Saturday Rec Center Bathroom Closures Causes Problems

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Bathrooms were closed at the Rec Center on Saturday. They were reopened on Sunday. There are two narrow stalls in the women’s bathroom. There is no room for a wheelchair or a stroller.

A reader wrote on Saturday, April 30, around 2 p.m. “I was just at the rec center. It’s at full capacity with every field covered in little leaguers, gyms full of basketball players returning to the rec center for the first time in years, and every tennis court occupied.”

The reader noted there was a major problem because all of the bathrooms at the center were closed for construction.

“Fine, progress requires some tradeoffs,” the reader said. “But what was the park’s contingency plan for the thousand people that have natural needs? Surely porta potties you say, right? No. Go walk alllll the way back to the library. Brilliant. I am sure the 8-year-olds playing baseball can make it that far.”

The reader asked the person at the table in the big gym about the lack of facilities and was told, “The crew had to turn them off [the pipes/water] for construction work.”

At the Rec Center on Monday, CTN learned that porta-potties had been ordered, but the company had never delivered them.

Circling the News sent an email to L.A. Rec and Parks General Manager Michael Shull who wrote in a May 2 email “signage and temp bathrooms were ordered, but neither happened.”

Shull wrote that there were “no excuses” for the lack of facilities.

Rec Center employees said the construction workers noticed there were no porta potties and worked extra hours, so they could finish the job that day. On Sunday, the bathrooms were reopened.

The bathrooms at the Palisades Rec Center are not ADA accessible and there have been prior issues with plumbing. At the last Pacific Palisades Park Advisory Board, members asked the City if the bathroom problem could be addressed soon.

Posted in Community, Kids/Parenting, Parks | Leave a comment

“Outside the Box” Mother’s Day Gifts

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

MEMBERSHIP TO THE WOMAN’S CLUB:

Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club crew worked concessions at the Genesis golf tournament.

If your mom has everything, including all the clothes, jewelry, candy and household items, she’s ever wanted, it means that selecting something for a Mother’s Day gift could present a problem.

Those with parents in Pacific Palisades, might consider a membership to one of the town’s fine nonprofit philanthropic organizations, such as the Woman’s Club.

Founded in 1925 as The Forum, the club joined the federal and state Federation of Woman’s Clubs in 1926 and the name was officially changed to the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club.

As the organization grew, divided into two clubs in 1935, the Junior Women’s Club and the Woman’s Club, and then merged back to one in 2012, the commitment to the Palisades Community as remained as a driving force.

Through philanthropic efforts, the club had funded more than a million dollars to nonprofits, public and private schools, local fire stations, and hosted numerous community events including the 90^th Birthday Party, free influenza vaccinations, tai chi, yoga, classes, lectures, rummage sales and holiday boutiques.

The club is accepting new members for the upcoming PPCW year, which runs from April 1 through March 31, 2023. Membership is $125.

Member and long-time resident Nancy Niles said, “This would be a perfect Mother’s Day gift for the special women in your life.”

Visit: theppwc.com or call (310) 745-6400.

ART, CARDS AND HAND-PAINTED GIFTS:

Pink Dream
Art by Mary Kinzelberg

Resident and artist Mary Kinzelberg has original hand-painted gifts, such as note cards, journals, greeting cards and, of course, paintings that would make perfect gifts for mom, step-moms, grandmas, mother-in-laws – or just treat yourself

“Spring is here!” Kinzelberg said. “I’m showcasing my newest abstract expressionism flower art. With a background in landscape design, I love to paint florals.”

Visit: www.marykinzelberg.com

TOMATO PLANTS FOR MOM:

Free Tomato Seedlings will be given away on Mother’s Day, May 8, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Village Green. Volunteers Betsy Collins and Cindy Kirven will be handing out plants, until they are gone.

Collins said, “I have 48 plants growing now and growing instructions will be included with each seedling.” Envelopes will be available if someone wants to make a donation to the Village Green, but “there is NO obligation to donate,” said Collins, who notes that they have been giving out the plants the last few years, but this year they are later than usual because it has been cooler at night than normal for this time of year.

