Most of us think it’s simple–soil is what’s on the ground and dirt is what’s under your fingernails, but seasoned gardeners know that it’s soil that makes plants sing’it’s the medium that supports crop plants, physically and biologically. Horticulturalist Don Delano, who oversees the 500-acre Pomona landscape at the Pomona Fairplex, is an expert on soils and fertilizers. He will talk about potting soils and fertilizers and bring samples to the Palisades Garden Club meeting on Monday, January 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. Most potting soils are based on the Cornell mix, so named for having being developed at Cornell University. As soil is an agricultural product, it is subject to U. S. Agricultural regulation. The Cornell mix tends to be stable and is the standard throughout the country. ‘Most potting soil is made up of 20 to 30 percent inorganic material’sand or fine gravel’and 70-to 80- percent organic material’decomposed vegetation such as peat moss, pine shavings,’ Delano says. ‘Potting soils are fortified with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous.’ Although it may sound counterintuitive, Delano says that coarser soils are better suited for smaller pots they allows for an easier flow of air, nutrients and gases. Finer material soils are better suited for larger pots as they absorb the organic plant nutrients, gases and water, which are important for plants. In discussing soils, Delano mentioned words such as Vermiculite an composed of. Vermiculite is processed mica, often used in small pots as it holds water and attracts nutrition. The disadvantage, when used in large pots, is that it tends to compress and impede circulation. Perlite or sponge rock is often used in larger pots because it doesn’t break down and allows good air circulation. The bad news is that over time, it tends to float to the top of the pot like white beads. Delano says that with our heightened attention to the environment one of the biggest shifts in potting material is from peat moss to coir, a byproduct of husking coconuts. Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter that forms in wetlands or bogs. It forms deep below the surface, often going down to bedrock, Delano says. In digging for peat, miners strip down through virgen forests to rip it out. It will take another 100 years to build up even a layer of peat 6-7-inches deep. So agriculturalists are beginning to use peat from Finland that necessitates digging just about 20 inches or so down to the bogs, thus allowing the material to replenish faster. Coir is also recommended as a substitute because it is free of bacteria and fungal spores and is sustainably produced without the environmental damage caused by peat mining. Delano brings to his audiences, not only 18 years of teaching experience at Cal Poly, but also his expertise putting on the floral garden shows at the Pomona Fair. He has also been in charge of entire landscape at the fair for the last 16 years. The Garden Club meeting is free and open to all. Contact: (310) 450-6901.
Beijing Soccer Team Plays Here Friday
Pali Blues Team Debuts on PaliHi
International soccer comes to town Friday night, January 4, when the Beijing women’s team plays the Pali Blues in a friendly competition at Palisades High. This will be the first chance for Palisadians to see their ‘home team’ in its inaugural match on the new all-weather turf field. The match starts at 7 p.m., rain or shine, and admission is free. The Palisades women’s team faces stiff competition against a tough Chinese team, which has won 12 championships since its debut in 1985. Beijing won the National Sports Tournament in 2005 and the Chinese National Championship in 2006. Since the club’s formation, more than 20 players have graduated to the Chinese National team. ‘We are honored for this opportunity to play such a great team from the Chinese professional league,’ Pali Blues head coach Charlie Naimo stated. ‘It will also be great for the community to get a taste of what the Blues are bringing to the Palisades in the future.’ Last season, Naimo coached the Jersey Sky Blue in its first year in the United Soccer League for women (a premiere developmental league). His team finished 12-2-0 in the regular season before losing to the Ottawa Fury in the conference championship semifinal. After being successfully wooed to coach the Pali Blues, Naimo, a New Jersey native, is relocating to the Palisades this month. He feels the game against Beijing will also present an opportunity to analyze some of the players who are pursuing roster spots. ‘This team is going to be exciting,’ said Kenzo Bergeron, Pali Blues director of operations. Kendall Fletcher, a former University of North Carolina standout and member of the FIFA World Youth championship team, was the first player signed. Her team won the 2003 NCAA national championship and she is considered one of America’s top defenders. ‘Fletcher is extremely versatile, and plays with tremendous passion,’ said Naimo, who predicts she will make the national team. The USL-W