THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 American Legion Post 283 hosts the monthly Chamber of Commerce mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at 15247 La Cruz. Public invited. Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Public invited. Ted Ashby discusses ‘The Resurrection of the Lone Ranger and Tonto,’ hosted by the Pacific Palisades Historical Society, 7 p.m. at the Pierson Playhouse, corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Haverford. Public invited. Hollywood producer, director, writer and actor Tony Bill discusses and signs ‘Movie Speak: How to Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Snap Shots Literary Troupe presents ‘We Love Abe Lincoln,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Enjoy readings and song from the page and stage, hosted by Eric Vollmer. (See story, page 10.) Theatre Palisades presents Neil Simon’s ‘Lost in Yonkers,’ through February 15 at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Directed by Sherman Wayne and produced by Martha Hunter and Pat Perkins, the play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets call (310) 454-1970 or visit www.theatrepalisades.org. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 A 2 to 4 p.m. reception for new Pacific Palisades Art Association members Ann Olsen and Florence Bienenfeld, who are displaying their paintings at the Palisades Branch Library during February. The public is invited. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 The Temescal Canyon Association hikers will walk from Zuma Beach over Pt. Dume to brunch at Paradise Cove. If you would like to join the group, please RSVP to (310) 459-5931. The brunch is about $10. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at the entrance to Temescal Gateway Park for carpooling. No dogs. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Monthly meeting of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association, 7 p.m. at Rustic Canyon Park. Public invited. Award-winning author Philip Fradkin will discuss and sign his 2008 biography, ‘Wallace Stegner and the American West,’ 7:30 p.m. at Woodland Hall in Temescal Gateway Park. (See story, page 10.) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Brenda Webster discusses and signs her novel, ‘The Vienna Triangle,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
Terry Wolfenden, 57-Year Resident
Longtime Palisadian Terry Wolfenden passed away on January 29, after a recurrence of throat cancer. He spent six weeks in the hospital and three weeks at home. He had been working daily, until age 89, at his office on San Vicente Boulevard. Friends and family knew Wolfenden as a generous man, a financial wizard and owner of several businesses. A loud, native Texan, he still loved to wear his boots and large-buckled belt late in life. Born in Carthage, Texas, in the eastern piney woods, Wolfenden moved to Elk City, Oklahoma, in high school. He was a football hero and fell in love with Kathleen Frances Shields after being introduced to this cute girl in overalls, who was holding a kitten. They were finally married on June 14, 1941, and moved to Inglewood, California. Wolfenden had come to California in 1939 and found a job at North American Aircraft. During the war, he located a better job at Hughes Aircraft, where he made parts for the PT Mustang. He continued completing manufacturing tools and materials until the war was over, when he started his own business, Exacto, followed by Masterite and United Energy Corporation. Wolfenden, his wife and two daughters moved to Pacific Palisades in late 1951, when he outbid another gentleman on a spec house on Toyopa Drive. It was one of the few houses on that side of the block (and his daughters recall that various empty lots became pet cemeteries until builders arrived). Joining the Bel-Air Country Club in 1954, Wolfenden was a tournament golfer until age 78. He was club president and held many other roles during his membership. Until recently, he still joined his cronies in the Grill Room for lunch. Terry Wolfenden had a wonderful sense of humor, with a great laugh. His family treasures many legendary stories from him, including the time he and a neighbor tried to remove a petrified tree stump from a yard. He will be sadly missed by ‘The Locusts,’ a large group of family including daughters Christina Woods (husband Bruno Loren) of Pacific Palisades and Jeanine Meunier (husband Leo) of Boston; grandchildren Jennifer Hranek (Nate), Patrick Woods, Meghann Woods and Mark Meunier; and great-grandchildren Marshall Woods and Vance and Harlowe Hranek. Also, family member Kim B. Woods. Private family services have been held.