“We hope to see much of the community take part,” said Collins, who has grown the plants from seed. “I love to grow plants.”

Visit: palisadesvillagegreen.org.

Posted in Holidays | Leave a comment

Seven Arrows Opens Aldersgate’s Doors to Community for Centennial Celebration

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The historic Aldersgate Lodge will be open to the community on May 7.

Seven Arrows Elementary will open its doors at its location at the historic Aldersgate, 925 Haverford Avenue, from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 7.

“We are excited to continue the tradition of community service that began with the Chautauqua spirit as Seven Arrows humbly stewards Aldersgate into the town’s second century,” Head of School Margarita Pagliai said. “The school is proud to partner with the Pacific Palisades Historical Society in the Centennial Celebration.”

The house was built in 1892 in downtown Los Angeles. It has a Craftsman-style interior, with a Mission Revival-style exterior.

Purchased for $3,000 by the First Methodist Episcopal Church in 1927, it was to be used for a men’s group “We Boys” and for a woman’s group “Jesus Our Companion.”

In 1928, the house was cut in half and moved by truck and mule teams on a three-day trek across Los Angeles to Haverford Avenue.

When the house arrived across from Founder’s Oak, the owners spent $5,600 on remodeling and decorating.

In the late 1960s, the building was donated to the United Methodist Conference Board, and in the 1970s it was turned over to the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Major renovations were done in the late 1980’s, and the Buerge Chapel and Meditation Garden were added on the lot adjacent to the house in the 1990’s.

Aldersgate was designated a Historic Cultural Monument by the City of Los Angeles in 2008.

In the fall of 2021, Aldersgate was purchased by Seven Arrows, an independent kindergarten through sixth grade Los Angeles-based elementary.

The house will be open for self-guided tours. The community will also be able to view the historical photo and artifact exhibition donated by Randy Young from the Clearwater Collection.

Family activities will take place at the outdoor space and feature the Ultimate Recycling Machine, a hands-on experience for children that combines engineering, collaboration, and sustainability.

Children will also be able to enjoy the outdoor makerspace activity where they can make and take home their creation using the principles of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). STEAM and makerspace activities will be geared towards children ages 3-16.

In addition to the Open House and community activities, Seven Arrows will be engaging in conservation projects with partner nonprofits, and also celebrating the Chumash/Tongva people and the Spanish settlers: the Marquez, Carillo and Reyes families.

There will be activities for kids and the family at Aldersgate.

Posted in Holidays, Kids/Parenting | Leave a comment

PAPA Seeks a Fourth of July Theme

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The Palisades Americanism Parade Association is seeking a theme for the 2022 Parade.

Themes need to be short, ideally, three-to-four word phrases (see the winners below). Enter more than once if you can’t decide which of your creative efforts is best.

The deadline for submitting a theme is Thursday, May 12, at noon.

If you win, the PAPA publication (which will be mailed to every address in Pacific Palisades) will include a feature about you and how you came up with the theme. We encourage families to submit themes.

Visit: Palisades4th.com and click on the link to enter a theme. If you prefer to email, send to [email protected].

Prior Parade Themes 2002 to 2021

(Editor’s note: two themes were found: Small Town, Big Spirit and Stars, Stripes and Spirit – but were not paired with a year. Maybe a reader will remember when they were chosen?)

2002: Hail to Flag and Country

2003: Faithful and True to the Red, White and Blue

2004: Celebrating those who served so honorably.

2005: Remembering America’s Heritage

(Missing themes from 2006, 2007 and 2008 –readers?)

2009: Pacific Palisades Celebrates Those Who Served Honorably

2010: Small Town, Big Heart

2011: Red, White and Palisades Blue

2012: Home is Pacific Palisades on the Fourth of July

2013: Waves of Freedom

2014: Star-Spangled Palisades

2015; Palisades Parade: Pride! Passion! Patriotism!

2016: Independence Day—the Palisades Way.

