INSIDE THIS ISSUE DISASTER READINESS GUIDE Vol. 2, No. 6 • January 20, 2016 Uniting the Community with News, Features and Commentary Circulation: 15,000 • $1.00 DRB Challenges BeautifulBeautiful PacificPacific PalisadesPalisades Caruso’s Plans, Architecture By SUE PASCOE Editor he Pacific Palisades Design Review Board (DRB) met on January 13 in TMercer Hall at Palisades High to be - gin its mandated examination of Caruso Af- filiated’s design plans for Palisades Village. DRB members, as well as residents who spoke during the public comment period, expressed disappointment with the archi- tectural look of Caruso’s proposed develop- ment, and his team of architects must now literally “go back to the drawing board” prior to a second DRB meeting. Three members of the L.A. City Plan- ning Department—Lakisha Hull, Michelle Levy and Harden Carter—explained that Caruso Affiliated’s appearance before the DRB was the first in a multi-step public This stunning sunset was captured recently by staff photographer Wendy Anderson near Temescal Canyon Road and Pacific hearing process that all projects requesting Coast Highway. Sometimes there are no words to describe the beauty of Pacific Palisades. Photo: Wendy Price Anderson (Continued on Page 8) Michelle King Makes PaliHi Proud By LAUREL BUSBY Brewster, and she participated on the drill Staff Writer team in 10th grade and was a cheerleader in 11th grade. “When it was football night and PaliHi grad is taking over Los An- you marched through the tunnel, you could geles Unified School District. hear the drums. It was really loud, and then ALAUSD, the nation’s second largest you were out on the field.” The homecom- school district with approximately 650,000 ing after she graduated, she returned to the students, has hired 1979 Pali grad Michelle school as was the tradition. “I had my cheer King as its new superintendent. outfit on, and I cheered at homecoming.” As she enters her new position, she Fellow PaliHi alum Lecia Taylor-Womack brings to it fond memories of her Palisades reminisced about King in an email: “We High School days. “Pali was an amazing were varsity cheerleaders together. Her community,” King said. “It was very diverse. teeth shined straight through her braces, I was bused as were my children.” Her three after which the most inviting, friendliest daughters also graduated from PaliHi. “I smile beamed through. I’m so happy for remember being in a community of people her. I remember she always walked embrac- from all backgrounds. There were a lot of ing all her textbooks as if they were part of her wardrobe.” King’s success has inspired Michelle Brewster’s Palisades High senior clubs and school spirit.” Michelle King yearbook photo While at Pali, King’s name was Michelle Taylor-Womack to step forward to live her own dreams. “I’m so proud of her. Her wood and Windsor Hills Elementary beautiful personality, wits and education School, which is just east of Culver City. She Postal Customer Postal have paid off.” continued to Palms Junior High School be- On an alumni Facebook page, some of fore entering Palisades High. her classmates remember King as a strong After graduating from Pali and UCLA, **************ECRWSSEDDM************* math and science student, according to cur- King earned a master’s of science in ad- rent PaliHi teacher Holly Korbonski, who ministration from Pepperdine University. also graduated in 1979. King went on to earn She is currently working on a doctorate in Permit #422 Permit Pasadena, CA Pasadena, a bachelor’s degree in biology from UCLA. education at USC. PAID The superintendent, who will garner King’s 38-year career within LAUSD has U.S. Postage U.S. $350,000 base pay in her new position, included time working as a teaching assis- Presorted Standard Presorted started out her educational path attending tant, a science and math teacher in Granada Century Park Elementary School in Ingle- (Continued on Page 23) Page 2 Palisades News January 20, 2016 AVAILABLEAAVVVAILABLEAILABLE PROPERTIESPROPERTIESPR OPENOPEOOPPEN SUNSUN 1-41-4 IINN EESCRESCROWSCROW CORNERCORNERRNER IINN EESCROWESCRSSCCR LOTLOOWT ININT CHIC ARCHITECHTURALARCHITECHTURAL 1920s SPANISHSP ANISH ESTATEESTTAAATETE ALPHABET STREETSSTREETALPHABE WITH DAZZLINGAZZLING VIEWS IN RIVIERARIVIERIN $5$5,299,000 | 1101Hartzell.com1101Hartzell.com $5,997,000 | Charmelestate.comCharmelestate.com $5,995,000,995,$5 000 | 945Corsica.com OPENOPEOPEENN SUNSUN 1-41-4 ININ ESCROWEESCRSCROW ININ ESCROWEESCRSCROW NEW CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION STORYBOOKBOOKYORST HOME ON COZYC STARTERSTTARAR ER HOMET HOME IN IN ABC’S CULDESACCULDESAC ELEL MEDIO BLUFFSUFFS $3$3,489,000 489 000 | 1042 Embury.comEmbury.com $2,695,000695$2, 000 | 15861SeabecCircle.com15861SeabecCircle.com $1,992,$1,992,000992,000 | 668 Muskingum.com IINN EESCROWESCRSCROW NEWNEW LISTINGLISTING | OPENPEN TUESTUESES 11-211-2 COASTCOASTALSTTALAL VIEW FANTASTICFANTTASTICASTIC SANTASANTTAA FRESHLYFRESHLRESHLLYY