Home Blog Page 2226

Football Goes from Worst to First

By
dev
-

Dolphins Beat Hami in League Opener, Halt a Four-Game Road Losing Streak

Linebacker Terrance Quarles drags down Hamilton wide receiver Donnie Duncan in the third quarter of Palisades' 21-14 victory last Friday afternoon.
Linebacker Terrance Quarles drags down Hamilton wide receiver Donnie Duncan in the third quarter of Palisades’ 21-14 victory last Friday afternoon.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

It was only one game, but for a Palisades squad that had lost four in a row, Friday afternoon’s 21-14 victory over Hamilton might just as well have been the Super Bowl. Not only did it give the team some much-needed confidence, it also vaulted the Dolphins into a share of first place in the Western League. “I’m pleased as punch but we have a long way to go,” PaliHi Head Coach Kelly Loftus told his players in the team huddle after the game. “We have a long way to go and a statement to make.” Palisades had the worst record of any of the league’s six teams going into Friday’s opener. Now the Dolphins find themselves not at the bottom, but the top–and they intend to stay there. “Our new motto is ‘Keep it rolling,'”‘ Loftus said. “It starts at practice Monday through Thursday and hopefully carries over to Friday night.” Up next for the Dolphins is Fairfax (4-2), which also opened league play with a win. The junior varsity game kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by the varsity at 7 p.m. Just like it had at Reseda the week before, Palisades marched downfield for a touchdown on its opening drive Friday, setting the tone for a hard-hitting, physical game that was dominated by the defenses. “Getting that first score was huge because it showed we could play with them,” Loftus said. “Our offense got us the lead in the first half and our defense kept us in the lead in the second half. Even though we lost last week I thought we started playing better and that effort carried over to today.” Leading 21-7 at halftime, the Dolphins (2-4) forced a three-and-out on Hamilton’s first possession of the third quarter, but Pali’s offense was unable to capitalize. The Yankees’ defense also buckled down and when Joe Berman’s punt was blocked and recovered by Hamilton at Pali’s 24-yard-line early in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins’ lead looked in jeopardy. Their defense stiffened, however, and Hamilton turned the ball over on downs. “That was a huge turning point in the game,” Loftus said afterwards. “If they score there they get the momentum and anything can happen.” Hamilton (3-3) pulled to within a touchdown on a desperation 29-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left, but Palisades recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Corpus Cruises at Revere Tourney

By
dev
-

Corpus Christi Coach Haley Jorgensborg (second from right) and her players with their first-place trophies from the Rider Volleyball Tournament.
Corpus Christi Coach Haley Jorgensborg (second from right) and her players with their first-place trophies from the Rider Volleyball Tournament.

Although she may not possess the “Midas Touch,” Palisadian Haley Jorgensborg certainly knows how to get the best out of her players. And in a team sport such as volleyball, that trait is worth its weight in gold. Since Jorgensborg took over as head coach of the Corpus Christi girls squad last year, the Condors have seemingly forgotten what it’s like to lose. The latest example came Saturday at the Rider Cup tournament, where Corpus won every game en route to the championship at Paul Revere Middle School. The Condors were clicking on all cylinders from the moment the first ball was struck, even winning one game 11-0 on the ace serving of Courtney Levan. She also served an ace on championship point. In an interesting twist, the Corpus varsity had to play the Corpus JV in the semifinals. With a roster full of local players, the Condors have been on a roll since winning the American Martyrs Mustangs tournament September 15 in Manhattan Beach. Jorgensborg, herself a Corpus grad who went on to play volleyball at Marymount High and UCLA, has molded a talented group of girls into a cohesive unit on the floor. The Condors consist of eighth-graders Levan, Christine Irvin, Lanti Moye-McClaren, Meghan Middleton, Erica Wahlgren, Lauren Waters, Sophie Zaloom, Izzy Desantis and Lucy Tilton and seventh-graders Katie Kaufman, Annie McCroskey and Ariel Wilbur.

