Tag Archives: San Marino Community

Batter Up, by Carrie Benuska

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Batter Up, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

The San Marino Real Estate Report, as seen weekly in the San Marino Tribune

The McKnights beautiful one-story Spanish home at 1891 Twin Palms

The San Marino National Little League season officially kicked off last Saturday with its annual Opening Day ceremony.  I have attended many an Opening Day with my three kids, and I clearly remember the excitement and energy that accompanied the kickoff of the season.  Crowds of happy baseball and softball players, joined by their moms, dads, siblings, and grandparents, all flock to the lower section of Huntington Middle School.  Each team is introduced and runs onto the field, adorned in their new uniforms and cleats.  After the first pitch is thrown, the day is filled with the first games of the season.  It is a fun-filled event!

After the first day of the season, the little league fields at Huntington and Valentine are in use most every day for games and practices.  The area adjacent to these fields see a lot of action during baseball/softball season.  On a Saturday, there is a steady flow of parents in cars, kids on bikes, and families on foot who make their way over to the ball fields.  It is a perfect place to experience the wonderful sense of community that San Marino has to offer.

There are several short streets that run between Sherwood and Lorain, that are right in the middle of the action.  Alhambra Road, Palmas Drive and Twin Palms Drive are directly adjacent to the schools and see the most activity.  These streets provide a cozy sense of community and easy access for school-aged children to walk to school and hang out at the little league field.  This small section of San Marino is a bustling hub of community activity, perfect for people seeking an interactive and friendly neighborhood.

Andy and Susu Berstein, a wonderful couple with three kids in high school and a pre-school-aged daughter, live on a prominent corner on Palmas Drive.  The Bernsteins purchased their beautiful two-story Traditional in 2006 and have loved being in the center of the action.  The Bernstein kids were given the freedom to enjoy an extended back yard at the little league fields, making this home a perfect place to raise their family.

Unlike many neighborhoods where residents drive into their garage and spend most of their time in the house and back yard, this section of town draws homeowners to spend time out and about in the neighborhood.  During my family’s little league years, I had many opportunities to interact with the Bernsteins.  They could often be found in their front yard, enjoying time talking to friends and neighbors.  Because of its convenient location, their home was also a regular hang-out spot for their kids and their friends during the elementary and middle school years.

Chuck and Sandy McKnight and their triplets spent many years living on the corner of Twin Palms and Lorain.  The McKnights have since relocated to Atlanta and their kids are almost done with college, but they loved their years in a beautiful one-story Spanish in this bustling part of town.  Their location is at the far end of this little neighborhood, but the McKnight kids still got to experience the wonderful freedom of playing outdoors in their extended back yard.

The McKnights knew many of their neighbors and valued the tight sense of community that their location provided.  They also found it handy to be so close to the little league fields.  Chuck served as the coach of his son’s little league team, and the whole family would come out to cheer for the father-son team.  Even after his son’s little league years were over, Chuck would still wander over to the fields every once in awhile.  Hearing the cheers of the fans would lure him back for a little afternoon entertainment.

There has been little recent activity in this pocket of San Marino.  During 2010 and 2011, only three homes have sold on these streets.  Last year, a beautiful home at 1854 Twin Palms sold over the asking price.  Even though the lot was under 9,000 square feet, the home sold at $618 per square foot, well above the San Marino average.  During 2010, a beautiful Monterey Colonial at 1832 Palmas Drive and the McKnight’s home at 1891 Twin Palms sold.

Carrie Benuska, Teles Properties, 210 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena

The Delight of Small Town Businesses, by Carrie Benuska

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The Delight of Small Town Businesses, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

The San Marino Real Estate Report, as seen weekly in the San Marino Tribune

George Banks, owner of San Marino Seafood, with his trusty side-kick Gabriel Mejia

San Marino is one of the most elite residential communities in the state of California and  has an outstanding reputation across the nation and even around the world.  Our well-respected school system, beautiful architectural homes, and well-manicured and scenic tree-lined streets make us a destination of choice for potential home buyers.  San Marino provides the whole package and has enjoyed an outstanding reputation for decades.

