Palisades-Malibu YMCA swim team coach Adam Blakis took six swimmers to the YMCA Spring National Swim Meet April 5-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex. Over 1,500 swimmers from 208 teams nationwide participated. This year, the meet’s theme was red, white and blue, and the swimmers showed their spirit by dressing in matching patriotic outfits for the opening ceremony. PALY’s team consisted of Cara Davidoff, David Nonberg, Katie Smith, Alexa Merz, Brian Johnson, and Samantha Brill. The YMCA Nationals are the championship meet that culminates the YMCA swimming short course season. Swimmers must qualify by making the national time standard. Merz, a 16-year-old junior at Harvard-Westlake High, took two silver medals in the 50- (23.82 seconds) and 100-yard (51.83 seconds) Freestyle events. She also swam the 200 Freestyle in 1:52.81 seconds (placing sixth) and the 100 Breaststroke (1:10.22 seconds). Davidoff, an 18-year-old Palisades High senior, took ninth in the 50-yard Freestyle (24.07 seconds) and 13th in the 200 Freestyle (1:53.78 seconds). She also swam the 500 Freestyle in 5:07.36, placing 24th out of 101 competitors), and the 100 Butterfly (1:00.00 seconds). Smith, a 17 year old senior at Notre Dame, swam the 100 Breaststroke (1:07.61 seconds), and placed 27th out of 173 swimmers. Nonberg, an 18-year-old junior at PaliHi, swam the 50 Freestyle in 23.12 seconds and later qualified for the YMCA Summer Long Course Nationals in the same event with a time trial of 22.94 seconds. Johnson swam the 200 Backstroke in 2:03.79 seconds. Swimmers Davidoff, Nonberg, Smith, Johnson and Brill also swam a number of best times in time-trial swims in their respective events. The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Davidoff, Merz, Smith and Brill finished 19th out of 75 teams in 1:40.14, the 200 Medley Relay was 30th out of 72 teams in 1:52.08, the 400 Freestyle Relay was 39th out of 72 teams in 3:41.01 and the 400 Medley Relay was 61st out of 75 teams in 4:10.99. Overall, the PALY women’s squad was 17th overall in total point standing among the 208 participating teams. The competition marked PALY’s largest team since the 1990s and reflects the commitment and hard work of head coach Adam Blakis and the swimmers, as well as the ongoing support of the YMCA and community. The Summer YMCA Long Course Nationals will be in early August in College Park, Maryland.
Reggie’s A Big Hit At Baseball Practice
With the next day’s game against defending Western League champion Venice foremost on their minds, Palisades High baseball players showed up at practice Monday eager to get back in the swing of things after a week off for spring break. There to help the Dolphins do just that was former Los Angeles Dodger Reggie Smith, who told his attentive audience what it takes to be a good hitter. ‘According to [Boston Red Sox hall of famer] Ted Williams, being a good hitter requires three things,’ said Smith, who is now President of his own instructional center in Encino. ‘First is proper thinking. You have to go up to the plate with a plan as to what you want to do. Second, you have to be patient and get a good ball to hit. And third, you have to be quick when you get the pitch you want.’ Smith, a switch hitter whose 17-year major league career included stints with Boston, St. Louis, Los Angeles and San Francisco, played on the Dodgers’ World Series championship team in 1981 and served as the team’s hitting coach for two years upon his retirement in 1982. With a career batting average of .287, Smith had 2,020 hits and scored 1,123 runs. After addressing the Dolphins, Smith worked individually with PaliHi players in the batting cage, critiquing each player on his batting stance and swing. ‘We’re thrilled to have Reggie here helping us before a big game like this,’ Pali co-coach Tom Seyler said. ‘Hopefully, some of the kids can apply what Reggie has taught them here today against Venice.’ Asked what the hardest pitch to hit was, Smith answered any pitch that is changing planes. He had the team repeat a visualization drill in which he would hold up his hand like he was going to throw, then see if the players knew what pitch to anticipate. This eye-switch technique is aimed at getting hitters to recognize a pitcher’s release point. ‘As a batter, you’re constantly fighting for more time,’ Smith said. ‘You’re looking for any little edge you can find to give you more time to see the ball and swing. If you see the pitcher’s hand below the ball, you can anticipate a curve. If his hand is behind the ball when he releases it, expect the fastball.’ Short stop Dylan Cohen asked Smith about positioning in the batter’s box and how far apart his feet should be. When Smith suggested Cohen crowd the plate, the way he instructed his major leaguers to crowd Atlanta Braves ace Tom Glavine, Seyler expounded on Smith’s wisdom: ‘Remember what Reggie just said. Stand closer to the plate against these guys [Venice pitchers]. Make them throw it over the plate to get a strike.’
