Palisades News September 2, 2015

Transcription

TRAVELING
ON THE
SNOWMAN
TREK
Vol. 1, No. 21 • September 2, 2015 Uniting the Community with News, Features and Commentary
See Page 22
Circulation: 14,500 • $1.00
Local Mountain Trails Deteriorate
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
O
Many of the trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, such as Los Leones, were not designed for the large number of hikers who now
Photo: Jim Kenney
use the trail in ever-larger numbers.
Money Sought for Homeless Solution
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
H
ousing is core to any homeless solution,” John Maceri, executive director of OPCC (Ocean Park
Community Center), explained to more
than 80 people squeezed into the Palisades
Library community room on August 25.
Responding to concerns about the increasing number of homeless in Pacific
Palisades, a homeless task force was formed
last November and has been exploring ways
to deal with people who can be abusive,
violent or unwilling to follow proper public behavior.
The OPCC approach with the homeless
seems to mirror the VA approach (see story,
page 1 in Post 283 Newsletter), and reflects
the work of Dr. Sam Tsemberis, who founded Pathways to Housing in New York City
in 1992.
He promoted the Housing First model
to address homelessness among people
with psychiatric disabilities and addiction
disorders.
The idea was simple: provide housing
first, and then combine that housing with
supportive treatment services in the areas of
mental and physical health, substance abuse,
education and employment. Housing was
provided in apartments scattered throughout
the city, which helped speed the reintegration
of the homeless back into the community.
A resident at last Tuesday’s meeting
asked, “If we have 260 people living here
who want to come off the street, do you
have housing for them?”
“No. There isn’t enough affordable housing,” Maceri said. “On any night, we might
have space for 10 to 20 [at OPCC]. We work
on triage. Our priority is based on helping
those find housing who are most vulnerable.”
T
ask force chair Maryam Zar said that
160 people (not 260) have been identified as homeless living in canyons and
hillsides in the Palisades.
Maceri explained that the L.A. housing
market is expensive and there is a dearth of
apartments because of gentrification and
redevelopment.
Additionally, there are no incentives or
subsidies for builders to construct lowerincome housing and most neighborhoods
don’t want those buildings.
“If we see 2,000 homeless people, probably 250 to 300 will go into housing,” Maceri said.
He also blamed bad public policy decisions as one reason for the increased homelessness. When mental institutions were
closed in the late 1970s-early ‘80s, people
were turned back into communities with
the idea that there would be resources there
to help them. The resources were lacking
(Continued on Page 8)
ver the past few years, local hiking
trails have become too crowded
on weekends for repair work, so
volunteer crews have switched to weekdays.
When members of the Sierra Club, led
by trailmaker Ron Webster, arrived at Los
Leones early Friday morning on July 3,
the parking lot was full and cars extended
down the street to Sunset Boulevard. The
low estimate was 400 people hiking, the
high 1,000.
“The trails are not built for these crowds,”
said Jim Kenney, a former dentist and now
a photographer who until a few years ago
was a member of the trail-repair crew.
“Hundreds and hundreds of people are
passing each other and the trail has deteriorated,” said Webster, 81, who has won
awards from the Sierra Club (in 1974, 1978
and 2012) for his trail work.
“Many years ago, Milt McAuley’s Hiking
Trails of the Santa Monica Mountains (1980)
was so much in demand that it went all the
way to a sixth edition,” Kenney said. “Still,
it reached a relatively small number of interested hikers who bought the book.”
California State Parks Trails coordinator
Dale Skinner was asked about Webster’s
and Kenney’s concerns.
“Unfortunately, many of these trailheads
that have become popular were not designed to handle the sheer volume of traffic
they are getting,” Skinner said. “When we
first developed Los Leones, we would be
lucky to see a few cars on a weekday and
maybe 50 cars on the average weekend.
Today the visitation is big.
“We recently completed a survey and
compared the numbers to a survey done
in 2005,” he said. “The results have shown
us a large increase in traffic.”
Stephen Bylin, Topanga Sector Superintendent for State Parks added, “Use of
(Continued on Page 9)
PPCC Hosts
Councilman
Mike Bonin
The next Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting will be held
from 7 to 9 p.m. on September 10, in
the Palisades Library community
room, 861 Alma Real Dr.
City Councilman Mike Bonin will
be the guest. He will answer questions
and address residents’ concerns. The
public is invited.
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September 2, 2015
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Page 3
Palisades News
Palisades High students filled the gym to hear presidential appointee David Johns speak last Friday.
Photo: Thomas Adjani
Obama Appointee Revisits PaliHi Roots
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
K
now what your passion is,” David
Johns urged Palisades Charter High
School students last Friday.
“If you do nothing else while you’re a
student, . . . you need to identify what your
purpose is.” The 2000 PaliHi grad, who in
March 2013 was chosen by Pres. Barack
Obama to be the executive director of the
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, spoke to an
assembly of more than 1,000 students last
week. “What you should all know is that the
path toward where you want to be is not an
easy one.” People you love may not support
your choices. “What’s important is that you
pursue your passion . . . Pick a major because it makes you happy, not because
somebody told you to.”
For Johns, following his passion required
some trial and error. While at PaliHi and
later at Columbia University, he experimented with different paths. He prayed for
guidance, made mistakes and took risks,
including becoming an elementary school
teacher in New York City. “People looked
at me like I was crazy, but it was the thing
that mattered most.”
The students got the message.
A group of senior girls chatted at lunch
after one of his presentations, which occurred throughout the school day on Aug.
28—the 52nd anniversary of Dr. Martin
Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“He said, ‘Don’t let other people determine your future,’” noted Acasia Tyler, 17,
David Johns visited with PaliHi principal Dr. Pamela Magee.
from Hawthorne. Her friend Kendell Ryan,
16, of Marina del Rey added, “He emphasized that your biggest enemy is yourself.”
Another senior, Jordan Travis, 17, of
Inglewood, who attended a segment of the
day specifically for about 700 young men
of color, said, “I learned we all have a purpose. We can do something no matter
where we come from. We can change the
world for other people.”
Like Travis, Johns lived in Inglewood
while he attended PaliHi. He took a bus to
school every day, and students repeatedly
said last Friday that the fact that Johns had
been just like them was a big part of why
they found his words so inspiring. Between
speeches, he focused intently on each student who came to talk to him.
Marquez Block Party Sept. 12
The Marquez Knolls Property Owners
Association will hold its annual block party
on Saturday, September 12, from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
Sponsored by Marquez merchants, the
event will be held on the street of the Marquez Business District. Parking is free and
all are invited.
Alper’s Young Musicians Big Band will
provide music and there will be free hot
dogs. Kids will be entertained by Whirlie the
Clown, a balloon artist and a bounce house.
Representatives from Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department will be in attendance. Several dozen
free prizes will be raffled during the event.
Photo: Thomas Adjani
Johns, 33, credited his mother, Edith,
who was in the audience, as his biggest inspiration, and afterwards, she said that as a
boy, her son had originally attended Brentwood Elementary School before the family
moved to Inglewood, when he switched
to their neighborhood school. There his
teacher might choose to read the newspaper rather than teaching the students.
Gangs were also problematic. Eventually
her son entered Paul Revere Middle
School and then moved onto PaliHi, and
in both places he thrived.
Several teachers were inspirational for
Johns during his time at Pali. Math teacher
Elizabeth Butler “taught me the purpose of
resilience and grit” as she helped him outside of class time to conquer difficulties in
his math classes and with his college essays.
Stephen Klima, his leadership teacher,
helped him “both emotionally and socially.”
Klima said that it was unusual for a
freshman to be in leadership, but Johns
“knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to
be involved in student government.” He became president of his 9th, 10th and 11th
grade classes. “He was a consummate leader
back then and still is today. The potential
you could see was almost limitless. There’s
a sense of pride and joy at him having
come so far.”
At Pali, Johns played defensive end on
the football team. He ran cross country and
played volleyball. He worked on the yearbook, but he also had struggles. In fact, the
reason he wasn’t president of his senior
class was that he got into a fight that year,
and he was not allowed to run for office.
“I didn’t start [the fight]; I finished it,”
Johns told the crowd, who cheered his
words, but he told them. “The consequence
of finishing it was that I could no longer be
in a position of power. You can have your
moment and people will cheer for you in
that minute,” but then reality arrives. “There
are consequences to your actions.”
Throughout the day, Johns said students
asked him about whether racism had affected him and how he dealt with failure.
He told them, “Anybody who says that they
don’t fail every day is lying to you. If you do
it right, you’re going to make mistakes, and
as a black man in America, I know I have
a lot of challenges that are different. Don’t
spend time and energy fighting people’s
perceptions of you . . . Just do the work.”
He also told them, “I’m young. I’m black.
I’m from Inglewood, California, and I am
unapologetic about how brilliant I am. I
threatened a lot of people. Know that there
is not a challenge that you are not capable
of overcoming. You are capable of overcoming any obstacles put in your way.”
As he worked through school and jobs,
Johns earned a triple major in English, creative writing and African American studies
from Columbia in 2004 and then earned a
master’s degree from Columbia’s Teachers
College in 2006. He eventually became an
advisor to the Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions before transitioning to his current job.
Johns reminded students that he might
be the picture of success now with a job that
he relished, but in 439 days, when Obama
leaves office, both of them will be out of
work. Johns said he had no idea what his
next step would be, but he plans to continue to do what feels right to him. He
urged the students to do the same.
Page 4
Palisades News
September 2, 2015
September 2, 2015
Page 5
Palisades News
Morovati Brightens
World With Crayons
By LAURIE ROSENTHAL
Editor
M
ost local residents with children
have been to restaurants where
little boxes of pristine crayons
are given out to all young guests to use
while dining. Parents love them because
they keep their youngsters happy and occupied, and kids love them because, well,
what kid doesn’t love crayons?
For Sheila Michail Morovati, these pleasant visits left her troubled as she watched
new and barely used crayons thrown away
by restaurant staff. She realized there had
to be a way to put them to good use.
In 2011, the Palisadian began the nonprofit Crayon Collection with the goal of
repurposing these crayons, keeping them
out of landfills and getting them into the
hands of kids who needed them.
“There’s so much talk of the environment,
climate change, budget cuts in education,
teachers paying for supplies out of their own
pocket,” Morovati said. “I fused it all together and realized I had to do something.”
Her goal was to come up with an easy
model that could be replicated anywhere to
collect gently used crayons. A simple cardboard box with a carrying handle is used
to collect upwards of 1,000 crayons.
The first restaurant to participate was
Café Vida on Antioch, and the collection
kits can now be found in cities across the
country, heavily concentrated in California,
Arizona and Nevada.
Two chains, Islands and California Pizza
Kitchen, have both participated on a national level, and the Coral Tree Café is involved.
Schools, restaurants, churches and other
organizations also collect crayons on behalf
of Crayon Collection, and the kits can even
be found in Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong,
Guam and China.
“What we’ve learned is that it takes servers a little bit of time to remember to pick
them up,” Morovati says, but once they get
Kids draw pictures with crayons donated by Crayon Collection.
Sheila Morovati
Photo: Rich Wilken
used to it, they are enthusiastic partners.
Morovati finds that kids love to participate, and understand that they are helping other kids.
“We want to create future philanthropists who are passionate. The kids collect
crayons from restaurants. They get it. They
really truly feel it. It pulls at everybody’s
heartstrings,” Morovati said.
The donated crayons go to different
schools each time, based on need. Morovati
has partnered with the National Head Start
Association, which helps guide where some
of the donations go.
To date, Crayon Collection has collected
and donated millions of crayons. Amazon
recently donated 576 crayons (24 boxes of
24 crayons) to the cause.
The Pacific Palisades Optimist Club just
gave Morovati a $1,000 grant for her organization. “We are really grateful,” she said.
Morovati continues to push for more exposure and ways to collect crayons. She has
made two public service announcements,
including one partially filmed at Palisades
Elementary. The other is animated, and features the voices of Owen Wilson, Christina
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Ricci and Jessica Capshaw. It was made in
2014 with the help of Exodus Film Group,
which last year released the animated movie
about crayons, The Hero of Color City.
