Take Heart… there’s Art!

by Niki Chanel

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone heads to California first chance they get. Jim Walker, who was born in New Jersey and raised in Oklahoma City, grabbed his Bachelor of Science, and went to Africa first. Crowded buses rumbling through vast, open territory in 130º heat, trumps a good wave and a piece of pizza.

But in 1970, Jim arrived in Corona del Mar and, using his degree, went into hotel and restaurant management. Moving up the coast, he made it to South Bay, where long-time locals may remember “The Lobster House” in King Harbor, one of the many restaurants that Jim managed. It is said that the restaurant business is one of the hardest, but Jim’s point of view is positive; ever the optimist, he gives me one of his self-talk sayings: “Never listen to the counsel of defeat.”

A resident art enthusiast of Palos Verdes for thirty-five years, Jim had raised a family of two boys. For relaxation he sometimes drew portraits of his kids, Jeff and Cory. As a young man with an interest in paintings and sculpture, Jim had already studied pen and ink, charcoal, and pencil drawing when a friend from high school introduced him to the book “Drawing on the Right Brain of the Brain”, by Betty Edwards. It helped him find photographic realism in his own drawings, making a deep impression on Jim and cemented his interest in the arts. He would later go on to teach the method to others.

There were family influences, too; his dad was a bit of an artist, trying his hand at oils and one of his younger brothers is an artist with the Realist Representation of the Student’s Art League in New York. Following in the family tradition, Jim took up life drawing classes at Angel’s Gate, in San Pedro and dreamed of ‘repping’ artists like Florence Strauss, Bob Doughty, Kay Bonano and Pat Dispenziere, perennial Palos Verdes favorites that he had been a fan of for so many years.

But it was dealing with the restaurant business that made him realize the value of bringing art to the fore - by hanging paintings of area artist’s on the walls of his own businesses, he could introduce the public to fine art and share his love of creativity and colour. Initially, the idea was to enhance the dinning experience, though to Jim it was more personal; his mantra of the day? “Dwell on your desires, not on your fears.”

Today Jim represents twelve prominent, award-winning South Bay and Los Angeles artists, and two of them, his hero’s: Florence Strauss and Bob Doughty. The current group uses oils, acrylics, watercolour, mixed media, several drawing mediums and some are digital illustrators. Subjects range from flowers to seascapes and after thirty-plus years of looking at the classics, like Albrecht Dürer and Ingres, Jim Walker is a “good eye”, though his test of true talent is whether of not “it knocks his socks off”. This is the Walker Artist Group!

As a representative he introduces these artists to dealers, buyers, businesses, individuals and galleries; galleries like the Zask, that used to be on PV Dr. West, below The Admiral Risty. Recently the  gallery moved up to the shopping plaza level, across form the Risty, opening with a show of “Assemblage” art - a form of sculpture comprised of "found" objects. The show, “Lost and Profound” was very well attended.

To make an art presentation is, in itself, an art. Jim tells me that the first rule of thumb is to “know thy market”. He demonstrated to me that he does, indeed, know the market with a personally guided tour of the “San Pedro Art Walk” happening every first Thursday between 4^th and 10^th Street, Pacific and Mesa Avenue, in San Pedro. After 6:00pm parking on the  streets is free and an easy atmosphere of safe meandering permeates the area. Music, both live and recorded, fills the air, spilling out of open studio doors, and a feeling of festival is contagious. Many galleries serve the proverbial opening fare of wine and cheese, and the art is (mostly) fabulous. Gallery-goers mingle on the sidewalks and a fortunate few get to view tango lessons in a nearby dance studio.

Representing artists has its perks; occasionally, Jim will get an art lesson from one of his favourite artists who help with his portraits. He in turn helps out the artists through rentals and leasing of the pieces, as well as sales of their work. “In this economy, you’ve got to take heart, and buy art!” Services include fine art, portraiture, murals, landscapes, abstracts and ‘designer-ly’ pieces in a variety of mediums such as charcoal, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink, digital and photography.

The Jim Walker Artist Group can be perused on the internet at walkerartistgroup.com where you can see the work of Jim’s favourite artists, such as Florence Strauss, a floral painter who also lives in Palos Verdes, and Elizabeth Knox who paints portraits (links to their websites are on Jim’s site). But like a parent, all his artists are his favourite, and Stephen Eugene Mirich is no exception. Stephen is responsible for the final push that Jim needed to get into the business of dealing art. A realistic seascape artist in the “plein aire” discipline, Steve lives in Portuguese Bend and paints in whatever weather he finds; under an umbrella in the rain or using flash lights at night. He understands immersing oneself in their art and helped Jim to remember another one of his axioms: “Don’t let anybody rain on your parade.”

Being somewhat art deprived, I feel rejuvenated by the tour and excited that I have found a resource to experience more art. Jim tells me there are many other spots in the San Pedro area, including The Loft at 4^th and Mesa. The three story building is a story of War and Peace - it’s a renovated Army barracks that now houses only art. Another gallery that Jim loves is The National Watercolour Society, a non-profit organization for over ninety years, and is presenting a stellar exhibition now through the 10^th of December, located at 915 South Pacific Avenue, between 9^th and 10^th Street. Many more venues abound in the mind of Jim Walker, waiting to be explored. Visit him online at http://www.walkerartistgroup.com or give him a call at 310.947.4610 if you want to know more about the art world that surrounds us. “It’s a delight to be a part of the South Bay Art Community. There is a wonderful generosity of spirit that unites artists here.”

