NEW BUSINESS: SoNeighborly Takes Care of Home Maintenance

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Frank Renfro is the owner of SoNeighborly.

Palisadian Frank Renfro started a new company in January that residents ought to know about.

No, it’s not another sexy yoga clothing store, nor a tchotchke shop or even a hot-stone massage parlor, instead, Renfro has something every resident can probably use – a home maintenance concierge service – SoNeighborly.

The concept is simple, a resident signs up for the monthly maintenance service, and once a month an expert comes to a home and will take care of all the tasks that go undone—and could eventually lead to bigger maintenance problems.

Some residents might say, “I need you to clean gutters or can you mount a television, or can you move this heavy piece of furniture,” and Renfro or his maintenance staff will take care of that, too.

“I call them honey-do items,” Renfro said, noting that for a person who has elderly parents and who lives out of town, this is an essential service. Light bulbs can be changed, slow moving drains attended to and even yard work dealt with. “Seniors might not have the energy.”

He also says this business is perfect for couples with kids—especially if both parents work. “They might want to do other things than worrying about plumbing,” Renfro said, noting that he and wife Marisa have two small children and Marisa runs her own company Get Casa Mia (getcasamia.com). He understands first hand how difficult it can be in a busy household to find a last-minute electrician.

He said that so many of the younger generation have never fixed anything and would have no idea how to start. It seems that everyone calls a tradesperson when there is a problem in the residence.

Additionally, “I have a vetted network of insured licensed contractors for various trades,” said Renfro, who grew up in Dallas and fell in love with his wife, who is from Long Beach.

She agreed to try life in Dallas, where Renfro was working in health care and then trucking. He promised to move to California if she didn’t fall in love with Texas. They couple moved to California in 2017, and to the Palisades in 2021.

Renfro, who graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin with a degree in international relations and studied abroad in Venezuela and Costa Rica, said “There’s a lot of opportunity in the home maintenance business, the industry is so fragmented.”

He explained that so many businesses have trouble finding help because people quit to start their own companies, but yet others return, and – all companies are having trouble finding tradespeople. “We’re reliable,” he said about SoNeighborly, “and we vet the contractors.”

He said by having a monthly maintenance service, “we keep an eye on things and notice possible issues, such as, ‘this is about to break, so we should fix it before it becomes a problem.”

SoNeighborly might be helpful to dual-income households, overwhelmed seniors, second homeowners and traveling executives. “I’m saving you the time and the hassle,” Renfro said.

Visit: soneighborly.com.

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Palisades Forestry Committee Announces First Tree Planting

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Hartzell Street parkway has large sections where there are no trees. That will change on March 24.

The Palisades Forestry Committee (PFC) will plant 13 street trees on Thursday, March 24, in designated treeless spaces in the parkway along Hartzell Street, between Sunset and Bestor Boulevards.

Two species (Mondell Pine and Arbutus ‘Marina’) have been approved by L.A. City’s Urban Forestry Division for the parkway. Individual homeowners have pledged to water their tree regularly for at least three years, until the tree’s roots are established.

City Plants, a program supported by the L.A. Department of Water and Power, has arranged for L.A. Conservation Corps to do the actual planting starting at 9 a.m. The trees will be free and are planted at no cost to the homeowner.

“I am very excited to celebrate the planting of trees along Hartzell, which was the first test street for the committee in establishing a community outreach plan,” said Cindy Wilkinson Kirven, Chair of the PFC. “One of the many charming benefits of residing in Pacific Palisades is having the ability to live and walk along tree-lined streets. For me, trees have magical powers in cleaning our air, boosting our mental health, providing vital habitat for our feathered and furry neighbors, and providing cooling shade.

“I am very grateful for the neighbors who sign up to receive and care for these free street trees provided by the City, as well as for the volunteers at PFC and PPCC who facilitate the community outreach,” Kirven said.

After Hartzell, the PFC, a committee of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, will facilitate a planting day along Via de la Paz (from Bestor to Via de las Olas), where homeowners can also receive a free tree.

PFC will soon be canvasing the Via de la Paz neighbors, knocking on doors to explain the program and encourage signups.

As part of the town’s Centennial celebration this year, the committee hopes to plant “100 Trees for 100 Years,” in residential neighborhoods, the Palisades Rec Center park and other parks in Pacific Palisades.

The first of these trees, a Coast Live Oak, was planted on Founders Oak Island on January 14, the town’s official birthday, in conjunction with the Historical Society.