More Juvenile Arrests For Drugs and Drinking

By
dev
-

The Los Angeles Police Department Vice Unit has arrested seven juveniles and one adult this month for alcohol violations and illegal drug use in Pacific Palisades. This follows 14 arrests in September for similar illegal activity at the Mobil station, corner of Sunset and Swarthmore. On October 4, a 21-year-old male and an underage male were observed drinking alcohol in the parking lot behind the Mobil station. Both live in the Palisades. The adult was charged for drinking in a public place, the minor was cited for underage drinking. On October 10, five youths were arrested for possession of marijuana and a sixth was charged with dealing. The drug activity was first observed in the Mobil station area at 3 p.m. A 17-year-old female Palisades resident was followed and arrested at Via de la Paz and Sunset. Evidence found on the girl included a scale, grinder and ‘pay and owe’ sheets. She had previously been arrested for drinking in public. The other five youths, all males from outside the Palisades, drove from the Mobil station to the Palisades Charter High School parking lot, where they were arrested for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. The youngest was 14, joined by two 16-year-olds, a 17- and an 18-year-old. The youth told police that they thought it was okay to buy the marijuana because it was sold to them by a person who had a medical marijuana card. LAPD Vice Unit member Ronald Crump told the Palisadian-Post that since the federal courts have not ruled on the legality of medical marijuana, selling and possession is still a crime. (The Supreme Court ruled in Raich v. Gonzales in 2005 that the federal government can prosecute medical marijuana patients. Several medical marijuana dispensaries in California have since been subject to drug raids.) In addition to the arrests made in conjunction with illegal activity at the Mobil station, the vice unit has also learned about similar activity at other Palisades locations. ‘We’ve been disappointed that no one initiated mobilization from the community,’ Crump said, referring to the Post’s September 29 front-page story on about the arrests. ‘I received no calls. I was disappointed there wasn’t a response from anybody. Even the Palisades Community Council never called to ask us for advice.’ In the article, LAPD asked the Community Council’s assistance ‘in taking a stand against the Mobil station’s practice of selling alcohol to minors as well as allowing the property to be used as a haven for minors to consume alcoholic beverages and narcotics.’ In addition, Crump complained that Palisades Patrol and Bel-Air/ADT Patrol (the local private security companies) haven’t provided help. ‘They know more of the kids than we do,’ he said. ‘We were unaware they wanted our help,’ Palisades Patrol CEO Scott Wagenseller told the Post this week. ‘We’d like to assist LAPD in any possible way.’ Bel-Air Patrol’s Mike Ball was on vacation and unavailable for comment. Crump also wants Palisades parents, residents and business owners to become more responsible and proactive in responding to illegal activity by the town’s youth and not to ignore lawbreaking (as he writes in an Opinion piece, page 2). ‘There should be zero tolerance from the community,’ Crump said. ‘We’re not the moral police. It is the community’s responsibility to change the trends and norms of behavior: what is accepted and what’s not. ‘We’re [the vice unit] not going to waver in right and wrong,’ Crump emphasized, and he urged residents ‘to create a community consensus that clearly states that drug use and underage alcohol consumption are illegal, unhealthy and unacceptable.’ Anyone who wants to report criminal activity such as underage drinking or the use or sale of narcotics can call the LAPD Vice Unit at (310) 444-1514 or e-mail 33383@LAPD.LACITY.ORG. Or, contact Palisades Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore at (310) 444-0737.

Dolphins Spike Uni in Three

By
dev
-

Alex Lunder celebrates one of her eight kills in Monday's Western League win over University.
Alex Lunder celebrates one of her eight kills in Monday’s Western League win over University.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