 

 

LiveJournal Tags: Jim Walker Artist Group,Niki Chanel,art,San Pedro Art Walk,Valmonte Living Magazine,Zask Gallery

Peacocks on the Roof

by Niki Chanel

There’s no argument - Palos Verdes is a beautiful place to live. Trees, ocean views, lush landscaping, and tastefully designed homes. Before I moved here I was told there were wild peacocks walking the neighbourhoods. I remember saying “Riiight. And are there pink elephants, too?” See… I was a disbeliever. How is that even possible!? I wondered. So, I did a little research and found out a few facts from Maureen Megowan’s realty page. Apparently, William Wrigley, Jr. who had plenty of his own on Catalina Island, gave 16 of the turkey-sized birds to Frank Vanderlip, the original mastermind behind the creation of Palos Verdes, in the mid 1920’s. Vanderlip kept his birds on his estate in Portuguese Bend. It is suspected that some of bird’s offspring may have been introduced deliberately to other areas of the hill at a later date.

I forgot about the issue in the moving effort and was awakened some days later by the screams of a woman in peril… or so I thought. No, I was told, that was the call of a peacock.

Not possible! I thought. No birds could sound like that! Birds tweet and sing or caw or cackle or cluck or …wait a minute; birds seem to make every sound under the sun! Some birds can even imitate human speech! Why couldn’t a large bird make a sound that will carry? Clearly, I was in denial.

Then the morning came when I was having coffee and looked out my kitchen window; about a half dozen of these creatures were on my neighbour’s roof. Suddenly awake in a way coffee could never achieve, I stared slack-jaw, as the fan of rainbow colours from the tail of a peacock - the male - shook in front of several plain brown birds – the peahens, displaying front, side and back in a dance of elegance until… he fell off the roof! I laughed so hard I spilled my coffee. I can only guess what the peahens were thinking.

So, the truth has been revealed: I do live in paradise and paradise has a sense of humour.

LiveJournal Tags: Peacocks,Palos Verdes,Valmonte Living Magazine,Valmonte,Niki Chanel,homeowner humour

Rebuilding with Wine and Chocolate

by Niki Chanel

Valmonte residents, Ellen Cook and her husband Brian hosted an amazing wine and chocolate tasting affair on Saturday, August 7^th at their home overlooking the lovely green canyon vista of Via Pavion. Their aim was to help raise funds for the Neighbourhood Church. It seems the cliffs on which the church sits, needs a hefty layer of Gunite to halt erosion to the south parking lot, when it is extended. It’s a huge undertaking estimated to cost around $500,000. Living on the Palos Verdes Peninsula we have all seen what can happen if our cliffs integrity is breached.

About 100 guests enjoyed the afternoon with Ellen’s wine distributor friend, Jeremy Wilkinson. He brought five white and five red wines, each one with its own story. One wine, he tells us, is quite rare; the Hugo Family Cellars only make 200 cases a year of their Sauvignon Blanc! Its name, Veris, is Latin for “the production of spring” and has a fabulous fruity tone with a hint of pineapple, yet is very well priced at $23 a bottle.

Each wine was paired with a tasty dish prepared and donated by local businesses like Trader Joe’s, Elephant Bar, Lazy Dog Restaurant, Giorgio’s, Bristol Farms, Whole Foods, Ralph’s, Admiral Risty’s, the Trio’s restaurant and the Red Onion. My favourite combination was the Pinot Grigio with the bruschetta.

Then there was the chocolate.

Marsatta Chocolate from Redondo kept our palettes clean with the heavenly cocoa finish between wines. I had a delightful conversation with Naomi, owner of Marsatta, as she explained some lesser known facts about chocolate making… tid-bits like

• their Venezuelan ingredients are organic and from only a single plantation;
• truffles were invented in France in 1895
• and their best seller is a 72% dark chocolate with a vanilla softener.

MMMmm. Their website, www.marsatta.com , has photos and information for ordering.

The relaxed and elegant afternoon was tied up nicely with a chocolate infused Port from Australia, Jeremy’s home turf. The Choco Bloc Port was served with a tablespoon sized ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ soft centered truffle covered in a thing coat of crackle-y dark chocolate.

If you weren’t already, it was enough to make you religious!

LiveJournal Tags: Palos Verdes,Valmonte Living Magazine,Valmonte,Jeremy Wilkinson,wine tasting,Marsatta Chaocolate,Neighborhood Church,Niki Chanel

Le Concours d’Elegance

by Alex Kent

On the third weekend in September, 2010, car owners and enthusiasts will amass in Founder’s Park, located at Donald Trump’s “most treasured property”, the Trump National 18-hole Golf Club that overlooks the beautiful ocean cliff view of Rancho Palos Verdes, for the 18^th annual Concourse d’Elegance.

This ‘competition of elegance’, as it is translated, dates back to 17^th century France when the aristocracy flaunted their refined (and sometimes ostentatious) horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris for summer fun and festive holidays. Eventually, the horse evolved into the motorized automobile we are more familiar with today, though terms like ‘fast paced’ and ‘horse-power’ remain. Unconsciously comparing the output of horses to the equal output of an engine, these and other such idioms still find their way into conversations about the fastest and most powerful vehicles. It should be noted that a unit of “horse-power” is not an exact science and the phrase is not recognized by the International System of units; it just helps us visualize how amazing a car can really be!

