Candidates Sought to Serve on the Community Council

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Pacific Palisades is divided into eight areas and representatives are sought from each region to be on the local community council.

Do you want to make changes in the town? Do you have concerns you want voiced? Do you want to experience government at a grassroots level?

The Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) is seeking representatives to serve on its board. Area and At-large Representatives will be the voice of their constituents, bring issues to the PPCC, learn first-hand about policy and land-use topics affecting the Palisades and vote on matters of community-wide interest.

PPCC is an all-volunteer nonprofit, and one of the oldest organizations of its type in L.A. It served as the model for the Neighborhood Council program.

The town is divided into eight areas and a candidate needs to be selected from each area to sit on the board. There is also one at-large candidate that represents the town. The deadline to enter run and download a candidate statement on the PPPCC website is July 28 at 5 p.m. (Visit: Pacpalicc.org)

Voting will take place from August 19 to September 2, and candidates selected will serve two years. Meetings are held twice a month, except for July, August, November and December – and recently have been held over Zoom.

Incumbents are running in Area 2 (Steve Cron), Area 3 (Haldis Toppel), Area 4 (Karen Ridgley) and Area 8 (Reza Akef) and for the At-large seat (Alan Goldsmith).  Incumbents are not running in Areas 1, 5, 6 and 7.  All seats are open, and incumbents can be challenged.

Area Boundaries  (See also the Maps page and PPCC Bylaws & Procedures, Appendix B, Note 4: “In case of a conflict between the map and the descriptions, the map will govern. The descriptions interpret the map.”)

  • Area 1 – Pacific View Estates, Castellammare, Paseo Miramar, and Sunset Blvd. addresses from PCH to Palisades Drive
  • Area 2 – Palisades Highlands and Palisades Drive to Sunset Blvd.
  • Area 3 – Marquez Knolls and Bel Air Bay Club area, north and south of Sunset from east of Palisades Drive to and including Bienveneda
  • Area 4 – North and south of Sunset from east of Bienveneda to Temescal Canyon
  • Area 5 – Alphabet Streets, north of Sunset from east of Temescal Canyon to and including upper Rivas Canyon
  • Area 6 – Via Mesa/Bluffs, Huntington Palisades, south of Sunset from Temescal Canyon to and including Chautauqua Blvd.
  • Area 7 – Rustic, Santa Monica, and lower Rivas Canyons, and the Will Rogers area
  • Area 8 – Riviera section, and south of Sunset to Allenford, and Paul Revere Middle School.

 

 

Posted in General | 5 Comments

Top Prizes Awarded to Three Homes in 4th Decorating Contest

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The Marschall Family residence placed first in the annual home decorating contest.

PHOTOS: MORGAN GENSER

The 4th of July Home Decorating Contest, hosted by Sotheby Agent Susan Montgomery, completed its 11th anniversary in spectacular fashion.

Winning the Grand Prize this year was the Tim and Lisa Marschall home on Altata.

During judging on July 3, a judge noted: “I was impressed by how aesthetically beautiful and tasteful the entire presentation was done.

“We also were impressed by Tim Marschall scaling up onto the roof right before our eyes, to adjust a wind-blown banner and ensure that we got the full effect,” the judge said.

The runner-up this year was the Hassett home on DePauw. (The Hassetts were the winner in 2012 and 2016 and in 2021, won a special award “In this Together.”)

The Marschalls and Hassetts received a banner they can display on their front yard.

The Hassett home on DePauw received the runner-up award this year.

Winner of the Joan Sather Memorial Sponsor’s Award, which is given to a home that employs the use of homemade decorative elements, was the Simon Family on El Medio.

The three top winners will receive gift cards from various vendors: Anawalt Lumber; Ogden Cleaners; Modo Mio, Matthew’s Gift Garden, Café Vida and Casa Nostra gift cards; Palisades Barbershop certificates; and gift items from Black Ink and Denise Carolyn.

 

WINNER: MARSCHALL HOME ON ALTATA

In 2021, the first year the Marschall family entered the annual decorating contest, they secured the runner-up position.

But this year, judges were impressed not only by the extent of the decorations, but the last-minute effort of homeowner Tim, who went to the roof to readjust a banner.

Homeowner Tim Marschall went to the roof to straighten a banner before judging.

The decision was unanimous that this house deserved the top prize.

Tim, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, graduating from Palisades High School in 1983, gives all the credit for the decorations to his wife Lisa. “She is the creator of all our holiday home decorating, inside and out,” he said.

The couple’s two daughters, Heather, 20, and Brittney, 17, who have attended Calvary Christian, Archer and Palisades High School assist, but “Honestly, the captain in charge of the decorating is Lisa,” Tim said, “The girls and I are just there for some part-time help.”