League had its inaugural season in 1995 and is recognized as the premiere development league for female players. The league is split into three conferences (West, Central and Eastern) and consists of 40 teams that play throughout the United States and Canada from May through August. ‘This league features some of the best women soccer players today,’ Bergeron told the Palisadian-Post on Monday. Love of soccer brought Bergeron and co-owners Rudi Bianchi and Marion Mansouri together. Bergeron grew up in West Los Angeles and coaches the girls’ soccer team at Crossroads High School, where Bianchi is the boys’ soccer coach. Bianchi introduced him to fellow Palisadians Al and Marion Mansouri, who have lived in the Palisades since 1999. Al serves as the president and executive director of the Los Angeles Blues Soccer Club, Inc., but Marion was the key to bringing high-caliber women’s soccer to the Palisades. ‘She believed that woman’s soccer would be well received,’ Bergeron said. Bianchi was born in Milan, Italy and has lived in the community since 1985. He has been successful as a player and as a coach, and his son, Federico, played Division I soccer at Boston University. Bianchi has also served in many soccer organizational and management positions, including the organizing committee for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Smashed Car Windows on the Rise in Palisades
Some Pacific Palisades residents feel that it is no longer safe to park their vehicles on the street, and there is some justification for their fears. From November 26 through December 25, there were 42 reported crimes in the community and 26 of them were related to cars–burglary/theft from vehicle (BTFV), vandalism and a stolen vehicle. ‘Normally that area [Palisades] has been quiet. We recognize that there has been an increase, but it is modest compared to other areas,’ Lieutenant Ray Lombardo told the Palisadian-Post on Wednesday. He said there were a total of 1,912 BTFVs in the entire West Los Angeles Division in 2007. Lombardo added that these thefts are more likely to occur in dense population areas in West L.A., where a criminal has access to numerous vehicles on streets like San Vicente, Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevard. BTFVs are less likely in a neighborhood area like the Palisades. Lombardo reminded residents, ‘Don’t leave anything of value in the car, especially small electronic devices like iPod’s and GPS systems. Take them into your house or put them in the trunk of your car.’ According to Lombardo, 60 to 65 percent of people who commit BTFVs have a drug habit. They break a window, steal a valuable and sell it. Professionals account for 30 to 35 percent of car burglaries. ‘It’s the toughest crime for LAPD to solve,’ Lombardo said, ‘because it usually happens at night when there are no witnesses.’ Typical is the December 6 entry on Northfield Avenue: ‘The suspect smashed the passenger window of the victim’s Mazda, but did not take any property. The vehicle was parked on the street.’ Then there was the report from Alcima Avenue on December 21: ‘The suspect smashed the driver-side window of victim’s Honda and took an iPod. The vehicle was parked on the street.’ When relatives staying at the Greg Satz home in the Alcima area awoke last Friday morning, they discovered that their car window had been broken and their GPS system and a jacket had been stolen from the car. ‘It’s not pleasant.’ Satz told the Post on Monday. ‘Four cars on Alcima and one on Las Lomas were broken into on December 27.’ He said that neighbors heard a noise around 12:30 a.m., but no one had seen anybody committing the crime. Police took fingerprints. Nancy Kennedy, who lives in the Marquez Knollss area, was distressed to find that her car had been vandalized on December 21. ‘My rear window was completely smashed,’ she said. A brick had been thrown through the rear window with such force that it hit the front window, causing a large spider-web crack on the passenger side. Kennedy discovered that she wasn’t the only one on the block to have damage. ‘A brick was thrown at another car down the street, and destroyed the driver-side mirror and smashed the driver’s side window,’ she said. ‘A lawn further down the street had bricks on it.’ When Kennedy filed a crime report, she had suspicions about what may have happened, but reported ‘nobody saw anything.’ ‘A car burglar would not use a bat or a brick,’ Lombardo said. ‘That is vandalism and is more likely to have been committed by someone from the neighborhood.’ ‘We do not have any leads at this time,’ Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore said. According to Los Angeles Police Detective Householder, ‘Patrols have been increased in the area and undercover units have also been deployed.’ If anyone has any information, like a license plate number or has witnessed a vehicle leaving the areas, please call (310) 444-1505. If you see a crime being committed, call 911. If you have been a victim of a crime, call the West LAPD front desk at (310) 444-0701.