Judith Wolfe Bilson, Local Psychotherapist
Judith Wolfe Bilson, a psychotherapist and Pacific Palisades resident, died on January 22. She was 59. Born February 21, 1949 in Toronto, Canada, Judith had a twin brother, David. She graduated from the University of Toronto, majoring in French language and literature. While at the university, although only 5 feet tall, she played on the women’s ice hockey team. Judith went on to receive a Ph.D. in psychology and an LCSW degree, interrupted by 2′ years of travelling around the world. In addition to the usual European countries, she visited places like Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran, Burma, Australia (where she worked as a therapist for eight months) and other exotic places like Nepal. She considered herself a ‘woman of adventure’ and nurtured that impulse in family members close to her. Judith moved to the U.S. in 1981 to join her fianc’ and to get married in San Francisco. After divorcing in 1983, she moved to Los Angeles and established a private practice in West Los Angeles, initially working part-time at the Didi Hirsh Community Mental Health Center and the Florence Crittenten Treatment Center for Adolescent Girls. She eventually had a successful full-time private practice, first in Westwood and later in Pacific Palisades, focusing on individual and family therapy. She also taught at Antioch University, Jewish Family Service in Santa Monica, and at UCLA. Judith had occasional educational pieces published in the Palisadian-Post, including a 2006 article titled ‘Nurturing Family Holiday Gatherings.’ In 1995, Judith married Palisadian Wesley Bilson, and became stepmother to his six children and grand-stepmother to six grandchildren. She helped raise two of Wesley’s children, Greg and Jessica, and was a powerful positive force in their lives. Judith was also survived by her 92-year-old mother, Gertrude (‘Gerry’) Wolfe of Toronto, who who was with her when she died. ‘Her mother has wintered in Pacific Palisades for over a decade,’ husband Wesley said. ‘She and Judith could be seen almost every Sunday at the farmers market on Swarthmore, buying lots of flowers and lots of Kettle Corn, Judith’s Sunday breakfast.’ Judith and Wesley were involved Palisadians, including being longtime members of Kehillat Israel synagogue. Services were held January 25. Donations on Judith’s behalf can be made to Ohr Hatorah Congregation, 11827 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90272.
Christine B. Nelson, 74; An Actress and Activist
Christine ‘Rissy’ Burke Nelson, the wife of writer-producer Peter Nelson, died on February 2 after a long battle with cancer. She was 74. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Christine met Peter Nelson at Yale Drama School and they married in 1960. She enjoyed an extensive career as an actress in television, with roles in ‘The Twilight Zone,’ ‘The Fugitive’ and ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ among others. The Nelsons joined Theatre West and acted on stage in comedies together. The Los Angeles Times called Christine ‘a radiant and exceptionally funny actress.’ After the birth of sons Paul and Burke, Nelson became a full-time mother and an involved citizen. She was one of the founders of The Center For Early Education and spearheaded a drive to save the monumental Moreton Bay fig trees in Santa Monica. Peter Nelson has maintained an office in Pacific Palisades for 35 years. During that time, he has written and/or produced more than two dozen television movies, as well as the British film ‘The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.’ Together, the Nelsons often ate and shopped in the Palisades. They were exceptionally fond of the Sunday morning farmers market. Nelson is survived by her sons, Paul, a musician, and Burke, a lawyer; and grandchildren Noah and Emily. A memorial service is pending.
Fore!
Top Pros Tee Off at Riviera Country Club in Northern Trust Open Next Thurs.-Sun.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Outside of the majors, perhaps no tournament on the PGA Tour holds as much history and prestige as the one taking place next week at Riviera Country Club. Now called the Northern Trust Open, the Los Angeles tour stop has been the site of so many dramatic finishes, close calls and memorable shots that you could call Sunday afternoon the “theater of the unexpected.” Last February, it was Southern California’s own Phil Mickelson exorcising personal demons to win the event for the first time. The 2008 field included 22 of the top 30 players in the World Golf Rankings and this year’s tournament figures to be just as top-heavy. Though he still has time to enter, top-ranked Tiger Woods is not expected to make his return to the PGA Tour at Riviera. He has not played in a competitive event since undergoing knee surgery following his amazing playoff victory at the U.S. Open last June. Riviera’s hallowed greens, deep kikuyu grass and tight fairways make it one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. Mickelson won with a modest score of 12-under-par last year, beating Jeff Quinney by two strokes. Prior to 2008, the event had long been called the Nissan Open since 1989, but it changed corporate sponsors last year. Measuring 6,897 intimidating yards, Riviera was established in 1926 and has been open for play since 1927. The course is consistently maintained to the standard set by club founder Frank Garbutt, who declared, “Only the best is good enough.” Players past and present can certainly attest to that. A golfer to keep an eye on next week will be Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa. In his much-hyped debut the 17-year-old will try to become the youngest winner in PGA Tour history. To volunteer for course set up, ticket sales, concessions, merchandise tents or as a standard bearer, call (800) 752-6736. To purchase advance tickets or participate in the Hogan’s Alley Challenge sweepstakes, call (213) 482-1311 or (800) 752-OPEN. Daily tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (55 and older) and $20 for kids 17-and-under. All tickets include shuttle bus transportation to and from the tournament when utilizing the general public parking at the V.A. Hospital, located at the 405 Freeway and Wilshire Boulevard. Tickets are transferable. There are no refunds or exchanges. Visit the Web site at www.northerntrustopen.com for more information.