Tim opened TMC General Contractors, Inc./Custom Home Building in 1990 and has been in business more than 30 years, mostly in the Palisades.

A past member of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, he has been involved community events, such as Auto Shows and the Expos. For more than 20 years, Tim was in charge of building Santa’s Sleigh for the Holiday Ho!Ho!Ho!

He purchased his first home, a condominium in 1993, and then later moved to the Marquez area. “I worked my way over to our current home,” Tim said, noting that he built it in 2014.

Lisa, who is originally from San Diego met Tim in 1997, and the couple married two years later.

He was quick to introduce his wife to the Palisades 4th celebration.

It is the most important holiday to us in the Palisades and it’s a tradition that only Pacific Palisades can offer,” Tim said.

Like many who grew up here, Tim, has run the 5/10K Race so many times that “I’ve lost track.”

His daughters started running the race at an early age and carry on the family tradition.

After the race, it is coffee and doughnuts at a neighbor’s house, before getting ready for the parade.

Tim hadn’t missed a parade since the 1960s, and has been in the parade several times as a youngster including as a member of Cub Scout Pack 223 and riding with Kids on Bikes.

More recently, “I’ve been the audio support for The Fancy Feet Dance Studio where my girls have been dancing for several years,” he said.

After the parade, the family heads home for a barbeque and “we wrap up just in time to load everyone up and make our way to the fireworks at Palisades High.

“Nobody does the 4th of July better than Pacific Palisades,” Tim said.

 

JOAN SATHER MEMORIAL SPONSOR WINNER:                        SIMON HOUSE ON EL MEDIO

The Simon House on El Medio won the Joan Sather Award.

The Sather award is given in honor of the long-time contest sponsor Joan Sather, who passed away in March. Her husband Kent suggested that all donations in her memory be made to Palisades Americanism Parade Association.

Kent remembers that Joan loved how entire families would join in decorating their homes. “She appreciated homes that showed the family’s input and had “Homespun” décor.”

The El Medio home not only had handmade décor, but the entire family participated.

Judges said, “we were certainly were impressed by the amount of time and effort it took for the homeowners to handcraft the garlands, and how they used them as a metaphor for the service members who serve to protect our freedoms.”

Homeowner Jessica Rogers said, “My daughter Elea wanted to enter the contest.  We wanted a project that we could all participate in.

“At first I suggested we repaint the house red, white and blue but David said he would not have it and the kids laughed at me,” said Rogers, who has served on the board of the Pacific Palisades Resident Association, and who served as the Association’s president for two years before stepping down in January.

The family, Joshua, 11 and Elea, 8 and Roger’s significant other [David] Hauser, wanted something that would be visible that would cover a lot of the house. That’s when the family came up with the idea of garland.

Hours and hours of work of cutting and sorting, resulted in more than 300 feet of garland. The children cut and sorted the ribbons, Rogers tied the knots—and all added special prayers before David installed them. “We loved the end result,” Rogers said. “The planning and prayer garland took about a week to construct.”

Rogers moved to the Palisades in the summer of 2008 and has lived on El Medio for 12 years.

“We love living in Pacific Palisades,” she said and noted that the family is extremely grateful for every Palisadian who has given of their time to this beautiful community.  “From the hiking trails, the Village Green, the multiple spiritual homes, the incredible schools, the friendly businesses, to the women’s center, the Pacific Palisades is pure heart, and we are proud to call it home.”

The family has decorated the house for more than a decade, but this was the first time they entered the contest.

Rogers said, “Decorating for the 4th of July is our way to show appreciation for our country.  Many have fought to preserve our freedoms and what we stand for as Americans.

“Decorating our house is a healthy way for the community to come together and celebrate something we all believe in,” Rogers said. “Reminding ourselves where we came from and what we stand for helps us never forget how important it is to continue to appreciate and respect our foundation.  It is always from our foundation that we can continue to build solid ground. In these shaky times, remembering our solid ground is our strength.”

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

14814 Sunset – Nina and Joe Almarez (this year’s parade marshal and a 2011 Home Decorating winner), who received a Taj Palace gift certificate.

1348 Almafi – Elise Dorne, who received a gift certificate to Viktor Benes Bakery.

1129 Kagawa – Bev Lowe and John Riley (2014 and 2020 Home Decorating winners), who received a certificate to Pearl Dragon.

10 Copra Lane – Christy Vaughn – received a gift basket with a hand-painted planter and hand towels.

731 Via de la Paz – Lorena Robletto and Dr. Thomas Farnham (2019 Home Decorating Contest winner) – received champagne, courtesy Susan Montgomery.