Bill Marshall, 90; Car Buff and Orchid Lover
Bill Marshall, a longtime Pacific Palisades resident, orchid enthusiast and bridge expert, passed away on Christmas. He was 90. Marshall was born in New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His mother, who was American, missed her family, so the Marshalls moved to the United States and settled in New York City. Bill attended an aeronautical high school and was fascinated with airplanes from an early age. When he was 18, he traveled to Cleveland for the Fourth of July air races, Bill met Marion Mackenzie through a friend. The young couple (she was only 16) began a long-distance romance that resulted in marriage in 1940. During World War II, Bill, being a native of Australia, headed up the Australian War Supplies Procurement Office, a paramilitary group responsible for the purchase of machine tools for shipment to Australia. After the war, the Marshalls bought a house on Long Island and raised two children. Bill joined three other men to start a machine tool company, manufacturing parts for radar development and production. In September 1965, the Marshalls migrated to Los Angeles, where Bill joined another microwave company producing parts for the missile application. He then went to work for N. E. C., a Japanese firm whose origins were Western Electric. He covered the 11 Western states, selling digital fiber-optic telecommunication systems to telephone companies. His job took him to Japan several times, which was an aspect of his work that he most enjoyed. After Bill retired in 1990, his hobbies and enthusiasms kept him busy. Orchids had become part of his life when the family moved to Pacific Palisades. They built a greenhouse and joined the Palisades Garden Club and the Malibu Orchid Society. Eventually Bill zeroed in on epidendrums, the sturdy, colorful plants that bloom year-round. A self-described ‘Epi’ nut, Bill soon began lecturing on growing epidendrums and helped removed the stigma of the ‘poor man’s orchid,’ so named for the plant’s easy care and reasonable cost. His collection grew to include some 60 different species, many of which he imported from Hawaii, Australia, Mexico and Central America. Bill indulged his other love, bridge, and taught beginning bridge at the Palisades Woman’s Club for many years. For 20 years, the Marshalls enjoyed traveling the world. Their most memorable trip was to Scotland, first aboard the QE-2 and then the Royal Scotsman train. On this excursion they visited many interesting places, including wild animal parks and bird sanctuaries, famous smoke houses, and Ballindalloch Castle, all the while enjoying their own private chef and bedroom while on board. Everyone has dreams to fulfill or places to see, Marion says. Bill had three goals: to return to Australia and visit relatives, to build a car, and to fly on the Concorde. He built an MG-TD, which he entered in a number of parades locally and all over Southern California. He accomplished all three of his dreams. Bill was predeceased by his son William, Jr., in 1975. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marion; daughter Catherine Marshall of Culver City; and many nieces and nephews in New York and Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill’s name to the Palisades Garden Club, P.O. Box 261, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 or the Malibu Orchid Society.
Marie Steckmest: SAVE OUR EARTH
A 15-Month Recap–And a 2008 Challenge
Fifteen months ago, this column began as a way to inform readers of ways to ‘green’ their lives, update them on ecological and environmental events, and publicize what local residents and businesses are doing. Topics have included tips for green action, water-wise gardening, composting, updates on what local schools and students are doing, the Palisades Cares Environmental Network, ideas for a green holiday, services offered by the L.A. City Department of Sanitation, L.A.’s plan for Zero-Waste 2030, business recycling and Heal the Bay’s ‘A Day without a Bag.’ Green highlights thus far in our Pacific Palisades campaign: Business Recycling. Fifteen businesses use the free recycling services of Chrysalis Recycling. Others use their current waste hauler or have employees take the recyclables home. Alex Polamero at the Palisades-Malibut YMCA was the first to ask for business recycling. Lester Wood organized his entire building to recycle. Kudos to them! Community Support for Street-side Recycling. Palisades organizations and residents including Michael Edlen, the Lions, Rotary, Optimists, Masons, Kevin Niles, Denise Melas, Betty Resnick, Josie Tong, and Charlene Ahern pledged $9,000 in funding and labor to support Palisades Cares’s L.A. City Community Beautification grant application. Councilman Bill Rosendahl, PRIDE, and the Village Green Committee also supported the project. School Greening. Representatives from the 11 schools in the Palisades met together in October and by e-mail to share ideas. The next meeting is in January. All schools are actively recycling. Reusable Bags. All local grocery stores sell reusable bags. Ralphs offers five cents per bag credit. Gelson’s offers entry into the $25 weekly raffle for bag users. Elyse Walker donated over 100 of its reusable bags to shoppers in December. UDO Realty donated bags that Palisades Cares distributed. Compact Fluorescent (CF) Light Bulb Campaign. In addition to encouraging residents to change their bulbs, volunteers now offer a free-light bulb changing service. Kudos to Karen Martinez-Cohen. Group Cooperation. On Heal the Bay’s recent ‘A Day without A Bag,’ more than 20 volunteers passed out 1,300 reusable bags to shoppers and businesses in two hours. Over 35 businesses wanted the bags! Kehillat Israel and Palisades Cares sponsored the presentation of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ to the community. On Palisades Beautification Day, Rotary members, Palisades High students and Palisades Cares volunteers painted benches and planted at PaliHi. Individual Efforts. Laurie David and Cambria Gordon wrote ‘The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming,’ a book for middle-school students. David Fried, a local investment advisor, trained with Al Gore to make presentations on global warming. Regal Cleaners has sold 500 reusable garment bags to customers. Fourth graders at Seven Arrows pick up trash at the Village Green. Steve Kiralla ordered Klean Kanteen stainless-steel water bottles for Seven Arrows families to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles. Rev. Peter Kreitler continues to produce ‘EarthTalk Today,’ a cable television show dealing with environmental issues. Former Palisadian Gay Browne founded Greenopia, the urban dweller’s guide to green living. Increasing number of residents are using reunsable bags, water bottles and coffee mugs. WHAT’S NEXT? A CHALLENGE We’ve done a lot; let’s do more! Set personal goals. In 2008, this columnist challenges Palisadians to do at least one new behavior (hopefully more) to positively impact our environment. Help set community goals. Please join the Palisadian-Post, Palisades Cares, and others to ‘Green the Palisades.’ Look for our new community logo in an upcoming issue of the Post. Please submit your ideas for eight green ideas of what we can do as a community, ‘8 for ’08,’ to info@palisadescares.org. Visit palisadescares.org for resources for your goals and for updates on people’s ‘8 for ’08.’ The community kick-off will be at the end of January. Each person can make a difference. What will you do? To quote Laurie David, ‘The solution is you!’