This volunteer committee is also working with the Department of Recreation & Parks (RAP) and tree donors (including PPCC) to facilitate the planting of new trees at the Palisades Recreation Center.

To receive a tree, receive more information or to volunteer, email: [email protected].

(Editor’s note: the Forestry committee was first formed in 2019, under the late PPCC President George Wolfberg’s leadership.)

Randy Young holds the Oak Tree, while Barbara Kohn throws in the first shovel of dirt. Looking on is Ed Lowe. The oak was the first of 100 trees to be planted this year.

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Pianist Petronel Malan Featured in Concert at St. Matthew’s

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Pianist Petronel Malan will perform at St. Matthew’s.

 

St. Matthew’s Music Guild presents pianist Petronel Malan in concert on Friday, March 25, at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. The program will feature music of Mozart, Liszt, Florence Price and Scarlatti.

New York reviewer Harris Goldsmith calls Malan’s playing “formidable…dizzying…magical.”

Lauded as an unmistakably creative force in the classical music industry, Malan’s critical acclaim culminated in the nomination of three Grammy® Awards, including “Best Instrumental Solo Album” for her debut disc Transfigured Bach.

Petronel maintains a full performance schedule as recitalist, orchestral soloist and chamber musician in major venues throughout the world.

Born in South Africa, Malan began lessons with her mother at age four. She debuted with the Johannesburg Symphony at age ten and subsequently won all major national competitions, before moving to the United States.

She completed her graduate degrees at the University of North Texas and her career was launched following five gold medals at international piano competitions in the United States.

Competitions included the Louise McMahon, Missouri Southern, Los Angeles Liszt “Budapest Concert” and Hilton Head International Piano Competitions. She also garnered the grand prize in the Web Concert Hall Competition (2000) and gold medals in the Grace Welsh Piano Competition and the Young Texas Artist Award.

Although residing in the United States, Malan continues to have strong ties to her native South Africa and received the “Rapport/City Press Prestige Award” as one of the “10 Most Inspirational Women in South Africa.”

Apart from a love for vintage gowns, Ms. Malan’s stage wardrobe is designed by foremost South African designers. A frequent speaker and promoter of classical music in schools, scholarships in her name are awarded to promising young musicians.
She has performed at the Carnegie Recital Hall, Théâtre du Châtelet & Salle Cortot (Paris), Mozarteum (Salzburg), Liszt Museum (Budapest), Orchestra Hall (Chicago), Alte Handelsbörse (Leipzig) and Bass Hall (Fort Worth).

Tickets, season subscriptions and complete information are available at MusicGuildOnline.org. Phone: (310) 573-7422. Masks are required for all audience members. All audience members must show proof of having been fully vaccinated.

To learn more about Malan, visit: petronelmalan.com.

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Interceptor Could Prevent Trash from Entering the Ocean

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

A community nonprofit, Friends of the Jungle, has spearheaded the effort to clean Ballona Creek of trash.

Residents were appalled at the amount of trash entering the ocean and met with County Public Works in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Now the County is slated to install a Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor Pilot Project with construction beginning this April, and operation starting in October.

All Los Angeles environmentalists and residents who are concerned about ocean pollution are invited to a Zoom virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 23, at 6 p.m. to learn about the project.

Lucy Han, the founder and president of Friends of the Jungle, said that the interceptor will be paid for by the manufacturer, The Ocean Cleanup, which currently has four interceptors deployed worldwide.

Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit, was founded in 2013 by Dutch inventor Boyan Slat and is headquartered in the Netherlands. According to Slat, “Our aim is to have removed 90 percent of floating ocean plastic by 2040.”

Through research, Slat found that rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, “about 1,000 rivers are responsible for roughly 80 percent of global annual emissions. . .with small urban rivers amongst the most polluting.”

It is estimated that trash in Ballona Creek typically amounts to more than 60,000 pounds each year.

Although the nonprofit will pay for the interceptor, the County must pay for moorings and maintenance.

The interceptor can capture trash as small as a water bottle cap size (.4” by .6”) and will be in place for two storm seasons (October to April).

“The world looks to L.A. as being the leader in environmental issues,” Han said, noting that this is the opportunity for Ocean Cleanup to work with Los Angeles.

County presentation: click here.

The Ocean Cleanup: click here.

How the Interceptor works: https://theoceancleanup.com/rivers/

Posted in Environmental | 2 Comments

Letter—Could Prop K Pay for a New Playground?

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The playground’s sole shade, a tree, fell over in November, kids had fun crawling in the branches.