REMODELED IN CONTEMPORARYCONTEMPORARY MONICA OPPORTUNITYOPPORAMONIC OPPORTUNITY PRIME BRETNWOODBREPRIME TNWOOD $2,399,000 | 730Lachman.com $2,399,000000,$2,399 | 945 BerkBerkeleyeley St. $1,387,000$1,3871,3877,,000 | 1301Bundy.com1301Bundy1301Bundy.com #1 PalisadesPalisades BrokerBroker NearlyNearllyy $1 Billion in Homes SSoldold | WSJ’sWSJ ’’ss TopTop 100 AAgentsts NationwideNagen tion widewide | Giving 10% of each ccommissionommissionommission toto charcharity ity ANTHONYANTHONY MARGULEAS 310.663.4606 | Info@AmalfiEstates.comInfo@AmalfiEstates.com AmalfiEstates.comAmalfiEstates.com CalBRE#01173073CalBRE#01173073 January 20, 2016 Palisades News Page 3 Marquez Celebrates New Principal By SUE PASCOE Editor e’s back! Ben Meritt, the new principal at Marquez Elementary HCharter School, was introduced to students and parents at a school-wide morning assembly on Monday, January 11. The unveiling of the new schoolyard courtyard—the main quad—also took place at the assembly as school resumed after a three-week break. Meritt, who was born in the Philippines and moved to Central California when he was six, served as a fourth-grade teacher at Marquez from 1998-2002 and later worked at Paul Revere Middle School. “I’m excited to be back,” Meritt told the News. “It’s wonderful. Some of the same teachers I taught with are here. I know some A young student examines the Marquez logo in the center of the newly of the teachers’ assistants. I know some of Ben Meritt is the new Marquez principal. Photo: Shelby Pascoe opened courtyard. Photo: Shelby Pascoe the parents, who even though their children said, “When I heard who our new principal teacher Eliza Smith, who helps Marquez Local District West Cheryl Hildreth stated, are no longer at the school, still volunteer.” was, I couldn’t wait to get back to school.” students transition to Revere. “I knew Ben “I was compelled to remove Dr. Hananel At a teacher’s meeting held prior to the She said that when she first came to the at Revere.” as the principal at Marquez Elementary assembly, teachers were upbeat about com- school, she shared a classroom with Meritt, After teaching at Marquez, Meritt went School. A full investigation of the incident ing back to the campus and greeting their and credited him with helping her through to Paul Revere and taught sixth grade for a began immediately. Please know that due to new leader. her first year. semester before he was promoted to be the confidentiality and privacy laws, and out of Fourth-grade teacher Theresa Chaides “We’re very excited,” said fifth-grade dean of student services. He worked there respect to the families of the young students for two years before he was displaced for involved, I am not able to share specifics of lack of seniority. the incident with the school community.” He was highly respected at Revere. Sixth- The new principal was asked if he knew grade teacher Melvin Agcaoli told Smith about the incident. He said he did, but when he heard the news about Meritt com- added, “I’ll assess the situation now. I’ll start ing to Marquez, “He will be wonderful. He’s fresh. I’ll stay positive.” so calm and competent.” And as the student body sang its school Smith and Chaides agreed. “He comes song, “Give a Cheer for Marquez,” Meritt from the classroom. He understands teach- was the first to say “Rah.” ers and the problems they face.” After graduating from high school in Lemoore, Meritt attended UCLA and Singing Valentine earned a degree in psychology in 1988. He then received his teaching and administra- Is the Perfect tive credentials from Cal State Northridge. Following Revere, he taught fifth grade at Alta Loma for a year before the school Gift Solution population dropped, leaving him to scram- Your special loved one doesn’t want jew- ble for another position, which he found at els or more material possessions. Your spe- Sun Valley High School: assistant principal cial loved one doesn’t want chocolates, Principal Meritt is all smiles as Jacob Posner (left) and Jack Bentley (center) try to get for two years. because she (or he) is watching her diet. students’ attention in order to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Photo: Shelby Pascoe Once again displaced, Meritt worked at Your special loved one doesn’t want flowers, Vista Middle School and at Millikan Mid- because they grow year-round in Pacific dle School before applying for the top po- Palisades. What does your special loved one sition at Marquez. want for Valentine’s Day? Name Caruso’s Development With his initial meeting with the teachers A singing valentine that will be delivered uring a meeting on December 17, Swarthmore project. “Giving it a name like before school on January 11, Meritt said: by an Oceanaires barbershop quartet to the News asked developer Rick ‘Palisades Villages’ reeks of development “My goal is to be in the classroom to sup- that person’s home or office. This service is DCaruso what his new development and, well . mall.