Even without All-City hitter Alex Lunder in its lineup, the Palisades High girls volleyball team was a contender for the City Section title. Now that Lunder is back on the floor the Dolphins may just be the team to beat. Palisades certainly played that way on Monday, needing just over 35 minutes to dispatch visiting University, 25-6, 25-11, 25-9. Lunder pounded eight kills and showed little rust in her second full match back from a sprained ankle injury that had sidelined her for a month. That bodes well for the Dolphins heading into today’s showdown at first-place Venice which will likely determine the Western League champion. “I think we’re playing really well,” Lunder said. “We beat Venice in their tournament [September 22] but I’m not sure how much that will count. The deciding factor is to beat them now.” Venice beat Palisades in five games on October 1 in the first of two league meetings. The Gondos also have home-court advantage for today’s contest. “We have to beat them more decisively than they beat us,” Lunder said. “They beat us by two points in the fifth game so hopefully we can take them in four [games] this time.” Venice coach Allen Hunt knows what to expect from Palisades and doesn’t plan to change his lineup or do anything different. “No, we play our game no matter what,” Hunt said. “Sometimes it’s good enough, sometimes it’s not. When we take care of our side of the court we’re fine.” Outside hitter Laura Goldsmith had nine kills and Teal Johnson had four blocks for the Dolphins, who raced to early leads in each game against the Wildcats and rotated players in and out constantly to keep everyone sharp. Palisades hosted Santa Monica in an intersectional match on Wednesday (result unavailable at press time) to make up a match that was postponed in September. As well as the Dolphins’ varsity is playing, the junior varsity looks even more unstoppable. Pali’s JV squad is undefeated this season and won the Sylmar Tournament last weekend in dominating fashion. The Dolphins beat Lancaster, Granada Hills and Eagle Rock in pool play (winning seven of eight games in the process), then beat L.A. Baptist in the quarterfinals and Gabrielino in the semifinals before routing host Sylmar in the finals.

Palisadian Receives Top Award from Chrysalis

By
dev
-

Chris Kanoff
Chris Kanoff

Pacific Palisades resident Chris Kanoff will receive the Spirit of Chrysalis Award (SOCA) at the nonprofit organization’s annual banquet on Thursday, October 24, at Vibiana, the original Archdiocese cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. Kanoff, executive vice president and director of investment banking at Jefferies & Co., will be recognized for his “ongoing dedication to helping the Los Angeles community.” He and his wife, Mary Ellen, are actively involved in the Palisades community and in philanthropy. Kanoff serves on the board of trustees of St. Matthew’s School and as a volunteer AYSO coach, and his wife is an attorney with Latham and Watkins. The sixth annual SOCA gala brings corporate community leaders together to celebrate individuals and corporations whose philanthropic efforts have positively impacted the Los Angeles community. Featuring a VIP reception, silent auction, dinner and award ceremony, the event raises over $500,000 annually to help Chrysalis change lives through jobs. Chrysalis is dedicated to helping the poor and homeless become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. Located on Skid Row in downtown L.A., Santa Monica and Pacoima, the organization’s employment programs help over 2,200 men and women each year transition from poverty, regain their dignity and radically change their lives through jobs. Adlai Wertman, another Palisades resident, has been CEO and president of Chrysalis since 2000. Local board members include Karen Murphy O’Brien and Mary Ellen Kanoff, who was board chair from 1988 to 1993 and has worked with Chrysalis since 1985. Launched in 1984, Chrysalis has grown into a nationally recognized organization that has a 93 percent success rate in helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient by becoming job-ready and ultimately finding and retaining employment. Chrysalis offers its clients everything from resume-preparation classes to work-appropriate clothing. The organization has also started a public works company, Chrysalis Enterprises, which offers quality services to businesses and government agencies throughout Los Angeles County. This enables its clients to reenter the job market through apprenticeship and temporary work assignments. Pacific Palisades is one community served by Chrysalis Enterprises’ street-cleaning service. Current local contracts include the Chamber of Commerce (over three years), Kehillat Israel synagogue, BOCA clothing stores and the Palisades Branch Library. In addition, St. Matthew’s Parish has been a generous supporter of Chrysalis for many years. Chris Kanoff has been an investment banker since 1984 and has been with Jefferies since 1991. Prior to joining Jefferies, he was a vice president in corporate finance at Merrill Lynch and before that a first vice president in the corporate finance department of Drexel Burnham Lambert. After earning his B.A. in business administration from UC Berkeley, he received an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Management at UCLA. Kanoff and his wife have four children: KC (Katherine Claire), 18; Christine, 15; Chad, 13; and James, 9.