On August 23, there was a book release
event at LACMA featuring Drew Daywalt
reading from his latest book, The Day the
Crayons Came Home, illustrated by Oliver
Jeffers. The duo also worked together on
2013’s The Day the Crayons Quit.
Morovati has partnered with the book’s
publisher, Penguin Random House, which
will give crayon collection kits to its top 500
retailers across the country.
Palisadian Jennifer Meyer is on Crayon
Collection’s Board of Directors.
“There are a million studies on why art
is beneficial to children. As a child and even
now, I can’t recall a day I haven’t colored
something. Art has been an integral part of
my children’s daily lives, and it is so amazing to witness their creative development,”
she says. “I became involved with the Crayon Collection to help ensure that every
child is given the opportunity to express
themselves artistically.”
Born in Iran, Morovati came to the United States when she was a baby, and eventually graduated from Beverly Hills High
School and UCLA. She has lived in the Highlands for seven years with her husband, Nader, and their children, Sofia, 7, and Leo, 5.
“The Palisades feels like a small town
within a big town,” she said. “There is a so-
Photo: Sheila Morovati
phistication about it, yet it’s an understated
community.”
She says her kids are “little ambassadors”
when it comes to Crayon Collection. “They
feel good about the whole process, and
knowing that a little effort makes a kid
happy out there.”
Her goal is get everyone in Pacific Palisades involved in collecting crayons.
Visit: crayoncollection.org.
Friends of Library
Parking Lot Book
Sale Sept. 19
Hundreds of nearly-new fiction and
non-fiction, art, cookbooks, coffee table
books, DVDs and CDs, will be sold 8:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, September 19
at the Palisades Branch Library parking
lot, 861 Alma Real.
As an added convenience, credit cards,
as well as cash and checks, will now be accepted for payment. In case of inclement
weather, book sale will be postponed until
the following Saturday.
Proceeds help purchase books, research
material and other items the branch
would not otherwise be able to offer.
Visit: friendsofpalilibrary.org.
Page 6
Heard
About Town
Palisades News
September 2, 2015
ANN CLEAVES
Deer Killed on Temescal
Someone speeding up Temescal Canyon Road on Friday night hit a mother
deer and didn’t stop. As I was driving by,
the two little ones were by the sidewalk
waiting for the mom to get up. So sad.
Permanently Parked Van
Some suggestions for the owner of the
huge white van permanently parked on
Sunset above the Palisades High baseball
field (between El Medio and Temescal
Canyon): 1.) Sell it; 2.) Turn it into a food
truck; or 3.) Paint a mural on the side, so
it blends in with nature.
Keep Swarthmore Two-Way
The Caruso Affiliated plan for a oneway street on Swarthmore (from Sunset
over the Monument), which they trumpet in every article, does not have city
approval or a permit. In a conversation I
had with DOT, they knew nothing about
it. It’s not good for the Alphabet streets
because it would drive traffic into our
neighborhood, which is already overloaded and has narrow streets. It would
also cause increased traffic on Monument
and Via if drivers can’t reach Sunset via
Swarthmore. This idea has been tried
twice before and the result was increased
accidents. I hope that all the neighborhoods in the Palisades will oppose it.
Best Yoga Opportunity
Palisadian Allison Burmeister offers a
yoga class at the Woman’s Club on Mondays at 9:45 a.m. You don’t have to be a
member and the class is donation-based.
Just two people showed up for the last
class and I got a semi-private lesson, but
it’s more fun if more people show up. It
is really the best deal in town as you look
out the bay windows at the mountains to
the north and Temescal Canyon below.
Water Dishes for Dogs
Someone mentioned dog water dishes
on Via de la Paz in the August 19 issue,
but don’t forget that on Antioch, Joe’s
barbershop always has a water dish out
in front and so does Juice Crafters.
Oak Room to Reopen?
I saw that Caruso is fixing up the outside of Mort’s Oak Room. Does that
mean they are going to open it up to try
and get some life back on the street before they tear everything down?
(Editor’s note: Caruso Affiliated Public
Relations spokesperson Liz Jaeger was asked
the question on Friday, but had not responded by press time.)
———————
If you’d like to share something you’ve
“heard about town,” please email it to
spascoe@palisadesnews.com
VIEWPOINT
Selecting the ‘Perfect’ College
By SARAH STOCKMAN
Special to the Palisades News
Hopkins University has one of the top creative
writing programs in the country.
After falling in love with the school during
his fall I’ll be entering my senior year of a campus visit, I decided to apply. I also applied
college, much to my surprise. I could
to two other universities, just in case Hopkins
swear I was still at Pali High going to
didn’t pan out.
AP Calculus and wondering where I would
Although Hopkins was my first choice, I
end up the following year. Back then I thought wasn’t hopeful that I would get in. After all,
I wanted to be a doctor and would get into
schools similar to Hopkins had rejected me
one of the top schools in the U.S. The whole
before. As March rolled around I watched all
world was in front of me and I was going to
the freshmen getting accepted and I felt my
conquer it.
anxiety building.
I was wrong, of course. I didn’t get into any
By May I’d convinced myself I didn’t care if
of my top-choice schools and ended up at the I got into Hopkins, I’d just stay at Pitt and be
University of Pittsburgh for monetary reasons. unhappy for two more years. And then, to my
I couldn’t understand why I’d been rejected.
shock and delight, I was accepted.
After all, I’d done everything that was
Transferring was one of the best decisions I
required of me—I got a pretty decent ACT
have ever made. That being said, I don’t regret
score, was in the top 10 percent of my class,
going to Pitt, and I’m grateful that I was
volunteered for community service and played originally rejected from my top choices. After
lacrosse. After much musing I concluded that all, if I’d been accepted, I wouldn’t have ended
I hadn’t gotten in to my top choices because I up at Hopkins and I wouldn’t have learned that
wasn’t smart enough.
writing is really the right path for me.
At Pitt I tried to pursue my dream of
(Editor’s note: Sarah Stockman graduated
becoming a doctor but found that the Pre-Med
track limited my ability to take other classes. I from Palisades High School in 2012 after working
four years as a Palisadian-Post intern. She has
also didn’t have much in common with my
contributed numerous stories to the Palisades
peers since I wanted to explore while they
News this summer and will be a copy editor for
were intent on graduating as fast as possible.
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter this fall.)
I found solace in creative writing classes
where I was encouraged to think in new ways
and told that I had talent. This surprised me
Thought to Ponder
since I still hadn’t entirely recovered from the
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression
imprint left by being rejected.
and cruelty by the bad people, but the
Buoyed by my professor’s faith in me, I
silence over that by the good people.”
started thinking about transferring. While
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
researching schools, I discovered that Johns
T
Founded November 5, 2014
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Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
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www.PalisadesNews.com
———————
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Scott Wagenseller
swag@palisadesnews.com
Editor
Sue Pascoe
Features
Laurie Rosenthal
LRosenthal@palisadesnews.com
Graphics Director
Manfred Hofer
Digital Content and Technology
Kurt Park
Advertising
Jeff Ridgway
jeffridgway@palisadesnews.com
Grace Hiney
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Jeff Parr
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Bill Bruns
Contributing Writers
Laura Abruscato, Laurel Busby,
Libby Motika, Logan Taylor
Contributing Photographers
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———————
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and Sullivan, Mandeville and Santa Monica Canyons.All content printed herein,
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Online:
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Palisades News
September 2, 2015
A forum for open discussion of community issues
Page 7
EDITORIAL
Giving Residents What They Want
T
he scene was truly festive on August 18 as parents,
kids and local residents lined up outside Sweet
Rose Creamery, the new ice cream store on
Monument Street, off Sunset. Owners Josh Loeb and
his wife Zoe Nathan, who live in Rustic Canyon, were
offering $1 cones the day before their shop’s official
opening (when the price jumped to $4 a scoop).
Ever since Baskin-Robbins closed in December 2013,
after 55 years on Swarthmore, Palisadians had to drive
to Brentwood or Santa Monica if they wanted to enjoy
an ice cream store.
Third-grader Kate Dieter, who ordered a chocolate
cone, said: “This is really, really good. I’ve gone to their
Brentwood store, a lot.” Her older sister Emma said that
she used to go to Baskin-Robbins, and that she likes the
frozen yogurt in town, but, “I like ice cream better.”
Pacific Palisades used to have numerous stores owned by
local residents, so it’s nice to see Loeb and Nathan help fill
that void with Sweet Rose Creamery (their fourth store).
Loeb was behind the counter on opening day, while his
wife (due any moment with a boy) and their two children
waited on the other side for ice cream, like everybody else.
Resident Briar Pecsok, in line with her sons Blake and
Ryan, said “Now that Sweet Rose is here, that’s best.” As
she looked at the line that stretched out to Monument,
she added: “You can tell the Palisades is dying for
mom-and-pop, old-fashioned ice cream.”
Thank you, Loeb and Nathan, for investing in the
Palisades and adding another positive vibe to the
commercial/professional building on Monument. You
also have a successful restaurant in Santa Monica—
Rustic Canyon—and we hope you are inspired to
investigate opening an eatery in Caruso Affiliated’s
eventual Palisades Village complex.
Meanwhile, we can soon celebrate the 15th anniversary
of the Swarthmore farmers market, which Jennifer
McComb opened on September 17, 2000, on a “trial
basis.” She had already opened markets in Westlake
Village and Warner Promenade and was also planning
a market in Century City.
Although there was some initial opposition from Mort’s
Deli, because the street had to be closed on Sunday, and from
adjacent neighbors who objected to the influx of cars and
people, the market was an instant success and brought in
huge breakfast crowds to Mort’s and neighboring à la Tarte.
As the market has evolved over the years, it has become
a popular gathering place for Palisadians every Sunday.
Residents not only have a wide choice of vegetables
and fruits, but also bakery items, tamales, flowers and
soups, as well as brunch at Maison Giraud. The sidewalks
offer information tables staffed by members of local
organizations (including the Democratic and Republican
clubs, Community Council and even Theatre Palisades)
who enjoy meeting people face to face. And for residents,
the market is a chance to see people you haven’t seen
for a while and to catch up on the kids and family.
When Caruso Affiliated demolishes the commercial
buildings it owns on Swarthmore and Sunset in
mid-2016, the farmers market will have to move to a
temporary location.
We have often heard from Rick Caruso and his
representatives, “We listened to you and we’re giving you
what you want,” as they unveil their plans for Palisades
Village, opening in late 2017. Let’s make sure they know
how much we want our farmers’ market to be part of
that celebration—and back on Swarthmore.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Praise for News Writer Motika
This is just to tell you how much my husband, Murray
Levy, and I enjoy receiving Palisades News.
I love the size of the paper, smaller and easier to handle.
The articles are well-written, and I especially love those
written by Libby Motika (always have). The one about
Sister Corita in the current August 19 edition was most
fascinating, as I was a young woman in the ‘60s and
remember her well, even having a small work of hers in
a frame to this day!
I also appreciated the article written by Libby, complete
with photos, telling your readers about the upcoming
Palisades garden tour. I always looked forward to this each
spring when it was included in the Post and was disappointed that this had been deleted from their repertoire.
My only suggestion would be for you to have a calendar
of upcoming events from the date of publication/delivery up to the next publication/delivery two weeks hence.
Hester Palmquist
Theatre Palisades Coverage Appreciated
Thank you for the article about our awards show—
right there on page three (August 19)! I was especially
pleased to see Doug Green receive the attention he
deserves. You are good at making a list of award recipients
into an interesting story and caught the flavor the
evening well with all the quotes.
You are so generous in your coverage of our theatre
(which really is not “our” theatre, since it was the support
of the community of Pacific Palisades that enabled
Theatre Palisades to build the Pierson Playhouse more
than 25 years ago).
This is truly a community theatre and we thank you.
Nona Hale
President, Theatre Palisades
P.S. I have not been receiving the News in Santa
Monica Canyon. I was told to talk to my letter carrier
because they decide if they want to deliver them. I did
and he said he had seen the News at the post office but
not all routes are given copies; his route is one that
does not—I don’t know the reason.
