Paintings by Charles E. (Chuck) Hendrix will be on display in the Palisades Branch Library Community Room from April 11 through 29. His watercolors, oils and acrylics reveal his lifelong love of nature, his passion for painting, and an innate ability to correlate color and object to produce realistic landscapes, portraits and still-lifes. A retired engineer, Hendrix has been painting for about 25 years. Although primarily self-taught, he has studied with artists Merlin Dow, Tom Fong, Joyce Wheeler and Ruth San Pietro under the Adult Education Program at Santa Monica Emeritus College. Early in his engineering career he worked as a design draftsman. While drafting is not art, he feels it provided him with insight into how solid objects and their relationship to each other can be depicted on a two-dimensional surface. Hendrix received an Honorable Mention in the 1985 Design Competition for the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Sacramento and has exhibited at the Great Dames Gallery in Ojai. His work has also appeared in juried shows in Santa Monica, Glendale, Santa Cruz and in Lexington, Kentucky. He is an associate member of the National Watercolor Society and a member of the Pacific Palisades Art Association. A reception will be held April 16, 2 to 4 p.m., at the library.
Painted Ladies Emerge
Shortly after the last rainstorm on March 22, they started appearing. One or two at a time at first, then three or four, then five or six… and before long, there were far too many to count. They are butterflies’mostly black, brown, and orange with some white spots on their wings and undersides of gray with white and red markings. And it is more than just coincidence that they were spotted all over Pacific Palisades last week. In fact, it was only natural. ‘I started seeing them on March 26 while driving to Northridge, then I saw them sporadically around town,’ said Ellen Marguiles, a Palisadian for almost 10 years. ‘Again while walking down Monument, on my way to the post office, I saw a few and then more and then there were hundreds! It was quite an amazing sight. Going home down Sunset, I was glad I wasn’t driving that fast, because the butterflies were flying into my car, but thankfully bounced gently off the hood.’ Weiping Xie, collections manager in the Entomology Department at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, experienced a similar phenomenon on his way to Death Valley that same weekend. Asked by the Palisadian-Post to comment on increased butterfly sightings throughout the Southland, Xie could not help but chuckle as he told his story: ‘I was driving along and all of a sudden they started hitting my windshield by the hundreds,’ he recalled. ‘It’s impossible to say how many there are but I think you could safely guess it’s in the millions. It’s also impossible to predict how long this current dispersal will last.’ The species of butterfly Marguiles and Xie encountered is called the painted lady (Vanessa cardui), also known as the ‘cosmopolitan butterfly’ because it is one of the most common butterflies in the world, living on every continent except Antarctica. And although ’emigrations’ of this type are not uncommon, those of this magnitude are’occuring only twice every decade’typically in the aftermath of heavy rains like the kind which drenched most of Southern California this winter. The record amount of rain and lush growth of wildflowers makes this mass butterfly emigration significantly greater than the last, which took place in 2001. ‘In wet years, the food supply in a given region will multiply, so when there are more flowers in bloom, butterflies are programmed to reproduce more,’ said local author Mathew Tekulsky, who published ‘The Butterfly Garden’ in 1985. ‘Naturally, when the species undergoes a massive population explosion, it has to expand to find more food supply.’ Tekulsky photographed the butterflies near his home in Sullivan Canyon last Thursday. ‘They came in groups at a time and this went on for hours,’ Tekulsky observed. ‘I watched them hovering in a lantana patch on Queensferry Road, just before the entrance to the nature trail. They were there all day long’from sunrise to sundown.’ Like most other butterflies, painted ladies live only a few weeks and thus go through several generations as they make their yearly flight north from Mexico. Traveling at speeds up to 20 miles per hour, they can cover up to 100 miles a day. Over the past several weeks, swarms of the butterflies have been reported from San Diego to Monterey. ‘You couldn’t miss them here for awhile’one day in particular they were just streaming in from everywhere,’ said Palisades garden designer Stephanie Blanc, who encountered the winged insects flitting around her garden. ‘But one thing I noticed was that the only flowers they landed on were California lilacs.’ According to Julian Donahue, curator of lepidoptera for 23 years at the County Natural History Museum before retiring in 1993, the painted lady actually feeds on a wide variety of plants. Unlike the migration of the monarch, which flies south to Mexico every fall and returns northeast every spring, the duration and volume of painted lady emigrations is hard to predict. Though the current emigration will likely continue for several weeks as the painted ladies make their way up to Oregon and possibly as far as Canada, it is unknown whether the butterflies will appear in large numbers again here as they did a week ago. ‘Their numbers can vary from day to day, hour to hour,’ Donahue said. While at Anza Borrego State Park in the Sonoran Desert recently, Marquez Knolls resident Margaret Huffman noticed millions of caterpillars’a clear sign of what was to come. ‘I figured when I got back home, the butterflies would be all over the place and they were,’ said Huffman, former president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association and author of ‘Wild Heart of Los Angeles,’ a book about the Santa Monica Mountains. ‘But so far this week I haven’t seen anything. That’s just the way these things go.’ Adult painted ladies have a two to two-and-a-half-inch wingspan and sip sweet thistle and clover nectar. They can mate about a week after emerging. Nectar preferences of the species include thistle, dandelion, ironweed, daisy, zinnia, gayfeather and dahlia. Blanc recommended several sources for learning more about butterfly culture in the region, including Fred Heath’s book, ‘An Introduction to Southern California Butterflies.’ She also cited a poster called ‘Butterflies of Greater Los Angeles’ made by Rudi Mattoni, who is credited with rediscovering the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. For all who understand and appreciate the rarity of emigrations this size, the sight of thousands upon thousands of butterflies swarming about their favorite flowers is nothing short of breathtaking. ‘It’s wonderful to be able to stand there and just watch thousands of butterflies fly by all around you,’ Tekulsky said. ‘It’s a magical feeling. It really is.’ And only Mother Nature knows when he might get to experience it again.
Pekar Wins Dudley Cup
Palisadian Chase Pekar and his new doubles partner, Jackson Issacs of Brentwood (who currently attends the Advantage tennis academy in Orange County) dropped only one game in six sets on their way to winning the Boys 14s doubles division of the 89th Dudley Cup Junior Open March 26 at Reed Park in Santa Monica. Pekar and Isaacs beat two teams from Oregon before defeating Palisadian Reid Morelli and his partner, Brendan Kutler of Los Angeles, in the finals. Morelli also advanced to the quarterfinals in the Boys 14s singles while Pekar finished runner-up in the Boys 16s division, ousting Palisades High’s No. 1 player, Adam Deloje, in the semifinals, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. In the Boys 10s, locals Toshio Nagura and Hagen Smith each advanced to the third round while fellow Palisadian Brandon Michaels reached the finals of the back draw. In the Boys 12s, local player Brian Alle lost a three-set final to Skyler Davis of Malibu. Spencer Pekar, Chase’s younger brother, lost in the round of 16 in singles and lost in the semifinals in doubles with partner Blake Anthony. Palisadian Ryan Page advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles back draw. In the Boys 16s doubles draw, local player Jay Sobel and his partner, Jamie Loos of Los Angeles, reached the finals. In the Girls 10s singles, Samantha Sharpe and Jenevieve Norris each advanced to the semifinals while fellow Palisadian Perri Zaret made the semifinals of the back draw. In the 14s, Genna Rochlin lost to fellow Palisadian Kelly Ryan in the quarterfinals and teamed with fellow Palisadian Rose Schlaff to reach the semifinals in doubles. Ryan lost in the singles final while Kathryn Cullen advanced to the semifinals in singles and Schlaff advanced to the quarterfinals. Palisadian Dalya Perelman lost in the finals of the Girls 18s singles event.