Each year the Concours features automobiles from a different country and this year it’s Germany’s turn with Mercedes-Benz as the featured marque.

The Concours is divided into three parts in two days:

• Saturday, September 18^th at 1:00 pm is the Tour d’Epicure Road Rallye starting at the Trump National Golf Club. Tickets are $190 for one car, two passengers (driver and navigator). A third adult will be an additional $90. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.pvconcours.com or by calling the Concours office at

866.522.7746. Rallye sales close on September 8. This affair is open to both exhibition cars and the general public. The tour includes stops for refreshments and a treasure hunt, with a “Pirates of PV” flair.

•. Saturday the 18^th at 4:00 pm the Rallye ends at the Edelbrock Automotive Museum in Torrance. In keeping with the German theme, the evening of the 18^th will continue with Oktoberfest and honoring the Grand Marshal, Andy Granatelli. Oktoberfest is included in the price of the Tour d’Epicure tickets; however, if you do not wish to go on the Rallye, Oktoberfest tickets are $90/person and again can be purchased at www.pvconcours.com or by calling the office at 866.522.7746. Saturday’s festivities conclude at 8:30pm

• Sunday the 19^th is the Concours d’Elegance’s main event - the Automotive Exhibition, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Entrance tickets for Exhibition are $35.00 per person unless you buy them online at www.pvconcours.com , where you get a $10 discount.

There will be items of interest for everyone: classic, exotic, vintage historical and special interest vehicles, like Andy Granatelli’s Indy 500 turbine racer, will be on display. Vendor tents offering car and non-car related goods will be available for purchase and, of course, there will be plenty of food - both German and American.

Throughout the day, classic car restoration demonstrations will be going on at Restoration Alley, or Wiederherstellungsallee in German. Look for the big trailers in the parking lot. This will be the second year for the Alley, as it was a big draw last year and likely to be an even bigger attraction this year.

This is the eighteenth year the Palos Verdes Concours has been held on the peninsula and is one of the west coast’s premiere concours, attendance increasing each year. Over five thousand spectators are anticipated this year to view the exhibitors from all over southern California in twenty-three classes including pre-World War II, post-war, convertibles and motorcycles. Part of the allure can be attributed to the charity funds this event generates, the Palos Verdes Art Center and the Palos Verdes Rotary Foundation being the main recipients.

Judging for the ‘invitation only’ Best of Show award is accompanied by the Most Exciting Open Car, the R. Eric P. Allan Elegant Car, Best Design and Best Paint Finish awards. First-, second-, and third-place trophies of etched-glass, made especially for this event, will be announced in all twenty-three classes on Sunday, between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Directions to the Concours are fairly simple for locals, as Palos Verdes Drive South runs by the entrance to the Trump National Golf Course at Ocean Trails Drive, a continuation of Forrestal Drive, located between Portuguese Bend and Palos Verdes Drive East.

From the 405, exit heading on Hawthorne Blvd. approximately 12 miles all the way up the Palos Verdes Peninsula, to Palos Verdes Dr. South. Turn left and proceed to the Trump entrance.

From the 110, exit Gaffey Street going west. Take Gaffey to 25^th Street and turn right. Proceed west on 25^th Street past Western Avenue. 25^th becomes Palos Verdes Blvd. South and leads to the Trump entrance.

Apparel should be comfortable though tasteful as, traditionally, “one dresses for such occasions” since the 17^th century originators were all about showing off. Some participants will even be in period costumes so you may want to get in the spirit of things and wear your lederhosen!

To register automobiles for consideration for the 2010 show or to inquire about sponsorship and vendor opportunities, contact Andi Lingman at andilingman@pvconcours.com, tel. 866-522-7746.

Photos by Mary Jane Schoenheider; carriage composite by Alex Kent; Special thanks to Nissen Davis

LiveJournal Tags: Concours d'Elegance,auto show,Palos Verdes,Valmonte Living Magazine,Valmonte,Niki Chanel,Alex Kent,Nissen Davis,Mary Jane Schoenheider

Foundations

by Alex Kent

Jonathan, Logan and Whitney Marie Young grew up in Valmonte. The neighbourhood their parents had moved to, from Torrance, was perfect: monthly luncheons, block parties, Christmas caroling – even a street directory. Then there were the trees… Eucalyptus, Jacarandas, California Pepper, Pine, Palm and Cork amply adorn the area.

Whitney went to PVHS and pursued sports like soccer and cheer with ‘spunk and spirit’. Upon graduation she attended Mesa Junior College in San Diego, planning to continue on to Cal. State San Diego. Her love of young children was convincing her to go into teaching.

But a promising future, a supportive family and a zest for life cannot stop the speeding car of a drunk driver.

In November of 2006, Whitney and some of her friends were walking back from entertainment near campus, enjoying the Southern California evening. As they were crossing Montezuma Road, terrible squeals of rubber on asphalt rushed toward them in seeming desperation, tangling with the group for a moment before racing on… leaving Whitney victim of a hit-and-run.