(Editor’s note: We will speak to the Santa Monica post
office and see if we can solve the problem. In the meantime,
the entire paper is on our Website (palisadesnews.com) or
you can pick up a free copy at the library or at our new
office behind Ted’s bicycle shop at 871 Via de la Paz.)
from him. I could not believe how cruel and thoughtless
that was; I was furious about that as were other employees.
Warren Cereghino
Appreciated Editorial and Letter
I just wanted to let you know how much I loved and
appreciated your August 19 issue. I have long been an
admirer of Dr. Frances Kelsey and was so happy to see
the Palisades News honor her career and contributions
to medicine, pharmaceuticals and worldwide health
with such an inspiring article and such a positive message for all ages.
Thalidomide: Pharmaceutical Tragedy And I very much appreciated the Letter to the Editor
Your August 19 editorial on the courage of Dr. Frances from Betsy Smith. I too am shocked and dismayed how
Kelsey of the FDA helps introduce younger people to one the Denton issue was handled in the press. I know Saad
of the great medical/pharmaceutical tragedies of the 20th a little bit and he has always been a gentleman. Years ago,
when I had just gotten engaged, I stopped into his store
century. It’s a history lesson that needs to be taught.
so he could clean my new engagement ring. He was polite
Thalidomide was a horrid drug that did so much
damage to so many people born during the 1960s. One and professional—and I didn’t even purchase the ring
of them was a colleague of mine for a number of years: from him! I have no other experience with Denton’s,
a TV studio director who left the L.A. station where we but these grievances seem to me to be intensely personal.
I am happy to see that you printed this supportive letter
worked, and went on to a major sports cable channel.
from
Ms. Smith, for publicly expressing her well-founded
He was born in England, without arms, to a mother
concern
for what seems like a personal and prejudicial
who’d taken thalidomide. He has managed to cope
vendetta
leveled against this particular business, and for
with his situation through myriad devices such as
using the local newspaper [Palisadian-Post] as a vehicle to
foot-operated cars, foot-operated computer keyboards
accomplish this. This man, Saad, has children who live
sitting on the floor, and a lot of friends and colleagues
and go to school here—he deserves privacy to work out
who look after him. Whenever someone brought the
whatever issues he has with his clients. And I am sure they
inevitable sweet treats into the office, a number of us
would desire the same if the situation was turned around.
would ask him if he wanted a cookie or piece of candy,
Alisa Bromberg, M.D.
and would proceed to pop it into his mouth.
He is very talented and does good work. Adding insult
Palisades News welcomes all letters, which may be mailed to
spascoe@palisadesnews.com. Please include a name, address
to injury, another employee once complained to HR that
and telephone number so we may reach you. Letters do not
the man’s “reserved” handicapped parking spot was
necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Palisades News.
inappropriate, and succeeded in getting that perk taken
Page 8
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
Homeless
(Continued from Page 1)
and many mentally ill people ended up on
the streets.
“We provide psychiatry and treatment,”
Maceri said, noting that most homeless individuals with a mental illness have a life-long
condition that will need to be monitored.
Another large group of homeless are
the children who were in foster care and
have aged out (at 18). Finally there are the
women, who have suffered domestic violence and rape.
“Our clients are dealing with a mixture of
issues and we try to get them into interim
housing with the goal of permanent housing,” Maceri said.
The Palisades task force is seeking
$125,000 in order to hire two OPCC social
workers, for a year, who will strive to gain
the trust of the homeless here and work
with them.
“We will work to get the lay of the land
and identify areas of concern,” Maceri said.
“Our way of becoming effective is to build
trust. This is a marathon, not a sprint.”
One resident asked, “How can we be sure
this is a good investment?”
“The model has been perfected over the
decades—taking what we know now is
the best practice,” Maceri said.
Another Palisadian asked, “What number can we expect to find housing, in terms
of data?”
Maceri replied, “Our expectation is to
engage all of the homeless people [in the
Palisades], and eventually they will all have
a home. I can’t tell you the benchmarks for
six months, one or two years.”
Bruce Schwartz, a member of the task
force, said: “If everyone in the Palisades gave
$5 and there are 27,000 people here, we’d
have enough money for OPCC. This is the
socially responsible thing to do.”
A
udience members were told they could
not “arrest” their way out of this problem, because it is not against the law to be
homeless.
“It is your choice,” Maceri told the residents. “You can do nothing and the numbers will not go down.”
The task force has signed a contract with
OPCC, but caseworkers will not be hired
until the money is in place.
“We’re seeking the support of the entire
community; it’s important we all have a
vested interest,” said Barbara Overland,
who is in charge of fundraising. “We need
this outreach team.”
The task force reminds you not to give
money to homeless individuals because it
doesn’t help them leave the streets. Instead, donate that money or write a check
to OPCC, and in the memo line, put Pali
Homelessness Task Force. Mail it to P.O.
Box 331, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
There will be a launch for the fundraising
effort from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22 at the Palisades Library, 861 Alma Real.
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The Santa Monica Oceanaires Barbershop Chorus
Oceanaires Concert/Ice
Cream Social to Be Held
The Santa Monica Oceanaires Barbershop Chorus will perform at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, at the Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Blvd.
Directed by Ben Lowe, members come
from the Palisades, the Westside and the
San Fernando Valley and will perform
“Slow Boat to China,” “Ghost Riders in the
Sky” and other favorites.
After the hour concert, audience and
performers move to the church patio for
“all you can eat ‘til it’s gone” ice cream sundaes that guests build themselves.
Tickets: adults ($15) and kids under 12
($10). Call (323) 247-7464 (SING) or visit:
oceanaires.org.
Food Truck Festival at Marquez
The seventh annual Food Truck Festival will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on
Sunday, September 12 at the Marquez Elementary School lower yard. There will
be live music and activities for kids. Plan to take a night away from the kitchen.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Marquez.
September 2, 2015
Page 9
Palisades News
Trails
trail(s) has been very high for years because
Topanga State Park is so accessible to greater
Los Angeles urban population.”
Bylin recalled how in the mid-90s, he
placed trail counters on Los Leones and
Temescal trails. At that time, Temescal
commonly saw more than 1,000 hikers on
weekends and the Los Leones trail was
commonly well into the hundreds.
“The Los Leones trailhead has gone from
a tertiary trailhead to a primary trailhead.
In some places trailheads that were never
on the radar have become very popular in
just a few years,” Skinner said. “This is due
to social media for the most part.”
A
simple Google search reveals “A 7.3
mile hike from Pacific Palisades to a
popular overlook in Topanga State Park.
The first part of this hike—the Los Leones
Trail—is one of the lushest riparian canyons
I’ve seen in the Santa Monica Mountains.”
And yet another site proclaims: “The Los
Leones Trail starts on Los Leones Drive in
the Pacific Palisades at a clearly marked gate.
This is a popular trail, but there’s plenty of
free street parking, as well as two spillover
lots near picnic areas and restrooms.”
On August 4 at 8:30 a.m., Webster
showed the Palisades News the Los Leones
path, designed in 1974.
“The Ring brothers were going to develop
Ron Webster (center) works on trail maintenance with other Sierra Club volunteers.
Photo: Jim Kenney
Los Leones, building condominiums on the
land,” Kenney said. He became involved because after a fire had gone through the area
in 1973, the following year the wildflowers
were abundant and a photographer’s dream.
“Winston Salser had the idea that if people could see how beautiful this area was,
everyone would want to save it,” said Webster, who made the Los Leones trail twoand-half to three-and-half feet wide next
to the side of the mountain. “With these
crowds the trails should be wider, maybe
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three-and-half to four feet wide.”
He pointed to the outer edge of the trail,
which was crumbling. “The traffic has eroded the edge of the slope,” Webster said.
“Boards with pins will need to be installed
to support the slope.”
He noted out how the continued packing
of ground has exposed tree roots now directly in the middle of the path. “The roots
will need to be dug out to prevent someone
from tripping.”
“Brush on the mountainside needs to be
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cleared back, so people can stay on the trail,
rather than moving cliffside,” said Webster,
noting that another location needed steps.
In order to perform typical maintenance,
the trail needs to be empty, allowing volunteers, many of whom are in their 70s and 80s,
to work (equipment is carried to the site).
When Bylin was asked if a trail could be
closed a day for maintenance, he said, “No.”
Skinner explained closing a trail is hard
because there is no effective way to let everyone know it will be closed.
“The average hiker will gladly hike
through a crew doing work but will often
ignore closed signs or be upset that the trail
they want to hike is closed,” Skinner said.
“We ran into this problem at Point Mugu
where we clearly posted the trail closure
weeks ahead of time and people were still
trying to hike.”
Skinner praised the Sierra Club’s Santa
Monica Mountains Task Force, Ron Webster and his crew. “They have worked hard
at keeping the trails at the east end of the
mountains open. We at State Parks are
grateful for the incredible amount of work
they do every year.”
According to Skinner, there are plans to
improve the trail at Los Leones to be more
able to handle higher volumes of traffic,
and will include retaining walls and maybe
steps in some locations.
There is no timeline on completion because, “Unfortunately, this is one trail in a
vast network of trails extending from Will
Rogers State Park to Point Mugu State Park.”
Page 10
Palisades News
September 2, 2015
Stop Thief!! Residents Give Chase
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
A
slim Hispanic man entered Bentons
on the corner of Swarthmore and
Monument around 12:30 p.m. on
August 23, just as the farmers’ market was
winding down. Assistant manager Susie
Malloy said she noticed him because “he
was looking around furtively and you could
just tell he was ‘off.’”
Malloy said the man, who appeared to
be in his 30s, put a pile of clothes on the
counter, as if he were going to purchase
them. When she turned to help another
customer, the man “popped” the security
lock next to the counter, grabbed the GoPro
Hero 4 HD Action Camera ($500) and a
GoPro accessory, and bolted out the door.
Malloy, who has worked at Bentons for
two years, charged after him shouting,
“What are you doing? Stop! Stop!” The
shoplifter ran down Monument with Malloy in pursuit.
Highlands resident Linnard Lane had
just pulled up on Monument to pick up his
wife at the farmers’ market, and told the
News on August 27, “I heard this woman
shouting, ‘Stop that man, he stole a bunch
of stuff.’”
Lane jumped out of his car, which was
still running, asked his wife to stay with it,
and began chasing the thief down the
street, along with Malloy and another athletic young woman.
At the alley, the thief ran into the underground parking lot below Panda Express.
Lane yelled at him, “Give yourself up,
there’s no way out.” Malloy said other residents who witnessed the commotion called
911 and Palisades Patrol for help.
At the ramp entrance, Malloy, Lane, the
unidentified woman, and several other residents waited for the shoplifter. All of a
sudden, he bolted out of the door next to
the stairwell, and ran across Monument towards the two-story commercial building.
New Hampshire resident Mark Putney,
who had come with his wife to stay with
his in-laws’ (Matt and Susan O’Connor)
four children, while the O’Connors took
a short vacation, had just come downstairs from Bellagio Nail & Spa.
“I just had a pedicure,” Putney said from
his New Hampshire home. “It was my first
one, although I’m telling everyone back
home it was a foot massage.”
He was carrying his youngest niece and
the family was headed back to their car
when he heard Malloy screaming. He
thought it was a purse snatching and ran
towards the thief.
“I kicked off my flip-flops, because I can’t
run in them,” said Putney, who had retired
after working 25 years with the Manchester
Police Department and is currently a deputy sheriff, working as an investigator for
the Hillsboro County Attorney’s office.
The thief ran back across Monument
and up the alley towards Swarthmore,
chased by the four pursuers. They finally
cornered the man near the pet adoption
“I kicked off my
flip-flops, because I
can’t run in them.”
— Mark Putney
Manchester, NH PD (Retd.)
service on the bank parking lot, where he
had parked his bike. There were grocery
bags on the handlebars.
Malloy said the shoplifter swung at her
and Putney, but missed, and then Putney
grabbed him.
Lane said the man gave back the GoPro
and the accessory, but they could see he had
something else in his pants. “What’s bulging
out of your pants?” Lane asked.