 

 

Posted in Holidays, Real Estate | Leave a comment

Myth or Fact: Affordable Housing in Pacific Palisades

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The Palisades Bowl mobile home community in Pacific Palisades, along Pacific Coast Highway  is considered affordable housing.

Myth Busters Episode #1

One of my son’s favorite television shows when he was little was Mythbusters. Each episode focused on popular beliefs, Internet rumors or other myths. The cast would examine each myth and then either confirm or debunk it.

Circling the News is now offering its own series “Myth Busters B.S.”

At a City Council meeting on June 24, Councilman Mike Bonin rued the fact he had not been able to get affordable housing in Pacific Palisades.

Is it a FACT or B.S. that there is no affordable housing in the Palisades?

A reader wrote, “I recall that when the self-righteous people on the City Planning Commission considered the Jack in the Box project during a so-called hearing, they made the same observation about the lack of affordable housing in the Palisades that Mr. Bonin has now stated.  I believe that some people later said that the apartment complex at the foot of Palisades Drive across from the shopping strip was affordable housing that was created as part of the trade-offs in getting the Highlands development approved many years earlier.”

Another reader wrote, “There are 100 city-controlled low to moderate income housing in the in Palisades since 1988 [base of Palisades Drive]. Why is this an unknown or ignored fact?”

In addition to the 100 affordable housing units at the base of Palisades Drive, there are three mobile home parks, all considered low-income and all governed by the Mellow Act, which was adopted by the state of California in 1982 to preserve the overall number of residential dwelling and affordable units within the Coastal Zone. The most recent challenge to the act was in 2010, when the owner of the Palisades Bowl Mobile Home sought to change the property from rentals to ownership.

At Palisades Bowl, a 170-unit park, the land is owned by Edward Biggs and leases are protected under rent control (Mobile Home Residency laws can be found at hcd.ca.gov).

In 2015, the L.A. City Council requested that City Planning prepare a permanent ordinance that implemented the state Mellow Act (No. 15-0129-S1). A draft document was released in December 2019.

Tahitian Terrace, which was built above PCH and Temescal Canyon in 1963, has about 250 homes, all under rent control. According to one source, the average annual increase is about three percent.

At Malibu Village above PCH (south of Sunset), the owners of the 29 homes own the land and their mobile homes. They pay property tax, but no rent.

Total number of affordable units in Pacific Palisades 549.

Bonin’s claim of “no affordable” housing?

The Claim is B.S.

 

 

Posted in * Fact or B.S. | 6 Comments

Village Green President Marge Gold Addresses Optimists

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Village Green park under construction. A gas station that had been located at the site and the underground tanks were removed.

Village Green Board President Marge Gold spoke about the history of  the Green at an Optimist breakfast meeting on June 21 at the Palisades Presbyterian Church.

Gold said that one of the most asked questions about the little pocket park is “Who owns the park?”

Many residents assume the green land at the intersection of Sunset, Swarthmore Antioch is City property. Gold explained that the “Village Green Board, a nonprofit, owns the park.”

The Village Green committee had thought they would turn it over to the City of Los Angeles after it was completed because of projected maintenance costs but decided to keep it.

“It looks better than some City Parks,” Gold noted.

Initially the land was created as a park that faced this historic Business Block building “the pink building that’s now white,” she said.

That park land was converted to a Standard Service station in 1945. Gold showed Optimists a photo that proclaimed gas was 36 cents a gallon, which brought groans, since the cheapest gas in town is now more than $6 a gallon.

In 1972, Standard Oil decided not to renew its lease. The newly organized Pacific Palisades Community Council established a five-member Village Green Committee and signed a lease giving the committee an option to buy the land — if it could raise the necessary funds. Starting in October that year, nearly $70,000 was raised. About $46,000 was used to purchase the land and the rest of the money went to park development.

The Palisades Village Green was certified as a California nonprofit and formally dedicated on August 17, 1973.

Several Optimists were integral to the parks founding, including Wally Miller and Tom McKiernan.

There are currently 10 members on the board and Bob Gold serves as budget advisor. He told Optimist the annual budget from October 1 to September 30 is about $24,000.

Annually, they pay about $3,000 to DWP, $3,300 for gardeners, $1,500 for insurance, $1,600 for fountain upkeep and $7,000 to take care of the trees.  Rodent removal (the Green uses a company, Veratech, that uses live traps – not poison) is $1,700, landscaping is $1,000 and trash pickup is $3,600.