Margaret Jane Pollock, 88

By
dev
-

Daughter of Post’s Founder

Margaret Jane Pollock, one of the earliest residents in Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully at home on October 11 at the age of 88. Born on March 22, 1919 in Venice, California, she attended local schools, graduating from Santa Monica High School at the age of 15. Margaret Jane’s parents, Telford and Ada Work, moved to Pacific Palisades in 1926. Telford was a newspaper publisher, and in 1928, he founded the Palisadian (which later became the Palisadian-Post). Like her father, Margaret Jane was a lifelong newshound who read two or three newspapers each day and supplemented that with news magazines and television news. Margaret Jane graduated from UCLA, where she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and where she met her future husband, William Frank Pollock. After she received her master’s degree in education from Stanford University and taught for a year in Compton, the couple married in June 1942 at Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church and then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Bill was in medical school at Harvard University. The Pollocks returned to the West Coast for Bill’s internship and residency at University of California Hospital in San Francisco, where the first of their four children was born. The family returned to Santa Monica when Bill became a partner in the surgical practice of Dr. David Sprong, and in 1950 they moved to their permanent home on Amalfi Drive in the Palisades Riviera neighbhood, where Margaret Jane raised their four children and continued her involvement in the communities of Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades. This year marked her 68th year as a member of P.E.O., a women’s philanthropic organization. She had joined the Palisades Methodist Church in 1930, and was honored as the second-longest standing member of the congregation at the recent 85th anniversary of the church, although her illness prevented her attendance at the celebration. Margaret Jane was president of the Santa Monica Rotary-Anns and a long-time member of the Lady Bugs Garden Club and the Assistance League of Southern California. Over the years, she enjoyed collecting shells, antique dolls and European and American china and glass pieces. Her scrapbooks and photograph albums filled five large cabinets, and documented the lives of her family and friends, as well as her travels. Home movies and snapshots show Margaret Jane skiing, riding horseback, skating and swimming. Her children grew up enjoying many outdoor activities as well as experiencing the beauties of America through family trips to national parks and scenic wonders. As the children grew up and graduated from college, she and Bill were able to travel widely in America and abroad, and together they visited and enjoyed countries on every continent, including Antarctica. Margaret Jane enjoyed lifetime friendships with Palisadians she had known since elementary school as well as the many friends she and Bill welcomed into their lives over the years. Her home and family were the center of her life, and she was glad to be able to spend her last weeks in her own home, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and comforted by the visits and calls of dear friends and family members. Margaret Jane was predeceased by her brothers, Telford H. Work and Robert E. Work, and by her husband, Bill, who died in 2001, a month before what would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her four children, Barbara Schlieper (husband Jeffrey) of Vashon Island, Doug Pollock of Calabasas, Kathie Christie (husband John Matlock) of Portola Valley, and Elizabeth Pollock of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren, Christopher Newman, Kathryn Schlieper and Carley Christie. A memorial service for Margaret Jane will be held on Sunday, November 25 at 11:30 a.m., at the Community United Methodist Church on Via de la Paz. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ethel O. Gardner P.E.O. Scholarship Fund, which benefits California women in the field of education. Donations should be sent ‘in memory of Margaret Jane Pollock, Chapter OB’ and addressed to: P.E.O. Chapter OB, c/o Christine Heller, Executive Assistant, P.O. Box 5617, Whittier, CA 90607-5617.

