Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis will deliver the Stern Lecture on Saturday, August 14, at 9 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave. The public is invited. The Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible at Duke University, Dr. Davis is a scholar, teacher and preacher with an ability to make the Old Testament come alive with power and spiritual depth for both scholarly and general audiences. Her topic will be ‘The Two Jeru’salems.’ The religious imagination of both Jews and Christians dwells between ‘two Jerusalems,’ the remembered Jerusalem of David, Isaiah, and Jesus, and the future Jeru’salem, the city of peace that God will bring. In the 21st century, as in ages past, Jerusalem is to the minds of many, the stuff of dreams’and a place of tragedy and oppression. Davis will explore these different faces of Jeru’salem as they appear in the Bible, and also in modern hymns, poetry and prayers written in North America, Europe, Israel, and Sudan. Davis is interested in theological interpretation of the Old Testament, with particular concern for how the Bible is used to address urgent pub’lic issues. Her current work focuses on developing an exegetically based response to the ecological crisis. A lay Episcopalian, Davis has been involved in interfaith dialogue for 40 years. Her previous teaching appointments were at Union Theo’logical Seminary in New York, Yale Divinity School and the Virginia Theological Seminary. The Stern Lecture regularly in’vites leading scholars to Saint Mat’thew’s to deliver in-depth presen’ta’tions on Biblical, theologi’cal and spiritual topics. The Lecture honors the memory of Eliza’beth Naffziger Stern, who was an unstinting worker in the community, and founder of the Meals on Wheels of West Los Angeles. Known as Libby to her friends, she was a lifelong member of the Episcopal church, junior warden of the Parish of Saint Matthew, and member of its Altar Guild and that of the Diocese of Los Angeles. A Memorial Fund established in 1989 supports the Elizabeth Naffziger Stern lectures. All are welcome to hear a world-class Biblical scholar.
Moonday in the Village will feature poets Kath Abela Wilson and Lynne Harbaugh on August 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave. Open reading sign-ups begin at 7 p.m. Wilson has been writing poetry since the age of five. She is the creator and leader of the band “Poets on Site,” a performance group collaborating with dancers, musicians, artists and scientists. She has poetry published and forthcoming in many print and online journals including Atlas Poetica, Astropoetica, Badlands, Behold the Pirate Pig, and The California Quarterly. Harbaugh’s art is deeply shaped and influenced by the English history and poetry that she has been immersed in since childhood. As a landscape painter, poet and songwriter, she maintains a devout belief in the artist’s ability to provide humanity with spiritual and emotional healing. Her collection “The Wintergrave Poems” and accompanying CD will be available for purchase at Village Books. Moonday is a once-a-month poetry venue, co-produced by Alice Pero and Lois P. Jones. Contact: (818) 209-1051
The J. Paul Getty Museum presents Garden Concerts for Kids, a free outdoor music series for kids and their families in the Getty Center’s Central Garden. The concerts kick off on August 7 and 8 with Milkshake, led by alt-pop and rock veterans Lisa Mathews and Mike Gehl. whose lyrically lighthearted songs have won fans of all ages and will get you dancing with their authentic rock-and-roll spirit. On August 14 and 15, Elizabeth Mitchell and Family provide a joyous musical adventure with vibrant reinterpretations of cherished American folk and rock songs from their new album, ‘ Sunny Day.’ Closing out the season on August 21 and 22, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family bring charm and heart to their alt-country music for children and families. Accompanied by her husband Johnny Irion and kids, Guthrie continues the song-making tradition forged by her grandfather Woody and father Arlo. The Garden Concerts for Kids are held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and no reservations are required. Parking is $15. Information: visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.