Franks Hit Beats Venice
When Palisades High short stop Dylan Cohen was intentionally walked with two outs in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s Western League baseball game against Venice, Adam Franks stepped to the plate with one objective: make the Gondos pay. The Dolphins’ catcher did just that, lining a two-strike pitch to right field to score Alex Thompson from second base with the only run in a battle for first place at George Robert Field. ‘I can understand why they walked Dylan’he’s our best hitter,’ Franks said. ‘But it is a little personal, yeah. By doing that, they were basically saying they didn’t think I could come through with a man in scoring position. Even though I was behind in the count, my approach was the same’stay aggressive and look for a fastball I could drive.’ The 1-0 victory kept Palisades (10-3 overall, 5-0 in league) undefeated in league play and dropped defending champion Venice (3-2 in league) into second place. The teams meet again today at Venice. ‘That’s the way it’s meant to be,’ Pali co-coach Kelly Loftus said. ‘This was just a great game between two good teams. When both teams combine for only eight hits, you know there’s some good pitching going on. This was a true test of character for our team and we passed.’ Pali’s ace right-hander Geoff Schwartz pitched a three-hitter and retired the Gondos in order in each of the last two innings to earn his third win of the season. ‘We owed them from last year,’ Schwartz said. ‘We had to come out and prove we are the better team and we did.’ Thompson’s pinch-hit single with one out started the Dolphins’ last-inning rally. After a groundout, he stole second and, with a base open, Venice walked Cohen to set up Franks’ winning hit. Thompson slid past the catcher’s tag at home plate then was mobbed by his teammates in the dugout.
Wooden’s Words of Wisdom
Beloved Hall of Fame Coach Shares Life Lessons with USC Journalism Students
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Palisadian Jeff Fellenzer has spent many evenings in the company of legendary basketball coach John Wooden. But perhaps none have meant as much to him as last Wednesday night, when Wooden visited Fellenzer’s journalism class at the University of Southern California and shared three hours’ worth of the wisdom and knowledge that have made him one of the most beloved and respected figures in sports. “I was deeply touched by Coach Wooden’s generosity and his willingness to share so much of his time with my students,” Fellenzer said. “He stayed until he had signed everything that everyone had brought with them. John is like Bruce Springsteen in concert’he always delivers more than you could ever expect. He is an amazing person and I feel very blessed to be able to call him a friend.” Now 93 years young, Wooden is still as sharp as ever. He captivated over 200 students in USC’s Annenberg Auditorium with his thoughtful, witty and often profound answers to questions ranging from his coaching career to his life philosophy. Fellenzer started the class, titled “Sports, Business and Media in Today’s Society,” six years ago with former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Fred Claire and ever since Wooden has been at the top of the desired guest list. “I began incorporating some “Woodenisms” into my lectures last spring and the feedback I got from the class was incredible,” Fellenzer said. “Now, we call it our weekly Wooden. Well, this one is the ultimate weekly Wooden because he’s here in person.” Wooden coached UCLA to 10 national championships in 11 seasons, including seven in a row from 1967-73 and led the Bruins to 88 consecutive victories–an NCAA record that still stands. He is the first of only three men to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach and mentored countless NBA superstars, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Walt Hazzard and Gail Goodrich. Now Wooden is revered as much for what he has done off the court as for what his teams achieved on it. He has authored several books, the latest being a children’s story called “Inch and Miles,” published last fall, and his “Pyramid of Success” has become a model for coaches and teachers all over the world. Last summer, Wooden was invited to the White House, where President George Bush awarded