh,
Sharon Kanan and Cathie Yonke. Guests
dropped tickets into jars placed in front
of the items they wanted to win; during
the show, tickets were drawn and winners
announced.
Jean Aroeste and Donohue worked on
reservations and table seating, while
Woman’s Club president Lyman, Toppel
and Dougherty worked behind the scenes
to ensure that the event ran smoothly.
In addition to the clothing, Flash Jewelry
Gallery donated jewelry for models to wear.
Club member Holly Surya sold jewelry in
the lobby before the show.
Vivian Foster, owner of Vivian’s Boutique on Via de la Paz, served as the emcee
during the fashion show. Male models were
Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
CEO Arnie Wishnick, personal trainer Rigo
Manzanares (Gelson’s former wine manager), Dr. Shannon Watson and Caruso
Affiliated executive Rick Lemmo.
Modeling for Vivian’s and BOCA were
Robin Fuchs, Jan Gentry, Ingrid Vinje,
Krystyna Kaszubowski, Dr. Susan Crane,
Carol Pfannkuche, Reny Cantu, Sue Pascoe,
Frances Sharpe, Brooke King, Cindy Jones,
Marie Tran, Sarah Ketelhut and Dana Glover.
Everyone attending received a gift bag
containing shampoo, lotion and other cos-
metic samples. There were gifts from Flash,
Vivian’s and Marie Tran in every bag.
Proceeds from the event will be used
towards the $1.5-million clubhouse renovation.
Servicing
Westside Communities
from the City to the Beach
BRETT C. DUFFY
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
881 Alma Real Drive, Suite 100
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 230-3716 / [email protected]
BRETT DUFFY
REAL ESTATE
Dr. Shannon Watson wears BOCA Man.
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
©2015 An Independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. CalBRE# 01241284
Bryan’s Smile Focuses
On Drug Awareness
When Santa Monica dentist Melanie
Gullet lost her 26-year-old son Bryan to
drug addiction, she formed Bryan’s Smile,
a nonprofit organization dedicated to
bringing awareness about addiction and
depression.
“The ‘not my child’ and the ‘not me’ attitude, along with the lack of knowledge
about addiction and depression, have created a disturbing increase in deaths of
America’s young,” Gullet said. “Our mission is to bring awareness and communication about what is being called an
epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
On March 18, April 16 and May 14, there
will be programs from 6 to 9 p.m. at St.
Martin of Tours, 11955 Sunset Blvd., in
Brentwood. Participants will follow the fate
of a fictitious teen addicted to drugs, which
includes arrest, jail and ultimately a funeral.
Each attendee will be given a drug-abuse
profile to adopt during the program, so
he/she can become familiar with different
addictive drugs and gateway drugs. Participants will hear from an addict in recovery,
and Gullet will speak.
The organizations believes that the best
way to prevent substance abuse is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
The program is open for youth ages 10
to 17, who must be accompanied by a parent. The event is free and advanced registration is necessary because space is limited.
RSVP [email protected].
Visit: bryanssmile.com
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DINING WITH GRACE
Page 26
March 18, 2015
Palisades News
THE GLENDON BAR & KITCHEN
1071 Glendon Ave., Westwood • (310) 208-2023
I
discovered the Glendon Bar & Kitchen restaurant a
year or two ago for a quick dinner before I went to
the Geffen Playhouse. The Glendon is handily just
down the street from the Trader Joe’s parking lot where
the Geffen gives ticketholders free parking.
Before performances I always enjoyed sharing a salad
and a crispy rustic pizza, or bourbon buffalo wings or
sliders. However, this time my friend and I enjoyed a
leisurely dinner and a chat with Chef and Managing
Partner Nicholas Jacobs.
It is always fascinating to see young chefs like Nick,
almost 30, who was a working chef in New York before
opening the Glendon about five years ago.
After eating the excellent food, it is clear why the
restaurant has been a success.
The setting is attractive, with a large bar, tables
throughout and banquette seating with tables along
one wall. Two elegant chandeliers hang from the high
ceilings, and the back wall features handsomely framed
mirrors. Upstairs, there is a separate dining room for
private parties and special occasions.