“It might have been several [shoplifted]
Speedos,” Malloy said, but “nobody was
about to grab them back.”
The man tried to get away, but Putney,
Lane and Malloy held the bike. The man
screamed at them, “You rich white people,
what does it matter if we steal your stuff?”
He used several expletives and said this
land didn’t belong to white people.
Several people observing the altercation
asked, “What are you holding him for? Let
him go.”
Malloy tried to explain he had taken
the camera, but was met with, “You can’t
hold him.”
In all the commotion, the man twisted
free, climbed on his bike and rode away towards Sunset. Shortly afterwards, Malloy
said, Palisades Patrol arrived and then drove
off to look for him. Eventually, LAPD arrived and a police report was filed.
Putney, whose freshly pampered feet
were now black from the soot, had nothing
but praise for Malloy. He spoke to owner
Benton and said, “I want to tell you what
a great assistant manager you have.”
Putney didn’t think twice about joining
the chase. “I was someone just trying to
help out a lady,” he said.
Lane said he joined the chase because “I
don’t like thieves and I don’t like bullies. I
was happy to do my part.”
The O’Connors were surprised when
they returned from their vacation and their
kids greeted them at the door and told
them about the bicycle thief and Putney,
whom they call “a superhero.”
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September 2, 2015
Page 11
Palisades News
Caruso Addresses
Liquor License Plans
M
Alex Lee, Carrie Meyer and Deann Wilken are new members of the Palisades Lutheran
Church preschool board.
Lutheran Preschool Has
Three New Board Members
T
he Palisades Lutheran Church preschool has added new board members whose educational expertise
will aid in the continued development of
the school. Alex Lee, Carrie Meyer and
Deann Wilken bring a wide and varied
expertise to the school, which is located at
15905 Sunset Blvd.
Lee is director of admissions at Village
School, where he is starting his eighth year.
He is also co-chair of Elementary School
Admission Directors (E.S.A.D.).
Born and raised in Honolulu, Lee attended Punahou School, the Hotchkiss
School, Boston College and Bank Street
College of Education. After graduation, he
taught history in New York City for 11 years,
before moving to the private sector.
He worked at the Dalton School, a prestigious, private coeducational college preparatory school on New York City’s Upper
East Side for five years, before moving to
the West Coast and Village School.
Long-time Meyer has more than 30 years’
experience in early childhood education.
Since graduating from UCLA with a major
in music and early childhood education,
she has taught kindergarten in public and
private schools. One of Meyer’s passions is
to encourage creativity in singing as well as
moving to music and dramatic play in her
classroom. She always loves to welcome
parents to the classroom, especially to share
their careers.
Wilken is the Palisades Cluster Leader for
STAR Education, an innovative educational
program, featured in public elementary
schools. She has been actively involved in
all aspects of STAR, from helping to establish preschools to running successful afterschool programs.
A lifelong Palisades resident, Wilken was
awarded the Palisades Community Council
Sparkplug Award (twice) for her volunteer
work. She was president of the Palisades
Junior Women’s Club President and helped
to spearhead the drive for the local Palisades schools to become charter schools.
The board will also guide the school’s
director, Kathy Mitchell, who is one of the
most prominent pre-kindergarten teachers in the community.
Limited spaces are still available for the
2015-2016 school year. To set up a tour,
call (310) 459-3425 or visit thepreschoolatplc.com.
ichael Gazzano, Caruso Affiliated’s project director for Palisades Village, addressed the company’s liquor license application at 1035
Swarthmore (the former Oak Room adjacent to Mort’s/Lenny’s) during an August 3
interview with the Palisades News.
“We’ve been working for that license over
a year. We’ll have it soon,” Gazzano said. He
was asked if residents who initially filed with
the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) protesting the application—citing issues relating
to parking, noise, hours of sale, off-premises
consumption and deliveries—were satisfied.
“Verbally, the residents have approved it,”
Gazzano said.
The News contacted the residents who
had filed against the application, and were
told that no agreement had been reached.
One said, “Gazzano’s statement was untrue
and misleading.
“By mentioning our names [in the Palisadian-Post, August 6], it was a calculated effort
to make ‘town villains’ of both of us. Caruso’s
erroneous statements have only served to
place us further apart from agreement.”
Further, the residents whose names had
been featured in the article reached out to
Gazzano. They reiterated that they would
not agree to anything unless the hours of
operation as previously specified in the
conditional use permit were also included
as conditions within the license. On August
26, one of these residents told the News
there was still no agreement.
Gazzano was contacted about the residents’ response and he replied by e-mail on
August 28: “ABC provided conditions of
approval for our signature. Since ABC was
taking the lead on trying to resolve any differences with the appellants, it was only logical to assume that if ABC was asking us to
sign off on the license conditions that they
had been approved by the appellant. It was
only after the interview that we learned
that that was not the case, and that the appellant had not signed off. It was a misun-
Developer Rick Caruso
derstanding. The conditions on the license
therefore remain unresolved.”
The document that will be submitted by
Caruso to the City Planning Department, regarding a special Subarea application, states:
“The Specific Plan Amendment proposes to permit the sale of alcohol within a
maximum 10 new establishments within
the Subarea that includes the onsite sale and
consumption of a full line of alcohol at six
restaurants with table service, the onsite
sale and consumption of a full line of alcohol within the cinema, and offsite sale and
consumption of a full line of alcohol for
three establishments which are envisioned
to include two within the specialty market
and one for a potential retail store such as
sandwich shop/bakery-type use.”
The request for 10 liquor licenses in
this three-acre development (bounded by
Swarthmore, Monument and Sunset) does
not include the Pearl Dragon, where Caruso Affiliated owns the bar location. There
is no inclusion for limiting hours of operation or any other conditional use permit
restrictions in the 10 license applications.
Gazzano told the News the liquor-license
plans were developed because “Residents
wanted dining options that would allow
them to get a glass of wine or a cocktail with
their meals and we will be working hard
to give the residents what they asked for.”
—SUE PASCOE
THEATRE PALISADES
Estates Director & Westside Specialist Since 1988
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Page 12
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
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©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office is owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered
service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that
information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. * Based on information total sales volume from California Real Estate Teechnology Services, Santa Barbara Association of REALLTORS,
TORS, SANDICOR, Inc. for the period 1/1/2013 through 12/31/2013 in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego,
Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Due to MLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy, this data is only informational and may not be completely accurate. Therefore, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the data accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS’s may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Palisades News
September 2, 2015
Page 13
PaliHi Operates on $30 Million Budget
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
P
alisades Charter High School is an
educational facility, but in many
ways, it is also a business.
The school has a budget of more than
$30.1 million this school year, and its facilities are in high demand from the film industry and the local community, which
uses the pool and playing fields regularly.
PaliHi is the largest employer in Pacific
Palisades with about 130 faculty, 60 staff and
8 administrators, who receive more than $23
million or 76.5 percent of this year’s budget
in salaries and benefits, according to the
school budget, which is overseen by Chief
Business Officer Greg Wood. Last school
year, faculty and represented classified staff
received a 5 percent raise, and faculty will receive an additional 3 percent raise this year.
Throughout the school year, each department and program puts together a list
of budget requests. School committees discuss priorities in order to decide how to allocate the school’s money.
“At the end of the day, you know a lot of
people have had a chance to weigh in,” said
Wood, who is a past president and current
executive board member of the Palisades
Chamber of Commerce. “Every priority
can’t be met. Your priority and my priority
might not always agree, but we have enough
people weighing in . . . that the expenses
have been allocated in the best possible way.”
This year, the school has planned to
PaliHi students coming to the first day of school on August 18.
spend $1.6 million on books and supplies
plus another $3.7 million on operating expenses. Math textbooks were a priority. Of
the $419,480 approved for book purchases,
$248,000 will be used for math textbooks.
The school also approved $100,000 for
new furniture, $100,000 for security cameras, $100,000 for computer servers,
$60,000 for a high-end technology classroom, $50,000 for musical instruments,
and $50,000 for computer upgrades.
Like most budgets, PaliHi’s has to flex as
the year progresses and expenses and revenue change. “All of this stuff is being done
Photo: Credit
in a bubble as of May and June,” Wood said,
and the school might need to add classes or
subtract a course when the school year begins. “Best-laid plans happen in June.”
Last year, the school ended with a deficit
of approximately $800,000, due in part to
lower student attendance than budgeted
and also higher utility charges. The shortfall
had to be pulled from its $2 million in reserves. However, Wood said a revised budget
of the current year has found $440,000 to
help replenish the reserves. He hopes to find
a way to recover the deficit by next June.
In order to plan, the school has to estimate
Marquez Knolls Developed by Lachman
By MICHAEL EDLEN
Special to the Palisades News
M
arquez Knolls is a large area of
homes located north of Sunset
Boulevard, beginning about a
half-mile west of Temescal Canyon. There
is a small commercial area where Sunset
and Marquez Avenue intersect at the east
end of Marquez.
The relatively flat section considered as
lower Marquez was originally sub-divided
around 1940, and all five of its streets connect
with Marquez, which is the oldest street
name in Pacific Palisades. The Marquez family were grantees of the Rancho Boca de Santa
Monica, a land grant made in the 1830s from
Santa Monica Canyon to Topanga Canyon.
The lower upslope above Marquez Avenue was first developed between 1953 and
the mid-1960s by Earl Lachman and his
brothers. The higher upslope area is known
for spectacular views and was mostly developed by the Lachmans in the 1960s-1970s,
extending to the top of Bienveneda, Lachman Lane and Charmel Lane. Earl Lachman
took a personal interest in the naming of
streets as he drew on the names of relatives
and business partners, experiences on trips,
and words that were pleasing to the ear.
In the early 1970s, Lachman intended to
build three groups of apartment buildings
around an 18-hole golf course (the Pacific
Palisades Country Club), extending from
Las Pulgas Canyon to Temescal Canyon,
but the project fizzled out when his financial backing fell short of expectations.
Marquez Knolls has many wider properties than areas closer to the Village. This resulted in a lower density of housing and the
possibility of wide mid-century-style ranch.
Marquez Elementary is one of the community’s three charter elementary schools and
for many years has been a reason young
families enjoy living in the area.
Nearly all the upslope Marquez properties have deed restrictions to protect views,
and most included provisions regarding
second stories, and heights of trees. Membership in the homeowners association is
voluntary, and it takes an active role in other
issues such as fire and crime protection.
The area includes about 1,500 homes. In
the 12-month period ending July 31, there
were 52 homes sold, ranging from $1,262,000
on Dulce Ynez Lane to $8,726,250 on Lachman Lane. As of late August, there were 18
Marquez-area homes on the market, asking
between $1,695,000 and $15,900,000.
Technically, although the Bella Oceana
and Ridgeview Estates areas (at the top of
Bienveneda), as well as the section from
Las Pulgas to El Medio (north of Sunset)
are not a part of Marquez Knolls per se,
they all share the same Assessor’s Parcel
and are therefore included in most area
statistics, including those above.
Michael Edlen has been ranked in the top 1
percent of all agents in the country with nearly
$2 billion in sales. He can be reached at (310)
230-7373 or michael@michaeledlen.com.
the average number of students who will
attend school each day, which is the basis of
the main source of the school’s funding.
For the current school year, the estimated
number is that 2,793 out of about 2,960 enrolled students will attend on average, and
this average is multiplied by a per student
allotment of $8,414, for an estimated total
of about $23.5 million in ADA (average
daily attendance) state funding.
The remaining $6.6 million of the budget
revenue stems from a combination of almost $1.2 million in federal funding (special
education, No Child Left Behind, and child
nutrition programs mainly), $4 million
from various state funding [the lottery, a
one-time discretionary grant ($1.6 million), and special education funds ($1.6
million) are the biggest portions], and $1.4
million in local revenue from food sales,
fundraising and mostly leasing and rentals
of the pool and facilities.