No parent should have to out-live a child is my first thought when I hear about the Young’s tragedy. I cannot fathom the depths of their loss because I know their pain is unfathomable.

Marlene, Whitney’s mom, recounts the details with tears in her eyes.

Whitney’s situation, unconscious and in seriously critical condition from head injuries, inspired one officer with four daughters of his own, to take an interest in the case and he returned to the scene of the crime. During his investigation a broken piece from the perpetrator’s car (that witnesses thought might be a Mitsubishi) was recovered and sent to police forensics. It turns out automotive paint is pretty specific to the model, make and year of a vehicle, so when the tests came back establishing that the car was, in fact a BMW, the officer now knew what to look for and returned again to the Montezuma neighbourhood. Cruising the area, he found a damaged BMW parked in a driveway. The broken piece of evidence… was a perfectly fit.

When the police knocked on his door he knew why they had come, though he said he thought he had hit a raccoon. He was arrested and charged with a felony for leaving the scene of an accident. Whitney died two hours after his arrest, making it manslaughter.

The District Attorney learned that the driver, a twenty-one year old male with a prior DUI, had been drinking since 4:00pm that fateful afternoon. He had been drunk at 6:00pm, still drunk at 9:00pm, continued to drink through to midnight and maintained his state of inebriation until 2:00am when he finally got behind the wheel. Studies have shown that “a first time convicted DUI offender has driven drunk an average of 87 times before they are caught”. He was a disaster waiting to happen.

Once the prior DUI was discovered and his drinking established, the charges were raised to second degree murder. He pled guilty to felony hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and was sentenced to eleven years in prison. He will probably only have to serve half that time. Whitney’s sentence, however, is forever.

Marlene and Steve addressed their grief by establishing the Whitney Young Children’s Foundation in order “to keep Whitney’s love of children alive” and to help children and young adults to triumph despite life’s challenges. Marlene is president of the Foundation, though her primary job is Director of Major Gifts at Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation. Whitney’s dad Steve, a Long Beach attorney, is Secretary of the Foundation and helps to inform sponsors about legislative progress in areas regarding the prevention of drunk driving. One such development is the recently passed law AB91 for the counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare which requires a mandatory installation of an ignition interlock on all cars of convicted drunk drivers, preventing them from driving drunk and helping to decrease repeat offenses. The costs of the lock and installation are paid for by the DUI offender. In time, all cars may be installed with this equipment.

In all these efforts, the Young’s are not alone; MADD, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, holds a walk-a-thon every year in Long Beach to raise money to further these and other community outreach programs. This year, the “Walk like MADD” annual 5K walk will be on Saturday, September 25th, at the Queen Mary events park. For more information and to walk with “Whitney’s All Stars”, one can contact the Young’s by email: msy@kyl.com .

These horrible details are just that: horrible. However, it is so often true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - foreknowledge prevents catastrophes. It is hoped that this retelling can serve as an education and reminder that driving ‘under the influence’ can be a deadly affair. Please drive sober.

 

           Whitney Marie Young

 

 

 

BuzzNet Tags: Whitney Marie Young,Whitney Foundation,MADD,drunk driving,DARE

Lisa Z.

by Alex Kent

Shopping in the Hollywood Riviera is a relaxing experience, no doubt about it. There is an unhurried, friendly feeling in the neighborhood and Lisa Z is part of that community.

Ron and Lisa Zagha have been in the 'people' business for over twenty years. During the ‘70’s Lisa had a clothing store in Century City for four years, carrying the Ferguson's Sport Collection. About the same time, Ron had a clothing business in downtown L.A. and was a rep. for Chemin de Fer Jeans. When they met, it was love at first sight and not long before they moved to Via Pima, in Valmonte. Ron switched over to real estate with ReMax, concentrating in Southern California and Nevada for a few years. Looking for work closer to home, they decided to open a clothing boutique at 1901 South Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach. Naming it 'Lisa Z' the store took up residence next door to where the fabled Talisman Trading Company was located.

After more than 30 years they still say working together is “great!”

“We do different things for the business.” explains Ron. “She's the talent.”

“He's the biz!” agrees Lisa. They both beam.

Their son Perry is a graduate business major from Loyola Marymount and is excited about his parents’ endeavors. With a little subtle influence from his dad, Perry tried real estate law and found he quite liked it. He is currently in real estate investment with Scott Rosenberg – got the job the day before he graduated!

Lisa inherited the retail gene by way of her mother who had a clothing store in Detroit.

“To see my mom, I had to go to the store. She was always there.”

In business for herself, Lisa's philosophy includes the whole woman. She believes women should be emotionally empowered rather than have a critical self image. “Dress for personality and please yourself. Dressing for others is so stressful – you can't possibly please everybody.”

Ron and Lisa are also very health conscious. “Vitamins and a positive attitude make you feel better.” Lisa has been likened to a neighborhood shaman, counseling her customers while finding that perfect ‘something’ to complete an outfit – something that feels just right.

Hats, shoes and jewellery are arranged to match day dresses, jackets and evening-wear. New ideas of how to assemble accessories and colours becomes fun again. Soft “T’s” and pale tinted cargo pants cover the casual comfort department while the elegant sweaters, classic dresses and handbags appeal to sophisticated needs. Lisa Z is Hollywood Riviera’s answer to fashion clothing.