him the Medal of Freedom, the highest honor bestowed upon a United States civilian. Though he spent the majority of his coaching career at USC’s crosstown rival, the man affectionately known as the “Wizard of Westwood” is nevertheless greatly respected by Trojan faithful and he was warmly received at a pre-class reception. One of the first to arrive and last to leave was USC head football coach Pete Carroll, whose team won a share of the national championship in January. Carroll was as excited to meet Wooden as anyone in the room. “That was quite a year you had,” Wooden said as the two shook hands. “But I wish you’d cut it out.” Carroll laughed, then told a story of how adopting Wooden’s principles has contributed to his success at USC. “I’ve read a whole bunch of books looking for any little edge I could find,” Carroll said to Wooden. “A few years ago, just before I accepted this job, a friend of mine gave me the blue book (“Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court”) and I remember getting to the part that says you won your first national title in your 17th year. I found myself thinking ‘I’m never going to last 17 years here.’ But reading your book changed how I prepared for this opportunity.” Wooden’s advice to Carroll on how to keep the Trojans on top? “Like the alumni will tell you–that was yesterday,” he said. “You can’t live in the past. You have to live for today because it’s the only day that matters. Close the door on yesterday and throw away the key.” Wooden said he is proud of current USC men’s basketball coach Henry Bibby, one of his former players at UCLA, and that the program would benefit from an on-campus basketball facility instead of an outside venue like the Sports Arena. In addition to teaching at his alma mater, Fellenzer is founder of the Pete Newell Challenge, a preseason college basketball tournament in Oakland named after the popular California coach. Wooden, in fact, considers Newell to be the best he ever coached against. “Some of you may remember Coach Wooden throwing out the first pitch before Game 2 of the World Series at Anaheim Stadium two years ago,” Fellenzer said in his introduction to the class. Turning to Wooden, he added: “I thought you threw a pretty good fast ball.” “Actually, it was a slider Jeff,” Wooden corrected. “It hit the ground and slid all the way to the catcher.” Andy Hill, ex-Bruin and former L.A. City Player of the Year at University High, accompanied his former coach to the event. “As a game coach, he was good,” Hill remembered. “But in practice, there has never been anyone better than Coach Wooden. That’s really where the games were won.” Hill sat amongst the students as Wooden discussed a myriad of topics, including his dislike of showmanship in today’s game. “If one of my players dunked the ball I’d have him out of there before his feet hit the floor,” he said. Of NBA rookie sensation Lebron James, Wooden said, “I never saw anyone like him in a high school all-star game since Oscar Robertson. I’d like to see his birth certificate because he looks like he’s 25. If he can keep his feet on the ground, he’ll be a great one.” However, Wooden fears players like James, and Kobe Bryant before him, might be setting a dangerous precedent. “I don’t like to see players leave college early or skip it entirely to turn professional,” he said. “It’s a mistake in the vast majority of cases because the lifestyle in the pros is completely different.” Wooden cited the “back door” and “screen and roll” as his favorite plays and named David Robinson and John Stockton as two of his favorite players to watch. At UCLA. Wooden expected his players to abide by three simple rules: don’t use profanity, be on time and never criticize a teammate. He prefers to think of a coach as a teacher because “that’s what a coach really is after all” and he said the key to becoming a great leader is humility, saying “A great leader doesn’t light a fire under his players, but within them.” Asked to name the accomplishment he is most proud of, Wooden did not cite one of the championships he won or an honor he has received. “I’m most proud that in 29 seasons coaching college basketball (two at Indiana State, 27 at UCLA) almost all of my players graduated. That should be the first priority of every college coach.”