A March 13 story “New Playground Desperately Needed at Palisades Recreation Center,” elicited a letter from a long-time Pacific Palisades resident Barbara Kohn, who wrote:

Residents should check with the City as to the amount of Prop K Funds that are available and if any are left.

That is a line item on all property tax bills and Palisades residents pay yearly into the fund.

When I was not reappointed several years ago after serving for 15 years, our City Councilperson did not appoint a RVNOC (regional volunteer neighborhood oversight committee) representative for CD 11 North.

We, therefore, did not have representation at the city RVNOC meetings. It is possible funds are not available, but it is worth checking.

When I last served, a line item of $100,000 was left for the Palisades Parks — it may have been spent to repair a sidewalk or purchase a picnic table on Temescal, but I was not sent details after he (Bonin) did not reappoint me (without informing me via a phone call or email).

(Editor’s note: Kohn had initially been appointed by Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and then stayed on during Councilman Mike Bonin’s tenure, until two or three years ago, when she was not reappointed. CTN reached out to Bonin’s District Director Noah Fleishman on March 15 to find the name of Kohn’s replacement but have not heard. If we receive a name, the story will be updated.

Prop K, according to the Bureau of Engineering website generates $25 million each year in funds for acquisition, improvement, construction and maintenance of City parks, recreation facilities and other projects. It passed in November 1996 and is a 30-year annual real property tax assessment.

Kohn has served as the Pacific Palisades Community Council President and as the president of the  Pacific Palisades Resident Association. She also serves on the Design Review Board and is the Pacific Palisades Historical Society President.)

Posted in Community, Councilman Mike Bonin | Leave a comment

Have Coffee with Detectives: Crime Report February 27 to March 5

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Have Coffee with a Cop

The West Los Angeles Area Los Angeles Police Department is providing residents the opportunity to have “Coffee with Detectives” from 7 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, at the police station, 1663 Butler Avenue.

This is an opportunity for citizens to speak with detectives of the West Los Angeles Community Police Station in a casual atmosphere. There is no agenda, just coffee, conversations and questions. To attend or receive the Zoom link, contact WLA Senior Lead Officer Lavenson [email protected] or Detective Miranda [email protected].

 

Crime Report from February 27 to March 5:

Officer Brian Espin

Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin released the crime report (below).

“As you can see, we got hit hard with auto-related crimes,” Espin said. “The few by PCH and Sunset and on Temescal were all hikers or surfers hiding their keys while they go in the water or leaving valuables in the car. These criminals are waiting for the opportunity, let’s not give them the chance to take our stuff.  Even if your vehicle is parked in your driveway the criminals don’t care. I recommend installing motion sensor lights for your property.”

HOT PROWL:

March 1, in the 17000 block of Tramonto Drive. The suspect entered via an unlocked rear door. Miscellaneous items were taken. When confronted by the witness, suspect fled out the door.

BURGLARY THEFT FROM VEHICLE:

February 27, 9:30 a.m. at Temescal Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway. Suspect found victims hidden car key, opened victim’s vehicle and removed property.

February 28, 11:24 a.m., at 17200 Pacific Coast Highway. The victim was pumping gas at a gas station. Suspect #2 enters the vehicle and takes victim’s property and flees in vehicle drive by Suspect #1.

March 2, 8:20 to 9:22 a.m., in the 15500 block of Sunset Boulevard. Suspect smashed victim’s vehicle window, removed property and fled.

March 2, 8 to 9:45 a.m., at Sunset and Temescal Canyon Road. Unknown suspect smashed victim’s vehicle window, removed property and fled in unknown direction.

March 2 to 3, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Rustic Road. Suspect removed catalytic converter from victim’s vehicle.

March 3, 3 to 7:07 p.m., in the 700 block of Chapala Drive. Suspects entered victims unlocked vehicle, removed property and fled.

March 3 to 4, 8:11 p.m. to 7: 25 a.m. in the 500 block of Stassi Lane. Suspects removed catalytic converters from both of victim’s vehicles.

March 5, 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. in the 17000 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Suspect found victim’s key in gas cap, opened vehicle and took items.

March 5, 8:45 to 10:30 a.m., in the 1400 block of Will Rogers State Park Road. Suspect took victim’s credit cards from her wallet in her unlocked vehicle.

March 5 to 6, 1:30 to 8:15 p.m., in the 900 block of Fiske Street. Victim parked vehicle on street. When victim returned property had been taken.