Bob said that costs have gone up because vendor costs have gone up. The nonprofit receives money from grants from local groups and from major donors such as the American Legion and Almalfi Founder Anthony Marguleas. Individual donations are welcomed.  Residents who would like to become board members, can also go to the website for information. Visit: palisadesvillagegreen.org.

If an organization wants to use the Green, they must receive permission from the Board. Upcoming events at the Village Green will be an Allied Artists Art Show on July 17, and on July 23, Marguleas is orchestrating a “Chalk Fest.”

Village Green after it was first planted. Cars are traveling on Sunset Boulevard.

The Village Green today continues to be a private park maintained with donations.

Posted in Parks | Leave a comment

The 45th Annual 5/10K Race Brings Surprises and Familiar Faces

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The 45th Annual 5/10K Will Rogers saw nearly 2,200 runners.

The 5/10K Will Rogers Race returned this year nearly equaling the 2019 event and its 2,342 runners.

Organizers Thomas Hathaway and James Klein were told by the timing company that most of the races in the state, post Covid, have averaged about a 70 percent participation rate to prior years.

Expecting about 1,700 runners for the 45th Annual Race, organizers were thrilled that the Palisades community outdid that with 2,186 runners –  and that didn’t include the 327 who entered the Kids Fun Run.

Hathaway and Klein gave a huge shout out to the community for its support in the annual 4th of July nonprofit race that was founded in 1978.  Money after expenses goes to Palisades Optimist Club, which not only supports education and treatment centers for juvenile offenders and at-risk children, but also gives grants to local nonprofits that benefit youth.

On July 3, Los Angeles City, which in two years, still hasn’t moved trash from handicapped parking spaces in the Westchester Park, nor stopped illegal camping along the environmentally sensitive Ballona Wetlands, stepped by for a surprise inspection of the Palisades race set up.

“We passed,” Klein said. “The credit goes to Thomas for his incredibly accurate sketch/outline of the scaffoldings.”

The morning of the race started sunny, but by the 8:15 a.m. start, a light cloud cover kept it cool for runners. After a thrilling rendition of the National Anthem by resident Kate Hassett, the runners were off.

5K

Jake Ratkovich won the 5K and set a new record for this course.

Over the years, the course length of the 5K has varied, but starting in 2015, the course was certified by the USATF.

Andrew Bland has held onto the fastest time (15:48), until this year.

Jake Ratkovich was first (15:43) breaking Bland’s record by five seconds.  Max Fields,16, was second (16:01) and Henry Payne, 18, was third (16:30).

In 2019, the winning time was 16:49 by Evan Hassman—all three top finishers this year beat that time.

Ratkovich, 17, is a rising senior at Loyola High School. He’s on the cross-country team and also runs track, with the 1600 meters his race of choice. In the 4th of July race, he held a 5:03 minute mile pace.

A Hancock Park resident, Ratkovich came to the Palisades specifically to help the Loyola team take the Lemen High School Trophy, which they did this year.

The Lemen High School Run coincides with the 5K race. Student runners from local high schools run under their school’s name and compete for the team trophy. The fastest three individual times are added to determine the winner.

The first year of the competition in 2019, Palisades High edged out Loyola by just 53 total seconds. This year it appears that Loyola has taken the trophy that is named after late Dick Lemen, a longtime Palisadian and a track coach at Palisades High for many years. He was also a member of the Ridge Runners, the band of about 20 local runners who originated the Will Rogers Run in 1978.

Darby Green was first female finisher in the 5K race.

Darby Green, 20, (19:46) was top female finisher in the 5K.  Second was Phoebe Benun, 15, (19:55) and third was Lizzie Walker, 15, (20:46). The fastest time on this course was in 2017, when Regina Lopez ran 17:54. In 2019, Natalie Gigg was first with a time of 18:39.

Green, a Georgetown University student, graduated from Palisades High School, in 2020. She also was a top swimmer in freestyle and backstroke at Pali. She is working as a lifeguard at Will Rogers State Beach this summer, and had the Fourth off, which allowed her to run in the 5K.

She hasn’t run a lot of 5K races, and remembers doing a 5K in Pasadena, but called the Will Rogers Run, “More fun.”

10K

The 10K race can be grueling with the switchbacks on Mile 4 going up the back entrance to Will Rogers State Park. In 2012, the 10K course was realigned and measured to USATF, which lengthened it by about 475 feet.

In 2014, Tonny Okello ran the 10K in 31.21. The top three finishers this year were Shane Brouwer, 25, (33:08), William Makinen, 22, (35:19) and James Lubinski, 43 (35:39). Brouwer held a 5:20 minute per mile pace.

Brouwer was an outstanding Palisades High School athlete, and also ran cross country for Santa Monica College.