Calendar for the Week of January 3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 Anabel Stenzel and Isabel Stenzel Byrnes, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, discuss and sign ‘The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph Over Cystic Fibrosis,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore. (See story, page TK.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 Former Palisadian Michael Arkush discusses and signs ‘Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier March 8, 1971,’ 4 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page TK.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 8 First meeting of the Mysterious Book Club, 6:45 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The group will discuss ‘The Dark Streets’ by John Shannon, who will be present. Public invited. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 Baby and Toddler Storytime, a lap-sit mix of songs, finger plays, stories, and flannelboards for children under the age of 3 and their grown-ups, 10:15 a.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Don’t be late! Pacific Palisades resident Kathy Zuckerman, the original ‘Gidget,’ is guest speaker at the monthly Palisades AARP meeting, 2 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. The public is invited. (See story, page TK.) THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 Local attorney Jonathan Morse will talk about ‘Memory Techniques: How to Use Them,’ at the Palisades Rotary Club breakfast meeting, 7:15 a.m. at Gladstone’s restaurant on PCH at Sunset. Club contact: (310) 442-1607. Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The owner of the Shell Station at Via de la Paz will speak about future plans for his property. Council members will discuss a controversial automated stop-sign enforcement camera in Temescal Gateway Park. The most up-to-date agenda can be found at the council’s Web site (www.pp90272.org).
Calendar for the Week of January 3
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 Anabel Stenzel and Isabel Stenzel Byrnes, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, discuss and sign ‘The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph Over Cystic Fibrosis,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore. (See story, page TK.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 Former Palisadian Michael Arkush discusses and signs ‘Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier March 8, 1971,’ 4 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page TK.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 8 First meeting of the Mysterious Book Club, 6:45 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The group will discuss ‘The Dark Streets’ by John Shannon, who will be present. Public invited. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 Baby and Toddler Storytime, a lap-sit mix of songs, finger plays, stories, and flannelboards for children under the age of 3 and their grown-ups, 10:15 a.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Don’t be late! Pacific Palisades resident Kathy Zuckerman, the original ‘Gidget,’ is guest speaker at the monthly Palisades AARP meeting, 2 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. The public is invited. (See story, page TK.) THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 Local attorney Jonathan Morse will talk about ‘Memory Techniques: How to Use Them,’ at the Palisades Rotary Club breakfast meeting, 7:15 a.m. at Gladstone’s restaurant on PCH at Sunset. Club contact: (310) 442-1607. Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The owner of the Shell Station at Via de la Paz will speak about future plans for his property. Council members will discuss a controversial automated stop-sign enforcement camera in Temescal Gateway Park. The most up-to-date agenda can be found at the council’s Web site (www.pp90272.org).
Dr. Susan Love Speaks at Woman
Palisadian Dr. Susan Love, a well-known breast cancer specialist and surgeon, will be the speaker at the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club meeting on Tuesday, January 8 at 11:45 a.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. A pioneer and entrepreneur, Love is known worldwide as one of the founding mothers of the breast cancer advocacy movement. Her goal for the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is to eradicate breast cancer in the next 10 years. The Foundation is currently studying how early pregnancy protects a woman from developing breast cancer by looking at DNA changes in the breast after first pregnancies at different ages. They are also trying to figure out whether the non-lactating milk duct transports carcinogens into the ductal fluid differently before and after a pregnancy. ‘All breast cancer starts in the lining of the milk ducts and we believe that accessing them and identifying the conditions that lead to cancer will allow us to find cells that are thinking about becoming cancer when they grow up and rehabilitating them,’ Dr. Love says. Recently, an anonymous donor gifted the Foundation $1 million in honor of Erin Daniels and Leisha Hailey, two stars of the Showtime series ‘The L Word’ for the realism they brought to a breast cancer storyline that ended with the death of Daniels’ character. This is the largest private donation ever made to the Foundation. In addition to her research, Love has always focused on keeping women educated about their options. She wrote ‘Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book,’ with the fourth edition published in October 2005. ‘Dr. Susan Love’s Menopause and Hormone Book,’ first published in 1998, was one of the first to sound the alarm about the widespread use of post-menopausal hormones. Love received her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York. She did her surgical training at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. She has retired from the active practice of surgery to dedicate herself to her work on breast cancer prevention. ‘I have spent my whole life working in the field of breast cancer,’ she says. ‘At this point I am frustrated that we are still doing the same treatment with about the same results as when I started 30 years ago. Now that we can get to where breast cancer starts we have the opportunity to eradicate it. The road is clear. We can go slowly or quickly, but everyday that we delay another 592 women will be diagnosed and 110 will die. The cost is too high to hesitate.’
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27, 2007
HOMES FOR SALE 1
8 HOMES LEFT. Condo Alternative PCH/Sunset. Up to 1,550 Sq. Ft. $179,000-$659,000. Some Completely Remodeled, Many Upgrades. Ocean Views, Wood Floors, New Kitchens, Sun Deck, Rec Center w/ Pool/Spa/Gym. Steps from the Sand. Agent Michelle Bolotin, (310) 230-2438 www.michellebolotin.com
MOBILE HOME FOR SALE. $179,000. 2 bdrm, 1 ba in Pacific Palisades. Ocean view, hdwd flrs, new windows, big driveway. (310) 573-7358
HOMES WANTED 1b
WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887
FURNISHED HOMES 2
CHARMING COTTAGE, fully furnished, 1 bdrm, 1 ba, frplc, close to village & bluffs. Short term available. No pets. $2,500/mo. (310) 459-0765
UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a
MAR VISTA HOUSE. Lovely 3+1½, open floor plan, Nice, quiet family neighborhood. Convenient to WLA. Live in while you remodel your house! Avail Jan 1. Nearby markets. $3,700/mo. (310) 890-2632
UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c
1 BDRM+OFFICE/DEN, 2 ba, 2 F/P, hdwd flrs, new paint, wood blinds, 1 garage space, laundry on premises. $2,300/mo.+sec. Call (310) 459-5576
$2,500/mo. LOVELY FIND! 1 bdrm, 1 ba, 1000 sq. ft., lots of windows & light, near village & canyons, F/P, hdwd flrs, large kitchen. 1 year lease. No pets, N/S. (310) 804-3142
STUDIO APT. UNIQUE. Must see: Newly remodeled, high tech, LG fridge, carpeting, w/d in unit, backyard w/ brick patio. St. parking. Private entrance. Marquez area. Util. inc. $1,550/mo. $1,850 deposit. May consider small pet with deposit. Call (310) 261-4083 or (310) 741-8276. By appt. only.
CONDOS/TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d
PERFECT FOR REMODELERS! 2 bdrm, 2½ ba townhouse, hdwd, tile+new carpet. Large roof deck w/ ocean views, W/D, dishwasher, additional storage, parking. $3,650/mo. Agent, (310) 392-1757
$3,200/MO. SANTA MONICA. Prime north of Wilshire. Luxury upper condo 2 bdrm, 2 ba+den. Newly remodeled, hdwd flrs, crown moulding, marble/tile ba, lots of closets, banquet room, spa, 2 car gated pking. Nice view of Pac. Pal. & the SM mts. 1 blk from trendy Montana Ave. & near Ocean Ave., which overlooks the ocean. Available now. Call Bob, (310) 451-8775
ROOMS FOR RENT 3
SUITE FOR RENT, 1,500/mo. N/S, quiet grad. student preferred. Palisades Highlands. (310) 459-5046
WANTED TO RENT 3b
LOOKING FOR GARAGE space. Palisades business owner for 18 years. 1 or 2 car garage. Santa Monica or Palisades. John, (310) 877-5959
LOCAL EMPLOYED male seeks guesthouse. Quiet, local references. Non-smoker, no pets. Call Palisades Post, (310) 454-1321
OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c
PALISADES OFFICE SUITES available in the heart of the VILLAGE, including 1.) single office suites with windows in each office and some with balconies starting from $975 per month and 2.) Office suites ranging in size from 950 sf to 2,000 sf, all with large windows with great natural light. Amazing views of the Santa Monica mountains, private balconies and restrooms. Building amenities include high speed T1 internet access, elevator and secured, underground parking. Call Pietra at (310) 591-8789, or email leasing@hp-cap.com
OFFICE SPACE to share in very sought after building in Pacific Palisades. Located in remodeled medical building in heart of the Village, next to Cafe Vida. Includes stacked parking for two cars, and nightly cleaning and trash service. Great space for a therapist, writer, or other prof. Available: Mon.-Thurs. anytime in AM until 3 p.m., Fri.-Sun. all day. Lots of windows, 2 rooms, one used as conf. area & the other as office. $775/mo. Share w/ educational therapy office, so add’l availability during holidays and summer break. (310) 459-4722
BEAUTIFUL OFFICE IN Palisades Highlands. Ideal for established professional. 680 sq ft. Up to 60 hrs/wk available. CONTACT: (310) 459-4488
VILLAGE UPSTAIRS OFFICE, 200 sq. ft. $435/mo. Available Jan 1st. (310) 454-4668
VACATION RENTALS 3e
FULLY SELF-CONTAINED 24’ Fleetwood Terry trailer across the street from Will Rogers State Beach. Pacific Palisades. $1,400/mo. (310) 454-2515
FULLY SELF-CONTAINED 28’ Kit Road Ranger trailer across the street from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. $1,600/mo. (310) 454-2515
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 3f
FULL SERVICE Property Mgt. Co. To rent out &/or manage your house rental. No more tenant hassles. We Do It All. Illana, (310) 498-0468
LOST & FOUND 6a
LOST: CAT. Medium-sized, black & white with extra digit on 2 front paws. Responds to Toxi. Lost on Avenida de Santa Ynex 12/16. (310) 454-5559
BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b
BOOKKEEPER/PERSONAL ASSISTANT/Notary public, personal bookkeeping & financial organizing, clerical duties, honest, reliable, discreet. Excellent references. Patti, (310) 720-8004