This year, PaliHi anticipates $1 million
in revenue from rentals and leases. About
half that figure comes from the pool, which
was installed in 2010. Anticipated operating
expenses for rental facilities of more than
$592,000, plus pool loan repayment fees of
close to $241,000, eat into the revenue, but
still the school expects around $168,000 in
profit, which will partly be used to reimburse a within-school loan used for construction. After this year, the surplus can be
used for maintenance and improving school
facilities, but not salaries or supplies.
“This is definitely a good source for continuing to improve the facility,” said Wood.
“The concept is the money—to the extent
that you have any excess money—should
be used for the same purpose.”
For the 2016-17 school year, the pool
profits should climb to $375,000, and by
2019-20 Wood anticipates that more than
$542,000 will be available for maintenance
and improvements from net pool income.
Wood, who is from the Bay Area, graduated from Fresno State and worked for
Price Waterhouse in Los Angeles. He spent
18 years working for a sanitary supply
company before coming to PaliHi via
ExED, a nonprofit that provides business
support to charter schools.
Wood helped both PaliHi and Granada
Hills made the transition to become fiscally
independent charter schools, and he eventually accepted the job as PaliHi’s chief
business officer.
“My mission is to get the best possible education into the classroom,” Wood said.
“How do we minimize bureaucracy, find the
right levels of cost, things that are inefficient?” He especially enjoys how the school
helps students from around the city. “This
is a campus that can make a difference.”
Page 14
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
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Bryan’s Smile Receives
An Optimist Grant
W
hen Santa Monica dentist
Melanie Gullet accepted a grant
for Bryan’s Smile from the Palisades Optimist Club, she shared a photo
of her handsome, 26-year-old son Bryan,
now deceased.
“He played football, he had friends, he
was just like everyone else,” said Gullet, who
told the Optimists that her son had grown
up in a good home, but somewhere, something had gone wrong, because he died of
an overdose of heroin.
“The ‘not my child’ and the ‘not me’ attitude, along with the lack of knowledge
about addiction and depression, have created a disturbing increase in deaths of
America’s young,” said Gullet, who believes
that the best way to deal with substance
abuse is to prevent it from happening in
the first place.
This past spring Bryan’s Smile, a nonprofit organization started in 2014 by Gullet and Bryan’s brother Casey Dunn, hosted
three programs for parents and students.
The nonprofit uses the Reality Tour®
Drug Prevention program created in 2003
by Norma Norris of Butler, Pennsylvania,
in which participants follow the fate of a
fictitious teen addicted to drugs and include a peer-pressure scene; an arrest and
prison experience; an emergency overdose
scene and a funeral scene.
A narrative by the “addict” precedes
each scene and includes the constant reminder to the audience that “I’m just like
you.” The program was free and each attendee was given a drug-abuse profile to
adopt during the program so he/she can
become familiar with different addictive
drugs and gateway drugs.
“I know there is a problem in this community with drugs,” Gullet told the Optimists. “After the last presentation, a
12-year-old came to me and said he was
going to try and get his friends off drugs.”
Visit: bryanssmile@bryanssmile.com.
Gullet, a Santa Monica resident, is in the
process of setting up dates for future Re-
Page 15
Palisades News
Melanie Gullet
ality Tours.
“Roads to Your Future,” which had its
inaugural year at Palisades High School in
2014-15, also received a grant. The program,
which was founded by Optimist Don Scott,
has expanded from Paul Revere Middle
School to the high school. Prestigious community members are invited to speak to students about various career opportunities.
The award was accepted by Club President Amir Ebtehadj and Vice President
Alicia Abramson, who thanked the Optimists for their continuing support.
A third grant went to ELSA (Experience
Learning Support with Animals). Susan
Lettween-Carr, the founder of the program,
explained that students with special needs
(from mild to severe) are taken to a ranch
and participate in equine-assisted activities.
“Your grant allows them to come to the
ranch and we teach them about halters and
grooming,” Lettween-Carr said.
“Your donation also allows us to hire a
bus for a series of field trips,” said Mary
Bush, director of student support services.
“It has been a successful program and we
cannot begin to tell you how grateful we
are for your support.”
Parent Groups at KI
Forming this Fall
Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack, the co-founders of Sleepy Planet, will offer
parenting groups at Kehillat Israel’s Family Center. The groups at KI are nondenominational and all are welcome. There is free parking under the building.
Groups include:
• First-time moms group (ages 4-9 months)
• Second-time moms group (ages birth through one year)
• Young toddler group (10-15 months)
• Older toddler group (15-23 months)
• Evening parenting group series for parents of preschool age children.
Waldburger and Spivack, a Palisades resident, founded Sleepy Planet in order
to assist families whose children have nighttime or daytime sleep problems. They
also offer private sleep consultations, designed to help the child sleep soundly
and restore balance to the family.
The two have been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show and
the CBS Evening News, and in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
To register, contact Sheri Gerrman (424) 214-7481 or sgerrman@ourKI.org.
Visit: sleepyplanet.com.
Dealey Will Speak
At ‘Food for Thought’
Palisades Presbyterian Church will resume its “Food for Thought” speaker series
on September 24 at 11:30 a.m. in Janes Hall,
off El Medio at Sunset. Reservations are
necessary. Call (310) 454-0366 to reserve
your seat and complimentary lunch (donation only).
The guest speaker will be Dave Dealey,
the son of Commander Samuel David
Dealey USN, who was the first and only
commanding officer of the submarine
USS Harder.
He will speak about his father’s naval career and the famous Harder. Commander
Dealey was one of the most decorated men
of WWII, receiving the Congressional
Medal of Honor (posthumously), four
Navy Crosses, the Silver Star, the Purple
Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Dealey will speak about the many coincidental events and ironies which led up to
the tragic loss of the Harder, with all servicemen aboard, on its sixth and final patrol in August 1944.
A graduate of Santa Monica High School
Commander Samuel Dealey
and UC Berkeley, Dealey is a retired attorney. He is a longtime active member of the
Pacific Palisades Optimist Club, American
Legion Post 283 and served on the Community Council.
g
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Page 16
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
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September 2, 2015
Page 17
Palisades News
Greenfeld to Speak at Rustic and Rivas Creekbed
Library September 17 Cleaning Now Underway
B
ook author and magazine journalist
Karl Taro Greenfeld will talk about
his latest novel, The Subprimes, and
his life as a writer on Thursday, September
17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Palisades Library
community room.
The library’s Third Thursday Speaker
Series is sponsored by the
Pacific Palisades Library
Association and admission is free.
The Subprimes (HarperCollins) is a satirical reimagining of a near-futuristic Pacific Palisades
and America where,
Greenfeld says, “capitalism has gone amuck with
no OSHA, no federal tax,
no FDA, no government
regulation, aggressive super-muscular capitalism,
horrible dystopia and super-wealthy elite.”
The idea for the book stemmed from
thinking about a contemporary version of
John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath—an
“economic and political story of contemporary life in the Palisades and what it’s like
to hold onto economic and social position
in this world that’s trying to pull you
down,” Greenfeld told Palisades News writer Laurel Busby in May.
The Subprimes received good reviews in
the New York Times, NPR (“Swiftian satire
hits close to home”), the San Francisco
Chronicle (“Greenfeld creates characters
that breathe on the page”)
and Booklist.
A Palisades High alum
(1983) who now lives
here in town, Greenfeld
has written one other
novel, Triburbia, and five
nonfiction books, including Boy Alone, a memoir
of growing up with Noah,
his autistic older brother.
Both of his parents,
Josh Greenfeld and Fumiko Kometani, are successful writers. He and
his wife, Silka, have two
daughters: Esmee, a junior at PaliHi, and Lola, an eighth grader at
Paul Revere.
“I’m working on another novel,” Greenfeld told the News, “and doing magazine
work for Harper’s, the Wall Street Journal,
Playboy and Details.”
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Santa Monica Canyon resident George
Wolfberg shared the following community alert:
Los Angeles County Flood Control District will be cleaning out the Rustic and
Rivas creekbeds beginning Monday, August
24. The project is expected to last six weeks.
This is very timely with the anticipated
El Niño rains expected to have an impact on
our local watershed. This is a good time to
look around your property to identify areas
that might be negatively affected by heavy
El Niño rains and take pro-active steps to
protect your family and property. Details of
the maintenance activities are below:
The purpose is to help restore the floodcarrying capacity of the channels prior to
the storm season and to inspect the timber
walls and other structures that have become
covered with vegetation. In addition to removing non-native and invasive vegetation,
native trees will be trimmed and some having an impact on walls and obstructing the
water flow path maybe be removed.
Country crews will work Monday through
Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and possibly on Saturdays, depending on the progress of the clearing operation. The vegetation will be placed in bins at 14476 Rustic
Creek Ln. Once the bins are full, they will be
removed by trucks on an as-needed basis.
Truck drivers have been instructed not to
drive along residential streets before 7 a.m.
Trucks will pick up the bins and exit the
staging area traveling along Rustic Creek
Lane. They will travel east on Sunset Boulevard, then use the 405, 10 and 60 freeways
to reach the Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility in the City of Industry. The
County expects a maximum of eight truck
trips per day, but some days will have limited or no truck activity.
Contact Ron Lacayo Monday-Thursdays, 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (562) 861-0316
(work), (562) 631-6160 (cell) or rlacavo
@dpw.lacounty.gov.
LIBRARY EVENTS
To Live and Dine in
L.A.: Green Juices
The Live and Dine in L.A. series will continue at 3:30 p.m., September 9, at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real Dr.
Acooba Scott, a vegetarian, who has recently transitioned to a vegan diet, is writing The Vegan Survival Guide. She will teach
residents how to get healthy with green
juices, splurge with chocolate smoothies
and how to make a surprise dessert. The
event is free.
The 2015 movie stars Tom Hardy and
Charlize Theron, and is an apocalyptic story
about a world where everyone is crazed
and fighting for the necessities of life.
Two rebels seek to restore order: Max, a
man of action, who seeks peace after the loss
of his wife and child; and Furiosa, who believes she will be able to survive if she makes
it across the desert back to her homeland.
Mysterious Book Club
Meets September 15
The Mysterious Book Club will meet at
6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, at the
Palisades Library community room. Everyone is welcome.
This month’s book is The Bookman’s Tale
The Palisades Branch Library will host its by Charlie Lovett, who has crafted a gripmonthly movie at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, ping literary mystery around Shakespeare’s
September 12, in the community room. plays as well as the cutthroat world of antiThe movie is free to residents.
quarian books.
Free Movie Screening
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September 2, 2015
Page 18
Vandeweghe Key Figure in NBA Office
By LOGAN TAYLOR
Sports Writer
K
iki Vandeweghe’s father, Ernie,
played for the New York Knicks and
his uncle, Mel Hutchins, played for
the Fort Wayne Pistons. His sister, Tauna, a
backstroke swimmer, competed in the 1976
Montreal Olympics, and his niece, Coco,
is a promising young pro on the women’s
tennis tour.
So is it any wonder that Kiki, a Palisades
High graduate (1976), has carved out his
own distinctive career in the sports world?
His latest achievement came in mid-August
when he was promoted to executive VP of
basketball operations for the NBA, headquartered in New York City.
“Kiki is one of the sharpest basketball
minds in the NBA,” said Commissioner
Adam Silver. “In addition to his storied
UCLA and NBA playing career plus his
extensive experience as a general manager,
coach, and TV analyst, he has most recently
helped drive innovations in analytics that are
reshaping the league in areas such as scheduling, game statistics, and player health.”
In an interview with the Palisades News,
Vandeweghe said: “I have been extremely
lucky my whole career and I have really enjoyed each and every thing that I have done.
I really enjoy the position I am in now with
the league office because I feel like I can make
a difference and have made a difference in
basketball. Having said that, I loved playing
basketball. Nothing replaces playing.”
Vandeweghe, a rangy 6’8” forward, was
a standout player at PaliHi, graduating
three years before Chip Engelland (now the
shooting coach for San Antonio since 2005)
and seven years before Steve Kerr, who
coached Golden State to the NBA title this
spring. To this day, they all keep in touch
and see each other often.
After playing four years at UCLA, Vandeweghe was drafted in the first round by
the lowly Dallas Mavericks in 1980, and
traded later in the year to Denver. He played
in the NBA for 13 years with the Nuggets,
Portland, the Knicks and the L.A. Clippers,
averaging 19.7 points a game and playing
in two All-Star games.