On June 5, he won the Ventura Mountain to Beach Marathon with a time of 2:27:23, but explained that they hadn’t measured the course accurately and he ended up running an extra half mile. “It was brutal,” Brouwer said.

After Pali, he attended SMC for two years, before deciding he wanted something more concrete in life and attended a trade school. He now works for the City of Glendale with high voltage switching.

His ultimate goal with running is “I’d like to make the Olympic trials at some point.”

He also works part-time as a lifeguard for the County, and after the race was headed to the beach to see if he’d be assigned to Venice, Will Rogers or Santa Monica beach for the July 4th holiday.

 

Sarah Bentley, 20, was first female to cross the finish line in the 10K with a time of  41.23. Charlotte Kane, 36, (43.2) was second and Nell Stephenson, 47, (45:12) was third.

Bentley, also a Palisades High School athlete, held a 6:40 minute per mile pace. She attends MIT where she runs cross country and track. She’s working in Seattle this summer and came back for the weekend, and entered the race.

She said her coach wants the athletes to train this summer and this provided a great opportunity. This course has hills on miles 2, 4, and 6, and Bentley said, “I tried to go fast on the downhill and chill on the uphill.”

The 10K race record for females, since the course realignment, was set by Kaitlyn Peale in 2018 (36.19).

At 9:30, Sierra Solum sang the National Anthem beautifully to start the Kids Fun Run. The kids sprinted the half mile course that ended at the 5K Race finish line.

Sierra Solum received applause after singing the National Anthem to start the Kids Fun Run.

Awards were handed out at 10 a.m. for the different age groups and those results can be found on the website (palisades4th.com).

This year’s race sponsors included: Saint John’s Health Center, the Cynthia L. & William E. Simon Jr. Foundation, Farmers Insurance, Kennedy Wilson, Laura Brau Estates, The Agency, Will Rogers Ranch Foundation, Ronald Reagan American Legion Post 283 and the Jordan Kaplan Family.

Pure determination helps motor this little star in the Kids Fun Run.

Posted in Holidays, Sports | 2 Comments

Palisades Americanism Parade Association Letter

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

PALISADES AMERICANISM PARADE ASSOCIATION MESSAGE

 

July 5, 2022

 

Dear Neighbors,

As Palisadians readied to celebrate the independence of our nation this July 4ᵗʰ at our 74ᵗʰ annual Parade, I was alerted to the tragic events that had just taken place in Highland Park, Illinois. As the details unfolded, we immediately engaged with our LAPD partners assigned to the Parade and redoubled our efforts to ensure that our community was protected during our July 4ᵗʰ events.

The Highland Park, Illinois community and its July 4ᵗʰ parade are so similar to ours that one cannot help but feel a deep sense of connection and loss. As their parade proceeded down their main street, yet another act of gun violence shattered a community and reminded us that these tragic events can and do happen in every corner of America. It’s difficult to put into words the confusion, anger, and vulnerability we feel. My hope is that by coming together year-after-year to successfully celebrate our collective values and strengths, we remind our national leaders of the importance of public celebrations and the urgency in putting an end to this violence.

Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all those impacted in Highland Park. Please know that the safety and security of all those who spend their July 4ᵗʰ holiday with us, guide our decision-making before, during and after every annual Parade and Fireworks & Music Show. We thank all our community of volunteers, partners, police officers and firefighters, as well as our Parade and Fireworks Show attendees, for joining us each year.

 

 

Matthew Rodman, President
Palisades Americanism Parade Association

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Barak Ballet’s Showcases Dance Premiere

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Barack dancers perform “Carry Me Anew,” a piece by Ma Cong, in a premiere in 2019. The dancers will perform the piece on July 9 and 10.
Photo: Cheryl Mann

Barak Ballet returns to the Board Theater in Santa Monica on July 9 and 10. The phenomenal dance company will feature a world premiere by Artistic Director Melissa Barak.

In a 2018 L.A. Times story (“The Guide to Dance in L.A.: 12 Standout Companies to Know”) it was noted, “The ballets of Los Angeles native Melissa Barak exhibit the style and energy of George Balanchine and the New York City Ballet, where Barak performed.”

The company has received rave reviews, such as this one in 2019 in the L.A. Dance Chronicle “Barak Ballet astonished the audience with their individual and combined brilliance made up of artist with superior technical and emotional talent.”

Barak’s inspiration for choreography comes from music and “it’s also the dancers themselves and their unique gifts.”

She said qualities she looks for in dancers is athleticism, musicality, sensuality and intelligence.

Barak said people love watching ballet because “it’s a visual art form that encompasses a wide spectrum of creativity, so inspiration is never in short supply.”

