THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 The Chamber of Commerce marketing series features local business owners Elyse Walker, Dave Licht (Kay ‘n’ Dave’s Cantina) and Dr. Luke Cohen (Innate Chiropractic), 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Mort’s Oak Room on Swarthmore. Free to Chamber members; $20 for non-members. RSVP: 459-7963. Check-in and reception is 6 p.m. The speakers will talk about how to grow a successful business in Pacific Palisades. Palisadian Alan Eisenstock signs “Kindergarten Wars: The Battle to Get Into America’s Best Private Schools,” 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. The author, a former screenwriter and seven-year board member of a private elementary school, provides startling insights into the private-school application process. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” a Theatre Palisades production directed by Paula LaBrot and starring Joshua Brandenburg, 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, corner of Haverford and Temescal Canyon Rd. Plays every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through October 8. Ticket reservations: 454-1970. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 An opening reception for artist Marilyn Mackie Hamilton, whose technique is Chinese brush painting, will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The show, entitled “Garden of Delight,” continues through October 28. Contact: 463-4607. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Friends of Film presents the monthly Palisades Film Festival, 7:30 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse on Haverford. Admission: $5. Tonight’s program features two shorts and “American Blackout,” a multiple award-winning film on the festival circuit which chronicles the recurring patterns of voter disenfranchisement from 2000 to 2004 in Florida, Georgia and Ohio. This is “…a muckraking indictment of…the systematic disenfranchisement of African American voters,” wrote Kenneth Turan, the L.A. Times film critic. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Civic League, 7:30 p.m., Gabrielson Hall at the Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. Public invited. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Palisadian Lance Lee weaves ancient myth and modern angst in his newest collection of poetry, “Human Nature,” 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. The first meeting of the fall season for the Palisades Art Association, 7 p.m. at the Palisades Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Ave. Award-winning artist Sarah Willman Grote, known for her abstract watercolors, will be the guest speaker. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Monthly Chamber of Commerce networking mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., hosted by Affinity Bank at 15310 Sunset Blvd. Public invited. Free to members, $25 for non-members . THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Palisadian Andy Kelly, Distinguished Scholar of English and Medieval Studies at UCLA, will discuss his controversial new book, “Satan: A Biography,” 7:30 p.m., Corpus Christi Church, corner of Sunset and Carey. Public invited.
Edward Zolla: Entrepreneur, Mentor, Benefactor
Edward M. Zolla died unexpectedly from a sudden cardiac event while on a family vacation in Lake Tahoe on September 2. He was 58. Born in Chicago, Ed was a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was proud of his service to his country, and was equally proud to return to Vietnam years later in pursuit of humanitarian and Vietnamese economic development causes, thereby completing, for him, his real tour of duty. A successful entrepreneur, Ed launched, acquired, and operated a multitude of enterprises in a variety of industries, including a liquid bottling company serving Fortune 100 clients, a large consumer textile manufacturing and import company, and others. He most recently founded Industrial Equity Capital, an acquisition firm. For nearly 30 years, Ed was the founder and president of Horizon Construction, a construction and property management firm specializing in affordable housing throughout Los Angeles and Kern County, and student housing at the University of Southern California. He measured all his many business ventures and economic accomplishments not only by their financial statements, but by the opportunities he created for the people he worked with and the communities he affected. Ed was also a longtime active member of the Young President’s Organization and World President’s Organization. He taught a class on entrepreneurship at the USC Marshall School of Business and, in typical Ed Zolla style, most recently taught business finance at Manual Arts High School. Ed’s entrepreneurial skill, abundant energy and insight were not limited to business. In honor of his mother’s work at Los Angeles Childrens Hospital, he founded Holidays from the Heart at the hospital, via which Christmas was delivered by him, his family, and his friends, to countless families with sick and dying children. In addition, Ed’s annual Chinese New Year Dinner Event provided a ‘unique’ dining experience; over the years, he and co-founders raised enough funds to build an orthopedic surgical unit for Childrens Hospital. Ed, the contractor, built the homeless teen shelter for the Los Angeles Youth Network, where he also served on the board of directors for many years. Ed, patron of the arts, was a proud member of the Los Angeles Opera board of directors, serving on its education committee, where he was committed to bringing opera into the public schools. With his wife Susan, he was a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic board of overseers, and sponsor of the Center Theatre Group. Susan Zolla is founder and owner of the Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica Canyon and the Inn at Playa del Rey. She and Ed were married 35 years. While many other nonprofit organizations and individuals profited from Ed’s largess, the cause closest to his world vision was to provide access to college for inner-city youth. He endowed full scholarships for minority students at the University of Pennsylvania and Bucknell University. He also funded financial-aid packages at Franklin Marshall College and Colgate University, and was a generous benefactor to the One Voice Scholarship program and the Fulfillment Fund. Ed enjoyed travel’the more exotic the better’and scuba diving; had recently taken up running; and was an avid cyclist who deeply treasured his Pelaton Cycling Group and their 50-mile Saturday morning rides. Just about every day, Ed met with someone: a friend, a friend’s son or daughter, a high school student, or friend of a friend, who sought Ed’s advice, counsel and candid direction. He helped many people find their better self and achieve their very best. Ed’s life was short, but his impact and accomplishments will endure far into the future. Beyond all, Ed loved his family with a deep devotion. He lived in Brentwood, but his three daughters attended Palisades High (where they all played varsity soccer), and he never missed the town’s Fourth of July parade and the fireworks show. Ed is survived by his life partner and loving wife, Susan; his treasured daughters, Alissa Bartle (husband Peter) of Westchester, Mimi Neandross (husband Erik) of Santa Monica, and Anne of Costa Mesa; his granddaughter, Anna Bartle; and his sisters Debby Loggia (husband Joe) and Wendy Treadway (husband John). In memory of Ed, the family has established a scholarship fund for college-bound inner-city high school students. Donations can be made to The Edward Zolla Memorial Scholarship Program, c/o GNA, 3015 Main St., Suite 300, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
Frances Geile Keagy, 64, Grew Up in the Palisades
Frances Geile Keagy, a former resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away in her sleep September 16, following a prolonged illness. She was 64. The daughter of Mary and Frank Geile of Pacific Palisades, Frances grew up on Alma Real, and graduated from Palisades Elementary and University High School. She attended Santa Monica College before marrying and settling down with veterinarian Dr. Richard Keagy. The couple had two children, and later divorced. Keagy worked at Litton Industries as a sales representative and enjoyed travel. She was also an avid reader, and in later years she loved being with her grandchildren. In the last few years, she had relocated to Woodland Hills. Keagy was predeceased by her sister, Mary Geile Durr. She is survived by a sister, Laura Geile Brooks of Brentwood; her children, Charles G. Keagy of Portland, Oregon, and Laura Greenberg (husband Bill) of Woodland Hills; grandchildren Katrina and Cory Keagy and Andrew Greenberg; and niece Karisa Durr. Plans for a memorial are undetermined, but contributions may be made in Keagy’s name to The American Cancer Society.
Pali Football Wins Opener
Dolphins Lack Glitz and Glamour but Still Beat Hollywood 20-13
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
A win is a win. That was the first thing Palisades High Head Football Coach Leo Castro told his team after last Friday night’s season opener at Stadium by the Sea. