The Health care industry has spoken, and we are humbled by the recognition. The acknowledgement for Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in San Pedro and Torrance serves as a powerful source of motivation for our employees to continue our mission: to provide our patients and communities with world class compassionate care.
Your Partner in Health Care Excellence.
Don't miss this conversation with Ken Dychtwald, renowned aging expert, about the revolution in longevity and how it's changing what it means to grow older.
Helen is a syndicated columnist and respected thought-leader on aging.
REGISTRATION OPENS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022
JOIN OUR INTEREST LIST: PVPVillageoffice@gmail.com www.peninsulavillage.net
WALK FOR FRIENDSHIP. WALK FOR
WALK TO MAKE
for the Skechers Friendship Walk and support our PVPUSD students and children
Walk from Manhattan Beach Pier to Hermosa Beach Pier and back!
It's
Choose "Register" Join your child's school team (with the principal as the team captain) Designate PEF as your charity to support
Issue No. 29
We are so thrilled to be able to share another great issue of PV Magazine with you! We hope you are enjoying reading it as much as we love putting it together each month. We continue to be amazed at all the incredible people who contribute and support our content and growth.
It was a busy month and I was honored to be invited to so many important and meaningful community events like the annual Saturday Night Supper hosted by the incredible women who are part of the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital. This event raises money for the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and has been a pillar in our community for over 64 years! BeachLife Ranch was a blast. Thank you Allen Sanford for continuing to provide the South Bay a top notch weekend and show! Thank you to Melanie and Richard Lundquist for their incredible generosity supporting medicine, the environment and education. I had the pleasure of attending the Marine Mammal Care Center’s 30th Anniversary brunch on a glorious Sunday afternoon at the home of Richard and Melanie Lundquist. Kudos to Amber Becerra for securing a $1 million dollar donation from the Lun dquists. The donation was announced at the end of the program in honor of Amber’s hard work to raise funds and keep the center from closing. Amazing story.
When Alyson and Dean Decker told me about the 60th Anniversary of PV High School and the Capital Campaign inspired by Mr. Kinney, I knew we had to do more than just talk about the campaign but use this as an opportunity to dig into all the old yearbooks in the MPR, especially since we have so many PV High alumni still living in the community, including the Deckers. This led to endless hours of scanning old photos. Unfortunately we could only share some of the pho tos in the magazine but we added many more to our online gallery. Make sure to scan the QR code in the article.
Thanks again for another great month, PV and don’t forget to go to our website and sign up for our weekly newsletter which recaps each issue, has local events and content that we can’t always fit into our printed publication. Follow us on Instagram to get real time event reminders and lots of beautiful photos of our beautiful community. Thank you Erik Jay and all the other local photogra phers who share photos with us!
In honor of BeachLife Ranch, Happy Fall ya’all!
Kristin Borden
Publisher, Managing Editor & owner PV Publications, LLC 310-940-1445
kristin.borden@palosverdesmagazine.com palosverdesmagazine.com
RENEE JACo
PV Magazine has partnered with www.onetreeplanted.org
Creative Direction, Ad Management renee.jaco@palosverdesmagazine.com
MALIN RIGBy
Digital Strategist, Website Management malin.rigby@palosverdesmagazine.com
LAURA HILLER
Digital Growth, Newsletters HillerELaura@gmail.com
MELANI EDELSTEIN Writer melanimoroseedelstein@gmail.com
LANE BULLARD
Graphic Design lane.bullard@palosverdesmagazine.com
BRENDA CASH Photographer brenda@brendacash.com
Photographer www.philiciaendelman.com
CINDy DoNNELLy
Community Calendar, Special Advertising Section, Content Creation cindy.donnelly@palosverdesmagazine.com
CHECK oUR CoMMUNITy CALENDAR AND SUBMIT yoUR EVENT FoR FREE!
Eddie by artist Errol Gordon Photo credit: Xavier Proctor
With Melanie Lundquist at the MMCC 30th Anniversary Brunch
Having fun at PBNHS with Maureen Hazard BeachLife Ranch
The planned giving programs at Torrance Memorial Foundation can make a lasting difference for your community through your estate planning, such as establishing a charitable gift annuity (CGA). With your CGA donation, you receive income for life at a higher rate compared to your savings account or certificate of deposit (CD), and your charitable tax deduction is immediate. Your future gift to Torrance Memorial will help others receive expert care and treatment for years to come.
more about starting
legacy
Dr. Allen shows how paying it forward benefits everyone in the community
20
An organization’s dedication to aquatic life gets a surprising gift
14
Artist Errol Gordon
This local artist shares his love of art and will be part of the annual PVAC Tour d’ Art
16
PV High 60th Anniversary Celebrating the past and the future
32
Los Serenos de Point Vicente Interpretive Center
22
PV Goes to BEACHLIFE Ranch
23
PBNHS Annual Saturday Night Supper
25
The PV Little League Makes History
27
Rolling Hills Estates City Celebration
11 October Highlights
Fall is in the air with many fun events and holiday festivities!
39
Meet Astro & Archer
The Bhatia family enjoys double the furry fun!
43
Healthy Halloween Treats
Lisa Boyd conjures up yummy spooky treats!
36
Prohibition on the Peninsula Fast cars and clandestine deals made the area a wild place
35
Was it a Gift or Loan? Greg Becker gives sound advice knowing what is needed
OctOber 1 • 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
toast on the coast at roessler Point Malaga cove
An outdoor coastal festival with live music, gourmet food tastings, pre mium wines, craft beers and fun cocktails from top local restaurants and popular wineries and breweries. All proceeds will benefit the Pen insula Education Foundation. For tickets, visit toastonthecoastpv.com.
OctOber 1 • 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Palos Verdes Friends of the Library Presents Oktoberfest at Malaga cove Library
Palos Verdes Friends of the Library presents oktoberfest with authen tic German pretzels and brats along with traditional food, music and three kinds of hand-crafted beer and dancing! For more information or to buy tickets, visit pvldfriends.org or call (310) 377-9584 x251.
OctOber 2 • 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
emergency Preparedness Workshop at t he Neighborhood church
Join us for an educational refresh on how to prepare for the next earth quake or fire emergency. Find out simple steps you can take today to be ready. Free to RSVP at (310) 408-8461.
OctOber 9 • 3:00 p.m.
t he Pennyroyal Players present t he Suffragette Musical: From battles to ballots at the Grand Annex
The Pennyroyal Players pay musical tribute to the 27 “Radical Women” of color and other famous American heroines who dared to fight for their rights – for freedom and to vote. Suitable for all ages. For tickets, visit grandvision.org.
OctOber 9 • 7:00 p.m.
terranea turns Pink with Full Moon Yoga Presented by Providence LcM and city of Hope South bay
Bring a mat and enjoy yoga on the ocean lawn while supporting the Cancer Support Community South Bay. The class costs $20 and you can sign up at terranea.com/pink.
OctOber 11 • 4:00 p.m.
teen Writing Workshop at Malaga cove Library
Join award-winning author Mathieu Cailler as he discusses his writing process and shares tips on how to write fiction. No registration re quired, grades 6-12 only. Meet in the Community Room. For questions, contact Megan Durazo at mdurazo@pvld.org
OctOber 15 ANd 16 • 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
tour d’Art with Palos Verdes Art center
After a two year hiatus, The Artists’ Studio of Palos Verdes annual Tour d’Art returns. This is a self-guided tour of local artist studios on the Palos Verdes Peninsula hosting over 40 artists and their work. Visit www.taspv.com for tickets.
OctOber 15 • 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Hesse Park Volunteer day
Join us at Lower Hesse Park to help us keep it clean and beautiful! Sign up at volunteer@rpvca.gov.
OctOber 15 • 3:00 p.m.
docent Guided Nature Walk with Los Serenos de Point Vicente at Ocean trails reserve
The hike will take place through the Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat along the Western Bluff of Trump National Golf Course. Learn about local geol ogy and the fall blooming habitat. Stay to watch the sunset from the beautiful Founders Park. For more information, visit www.losserenos.org.
OctOber 21• 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Empty Saddle Club
Las candalistas Presents Starry Starry Night...at the r anch Come enjoy a lovely Starry, Starry Night ambience you’ve come to ex pect from the creative Las Candalistas members. Enjoy entertainment, a delicious buffet dinner, silent and live auction. 100% of proceeds ben efit children and the environment. For tickets, visit lascandalistas.org.
OctOber 22 • 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
terranea turns Pink with birdies for breast cancer
Presented by Providence LcM and city of Hope
Join us at The Links for tee times, beverage offerings and on-course contests. Silent auction and more! $99 per person at terranea.com/pink.
All t hings Wicked & Wonderful at the South coast botanic Garden From looking into the skeleton pasts of Diabolical and Misunderstood plantings in the Garden Graveyard to hundreds of creepy crawlers taking over our first-ever Spider Pavilion. There’s something for every one and every scare level. Visit www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org.
Harvest Festival at r ancho Palos Verdes Ken dyda civic center Come out and enjoy live music and entertainment, beer and wine booths, arts and craft vendors, inflatables, face painting, caricature artists and food trucks. Costumes encouraged! Free admission.
Young Guns 80’s Halloween Party
With the talent, setlists, epic dance moves and guitar riffs plus a good sense of humor, this is more than just a 1980s band – it’s an ‘80s expe rience. Dress up for Halloween! There will be a costume contest and a prize for the best costume. For tickets, visit grandvision.org.
Howl-o-ween costume contest at South coast botanic Garden
We invite you and your four-legged friend(s) to come to the Garden dressed in costume for our Howl-o-ween Costume Contest. Tickets for dog-walking hours are the same as general admission (free for Members and up to $15 for non-members), plus $5 per dog. Visit www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org.
The Riviera Village Halloween Trick or Treat has become a South Bay tradition, attracting thousands of children each year to enjoy Hallow een in a safe, outdoor and fun atmosphere. Visit rivieravillage.net.
PV Magazine is pleased to highlight Errol Gordon of Rolling Hills, an artist specializing in painting and sculpture. He will be participating in the upcoming Tour d’Art, a fundraising event for the Palos Verdes Art Center (PVAC) which will feature 30 artists exhibiting in four private studios as well as at the PVAC. Errol’s studio will be one of the stops along the tour. The event takes place on october 15 and 16, 2022. Visitors will enjoy meet ing local artists, nibbling scrumptious treats, and driving between studios on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula.
when did you move to the peninsula?
“I moved to PV in the mid 1970’s from Manhat tan Beach.” Errol shared that he was born in Los Angeles and has been a lifelong resident. He is an attorney, and his law office has always been in downtown Los Angeles. Prior to the pandemic, he regularly made the commute into the office. He says people often thought Palos Verdes was too far. Even with the drive he says, “I never regretted moving here.”
at what age did you realize you had artistic abilities?
“In grammar school I fell in love with art as the result of a teacher. I developed an interest and had a knack, always drawing and painting.” Errol recalls this was in about the 4th or 5th grade and said, “the teacher taught me to see things differently, and that inspired me.”
After graduating law school, Errol decided to nurture his artistic abilities. He started painting on his own, then in the 1980’s he started taking lessons and courses at Scottsdale Artists’ School. He took classes in painting and sculpture and still returns to Scottsdale to collaborate with other artists. How did you get into 3d art and sculpture?
“I was primarily a painter, and I would go with a friend to Scottsdale Artist’s School. one time we saw a class of sculpture, and it looked so great.” The next time Errol and his friend went to Scotts dale they took a course in sculpting. Errol recalls, “the friend did not catch the bug, but I did.” He went on to train with highly proficient sculptors at the school and in studio. He explained that the art of sculpture is learned in the studio with other sculptors rather than in a classroom setting.
Errol uses a lost wax process. He creates a model in clay of what the finished piece will look like. When complete, the clay model is taken to the foundry. Errol explained the people at the foundry are also artists. After a series of steps involving plaster, wax, silica, and bronze, the figure of Errol’s clay model is transformed into a bronze sculpture. The foundry artists and Errol work to add a patina to finish the sculpture. It is a complex process and there is a fascinating and surprisingly moving video about it on Errol’s website.
“Although being an artist is often considered a vocation, to me, it is a passion.”
—Errol Gordon
do you have a favorite piece?
Eddie is a work inspired by a real-life horse. “Horses make great subjects because they will stand still.” He first spotted Eddie in a pasture while accompanying his wife to a horse show. The next time he saw Eddie, the Clydesdale was wearing an elaborate harness, pulling a Cinder ella style carriage. This inspired Errol to create the sculpture of Eddie.
PV Magazine had a chance to visit Errol in his studio and see two of his works in progress. He is currently working on a commissioned piece for a man in Northern California. The piece will be a sculpture of a horse and rider. During our visit he was working on the horse. He also is paint ing a portrait of a classic Palos Verdes home for another client.
what drew you to the palos verdes art center?
“I have been on the board at PVAC for 7 years. I am involved because there are a bunch of tal ented artists in Palos Verdes of all different types and genres. PVAC pulls them together: paint ing, 3D, photography, ceramics, and others. It is a natural place to gravitate to for non-artists want ing to support art and patrons wanting to keep art alive.” He believes PVAC is an asset that people do not always take advantage of, pointing out that his grandchildren have taken classes at PVAC from wonderful supportive people.
For more information about the Tour d’Art and for tickets visit www.taspv.com. For more infor mation about Palos Verdes Art Center visit www. pvartcenter.org. To learn more about Errol Gordon and his exciting work, visit his website at www. errolgordon-art.com.
Above: Bill Pickett Left: Passé Releve Artist Errol Gordon at the entrance of his studio
Written by Melani Morose Edelstein The Triton Mosaic photo, stadium drone photo by Brenda Cash
the First public High school on the peninsula Way back when the cliffs of Palos Verdes were a scenic, windswept plateau, the Los Angeles Uni fied School district hired local architects to design a new high school. It was during Southern Cali fornia’s explosive postwar population boom, and hundreds of schools were being built all across Los Angeles county.
Palos Verdes High School was the crown jewel and the only school located just a block from the ocean. In 1961 when the Palos Verdes School District became the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, Palos Verdes High School became the first public high school on the Peninsula with an
Then and now: The Triton mosaic, gifted by the Class of 1966 had fallen off the wall many years ago. The PVHS 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign has reframed it with PV stone and plans to replicate it as a mural above the stage.
opening enrollment of just over two thousand students. The school earned many awards for academic and athletic excellence before declining enrollments due to demographic changes led the district to close PVHS in 1991.
The PV High campus remained in use as Palos Verdes Intermediate School because the former intermediate school closed as part of the reorgani zation. In 2002, climbing enrollments and over crowding at Peninsula High School led the district to reopen Palos Verdes High School.
Today PVHS is holding firm, with enrollment hovering around 1,400 students.
Mr. James W. Kinney started as a history teacher and became a transcen dent campus and community figure during his 35 years as the Activities Director. His energy and dedication were emblematic of PVHS. Mr. Kinney retired in 1998 and sadly passed away in 2016. Still, his work ethic and un selfish commitment to students remain hallmarks of PVHS today, which is why Senior Park will be dedicated to him.
Senior Park is the heart of the PVHS campus, a central gathering place, and is considered the hub of the school. Graduations, performances, assemblies, classes, meetings, school dances, and many other activities are held in Senior Park. It is a place of rest and rejuvenation during the school day, but it desperately needed a makeover. Thanks to the PVHS 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign, sponsored by The James Kinney Estate and PVHS Booster Club, and the support of dozens of private donors, that is precisely what is happening now.
The first phase of the ambitious $250,000 project and capital campaign is already well underway. The project’s initial focus was to replace the damaged concrete stage and steps, and improve the stage area landscaping. Further planned work includes: installing a new Sea King mural and PVHS signage, relocating and refurbishing the large outdoor clock, and dedicating James W. Kinney Senior Park via a bronze tribute plaque which will also recognize donors.
The initial phase of the renovation was completed during the summer. Dean Decker, PVHS Booster Club President, explains, “We had to hustle to get the heavy work done while the students were not on campus. Pearce Construction (PVHS family) was exceptional, the stone work and improvements to the stage look phenomenal. We have much more to do including signage and the refurbishment of the clock which is being done by the Medawar family,” he says, illustrating what an astonishing community effort this is.
PV High School’s current students are fortunate to benefit from those who came before them. The Booster Club and all the community and alums set valuable examples for today’s high schoolers, not least of which is their financial and moral support for their alma mater. As the school marks its 60th birthday with this capital campaign, the ground work for future projects on campus is being laid, and the stage is being set for at least 60 more years of continued Sea King excellence.
Mr. Kinney having fun with students in Senior ParkTo see more photos from PV High through the decades, scan the QR code or visit palosverdesmagazine.com!