2017: Palisades on Parade

2018: Palisades Parade – 70 Years of Cheers

2019: May the 4^th Be with You

2020: Celebrating a Different Kind of 4th

2021: The Sparkle Returns

Posted in Holidays | Leave a comment

Some In-Person Events Resuming in May

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

May 3 – Optimist Club to Meet

Optimist Club President Naidu Permaul wrote “After more than two years of meeting by zoom, the Pacific Palisades Optimist Club happily announces it will resume its in-person breakfast meetings starting at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3rd at the Presbyterian Church.

The club, whose motto is “Friend of Youth,” annually works the 5/10K Fourth of July Race, marches in the parade, hosts a community-wide track meet for youth and annually gives grants to nonprofits, welcomes new members. If you want to find out more, email: [email protected].

May 3 – Rotary Club to Meet

Pacific Palisades Rotary Club will hold its luncheon meeting at 12:30 at Modo Mio, 15200 Sunset Blvd. The speaker will be Dr. Fred Moss, who will talk on the topic “How to Get Your True Voice into the Room and Be Applauded for It.”

Women are invited to attend the wellness event “Think Pink.”

May 4 – Think Pink

The Irene Dunne Guild, a support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, created “Think Pink” more than 17 years ago as a way of educating women on important health issues. This year the annual event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, at the Upper Bel Air Bay Club. Contact Esther Espinoza at [email protected] or (310) 829-8262.

May 5 – Line Dancing at the Rec Center:

After a hiatus of more than two years, line dancing is returning to the Palisades. Starting on Thursday, May 5, the class will take place in the big gym at the Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Dr. The class meets every Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Beginners are welcome. Line dancing is a sociable activity that provides great exercise for the mind and body. For more information please call (310) 795-4650.

May 7 – Historical Society Celebrates Towns 100^th Birthday

Free event at Simon Meadow from1 to 3 p.m., registration is a must. (visit: pacificpalisadeshistory.org)

Historic Aldersgate, located at 925 Haverford Avenue, will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. The site of Seven Arrows Elementary School, there will be self-guided tours and family activities.

May 8 – Mother’s Day and Free Tomato Giveaway

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Alan Eisenstock’s Playlist: Come Fly with Me

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s note: Palisadian Alan Eisenstock’s 20^th book, will come out on May 3. He wrote it with Sonya Curry, Stephen’s mom.

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,

First, an announcement. My latest book, FIERCE LOVE, written with the extraordinary Sonya Curry (mother of Steph, Seth, & Sydel), comes out this coming TUESDAY, MAY 3, just in time for Mother’s Day.

Kirkus Reviews called it: “A memoir from the resolute matriarch of a tight knit, dynamic family… strength and candor mark this brisk, heartfelt story of faith, resilience, and of course, basketball.”

Thank you, Kirkus. If you want to purchase the book, here’s the Amazon link:

Fierce Love: A Memoir of Family, Faith, and Purpose: Curry, Sonya: click here.

And now to the playlist.

Last week, a federal judge in Florida reversed the federal mandate requiring masks on airplanes. Wow. What a big win–for COVID! What to do? Idea. Here are 18 “flying” and “plane” songs. Listen up!

“Come Fly with Me” Frank Sinatra. “The Chairman of the Board” is in top form with the title song from his 14th studio album, this one from 1958. Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen wrote our leadoff “flying” song. Snapping my fingers, donning a fedora.
“The Letter” The Box Tops. Blue-eyed soul band formed in Memphis, led by gruff-voiced lead singer Alex Chilton. This 1967 song written by Wayne Carson was their biggest hit. Opens with the perfect lyric for our playlist: “Give me a ticket for an airplane.”
“Jet” Wings. Paul McCartney formed Wings with, among others, his wife Linda on keyboards and former Moody Blues member Denny Laine on guitar. This cool 1973 hit song comes from Band on the Run.
“Eight Miles High” The Byrds. An original song written by Byrds David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, and Gene Clark. Rock critics called this 1966 hit the first bona fide psychedelic rock song.
“Leaving on A Jet Plane” Peter, Paul & Mary. Folksingers extraordinaire and my favorites. The trio recorded this song in 1969, written by their friend John Denver. The song became their only #1 hit. LOVE.
“Jet Airliner” Steve Miller Band. Formed in San Francisco, early members included Boz Scaggs. This bluesy/rocker was written by Paul Pena, recorded in 1973. Steve, born in Milwaukee, is 78 and still going strong.
“Learning to Fly” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Love these guys. Tom and Jeff Lynne, formerly of ELO, co-wrote this song in 1991. Jeff sings and plays on the song. Not one of the more famous Petty songs, but the man could really write.
“Rocket Man” Elton John. One of two Elton songs on the playlist. This big 1972 hit, co-written with Bernie Taupin, comes from Elton’s fantastic album, Honky Chateau. Several artists have covered the song, most notoriously William Shatner in a spoken-word, unintentionally hilarious version.
“In the Aeroplane Over The Sea” Neutral Milk Hotel. Jeff Mangum formed this band in Ruston, LA. The band, one of the darlings of the indie movement of the nineties, attracted a cult following. This 1998 song from the album of the same name is perhaps the band’s most famous song. The group disbanded in 2015 and Jeff has sort of disappeared.
“To Live Is to Fly” Townes Van Zandt. Born in Fort Worth, TX, Townes is considered a country legend. Critics call several of his songs masterpieces, including this one from the early 1970s. Born into a wealthy family, Townes suffered a lifetime of alcohol and drug addiction. He claimed that he wrote this song “entirely in his sleep.”
“Fly Away” Lenny Kravitz. Funk, rock, soul, Lenny covers it all. He wrote this big hit in 1998, from his fifth studio album, which he named, subtly, 5. Apropos of nothing, Lenny’s middle name is Albert.
“Big Jet Plane” Angus & Julia Stone. Brother and sister folk duo from Australia. This is one of their biggest hits, from 2009. I’ve been trying to find a playlist that fits them for two years. Finally. LOVE.
“Learning to Fly” Pink Floyd. Roger Waters and Syd Barrett had left the group, but David Gilmour remained and wrote this great 1987 song about flying.Apparently, Gilmour loved flying, had his pilot’s license. This is a favorite song from this British progressive rock group. LOVE.
“Paper Airplane” Alison Krauss & Union Station. Bluegrass queen and fiddler, Krauss and her band Union Station recorded this 2011 song from the album of the same name. She and Robert Plant have become partners both musically, and then romantically, for a short time.
“Hold That Plane” Buddy Guy. Louisiana blues stud, George “Buddy” Guy recorded this song, again from the album of the same name. Buddy had poor luck with record companies. He recorded this album in 1969 but it wasn’t released until three years later. Sneaking in a blues song for sil.
“Oviedo” Blind Pilot. Alt-folk band from Oregon that began as a duo. The main guy, Israel Nebeker, wrote this song from their 2008 album 3 Rounds and A Sound. Oviedo is a town in Spain and in Florida. I’ve never been.
“(Ghost) Riders in The Sky” Johnny Cash. Not exactly a “flying” song–the lyric tells of ghostly cattle–but close enough. I love “The Man in Black’s” cover best. I was tempted to go with Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, or, gulp, Lawrence Welk’s instrumental version.
“Take Me to The Pilot” Elton John. Lord Elton again, ends the flying playlist with this 1970 hit, the B-side of “Your Song.” For those of you missing “Sky Pilot” by Eric Burdon & The Animals, sorry.

And that concludes this week’s high flying playlist… a favorite. Some advice:

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

The link again: click here.

Fact Check

William Shatner did cover “Rocket Man.” It’s hilarious, though not on purpose.

Townes Van Zandt did say that he wrote “To Live Is To Fly” in his sleep.

I cannot imagine “Ghost Riders in The Sky” by Lawrence Welk, but he recorded it.

LAST WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

“Norwegian Wood” flew past “Blackbird” and the other “Bird” song by The Beatles that got zero votes.

THIS WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

Elton versus Elton: “Rocket Man” or “Take Me To The Pilot.” Who you got?

Until next week,

Thanks for listening, reading, and supporting my book writing habit.

Alan Eisenstock

Alan

alaneisenstock.com

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Gardening without Gas-Powered Blowers

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Pacific Palisades former honorary co-mayor Janice Crystal advocating for cleaner air by eschewing gas-powered blowers.