March 5, in the 1500 block of Will Rogers State Road. Victim parked vehicle in parking lot. The victim was notified that the car door lock was broken.

GRAND THEFT AUTO:

February 27 to 28, 10 p.m. to 7:40 a.m., in the 900 block of Las Pulgas Road. The vehicle was taken from the street.

March 2 to 3, 1 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., in the 15000 block of Bestor Boulevard. The vehicle was taken from the street, keys were left in the car.

Posted in Crime/Police | 3 Comments

Feuer’s Alleged Illegal Activity Made Public in Ethics Complaint

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Mike Feuer
Photo: File photo from LA Attorney’s office.

(Editor’s note: Mike Feuer is running to be the next Los Angeles mayor. Corruption has been uncovered in the City Attorney’s office, which Feuer has headed since 2013. He claims he was unaware of the criminal activity. 

Some residents question Feuer’s ability to run a city, if he said he knew nothing about what was going on in his department. At least one resident thinks Feuer did know, and those facts will eventually come out. We leave it to residents to decide.)

The story starts:

  • DWP rolls out a billing system in 2013, even though the state controller says it is not ready.
  • There are massive consumer complaints and, in 2014, there are numerous threats of class-action lawsuits.

  • Antwon Jones

    The City Attorney’s office decides that a figurehead for the lawsuit, Antwon Jones, will be selected — and lawyers, including Paul Paradis, will help arrange a settlement that is favorable to the DWP.

  • It is uncovered that the lawsuit was rigged and Judge Elihu Berdoe fines the City $2.5 million and a new class-action lawsuit is started.
  • Pricewaterhouse Cooper, which unveiled the initial DWP billing system, was initially sued by Feuer, but then as the law firm continued to take depositions, including Feuer’s, the lawsuit is dropped by the City Attorney.

Paul Paradis

In March 2019, Paul Paradis began working covertly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an investigation into the corruption at the L.A. DWP and the City Attorney’s office.

Although Paradis entered a guilty plea in 2021 for his participation in the orchestrated action that defrauded DWP customers, he continued to cooperate with the FBI.

In January, Paradis filed an ethics complaint with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission against nearly a dozen current and former LADWP attorneys and top officials.

In February, Paradis filed specifically against Feuer with State Bar officials, alleging that Feuer had aided and abetted extortion and committed perjury.

In a 2019 sworn deposition testimony, Feuer was asked “Is it your understanding that Mr. Paradis hid his conduct in regard to working with Mr. Landsrkoner from attorneys within your office.”

“Yes,” Feuer said.

“What do you base that on,” the lawyer asked.

“Because I knew nothing about the conduct. . . The first time I was aware that Mr. Kiesel or Mr. Paradis, or both of them, engaged in conduct that included in any manner assisting in the filing of the Jones versus DWP case was when the documents that we’ve already made reference to were transmitted to me . . . for review, was April 24 [2019], I believe, or something around that date.”

Thomas Peters

Unfortunately for Feuer, former Chief Los Angeles Assistant City Attorney Thomas Peters said he met with Feuer on December 17 and told Feuer that a person would make the documents public that showed the City colluded with Antwon Jones — unless $800,000 was paid.

According to Peters, who worked with the City Attorney from 2014 to 2019, Feuer had asked “What are the very, very worst documents out there that we’ve created that would most likely lead to embarrassment or serve as a basis for somebody’s allegations that there was some conflict . . . anything from the pinnacle or standpoint of ethics?”

Peters, the man directly under Feuer, pled guilty in January of one federal count of aiding and abetting extortion.

Feuer rapidly denounced Peters, a Pacific Palisades resident, saying “At no time until today was I aware of Mr Peters’ illegal actions. With his admission of wrongdoing, we finally know the truth of what happened.”

But in Peters’ plea agreement, it is noted that Feuer “directed [Peters] to take care of the situation” by having [attorney] Paul Kiesel pay the extortion demand.”

David Wright

To date, four people involved have pleaded guilty: former LADWP General Manager David Wright, former LADWP senior Cyber Official David Alexander, attorney Paul Paradis and former L.A. City Attorney Thomas Peters.

Note: State Bar complaints are confidential, but Paradis’ complaint became public after it was filed in his ongoing bankruptcy case in Arizona. 

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/press-release/file/1461721/download

 

Posted in City/Councilman Mike Bonin, Community, Crime/Police | Leave a comment

Billy Crystal Honored, Michael Keaton Wins at Critics Choice Awards

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Jimmy Kimmel presented Billy Crystal with a lifetime achievement award at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
Photo: Critics Choice/Getty

By BERNICE FOX

Special to Circling the News

Being honored with a lifetime achievement award was a great way for Billy Crystal to celebrate his birthday, one day early.

He turns 74 today. The award was given yesterday, Sunday, at the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards, presented to him by Jimmy Kimmel.

When thanking the Critics Choice Association, Crystal joked, naturally, that being told he’d be getting a lifetime achievement award was “a little scary.” He said “I called my doctor and said ‘Do they know something that I don’t?’”

Crystal was serious when saying the award really is a “creative achievement award” because the “lifetime achievement award is my family.”

No surprise that he dedicated the award to his wife, Janice, adding they’ll be celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary this June. He and Janice served as honorary co-mayors of Pacific Palisades from 2018 to the beginning of last year. Funny, he didn’t mention that to the packed ballroom at the Fairmont Century Plaza.

Rita Moreno
Photo: Bernice Fox

Another former honorary Pacific Palisades mayor was in that ballroom for the awards show. Rita Moreno was representing Steven Spielberg’s new “West Side Story.” She was nominated for best supporting actress for playing a newly-created character. The movie came into the awards tied with “Belfast” for the most nominations: 11. It won two, for best editing and supporting actress.

At the Critics Choice Awards, it was Ariana DeBose who won best supporting actress for playing Anita in the new “West Side Story.” That’s the same role Moreno won her Oscar for in the 1961 version.

Earlier in the day, DeBose also won best supporting actress at the BAFTAs, the British awards show in London. She and several stars had been at the BAFTAs. So the Critics Choice Awards had a party room set up for them at the Savoy Hotel in London. Winners in London made their thank-you speeches live by satellite to Century City. And the Century City show was live by satellite to them.

Back in Century City, Michael Keaton was a Critics Choice winner — best actor in a limited series or TV movie for “Dopesick,” about the opioid crisis.

Michael Keaton won for best actor in “Dopesick.”
Photo: Bernice Fox

The Riviera resident followed his first thank you with “I love this time of year because it’s springtime and it’s awards season and you know, you just can smell that fake humility out there — that fake sincerity.” That’s when he said again, with all sincerity, “thanks very much. This is awful, awful nice.”

Keaton added “it feels a little funny to be accepting awards on the backs” of those in a story who are struggling with opioid addiction. But he said the series treated them “with real dignity.”

Keaton switched focus to Ukraine when he said “I want to say ‘thank you’ to fellow actor, President Zelenskyy, and keep up the fight.” Keaton finished with “there’s only one way to change things environmentally, socially and for some sort of racial justice and social justice, two words: voting rights. Voting rights and voter suppression.”

The three-hour Critics Choice Awards ended with Rams coach Sean McVay and his Ukrainian-born fiancée announcing “The Power of the Dog” as best picture.

Here’s the full list of winners from the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards:

 

Ariana DeBose won a Critics Choice for best supporting actress, but was in London for the British Academy Film Awards, which were held the same day. DeBose made her thank you speech from the Savoy Hotel in London and it was beamed to Century City. DeBose also won best supporting actress at the BAFTA.
Photo: Bernice Fox

FILM CATEGORIES 

BEST PICTURE – The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

BEST ACTOR – Will Smith – King Richard (Warner Bros.)

BEST ACTRESS – Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Searchlight)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Troy Kotsur – CODA (Apple TV+)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS –Ariana DeBose – West Side Story (20th Century Studios)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR – Jude Hill – Belfast (Focus)

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE – Belfast (Focus)

BEST DIRECTOR – Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog (Netflix)  

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – Kenneth Branagh – Belfast (Focus)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY- Ari Wegner – The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos – Dune (Warner Bros.)

BEST EDITING – Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn – West Side Story (Disney)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN – Jenny Beavan – Cruella (Disney)  

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP – The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Searchlight)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – Dune (Warner Bros.)

BEST COMEDY – Licorice Pizza (United Artists Releasing)

 BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Sony Pictures Animation)  

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – Drive My Car (Janus Films)  

BEST SONG – No Time to Die – No Time to Die (United Artists Releasing)  

BEST SCORE – Hans Zimmer – Dune (Warner Bros.)