Globetrotters Dazzle Corpus Kids
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
The gym was rocking, the music was playing and the Harlem Globetrotters were doing what they do best–entertaining their young audience and bringing smiles to hundreds of kids’ faces. Curly Neal, perhaps the most famous Globetrotter of all, joined teammates Wildkat Edgerson and Wun “The Shot” Versher at Corpus Christi School on Tuesday for a live skills demonstration and C.H.E.E.R. for Character’ presentation that had both children and grown ups captivated by the trio’s charisma. “You can’t just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk,” said Edgerson, happily celebrating his 31st birthday. “It’s important for all of you to go to class and listen to what your teachers say.” Almost exactly one year ago he and legendary “Sweet” Lou Dunbar first thrilled Corpus kids last February. This time, Neal served as one of his sidekicks. “Kids grow up so much faster these days but things we teach stay the same–be good to your parents, stay in school and dream your dreams,” said Neal, who played in over 6,000 games in 97 countries during his 22 seasons with the world’s most famous basketball team. “I do hundreds of these a year and it never gets old. This is a chance to give back–to play Santa Claus once a year.” Known for his shiny bald head, ear-to-ear smile and unmatched dribbling ability, Neal became just the fifth Globetrotter to have his number (22) retired at a ceremony last February at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “Don’t give in to peer pressure,” was the message of Versher, who invited first-grader Shaley DeHaas, second-grader T.J. Michel, third-grader Dillon Malaret, sixth-grader Elizabeth Lomis and Vice Principal Kris Knowles into the team’s famous “Magic Circle” to learn some of the ‘Trotters’ tricks to the trademark tune of “Sweet Georgia Brown.” Testing his young listeners’ memories, Edgerson asked how many of them remembered him from last year’s visit. Hundreds of tiny hands shot into the air. He then challenged students to define each of the five tenets of C.H.E.E.R. one at a time–cooperation, healthy mind and body, effort, enthusiasm and responsibility. After several intentional “near misses,” he finally took a bounce pass from Neal, dribbled behind his back and dunked the ball, eliciting loud cheers from the energized crowd. “It’s fun to be back here, putting on a show and being positive role models for the youth whose lives we touch,” Edgerson said. “That is the most rewarding part of what we do. Basketball is merely a vehicle to drive our message home.” Those who missed Tuesday’s appearance in Pacific Palisades can still catch the Globetrotters perform this weekend. They will be at Honda Center in Anaheim at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. on Saturday, at Staples Center in downtown L.A. at 1 p.m. on Sunday and at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario at 1 p.m. next Monday, Feb. 16.
Humby Ready for Next Bout
In recent years, the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood has become almost a second home for Pacific Palisades resident Baxter Humby. On Saturday, February 28, Humby will be back in the ring there to fight James Martinez for the Muay Thai World Super Welterweight Championship. His bout is the main event on the card and will start at approximately 10 p.m. “I’ve fought approximately 12 times at the Hollywood Park Casino and enjoy fighting there because its so close to home and easy for my friends to come and watch,” said Humby, whose professional kickboxing record stands at 34-5 with 13 knockouts. Humby, 36, fought and won four times in 2008. He trains and teaches at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center and is sponsored locally by Tivoli’s Cafe. “I’ve seen him fight and he will be a formidable foe,” said Humby, nicknamed the ‘One-Armed Bandit’ because he has only half a right arm. “However, I’ll be ready for him and will put on an exciting show.” Humby’s rigorous training schedule includes two hours of bag work and sparring every day, 45 minutes of weightlifting daily, jogging 45 minutes six days a week and bike riding on Sundays with his friend Patrick Healy.