Robert F. Klein, 88; Devoted to Family and the Palisades
Former longtime Pacific Palisades resident Robert Francis Klein died on February 28 at Saint John’s Health Center at the age of 88. He was visiting family here when he suddenly passed away from the complications of a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. Born to Harry Klein and Francis Shea on our nation’s first Flag Day, June 14, 1916, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rob was raised in Wilmette, Illinois. He had a love affair with Pacific Palisades that began after arriving in California in 1940 with a childhood friend from Chicago. Rob began a career with McDonnell Douglas that spanned 38 years, until he retired at the age of 62 in 1978. Rob met his wife of 60 years, Barbara, a Los Angeles native, at Douglas in 1942. While residing in West Los Angeles, they purchased a vacant Palisades lot at 660 Bienveneda Avenue in the spring of 1948 for the lofty sum of $2,300. They borrowed $8,500 from Prudential Insurance for the construction of their home. Barbara says that at the time of their purchase, there was not much of anything along Sunset as you headed west from the village except for a lone real estate office. At that time, upper Bienveneda and the St. Matthew’s Parish property were avocado groves and a turkey ranch. The Kleins called 660 Bienveneda home from February of 1949 until they sold their home in 1981 to move north to Turlock, in the Central Valley, to be closer to their three daughters and grandchildren. They made frequent return visits to the Palisades to see family and friends. Rob is survived by his wife Barbara and his four children: daughters Caryl Dennis Ray Brewer, Diane Lee Ford Parker and Joanie Klein Griggs, all of Turlock; a son, Robert O. Klein of the Palisades; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. At a recent family gathering, Rob recounted for the family (as he was fond of doing) the many wonderful attributes that attracted him to the Palisades and that he enjoyed while living here: the beautiful Santa Monica mountains where he loved to hike, the blue Pacific Ocean that was the perfect venue for bodysurfing and beach volleyball, the community of Pacific Palisades with its quaint village, and residents that seemed to possess a dedication to community service and enhancing the quality of life for young and old alike. Rob was an early member of the Palisades Men’s Club (where Village School is now located) and was one of the early coaches of the Palisades Boys Baseball Association at the Recreation Center. At that time, it was the only organized youth sports activity in the Palisades. Rob and Barbara were also one of the founding families of Corpus Christi Parish in 1950. Rob’s life was celebrated by family and friends at a memorial Mass at Corpus Christi Church on March 3. He was remembered for his devotion to his family, his love of the Palisades and its environs, and his strong sense of his Irish heritage. On February 26, while on an extended visit here prior to surgery, Rob went with family members to the Palisades High School gym to watch Caitlin and Michaela Keefe, twin 7-year-old great-granddaughters, practice their basketball. ‘He insisted we take a four-generation photo with his son, grandson and great-grandson, who all live in the Palisades,’ said daughter-in-law JoAnn Klein. ‘I’m so grateful we did.’
Robert F. Klein, 88; Devoted to Family and the Palisades
Former longtime Pacific Palisades resident Robert Francis Klein died on February 28 at Saint John’s Health Center at the age of 88. He was visiting family here when he suddenly passed away from the complications of a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. Born to Harry Klein and Francis Shea on our nation’s first Flag Day, June 14, 1916, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rob was raised in Wilmette, Illinois. He had a love affair with Pacific Palisades that began after arriving in California in 1940 with a childhood friend from Chicago. Rob began a career with McDonnell Douglas that spanned 38 years, until he retired at the age of 62 in 1978. Rob met his wife of 60 years, Barbara, a Los Angeles native, at Douglas in 1942. While residing in West Los Angeles, they purchased a vacant Palisades lot at 660 Bienveneda Avenue in the spring of 1948 for the lofty sum of $2,300. They borrowed $8,500 from Prudential Insurance for the construction of their home. Barbara says that at the time of their purchase, there was not much of anything along Sunset as you headed west from the village except for a lone real estate office. At that time, upper Bienveneda and the St. Matthew’s Parish property were avocado groves and a turkey ranch. The Kleins called 660 Bienveneda home from February of 1949 until they sold their home in 1981 to move north to Turlock, in the Central Valley, to be closer to their three daughters and grandchildren. They made frequent return visits to the Palisades to see family and friends. Rob is survived by his wife Barbara and his four children: daughters Caryl Dennis Ray Brewer, Diane Lee Ford Parker and Joanie Klein Griggs, all of Turlock; a son, Robert O. Klein of the Palisades; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. At a recent family gathering, Rob recounted for the family (as he was fond of doing) the many wonderful attributes that attracted him to the Palisades and that he enjoyed while living here: the beautiful Santa Monica mountains where he loved to hike, the blue Pacific Ocean that was the perfect venue for bodysurfing and beach volleyball, the community of Pacific Palisades with its quaint village, and residents that seemed to possess a dedication to community service and enhancing the quality of life for young and old alike. Rob was an early member of the Palisades Men’s Club (where Village School is now located) and was one of the early coaches of the Palisades Boys Baseball Association at the Recreation Center. At that time, it was the only organized youth sports activity in the Palisades. Rob and Barbara were also one of the founding families of Corpus Christi Parish in 1950. Rob’s life was celebrated by family and friends at a memorial Mass at Corpus Christi Church on March 3. He was remembered for his devotion to his family, his love of the Palisades and its environs, and his strong sense of his Irish heritage. On February 26, while on an extended visit here prior to surgery, Rob went with family members to the Palisades High School gym to watch Caitlin and Michaela Keefe, twin 7-year-old great-granddaughters, practice their basketball. ‘He insisted we take a four-generation photo with his son, grandson and great-grandson, who all live in the Palisades,’ said daughter-in-law JoAnn Klein. ‘I’m so grateful we did.’