Melissa Barak is the artistic director of Barak Ballet.
Photo: Jin Lee

At this July show, “I will be premiering a new work to music by Michael Nyman,” Barak said. “I love this music, it’s so fun and uplifting and I feel that’s a vibe we desperately need at the moment given the past couple years.”

Barak was eight years old when she began dancing at Westside Ballet in Santa Monica.

She decided on her future career, “once I started to train at Westside and began performing in their annual productions.”

Exceptionally talented, at the age of 17, she continued her dancing in New York City at the School of American Ballet.

Two years later, she was offered a contract with the New York City Ballet, where she danced from 1998 to 2007.

Barak was asked about the difference between the dance scene in the two major cities.

“When I moved to New York City, I discovered people frequented the ballet – sometimes weekly—and even nightly,” Barak said. “I was floored. Dance culture is a real thing in New York.”

While with the New York City Ballet, she danced Fairy Carabosse from Sleeping Beauty, Coffee from the Nutcracker, and Russian pas de deux from Swan Lake.

Barak was invited by the director of the New York City Ballet Peter Martins, to participate in the inaugural NY Choreographic Institute.

Martins was so impressed with her piece, that he commissioned her to choreograph a ballet for American Ballet workshop performance, and Barak’s piece “Telemann Overture Suite,” was critically acclaimed.

That success let Martins to ask Barak, 22, for another piece, this time for the company.

When Barak heard that Los Angeles Ballet was starting in 2006, “It really piqued my interest. I thought it would be a great opportunity to join a burgeoning ballet company in my beloved hometown.”

She returned to Los Angeles and its new ballet company in 2007, and danced lead roles in Balanchine’s Serenade, Kammermusik No. 2, and Stravinsky Violin Concerto. 

Even as she continued to dance, her choreography was in demand. She created new works for Richmond Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, National Choreographer’s Initiative, and several New York Choreographic Institutes.

In 2009 and 2010, she was invited to return to the New York City Ballet where she created two more works, A Simple Symphony and Call Me Ben.

Barak started her company in March 2013 because, “I wanted to embark on a vision I always had for ballet.”

She wanted to promote culture where “dancers were part of the creative process, not just mere bodies or material. A company that wasn’t cookie cutter, where individuality was celebrated.”

She decided on the name Barak Ballet, because “I like my last name. I felt Barak Ballet had a good ring to it.”
It was a highly successfully start and Barak was named as a L.A. Times “Face to Watch” in 2013 and 2014.

Shows are Saturday, July 9, at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. at the Broad Stage SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica. For tickets visit: barakballet.org.

Posted in Arts | Leave a comment

Westchester Residents Continue to Feel Effects of Bad Policy

Posted on July 5, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The Westchester Municipal Building, which houses Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office is being surrounded with fencing. This editor asked a workman on July 5 why they were putting up barbed wire and he said “to keep the homeless out.” 

(The June 30 letter was sent to Councilmember Mike Bonin and cc’d to Circling the News and the Westside Current.)

Just this week, we have had two more incidents in Westchester Park involving a dangerous homeless man approaching children.

A tennis patron told me on Tuesday that a homeless man with a blanket wrapped around him walked onto the tennis court at Westchester Park that day while a female tennis pro was giving lessons to four 12-year-old girls, and he started “talking about sexual things.”

He said “[A]ll these young girls want me to f*ck them. I keep telling them I’m homeless and I have nothing to offer and they want to f*ck me.” He continued talking like that while the tennis pro worked to get him off the court. The incident occurred at about 10:30 in the morning.

The man left after being confronted by the female tennis pro (former military), who basically backed him off the court. Reportedly, no call was made to police because, reportedly, when incidents like this have happened before, by the time police arrive the perpetrator has left, and nothing happens.

The man was described as being about 6’4″, with a full beard. He is Caucasian with some Arabic descent, perhaps. He is about 30 years of age. A witness said she had seen the same man in Santa Monica in the past, and he confronted her there.

On Tuesday, the very next day, a similar incident happened at about 4 p.m. It appears, based on description, that it involved the same man. This time he jumped over the fence (the short fence between the walkway and the tennis court) onto the court of a female tennis pro giving lessons to girls, saying he wanted to do something with one of the girls. The tennis pro called LAPD, and they responded quickly. However, by the time they arrived, he had run out the back entrance and was gone.

Just a couple weeks ago, a homeless woman confronted the woman who manages the tennis courts, who is 70+ years of age and who uses a walker.