Otter (Reilly Pressman), Miss Ratty (Katie Reinhold) and Mole (Gigi Pressman) sing “The Grey and Chilly Days of Fall” at Theatre Palisades. Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
If you have a child or simply love Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 book ‘The Wind in the Willows,’ there is no better place to spend an evening than at Theatre Palisades, where the music is lovely, the story delightful and laughs abound. The final four shows of this world pre’miere youth production are tonight, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Pacific Palisades resident Diane Grant has written a children’s musi’cal based on the book and produced an entertaining and updated version of the adventures of Toad, Ratty, Otter and Badger. Many of her char’acters who are male in the book are now female, and friendship among the characters is emphasized. I especially enjoyed seeing the nasty weasel girls Olivia Busselle, Claire Suisman and Anna Reger. With the proper amount of smirking, scheming and slinking, they are a joy to watch as they disrupt other characters’ lives throughout the 90-minute show. Complete with lime green tights, Toad (Brendan Terry) is properly ‘mad’ after discovering the power of the automobile. Be prepared, Toad does demonstrate his driving ability on stage. One of the funniest scenes comes when Toad, dressed as a washerwoman in order to escape from prison, is wooed by the guard (Jakob Pollack). The device worked for Shakespeare, and it was amusing to see it still brings big laughs as even the youngest audience members got the humor. This is one talented cast, from the opening solo, with a crystal-clear sweet voice of Mole (Gigi Pressman) to the assured stage presence and equally great voice of Miss Ratty (Katie Reinhold) to the lovely voice of Badger (Roni Ellis). Playing Otter (Reilly Pressman), gives her character nice flourishes to help define her animal’s personality. Musical director Michael Reilly has composed and arranged new music for the show, and the songs help the show flow smoothly from scene to scene. A special acknowledgment goes to director and chorographer Dor’othy Dillingham, who understands youth and manages to elicit topnotch performances from each of her talented cast of 22 local youth. This is her eighth production with TPY, and with each one she manages to take a large cast and give everyone a chance to shine, even if it’s as sim’ple as showing the season change with actress (Nicole Leshgold) dancing across the stage, placing ei’ther butterflies or snowflakes on the side of the set to indicate the seasons. The make-up and costuming are also imaginative and inventive. Tickets: (310) 454-1970 or visit: www.theatrepalisades.org.
Will Rogers Junior Lifeguard Kelly Harlan runs ashore to handoff to the next paddleboarder in the B division at last Friday’s Taplin Relays. Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Success came in the number six and in the color purple for local aspiring lifeguards at the Taplin Relays on Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo last Friday. The Taplins, the five-week culmination of junior lifeguard lessons, are patterned after the adult training program and include long distance running, sprints, paddling and buoy swims. At this final and most prestigious competition of the summer, junior lifeguards from Will Rogers State Beach competed against teams from Avalon, Cabrillo, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Venice, Santa Monica and Zuma Beach. Taking first place in the Girls’ A division, which consists of two runners, two paddlers and two swimmers, were Will Rogers’ Tori Scribner, Lauren Shultz, Mara Silka, Natalie Stilz, Liliana Casso and Olivia Kirkpatrick. What was unique about the Girls’ A division is that it was the only one with six guards. All of the other divisions consisted of 18 members–six runners, six paddlers and six swimmers. Will Rogers sent three teams in the C division (ages 9-11), three in the B division (ages 12-13) and in addition to the single sex team, two coed teams in the A division (ages 14-17). Runners are required to sprint 50 yards in soft sand before handing the baton to the next runner. As the last runner crosses the line, he or she tags the first paddler, who then takes off for the waves dragging a paddleboard. A paddler is expected to use the correct method to enter the water. This sometimes involves rotating with the board through high waves to pass the surf line in order to paddle around a buoy 150 to 200 yards out in the ocean, before racing back to the shore, dragging the board across the sand and handing it to the next paddler. When the last paddler hits the beach, he or she tags the first swimmer, who runs to the edge of the surf where they high-step, before dolphining through the water past the waves to start their swim. They swim around the buoys and then back to shore, where they run to the edge of the sand to tag the next swimmer. At any one time, the water is filled with swimmers and paddlers, making it hard to see which team is in the lead–one reason why the first and last competitor in each leg wears a cap that is a color specific to his or her beach. For this competition, Will Rogers was assigned the color purple. Will Rogers instructor Larry Felix, a teacher and water polo coach at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, served as an announcer to the crowd of more than 2,000 gathered at the beach. “No one child will win for their team,” he said. “Rather it’s a collective effort using the skills they learned this year.” Overall, Will Roger’s A coed team took fifth place and included Stephen Anthony, Ryan Angelich, Jack Rogers, Aiden Gray, Wes Galie, Mara Silka, Leland Frankel, Jordan Wilimovsky, Kurtis Rossie, Liliana Casso, Andrew Hacker. Holder Miller, Tori Scribner, Garrett Yost, Paul Czer, Zack Gold, Natalie Stilz and Devin Pugliese. “Guards give them discipline,” said Will Rogers A instructor Eldin Onsgard, a professor at East L.A. College. The Will Rogers B age group teams finished 3, 12 and 25 out of 31 teams and the third place team included runners Charlie Hollingsworth, Charlotte Robinson, Jack McGeagh, Genki Yoshida, Michaela Keefe and Tucker Steil; swimmers Nicole Johnson, Allison Hoops, Mardel Ramirez, Tiana Marsh, Neil Farnham and Alec Wilimovsky; and paddlers Kelly Harlan, Matthew Friedman, Zachary Senator, Michael Lukasiak, Ian LaBash and David Grinsfelder. The C-team faced stiff competition against 30 other teams and placed sixth, as perennial power Manhattan Beach took first place. The Will Rogers B and C teams placed 24th and 26th, respectively. As the last C swimmer came out of the water, the 540 junior guards who had to run, paddle and swim that day formed a tunnel for that competitor to run through as a way of showing their support and camaraderie. “Although they’re representing their individual beaches,” Felix said. “We’re all L.A. County Lifeguards. We’re one big happy family.” The Taplin Relays were named after Judge Irving Taplin, a former Municipal Court Judge in Los Angeles County, who donated the event’s first trophy. The Taplin Lifeguard Relay has been held every year since 1936 with the exception of 1942-45 when it was suspended during World War II. Once the junior lifeguard program started in 1961, youths started competing with 18-member teams on Fridays, with the adult lifeguard Taplin competition held the following day. Adults have a medley relay of four swimmers, four paddlers and four two-man dory teams. Both the junior and adult Taplins are considered the most prestigious annual lifeguard competitions in Southern California. Once again in 2010, Will Rogers State Beach junior lifeguards represented their community well and made “purple” proud.
Vince DeSantis connects on a grand slam home run during the Pali Waves’ victory over Ohio at the Cooperstown Dreams Tournament.
The Pali Waves, a team of 12-year-old boys representing the Palisades Pony Baseball Association, traveled to Cooperstown, New York, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, last week to compete against some of the best youth teams in the country in the Cooperstown Dreams tournament–and the local squad showed its mettle. In a field packed full of powerhouses, the Waves tied for ninth place out of 103 teams representing 29 states and Canada. Feeling right at home playing at a much bigger “Field of Dreams” complex than their home fields at the Palisades Recreation Center, the Waves opened pool play with a tough 14-6 loss to the Hurricanes of Austin, Texas. Over the next three days, however, the Waves rallied to win five games in a row. Following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Elk Grove, Illinois, the Waves routed squads from Alabama, Ohio, Long Island and Rockville, Maryland, by a combined score of 75-8, earning the No. 15 seed heading into the elimination phase of the tournament. Under the able leadership of Head Coach Mike DeSantis and assistants Pete Sieling, Rick Wahlgren and Ted McGinley, the Waves soundly defeated their first two playoff opponents, ousting a team from Chicago 7-1 and a team from Fresno 7-2. On Thursday morning, Pali finally met its match in the Sweet 16, falling to the Oxnard Sharks 15-4. The Waves played exceptionally well in all facets of the game. Each of the starting pitchers–Quinn McGinley, Harrison Hart, Adam Stryer and Roben Sieling–notched victories and all were ably supported by closer Daniel Furman. Fifteen home runs highlighted the Waves’ hitting barrage. Hart hit five, Leo Kaplan hit four, Brendan Sanderson hit three and Vince DeSantis, Holden Thomas and McGinley each hit one. DeSantis and Sanderson each hit a grand slam. Jake Suddleson, PJ Hurst and Chris Wahlgren each added clutch hitting and fielding throughout the week-long competition. While each player made outstanding individual contributions, what allowed this group of a dozen Palisades players to win seven of its nine games was its ability to play as a team. Wahlgren also came in seventh in the Roundrunner competition (running around the bases), missing the final round by a tenth of a second. The ninth-place finish matched that of last year’s 12-year-old squad, the Palisades Patriots, who also went 7-2 under Head Coach Rick McGeagh.