Part of San Marino’s charm has always been its quaint, small town atmosphere.  This is not the town for strip malls, fast food restaurants, or large international chain stores.  I am glad that San Marino now has a Starbucks, but I also value that our town is filled with owner-operated businesses.  Stores and restaurants like this provide personalized service, go out of their way to meet your needs, and make you feel connected to your community.  There is nothing like walking into a store or restaurant and being greeted by name.  In our fast-paced world, it is refreshing and uplifting to be known, valued, and remembered.

There are many very special businesses in San Marino, but I would like to highlight a few:

San Marino Seafood:

Founded in 2002 and located in a prominent Huntington Drive location, San Marino Seafood is an outstanding restaurant and fish market.  This is one of my favorite lunch spots, and I am particularly wild about the seafood sandwiches and the white clam chowder.  The food is fresh, healthy, and delicious, and the outdoor patio is a pleasure on a sunny afternoon.

What makes San Marino Seafood so special, though, is the friendly staff, led by the owner George Banks.  George, with his booming voice and hearty laughter, makes everyone feel welcome.  I have never had a bad meal at San Marino Seafood, and they go out of their way to make sure that the entire dining experience is enjoyable.

Huntington Pharmacy:

Even with the recent bad press and alarming rumors of impropriety, I have to give a nod to one of my favorite San Marino businesses, Huntington Pharmacy.  The owner, P.K. Lim, has shown immense kindness to our family through the years and gone the extra mile to ensure that all of our needs are met.  I will never forget an instance when P.K. came to the pharmacy on a Sunday in order to fill a particularly important prescription.  His staff is friendly and helpful, and I particularly appreciate the wonderful delivery service.  Huntington Pharmacy is also a great spot to pick up a large assortment of items, including birthday cards, gifts, makeup, or office supplies.

San Marino Toy and Book:

If I had to choose my very favorite store in San Marino, it would most assuredly be San Marino Toy and Book.  This fantastic store, owned by Betty Takeuchi, has been a San Marino fixture for decades.  I first stumbled upon the shop when it was located on the opposite side of Huntington Drive and my eldest daughter, Ellie, was a baby.  I carried Ellie (now 20) in a back pack, and I searched through the racks of beautiful books.  I was shocked to run into some old friends like “Curious George”, “Clifford the Big Red Dog”, and “The Little Fur Family”.  The memories of my mom reading me these time-honored books caused me to make reading aloud to my own kids a huge priority.

I probably have spent more money at San Marino Toy and Book than any other store in town.  During my kids’ young years, I made full use of all the store provided.  I brought the kids to book signings, attended workshops, and stood in line to enjoy the summer sale.  If San Marino Toy and Book doesn’t have what you need, they will order it, and they are the best gift wrappers around.

 Carrie Benuska, Teles Properties, 210 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena

Fantastic Family Living, by Carrie Benuska

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Fantastic Family Living, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

The San Marino Real Estate Report, as seen weekly in the San Marino Tribune

San Marino offers some great family-friendly streets that are ideal for kids and adults alike.

San Marino is an ideal city for families looking to settle in the Los Angeles area.  Our housing is well-built and beautiful, our property values are solid, our school district is the number one in the state of California, and our community is safe and child-friendly.  San Marino evokes memories of days-gone-by, when children had the freedom to roam the neighborhood in search of a playmate.  One only needs to attend a Friday night Titans football game, experience the 4th of July celebration in Lacy Park, or linger around the little league fields on a Saturday morning to realize that San Marino is a fantastic place to raise children.

I regularly represent families who are looking to purchase a home in San Marino.  These home buyers are usually looking for more than just a four bedroom, three bath home with a pool.  They often pay equal if not more attention to the location of the property.  Most families are hoping for a home on a friendly, quiet, and welcoming street.  Not only is this type of location ideal for the kids, it also provides an opportunity for the parents to make life-long friendships and enjoy the benefits of a tight-knit community.

I am sure that there are streets and blocks all over the city that provide great family-friendly living, but I would like to highlight a few that I hear about on a regular basis.