The Pacific Palisades Garden Club will host its monthly meeting tomorrow, May 2, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The speaker will be Sheda Morshed of Resilient Palisades, a nonprofit based in town that works with issues that affect the environment. Her topic will be “Gas-Free Gardens.”

Morshed will explain that the leading source of smog in California is not cars but gas-powered gardening equipment. When people or gardeners blow debris from gardens with gas-powered equipment, they are actually creating highway-level pollutant levels in the backyard.

Those emissions can contain heavy metals and carcinogens that don’t simply float away – they land around the neighborhood, on picnic tables, lawns and into pet’s water bowls.

A more sustainable way of garden maintenance is to ditch the gas-powered tools and use a combination of hand and battery/electric equipment.

Many hired gardeners may not do this on their own and this is where residents can help by starting the conversation about “ditching” the gas. The EPA has deemed gas-powered gardening equipment a “public health concern,” so why are they still used in town?

To receive the Zoom link, visit: pacpalgardenclub.org.

Posted in Environmental | Leave a comment

Sharon Kilbride/Bruce Schwartz Undertake Massive Cleanup

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The campsite was filled with bags and bags of discarded material that needed to be cleared.

It sounded like it would be a simple task.

Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness co-president Sharon Kilbride and a member of the volunteer response team, Bruce Schwartz, invited this Circling the News editor to join them in cleaning out an encampment in Temescal Gateway Park below Rimmer Avenue on April 27.

The LAPD Beach detail had reported that the campsite was deserted, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy had asked for the PPTFH’s help.

The instructions were to meet at 7:45 a.m. by the gift shop.

Three members of the SMMC rangers met Schwartz, Kilbride and this editor.

Both pickups were driven on the road past the swimming pool to the three small classrooms on the land past the pool, and below Rimmer. A locked gate was opened, and the vehicles driven to the end of the road.

Then, it was about a quarter mile walk on a narrow trail, that wound back in the hills. It is a lush, pretty area that hikers generally don’t access, because of the locked gate by the buildings. Although, it is possible to go up the hill slightly to go around the fence to enter the area.

Walking single file, the rangers walked up a slight hill, followed by Schwartz, Kilbride and myself. On the small natural shelf that contained the camp garbage/bags and clothing were everywhere.

A short distance up another hill there was another 10 large black bags, filled with items. And then another 20 yards above that, there were even more bags.

Kilbride and I started tossing/hauling bags down from the higher areas to the lower campsite as the others started hauling the trash from that site the quarter of mile back to the pickups.

Then we started a relay system. Kilbride and I would carry it the first 100 yards, and the men would take it from there. Chairs, containers, recycled cans, discarded clothing – and bags and bags of garbage were hauled out.

Two of the rangers took a 2 by 4 piece of wood, tied two bags together, and threw them over the wood. They repeated the process several times, put the wood on their shoulders and then carried out eight bags at once.

To reach the campsite was about a quarter of a mile through a meadow and then on a narrow trail by the hillside.

All were sweating at the continuous process of lifting, hauling and carrying heavy bags.

Finally, all three areas were cleaned, and two pickup beds were filled with trash.

The trash from the campsite filled the back of two pickup trucks.

Trucks were driven back into Temescal Park, and all of the “stuff” went into a dumpster, filling it full. It took six people almost an hour and a half to clear this illegal campsite.

Kilbride reminds everyone, if you see anyone camping, especially in high fire severity zones, to report it immediately.

(Editor’s note: CTN has helped clean up campsites along Temescal Canyon Road and below the Via de las Olas bluffs, but this lone campsite, filling two pickup beds, was one of the worst environmental hazards to date.)

After the trash was removed, this is how the parkland looked.

Posted in Homelessness | 10 Comments

Palisades Park Board Meets New Director: Discusses Upgrades

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Photographer Rich Schmidt speaks to new park director Jasmine Dowlatshahi by the fence that causes pedestrians to walk on an uphill path instead of a sidewalk.

The new park director Jasmine Dowlatshahi was introduced to the Park Advisory Board at its quarterly meeting on April 20, held on Zoom. There were about 23 participants in attendance, including members of the Park Board. Chair Mike Skinner was absent, but PAB Member Bob Benton ran the meeting.

