TheFoghorn

Newsletter of the Ladera Linda Homeowner’s Association

November 2014 LLHOA Board 2014/2015

Featured in this Issue*Beach Party Wrap-up *Honoring Neighborhood Veterans*Tips for Raccoon Encounters *EDCO Special Services*Ladera Linda Holiday Party *Original Residents Reminisce

TrappersHave a problem with raccoons terrorizing your yard? Then here’s one way to help solve the problem, if you think you have what it takes. The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Control and Care says residents may trap raccoons and other non-endangered wild animals in their yards, but don’t expect any help.

That’s because Animal Control no longer provides traps or picks up trapped animals. It’s all up to you. Residents can rent or buy traps from an animal feed or supply store, like Lomita Feed.

But the real problem will be what to do with the critter once it’s in the trap. Ever seen a riled-up raccoon in a cage? On second thought, it just might be easier to hire a professional trapper.

San Ramon Project Grand OpeningAfter months of construction, RPV city officials attended the grand opening of the San Ra-mon drainage system on Oct. 15. The $18.9 million project is designed to stop the erosion of San Ramon Canyon due to water runoff during storms, which caused flooding on 25th Street in San Pedro.

Uplifting OpportunityThe City of Rancho Palos Verdes has a program to fix uplifted sidewalks and driveway aprons in front of your home, but it might not be free.

The purpose of the program is to repair potentially dangerous portions of existing side-walks, driveway approaches and parkways, which could cause a problem for pedestri-ans. The repairs will be made by either grinding down uplifts or removing and replacing the damaged areas.

Grinding will be done in 30-40 minutes at no cost. However, homeowners will be charged a maximum of $500 for removal and replacement repairs. Any cost over $500 will be paid by the city.

If you’d like to report an uplift affecting your property, fill out a maintenance request form on the city website or call Public Works at (310) 544-5252

Klickety KlattBob Klatt on Searaven Drive is our official neighborhood crier. With a click of the “send” icon, he emails timely information to residents and also maintains the homeowners’ website (www.palosverdes.com/llhoa password “Forrestal”). If you’re not receiving his emails and would like to, contact Bob at r.klatt@cox.net. If you are receiving them and would rather not, let Bob know.

Coming Home American author Thomas Wolf wrote a novel titled “You Can’t Go Home Again,” but it seems a group of people who grew up as teenagers in Ladera Linda in the 1960’s never read it. Last August, 11 of the former teens who all lived on Vigilance Drive, cruised back into the old neighborhood for a nostalgic visit. The reunion was organized by Judy Lang Mitchell, who lived at 3719 Vigilance, the current home of Sheldon and Grace Russell. She’s been married 41 years to Mark Mitchell, who lived across the street at 3704, now the home of Rachel Diffendahl. Among the others coming back was Terry Shippy who lived at 3712 Vigilance. “The lady at Terry’s home was so kind to allow him to come in and see how the home has changed,” Mitchell said. “He was very touched by that.” The hospitable lady was Lisa Lehman, who lives there with her husband Jim. Growing up in a new neighborhood by the ocean, surrounded by open fields and blowing tumbleweeds, far from other bustling suburbs in the South Bay, the only commer-cial establishment for miles was a Mobil gas station on the corner of Forrestal and Palos Verdes Drive South. The teenagers quickly bonded and formed a friendship that would last nearly 50 years. Most of their mothers stayed at home, so there was always a sense of security and parental guidance. Their fathers included aerospace engineers, a medical doctor, a vice president of a manufacturing firm, a future Navy admiral and an assistant school superin-tendent. The teens grew up to build careers of their own in such fields as medicine, hotel management, engineering, construction, education and speech therapy. Growing up, the teens found solace in Ladera Linda’s isolation. Mitchell says they kept themselves busy riding skate boards, hiking trails, playing pool and basketball and surfing at the Portuguese Bend Club. They also jumped off the old pier near the PBC, while some of the more daring would leap off the rocks near the Abalone Cove caves.They also enjoyed the Vigilance block parties with barbeques, volleyball and other street games. The parties would last into the evening hours, with parents engaged in a game of passing grapefruits between their legs. “At our age, we thought they looked ridiculous, but they had a great time together,” Mitchell said. When they did leave the confines of Ladera Linda, their favorite destinations were a miniature golf course on PCH, stopping for an Orange Julius or bowling a few lines at the Gable House or Palos Verdes Bowl. They would caravan out of the neighborhood, with the Mitchell’s blue Oldsmobile convertible leading the way.

Trash TalkEDCO Disposal, our neighborhood trash company, has a few special services and discounts you can take advantage of.

For example, it offers a 10 percent discount to seniors 65 and older. You can get an applica-tion from the EDCO website, or you can pick one up at the RPV City Hall. Then complete the form and send it to EDCO. Once your request is approved, the discount will be reflect-ed on your next bill.

And any resident who pays for service a year in advance, will receive a five percent dis-count. To qualify, the advance payment must be made in July.