With glasses of wine came crispy cheese bread sticks
and a small dipping sauce. My friend and I shared a
Hilgard salad composed of baby arugula, strawberries,
candied pecans, gorgonzola and a fine balsamic Dijon
vinaigrette. This was a delicious salad, especially with
the strawberries and the superb vinaigrette.
My friend had ‘The Marc” pasta, consisting of penne
pasta with grilled chicken, parmesan and fresh basil
along with sun-dried and grape tomatoes, and toasted
almonds, all accented with nutmeg, freshly cracked
pepper and light cream. It was excellent, tasty and not
overpowering but quite scrumptious.
The fresh fish, a sesame crusted mahi-mahi with
lemon, was superb. The accompanying sautéed spinach
side I ordered was perfect with the fish.
Prices are moderate: the mahi-mahi or fresh Alaskan
salmon were $14.50, while the pastas ranged from $16.50
for The Marc to $17 for a truffle tequila farfalle pasta
with grilled flank steak.
Newport Farms Angus beef New York steak is $16.50,
and a free-range chicken breast is $13.50. All salads come
with a suggestion of various added proteins, such as
chicken, grilled steak, seared ahi and salmon. The salads
were $13 to $15.50, with the protein additions only $2
to $3.50 more.
The Grand Marnier baked brownie with candied
pecans and ice cream was served on a berry-painted plate.
This succulent rich dessert was good to the last bite, even
though my guest and I usually have only one bite each.
Desserts, such as the banana-bourbon bread pudding,
or the cobbler, or a warm cookie trio with bourboninfused whipped cream, are $8.
The Petit Plates dinner menu (which I selected before
theater at the Geffen) offers more than a dozen items
in the $7 to $12.50 price range. There are sliders (a duo
is $9.50 and a trio $12); chicken spring rolls ($7.50);
fried asparagus ($11); baked mac’n cheese ($8.50); a
Hike with Mike
Library Bookstore Open
Councilman Mike Bonin invites
constituents to join him on a hike in
Temescal Canyon from 9 a.m. to noon
on Saturday, March 28. Chat with the
councilman about issues, and hear
about the work he is doing for local
neighborhoods.
Meet at the north side of Sunset
Boulevard at Temescal Canyon. Parking is $7 in the lot. Be sure to stop
completely at Stop signs, so you don’t
receive a ticket from the Santa Monica
Mountains Conservancy. Please RSVP
for the hike at 11thDistrict.com/Hike_
with_Mike_Mar28.
The Friends of Pacific Palisades Library’s
bookstore continues to offer “new” books
that are shelved almost daily. Many of these
books are in mint condition, and most can
be purchased for less than $2, perfect to take
traveling. Unlike a library book, if you forget it in a hotel, there are no fines or replacement costs; rather it is the hotel maid’s gain.
Store hours are Monday through Friday
from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m., in the library’s converted back
patio. Proceeds from sales are used to purchase new books for the Palisades and other
branch libraries. If you would like to volunteer, visit: friendsofpalilibrary.org.
HOLLY DAVIS
PREVIEWS ESTATES DIRECTOR
310.230.7377
[email protected]
www.hollydavis.com
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Whether you are buying or selling a home,
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crispy rustic pizza ($14); and burgers and sandwiches
($13 to $14.50).
Furthermore, they have specials such as Margarita
Monday, when margaritas are $5 from 7 to 10 p.m., or
Wine Wednesday, with 50 percent off the bottle list from
11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Happy Hour prices are from 4 to 7 p.m. and from 10
p.m. to midnight. The restaurant/bar is open Monday
through Friday from 11:30 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday
the restaurant opens at 4 p.m. They also validate for
parking next door at the Palazzo ($4 or $5 validation
depending on the hour).