Upon retiring in 1993, Vandeweghe had
a front-office job at Dallas and then served
as general manager of Denver (2001-06)
and New Jersey (2008-10). After New Jersey, Vandeweghe spent two years with Fox
Sports West as an analyst and writer covering the Los Angeles Clippers. He then
joined the NBA’s league office in 2013.
In 1995, Vandeweghe married his wife
Peggy and they have a 12-year-old son,
Reece. Peggy and Reece are currently living
in Los Angeles, and Kiki is based in New
Kiki Vandeweghe, a Palisades High School graduate, played on four teams in the NBA,
including the hometown Clippers.
York, but he’s able to travel a lot throughout
the year to visit his family, and as many
teams as he can.
While there is no typical day in the NBA
once the season begins in October, Vandeweghe’s schedule revolves around watching
and studying basketball each and every day.
“Typically we start at about 8:30 a.m.
when we watch games from the previous
night and take care of any issues or problems that might have happened,” Vandeweghe said. “At about 7 p.m. we start watching that night’s games until about 1:30 in
the morning and then it starts all over
again. For someone who likes basketball
and is a fan, it really is a great job.”
When asked what memory from his NBA
playing days stands out, Vandeweghe might
have cited the night he scored 51 points
against Detroit, but he replied: “Probably the
favorite memory for people when they look
back is the first time you step onto an NBA
court and realize, ‘I am actually in the NBA.
I have spent all those years dreaming about
it and suddenly I am here.’ The first time I
started a game in the NBA, I look across the
court and I’m matched up with Dr. J. [Hall
of Famer Julius Irving]. You watch people
growing up and they are your heroes and
then you get to play against them.”
He credits his athletic career for helping
prepare him for his front-office jobs. “Sports
teaches you a variety of things. It teaches
you how to work hard for a goal, how to
set goals, how to be dedicated, and about
teamwork but the most important thing
that you learn is how to come back from
failure. You learn from it, put it behind you,
then use it as motivation to go on and win
the next game.”
Vandeweghe appreciates the mentors he
has had along the way, starting with his father and his uncle, the NBA veterans who
played during the 1950s and passed along
their knowledge of the game.
“I was very lucky at Palisades High School
to have great coaches and great teachers,”
Vandeweghe said. “I had longtime Palisades
resident Jerry Marvin as my coach, and Rose
Gilbert sticks out as one of my teachers. My
perspective on life—what I think is important, how to treat people—is due to these
great mentors I had along the way, including
my parents.” His mother, the former Colleen
Kay Hutchins, was Miss America of 1952.
Vandeweghe enjoys helping children and
giving back to the community. When the
National Basketball Wives Association held
its annual Touching a Life Gala in February,
he received the Trailblazer Award for his
wide range of charitable work by using his
NBA profile and influence.
“I feel giving back is important,” he told
the News. “We are given so much as professional athletes and given so many opportunities that if you do not give back, that
is something lost to the world. If you have
that opportunity, I would encourage anybody to take advantage of that. Although
you think you’re helping other people, you
are really enriching your own life more
than anything.”
One of Vandeweghe’s big initiatives is
kids sports and getting kids involved in
sports. Since the vast majority of athletes do
not reach the professional level, he wants
kids to understand that they can still be in(Continued on Page 19)
Kiki Vandeweghe is now executive VP of NBA basketball operations.
September 2, 2015
Page 19
Palisades News
Vandeweghe
volved in many other aspects of the sport
they love.
“Whether it is high school, college or pro,
I think communicating about having a
mindset that young student athletes make
really good decisions with their lives is important,” Vandeweghe said. “Regardless of
what this decision might be, such as putting
their name into the draft, staying in school,
or deciding earlier in high school how to
properly practice basketball.”
Vandeweghe said he rarely has a chance
to get back to the Palisades, where he grew
up, but when he does return, “good memories come flooding back. I always try to
stop off at one of the local restaurants and
have something to eat, then drive by the
school and look at the places I used to [frequent]. Just great old memories come back
from going to Palisades High.”
As for what is next for Vandeweghe, “I
am big on making a difference,” he said. “I
love what I do and love making a difference
in the game of basketball. If I can make a
difference in the lives of kids, I see myself
doing that.”
During basketball tryouts, players had to complete a six-minute mile.
Photo: Credit
Trying Out for the Team
After 13 years in the NBA, Vandeweghe retired as a player and worked in the front office
and as general manager for several teams.
Palisades High School basketball tryouts
are underway. Last week, 250 students tried
out for slots on the freshman, JV and varsity teams.
“We are impressed by the turnout and
the effort level of the players and look forward to seeing who makes the final cut
this next weekend,” said varsity head
coach Vejas Anaya. “Monday [August 31]
we will keep approximately 60 kids out of
this group.”
Joining Anaya on the coaching staff are
Kris Johnson and Don Zell Hayes. JV coach
is Matthew Jackson, frosh/soph coach is
Dameon Robinson.
During tryouts, in addition to scrimmages, players were asked to complete a
six-minute mile.
When the season begins in December,
key players will be first-team All-Western
league and All-City senior Will Johnson,
junior Ron Artest, sophomore Jeron Artest
and junior Chris Kurihara.
—LOGAN TAYLOR
Ninkey Dalton
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G
TRAVELIN
ON THE
SNOWMAN
TREK
See Page 22
tary
Features and Commen
Circulation: 14,500
• $1.00
rate
n Trails Deterio
Local Mountai
with News,
the Community
2015 Uniting
• September 2,
Vol. 1, No. 21
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
years, local hiking
ver the past few
too crowded
trails have become
repair work, so
on weekends for
weekdays.
have switched to
led
volunteer crews
of the Sierra Club,
When members
at Los
Webster, arrived
by trailmaker Ron morning on July 3,
Leones early Fridayfull and cars extended
was
d. The
the parking lot
to Sunset Boulevar the
down the street
400 people hiking,
low estimate was
O
CAMERAS
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image quality, capturing more details and clearer
images versus competitive options. We monitor and
respond to camera monitoring.
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high 1,000.
built for these crowds,”
“The trails are not
and now
a former dentist
said Jim Kenney,
years ago
who until a few
a photographer
ir crew.
of the trail-repa
are
was a member
hundreds of people
dete“Hundreds and
and the trail has
passing each other
has won
Webster, 81, who
riorated,” said
1974, 1978
Sierra Club (in
awards from the
work.
trail
his
Hiking
and 2012) for
Milt McAuley’s
“Many years ago,
Mountains (1980)
Monica
Santa
Trails of the
went all the
demand that it
was so much in
Kenney said. “Still,
way to a sixth edition,”small number of init reached a relativelybought the book.”
who
of hikers who now
tor
terested hikers
the large number
Parks Trails coordina s
Photo: Jim Kenney
not designed for
California State
as Los Leones, were
asked about Webster’
Mountains, such
Dale Skinner was
.
in the Santa Monica
and Kenney’s concerns of these trailheads
Many of the trails
many
ever-larger numbers.
de“Unfortunately,
use the trail in
popular were not
that have become
volume of traffic
street, do you signed to handle the sheer
we
the
off
“When
come
said.
to
reflects who want
are getting,” Skinner we would be
Newsletter), and
housing for them?” affordable hous- they
Los Leones,
page 1 in Post 283 Tsemberis, who found- have
first developed
enough
weekday and
Sam
“No. There isn’t
we might lucky to see a few cars on a
By SUE PASCOE
the work of Dr.
York City
weekend.
“On any night,
Housing in New
ing,” Maceri said. 20 [at OPCC]. We work maybe 50 cars on the average
Editor
ed Pathways to
to
10
for
big.
is
have space
based on helping Today the visitation
in 1992.
d a survey and
Housing First model on triage. Our priority is
any homeless sovulnerable.”
He promoted the
done
“We recently complete
ousing is core to
disurvey
among people those find housing who are most
a
to
ness
executive
d the numbers
to address homeless
shown
lution,” John Maceri,
addiction
(Ocean Park
that compare he said. “The results have
disabilities and
with psychiatric
Maryam Zar said
rector of OPCC
in 2005,”
ask force chair
in traffic.”
idenexplained to more
.
260) have been
Superus a large increase
Community Center), into the Palisades disorders was simple: provide housing
160 people (not
Topanga Sector
in canyons and
of
squeezed
The idea
Stephen Bylin,
25.
than 80 people
that housing with tified as homeless living
Parks added, “Use
ity room on August in- first, and then combine
intendent for State (Continued on Page 9)
in the areas of hillsides in the Palisades.
the
Library commun
e treatment services
concerns about
that the L.A. housing
Responding to
Pacific supportiv physical health, substance abuse,
Maceri explained
is a dearth of
of homeless in
and
Housing was market is expensive and there
creasing number task force was formed mental
tion and
and employment.
ut
ts because of gentrifica
Palisades, a homeless been exploring ways education apartments scattered througho
apartmen
in
has
the reintegration redevelopment.
last November and who can be abusive, provided
s or
which helped speed
are no incentive
ity.
to deal with people to follow proper pub- the city,
into the commun
Additionally, there to construct lowerback
homeless
of the
meeting
violent or unwilling
hoods
subsidies for builders
last Tuesday’s
A resident at
living here income housing and most neighbor
lic behavior.
with the homeless
we have 260 people
buildings.
The OPCC approachapproach (see story, asked, “If
probdon’t want those
Palisades Commuthe VA
homeless people, MaThe next Pacific
seems to mirror
“If we see 2,000
will be held
will go into housing,”
in
nity Council meeting
ably 250 to 300
on September 10,
ity
decifrom 7 to 9 p.m.
ceri said.
bad public policy
Library commun
the Palisades
He also blamed
homeReal Dr.
for the increased
will
room, 861 Alma
ns were
sions as one reason
an Mike Bonin
mental institutio
When
City Councilm
people
lessness.
will answer questions
1970s-early ‘80s, with
be the guest. He
closed in the late
’ concerns. The
into communities
residents
back
address
turned
there
and
were
would be resources
public is invited.
the idea that there resources were lacking
The
them.
8)
help
Page
to
(Continued on
310.454.7741
15332 Antioch Street, #117 • Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 • Fax: (310) 459-7773
Gates Security Systems – Malibu Patrol – Conejo Valley Patrol – Brentwood Patrol
WWW.GATESSECURITY.COM
H
T
PPCC Hosts
Councilman
Mike Bonin
You can also read this
issue of the Palisades News
(and ALL our previous
issues) on our website.
Go to
www.PalisadesNews.com
for the link.
“The on-line edition of your complete
newspaper is one of the most helpfully
accessible and readable versions I
have ever seen—from either a large
newspaper or small.” —Jeff R.
www.palisadesnews.com
Page 20
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
Dillon Henry Lives through Kintaudi
By LAUREL BUSBY
Staff Writer
T
Board members and former Dillon Henry scholarship recipients celebrated with 2015 PaliHi graduates who were selected to receive
a scholarship. They include (left to right) Daniel Galvez and Anica Armstrong (PaliHi 2015), former PaliHi English teacher Dennis
Danziger (scholarship committee), Marissa Williams, Angelica Rodriquez and Angel Tamayo (PaliHi 2015), Harriet Zaretsky
(Dillon’s mother and board member), David Grinsfelder and Allison Botwinick (PaliHi 2015), Steve Henry (Dillon’s father and
board member), Taylor Henry (Dillon’s sister and board member) and Irvin Kintaudi
(2008 PaliHi graduate).
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he paths of Palisades Charter High
School students Irvin Kintaudi
and Dillon Henry became linked
together due to Henry’s tragic death.
A car accident on Sunset Boulevard
ended Henry’s life on July 6, 2007, just as
he was about to embark on a surfing trip
to Nicaragua before his senior year. Henry
was a thoughtful, compassionate and lively
student who had already begun trying to
improve the world. He was outraged by
human rights violations and thus supported Jewish World Watch Darfur. He also
loved the ocean and established an Ocean
Awareness Club at school. He strove to support abused and neglected children.