For an extra fee, EDCO will provide backyard service. This includes taking the trash bins out to the street and returning them to the yard after being dumped. Pup truck service is also available for customers with large driveways. Contact EDCO for information and pricing.EDCO also offers free pick up of bulk items, like TVs and furniture, up to four times a year. Let ECO know if you’d like this service.

Contact EDCO at www.edcodisposal.com/ranchopalosverdes or call (310) 540-2977.

Most of the kids went to Palos Verdes High School. To get there, they rode the bus until they got their driver’s licenses. The trip took about 30 minutes, with stops in Portuguese Bend to pick more students. Getting everyone together after all those years was a challenge for Mitchell and the others. She said they began discussing it in 2001, but then 9/11 happened and they all “just let it go.” Then, last January, Mitchell was contacted by Peter Joyce, who asked her to try again. Peter lived at 3670 Vigilance, currently occupied by LLHOA President Susan Wilcox. “From that time on, we spent months shooting emails back and forth and posting old photos that some of us dug up,” Mitchell said. “We shared memories and laughs. It was awe-some!” Some of the former Ladera Linda residents came from as far away as Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia to join the reunion and see how much the old neighborhood had changed. Most of the attendees were gone when the utilities were put underground and were amazed how it improved the landscape. They were also wowed by how much people had improved or expanded their homes. “But the most impressive thing to everyone was the view from their old backyards,” Mitchell said. “They loved it and all confessed they never paid as much attention to it and they should have.”

One of the Mitchell kids in his home on Vigilance Drive circa 1960s

“Our Corner of Paradise”The following local real estate report was prepared for the Foghorn by LLHOA board member and Shorewood realtor Jack Fleming.

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2014 has been a great year for Rancho Palos Verdes real estate. In RPV, the average sales price is up 5.25% versus 2013. Ladera Linda did slightly better, with an increase of 6.76% over 2013.

Seven homes were sold in “our corner of paradise” since the first of the year for an average price of $1,234,000, resulting with an average price per sq. ft. of $562! These homes sold within 34 days of listing the property, which is terrific when compared to 69 days for all of RPV! And the average square footage price for all of RPV is $512, $50 less than Ladera Linda!

While there are no guarantees, the California Housing Market Forecast prepared by the California Association of Realtors forecasts a 5.2% increase in the median home price in 2015. That would put Ladera Linda in line for an average price increase of $64,200. That is significant!

As of 10/31 there were two homes for sale in the neighborhood:3855 Pirate Dr.2,186 sq.ft. 4 Beds 2 Baths $1,249,0003519 Heroic Dr. 2,036 sq.ft. 4 Beds 2 Baths $1,199,800

Honoring Ladera Linda VeteransIn recognition of this month’s Veterans Day, we are featuring some of the servicemembers who live right here in Ladera Linda. They represent serving through periods from World War II through the Gulf War. Can you tell who they are from the time they were in uniform? Answers are at the bottom of the page.

ANSWERS: (From Left to Right then Top to Bottom) George Fink, Bill Foster, Bob Mucha, Roger Mills, Jim Lehman, Bob Marohn, Lisa Lehman

Annual Ladera Linda Beach PartySunday, September 7th, many Ladera Linda residents and their families enjoyed a warm, beautiful day on the beach at the Portuguese Bend Club for our annual Beach Party. Folks enjoyed a “Mexican Fiesta” with a taco buffet then enjoyed desserts provided by various neighborhood bakers. The kids had fun playing many games complete with prizes and candy. Congratulations to our Dessert Contest winners: 1st Place Melinda Tetherow with her dreamy Lemon Bars, 2nd Place Judy Hildebrand with her decadent Chocolate Cake. Thank you to all the LLHOA Boardmembers and spouses for providing their help in set-up, clean-up and shuttling attendees from the gate to the beach!

Scaredera LindaScary goblins trick or treating in Ladera Linda on Halloween got a scare of their own when they came upon two homes in the neighborhood that won prizes for best decora-tions. First prize went to Marty and Jessica Vlaco at 32205 Searaven for the frightening scenario around their home. Second place was awarded to Richard and Stephanie Fleck, 32308 Searaven, for another hair-raising set of decorations.For their outstanding efforts, both families will receive Home Depot gift cards.

The Vlaco Home The Fleck Home

Ladera Linda

Holiday Party

Sunday, December 7th, 4 pmat the home of Tom & Karen Smith

32237 Phantom Dr.

You are cordially invited to attend our annual holiday party to celebrate the season with friends in our neighborhood. Please bring one of the following foods to serve about 12 to share:

Last Name A-L: Finger Food AppetizerLast Name M-Z: Finger Food Dessert

Punch (kid friendly & adult only) and water will be provided

Santa Will Be Arriving at 6 pm!

Be sure and have your kids come meet Santa when he makes his appearance at the party to listen to each child’s wish for what’s under the Christmas tree, and gives them a little gift to take home!

No need to rsvp, just come and enjoy!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lisa Lehman at 310-377-0765 or lisadoll@mac.com