Dowlatshahi has been a park director for 22 years and prior to that worked with Rec and Parks for 10 years. She brings a wealth of experience, having worked at 10 different parks during her career. She announced that many new classes will be up and running starting May 1.

The classes include everything from ballet storybook (Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 for six- to eight-year-olds) to top chefs (Tuesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. six- to 12-year-olds) to badminton (big gym on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.) to pickleball club (inside the big gym on Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). For class options and cost, visit: click here.

Darryl Ford, Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) Superintendent, said he was looking at facility upgrades, which included the playground, which is not handicapped accessible and hasn’t been updated since 1986.

Residents had asked if the City could look at the lighting at the tennis courts, which also have never been updated. New focused lighting on a timer could stop some of the light pollution that shines into neighboring homes.

“Staff has been out to look at them and we’ll work on a scope of work and a cost to upgrade them,” Ford said.

PAB member Maryam Zar said, “Thank you for sending out someone to look at the lights.” She asked it if would be helpful if suggestions were made to the City about lighting.

“We have staff,” Ford said, “but if you have suggestions send them over.”

PAB member Rick McGeagh said that rec center bathroom remodels were desperately needed, especially since “the bathrooms are not ADA compliant.”

Ford said he was unaware of the bathrooms.

“They’ve been on our list for more than 20 years,” McGeagh said.

“I’ll follow up on that,” Ford said.

Rec and Park employees were asked about the parking lot. “Is there an estimate about when the fence will come down?” Zar asked. Currently, a portion of the parking lot is fenced off, and patrons walk on a hill by the fence, which PAB members say is dangerous.

“That would be a Bureau of Engineering project,” Ford said.

RAP Assistant General Manager Jimmy Kim said that the department is looking at funding to convert one of the tennis courts to a pickleball court. “If the court is entirely redone, it would be $18,000,” Kim said. “If we just paint it, that would be $5,000.”

PAB Member Lynn Hyland said that there are about $75,000 in Quimby funds that could be used.

Rick McGeagh said, “We need ADA compliant restrooms as soon as possible.”

“Absolutely,” Kim said and noted that any Quimby funds, would have to come out of the Councilman Mike Bonin’s office.

PAB members wanted to know what the plan was for Potrero Park, would there be rangers?

“We’re hiring,” Kim said, “we don’t have a full force of rangers right now.” It seems that the duty for Potrero might also fall to the Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer and to LAPD.

There is money in the Community Center Committee fund totaling about $20,000 and Benton said, “We could spend that on something this board approves.”

There is about $2,027 in the Kurt Toppel Fund; $518 in the Teen Council fund; $261 in the LAPD Substation fund; $2,677 in the small gym (basketball) fund; $7,355 in the Rec Center Account; and $7,387 in the Think rink.

The Kurt Topper funds were restricted to something to be used for Volleyball.

Park Director Dowlatshahi said a second scoreboard is needed in the big gym, and also, she would like volleyball equipment: poles, nets and balls.

A special meeting may need to be called, so that the scoreboard and volleyball, and pickleball court could be agenized and the board able to vote on the use of the money.

Friends Street resident Jeffrey Spitz said during public comment that he was worried about the impact of the park, without an exit or an entrance at the Pacific Coast Highway end. He said that current plans were not approved by the Coastal Commission.

“We’ll get back to you,” Kim said.

There was a discussion about possibly holding PAB meetings more often than quarterly.

Posted in Parks | Leave a comment

The Death of a Tree

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

For three days, the branches were cut, the sawing was incessant. Finally, all that was left was the stump, which was pulled and ground into the woodchippers, too.

The tree had been in front of the house on Radcliffe Street, since we had moved here in 1994. The tree had probably been here long before that. It had never been trimmed.

It was with sadness as I watched the big, beautiful branches taken down. I’m sure the neighbors had to deal with roots and leaves and the early morning shade, but the death of anything is sad.

I thought of Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees” and felt despondent.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Even as more and more people build lot line to lot line, I wonder if they realize their health and the health of the Earth depends on plants and trees.

Posted in Environmental | 6 Comments

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