Vincent Stays on Hot Streak
A new star is emerging at the Palisades Tennis Center. After reaching two successive finals, 12-year-old Katie Vincent broke through for her first junior tournament victory last weekend, winning four matches to takes first-place at the Desert Princess Open in Palm Springs. Vincent, a seventh-grader at Calvary Christian School, won four matches en route to the title and beat Josie Frazier, one of the top-ranked players in Arizona, in the finals. Vincent’s younger brother Derek, 11, made the finals at the Desert Princess (his first 12-and-under tournament) while younger sister Caroline, 8, has won four of her last five age group events. Katie, who has trained at the Palisades Tennis Center since she first picked up a racquet at a Mommy and Me clinic, was runner-up at two events in January–the San Fernando Valley Tournament and the iTennis Open in El Monte. For a player with less than a full year’s experience on the junior circuit, she is already establishing herself as a player to be reckoned with in the Girls 12s.
Palisades Elementary Holds Kindergarten Orientation Feb. 12
Palisades Elementary Charter School is holding its annual orientation for incoming kindergarten and new parents on Thursday, February 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the library. There will be a tour of the school, and an introduction of teachers and principal Joan Ingle. Fifth graders will give an account of their school experience at Pali Elementary. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. Adults only. No RSVP is necessary. For further information contact: Jennifer Taghibagi at (310) 454-2487.
Raising Geeks Is Totally Cool
The term ‘geek’ brings to mind the nerds, the kids shunned by the popular kids in class, but Marybeth Hicks, author of ‘Bringing Up Geeks,’ argues that GEEK is an acronym for ‘Genuine, Enthusiastic Empowered Kids,’ and something for parents to encourage. Hicks will discuss her parenting style and her book on Wednesday, February 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Calvary Church Sanctuary, 701 Palisades Dr. The lecture will be hosted by Calvary Christian, Carlthorp, St. Matthew’s and Village Schools, and is open to the public. Hicks, a columnist for the Washington Post and the mother of four children, argues that geeks are what parents should be raising, instead of deferring to a media-saturated environment that encourages children to reach pseudo adulthood, depriving them of childhood innocence. She will share her ’10 Rules,’ each coinciding with a chapter. They include: ‘Raise a Brainiac,’ ‘Raise a Sheltered Kid,’ ‘Raise a Late Bloomer,’ ‘Raise a Homebody,’ and ‘Raise a Principled Kid.’ At the end of each chapter, Hicks includes parenting tips for all ages, with more specific tips for elementary, middle and high school children. For example, in the chapter about raising a principled child, she suggests that parents talk about ethical choices, and to use that phrase so that kids understand it is a question of right or wrong. For elementary kids, she suggests watching or reading ‘Pinocchio’ and talking about the importance of Jiminy Cricket’s role, as well as discussing the moral of the story when reading books. For middle school kids, parents should make it tough to cheat by staying on top of schoolwork, making sure that homework is done at home, and setting Internet use rules. With high school students, she recommends discussing the importance of hanging out with ethical friends and establishing a ‘truth bonus,’ which rewards teens for telling the truth. In her book, Hicks points out that being popular today is different from when she was a child. ‘If the ‘cool crowd’ once was good-looking, athletic and socially successful, today’s adolescent ‘A-list’ is bold and cynical, and even jaded.’ She argues that popularity among teens today is dictated by materialism, competition and exposure to the adult world. And research confirms that popular kids are more likely to engage in experimental or deviant behaviors in order to keep their elevated status. ‘What struck me as common sense”that as they get older, cool kids are more likely to drink, do drugs, have sex, and seek out danger . . .What’s the alternative to pursuing popularity and social prominence? In my home, the answer is: bringing up geeks.’ Contact: Jasmine Patterson at (310) 563-0082, ext. 123.