Blake Anthony is enjoying quite a summer on the tennis courts. Two weeks after sweeping the boys’ 16s singles and boys’ 18s doubles titles at the Junior Open in La Canada, the Palisadian led Southern California Renegade to the 16 Northwest Zone Team Championships last Sunday in Salt Lake City, Utah. Anthony, a sophomore at Loyola High, went 5-0 in singles during the week, beating Sam Ho of Temple City, 6-3, 6-4, in the final. He also posted two doubles wins earlier in the tournament to help Renegade capture first place out of 12 teams representing Hawaii Pacific, Intermountain, Northern California, Southwest, and Southern California. Renegade beat another Southern California team, Maverick, by a 10-8 score in the championship match. Earlier in the tournament, Renegade earlier had knocked off another Southern California team, Rustler, 14-4, which was in the same flight. Palisades High players Alex Giannini and Spencer Pekar led Team Rustler, with Giannini notching three singles wins and four doubles wins and Pekar also netting singles and doubles wins. On Day Three of the competition, Anthony edged Giannini, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, in one of the best singles matches of the entire tournament. Anthony’s Renegade teammates included Julian Ruffin, Henry Craig, Marcus Nalley, Jayson Amos, Hikaru Minami, Lauren Stratman, Lauren Marker, Fiorella Coria, Monica Robinson, Meghan Dizon and Monica Pastor. Each team is comprised of six boys and six girls, all 16 years or younger.
Bryant Falconello tees off at the US Kids Teen World Championship last weekend in North Carolina.
Bryant Falconello, an eighth-grader at Calvary Christian School, compiled a three-day score of 237 to finish 68th in a 128-player field of 13-year-old boys at the US Kids Teen World Championship last weekend on the Pinehurst No. 6 Golf Course in Pinehurst, North Carolina. After carding an 84 on the first day, Falconello shot a 76 and 77 over the final two rounds to earn an invitation to the 2011 Teen World Championship and the 2011 US Kids European Championship in Scotland. In the spring, playing for Calvary Christian, he placed third at the Delphic League golf finals. This summer, he has ranked or won at Rustic Canyon in Simi Valley, Saticoy Country Club in Camarillo and Simi Hills Golf Course in Simi Valley. Falconello grew up playing in the Palisades Pony Baseball Association. He hit a home run in the final game of the Bronco Division World Series in 2008 and played third base on the Palisades Pirates club team. He plays club soccer on the Santa Monica United U13 elite team, which won the state championship last year.
A fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in Potrero Canyon, threatening homes on both sides of the canyon. The cause of the fire is being investigated. Photo: Ann Major
A near disaster was averted Tuesday, July 27, thanks to some men working in the neighborhood who jumped a fence to help Station 69 firefighters contain a fire that started in Potrero Canyon around 1 p.m. The cause of the fire is being investigated. An Alma Real resident called Fire Station 69, to report a small brush fire on the hill below DePauw Street and Lombard Avenue. The fire spread quickly to other spots, and then engulfed the hillside below the playing fields at the Recreation Center on three sides. Three helicopters, two L.A. City and one L.A. County, dropped water on the blaze, stopping it from advancing before it burned any homes. There were 10 companies working, and an additional five standing by at Station 69 just in case. There were four camp crews from L.A. County Fire on the scene, cutting a line around the fire area. The fire was extinguished by about 2 p.m. A complete story will appear in the August 5 issue.
A search and rescue operation at the Sea Ridge Condominiums, a gated community off of Palisades Drive in Pacific Palisades, ended with a 24-year-old construction worker being pronounced dead at 2 p.m. The worker was trying to install a French drain when the dirt gave way, burying him. Fire Station 69 received the initial call at 10:55 a.m. and was first on the scene. A call went out to search and rescue teams and more than 100 men were involved in the effort to try and rescue the victim. Initially, there was hope that the man had found a pocket of air and could still be alive. Ventilation tubes were placed through a space drilled in block wall on the lower level to try and provide air. After digging and shoring up the space, the top of the worker’s white hardhat was seen and the coroner called. Family waited on the hill above the condo for his body to be pulled from the 11-foot deep hole, in which he was entombed. A complete story will appear in the August 5 issue.