Cohen Wins Beverly Hills Classic

By
dev
-

Palisades Tennis Center juniors continue to dominate in tournament competition throughout Southern California this season. Palisades Elementary student Harry Cohen won the 10-and-under division of the 11th annual Beverly Hills Tennis Classic last weekend at the Beverly Hills Tennis Center. Cohen did not drop a set in four matches, defeating Brandon Yeshoua of Tarzana, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round; Nathan Benyowitz of Los Angeles, 7-6, 6-3, in the quarterfinals; top-seeded Samuel Feit of Los Angeles, 6-4, 6-2, in the semifinals; and Cirus Bry of Santa Monica, 6-3, 6-1, in the finals. In the Rancho Cienega Tournament, PTC juniors Derek Vincent, Cole Pilar and Zavin Davidian swept the top three spots in the Boys 8s division, with Vincent the champion, Pilar a finalist and Davidian winning the third-place match. “It’s amazing how hard the kids at the PTC are working,” said PTC Pro Chris Harradine. “At every tournament, you now see Palisades Tennis Center shirts everywhere. The PTC is clearly one of the nation’s best hubs for tennis.” Playing in the 12s division, PTC player Brandon Michaels reached the finals of the K-Swiss Masters Tournament. Along the way, he beat Henry Gordon and Chase Lipscomb of Irvine before losing to Southern California’s No. 2-ranked player, Maxwell Cancilla, 6-2, 6-2. Another PTC player, Josh Rosen, is now No. 1 in the Section in the Boys 10s division.

‘The Newspaper Suite’ Debuts Sunday

By
dev
-

Palisades Symphony, conducted by Music Director Joel B. Lish, will perform ‘The Newspaper Suite for Trombone and Orchestra’ by David Stout with the composer as trombone soloist and Manfred Hofer as narrator, and Symphony No. 3 by Brahms. The concert will begin with the Introduction and March of Baccus from the ballet ‘Sylvia’ by Leo Delibes, which will be conducted by Assistant Conductor Peter Senchuk. The free performance will take place on Sunday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Blvd. The performance is free and open to the public. ‘The Newspaper Suite’ has nine movements, including Front Page, Local News, Editorials, Obituaries, Sports, Business, Calendar and Travel. The final portion of the suite is Comics. Composer Stout graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1969, having studied with the renowned Emory Remington. His first job after college was on the road with Clyde McCoy of ‘Sugar Blues’ fame. Since 1971, he has been a freelance trombonist and arranger in Los Angeles, having recorded with artists from Marvin Gaye to Alicia Keys and arranged music for ‘American Idol’ and the Super Bowl. ‘Newspaper Suite’ is his fourth composition for trombone and orchestra. Hofer works as a graphic designer at the Palisadian-Post. He has appeared as an actor in several plays at Theatre Palisades and the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica and can be seen currently in production of ‘Custer’ by Robert Ingham in Culver City. Contact: (310) 454-8040.

Bette Koupal, 64

By
dev
-

A Church’s Wedding Director for 22 Years

Bette Koupal, a former resident of Pacific Palisades for 32 years, died peacefully in Los Angeles on October 5 from the effects of a brain tumor. She was 64. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 23, 1943, Bette was raised in California in both Santa Monica and Chula Vista. In the early 1960s, she became a flight attendant for United Airlines. She met her husband, Wayne, in 1965 in Playa del Rey. They were married in 1966 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades. Their first son, Marc, was born in 1969. The following year, they moved to Pacific Palisades, where they lived on Livorno Drive for 32 years. Their second son, Drew, was born in 1971. Bette stopped flying for United after her marriage, and in the early 1970s started working at the Westwood United Methodist Church. She first worked as secretary to a number of ministers, then began a 22-year career as the wedding director for the church. Bette was very active in the schools her boys attended, which included Marquez Elementary, Palisades Village School, Paul Revere Junior High, and Palisades High School. In 2002, the Koupals moved from the Palisades to an apartment in Westwood, until Wayne retired in 2004 from Merrill Lynch after 40 years as a financial advisor. They then moved to a home they had purchased in Lake Arrowhead. In addition to her husband of 41 years, Bette is survived by her sons, Marc and Drew, who both live in the greater Los Angeles area; her brother, Jon Calkins of Malibu; and a sister, Genene McGovern of Brentwood, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 21, at Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Blvd. Because of construction at the church parking lot, a shuttle service will be available at 10351 Santa Monica Blvd. (the red brick building northeast of the intersection at Beverly Glen). Street parking near the church is very limited. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bette Koupal Mission Fund, c/o the Westwood United Methodist Church (Los Angeles, CA 90024). ‘Bette’s warm spirit was felt by all who knew her,’ said Joan Sather, a friend in the Palisades. ‘Her many friends will always remember her amazing smile and fun-loving attitude.’