The Zagha’s love living in Valmonte; “People here are wonderful, friendly and committed to their neighborhood. We all do the welcome wagon thing.” One gets a sense that they believe a close neighbourhood is a comfortable one. Talking with them about Palos Verdes and their business, Lisa’s enthusiasm was energizing; “Enjoy the life you have!”

 

 

 

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July issue,Lisa Z.,Hollywood Riviers,Valmonte,Palos Verdes

Captain Kilowatt

When you do something considered dangerous for a living, people tend to give you odd names to describe their point of view. Keith Kent would be one of those examples. He is a lightning photographer.

The term Storm Chaser has been used for photographers interested in tornados and even hurricanes because of the fascinating images that nature serves up under these adverse conditions. Their labours are prized by hundreds of publications not just because the pictures are intriguing but because they are unrepeatable. One also does not get the chance to really look long and hard at such disasters to learn or even emotionally digest the occurrences - much better to see the thing printed on paper than be at its mercy…

Lightning is a little different. It too is fleeting and dangerous. The difference is knowledge and predictability. There is not predictable pattern to tornados or hurricanes. But lightning has the 1001, 1002 going for it. Under the right conditions and armed with information one can somewhat predict when lightning will strike; sadly, however, not where. For the lightning photographer it takes intuition.

Keith has a few techniques up his sleeve that help him get amazing shots of lightning. He will set up multiple cameras on tripods and set the shutters to various speeds. He sometimes used a metronome to help him keep timing accurate while he either opens or closes a shutter. Occasionally several strikes will be caught in a single image. Sometimes a beautiful strike will be captures by only one camera and it will be too far to the side to be effective for Keith’s agents. But that is the nature of the job.

The other main problem of the lightning photographer is the actual storm. They are not daily, weekly or even monthly occurrences. The best are in parts of the country that have few, poop or no roads to access. Mr. Kent’s favourite area for breathtaking strikes is Tucson, Arizona. There three mountainous regions focus warm air into a central column often creating thunderheads – the birthplace of lightning. When a bolt manifests the distance between ground and cloud it makes for a superior visual impact. It can be referred to as Tall Sky.

And sky is what Keith likes best. He is a pilot. His favourite sport is Ultralight flight. He has made several of these craft himself, redesigning existing designs to fit his needs. He often mounts a video camera onboard so he can share the experience with others. His website (www.thinkultralight.com) is being redesigned so he can spread the excitement of Ultralight flight.

And if that wasn’t satisfying enough he has over 1000 parachute jumps… but that’s another story.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July Issue,lightning photographer,Ultralights,thinkultralight,Captain Kilowatt,Niki Chanel

Destination Women

It takes a village… and two women to create a special place where women join together to help each other! The village is "Hillside Village", at the intersection of Via Valmonte and Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. The two women are June Grossberg, owner of Concepts in Yarn & Needlepoint and Loretta Pierce, CEO & President of Master Design Clothing. The place is Destination Women boutique, a charming store with a whimsical theme filled with new, ever-changing treasurers that will delight every woman.

This shop is special in that the merchandise is mainly provided by women, sold by women (volunteers) and financially supports women through charities. The one-of-a-kind accessories and fashionable outfits are deeply discounted, yet of superior quality. Designer clothing, like Gever Originals of LA, hobnobs with paintings, antiques, furniture, hand-made dolls, gorgeous hand knitted sweaters and an ever changing array of creative gifts and keepsakes. The environment, whimsical and bright, the people friendly and approachable make for an easy and validating experience. One can go to peruse… or seek advice.

But the real difference here is the painless fund-raising for women’s issues. A percentage of all purchases are donated to a charity of the customer's choice. A growing list of approved charities is presented at the time of purchase, such as the YWCA of the Harbor and South Bay, H.E.L.P. (Healthcare and Elder Law Programs and Counseling), the Salvation Army of Torrance and Susan G. Komen-Breast Cancer Foundation, to name a few. Volunteers earn a modest commission, thereby helping to employ women with limited time available to work. The customer pays less, the sales force earns a percentage and choice charities and their recipients all benefit, too - it’s a win-win-win!

The boutique goes further than a discount store, sponsoring "events" like Mary Frances Handbag trunk shows, crocheted wire jewelry demonstrations by Mary Austin and the upcoming display of the extensive, nationally famed Annalee Doll collection. The store also sponsors make-up demonstrations showing how to wear makeup as an accessory, consultations and demonstrations on Mastering Color. Stacy Gross-Eldredge CPCP, takes appointments, educates and demonstrates Permanent Cosmetics techniques and tattoo removal. Many more interesting and exciting events are scheduled.

Another unique aspect of Destination Women is that June and Loretta are both entrepreneurial designers; they bring with them extensive business experience and know-how to assist and support other women in their quest for success. Master Design Clothing, Loretta's company, is considered to be the authority in dressing women in business for over 27 years. She provides high-profile fashion to business-women, helping to improve their status in the professional world. “Dressing with success in mind is a business strategy".

June, who has tremendous flair with style and color says, "You can't get away from people judging you by the way you dress." Both women stress how important it is for women to make a "personal style" statement!