Moderate pricing is always a good thing, but excellent
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March 18, 2015
Page 27
Palisades News
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March 18, 2015
Palisades News
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M A R C H 2 015
|
15 S T E P S T O
THE SEDER
PAG E 2
www.ChabadPalisades.com
Supplement to the Palisades News
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SPECIAL SECTION
Summer Camps
& Schools
March 18, 2015
Page 2
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
March 18, 2015
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Page 3
Local Expert Offers Stress Tips for Parents
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
C
hildren today are often under pressure to “do things faster, better and
earlier,” stress expert and author
Amanda Enayati says. Whether it’s walking, talking, or learning to read, parents
may feel pressure to help their kids move
forward in building skills instead of simply enjoying the fun of childhood.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Parents
can act as “protective barriers” between our
competitive society and their kids—allowing children more time and space to play
and relax, while also helping youngsters
develop resiliency in handling life’s stresses.
Here are Enayati’s top stress tips for parents and kids that she has discovered in
her years investigating the subject for
CNN Health, PBS Media Shift and other
media outlets.
1. Playtime, downtime and family time:
“The young child’s job is to play,” Enayati
says. “Even when kids have a moment, we
try to get them to do something constructive and formal, but we need to build
wide-open spaces in their day where they
have nothing to do but play.” This play
would also be gadget-free with things like
blocks and Legos, instead of using the instant gratification of phones, iPads, computers and television.
2. Build an unconditionally loving family: In her research, Enayati learned that the
strongest predictor of high achievement
and low behavioral problems is family
On the Cover
Palisades Elementary fourth graders
(left to right) Letizia Oetker, Gabriella
Bose, Sofia and Sasha Shull, Olivia
Rodeno and Claire Monaco jumped
rope to show support for American
Heart Month. The annual event
promotes exercise and a healthy diet, as
well as awareness of a national event
to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Photo: Bart Bartholomew
Amanda Enayati
meals. “The importance of family time
and being part of a family cannot be emphasized enough. Family doesn’t have to
be defined a certain way just as long as the
child feels like they are part of a community or family.”
3. Resting, rejuvenating and relaxing:
Sleep is vital. “Lack of sleep is coordinated
with high levels of anxiety and depression,”
Enayati notes. She suggests maintaining a
child’s routine with parts of the day to anticipate happily, so that no matter what
stresses might be affecting the parents, the
child still has a stable schedule.
4. Teach children the art of distraction:
Stress is an inevitable part of life, and part
of childhood is learning to handle life’s difficulties. One way to deal with stress is simply to turn one’s attention away from it. If
children practice this with a parent, they
can eventually learn to do it for themselves.
5. Problem solving: In discussions with
children about a problem, try asking openended questions, such as “Tell me what’s
happening.” Then discuss any misunderstandings a kid may have and brainstorm
strategies that may help solve the problem.
If similar situations have occurred in the
with
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past, aid a child in recalling what was beneficial then that might also help now.
6. Validate children’s feelings: It is important to say “I know how that feels” instead
of saying “You shouldn’t be feeling that
way,” Enayati says. By doing this, the parent alleviates stress and helps a child learn
empathy. Another good question during
conflicts is simply “How do you think the
other person feels?”
7. Treat children like children: “Kids are
not mini-adults,” she says, so it’s important to make certain that they are not
being exposed to inappropriate media, inappropriate ways of dressing or inappropriate adult issues.
8. Some stress is good: It’s vital that kids
learn to handle some adversity, so that
they can develop resiliency and coping
skills as they encounter stress throughout
their lives. “There has to be some degree
of legitimate suffering—not abuse . . . but
growing and failing and learning from
that,” Enayati says.
9. Ask the big important whys: A good
question to ask ourselves is “What is our
value system as a society and as a family?”
she said. Each family has its own value system, and it is worth taking a look at what
that is. Sometimes, the value system itself
may be causing stress, so identifying the
value system may help address the stress.
If some values aren’t what you want
them to be, then alter them to what is truly
important to your family. “It’s never too
late. Put your stake in the ground and live
your values,” Enayati says. “Sometimes that
causes suffering and difficulty, but that is
the good kind of suffering. You’re asking
the big whys.”