The homeless woman screamed and yelled at the older woman for some time and grabbed the older woman’s clipboard. A female tennis pro who is former military ran the aid of the older woman and confronted the homeless woman and made her leave after a long confrontation. The homeless woman was found sleeping near the courts at about 7 a.m. a day or two later when the older woman went to work early.

Parents of children who play at the tennis courts are alarmed and frightened, as are members of our community. LAPD is taking this very seriously, but they do not have the sworn staff to post officers at the tennis courts during the hours the courts are open.

Once again, we demand security at the tennis courts, and at the other facilities at the park as well. There have been well over 100 incidents, and possibly several hundred incidents, involving homeless people exposing themselves to children, following children, harassing children, yelling at children, attacking children in the restrooms, injecting drugs in the presence of children, urinating on the tennis courts while children are on the courts, claiming that children at the park are their own and demanding that parents turn them over to the homeless person.

It amounts to reckless endangerment of the lives and safety of children for you to refuse to provide security for children’s activities at the park, while it is completely within your power and discretion to do so. These children are being subjected to danger.

Our community is outraged by the fact that you have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire full-time security for your office in the park and to fortify your office in the park with tall fences and cameras while ignoring the hundreds of requests for security for the children, and also for the seniors.

We, as a community, demand that you provide the same security for the tennis courts, the children’s playground, the recreation pool, the ballfields, and the senior center. We demand that this security be commenced immediately.

 

Posted in Councilman Mike Bonin, Homelessness | 1 Comment

FINALLY. June 7 Election Will Be Certified July 5

Posted on July 2, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Seven of the eight candidates for Council District 11 participated in the forum held by Westside Current and Circling the News in April.

Those who stayed up late on June 7 to see the final election tally for the California State primaries were disappointed because the results trickled out over the next month.

Now, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors will declare the election officially concluded on July 5.

As late as June 29, there were still 6,491 votes that had to be processed.

Those outstanding ballots, most of which were vote-by-mail ballots (VBM), were still going through a verification process or “pending signature curing.”

Signature curing is a process in which the registrar identifies VBM ballots with signature problems and sends letters to voters to let them know they have to “cure” those problems.”

Of the 6,491 outstanding votes all but 11, were VBM, and all were waiting for “curing” before they could be counted.

On Friday July 1, L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk confirmed that 1,619,797 or 28.46 percent of L.A. County residents had voted in the primary.

For the Mayor’s race, Karen Bass had 278,511 votes to Rick Caruso’s 232,490 votes (43 percent to 36 percent).

The City Attorney Race shows Faisal Gill in the lead with 137,554 votes (24.23 percent), Hydee Feldstein Soto and Marina Torres were second and third with 112,978 and 112, 842 votes – a 136 vote difference.

The L.A. City Controller position, which oversees the City’s monies, will pit progressive Kenneth Mejia with 240,374 votes (and 43 percent) against termed-out Councilmember Paul Koretz 131,921 votes (and 23.67 percent).

In the 11th Council District, where Councilman Mike Bonin said he was not running again because he needed to work on his mental health, candidates Erin Darling and Traci Park will square off. Darling had 34.67 percent of the vote (22,939) to Traci Park ‘s 28.97 percent (19,168). Pacific Palisades resident Allison Holdorff Polhill was fourth with 8.77 percent (5,805).

In the L.A. County Supervisor race to replace Sheila Kuehl, who is retiring, Bob Hertzberg captured 31 percent with 105,923 votes, Lindsey Horvath had 27.72 percent and 94,528 votes and Stern had 24.31 percent and 82,852 votes. Hertzberg and Horvath will face off in November.

In the L.A. County Sheriff’s race, Alex Villanueva had 30.66 percent of the vote with 454,556, and Robert Luna had 25.85 percent with 383,181 votes. Eric Strong was third with 232,274 votes or 15.67 percent.

LAUSD School Board member Nick Melvoin held his seat with 59.81 percent of the vote (82,696). His closest opponent was Tracey Schroeder with 26 percent of the vote (36,377).

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Alan Eisenstock’s Playlist: More Lies

Posted on July 2, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s note: Palisadian Alan Eisenstock’s 20th book, “Fierce Love,” came out May 3. He wrote it with Sonya Curry, the mom of NBA Legend Stephen Curry click here.

When Eisenstock is not writing, he pursues what he calls “a crazy labor of love side project” that he started in March 2020: sending a weekly Covid-themed playlist of songs to his family and friends. These playlists, which can be downloaded on Spotify, click here,  span rock ‘n’ roll and pop music from the 1950s to 2020, and Eisenstock adds one or two lines of commentary about each song that is clever, amusing and informative.)