BUSINESS OR PERSONAL bookkeeping & organizing available in the Palisades including financial reports, everything to prepare for your visit to your tax person. Highly experienced, fast, discreet, ESTATE SALE management w/ detailed reporting also available. Excellent local references. Call Shirley, (310) 570-6085
COMPUTER SERVICES 7c
COMPUTER SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT. HOME & BUSINESS–Windows Vista/XP–20 Yrs exp. frankelconsulting.com (310) 454-3886
MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL. I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: • Consultation on best hard/software for your needs • Setting up & configuring your system & applications • Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC • Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows • Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access • Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken • Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup • Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning • FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL — BEST RATES. (310) 262-5652
YOUR OWN TECH GURU * SET-UP, TUTORING, REPAIR, INTERNET. Problem-Free Computing, Guaranteed. Satisfying Clients Since 1992. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! COMPUTER WORKS! Alan Perla (310) 455-2000
THE DETECHTIVES™. PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE MAC SPECIALISTS. PATIENT, FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE. WE COVER ALL THINGS MAC • Consulting • Installation • Training and Repair for Beginners to Advanced Users • Data recovery • Networks • Wireless Internet & more • (310) 838-2254 • William Moorefield • www.thedetechtives.com
GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 7f
PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? an estate sale? a moving sale? a yard sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. BARBARA DAWSON • Garage Sale Specialist • (310) 454-0359 • bmdawson@verizon.net • www.bmdawson.com • Furniture • Antiques • Collectibles • Junque • Reliable professionals. Local References
NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a
VIP NANNY AGENCY • “Providing very important people with the very best nanny.” • Baby Nurses • Birthing Coaches • Housekeepers. (818) 907-1017, (310) 614-3646
HOUSEKEEPERS 9a
“PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.” We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419
HOUSEKEEPING/BABYSITTING available Mon.-Sat. Good references. Reliable & efficient. Call Silvia, (323) 934-0449 or (323) 898-7186
HOUSECLEANER AVAILABLE weekdays. Honest, hardworking. Will do a very good job. Excellent references. I also care for children & babies. Call Karina, (323) 919-2244
GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11
PALISADES GARDENING • Full Gardening Service • Sprinkler Install • Tree Trim • Sodding/Seeding • Sprays, non-toxic • FREE 10” Flats, Pansies, Snap, Impatiens. (310) 568-0989
WATERFALLS & POND CONSTRUCTION: Water gardening. Japanese Koi fish. Filtration pond service, repair & maintenance. Free estimates. (310) 435-3843, cell (310) 498-5380. www.TheKingKoi.com
PRECISION LANDSCAPE SERVICES! Tired of mow, blow, let’s go! Specializing in fine maintenance • outdoor lighting • fertilizing • automatic timer repair & installation • artificial grass installation • hillside clean ups • new sod • sprinkler repair. Fair prices. (310) 696-6453
WINDOW WASHING 13h
HAVING A PARTY? SELLING some real estate, or just want to do some spring cleaning? Get those WINDOWS SHINING by calling No Streak Window Cleaning where we offer fast friendly quality service you can count on! For a free estimate call Marcus, (323) 632-7207. Lic. #122194-49, Bonded
PERSONAL SERVICES 14f
LET DIANA DO IT! Holiday/Grocery shopping • Party Planning • Bill Paying • Organizing • Errands & more. Long-time Pal. Resident. Excellent Refs. New Clients 20% off. Call DIANA AT (310) 573-9649
PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g
HAPPY PET • Dog Walking • Park Outings • Socialization • Insured. Connie, (310) 230-3829
FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a
HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Advanced Nordic walking instructor, Palisades resident teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. (310) 266-4651
Are You a Tennis Teacher Looking For a Court? Beautiful Palisades court available for rent. Must be USPTA or USPTR certified. Must have good references. Must have an established clientele. Please e-mail to: pchboys@hotmail.com for more information
PERSONAL TRAINER 15c