(Amanda Enayati’s book, Seeking Serenity: The 10 New Rules for Health and Happiness in the Age of Anxiety, was published
this month, and an article about her and the
book is featured on page 5 of this paper.)
Optimist Club Seeks Grant Applicants
Pacific Palisades Optimist Club, whose
motto is “Friends of Youth” and whose
goal is “Bring Out the Best in Kids,” will
once again make annual grants to youth
organizations based in Pacific Palisades or
those that provide services that benefit
youth in this community.
Grants may be used for funding of a specific event, for equipment, a facility or service, and must be spent this year. Grants are
not given to organizations that request continuing financial support. The application
must be received no later than March 31.
Award decisions will be made within
two months, and grant recipients will be
notified and, if possible, receive their
awards at the weekly Tuesday breakfast
meeting of the Palisades Optimists.
Interested organizations, schools and
clubs may send queries to grant committee
chairman Bill Skinner ([email protected])
or call (310) 459-8286 to receive an application and grant guidelines.
Applications are also available at the
Chamber of Commerce at 15330 Antioch
Street. They may be returned to the Chamber or mailed to Grants Committee Chairman, Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades,
P.O. Box 211, Pacific Palisades 90272.
Summertime
Pool Fun
After group swimming
lessons, this happy
Palisades-Malibu
camper was allowed to
play in the Palisades
High School swimming
pool.
Photo: Courtesy of
Palisades-Malibu YMCA
Page 4
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Camps Should Be Fun
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
A
s the school year came to a close last
year, my then-nine-year-old son
announced that summer would be
his rest time, so he wouldn’t be participating in any activities.
When I list the number of activities he
had been participating in, you might think
that he had a point that it was all a bit much.
He did gymnastics, chess, saxophone,
drama, chorus, Chinese, strategy games, art,
soccer and an occasional nature class.
On the other hand, he didn’t have to go
to school, because he’s a homeschooler. At
home, we took a laid-back approach to
homeschooling. We read books, did some
casual math when he was in the mood,
played board games and explored science
kits. He also had lots of time to draw, make
his own cards and otherwise engage in activities that called to him. In addition, we
went on field trips to plays and museums.
He was also tired of the field trips,
though, and was insistent that he just wanted to hang out at home. So we did . . . for
a while, and it was nice. He listened to audiobooks and made cards. He created an
origami animal game where he was the
game master, and he made teams of animals and special power boosts for them.
We also watched some movies and con-
tinued to play board games. We didn’t
even plan a vacation.
I have to admit that I was exhausted, too,
and cherished the down time. We both
needed a break from driving all over the
L.A. basin to so many activities. But what
about camp? I had loved camp as a kid and
didn’t want him to miss out on the fun.
He turned down my suggestion that he
might like the camp that his chorus director had created. Even though he enjoyed
chorus, he thought a singing and acting
camp would be too much for him.
He eventually agreed to try the same
Chinese camp that he had attended the year
before. He enjoyed it, and he was ready to
try another camp. He did so, and we also
decided to travel a bit, venturing to San
Francisco and Yosemite for a laid-back vacation. Both the camps and the trips
seemed to inspire him to want a bit more
in the way of activities again.
Not too many, though. For the fall, we
scaled back. He dropped chorus and
drama. I decided that the drives I had been
making for chess, art and saxophone were
just too long for me, so those were dropped
too. Instead, Chinese, gymnastics, soccer
and the occasional nature class or field trip
became the remaining regular activities.
Suddenly our lives were more manageable.
In the process of overdoing it and perhaps at times underdoing it, I discovered
Linus Busby Thompson works on his gymnastic skills.
that for both our sakes, we needed to pick
and choose activities with a bit more attention to burnout. As spring approached, my
son realized that he was missing chorus,
while soccer came to an end. So he rejoined
the chorus. He also was ready to add back
chess and was intrigued by the gymnastic
sport, Parkour, so he began sporadically
attending a class.
The whole family did a bit of volunteering—working at a state park to help remove
invasive plants and install native ones, and
we all felt enlivened by it. Over the holiday
break, my son tried a winter camp, which
was a big hit with him. He has already asked
to attend more summer camps this year.