PaliHi Girls Track Beats Westchester
Palisades High’s girls varsity track and field team beat Westchester, 85-25, last Friday at Stadium by the Sea in the Dolphins’ first home meet of the season. Palisades won every event except the 200 meter dash and the shot put. ‘We had some good performances and I was pleased with how we competed,’ Pali coach Ron Brumel said. Kristabel Doebel-Hickock won the two-mile race and followed that by running a 5:28 mile and anchoring the distance medley the following day at the San Pedro Easter Relays. Michelle Mahanian won the long jump in 14-8, her best distance yet. The Dolphins’ boys varsity tied the Comets, 57-57, with an impressive showing in the field events. Junior Julian Harris ran the 110 high hurdles in 17.6 and finished second in the 300 hurdles. Sophomore Matt Strangeway ran the 400 meters in 56.3 seconds and Jonathan Smith-Wesson placed second in the high jump, clearing 5-6. Palisades swept the top two places in the 400 meters and won the high jump, long jump and triple jump events. The Dolphins travel to Hamilton for a Western League meet Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Swimmers Lap Narbonne
When it comes to swimming, the gap between Palisades High and the other swim teams in the Marine League is so wide that the Dolphins could take out their top performer in every event and still win easily. Palisades’ boys and girls varsity teams remained undefeated this season with dominating victories over Narbonne Monday at Temescal Canyon pool, leaving Dolphins head coach Maggie Nance to wonder if there is any team in the City Section that can provide a challenge. ‘The boys’ title is ours to lose and the girls’ title is ours to win,’ Nance said. ‘It will all come down to how well we swim in May.’ Pali’s varsity boys beat the Gauchos 133-31 and appear to have all the ammunition they need to win a fourth consecutive City championship. ‘That’s definitely our goal and I think we’ll do it,’ said junior Peter Fishler, who is undefeated this season in the 200 freestyle and has won all but one race in the 100 butterfly. ‘Cleveland and Granada Hills are good, but our relays are just ridiculous right now,’ Fishler said. ‘We had two second place and a third place in City last year and I think we can get three firsts this year. Our times are already equivalent to what we did in the finals last year, so when we taper we’ll be much faster.’ Against Narbonne, Fishler anchored the 200 medley relay team, which won in 1:52.46, and swam the third leg of the 200 freestyle relay, which won in 1:39.02. Nance refers to her ‘Fast Five’ as Fishler, Paris Hays, David Nonberg, Brian Johnson and Gavin Jones. ‘We want to keep our streak going because it gives us a mental edge,’ said Johnson, who was undefeated in league last year and has yet to lose a race this season in the 200 individual medley or 100 backstroke. ‘Physically, it doesn’t really matter once the meet starts, but mentally it does. You have more confidence when you’ve beaten someone before.’ Johnson easily won the 100 back in 59.32 and swam the first leg of both the 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. Fellow junior Slava Agafonoff is dropping times with every swim in the 100 breaststroke, which he won in a personal-best 1:11.22 on Monday. ‘Our team is really close,’ he said. ‘That’s what makes being a part of it so fun.’ Nance said the boys have so much depth that there are not enough events for everyone to swim: ‘We are maxed out in every race, which I suppose isn’t such a bad problem to have. Especially when your top swimmers are really fast like ours.’ The varsity girls also beat Narbonne handily, 134-34. And although the girls’ reign as three-time City champions ended last year, the Dolphins are determined to regain what was once theirs. ‘We are more motivated than ever to win so we’ll try our best,’ said junior Alex Ehrgott, who swims the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. ‘And of course we want to try to beat the boys. That’s the whole point.’ The girls’ 400 freestyle relay team won in 4:07.85, the 200 freestyle relay won in 1:55.50 and junior Jodie Herman shaved eight seconds off her time in the 200 freestyle, finishing the event in 2:27.32. ‘I would describe our girls as a young, promising team with a lot of depth,’ Nance said. ‘We have a cadre of ninth graders who are really fast, led by Kristen Fujii in the backstroke and sprints, Rachel Kent in the backstroke, Cayley Cline in the butterfly and Jasmine Punch in freestyle. Alex Ehrgott has worked really hard and is really fast in breaststroke. And we have a sophomore, Ashley Baele, who has practiced diving since June and will pick up points for us there and in the butterfly.’ Fujii swam the 100 freestyle in 57:11 and has won every event she has entered this year since coming to Pali from Paul Revere. ‘I swim club with Team Santa Monica but this is more fun because there’s more team spirit,’ Fujii said. ‘My teammates are so supportive and it is great to have so much encouragement.’ Rounding out the boys varsity team are juniors Eric Balsim, Sasha Chelu, diver Sean Donohue, Eric Hamer, Evan Guze, Jordan Papadapoulos, Varit Soon, Scott Tomlinson and Ted Tomlinson and freshmen Igor Bivol and Andrew Le. Seniors Diana Kohan, Jessica Simanian and Romi Mouhibian and juniors Chelsea Davidoff, Alison Piazza, Bien Shi and Michelle Goldstein pace a young but talented girls’ varsity, complimented by freshman Amanda Mohagen and Stephanie Boone. Pali’s frosh/soph boys won 88-22 and improved to 3-1 in league while the frosh/soph girls won 74-31 to remain undefeated. The Dolphins’ frosh/soph boys consist of sophomores Ivan Ufimtsev and Christian Avila and freshmen Joe Ginzburg, Levis Bakalinsky, Nathan Guze, Wes Hunt, Kevin Orbach and Carl Kaplan. The frosh/soph girls consist of sophomores Alysa Gluckman and Jennifer Sanchez and freshmen Jasmine Lyons, Lisa Kil, Kathryn Cullen, Breanna Thompson and Kathryn Smith. The Dolphins travel to archrival Venice for a league meet tomorrow at 7 p.m.
‘CITIZEN’ TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Tickets have gone on sale for the Citizen of the Year Celebration on April 14 at the Riviera Country Club, sponsored by the Palisadian-Post. Enjoy a scrumptious hors d’oeuvres party from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., at a cost of $48 per person, as Citizen of the Year Stuart Muller and the yet-to-be-announced Sparkplug winners are honored. Please make checks out to Citizen of the Year Celebration, and bring them to the Palisadian-Post office (839 Via de la Paz) or mail them to P.O. Box 725, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
Downtown Express Bus 430 Survives, Backed by Villaraigosa
Riders of Commuter Express Line 430, which runs weekdays from the Palisades to downtown Los Angeles, enjoyed a victory last week when City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa announced his support for continuation of the line. ”Villaraigosa chaired the City Transportation Committee’s March 23 meeting about the recommended cancellation of the bus route, one of the L.A. Department of Transportation’s 15 commuter lines operating throughout the county. ”’Antonio urged LADOT staff to work with our community representatives to devise additional strategies to increase ridership,’ said Norman Kulla, Palisades Community Council chairman, at last Thursday’s council meeting. ‘He indicated that if these efforts did fail, then he would reconsider this action. He ordered the matter back for a report from LADOT in 60 days.’ ”Kulla attended the Transportation Committee meeting ‘to argue against cancellation of the express line as recommended by LADOT.’ Also attending in opposition to cancellation were Line 430 riders Julie D. Clark, Linda Minky, Marnie Tenden and Ben Nahid. ”Monique Ford, who was present on behalf of Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski, ‘read a statement indicating that efforts had been made to increase ridership and that she understood that scarce transportation resource allocation supported LADOT’s recommendation,’ Kulla reported. He added that ‘although Councilmember Miscikowski has not joined our Board in supporting continuing 430, she was most helpful in arranging a face-to-face meeting between LADOT General Manager Wayne Tanda and Steve Lantz, Patti Post and me, held on March 16.’ ”After a brief presentation by Kulla, Clark and Tenden, ‘Mr. Villaraigosa stated that he agreed with Miscikowski, LADOT and his staff that scarce transportation resources must be allocated in a cost-effective way,’ Kulla reported. ‘However, he would not follow the recommendation of LADOT and his own personal staff to cancel Line 430 until after aggressive efforts to find alternatives to cancellation had been tried and failed. He stated that the evidence before the committee indicated that only modest efforts had been made to date.’ ”Kulla also said that Villaraigosa, who is running against Mayor James Hahn in the May 17 election, ‘indicated that he had received communications from the runoff candidates for Council District 11, Bill Rosendahl and Flora Krisiloff, supporting continuation of Line 430 and that he took this into consideration.’ ”Line 430 begins at Sunset and PCH, stops at El Medio and Capri, continues on to the VA Hospital, then makes three stops downtown before arriving at Patsaouras Transit Plaza. The service averages an hour and 15 minutes and costs $2.20 one way. For a detailed schedule and list of fares, go to www.ladottransit.com.
