Palisades-News-June-3-2015-

June 3, 2015 Palisades News Page 3Please, Fix the FlagFourth of July HomeDecorating ContestFind your American flags, pull out thebunting and dream up an originalpatriotic design, because the annualPAPA/Joan Sather Real Estate PatrioticHome Decorating Contest guidelines are set.All homes in Pacific Palisades are eligible.Yes, that means those people who live in theHighlands, Castellammare and the Rivieraand whose neighborhoods produced absolutelyno entries last year—zero, zilch,nada. (Put out a flag, for heaven’s sake.)The steps to enter are simple: 1) decorate,giving it your best patriotic effort; 2)upload a photo of your home to the PacificPalisades Fourth of July Celebration pageon Facebook, or email it to info@palisadeparade.organd professionals will upload itto Facebook for you (remember to includeyour address). The deadline is July 1.Preliminary judging of the submittedphotos will take place on July 2. The topchoices will be viewed personally by a panelof local celebrities on July 3.The top prize is a flag that flew over theU.S. Capitol as well as an opportunity tojudge next year’s contest. The top 10 finalistswill also receive prizes from local businessesand recognition certificates.Visit: palisadesparade.org, joansath -er.com, or email joan@joansather.com.Pacific Palisades resident Stuart Muller sent us a photograph of the Americanflag twisted on a pole that flies above the 881 Alma Real building on May 22.“The picture was taken November 14, 2014, and it [the flag] remains the same,”Mueller wrote. “At the time, I looked for a manager’s office on the directoryand also asked around for someone to talk to, but found neither.”Over Memorial Day, the flag remained unchanged, and the News is wonderingif anyone in the building might alert the owner so that the American flag canfly freely.Photo: Stuart MullerBite Nite Coming SoonThe Pacific Palisades Chamber ofCommerce is excited to announceits first Bite Nite Foodie FestFundraising event from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday,June 13, at the Pacific PalisadesWoman’s Club.The community is invited to enjoyfood samples from local restaurants Gladstones,Tivoli, Casa Nostra Ristorante, ElCholo, Kay N Dave’s Cantina, Matthew’sGarden Café, Dukes Malibu and Vittorio’sRistorante Italiano. The Yogurt Shoppe,Viktor Benes Bakery and All-Pro HealthFoods will also have samples to try.Tierray Vino winery will provide thewine; Party Pizzazz will show off partywares; and there will be jazz music featuringthe Bluecat Voice Studio.Special guest Madame Sylvia Wu willsign her book Madame Wu’s Garden. She isa celebrated restauranteur, author and philanthropist.In 1959, Wu and her husbandopened Madame Wu’s Garden restaurantin Santa Monica and it became well-knownworldwide for its celebrity clientele whoincluded, among others, Cary Grant, MaeWest, George Burns, Charlton Heston,Elizabeth Taylor, Johnny Carson, CarolBurnett, Walter Matthau, Robert Redford,Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg,Governor Pete Wilson, PresidentRonald Reagan and Princess Grace Kelly.Not only will it be a night of tasting, butproceeds will go to the Chamber of Commerceand the Woman’s Club CapitalCampaign. Tickets are $25 per person or$45 for a couple and can be purchased atthe Chamber office at 15330 Antioch St.Call (310) 459-7963.Library Book SaleTo be Held June 6The Friends of the Palisades Branch Librarywill hold a gently used book sale from8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6,in the library parking lot, 861 Alma Real Dr.Thanks to generous donations fromcommunity members, the sale will featurean excellent collection of well-priced books,DVDs and CDs.Sales depend on the continuing supportof volunteers, and the Friends are grateful forthe time and energy these people provide.In case of inclement weather, the sale willbe postponed until the following Saturday.Tunnel Accidents SpurCitizen Kalp into ActionToo often, westbound PCH motoristsslam on their brakes entering theblind curve at the McClure Tunnelbecause of stopped traffic. There are nosigns warning that the freeway is ending,and in late afternoon or early evening, thesetting sun can hinder views as driversexit the tunnel, making it difficult to seestopped cars.After two particularly horrific accidents,Pacific Palisades resident Amy Kalp,who is vice president of the LADP WestBureau Traffic Committee, took action.Last June, a child was killed when two bigrigs and a minivan collided around 12:35p.m. on the westbound 10 Freeway at theMcClure Tunnel, according to the CaliforniaHighway Patrol. Nine people were injured,seven of them passengers in the minivan.“Many people do not realize, especiallynon-locals, that when you come out of theMcClure Tunnel you are no longer on afreeway and the speed limit is now 45 mph,”Kalp said. “If you are not going the speedlimit, and are not familiar with the roadinside the tunnel, your reaction time is reducedor will be inadequate to avoid a trafficcollision with the cars in front of you.”At the June 2014 PCH Task Force meeting,Kalp suggested that Caltrans upgradeand add more signage at the tunnel. “Wecan’t control driver behavior or skill, butwe can try to do our part to prevent accidents,”she said, and Caltrans agreed toconduct an investigation.In August, another fatal crash occurredin the same McClure location at 5:50 a.m.,involving a motorcyclist and an unknownmodeled-sedan type.Later that month, Caltrans told Kalpthey had done the field investigation andwould proceed with a project to upgradethis section of the highway.For the short term, they installed atrailer with a warning message: “StoppedTraffic Ahead.”But as Kalp pointed out last month, “Itneeds to be upgraded because the signdoesn’t reflect the flow on PCH. That wholeintersection needs to be redone.”At the May PCH Task Force meeting,Caltrans announced that it has agreed to a$3- to $4-million project that will includenew lighting for the tunnel, painting and achangeable message sign that will includean advisory speed. When traffic starts tocome to a stop (such as on hot beach weekends),the message sign will reflect realtimeconditions.Additionally, it was suggested that a“Freeway Ending” sign be posted nearer theCloverfield exit, in order to prepare driversfor the lower speed ahead. Caltrans is consideringthe suggestion. Scheduled completionfor the safety upgrades is 2017.—SUE PASCOEWoman’s Club to Honor 90-Year-OldsThe Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club will host its annual luncheon honoringPalisadians 90 years and older on Saturday, June 6, from 12 to 2:30 p.m. at theclubhouse, 901 Haverford.This free celebration will include lunch and entertainment, including a visitby the Santa Monica Oceanaires, a popular barbershop chorus. Longtime residentBill Bruns, an adviser with the Palisades News, will be guest speaker.Call Fay Vahdani at (310) 699-5885 to RSVP.