Strangely enough, during the previous
school year, my husband had been experiencing the same thing at work—too
much work and too little downtime—and
the combination was affecting his health
and well-being.
So, now we all are on the lookout for
burnout. We cherish our moments at
home, and we take more time just to be together. We also take care to pick and choose
our activities with more thought, so that
we choose those that we really want to do.
My son was right. He needed a rest time.
We all did.
(Editor’s note: Laurel Busby, a veteran
newspaper writer, lives in Culver City.)
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Page 5
Fitness by the Sea: Endless Possibilities
K
ids should have fun in the summer: a camp
should not be another job for a child, it should
be a break from a structure schedule.
Fitness by the Sea is a place kids love to go because
“We encourage children to ‘learn by doing’ and our
experienced staff members are there to serve as mentors
and participants during all activities,” said camp founder
Eric Colton. “While we call it ‘Growth, Caring & Endless
Fun’ . . . the kids just call it ‘the time of their lives!’”
Who wouldn't want to boogie board, swim with the
dolphins, jump over the gymnastics vault, get their faces
painted as their favorite animal, and just have a fun day
on the beach? Fitness by the Sea offers this and more,
right here locally at Will Rogers State Beach.
Designed for children from 4 to 14, campers are
allowed to choose from more than 80 activities.
Physical sports such as baseball, volleyball, kickball
and capture the flag help kids develop interdependence,
confidence and sportsmanship.
Arts and crafts, dance, face painting, and music help
foster creativity, imagination and self-expression, while
surfing, swimming and boogie boarding promote an
active lifestyle, self-esteem and perseverance.
Gymnastics, boxing, cheerleading and martial arts
all cultivate self-discipline, determination and courage.
“We believe that active kids are happy kids,” Colton
said, noting that many of the kids who have come to his
program proclaiming not to have an interest in sports,
once encouraged to try something new, find a niche that
they love.
Founded in 2000, Fitness by the Sea has become synonymous with excellence in the field of day camps. The FBS
formula for success blends an experienced and spirited
Eric and Billie Colton, owners of Fitness by the Sea, with twins
Maia and Willow and sister Violet. Photo: Courtesy of Eric Colton
staff (average age 28) with dynamic and creative activities,
offered in an encouraging, nurturing environment.
With the camp’s growing popularity with children,
Fitness by the Sea has expanded to four locations:
Palisades at Will Rogers (June 8 to August 28), Palisades
North (June 15 to August 21), Santa Monica (June 8 to
August 28 and at the Jonathan Club (June 15 to August
21—members and sponsored guests only.)
Safety is a number one priority. “The former Chief of
LA County lifeguards called FBS the safest beach camp
he’s ever seen,” continued Colton. “A staff to camper ratio
of 6 to 1 is strictly maintained, and during surfing, we
maintain a ratio of 3 to 1 to further improve our safety
measures.” Sunscreen is applied liberally and often.
The Coltons, who are Pacific Palisades residents,
have three children. Twins, Maia and Willow are 8 and
younger sister Violet is 5. The sisters are often amongst
the campers at the Pacific Palisades camp location.
Because they are also parents, the Coltons understand
the importance of allowing campers to make their own
choices. A recent study by the American Camp Association
revealed that kids need more opportunities to practice
leadership and decision-making and that is available at
Fitness by the Sea.
Campers are encouraged to become involved in
activities and staff members watch kids on the sidelines
and work to bring them in. It goes without saying that
teasing and bullying is not allowed.
This is a place a kid can reinvent him/herself. Many
come to the came with labels, such as nerd or jock.
Encouraged to try other activities, they discover that
they may not only be good at basketball, but also good
at painting, something they had never tried.
Counselors constantly work with kids, encouraging
them to go outside of their comfort zone, which ultimately
results in increased self-confidence.
Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended care
available in the mornings and afternoons from 8:30 a.m. to
5:45 p.m. Parents can register their children for a minimum
of five days and these do not have to be consecutive days.