Since the school reopened 20 years ago, there has been a long series of private donations funding capital projects on the PVHS campus totalling approximately $6 million. Amazing! Money has been raised for the football field and the baseball complex. The swimming pool was another big one, and donors funded the sand volleyball courts. The grass practice fields were also privately funded. And it has not all been athletics, there has been sizable investment in the Arts, including improvements to the MPR to support drama and music. It is a very lengthy list, it is eye-popping.
—Dean Decker
The gorgeous campus is just a block from the ocean and remains a unique and magnificent place to attend school, but the years have taken a toll on the infrastructure, and improvements are necessary. With limited funds and several school sites to manage, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Uni fied School District cannot finance every major renovation and large-scale project, so schools of ten turn to private donors and their booster clubs for assistance.
The PVHS Booster Club, with the generosity and assistance of so many community members, is happy and proud to help take care of their beloved institution. The group is responsible for raising direct funds essential to programs and projects at the school that are not funded by the District. They are stepping it up this year by sponsoring the PVHS 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign. The money raised from the capital
campaign, which coincides with the school’s 60th birthday, will dramatically improve the school’s senior park and outdoor stage and honor the beloved James Kinney (“Mr. Kinney”), a former longtime teacher and activities director.
Dean Decker, who met his wife, Alyson Decker, at PVHS back in the 1980s, says PVHS Alumni and the local community are excited about the capital campaign, and the generosity of the donors has been extraordinary.
The Deckers, who have four children, all of them PV High Sea Kings, met at school through their shared connection with Mr. Kinney, who made a significant impact on many people over the years. A sizable gift from his estate, along with a massive following from graduates in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and even the early 1990’s, provided the backing and enthusiasm to initiate the campaign.
To learn more about the 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign inspired by Mr. James Kinney, Scan this QR code.
Dean Decker, President of the PV High Booster Club shown with his wife Alyson, both PV High Alumni
The community is us. We are a part of it. We may seek to be independent and disconnected but in reality we are all a part of our local communities. Just as one person in a family affects everyone else in the family. Each of us contributes something to our community. Some cities are called friendly, some are called unfriendly or exclusive. Some are called ‘party towns’.
The reality is that each community has its own personal ity, which is shaped by the citizens in it. How we treat each other, the events we create and participate in, as well as the individual unique personalities in all of us, form our community’s image and personality.
Family-wise, when you help to improve the life of some one in your family, your overall family benefits. The family members will feel more connected, valued, secure and at peace. Likewise, when we participate in community activi ties that improve the community, we all benefit from it.
Each city has many opportunities for recreation, learn ing, improvements, and fun. Maybe you have an idea of something that would be new, that isn’t happening and you could form a team to seek to implement it? We use the expression about having a ‘heart for the community.’ our physical heart not only keeps up alive, but our spiritual/soulful heart has a deep understand ing and care for many things. I encourage you to search your heart about where and what you should go towards in your community. Listen to your heart. Pay attention to what you feel about different ideas, causes, gatherings or events.
The ones you feel the most connection or passion about, may be the areas you can connect with. you don’t have to make an effort to get a part-time job (unless you want to!). But, you can consider where to give your time, energy and resources. It’s been said correctly, that the giver receives as much as the receiver. There is a heartfelt joy, satisfaction and meaning that we receive when we give to improve the communities around us.
Maybe you already are doing too much community action and then need to prioritize and do less? your heart can guide you in those decisions also, when less activity can be more beneficial and effective.
Thanks for reading and may you continue to develop and release your heart for the community.
Dr. Greg Allen at Artwalk Expression night with caricature artist and dream readers
Freedom 4 U and @heartsrespond presented Former NFL football star Mark Seay to the San Pedro High foot ball team, bringing inspiration and motivation to the team! The team was extremely grateful for the Coach George Allen legacy and all the tips and motiva tion Mark passed on to them.
on Thursday September 1, Freedom 4 U and Hearts Respond hosted Artwalk Expression Night at Hearts Respond in San Pedro. In partnership with the LAUSD and Boys and Girls Club of the LA Harbor, the night is intended to offer a creative outlet to youth and included free portrait sketching, dream interpretation, painting and musical performances by local youth. Artwalk Expression Night happens during First Thursday’s Artwalk in San Pedro. The next Expression Night will feature “Fusion Flow Collective” on october 6 at 7pm.
Hearts Respond is located at 333 W 7th Street in San Pedro.
Every month Freedom 4 U donates $100 to @spmealsonwheels to help fund their campaign to feed people in need!
San Pedro Meals on Wheels delivers about 100 meals daily throughout the week to those who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Thanks to sup porters and donators Freedom 4 U and Hearts Respond is able to help out other local charities through volunteering or financial support.
Lots of PV folks spotted at BeachLife Ranch, September 16-18. They came to hear the great music, meet up with old friends, new friends and enjoy the BeachLife. Described as Country and Americana, PV resident, Allen Sanford once again hit it out of the ballpark! A great time was had by all.
see more photos of any of these events,
Written and contributed by Maureen Hazard
over three hundred and fifty merry country revel ers descended upon Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates to attend the sold-out Portuguese Bend National Horse Show’s (PBNHS) festive “Saturday Night Supper” on September 10th. Held each year in the middle of the 3-day horse show, the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital-run (PCCH) event, organized by Chairs Lisa Noski and Heidi Sampson, is a welcome respite for hundreds of weary horse show volunteers and their guests in support of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
“Saturday Night Supper is a special tradition for us. It’s a festive outdoor cowboy party complete with delicious food, drinks and good old-fashioned fun for our amazing members and their guests,” explains PBNHS Chair Mer edith Edwards. “It’s a night everyone really looks forward to every year, and it provides a wonderful opportunity to invite friends in to see the remarkable transformation done to the park for our national horse show, now in its 64th year,” adds PCCH President Carey Romer.