Banning Way

This tiny street, which runs between Monterey Road and Old Mill Road, is renowned for being a great place to raise a family.  The houses are adorable, but it is the sense of community that it provides that makes it so popular.  The residents know each other, look out for one another, and enjoy finding opportunities to get together.  The homeowners I know are dedicated to this street and love the lifestyle that it provides.

Homet Road

Homet Road is a small street on the far northern edge of the city that runs parallel to California Boulevard.  My favorite section is between San Marino Avenue and Bonita Avenue, because it is filled with adorable architectural homes.  The street is off the beaten track, so it experiences very little traffic, making it ideal for a baseball game in the street.  Whenever a home comes on the market on Homet Road, it usually sells quick as lightning.  This street provides the whole package for a potential buyer with kids.

Sherwood Road

Sherwood Road is a long street that runs almost the whole length of the city, but it is the stretch between Saint Albans and Old Mill Road that is my absolute favorite.  The homes are large and fantastic, and this part of the street seems to attract fantastic people.  All that you need to do is walk this long block on a Halloween night in order to get a taste of the sense of community it provides.  This street not only attracts young families but also is home to many long-time residents who now live in their parent’s home.

Plymouth Road

This Mission District street has a section that runs to the east of El Molino Avenue and connects up with Winthrop Road, forming a “U”.  Plymouth Road is bursting with charming architectural homes but also provides an ideal family-friendly environment.  Because the street is basically a cul-de-sac, there is very little car traffic.  Plymouth Road is known for having great block parties and is home to families of young children all the way up to college-aged young adults.

The streets and blocks mentioned above are only a small sample of the many family-friendly streets in San Marino.  If you are particularly dedicated to your street, email me at carrie.benuska@telesproperties.com and let me know what life in your neighborhood is all about.

Carrie Benuska, Teles Properties, 210 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena

Big Changes for Titan Football, by Carrie Benuska

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Big Changes For Titan Football, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

The San Marino Real Estate Report, as seen weekly in the San Marino Tribune

Big Changes For Titan Football, by Carrie Benuska

Tuesday of this week marked the beginning of another school year for our fantastic San Marino Unified School District.  There is always a buzz around the community during this week, as students begin a new school year, experience new teachers, and begin participating in the many after-school activities that the district has to offer.  As citizens of San Marino, we are blessed to live in a community that is built around outstanding public schools.  It is the school district that draws most new residents to buy in our area and is a major contributing factor to our high property values.

San Marino Unified School District is known nationally for excellent academics, but what truly sets the district apart is the excellent extra-curricular activities offered to all students.  Of the many activities available, Titan Football is one that has a long history, draws participation from the community, and heightens school spirit and pride.

After a difficult 2010 season plagued by injuries and staffing changes, the varsity program is ready for the new leadership of Coach Mike Hobbie.  Coach Hobbie has amazing credentials, as the former Offensive Coordinator for University of South Florida.  With his experience in Division 1 football, he will bring important new insight and strategy to our football program.  Beyond his coaching acumen, Coach Hobbie is a fine man that has lived a life worthy of respect.  After hearing his story, I was convinced that SMHS had gained much more than a great football mind.  They had hired a man who had the potential to touch and impact many young lives for good.

Coach Hobbie, his wife, and his three grown children lived in Florida up until 2007.  After his career at University of South Florida and a short stint in the business world, he found himself eager to return to coaching.  Desiring challenge and the opportunity to make a difference, Coach Hobbie took a high school coaching job with a struggling program in Fresno.  It was a huge decision for him and his wife to make, because it meant picking up all of their roots in Florida and making a new start in California.

Just two weeks after they decided to take the job in Fresno, they received terrible news that their eldest daughter had cancer.  Hoping that it was going to be treatable illness, Coach Hobbie’s wife stayed back in Florida for six months while their daughter went through treatment.  All seemed well, so Coach Hobbie’s wife joined him in Fresno.

Unfortunately the cancer spread and ultimately she died in 2009, at the age of 40.  Most tragic of all, she left behind her beloved eight-year-old son.  Because the Hobbies are a close-knit group, the remaining two siblings decided to bond together and take on the task of raising their nephew and ultimately settled as a family in Pasadena.  Intent on  participating in the raising of their grandson, Coach Hobbie and his wife left Fresno last spring and happily accepted the opportunity to join the SMHS football staff.