“Dillon was so amazing,” said his mother,
Harriet Zaretsky, who lives in Rustic Canyon. “I don’t think there was one person that
he touched that wasn’t blown away by him
. . . He brought out the best in everybody.”
After his death, Zaretsky and Dillon’s father, Steve Henry, chose to continue his
work through the Dillon Henry Foundation. Part of their efforts involved creating
$2,500 scholarships for all four years of college for PaliHi students who also wanted to
make the world a better place. The scholar(Continued on Page 21)
Carly K.
Pacific Palisades
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September 2, 2015
Page 21
Palisades News
Kintaudi
ships began in 2008, which would have
been Henry’s graduating year, and Kintaudi
was one of the first 10 recipients.
For him, the money was vital in his
struggle to earn a college degree, which
eventually led to his current job as a senior
coordinator at DirecTV.
“The Dillon Henry Foundation gave me
a platform to stand up on when I was laying
down and not knowing where I was going
to be,” said Kintaudi, 25, who graduated
from Cal State Los Angeles in 2013 with a
degree in broadcast journalism. “It helped
me through the ups and downs in college—the financial hardships, which I had
a bevy of. These are really caring people.
I’m not sure I would be where I am today
without them.”
At PaliHi, Kintaudi had been an All-City
basketball player who wrote for the school
paper. He knew Henry a little bit—“Everyone knew Dillon,” he said—but they didn’t
have a chance to become friends. Kintaudi
had hoped for a basketball scholarship, but
when that didn’t materialize, paying for college was tough. He has five brothers, whom
his mother, a Congolese registered nurse,
raised mostly by herself and so it was difficult for her to help him. During his college years, his family lost their home, and
that added another difficulty.
In Kintaudi’s sophomore year, the foundation scholarship came just in time to
allow him to keep his apartment and not resort to living in his car. He worked throughout college, including a job as a personal
assistant for Max Kellerman of HBO Boxing, and he also spent time as a production
assistant at Fox Sports, where he worked
full-time in 2012 and 2013, going to work
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with night school
from 6 to 10 p.m. The intense schedule was
a challenge.
“There was a point where I wanted to
drop out of school, but once again the foundation kicked in with the encouragement—
the empowerment that the foundation
gives all the recipients,” Kintaudi said. “It’s
not something you hear or see. You literally
feel it. That’s how Dillon’s spirit lives.”
Henry’s family works to provide sup-
port in varied ways. Through the foundation, Kintaudi traveled to the Democratic
Republic of Congo and Rwanda, which
showed him some of the hardships that so
upset Henry.
“Dillon wanted justice so badly for people at the short end of the stick,” Kintaudi
said. “I felt that I had to do my part in carrying on his legacy.”
Kintaudi also has met influential people, such as House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi, through the foundation. A year ago,
he was dissatisfied with his job, and he
talked to Zaretsky and Henry about it.
“They literally infused me with this energy. It’ll send chills down your back,” he
said. They suggested, “Maybe your character
isn’t correct. Maybe you need to grow some
kind of ego. They told me that I’m here for
a reason, and I need to know that I belong
here.” They helped inspire him to find his
current job, which was a good fit for him.
He works in production management
for The Rich Eisen Show, The Dan Patrick
Show, Red Zone, Fantasy Zone and the
Box Score show. He handles crewing, payroll, and scheduling, and he enjoys the
roller coaster of production work.
“It’s been a great ride at DirecTV,” said
Kintaudi, who plans to continue working
there while earning his master’s degree at
USC in communication management, a
program he started on August 24.
Zaretsky said that she has watched Kintaudi grow stronger over the past seven
years. “He’s a different person now—a lot
Atria Offers
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Irvin Kintaudi is a Dillon Henry
scholarship recipient.
more confident and able to follow his
dreams. It wasn’t always a straight line,
but he persevered.”
He is now on the board of the Dillon
Henry Foundation, so he reads the applications of students vying for scholarships. This
year, he spoke at the ceremony to honor the
new recipients: Anica Armstrong, Alison
Botwinick, Daniel Galvez, David Grinsfelder, Angelica Rodriguez, Angel Tamayo
and Marissa Williams.
“I feel like I time-traveled,” Kintaudi said
about that day. “To look at it now and know
how their lives will be changed makes me
backtrack and reflect . . . I cried after the
ceremony. Had I not gotten the scholarship,
I can’t even fathom where I’d be right now.”
He noted, “Dillon’s going to change the
world from the grave.”
Atria Senior Living, at 15441 Sunset
Blvd. (across from Gelson’s), offers its
programs free to Palisades residents.
Seniors do not have to live at the facility to take advantage of the programs,
but please RSVP to (310) 573-9545.
R&B singer Marion Calhoun performs favorites from Frank Sinatra,
The Temptations and The Platters at
3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10.
Celebrate National Grandparents
Day on Sunday, September 13 from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be refreshments and entertainment. Have a
photo taken with your family. Reservations required.
Rosh Hashanah will be celebrated
10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September
17. Ter Liberstein will lead residents
and guests in song and stories. That
afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Frank Sinatra
impersonator Jimmy Brewster will
perform.
Opera singer Francesca Sola performs on Thursday, September 24 at
3:30 p.m.
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Dillon Henry
Students at Calvary Christian, Canyon,
Marquez and Palisades Elementary can register for their school instrumental music
classes online at: jointheorchestra.com.
Classes will being shortly. For more information contact school orchestra director and Emmy winner Larry Newman at:
schoolmusic@mac.com.
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Palisades News
September 2, 2015
Page 22
Traveling on the Snowman Trek
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
T
he Snowman Trek is considered
one of the most difficult physical
achievements in the world. More
people have scaled Mount Everest than
have completed the 135-mile trail that
travels along the spine of the Himalayas
between Bhutan and Tibet.
Traveling to one of the most inaccessible
places in the world, Palisades High School
health teacher Susan Ackerman made the
attempt last May.
The 24-day hike involves crossing 11
mountain passes—most are 16,000 feet,
with the highest 17,400 feet—and coping
with unpredictable weather, which contributes to the 50 percent failure rate in
completing the trek.
Ackerman, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, became interested in the trek after
reading Kira Salak’s 2007 account in a National Geographic article, “Trekking Bhutan’s Higher Plains.”
A car accident and severe whiplash that
same year prevented Ackerman from pursuing the hike, but the idea never left. It
lurked in her mind as something she needed to try, but there were always reasons to
put it off—namely money and work.
This past year, the slim, athletic woman
decided: No more excuses. “I had to get off
my hamster wheel of mediocrity,” Ackerman said, but that decision left her with
another problem. The only time the Snowman Trek is accessible is May or October,
when school is in session.
She approached PaliHi Principal Dr.
Pam Magee to request a five-week leave.
“She said ‘yes’ so fast, I was sort of stunned,”
said Ackerman, who had prepared a speech
Bhutanese children.
Photo: Steve Tembosso
Susan Ackerman at her first 14,000-foot pass in Bhutan.
and a list of reasons why she should take
time from the classroom.
Raising $9,000 for the trip on a schoolteacher’s salary, as well as purchasing the right
equipment and clothes ($3,000) for a climate
that ranges from steamy forests to frostcovered mountainsides, and could include
sun, rain and snow, was her next obstacle.
“I realized I had to let go. Everything was
out of my comfort zone: money, fitness,
psychology,” Ackerman told the Palisades
News. “I had to jump in and not think
about the fear.”
She had five months to get as fit as she
could in order to walk an average of six to
seven hours a day in extreme altitude. It
didn’t help that she had a bad bone bruise
and had developed plantar fascia.
But she decided, “I was going to go no
matter what,” and started hiking local trails
in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Her first time up one trail took an hour
and 45 minutes. “I thought if I can go up and
down in under three hours, I could do this,”
said Ackerman, who planned her workouts
around teaching. “Four days before I was
set to leave, I accomplished my goal.”
She traveled from from L.A. to Hong
Kong to Bangkok and then to Paro, Bhutan.
The flight into Paro was terrifying, she said,
because of the air currents off the Himalayas and the curvature of the valley.
Although the 1982 PaliHi graduate has
traveled extensively, including two years in
the Peace Corps in Anguilla, her impression of Bhutan was a modern-day ShangriLa that is so isolated and unique it was as
if “you went to the moon.”
Tourism was first allowed in that country in 1974. By 2014, tourists were allowed
only if they were guests of the government
Paro Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest, is a Buddhist temple complex that clings to a cliff.
Photo: Susan Ackerman
or travelers on an approved travel program—and only 133,840 made a visit.
Unlike most modern countries, Bhutan
has rejected gross domestic product as a
way to measure progress. Instead, since
1971, it has championed the spiritual, physical, social and environmental health of its
citizens through the country’s official
“Gross National Happiness” policy.
After two days in a hotel in Paro, Ackerman, Canadian firefighter Steve Tambosso
and Swiss businessman Niki Schmidt, accompanied by a five-man crew, started the
trek, beginning in the jungle. The trail they
followed has been one of the Himalaya’s main
north-south thoroughfares for millennia.
“The trees reminded me of Dr. Seuss
trees,” Ackerman said. As they started to as- Buddha Dordenma is one of the largest
(Continued on Page 23) Buddhas in the world. Photo: Susan Ackerman
September 2, 2015
Page 23
Palisades News
Snowman Trek
cend, the rocky trail was “like a stairway
to hell. If you didn’t have good balance, it
would be dangerous. Some days were rainy
and muddy, and it would be easy to slip
and break a leg or go off a cliff.”
Ackerman, who was the only woman in
the group, said: “I was scared, but I didn’t
show fear.” She started to develop migraines
as they continued up, and when they were
done for the day she would go to her tent
and “fall apart. I didn’t realize how scared I
was, how much my fear was controlling me.”
One night she wrote in her journal, “I’m
not doing this again. What was I thinking?”
And then a blizzard hit.
“I’m used to heat and sand,” she said, admitting the weather made her even more
fearful. She then realized her subconscious
fear was part of what was holding her back.
“I asked myself, ‘What I am freaking out
about?’ Our belief structure makes us think
our fears are real, but they’re not. We’re not
scared of failure, but scared of potential.”
With that self-realization, “something happened. From that day forward, I was a billy
goat. I was Superwoman,” Ackerman said.
“If we believe it, that’s when it can happen.”
She admits that she had another phobia—big waves and rushing water. “Boy, did
I confront those fears,” Ackerman said, describing how they had to cross numerous
wild rivers during the trek.
As they hiked, she realized there was an
Mules crossing a glacier-fed river.
absence of modern sound. “We didn’t see
planes, cars, televisions—there was no electricity. Just birds and the wind. The trek became almost like a walking meditation.”
Hiking in the high altitude, Ackerman
said, “your heart feels like it’s going to explode from your chest and your lungs feel
like they are going to pop. Your legs are
searing for oxygen.” And then, “You supersede, you are in the present, walking, there
is no pain, no nothing. You let it go and
then there is authentic peace and calm.”
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As they walked past villages, Ackerman
said there was nothing of the modern
world, but instead sod homes and yak herders. The hikers were invited into homes and
offered tea; residents seemed content and
happy. “It seems we miss that here, to be
that peacefully calm.”
She visited schools and the children spoke
English. “They stood up when we walked
into the classroom, such a lovely sign of respect,” Ackerman said, noting that teachers
are revered in Bhutan. Kids played and there
were no hand-held devices. It made her realize, “We have lost the sense of community
and how to connect, like I saw in Bhutan.”
On day 14, after the crew had reached
Rodophu (14,026 ft.), the snowy weather
made it impossible to continue the journey.
Ackerman was upset. “But we need to finish,”
she remembers thinking. “I’ve worked a
whole year for this.” Ackerman admits to profound disappointment. “I just felt sadness.”
Then she reflected, “If I had completed the
journey, it would have been a cherry on the
ice cream. But the ice cream was the experience. It’s important to be in the ‘ice cream.’”