The new website, www.destinationwomen.com is becoming another pillar of the organization. There, one can learn more about the charities acknowledged by the boutique and, as the site evolves, new and exciting interactivity will be added. Of special note: a survey designed to find out what causes cancer by delving into the personal habits of women who have experienced it first hand. This is extremely important as it goes further than faulting heredity or exposures to dangerous materials; it will collect personal information (possibly like sleeping habits, exposure to plants and animals, cosmetics) giving researchers more information to work with in an effort to find a cure. This is truly women helping women!

Destination Women is a consciousness-raising spot to meet other women, share stories and be a part of their successes. Come visit this fabulous find and see how women are benefited on all levels, helping other women in the process!

The shop is located at 24576 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, Ca. 90505, in the Hillside Village Center at the intersection of Via Valmonte and Hawthorne. You may call Master Design for more information. To volunteer, please call 310.375.6361.

See you there!

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July Issue,Destination Women,Concepts in Yarn & Needlepoint,Master Design Clothing,Gever Originals of LA,Annalee Dolls,Stacy Gross-Eldredge,Niki Chanel

Sacred Stone : Crystals and Collectibles

Ahhh… Gustav Schindler and Anne Sherwood have created a place of calm reflection and nurturing peace where you can find just the right gift for a loved one – or yourself.

When entering the Sacred Stone Gallery in the Hollywood Riviera, one feels immediately at home - but this isn’t home; this is a magical cave of gargantuan crystals, faceted touchstones and welcoming smiles.

The consummate Californian is the child who purchases his first surf board at age seven. A Torrance native, young Mr. Schindler was just such a lad, eager to live life to the fullest, and always first in line for excitement.

Drafted into the army at the age of 19, Gustav saw Vietnam as a whole new world filled with marvels and the unusual. It offered him new horizons and personal growth which he took to heart, both business-wise and spiritually. Seeking adventure, he volunteered for Riverboat Patrol duty knowing it was one of the more dangerous jobs during the war. For most of us, the mention of war-torn Saigon still arouses dark memories, yet for others it provided opportunity. During his tour, Gustav noticed that items from the United States were in great demand among the Asian allies, while the reverse was true for him; religious carvings and curios fascinated Gustav. Vietnam had exposed him to exotic, eastern artifacts and started in him a passion for collecting and trading.

Upon his return to the States, Gustav attended UCLA then went to work for McDonald Douglas as an exotic metals specialist. He continued his studies of Persian rugs, cloisonné, and American Indian artifacts, all the while adding to his personal collection. During the ‘70s, while living in Kauai, Gustav spent time at a Sufi healing camp studying their traditions and way of life. This is where he first became acquainted with the use of crystals as healing tools, giving his passion for collecting even more impetus.

When the aerospace corporation folded in the 1990s, Gustav used the lay-off as a chance to start his own healing practice in Palos Verdes Estates at the Malaga Cove Plaza. Working seven days a week, Gustav’s efforts quickly brought success, though his passion for collecting never waned despite the heavy demand for his time. Soon he realized he was outgrowing his 3000 square foot home. He simply had too many relics and too little space in which to store them.

About this time, Gustav met Anne Sherwood, a fellow crystal l over. She had escaped the harsh winters of upstate New York, trading them for Californian sunsets and hoping to find like-minded souls in Los Angeles. Among her many talents, she had minored in Geology in college and managed a retail store. Small wonder that Anne’s mineral knowledge and Gustav’s ever expanding collection struck a harmonious bargain and the two decided to open the Sacred Stone Gallery in 2002. Gustav would have the freedom to travel and meet with traders and private customers, while Anne would have the opportunity to create the sanctuary she had always dreamed of during those icy New York winters.

The first item to be moved into the store was a one ton Shivalingam - a naturally occurring, smooth, elliptical shaped rock from the Narmer River in central India where it is considered to be a sacred stone, giving the store its name. Though it is for sale, it’s not going anywhere fast. “When you weigh 2000 pounds, you get to be where you want” grins Anne. This rock is a gigantic version of the sacred stones seen in the Indiana Jones movie, ‘Temple of Doom’. She shows me a few of the many pocket-sized treasures of amber, tektites of meteoric glass, labradorite, garnet, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry and imported statuary that can be found here. “But the customers are the best part,” she beams. “Our clientele is an interesting lot bringing with them knowledge, experience and appreciation for what we offer. Visitors often stop by just to breathe in a bit of tranquility and beauty and leave feeling better. We love to share that with others.”

Store hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and noon-6pm on Saturday & Sunday.

Located at 1832 South Elena Avenue, Redondo Beach, the store’s website is sacredstonegallery.com and the phone number is 310.378.8866.

Go have a complimentary cup of tea and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ June Issue,crystals,statuary,Gustav Schindler,Niki Chanel

The Ceramicist

Mica, the Pearl Cockatiel, comments while Lyn-Rae and Jim Ashley tell me about their three children: the architect, the pilot and the graphic designer. Lyn-Rae had been explaining that painting had become difficult with little ones at home. These early circumstances of her artistic pursuits were initially what led her to ceramics.

Through a series of classes and meetings with other artists in Torrance and Palos Verdes Lyn-Rae started throwing clay on the potter’s wheel. She sampled different clays and even made her own coloured porcelain by kneading oxide powders into it. Ever trying new things she found she liked the results of burnishing pieces with a smooth stone or stick (or even a ‘Sharpie’, in a pinch!) This is done when the piece is not quite – but almost – dry; a state potter’s have nick-named “black hard”.