Ogden Cleaners Converts To Non-Toxic Solution
By GEORGINA DINHAM Palisadian-Post Contributor When you take your clothes to the dry cleaners, do you think about the chemicals and possible toxins that may be used to clean your garments or remove stains? The owners of Ogden Cleaners on Sunset, Danil Sapozhnikov and his wife Yanna, have given this issue a great deal of thought and last December became one of the few dry cleaning facilities in California to convert to an environmentally friendly cleaning system. ‘We are now using a solution that is organic, non-toxic and odorless,’ said Sapozhnikov. ‘I have been in the cleaning business since 1985, and this is a good solution for cleaning.’ The solution that Ogden Cleaners uses is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, which is called DF 2000. It is a clear, odorless fluid that is not only non-toxic but biodegradable as well. ‘Everyone will be using it in about 15 years, but right now it is still one of the latest technologies,’ Sapozhnikov said. ‘It’s been available for five or six years. I actually first heard about it in a trade magazine, and have had it now since Christmas.’ The equipment for using this latest technology has cost Sapozhnikov $150,000, which he has paid for over the last three years. ‘We have bought all new presses and washing machines so we can use the organic cleaning system,’ he said. ‘It’s better because it gives the garments a nicer feel and texture. It is much more dependable, and provides good-quality cleaning. The garments even feel softer. Silk, for example, comes out shinier than it normally would. We can also do a bigger variety of garments with this system too, like wedding dresses.’ When asked if this safe new cleaning solution has upped the price of dry cleaning for his customers, Sapozhnikov said, ‘No, it hasn’t. In fact with all our promotions we are doing it is actually cheaper.’ To dry clean a pair of men’s pants at Ogden’s costs $6.50; a man’s shirt is $7.50; and a woman’s silk blouse is $8.50. Sapozhnikov, 53, is originally from Russia and moved to the United States 25 years ago with his wife. They first lived in Chicago, where Sapozhnikov worked as a tailor for two years. ‘After Chicago we moved out here to California and I opened a cleaners in North Hollywood named Magnolia Cleaners. I then opened another cleaners in Brentwood named Image, but after a while I realized I could not have two places at the same time. One takes enough of your time. So I sold them both and bought Ogden’s here in the Palisades, which I heard about through a broker, and I’ve been here six and a half years,’ Sapozhnikov said. The couple live in Woodland Hills and have been married 25 years. They have two children, Steven, 24, who used to help out at Ogden’s, and Bianca, 16. Steven graduated from Cal State Northridge, while Bianca attends El Camino High School. Ogden Cleaners, located at 15317 Sunset, is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Editor’s note: While some 90 percent of the dry cleaners in California use the chemical perc [perchloroethylene], by 2020 all are required to convert to non-toxic cleaning solutions. As with most chemical substances, the ill effects of perc are dependent upon the level of exposure. The level of perc inside most dry cleaners is no more than 30 parts per million (ppm), far below the level at which acute effects can be observed (200 ppm), according to the American Council on Science and Health. The Palisadian-Post contacted other dry cleaners in the Village, including Prestige Cleaners on Monument, Regal Cleaners on Via de la Paz, and Philips French Cleaners and Emerson LaMay Cleaners on Sunset. Philips and Emerson said they no longer use perc in their machines.)
Lorraine Hayes, 94; Longtime Resident
Longtime Palisadian Lorraine E. Hayes died on April 7, shortly after moving to the Berkley East Convalescent Home in Santa Monica. She had celebrated her 94th birthday on March 28. Born in Chicago, Hayes and her husband Steven moved to California after World War II and eventually built several homes in Pacific Palisades. In addition to her husband, who once ran for Los Angeles City Council, Hayes was also predeceased by her sisters, Chestyn Edwards and Gwendolyn White, and her nephew, Leland White. She is survived by her brother, P. Steurt Holmquest of Indiana; nieces Donna Holmquest of Ohio, Judy McMullen of Santa Rosa and Bonnie Edwards of Santa Rosa; and great-neice Aimee White of San Diego. She is also survived by her loving friend and caregiver, Charlotte Schneider.