Equally important, she said: “If you put
a foot off the hamster wheel, something
miraculous might happen.” She hopes to
bring this message to her students. “If we’re
not making mistakes, we’re not pushing the
envelope enough. Instead of vilifying peo-
Candles burning at Tiger’s Nest.
ple who make mistakes or vilifying ourselves, we need to say it’s not right, it’s not
wrong, but rather what will make a difference—to smooth out problems.”
Will she go back to try the trek again?
“That chapter hasn’t been written yet,”
Ackerman said.
One of Ackerman’s campsites.
Broadway Bound Opens Friday
Broadway Bound, the third part of Neil Simon’s acclaimed autobiographical
trilogy, will open Friday, September 4, and run through October 11 at Pierson
Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd.
The play shows brothers Eugene and Stanley trying to break into the world
of show business as professional comedy writers while coping with their parents’
break-up and eventual divorce. Simon received the 1987 Pulitzer Prize in
Drama for this play.
The Theatre Palisades cast, directed by Sherry Coon, includes DL Corrigan
(Eugene), David Tracq (Stanley), Georgan George (Kate), Caroline Westheimer
(Blanche), Kenneth Steven Bernfield (Jack) and Larry Thaler (Ben).
The play is produced by Martha Hunter and Maria O’Connor. Show times
are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; Sundays at 2 p.m. Adults are $20 and
seniors/students are $18. Free parking. Call (310) 454-1970.
Page 24
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
Redefining Dine LA: The Lunch Club
By BOB VICKREY
Palisades News Contributor
W
hen our group arrived through
the traditional back-door entrance of Musso & Frank’s
Grill and surveyed the dining room, we all
breathed a sigh of relief that there had
been no major changes in the appearance
of the legendary restaurant on Hollywood
Boulevard.
We had called for reservations the previous day and were told that the place had
just reopened after a week of renovations.
I’m happy to report that the vintage Hollywood grill has still maintained the same
atmosphere of its 1919 origins.
Elizabeth Taylor was once asked her
greatest Hollywood fear, and she revealed
her recurring nightmare was that Musso &
Frank’s had changed its outdated wallpaper.
Rest easy, Ms. Taylor; all is well at everyone’s favorite Hollywood grill and watering hole. The floral wallpaper and red vinyl
booths are all still intact.
The restaurant was the third stop for our
newly formed monthly luncheon group to
dine in many of Los Angeles’ oldest restaurants.
It started when our longtime writerfriend Josh Greenfeld said he’d like to visit
Langer’s Deli downtown. It had been
years since any of us had visited the old
Canter’s offers this chocolate chip Danish.
The Misfits (left to right: Arnie Wishnick, Bob Vickrey, Josh Greenfeld and Barry Stein)
are on a lunchtimer’s crusade to dine in as many classic L.A. eateries as they can.
1940’s delicatessen, so we set a date to take
a road trip.
Barry Stein, a local photographer and
the only native Angeleno among us, volunteered to handle the driving. Chamber
of Commerce Executive Director Arnie
Wishnick and I were invited to join the
Langer’s express.
We piled into Barry’s SUV like teenagers
escaping the clutches of our parents’ supervision, and exhibited boyhood excitement
as we embarked on this adventure to 7th
and Alvarado.
Once there, we found the booths at
Langer’s to be a tight squeeze for the four
of us, and questioned if the problem was
our expanding girth or whether smaller
booths were simply the design of another
era. We opted for the latter explanation.
Arnie had already decided to order the
corned beef sandwich he had fondly remembered. When our rather somber waitress came to take our order, Arnie specified
he’d like to have his corned beef “extralean,” and was subsequently told there
would be an extra charge of $3.75. EveryMusso & Frank’s wallpaper and red vinyl one at the table agreed that we had never
booths remained intact after renovation.
heard of an additional cost being tagged
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Ex p e r i e n c e i s a pl u s b u t
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onto the bill for this simple request.
After the waitress left our table, we assumed that if one decided against ordering
the extra-lean cut, Langer’s standing policy
must be to serve the leftover scraps from
the kitchen’s stash of corned beef. Suddenly,
the $3.75 sounded like a fine idea.
We chuckled throughout our meal and
reveled in our inspired choice of restaurants.
Our bill arrived shortly afterward, which
caused a few raised eyebrows around the
table, until we realized that we had ordered
several side dishes, extra drinks, and two
pieces of chocolate cake that appeared to
weigh the equivalent of a small bar-bell.
The group decided before reaching the
parking lot that we should make this roadtrip luncheon a monthly ritual. And thus
began the planning for our next excursion:
Canter’s Deli on Fairfax.
The Deli had originally opened in Boyle
Heights in 1931, but after World War II the
Jewish population of that area moved en
masse to West Hollywood, so the Canter
family followed the influx of Jewish businesses there and opened a second location
in 1946.
We enjoyed a quiet, rather uneventful
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meal there. In fact, when there was a lull
in the conversation at our table, Josh said:
“See, I told you a monthly lunch was too
often; we’ve already run out of subjects to
talk about.” That silence was broken quickly
after conversation shifted to the many treats
at the famous Canter’s bakery counter,
which we planned to visit on our way out.
As the designated token Gentile in the
group, I was schooled that day by my peers
in the traditional pastries offered. Barry
said, “I want to break you in with the chocolate chip Danish, and then if you’re really
daring, add some cream cheese.”
Unfortunately, the Danish never made
it home. I devoured the whole thing in the
back seat on our trip back to the Palisades.
Barry said he was preparing me for
hamantaschen with his favorite poppyseed
filling. “Maybe next trip,” he promised. (I
decided I’d practice saying “hamantaschen”
before that next visit.)
During our ride home, Barry declared:
“Enough of Jewish delis for a while.” I sug(Continued on Page 25)
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Page 25
Palisades News
Langer’s Deli is located downtown at 7th and Alvarado.
Lunch Club
FALL EDITION
Special Section—
October 21, 2015
Place Your Ads NOW in the
Full-Color Pages, Full-Color Ads
Distribution to the entire 90272 Palisades
Community (by US Mail to 13,300 addresses
& 1,200 distribution around town)
Special Section Pricing
(Call for details)
Make your Ad Reservation Today!
Ad Space Reservation Deadline: October 9
Camera-ready Ad Artwork Deadline: October 12
(Ads must be supplied by advertiser)
Contact for Information:
Jeff Ridgway at (310) 401-7692
jridgway@palisadesnews.com
Grace Hiney at (310) 401-7694
gghiney@verizon.net
Jeff Parr at (310) 401-7690
jparr@palisadesnews.com
gested my favorite Los Angeles restaurant,
Musso & Frank’s Grill, and it quickly became our July destination.
The restaurant represented many happy
memories for me after arriving in town in
the late 1970s. As a publisher’s representative, I often visited Pickwick Books on
Hollywood Boulevard to meet with Nick
Clemente, a legendary figure in the book
business who was in charge of advertising,
and he frequently invited me to join him
for lunch at nearby Musso & Frank’s.
Nick was a rather colorful character
and well known in Hollywood circles, and
I recognized many television and movie
stars who often stopped by his back booth
to say hello.
He regaled me with stories about the literary roots of the restaurant’s early days,
and pointed out the booth where William
Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dorothy
Parker met for drinks in the late afternoons.
Raymond Chandler was said to have written
much of The Big Sleep there. Nick pointed
out the pay phone near the back door where
many movie deals had been finalized.
The restaurant symbolized so much of
vintage Hollywood history, you can imagine
our relief to find the place unchanged. Instead of choosing the back entry side and
its famous red vinyl booths, we opted for
the big room with the ornate mahogany
bar. Musso’s traditionally won the yearly
award for mixing L.A.’s best martini.
We studied the huge menu that almost
required an Evelyn Wood speed reading
course to navigate the variety of choices.
We had chosen the wrong day to order their
Thursday special—the chicken pot pie,
which is large enough to feed a family of
five. But choices were no problem here,
ranging from flannel cakes, chicken à la
king, cottage-fried potatoes, and even a
salad that is nothing more than a large
wedge of iceberg lettuce with bleu cheese
dressing, smoked bacon, chives and tomato.
We topped our lunch with Musso’s signature Key lime pie, then decided to walk
the old streets of Hollywood Boulevard.
Hundreds of tourists still lined the sidewalks posing for pictures just as they had
done for decades along the boulevard. We
struggled in our search for the sidewalk star
of former honorary mayor of the Palisades
Peter Graves, until we realized that Barry
had been standing on it. It didn’t require
too long to take in everything, so we called
it a day and headed home.
We needed a name for our merry little
lunch group. Since Jerry Seinfeld has an online show called “Comedians Riding in
Cars with Coffee,” I thought maybe we
could be “Three Jews and a Gentile Riding
in Cars with Hamantaschen.” That moniker
has a certain ring to it, and I can envision it
catching on, but first, I’ll probably need to
learn how to pronounce “hamantaschen.”
Palisadian Bob Vickrey is a writer whose
columns and features appear in several
Southwestern newspapers, including the
Houston Chronicle and the Waco TribuneHerald. He is a regular contributor to the
Boryana Books web site.
Ordering your corned beef “extra lean” at
Langer’s Deli may also cost you extra.
DINING WITH GRACE
Page 26
Palisades News
September 2, 2015
EL CHOLO
1025 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica • (310) 899-1106
H
istory is a great part of this
family of Mexican restaurants,
which began on Western Avenue
in 1923 and expanded to Santa Monica
in 1997. A downtown restaurant opened
near Staples Center in 2010, and there
are three El Cholos in Orange County.
Part of the fun dining at the Santa
Monica location is looking at the
historical photos decorating the walls,
and checking out the old-style fabrics
throughout the restaurant, which features
a popular outdoor patio, bustling interior
bar, ample inside seating and a back area
that features booths that are quieter
than the main restaurant.
Waiters and waitresses are all dressed in Mexican attire,
which adds to the attraction of this restaurant.
After you are seated and order your drink, a margarita
for me and a glass of red wine for my friend, a basket of
chips with a bowl of salsa is served to keep you nibbling
while you check out the menu.
Surveying the menu takes a little time as there are a
number of intriguing dishes, including the famous green
corn tamale served only from May through October. In
fact, I heard someone on the radio suggesting that you
buy these now and freeze them to serve during the winter
holidays. My friend was fascinated by this idea as her
family loves them.
Happily, we were served one of these
special tamales to share. What an
interesting treat it is—light, given a
slightly sweet flavor from the corn off the
cob, with cheddar cheese and an Ortega
chili steamed in its own husk. No wonder
diners have longed for these tamales
since 1923.
I finally decided on the “A Taste of
History” selection (from 1996). This
included a tasty cheese enchilada, a zesty
rolled beef taco along with a chili relleno
and pork tamale, and of course, excellent
Spanish rice and refried beans ($15.25).
My friend’s fish tacos were another
generously portioned plate with grilled Mahi Mahi,
corn tortillas and a bit of crunchy cabbage along with
escabeche (fried fish covered with a spicy marinade),
pico de gallo (a zesty relish) and chipotle aioli (a chili in
a strongly flavored garlic mayonnaise), also served with
rice, black beans and El Cholo’s excellent guacamole
($15.75).
The extensive menu offers a number of small plates
for appetizers or luncheon dishes including soups and
salads, such as a bowl of tortilla soup ($5.95) or Felix’s
Caesar salad ($8.75—a side portion is $5.75).
There are six combination plates such as a cheese
enchilada and rolled beef taco for $11.95. The specials
vary in price from $12.55 for chili con carne to $17.55
for carne asada with Angus New York steak.
Our shared dessert of flan with raspberries and
blueberries was scrumptious and made a perfect finish.
When we departed, the bar looked very busy and was
filled with laughter and a sense of fun.
Valet parking is $5. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m.
daily. Monday through Thursday it closes at 10 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday 11 p.m. and on Sunday 9 p.m.
El Cholo has a private room (the Joe Reina room,
named in honor of the restaurant’s original head chef)
that seats up to 20 people on the main floor and is
ideal for birthday gatherings and other celebrations.
Call manager Mike Mininsky to arrange the details.
— GRACE HINEY
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
Page 27
Page 28
September 2, 2015
Palisades News
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Palisades News September 2, 2015

Transcription

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