Call: (310) 459-2425 or visit: fitnessbythesea.com or
e-mail: info@fitnessbythesea.
Page 6
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Library Story Telling
Let your children experience the joys of
having another adult read them a book at
the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real.
STAR (Story Telling and Reading) times:
Mondays: 10 a.m.-noon (Grandma Peggy)
Mondays: 3-5 p.m. (Uncle Mark)
Tuesdays: 2-4 p.m. (Tutu Bobbie)
Wednesdays: 2-4 p.m. (Grandmom Judy)
Thursdays: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Grandma Lou)
Fridays: 10 a.m.- noon (Aunt Ashley)
Fridays: 2-4 p.m. (Granny Stephanie)
Saturdays: 10 a.m.-noon (Momma Flo)
March 18, 2015
High School Art Sought for Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school
visual-art competition to recognize and
encourage artistic talent. Since the competition began in 1982, more than
650,000 high school students have participated.
Congressman Ted Lieu invites all students in his district to enter the competition. The submission deadline is 5 p.m.,
Friday, April 10, at 5055 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 310, L.A. 90036.
The winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the national awards
ceremony, where work will be displayed
for one year at the U.S. Capitol. There
are also district prizes for second and
third place.
Artwork must be two-dimensional and
each framed artwork can be no larger
than 28 inches long, 28 inches wide, and
4 inches deep. No framed piece should
weigh more than 15 pounds.
Accepted mediums include: paintings
(oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.); drawings
(colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal); collages (must be two-dimensional); prints (lithographs, silkscreen
and block prints); mixed media; computer-generated art; and photographs.
Each entry must be original in concept,
design and execution.
Congressman Lieu will host a reception and awards ceremony for his district
on April 20, at the Fantasea Yacht Club,
4215 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey.
Call Ashley Fumiko Dominguez at
(323) 651-1040 or e-mail [email protected] or David Leger at
(323) 651-1040 or e-mail david.leger
@mail.house.gov. Visit: lieu.house.gov/
services/art-competition.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
45th Annual Young
Artist Competition
Palisades Symphony is seeking students,
in grades 1 through 12, who are able to perform a movement of a concerto with orchestra, to audition for monetary awards
and the opportunity to play with the Palisades Symphony in concert on June 14.
The concerto performed must be from
the standard repertoire, memorized and
with orchestration readily available.
There are three categories, and former
winners may not apply with the same in-
strument in the same grade level. In grades
1 through 6, first place will win $100; grades
7 through 9, $200; grades 10 through 12,
$200. The Alfred Newman Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 and the Chamber Music
Palisades Award for $500 will also be awarded.
Auditions will be held on the afternoon
of March 31 in Mercer Hall at Palisades
High School.
Applicants should write their name,
address, phone number, age, school and
grade, a brief biographical sketch that includes musical training and teacher and
send that information to Palisades Symphony, P.O. Box 214, Pacific Palisades. A
$10 application fee must be included. The Santa Monica, Brentwood, Malibu or
deadline is March 23. Call (310) 454-8040. Topanga and be available to perform at a
Committee meeting during the year.
Philharmonic Scholarships All auditions will be in the afternoon on
either March 30 or 31, starting with the
For Young Musicians
youngest students. The exact time and loThe Westside Committee of the Los An- cation will be announced. Students must
geles Philharmonic annually awards schol- bring their own accompanist.
arships varying from $100 to $500 to music
Students trying for the Philharmonic
students in grades 6 through 12.
awards and also the Palisades Symphony
Students must have studied at least three must fill out different applications for the
years on the instrument they play, perform different awards, but need only audition
a piece of classical music of three to five once. The deadline for received applicaminutes, have a written recommendation tions is March 23.
from their teacher, live in Pacific Palisades,
Call (310) 454-8040 for an application.
Fitness by the Sea
Celebrating our 16th Year!
Sign up by the Day!
“FBS is the safest beach camp I have ever seen.”
- Chief of LA County Lifeguards
2 Locations
Pacific Palisades . Santa Monica
Ages 4-14 ... Over 60 Activities!