Coach Hobbie is bringing a fresh approach to San Marino football.  He is running a new offense, has hired a new varsity staff, and is personally supervising a new and improved weight-lifting program for his athletes.  As a special gift from the football booster club, the varsity team will also benefit from a beautiful new locker room, similar to one that you would see at a college campus.

When Coach Hobbie is not immersed in Titan Football, he loves to cheer on his now ten-year-old grandson, as he plays tackle football for the Pasadena Trojans.  Just as he enjoyed coaching his own kids, he hopes to one day coach his grandson when he is ready to become a Titan.

San Marino High School and the community of San Marino are lucky to have added a coach of Mike Hobbie’s caliber and character to the football staff.  It is additions like this one that keep our community excellent.

 Carrie Benuska, Teles Properties, 210 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena

Things Are Looking “Up”

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Things Are Looking “Up” by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

The San Marino Real Estate Report, as seen weekly in the San Marino Tribune

It seems like just yesterday that we moved our family of five to San Marino.  After a failed attempt to utilize the Pasadena public schools and a year of home schooling, we came to San Marino in May of 1999 in search of an excellent education for our 8, 6 and 4 year old children.  Although we considered private school, San Marino was a known quantity, because my husband, Kal, grew up in our small town and graduated from San Marino High School back in 1980.

Our two older kids, Ellie and Luke, began Carver School in the fall of 1999, and Kate joined them a year later as a kindergarten student.  It is hard to believe that those first days at Carver School occurred 12 years ago.  The time has passed quickly, and yet, so much has transpired over that period of time.  I drove thousands of miles of carpool, cheered at countless sporting events, watched quite a few school plays and choir concerts, helped with hours of homework, went on tons of field trips, hosted dozens of birthday parties, and watched our kids grow into young adults.

Because Ellie attended private schools throughout high school, Luke will be the first Benuska child to graduate from San Marino High School.  He has spent his entire educational career in San Marino, has a fantastic circle of friends, and will proudly where his blue and white as he walks across the stage to collect his diploma in June.

The graduation ceremony is exciting for family and parents, but all of the students are thinking about the event that comes after the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony – Grad Night.  This San Marino tradition has been going on for at least 50 years and involves thousands of volunteer hours each year.  High school parents bear the bulk of the responsibility for putting together Grad Night, with the help of a group of former SMHS parents who call themselves the “Old Guard”.

This year’s SMHS Grad Night is being spear-headed by dedicated co-chairs, Cindy Wenzlau, Joanne McCloskey, Terry Fouche, and Yvonne Zaro.  The theme, “Up”, was voted on by the current senior class and was revealed at last year’s Grad Night “Light-Up” event.  The theme is based on an adorable animated movie from Pixar Studios, which depicts a grumpy old man who has his hopes and dreams brought back to life through his relationship with a young boy named Russell.  According to Joanne McCloskey, co-chair in charge of the creative end of this endeavor, the decorations are extremely colorful and will make the graduates feel as if they are “walking into a fantasy”.  Prior themes have included Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland.

For those of you who have not experienced a Grad Night for yourself, it is hard to describe the complexity and enormity of the project.  The gym and surrounding areas are completely transformed into a themed party space for the kids.  Enormous background panels are painted and erected, elaborate props are gathered, and special food and activities are planned for the graduates.  One year, I arrived on campus to see a large man-made lake in the gym circle, equipped with paddle boats for the student’s use.  This is just one example of the ingenuity, creativity, and dedication that goes into each and every Grad Night.

Just because you are not graduating from San Marino High School this year does not mean that you have to miss out on seeing the wonder and beauty of this year’s Grad Night spectacular. The Grad Night “Light-up” will take place on Thursday, June 9, and there will also be opportunities to tour the space (watch the Tribune for details on tour schedules.)

San Marino High School’s Grad Night is a fitting conclusion to an outstanding high school education.  It is events like this that really set our community apart and make me truly thankful that we made that move to San Marino over a decade ago.

Carrie Benuska, Teles Properties, 210 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105