 

 

Hi, Everyone,

This week,Covid cases continued to rise, but at least testimony at the January 6 hearings has shown The Big Lie for what it is: a Big Lie. What to do? Idea. Here is our second “lies,” “truth,” “honesty” and “trust me” playlist. Listen up!

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  1. “Lies” The Knickerbockers. Rock band formed in Bergenfield, New Jersey, trying to sound like The Beatles. This was their biggest hit, written by Beau Charles and Buddy Randell, in 1965. The song has been often covered, most notably by Linda Ronstadt.
  2. “True To Myself” Ziggy Marley. David Nesta Marley, son of Bob, wrote this catchy tune in 2003, from his album Dragonfly. His father nicknamed him “Ziggy,” referring to a little spliff (marijuana cigarette).
  3. “Trust Me” Janis Joplin. The pride of Port Arthur, Texas. Janis recorded this Bobby Womack song in 1970 just before her death at age 27 from a heroin overdose. A fairly obscure Janis song, it appears on her album Pearl. LOVE.
  4. “True Love Ways” Buddy Holly. Buddy, from Lubbock, Texas, became one of the most influential singer-songwriters in rock music. This 1958 hit was later covered by British duo Peter and Gordon and became an even bigger hit. Buddy died in a plane crash when he was 22.
  5. “Lies” Eric Clapton, John Mayer. Britisher Clapton, Fairfield, CT’s John Mayer–two blues and guitar mavens–combine on this scorching 1972 J.J. Cale song. “You told me this, you told me that… lies, lies, lies.”
  6. “Lies Of Summer” Aimee Mann. Richmond, VA-born and educated at Berklee College of Music in Boston. I’m crazy for this singer-songwriter. This stunner is from her album Mental Illness. The album won a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2017.
  7. “Lies Of A Lonely Friend” Amos Lee. A schoolteacher turned singer-songwriter, Ryan Anthony Massaro changed his name to Amos Lee because everyone mispronounced his last name. Here’s a good 2005 “lie” song to fit our playlist.
  8. “Lies” Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova. Irish folk singer Hansard quit school at 13 and began busking on the Dublin streets. Eventually, he formed the group The Frames and met up with Marketa Irglova. They became The Swell Season and co-wrote and co-starred in the musical Once, in which this song appears. LOVE.
  9. “Lies” The Rolling Stones. One of the most raucous Rolling Stones’ songs ever about a young man who’s fed up with his girlfriend’s lying and cheating. From 1978 and the album Some Girls. Gritty. Loud.
  10. “Truth And Honesty” Aretha Franklin. “The Queen of Soul” belts out this Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Allen composition from 1981. Nothing like an Aretha cover to stir up some truth.
  11. “The Weight Of Lies” The Avett Brothers. Scott and Seth Avett from Concord, North Carolina form the core of this tremendous band of brothers. There’s something about siblings being able to harmonize beautifully with each other. LOVE.
  12. “Fake Empire” The National. Here are two sets of brothers–Aaron and Bryce Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, along with lead singer Matt Berninger, making up my favorite band. Originally from Cincinnati. This song’s title says it all. LOVE.
  13. “La-La-La-Lies” The Who. The British invade our playlist with this Pete Townshend song from their first album My Generation. I just did some scary math. Pete wrote this in 1965 — 57 years ago.
  14. “Lies” The Black Keys. Our fifth song on the playlist with the same title: “Lies.” Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney make up this rock duo, which sounds much fuller than just a guitarist and a drummer. This mournful song comes from their 2008 album Attack & Release, produced by Danger Mouse.
  15. “Don’t Lie” Black Eyed Peas. A rappers’ collective led by will.i.am. I promise this 2005 song will get you up and moving. Justin Timberlake is an honorary member of the group, appearing on several of the band’s songs.
  16. “Rebellion (Lies)” Arcade Fire. We end with this Montreal indie rock collective led by husband and wife Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. This rocker from their 2004 album Funeral may be the band’s biggest hit.

And there you have it, enough “lies” for two complete playlists. Some advice:

Don’t Forget To Disinfect and… PLAY IT LOUD!!!!

The link again:  click here.

 

Fact Check

Bob Marley did name his son Ziggy after a tiny marijuana joint. Nice.

 

LAST WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

In all “Honesty,” Billy Joel beat The Monkees.

THIS WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

“Lies” by The Knickerbockers or “True Love Ways” by Buddy Holly. Who you got?

 

 

To tell you the truth, next week, no more lying. Meanwhile, Happy July 4th! Stay safe, stay sane, stay healthy.

Until next week,

 

Alan Eisenstock

Thanks,

Alan

alaneisenstock.com

 

 

Posted in Music | 2 Comments