Surfing . Swimming . Capture the Flag
Martial Arts . Gymnastics . Boogie Boarding
Volleyball . Soccer . Arts & Crafts . Dance
10% D
i
ends M scount
ay 1st
6:1 Ratio . Older Staff (Avg. Age 28) . 310-459-2425
Enroll at www.FitnessByTheSea.com
Rated by LA Parent as the
Best Value Beach Camp
on the West Side
“Still one of the best values in camps
on the west side.”
- Susan A.
Los Angeles
“I felt so very safe with my kids in the
ocean with their amazing staff.”
- Tara M.
Santa Monica
“The only camp my kids ask to go
back to every summer. Unbelieveable courselors and staff!”
- Gloria K.
Pacific Palisades
“By far my daughter’s favorite camp.”
- Jennifer B.
Pacific Palisades
March 18, 2015
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
Page 7
Hike, Swim at YMCA Camp
R
egistration for the Palisades-Malibu
YMCA summer day camp is now
open and parents are encouraged to
enroll early because last year the camp was
full. Sessions run from June 8 through
August 6.
Not only is it one of the most competitively-priced camps, it is also located at one
of the premier locations in the country, at
Simon Meadow, at the corner of Sunset
Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road.
Situated on a landscaped four-acre park
at the entrance to the Santa Monica Mountains, this camp takes advantage of its location. A mile from the beach, a quarter of a
mile from the Palisades High School swimming pool and near hiking trails, campers
are able to have the best of all worlds.
The camp spotlights the three f ’s—
friends, freedom and fun. Everyday activities include archery, arts and crafts, hiking,
football, soccer, dodge ball, moon bounce,
mini-golf and party games.
Once a week, campers enjoy splash time at
the PaliHi pool; children will be provided
with group swim lessons by certified instructors at no additional charge. Private swim lessons are also available for an additional fee.
Older campers go to the beach once a
week, and have fun playing in the sand
and water.
Campers try a variety of sports at the YMCA Camp.
Special groups come to Simon Meadow
weekly to offer a variety of activities, such
as visiting with exotic animals, playing outdoor laser tag or trying a rock-climbing
wall. Enrichment classes at camp this year
will include cooking, Spanish, Mad Science,
nature and STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics).
Children are divided into groups, with
SUMMER CAMPS &
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Special Section — April 15, 2015
Place Your Ad NOW in the Palisades News!
Full-Color Pages, Full-Color Ads
Distribution to the entire 90272 Palisades Community
(by US Mail to 13,300 addresses & 1,200 distribution around town)
Special Section Pricing (call for details)
Make your Ad Reservation Today!
Ad Space Reservation Deadline: April 6
Camera-ready Ad Artwork Deadline: April 7
(ads must be supplied by advertiser)
Contact for Information:
Jeff at (310) 573-0150 • [email protected]
Grace at (310) 454-7383 • [email protected]
Photo: Courtesy of Palisades-Malibu YMCA
the youngest campers (3 to 5 years old),
encouraged to play in the moon bounce,
learn camp songs, try arts and crafts, experience water play and make friends.
Kindergarten and first grade students
are part of the Mountain Cub group and
join their elder peers in scavenger hunts,
team building activities and trips to the
pool and the beach.
Second and third graders are grouped
into the Coyotes and fourth and fifth
graders are Hawks.
Coaches are sixth and seven graders who
are offered a unique position of being both
a counselor and a camper. Middle school
students work directly with the YMCA
staff to guide their younger peers, but are
also able to participate in activities with
other Coaches.
More than activities, the Y Summer
Camp experience provides a caring environment for all children; encourages positive peer interaction; offers creative activities
and helps all kids developed self-esteem.
The Y has received an American Camping Association accreditation, which means
the camp went through a thorough (up to
300 standards) review of its operation—
from staff qualifications and training to
emergency management.
The American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red
Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to
assure that current practices at camp reflect
the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.
Contact Ashley Russell, YMCA Youth &
Family Director, (310) 454-5591 or [email protected].
Page 8
Palisades News Special Section — Summer Camps & Schools
March 18, 2015
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