The horse show’s spirited rock-themed saloon served up many a convivial “rocktail”, while The original Red onion, led by owner Jeff Earle, catered a delicious taco bar buffet enjoyed by all. Lively country tunes by Boomer McLennan and the Rhythm Rangers created a celebra tory energy for the evening and had the dirt dance floor hopping.
Since its inception in 1957, PCCH has raised over $20 million dollars for CHLA. Each year in early September, the group literally builds a buoyant, hometown, fun family atmosphere from the ground up at Ernie Howlett Park via rustic decorations, tasty food booths, festive boutiques and entertaining children’s activities. Proudly donning blue-and-white checked shirts, PCCH’s cheerful, multigenerational, all-volunteer brigade plans and staffs the PBNHS, with their cumulative efforts totaling over 15,000 hours each year.
Gary and Peggy Winterrowd with their son, Rod Winterrowd
Boomer McLennan & Rhythm Rangers
Kurt Slingsby, Alex Shen, Katie Slingsby and Allyson Shen
Valerie Goodman, Maureen Hazard, Craig Halverson and Jeff Henderson
The teens of PCCH
Meredith Edwards, Lisa Gentry, Noelle Giuliano, Carey Romer (Current President), Vall Light and Melanie McClean
Wendy Moulton, Jennifer Yakubik and Kristen Kouzmanoff
Chris Gibello, Chuck Miller, Carey and Tim Romer
Hannah Kouzmanoff and Kara Stender
Congratulations to the 8-10 year-old All Star team and their history making win! They are Palos Verdes Little League’s first team in history to become state champions.. The team celebrated their win with a well deserved old-fashioned community parade. The boys got a police escort from Malaga Cove School to Valmonte School Saturday August 27, 2022. “A celebration of great achievement is something that the community wants,” Chad MacAllister, PVLL board mem ber and proud father shared with Palos Verdes Magazine! Congratulations Boys!!
Watermelon Eating Contest
Senator Ben Allen, Rolling Hills Estates Councilmember Velveth Schmitz, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Pro Tem Britt Huff, Rolling Hills Estates Councilmember Debby Stegura, and Rolling Hills Estates Councilmember Steve Zuckerman
Bottom row left to right: PVLD Board Secretary Bob Parke, RHE Councilmember Steve Zuckerman, RHE Councilmember Velveth Schmitz, RHE Mayor Pro Tem Britt Huff, RH Councilmember Bea Dieringer, PVUSD Board Member Ami Gandhi, RHE Councilmember Debby Stegura, RPV Councilmember John Cruikshank
Top row left to right: Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, PVPUSD Board Member Richard Phillips, RPV Mayor David Bradley, PVPUSD Board Member Matthew Brach, PVLD Board Vice President Rosa Kwon Easton, PVE Councilmember Dawn Murdock, Supervisor Hahn Representative Erika Velazquez, Senator Ben Allen, RHE City Manager Greg Grammer
City of Rolling Hills Estates vs. LA County Lomita Sheriff Station Annual Volleyball game. Congrats to the Sheriff for this year’s victory!
Pony Rides to get the celebration started
The Marine Mammal Care Center celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Palos Verdes Estates home of Richard and Melanie Lundquist on Sept. 18. The event raised more than $200,000 for the non-profit along with a $1 million donation by the Lundquists.
The MMCC in San Pedro almost closed its doors to a lack of funding three years ago.
In it’s 30th year, thanks to Amber Beccera, presi dent and CEo of MMCC, along with many other people who have financially supported it through volunteerism and philanthropy, it is now thriving.
Melanie Lundquist announced she and her husband were pledging $1 million to the MMCC in honor of Becerra and her team for their efforts of revitalizing the organization.
Lundquist said the $1 million will be unrestricted and can be used however Becerra sees fit.
“There aren’t very many people that have the level of commitment, the dedication, that tenacity and that perseverance,” Melanie Lundquist said. “She knew in her heart of hearts, this was not going to fail.” she then poignantly looked down at Becerra’s children as she said, “whatever you want to do you can do, just put your mind to it. There is nothing you cannot do.”
It was a beautiful day and guests enjoyedlunch with a view as they listened to the speakers Richard and Melanie Lundquist shown with Amber Becerra and her two sons, Mateo and LeoDuring her very insightful and thoughtful presen tation, Melanie explained how this all came about by saying, “we have supported the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, the largest mammal rehabilita tion hospital in the world, for 12 years but it wasn’t until Richard heard Becerra on an NPR program in 2019 talking about the MMCC’s struggles that they become involved in the San Pedro-based organiza tion.” Melanie went on to further explain what a “travesty and tragedy” she felt it was that her gen eration hadn’t taken care of the planet and had left a “humongous mess” for future generations.
More than $200,000 was also raised at the event. The Lundquists have been donors and fundrais ers for decades, focusing mainly on education and health care, including Torrance Memorial Medical Center and its $480 million Melanie and Richard Lundquist Tower which opened in 2015. For more information, visit marinemammalcare.org
Matt Zarcufsky, MMCC Board Member and President of Mary Jo & Hank Greenberg Animal Welfare Foundation
Elizabeth Kendrick Galowich, MMCC Board Member and animal care volunteer
Melanie and Richard Lundquist shown with Amber Beccera
Professor Lihini Aluwihare of Scripps Institution of Oceanography discussed the effects that the DDT dumped off the Palos Verdes Coast in the1960’s has on humans and the wildlife here
Dr. Lauren Palmer, MMCC Director of Hospital Operations speaks to the group about the work done at the hospital
The Point Vicente Interpretive Center opened in 1984 with a mission to present and interpret the unique features and history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The almost 10,000-square-foot expanded museum, reopened in July 2006. Today it features exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Peninsula, with a special emphasis on the Pacific gray whale. Tours are led by members of the docent volunteer organization Los Serenos de Point Vicen te. From the patio, visitors enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean and the Point Vicente Lighthouse. In ad dition, this is an amazing whale watch site, providing spectacular opportunities to view the annual migra tion of the Pacific gray whale.