Local Authors Nominated for Book Award

By
dev
-

Palisadians Jody Roberts and Lisa Gelber’s photographic ABC book, “P is for Peanut” (Getty Publications, 2007) was recently nominated for a Southern California Independent Booksellers award.

As children’s art teachers, Palisadians Jody Roberts and Lisa Gelber try to expose kids to as many forms of art as possible. Several years ago, they decided to do a photography project with their students. The two scoured bookshelves looking for the perfect resource to introduce children to the beauty and creativity of photography, but they couldn’t find anything inspiring, so they decided to create their own. The result, ‘P is for Peanut,’ (Getty Publications, 2007) a photographic ABC, by Roberts and Gelber was published in May. ‘It went from a traditional ABC book to something really playful and surprising, more of a discovery than just nouns that simply describe what you see there,’ Roberts said. Now ‘P is for Peanut’ has been nominated for a Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA) Book Award, as one of five finalists in the Children’s Picture Book category. In order to be eligible for a SCIBA award, an author must reside between the Central Coast and the Mexican border, and the selection committee tries to choose titles that reflect a uniquely Southern California experience, local culture or setting. They are awarded in five categories: fiction, nonfiction, mystery fiction, children’s novels and children’s picture books. Roberts and Gelber will attend a ceremony on October 20 at the Biltmore Hotel downtown, where awards will be given. ‘We’re excited. It’s a big event, with big names in literature,’ Gelber said. ‘Ray Bradbury is nominated.’ Still, although thrilled by their nomination, the two seem most excited about the process through which their book was developed. ‘We had some great ideas for a concept and then realized we have a great resource in our backyard,’ Roberts said. ‘The Getty was growing its photo collection at the same time and we had the idea to use their collection as inspiration to introduce and get kids excited about looking at photography.’ Soon, after presenting their idea to Getty Publications and getting the go ahead, Roberts and Gelber were delving through the photo files at the Getty Center. They began their exploration at the Getty Research Institute, a facility open to the public. Then, after nearly a year, they were given access to the Getty’s department of photographs. ‘It was the greatest day when we got access to the photography department’s collection,’ Gelber said. The collection contains more than 30,000 images, ranging from photography’s experimental beginnings in England and France in the 1830s to the 20th century, kept in binders that Roberts and Gelber went through one by one. Still, choosing the photographs was only half the fun, because the two would also have to come up with fascinating words to run alongside the captivating photos. ‘Our first priority was to find photos that were really child friendly and accessible, fun, humorous, playful and interesting for children to look at,’ Roberts said. ‘We would be in love with a photograph, but not sure a six year old would be in love with it like we were, or see what we saw,’ Gelber added. ‘And we always had word lists and were thinking of new words, because we didn’t want just nouns.’ The appendix even features a fact section with thumbnails of the art used, and bits of information about the artist or photograph. ‘It provides a way to get into the photographs a second or third time so you go back and start a dialogue about it,’ Gelber said. ‘Jody and I were in heaven. We would gather books and articles about the artists, cull everything together and come to each other with all these great facts.’ The final product is a delightful photography book, featuring 26 different artists like Walker Evans, Julia Margaret Cameron and Dorothea Lange juxtaposed with engaging and inspiring words, like ‘explore,’ ‘yikes’ and ‘kooky,’ which can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. ‘We’re hoping when an adult or child reads it,’ Roberts said, ‘the fun or surprising word will spark their imagination.’

1...2,2252,2262,227...2,525Page 2,226 of 2,525
© Pacific Palisades Post, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272