Jane Huntington, 75; Active Volunteer, Mom
Jane Huntington, a former longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on February 19 of respiratory failure and pneumonia. She was 75. Born in Ohio in 1929 to Lawrence and Christine Milligan, Jane attended Principia College and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. In 1950, she married Bill Huntington and the couple moved to the Palisades in 1952. Bill opened his own real estate office, Huntington Realty, at the corner of Antioch and Via (today’s Regal Cleaners location), before relocating to Sunset. In 1980, he merged with Jon Douglas and later with Coldwell Banker. Jane was active in the Palisades Woman’s Club, the Republican Club, St. Matthew’s Church and the Girl Scouts. Like many Palisades mothers, she was also very active in car-pooling. Her hobby was collecting and dealing in antiques, and she traveled throughout the United States and Europe with other collectors. Throughout the early years of their marriage, Jane and Bill enjoyed traveling around the country. They visited all 48 states on various car trips and became quite familiar with every rest stop on Route 66. Five years ago, the couple moved to a condo on Lincoln Blvd. in Santa Monica. In addition to her husband of 54 years, Jane Huntington is survived by her sister Ann Rose, daughters Ann Tucker of Iowa City and Linda Wogan of Denver, and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Hugh. All of the children attended St. Matthew’s School. A private family service was held.
Ernest Ingersoll Pritchard
Ernest Ingersoll Pritchard, 82, a former Palisades resident, died April 4 owing to complications of Parkinson’s disease. His wife Ann was at his side. She served as executive director of the Palisades Chamber of Commerce for seven years, prior to the couple’s retiring and moving to Lake Oswego, Oregon, 11 years ago. Pritchard was born July 22, 1921, in Turkey of American parents who met in Constantinople’his father teaching at Roberts College, his mother serving with the American Red Cross. Six months after his birth, the family returned to America, settling in Elizabeth, N.J. A descendant of three maternal ancestors who came to America on the Mayflower, Pritchard became a future pioneer of space technology. After graduating from Antioch College in Ohio, he worked at NASA in Cleveland, testing advanced fuels for the Army Air Force World War II fighter aircraft. He was promoted to the NASA Wind-Tunnel Division and gained years of experience in hypersonic aircraft propulsion. Hooked on advanced aircraft design and testing, Pritchard entered Caltech in Pasadena for graduate work, then became a faculty member. After 10 years he was recruited by TRW, working on intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellites (primarily the Discoverer). In 1962 he joined the Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit concern reporting directly to the U.S. Congress, as head of the design group working on ICBM reentry vehicles for the Air Force, and later was affiliated with a team of engineers evaluating competing space shuttle designs and requirements. NASA retained Aerospace to analyze the shuttle configuration and Pritchard managed the Aerospace effort. Pritchard married Ann Gamble College in Pacific Palisades in 1975. In 1989, he joined the Aerospace Defense Support Program (DSP), where he was responsible for the integration of one shuttle and six Titan launches, and received many awards for his professional achievements. Always living life to the fullest, Pritchard developed a love of downhill skiing, enjoyed ocean surfing, tent camping, deep-sea fishing, tennis and personal travel to more than 60 nations. He loved music of every kind, especially jazz. At age 70, he retired from Aerospace, after which he and Ann relocated from the Palisades to Lake Oswego. He was active in Lake Grove Presbyterian Church and in the Kiwanis Club, participating in highway trash clean-ups, the Red Cross blood donors’ program and volunteer work for many fundraising programs for Kiwanis scholarships. In September 2001 the rapid progression of his Parkinson’s disease forced Pritchard to move into an assisted-living facility. While there he wrote and published his memoirs for family and friends, and on his computer developed and produced a song book of many familiar songs he loved for weekly sing-along sessions for the residents of the facility. In addition to his wife Ann, he is survived by two sons, Mark of New York City and Jon of Vancouver, Washington; a daughter, Tina Lang of Brookings; grandsons Dr. Todd Lang, Craig Lang and Matthew Cook; granddaughter Michelle Pritchard; and three stepchildren, Wendy Scott, Beth Deveny and David Colledge. Services will be held in Lake Oswego on April 16. Memorial contributions may be made to Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, 4040 Sunset Drive, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035 or to the National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136.