The Point Vicente Interpretive Center is located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verdes and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Los Serenos de Point Vicente docents were formed in answer to a need created by the open ing of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in 1984. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, which owns and operates the Interpretive Center, hired a Recreation Specialist to solicit and train volunteers. The volun teers provide educational information on the natural and cultural history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the gray whale migration. The first group of 25 volunteers underwent training with local experts on geology, history and marine mammals and after graduation, went to work sharing their enthusiasm and new-found knowledge with local and Interna tional visitors. The original class selected the name “Los Serenos de Point Vicente” which means “Night Watchman of Point Vicente” to represent their group. Later the group obtained separate non-profit recog nition as a formal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
The Los Serenos de Point Vicente docent orga nization shares information about the Peninsula with both children and adults visiting the museum. People from all around the world have visited the Interpretive Center and have marveled at the beauty of the area. Today over 100 docents are involved in the organization and continue to enrich the knowledge of both students and interested adults. The diversity of the docents blends itself into a highly compatible organization that provides a wealth of information to visitors at the Interpretive Center.
Top: Gray Whale Superpowers Exhibit
Center: A World In Motiion Exhibit
Bottom: Gray Whale Patio
The docents also lead hikes for the public and school children at the Forrestal Nature Reserve, the Alta Vicente Reserve, the Abalone Cove tide pools, and the habitat on the public trails of Trump National. Los Serenos are a co-sponsor for the an nual Whale of a Day Celebration and also provide valuable volunteer support for this event. Whale of a Day is held annually on a Saturday in March or April. Los Serenos members also participate in City of Rancho Palos Verdes community events such as the annual Fourth of July celebration. In 1988, the Los Serenos docents adopted the beach at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park and, in conjunction of Califor nia Coastal Clean-up day held in September,
sponsors the community cleanup of Abalone Cove.
Los Serenos continues to be a dynamic part of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and South Bay commu nity and encourages local residents and visitors to check out the recreational and educational oppor tunities provided by the Point Vicente Interpretive Center and Docent program.
Currently, there is a new docent class about to start their training and Palos Verdes Magazine was delighted to sit down with two of the Los Serenos docents Henry Jurgens and Micheal Friedman to get their insight of this program and what makes it so special to them!
Henry Jurgens, Rancho Palos Verdes resident, is a Point Vicente Interpretive Center Volunteer and a Los Serenos Docent on his 9th year in the program. Henry enjoys all aspects of the program especially the hikes, visits to tide pools, and docent led tours of the museum.
Teaching about the history of the Peninsula is something that is very special to Henry. He shared “What makes the The Point Vicente Interpretive Center so special is this is not a static museum, it is always evolving throughout the years!”
Michael Friedman is a resident of Palos Verdes Estates. Michael enjoys giving back to the commu nity by researching new programs and projects as a docent. He shared with us the learning process and how valuable it is to pass on to others. Michael enthusiastically exclaimed, “every time we come to work as a docent we learn something new.” He let us know the docent program is educational, social and a lot of fun!
Left: Docent Michael Friedman at 2022 Whale of a Day Below: Docent Henry Jurgens at Whale of a Day Docent Holiday PartyDana handled the sale of my mother’s house after she passed. His knowledge of the neighborhood and past sales was encyclopedic. He had a huge list of contractors, stagers, etc, and those who could help us get the house ready. He was responsive throughout the process and got us $100K more than any of the other 3 agents we had interviewed thought possible.
EB, Rolling Hills Estates
As a follower of real estate I make it a point to keep up with the current Palos Verdes market, trends and what is important to buyers and sellers. I thought I was quite knowledgable until I attended a fantastic lecture “Real Estate Realities and Myths” by Dana Graham, a top real estate broker in PV.
FG, Rancho Palos Verdes
Dana Graham is one of the best real estate agents I have ever used. He just gets the job done. He takes care of all the details from start to finish. He is always so positive throughout the whole process. His knowledge of the market and how buyers and sellers work is amazing. He is accessible (at all times!). He comes up with innovative ways to handle complex situations. Nothing is too hard for him to deal with.
HW, Rolling Hills Estates
I cannot recommend Dana highly enough. He was professional, helpful, responsive and a terrific communicator in assisting us in selling our childhood home after our mother’s death. In what could have been a very difficult transaction, both in terms of family dynamics and the condition of the house, he had a solution for every problem. He even assisted with, and directly handled, getting the house in shape to be shown as well as disposing of 60 years worth of contents. I recommend him without reservation!
SW, Palos Verdes Estates
Drafting to avoid dissension amongst children during the administration of a family trust is an important part of planning for the inevitable.
One area where I see a lot of dissension is when lifetime gifts have occurred. In the common scenario, funds have been distrib uted during life to one child to the exclusion of the others. It never seems to go well regardless of whether the distributions helped with the purchase of a house, medical bills or even payment of a grandchild’s college tuition.
The issues are the same. Reimbursement needs to be made with interest. It was a gift. If it was a gift why was a gift tax return not filed? It should be treated as an advance on inheritance with interest. It was supposed to be a loan and the documents are miss ing. You took advantage of mom and dad because you are lazy and could not hold down a job.
Ideally, during the planning process, we can deal with these lifetime gifts, loans, advances on inheritances or whatever you want to call them. When we learn of them during the trust ad ministration process, huge problems can arise that often fracture or ruin family relationships.