Friends of the Library Save Popular Kids Reading Nook
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Since the Palisades Branch Library reopened on February 22, 2003, the Friends of the Library has been on the case. After spearheading a successful fundraising campaign for the new library building, the Friends group has continued to make improvements and adjustments to all aspects of the library’s operation. Friends of the Library president Gina Vincent, who took over from longtime president Mitzi Blahd in June, recently gave a walking tour of the library and pointed out all the work that her support group has done, or plans to do. For example, one of the most popular features in the children’s library from day one has been the circular window nook, which is incorporated into the fairy tale mural along the wall in the storytelling area. However, it was so popular that it has been repaired three times. ‘The drywall was not meant to hold up to the abuse of little feet banging against it,’ Vincent said. The Friends are spending $2,000 to fix it, this time with fiberglass and resin, like a boat. The artist will then re-paint it for the last time. ‘The window is the cutest thing about the library,’ she said. ‘Everyone loves it so much that we’re willing to spend the money so [city library officials] won’t close it off.’ Problems persisted in non-library patrons parking in the library lot and then going to classes in the adjacent Alma Real building, or conducting business elsewhere in the village, which resulted in a lack of space for library patrons. To remedy this problem and make it less convenient for non-patrons to park at the library, the Friends has extended the wrought iron fence to fill in an open space between the library and the 881 Alma Real building. Also, parking enforcement officers do patrol the library parking lot in the morning, and have given out tickets. ‘We’re hoping that parking is now just going to be for people at the library,’ Vincent said. Used book sales every six weeks are the Friends’ biggest source of funds, bringing in $50,000 to $55,000 a year. Money is also received from membership fees and private donations. ‘This past year we spent $40,000 just on books, not including books on tape and DVDs,’ Vincent said, adding that the branch has the city’s largest collection of recorded books, bolstered by $20,000 in purchases last year. Vincent projects that the Friends will spend $80,000 this year, paying for things that the city’s budget doesn’t cover such as a new copier and a clean-up crew from Chrysalis StreetWorks, which provides additional maintenance and trash removal and gardening for the back area of the library. The Friends also plan to buy furniture for the small patio, located next to the children’s area, which faces the grassy knoll. Currently, the area is locked and not open to the public, and is ‘a waste of space,’ said Vincent, so her group hopes to make it more comfortable for library patrons to sit and read outside. Teen librarian Brad Allen has been leading a teen advisory group that provides occasional Friday night movie showings in the community room, funded by the Friends. ‘We are very grateful to our Friends group,’ said Emily Fate, acting senior librarian. ‘They do so much to improve this library, and we are lucky to have them.’ Another new benefit sponsored by the Friends is Project Bestseller. Rather than reserving a popular book through the L.A. library system, and perhaps waiting weeks for a copy, patrons can check the book out of the Palisades branch for 25 cents a day. These bestsellers remain safely out of the library’s computer system, and are thus more readily available here. People can also request books they want for the program. Current examples include John Grisham’s ‘The Broker’ and Khaled Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner.’ Vincent became a Palisades Library Association board member in part to get her children involved. ‘I love the library. I thought if I was more involved there, my children would go with me, get comfortable there and get to know the librarians,’ she said. ‘I thought it would be a great place for my kids to love as much as I do.’ She and husband Garth, a lawyer, have three children’Calvary Christian students Katherine, 8, and Derek, 7, and Presbyterian Preschooler Caroline, 4. In addition to her work with the library, Gina is an active volunteer at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will become president of the Junior Women’s Club this month. ‘The library board is a great way to serve in our wonderful community,’ Vincent said. ‘You can get as involved as you would like to be.’ Meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the library’s community room. The next meeting is May 10, with the annual meeting to elect new officers held on June 14.