All clay must be fired if it is to last but there are many ways to ‘cook’ it. Through experimentation Lyn-Rae has come up with an ingenious method of achieving colored tones on top of the muted shine using… seaweed!

After the piece is dried, rubbed and wrapped in seaweed it is placed in a clay box called a “sagger” and that, in turn, goes into the kiln. Before the clay gets to full “vitrification” (the hardest the clay will get without melting) Lyn-Rae turns off the heat - somewhere between 1600 & 1800º F and lets it ‘simmer’ for most of a day in her home kiln. The final step is to wax the outside of the piece, giving the delicate firing effects more contrast and completing the smoothing process. “One never knows what beauty will be revealed when the kiln is opened.”

The Ashley’s home is generously decorated with these useful and elegant artifacts, some looking a bit like Wedgwood, some reminiscent of Japanese Raku, all of them with a touch of mystery. They blend well with Javanese keepsakes from their travels in Indonesia. Jim, a flight test engineer, was sent there for extended visits to help with aircraft certification flight testing standardization and Lyn-Rae went with him. They both fell in love with the culture, the art and the food. “Even the little things are aesthetically beautiful there, from the extra care given to them.” Even the spiritual ideas of Java are intriguing; apparently, people in that part of the world believe that evil spirits only travel in straight lines so they place a narrow blockage in doorways that can be stepped around but will keep out these offending entities.

Lyn-Rae and her husband also enjoy sailing and make it out twice a week with friends, weather permitting. For thirty-seven years, the Ashley’s have lived on Navajo Place, a single lane road where homes look out over Los Angeles… orange textures by day, twinkling lights through the eucalyptus trees at night – an enviable lifestyle, indeed. Mica, the cockatiel, agrees… from his perch he thinks he can almost see the airport.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ June 2010 Issue,Palos Verdes Art Center,Niki Chanel

Meet Rita Bayer

Rita Bayer has been a resident of Valmonte since 1956. She and her husband Al started out on Paseo del Campo, the road along the north-eastern side of the golf course. In 1961 the couple moved to la Selva Place with their children, Kathy and Chris. La Selva Place is a crescent drive midway down Via la Selva with a quaint little park in its midst.

But don’t judge this book by her cover – Rita Bayer is a powerhouse!

Wife and mother, Rita became the first woman ever elected to the Palos Verdes Golf Club Board of Directors. Even though, at the time, it was a ‘Men’s Club’ and terms of office ran for three years, she was asked to stay on for a fourth!

The art community is another subject near and dear to her heart. The Palos Verdes Community Arts Association was founded in 1931 and located in the Malaga Cove Plaza, upstairs, near the drive-thru arch. Interest and enthusiasm were nurtured until it was necessary to relocate. The name was changed to the PV Art Center when it moved to 5504 Crestridge Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes (310.541.2479) in 1974. Rita became president of the Art Center in 1991. Support continues to feed the Art Center (corner of Crenshaw and Crestridge) that today is bursting at the seams.

To accommodate the community and artists of Palos Verdes and the South Bay, The Artists’ Studio, located in the Art Center building on Crestridge and The Art Center Gallery in The Village, which is on Silver Spur at 627 Silver Spur Road in Rolling Hills Estates (310-265-2592) is open to the public and various art forms are for sale: paintings, woodwork, glass, jewelry and much more - more information can be found on the website: http://www.artists-studio-pvac.com . Success like this doesn’t just happen – people make it happen and Rita is one of these people.

Al and Rita were originally from the east coast when Al was contacted by Hughes Aircraft to come to California as an experimental test pilot. His work was concentrated in helicopters. The thinking was that someday everybody would have a helicopter in their garage, but rather than more affordable, they became more expensive… and larger. That didn’t stop Al from picking Rita up in his private helicopter at the PV golf course and taking her to dinner in Beverly Hills.

Flying was the joy of her life. She’s been in gliders, hot air balloons, helicopters, single and twin engine aircraft and she even ‘hitched’ a ride with Bob Hoover to Palm Springs! Rita often had the luck to be in the company of the elite. About John F. Kennedy, for example; she says, “He always made you feel like you were the most important person there.”

As you might imagine, Al and Rita traveled the world: London, Paris, Denmark, Norway, Bangkok, Taiwan, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong… yet were still happy to come home to La Selva Place.

With such an illustrious life I asked her if she regretted anything. Without hesitation, she replies, “I never jumped out of an airplane!”

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ April 2010 issue,Palos Verdes golf Club,PV tower,Rita Bayer,PV Art Center,Niki Chanel

Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty

Interested in the real estate market? Why not inquiry at Sotheby’s? The president of the Palos Verdes Peninsula branch of Sotheby’s International is co-owned by Rick Edler – a Valmontian. We caught up with him and his busy schedule to ask a few questions of our own.

Valmonte Magazine : Where do you see the real estate market headed in our area this year?

Rick Edler : Valmonte should be steady and balanced in 2010, with 2011 and 2012 being banner years, though we need more ‘move-up’ buyers; 83% of the sales in 2009 were distress sales and these don’t create new buyers. We will probably see less of this in 2010. Currently, 53% of our buyers are involved with these distress sales. and it will likely continue to improve, assuming banks continue to lend.

Valmonte Magazine : How do you view home ownership?.