One option to dispel future confusion or address any inequities is through a trust amendment. Another option is to treat the dis tributions as a loan. My office creates a security agreement, a deed
gregory I. Becker, esQ.
State Bar License 183059 The Law office of Gregory I. Becker 1711 Via El Prado, Suite 103 Redondo Beach, CA 90277
of trust is then executed and recorded against real estate owned by the beneficiary. The Trust is then a secured creditor. This is tricky and there are lending rules to follow, but it can be done.
I frequently help clients with private money lending and this ex perience helps here. It is very common for investors to loan money out at 10 percent to borrowers who do not want to hassle with the time-consuming and frustrating underwriting process.
When intra-family loans need to be memorialized, the docu mentation is similar to private money lending documentation. Ultimately, the process leads to more certainty that the trust estate will be “calmly” administered. And, by providing the formal loan, we have added protection against an underfunded trust estate.
Through a thorough conversation with my clients, I can under stand their intent in making the prior distributions. I then work with them to structure an outcome that leaves no uncertainty about their intent. Even if inequities do arise, by addressing the distributions we can help mitigate envy and paranoia amongst beneficiaries.
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution banned “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” beginning in January 1920. The noble experiment of Prohibition began.
Not long after this, smugglers, hijackers, and other assorted criminals exploited the rugged coastline and secluded coves of Palos Verdes to reap ill-gotten gains from forbidden cargoes of bootlegged booze.
The smuggling of popular alcoholic beverages continued a centuries-long tradition of illicit trade and violence that continues to this day along the area’s shoreline with human trafficking and drugs.
According to the book Rum War at Sea by Mal colm F. Willoughby, strong demand for liquor along the Pacific Coast during Prohibition was centered chiefly around the coastal areas of Puget Sound, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles area played a central role in Southern California to meet this demand.
The Los Angeles Times reported in 1922 that about half of the illicit cargo of the Southland coast landed at the wharves of Los Angeles Harbor with the remainder landing along the coastline from Point Vicente to Point Fermin.
The isolated coves of Portuguese Bend were a favorite landing point during Prohibition. Smugglers also would land locally at Point Dume, Wilmington, Long Beach, and the Playa del Ray Pier and Malibu Piers.
Liquor smuggling was no small industry; it re portedly ranked as one of the leading industries in the state, with Scotch Whisky the most prevalent smuggled beverage. By 1926, the Times reported that 150,000 cases of Scotch Whisky valued at more than $10,000,000.00 were imported annually into Southern California.
Not surprisingly the rise of organized crime and violence including shootouts grew along with the rise in profits, and the Palos Verdes area received its fair share.
Image courtesy the Palos Verdes Library District Local History Collection.In June 1922, a 100-foot smuggling vessel signaled to allies on shore and attempted to land a small boat at Portuguese Bend, but the “mother ship” extinguished its lights and fled after police from the Los Angeles Harbor were notified and hurried to the scene.
on September 10, 1924, according to the Times, investigators from the county’s District Attorney’s office fought a “spectacular gun fight” with rum runners on the beach at Portuguese Bend. The smugglers were caught red-handed loading liquor from a speedboat into their automobiles. Shots were exchanged for several minutes until the smugglers jumped into their cars and fled toward Point Fermin.
Portuguese Bend was in the news again just months later when 1500 cases of booze fell into the ocean from a foundering vessel in a botched smuggling attempt.
During Prohibition, rum runners generally purchased the alcohol from syndicates based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Then large vessels laden with their illicit cargo sailed south and plied the shores of the West Coast before returning to Canada to resupply. Liquor was also smuggled in from Mexico.
Smuggling incidents along the Palos Verdes Pen insula were typical of operations along the Califor nia coast: steam-powered mother ships would wait until nightfall to unload hundreds of cases of liquor onto smaller fast “contact” boats that stealthily sped to their favored landing points on shore.
once the speedboats arrived onshore, their cargo was unloaded onto tarpaulin-covered trucks. Portu guese Bend was favored particularly by smugglers due to its seclusion and because there was a road
that ran from Portuguese Bend through the hills that connected to Redondo Beach at one end with Pacific Avenue in San Pedro at the other.
In the early years of Prohibition, hapless au thorities complained that they didn’t even have a rowboat to combat the speedy rum runners. A local smuggler told the Times in 1926 that only about one boat of liquor was caught for every 100 delivered ashore.
It fell to the United States Treasury Department and its subdivisions to try to enforce Prohibition, with the Coast Guard charged to interdict the flow of alcohol. Sheriffs and the police did their best lo cally to assist.
Efforts to repeal the increasingly unpopular Prohibition rose after the stock market crashed in october 1929. The ban on alcohol led to years of in creased corruption, the rise of organized crime, and swamped courts from liquor cases.
Finally, on December 5, 1933 the 21st Amend ment to the Constitution was ratified. Prohibition was over.
Rum runners fled Palos Verdes and moved on to other criminal activity now that the transporta tion and sale of alcohol was legal. But maritime smuggling of other kinds along the shores of Palos Verdes continues to this day.
Article brought to you from the Palos Verdes Library District, Local History Center. For more information visit pvld.org/localhistory and/or the digital repository palosverdeshistory.org. If you have questions about local history email localhistory@pvld.org.
Dennis Piotrowski & Monique Sugimoto are Adult Services Librarians at the Palos Verdes Library District. “Diatome”, Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, 1785-2005, National Archives and Records Administration-College Park (Maryland).
The Bhatia Family includes Nitin and Jeramie, as well as Diva (13 years old) and Bodhi (11 years old.)