PEAK PERFORMANCE Fitness Training • Ivan Baccarat, A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer • Body Shaping • Strength • Endurance • Prenatal/Post Partum • Cardio Kickboxing • Stretch/Flexibility • Plyometrics • Fat Loss • Core Work Individualized Program Design • 20 Yrs. Experience • Insured • References • Call for a free consultation: (310) 829-4428
START THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW YOU! Experienced fitness trainer with B.A. in Kinesiology. Ask about holiday specials. (310) 383-7081 • DQTfitness@yahoo.com
TUTORS 15e
INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. Children & adults. 25+ years teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, ESSAY WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly Sp. Ed. Teacher. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530
SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR. All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614
MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145
READING SPECIALIST • Master of Education—Reading and Learning Disabilities • Special Education Teaching Certificate: K-12 • Regular Education Teaching Certificate: K-9 • Elementary Education Teaching experience: 12 yrs • Services provided for special & regular education students of all levels • Academic areas taught include reading (phonics and reading comprehension) writing and spelling • Private tutoring includes accessing the student’s needs, developing an individualized education program and implementation of that program. Palisades resident. Call Brandi, (310) 230-9890
PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134
CLEARLY MATH & MORE! Specializing in math & now offering chemistry & Spanish! Elementary thru college level. Test prep, algebra, trig, geom, calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722
EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR. All grades • Levels • Grammar • Conversational • SAT • Children, adults • Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593
SPANISH TUTOR CERTIFIED TEACHER for all levels. Has finest education, qualifications, 20 yrs exper. Palisades resident, many good references, amazing system, affordable rates. Marietta, (310) 459-8180
TUTORING & HOMEWORK HELP. Teacher with credentials in Elementary, Special Ed., and Reading. Masters in Education & 23 years classroom teaching experience, 2 years as Reading Recovery specialist. Palisades resident. Affordable rates. Diana, (310) 717-5472 dianaleighw@yahoo.com
CREDENTIALED MATH & STUDY SKILLS TEACHER (BA-UCSD, M.Ed-UCLA, PhD Candidate-USC) Tutor K-College. Most subjects. 15 years recent classroom experience in the Palisades. Libby, (310) 963-0093
CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c
MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pools, decks, patios, foundations, fireplace, drainage control, custom stone, block & brick, tile. Excellent local references. Lic. #309844. Bonded/insured/workmen’s comp. Family owned & operated. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 • www.horusicky.com
CONSTRUCTION 16d
ProCPM—We Manage Your Construction Project So You Don’t Have To. Your Home Built/Remodeled For Less—Less Time, Less Cost, Less Stress. (310) 459-6276 • www.ProCPM.com
LONERO CONSTRUCTION. New & Remodeled Homes. Quality is our foundation. Client anonymity. 2 offices. Call Patrick, (714) 274-4731, (602) 434-9906
ELECTRICAL 16h
PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service
ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. Local Service Only. Lic. #775688. Please Call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286
NORTH BAY ELECTRIC. Serving the Palisades area since 1984 • Service Calls • Remodel Work • New Construction • (310) 456-7076. Lic. #493652
FENCES 16j
THE FENCE MAN. 14 years quality workmanship. Wood fences • Decks • Gates • Chainlink & overhang. Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996
INDEPENDENT SERVICE CARLOS FENCE: Wood & Picket Fences • Chain Link • Iron & Gates • Deck & Patio Covers. Ask for Carlos, (310) 677-2737 or fax (310) 677-8650. Non-lic.
FLOOR CARE 16m
GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608
CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR • Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com • centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net • (800) 608-6007 • (310) 276-6407
GOLDEN HARDWOOD FLOORS. Professional Installation and refinishing. National Wood Flooring Association member. License #732286. Plenty of local references. (877) 622-2200 • www.goldenhardwoodfloors.com
JEFF HRONEK, 39 YRS. RESIDENT. HARDWOOD FLOORS INC. • Sanding & Refinishing • Installations • Pre-finished • Unfinished • Lic. #608606. Bonded, Insured, Workers Comp. www.hronekhardwoodfloors.com. (310) 475-1414
HANDYMAN 16o
HANDYMAN • HOOSHMAN. Most known name in the Palisades. Since 1975. Member Chamber of Commerce. Lic. #560299. Call for your free est. Local refs available. Hooshman, (310) 459-8009, 24 Hr.
LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 487-6464
LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy: Marty, (310) 459-2692
L.A. UNION CONSTRUCTION. Electric, plumbing, painting, tile, drywall, driveway, carpentry, stucco. Free est. Refs avail. Non-lic. Call (818) 849-4144
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16p
SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942. (310) 393-5686
PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16r
PAUL HORST • Interior & Exterior PAINTING • 53 YEARS OF SERVICE • Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 • (310) 454-4630 • Bonded & Insured
TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Ref’s. Lic. #715099
SQUIRE PAINTING CO. Interior and Exterior. License #405049. 25 years. Local Service. (310) 454-8266. www.squirepainting.com
ZARKO PRTINA PAINTING. Interior/Exterior. 35 years in service. License #637882. Call (310) 454-6604
PLUMBING 16t
JLK PLUMBING. Re-pipe and sewer specialist & all plumbing repairs. Mention this ad & receive 10% off. Lic. #722414. Call (310) 678-6634
REMODELING 16v
KANAN CONSTRUCTION. References. BONDED • INSURED • St. Lic. #554451 • DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN
LABOR OF LOVE HOME REPAIR & REMODEL. Kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, tile, doors, windows, decks, etc. Work guar. Ken Bass, General Contractor. Lic. #B767950. (310) 487-6464
COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION • New/Spec Homes • Kit+bath remodeling • Additions. Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large& small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Michael Hoff Construction today, (310) 230-2930
HELP WANTED 17
DRIVERS: TEAMS EARN TOP DOLLAR plus great benefits. Solo drivers also needed for Western Regional. Werner Enterprises, (800) 346-2818 x123
HOUSEKEEPER/DISHWASHER: Join our hospitality team at Aldersgate Retreat & Cultural Center, Pacific Palisades. P/T $10/hr. Weekend and weekday shifts available. Call Cris, (310) 454-6699
FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST: Physical therapy clinic in Pacific Palisades. Organized, good interpersonal skills, some computer. Responsible & punctual. Ph: (310) 454-0060, Fax: (310) 454-0065
BABYSITTER WANTED! 2 daughters (6 & 8), especially for over holiday break. Open to college students home for the holidays, or highschoolers. Great pay, flexible hours. MUST BE RELIABLE! (310) 922-8487
NANNY NEEDED for SUNDAYS and MONDAYS for loving family with 2-yr-old girl. English, CDL, newborn exp and references REQ. Live-in/out. (310) 344-1740
AUTOS 18b
BLACK F-150 2007 FX2 Package, Supercrew Sport, leather captain chairs, 6000 K, premium sound, all options except navigation. Rear seat DVD, 5.4L Triton V8 engine & parking sensors. $28,000. (310) 849-1598
WANTED TO BUY 19
WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, working or not. ‘50s, ‘60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 895-5057 • profeti2001@yahoo.com
Via Bluffs Project Delayed By Potrero Sewer Plan
Construction of a large and critical bulkhead on the historically unstable Via de las Olas bluffs continued past the city’s self-imposed December deadline, according to the Department of Public Works. Completion of the $3.5-million project awaits approval and construction of what the department considers an ’emergency’ sewer realignment project, which could last as long as nine months. Although construction of the bulkhead will continue into next month, the city says that already completed work has achieved the main objective’shoring the street from geological threat as it enters the wet season. ‘From a technical perspective, the bulkhead’s lateral support of the street has been accomplished,’ said Public Works spokeswoman Lauren Skinner. Construction began last August after the delivery of 61 steel beams. By December 20, all 61 of those 59-ft beams’which constitute the main infrastructure of the bulkhead and run 500 ft. along the street’had been installed vertically into the canyon, said Skinner. An open pit, which houses the piles, still remains, partially blocking passage of the thin street. Paving over the existing pit and construction of a guardrail along the steep bluff now depend on the completion of the city’s yet-to-be approved plan to realign a troublesome, 70-year-old city sewer from Via de las Olas into Potrero Canyon. (This year alone, tens of thousands of gallons of raw sewage spilled when land movement on Via ruptured the already-weakened sewer line and closed Will Rogers State Beach for several days.) By late December, the city had not yet received Coastal Commission approval of the project and had not awarded the project to a private contractor. According to department spokeswoman Stephanie Interiano, construction of that sewer project is expected to begin by February or March next year. The department estimates that the project will last nine months. ‘Movement of the landslide has resulted in repeated emergency maintenance repairs to piping,’ PW’s Skinner said. ‘The project scope calls for connecting both the sewer and storm drain to existing facilities located in or adjacent to Potrero Canyon. All the sewers and storm drains will be redirected to Potrero Canyon’ Once the new sewer and storm drain are constructed and active, the existing discharge piping on the Via de las Olas [bluffs] will be removed and abandoned.’ Even with the prospect of nearly one year more of construction effectively blocking thru-traffic on the street, 35-year Via resident Cliff Carlson isn’t going to complain. ‘I’m not worried about [construction],’ he said. ‘It’s a benefit to have the security of having [the bulkhead] there. I’m very appreciative. There would be no way we could have done it ourselves, and the noise is minimal.’ Carlson is one of many Via residents who watched erosion eat away at the muddy bluff and warned city, state and federal officials in vain about the impending threat to their homes. In 2005, Congressman Henry Waxman directed $2.6 million of Federal Emergency Management Administration funds toward repairing the street, effectively jump-starting a long-overdue project to stabilize the bluffs. The state and city agreed to split the remaining costs of the estimated $3.5-million project. In 2006, the city approved construction plans for the bluffs and a private contractor won the bid for the project. However, a supply-chain delay in the delivery of the 61 steel piles postponed the beginning of construction until this August. The city decided that re-awarding the contract to a private construction firm would only unnecessarily delay construction, so crews from Public Works’ Bureau of Street Services were chosen. ——- To contact Staff Writer Max Taves, e-mail reporter@palipost.com or call (310) 454-1321 ext. 28.