 

 

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

BEST DRAMA SERIES – Succession (HBO)

 BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES – Lee Jung-jae – Squid Game (Netflix)  

 BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES – Melanie Lynskey – Yellowjackets (Showtime)  

 BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES – Kieran Culkin – Succession (HBO)

 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES – Sarah Snook – Succession (HBO)

 BEST COMEDY SERIES – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES – Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES – Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES – Brett Goldstein – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES – Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

BEST LIMITED SERIES – Mare of Easttown (HBO)

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION – Oslo (HBO)

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION – Michael Keaton – Dopesick (Hulu)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION – Kate Winslet – Mare of Easttown (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION – Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION – Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus (HBO)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES – Squid Game (Netflix)

BEST ANIMATED SERIES – What If…?  (Disney+)

BEST TALK SHOW – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL – Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)

Posted in Film/Television | Leave a comment

Revere Principal Iannucci Is “Running for the Dogs”

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Paul Revere Middle School Principal Tom Iannucci with Nathaniel, who was adopted five years ago from Angel City Pit Bulls.

Paul Revere Middle School Principal Tom Iannucci will run on behalf of dogs in the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday and would appreciate the support of animal lovers.

“If you know me, you know that saving the lives of shelter animals is important to me,” Iannucci told parents in a Revere newsletter. “This March I am going to lace up my shoes and run to help shelter pets in need.”

He started fostering dogs for Angel City Pit Bulls four years ago and has since fostered 14 animals until they found a “forever” home.

Iannucci told students, “I will log tons of miles during training, my determination will be tested by sore muscles, and I might even have a few blisters and lost toenails along the way. It will not stop me. Why? Because every one of the dogs and kittens I will help save makes it all worth it.”

Yesterday, Circling the News reached out to Iannucci about his running regimen. “Training is going fine — we just had a big run today,” he said, noting that his goal is to raise $150,000 for the care and support of the dogs. “We’re about halfway there and any support you can give is much appreciated.” Visit: https://donate.angelcitypits.org/fundraiser/3634035

The group that Iannuci has been working with, Angel City Pit Bulls, has dogs that fall under the generic term “pit bull,” but who demonstrate stable, fun, people-oriented personalities, which make them good family dogs. (Visit: [email protected].)

Iannucci, who became principal at Revere in 2015, is a lifelong Westsider who attended Westside public schools and graduated from UCLA. Before Revere, he taught at Emerson Middle School for 17 years and was an administrator at Webster Middle School. He also holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Cal State Northridge. He and his wife, Kathryn, an administrator of Southern California Aquatics masters’ swimming, have two adult sons, Cullin and Patrick.

“I love this school and I love the students,” Iannucci said.

In his years as a teacher, he impacted 180 children every day. He impacted even more children as the assistant principal at Paul Revere, when he was in charge of the 200-student inclusive special education program. Now, as principal, he impacts 2,100 students in a positive manner.

Fortunately, that supportive spirit now includes canines in need.

Posted in Animals/Pets, Schools | 1 Comment

Gerry Blanck to Host Opening Party for New Dojo

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Gerry Blanck’s studio has moved to Marquez Avenue.

Sensei Gerry Blanck will host an opening party from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 20,for his new dojo, Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center, which is located at 16624 Marquez Avenue.

According to Blanck there will be beer and wine for the adults, soft drinks and water for the kids and food and dessert for everyone. “Feel free to bring a potluck dish you if you like,” Blanck said, but noted it is not required. What is required is an RSVP to [email protected].

“Thank you for all your support and sticking with me through these past few months,” Blanck told residents.

After 27 years at 881 Alma Real, Blanck was told he had to evacuate his basement space by January 1, 2022.

In a January 5, Circling the News Story (“Gerry Blank’s Dojo at 881 Alma Real Closes, after 27 Years), Blanck summed it up as the “Worst New Year’s ever.”

He moved to the Palisades in 1982. After initially teaching in five different clubs in that spot at 881 Alma Real (La Sante, Tech Fitness, Pritikin, Century and Pacific Athletic Club – which moved to Sunset and PCH and is now the Bay Club), he and Emily Kay Tillman of Fancy Feet Dance Studio took the spaces that had been occupied by health clubs in 1994. They added flooring and mirrors for dance and martial arts.

When he found out he had to find a new location, Blanck started looking for a space, because “I want to march with my students in the Fourth of July parade because this would be the 21st time of doing it and this would be my 40th anniversary.”

And now he’s back in a new location, close to Marquez Elementary School. This super active community supporter has already stepped up – once again this year, he’s sponsoring a Pacific Palisades Baseball Association team, the Bronco Red Sox.

Posted in Kids/Parenting, Schools, Sports | Leave a comment