Nitin works for UC Irvine as the Chairman of orthope dics, specializing in spine surgery. Jeramie is a physician assistant for The Spa at South Bay Plastic Surgeons. Both Diva and Bodhi attend Rolling Hills Country Day School. Nitin was born and raised in Palos Verdes and his family still lives close by. They moved here together in 2006 and currently reside in Malaga Cove. There is a bit of a friendly family rivalry as Nitin is a Stanford Cardinal through and through and Jeramie is a USC Trojan—fight on! pet’s name and breed: our dogs are Astro and Archer. Both boys are Mini Goldendoodles pet’s age:
Astro just turned three on September 7 and Archer will be two on october where/why did you get your pet?
We got Astro in 2019 because our kids were finally at a great age for us to have a family dog. Nitin also insists that I “tricked” him into getting Astro (which is partially true). But don’t be fooled, he and Astro are best friends! We got Archer in 2020 because I decided that Astro needed a friend and, well, 2020 made us do it. They are best buds! our daughter has been obsessed with outer space since she was little so we used that as our inspiration to name them both.
anything special or unusual about them(talents/quirks)?
I think the most special thing about both of them is how much they look alike, especially because of their white markings and coloring. We get asked routinely if they are brothers. They, in fact, aren’t even from the same breeder, much less have a common parent. Based on breeder predictions, their size shouldn’t have been so similar but they weigh exactly the same.
what do you like best about your pet?
We love the joy that they bring us each day. Through their constant kisses and wags, they show us that they are chronically happy. Their happiest times are at the end of the day when we all get home and when they help us tuck the kids in at night.
any funny stories?
We joke that Archer thinks he is a cat or a billy goat be cause of the way he walks along the back of our couch and climbs up on us. He also, in true CoVID puppy form, needs to be touching a human at all times. When all else fails, he is laying on my feet wherever I am sitting! We call Astro a stubborn old man. He does everything on his own terms and refuses to learn any tricks besides sit and shake, which he also only does when he feels like it. He’s been like that since the day we brought home!
How spoiled is your pet?
So spoiled that when I come back in my next life I want to be one of them!
Since 1998, Belmont Village has safely delivered an unparalleled senior living experience for thousands of families. Collaborations with experts from the nation’s top healthcare institutions and universities, including UCLA and USC, have established our national leadership in demonstrably effective cognitive health and wellness programs. Combining the highest levels of hospitality and care, our communities make life worth living.
BelmontVillage.com/RanchoPalosVerdes
Medication management with licensed nurse on-site 24/7 | Circle of Friends® award-winning memory care
Dedicated Alzheimer’s care | Physical therapy, rehabilitation and fitness | Nationally-recognized, highly trained staff
Book a visit to our Lunada Bay studio by emailing: hello@brendemarshall.com or calling: 424-206-9650
www.BrendeMarshall.com
Brende Marshall Design is a Palos Verdes based interior design firm that specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodels, custom cabinetry, high end furnishings, and window treatments. With over 20 years of experience in design projects, our dedicated staff provides the highest level of client service.
Let’s counterbalance the Halloween sweets with these fun, festive and healthy Halloween treats!
BaNaNa gHosts:
1. Peel bananas and cut in half.
2. insert mini chocolate chips to look like two eyes and a mouth
clemeNtINe pumpKINs:
1. Peel clementines, careful to keep fruit intact.
2. insert a thinly sliced piece of celery into clementine centers as “stems.”
clemeNtINe JacK-o laNterNs:
use a black Sharpie marker to draw a jack-o-lantern face on your clementines.
wItcHes aNd goBlIN strINg cHeese FINgers:
1. Cut sticks of mozzarella cheese in half.
2. on the flatter side of the un-cut edge, hollow out a shallow area for the nail.
3. Carve small horizontal wedges to indicate the finger joints.
4. Cut red or green bell peppers into desired nail shapes and sizes.
5. attach bell pepper “nails” to the hollowed out “nail bed” with a little bit of cream cheese.
rottINg apple teetH:
1. Cut an apple into six pieces lengthwise.
2. remove the core and cut out a 45-degree angle from the rounded part of the apple, careful to keep the apple intact.
3. rinse apples in water to prevent browning, and then dry.
4. Spread peanut butter into the 45-degree cut out.
5. attach almond slices by gently pushing them into the bottom flesh of the apple. rotate the apple and repeat.
Lisa Boyd – Baker Boyd’s Batch
Cooking Classes – Recipes – Baked Goods
Follow on Instagram: @BakerBoydsBatch
Latest info and classes: www.bakerboydsbatch.com
Contact: bakerboydsbatch@gmail.com
Every day at The Canterbury provides fresh opportunities for growth, connection, and discovery. Here, the foundation of a life well lived is based on proactive wellness, life-long learning, and community connection. Find the choice you deserve, the freedom you desire, and the flexibility you can count on—because life is what you make of it.
Extraordinary properties, extraordinary representation. GERARD BISIGNANO is leading the way in coastal luxury properties. Visit coastalluxuryliving.com for information on the best homes on the Pacific Coast.
Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated
5427 REESE ROAD, TORRANCE
Here’s your opportunity to live in the most sought after neighborhood in Torrance —“Candy Cane Lane” of Seaside Ranchos! Truly an exceptional home of 3,000+ sq ft of living space PLUS a 3,000 sq ft garage, and additional 1-bedroom ADU for income potential. 4 beds | 4 baths | 4,567 Sq Ft Home (approx.) | Offered at $2,645,000
Enjoy resort-like amenities in the in the very desirable The Village Seascape 3 community.
3 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,839 Sq Ft Home (approx.) | Offered at $1,675,000
A William Cody-designed retreat on the historic Tamarisk Golf Course. This artful mid-century escape features 10,000 sq. ft. of living space with gorgeous views of the golf course and Santa Rosa Mountains.
7 Beds | 7 Baths | 10,000 Sq Ft (approx.) | For Lease $45,000/mo