Fran Pavley Introduces Bill to Allow Hybrid Vehicles in Diamond Lanes
Assemblymember Fran Pavley announced legislation she is introducing to allow fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrid vehicles to use the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on the state’s freeways. If the bill passes, hybrid owners would get a special decal from the DMV to indicate they have permission to use the carpool lanes, even if there is only one person in the car. Pavley, who was named chairwoman of a newly created Select Committee on Hydrogen and Other Alternative Fuels last month, introduced the legislation, Assembly Bill 2628, at a press conference at the Skirball Center last Thursday. Pavley, a second-term Democrat whose focus is on the environment and education, spoke in support of the bill, along with Terry Tamminen, the secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, California State Treasurer Phil Angelides, and Palisadian Laurie David (the wife of comedian/writer Larry David), a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Assembly Transportation Committee held a hearing on the bill on Monday, when it received 11 out of 12 votes. The next step is a hearing in front of the Appropriations Committee. The bill’s supporters, including Governor Schwarzenegger and the State Treasurer, feel it could result in cleaner air and a reduction in energy dependence and greenhouse gases. ‘Diamond lanes for hybrids are a small but sweet reward for an intelligent choice,’ said David, who drives a 2004 Prius hybrid. ‘Diamonds can now be a hybrid’s best friend.’ Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metropolitan Transportation Authority board chair Zev Yaroslavsky also spoke in favor of the bill, explaining that there is capacity available in the diamond lanes. ‘This won’t materially impact the diamond-lane incentive for others,’ he said. Currently, to have access to the diamond lanes, vehicles must be carrying two (or sometimes three) people, be an electric or compressed natural gas vehicle, a two-seater vehicle with two passengers, a transit vehicle or motorcycle. The idea is that the bill would give an added incentive to purchase a hybrid vehicle, and raise awareness of hybrids as other drivers see them in the carpool lanes. ‘We’re celebrating an idea once thought to be crazy,’ said Terry Tamminen of the EPA, ‘a gas engine with an electric motor.’ Currently, the hybrids that have 45-miles-per-gallon gas mileage and meet advanced emission standards include the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius. These cars have sticker prices in the $19,000 to $20,000 range. Other vehicles are being developed that would also meet the standards. If enacted, the legislation would be limited to 75,000 electric-gas hybrids. Federal approval would also be needed, beause federal funds are used in the construction of HOV lanes. Currently similar legislation is in effect in Virginia, and two Virginia dealers are reportedly the national leaders in hybrid car sales. ‘This bill can help give auto companies an incentive to accelerate the production of hybrid vehicles,’ said Pavley, who feels it will help make the public more interested in and aware about hybrid vehicles. ‘My neighbors don’t realize you don’t have to plug them in,’ said Pavley, who drives a 2004 Toyota Prius. The cars automatically recharge themselves. A screen on the dashboard continually displays the mileage per gallon, and Tamminen said it inspires him to drive a little slower to keep the numbers up. ‘We Californians use one million gallons of gas a day. In 2030, there will be 20 million more cars on the road,’ says David, a national leader on climate change and clean air issues. ‘Hybrid cars get you there with half the gas and half the pollution.’
New West Middle School To Lease Prime Palisades Real Estate Site
A full-size basketball court. Small classrooms that overlook a grassy courtyard. A fireplace in the reading room. Parking for 60 cars. How New West came to lease the former site of the Santa Ynez Inn is through ‘sheer persistence,’ chairman David Eagle told the Palisadian-Post. As he walked the property last week, he commented on the ‘wonderfully overgrown’ foliage, including the magenta bougainvillea growing over the wobbly chain-link fences surrounding the property, the bird-of-paradise that obviously need to be trimmed, and the bright red trumpet vines cascading over the leaky roof of the old inn, which ‘is one of the things that definitely needs to be replaced,’ said Eagle. Located on 1.5 acres of prime Palisades real estate on Sunset across from Los Liones, the school, which has a 10-year lease on the property, plans to completely rehabilitate both the grounds and the now-dilapitated facility. The former Santa Ynez property is estimated to be worth ‘about $10 million,’ said Coldwell Banker commercial broker Gregg Pawlik. ‘And that’s just for the land.’ The inn was built in 1946 as a hotel with 24 guest rooms. It had a swimming pool, a dining room (‘Fireside Grill’), and one of the two liquor licenses in town. It was designed by architect Alfred T. Gilman (‘Hap’), its simple ranch-style design reflected in the beamed ceilings, brick floors and rooms which all open out to a central courtyard. ‘It was the perfect weekend getaway,’ said Stuart Gilman, who visited the inn often with his father. ‘The place was very rustic and comfortable inside’ Local realtor Peter Fleming remembers it as a ‘wonderful roadside inn, a great place to drop by. It was so lovely, in fact, that it looked like something right out of a movie set.’ Palisades historian Randy Young loved the ambiance. ‘It had such warmth and charm. I remember eating steaks in the dining room. It was the place to be.’ Santa Monica Canyon resident, Joan Graves, and her actor-husband, Peter, also have fond memories. ‘As the inn had one of the few really good restaurants in the Palisades at the time, Peter and I went there often, especially for Sunday brunch. I remember one time a movie star magazine did a celebrity photo shoot of us there, romping around in the pool. We were sad when it closed down.’ After 30 years in operation the inn was sold in 1976 to the World Plan Executive Council, better known as TM (Transcendental Meditation), which used the facility for meetings and retreats. In 1989 it was sold to its current owners, the Self Realization Fellowship, which now owns a total of 15 acres on Sunset, including the nearby Lake Shrine. With the inn vacant for over a decade, the church has received many offers to develop the site, mainly for commercial use, such as condos and strip malls, ‘but we always told people we weren’t interested,’ said church spokesman Hank Shaeffer, their real estate attorney. ‘While we have occasionally used the building for gathering purposes, we knew it was underutilized and in need of repair,’ Shaeffer said. ‘We were certainly not interested in selling it, nor were we actively looking for a tenant, but when the opportunity came to lease to New West we felt their use was compatible with ours. They have even agreed to our using their classrooms for our Sunday school, so I think it will work out very well for all. They seem to be as idealistic, and realistic, as we are.’ The church has agreed to lease the property, which is zoned C2, to New West for 10 years, providing the school can raise the $600,000 to 700,000 in private funding to upgrade the facility, which will include bringing the 14,000-ft. structure up to code, removing any asbestos, mold or lead paint, and making it ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant. Architect Jennifer Wen, whose goal is to ‘improve the functionality of the structure as well as the aesthetic,’ told the Post that plans for the school include opening up the common areas and rebuilding the whole facade along Sunset. Walls between some of the hotel rooms will be eliminated to create larger classrooms, the 30-ft-. wide fireplace in the dining room will be restored, and part of the 1,800-sq.-ft. kitchen may be converted to a science laboratory. ‘As a prospective parent I am thrilled that the children will have the opportunity to learn in such a nurturing environment,’ said Wen who, with her husband Jeff Guh, a structural engineer, was involved in the design of New West’s other campus on Pico, where they helped convert a former furniture warehouse into a modern, urban space in a record 3-1/2 months to meet last fall’s opening deadline. Wen and Guh, who live in Mar Vista, first got involved in New West when they attended an informational meeting about the new middle school last spring, even though their oldest child, Kevin, was only in third grade at the time, and daughter Alison was in second grade. Since then, the couple has been happily volunteering their time, as have many of the other parents. ‘I am inspired by the natural light and space here at the inn,’ said Wen, who received her masters in architecture from Cal State Long Beach in 1984 and looks forward to converting the space. ‘There’s going to be a paneled library upstairs. And we’re going to turn the dining room into a reading room. I can already see the children snuggling up by the fire.’ Eagle, who has been working on the New West school project for almost five years, looks around the Santa Ynez property and almost cannot believe his good fortune in acquiring the site. ‘I mean, every time I drove by here, for years, I thought of how great it would be for a school. Now, what we are trying to do with New West, is to create a model of what’s possible in public school education. That is the goal here.’ Eagle, a Highlands resident, hopes to have the Sunset campus, which will accomodate 300 students, ready for the fall. Wen said, ‘knowing David it is possible. With him, it seems the harder he works, the luckier we all are.’ Middle school students for New West are all selected by lottery. Editor’s note: the Palisadian-Post thanks Randy Young for providing photos and research for this report.