Rick Edler : First and foremost as shelter and for the enjoyment of its surroundings. Second, as an investment with 2010 being the largest High School Graduating class, we are still a decade away from new home buyers.

Valmonte Magazine : What do people love so much about Valmonte?

Rick Edler : Quick off the hills, tree’s, young families and the character of the neighborhood. These are all reasons Valmonte also has a high rate of families changing homes within the neighborhood.

Rick Edler has lived in Palos Verdes much of his life, graduating from PV High. He did Undergraduate work at USC in his double major - Entrepreneurship and International Marketing. He started in real estate with his mother, Kitty, at ReMax. Together they built the business until it became the Edler Group in the late 90’s. Moving forward, Rick went to Shorewood Real Estate to try his hand at his own business. Eventually he approached Sotheby’s and they elected to give him Peninsula Sotheby’s boutique. He is now the president and CEO of Sotheby’s Manhattan, Redondo, South Bay and PV and oversees all operations of the business. His sixteen years of real estate experience secured him the honor of Realtor of the Year for 2009 by Realtor Magazine. Rick is on the board of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Board of Realtors, Silverdes, L.L.C. (a real estate development firm), Merryweather Properties, Inc. (a real estate investment firm), the Bank of Palos Verdes and the Neighborhood Church board of trustees and is director of MSMLS, Inc. (Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc.).

Married with four kids; Gracie (8), Charlotte (7), Mark (4 and named after Rick’s brother) and Sofie (4) Rick has a very full life!

Offices are located at 608 Silver Spur Road, Suite 250 in Rolling Hills Estates, Ca. 90274. The phone number there is 310.541.8271.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ April 2010 issue,Palos Verdes Peninsula,Southern California Sotheby's,Rick Edler,Niki Chanel

Teenagers on Ice

On the 7th of March, 2010 the Ice Chalet Skating Rink in the Rolling Hills Estates, Promenade on the Peninsula mall generously hosted a night of free skating to Valmonte residents from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Many brave souls with no previous experience gave it the college try and got better each lap around the Arena. Those that have spent childhood years in colder climates got reacquainted with gliding on ice and enjoyed the cool comradery.

However, there were an elite few who put us all in our place with their grace and expertise. Laney Diggs, 17, and Stephanie Valasek, aged 14, are two such Ice Angels.

These young athletes skate two to three hours a day, seven days a week and more time is added when they have an upcoming event. Working so hard on their skating does not leave time for much else so they have given up activities like Girl Scouts and Cotillion.

This sport can also be costly. There are traveling expenses; this April Stephanie is very excited to be competing in Toulouse, France with the Los Angeles Ice Theater. Costumes that must allow for ease of movement and present a smooth appearance are pricey and they need at least two costumes per year. The material that delivers this combination is a knit fabric and damages easily. The special, over-the-boot tights that cover the entire skate can run after a single performance. “Gloves, too - it’s up to a pair a week!” explains Christie, Stephanie’s mom. The costumes are designed by their various designers and choreographers who have the task of melding the design with the music. The girls compete with several musical genres - “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller, the overture of a 1960’s movie, “Irma la Douce” and “Les Mis”.

Laney began skating at age 5. She is 17 and a senior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. She now trains in Harbor city, but trained in El Segundo alongside Evan Lysacek, who won a gold medal in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. At the time I spoke to her she was 15^th in the nation in the senior solo category with USFSA, the United States Figure Skating Association. She currently skates for the All Year FSC, Figure Skating Club. In 2010 at the US Championships, Laney became the Senior Bronze Ladies medalist in the Pacific Coast Sectional Figure Skating competitions. She says that experience is her life’s “defining moment”. Her favorite city that she has skated in is Vancouver, Canada and when she’s not skating, she likes to cook, read, watch basketball with her family, and has Olympic aspirations.

Stephanie, 14, started skating when she was three. Like all kids she went on to include many extra curricular pursuits to her calendar but the love of skating grew by leaps and bounds – literally! She has outgrown the Rolling Hills Estates Ice Rink because it is not long enough for some of her jumps. She now skates at five different rinks from Burbank to Harbor City. Stephanie helps teach the Learn to Skate classes every Saturday to give back to the rink where her career began.

Christie Valasek knows how hard these kids work at their sport and realized there was no High School Varsity letter available to them. After presenting their case to the school athletic director, it was agreed – skaters would get their due recognition as they certainly deserve the letter. For the first time in PVPHS’s history, on April 17^th, 2010 at the Rolling Hills Community Covenant Community Center at 735 Silver Spur in Rolling Hills a banquet will be held to present Varsity letters to these accomplished kids. Tickets are $20.00 which includes dinner. Call Christie Valasek at 310.722.0605 for more information and ticket sales.

See what can happen from a little fun in your neighborhood?! And to think – I had never been inside the Rolling Hills Estates Ice Chalet before - all the while kids have been building a future there. It’s a friendly and well maintained rink where one can go watch local teams play hockey or just practice standing up… on blades.

“Thank you so much for doing this!” I heard as I was leaving. Yes – thank you!

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ May Issue 2010,Ice Chalet Skating Rink,Rolling Hills Estates,Promenade at the Peninsula,Figure Sakting Club,Valesek,Diggs,FSC,Los Angeles Ice Theatre,Niki Chanel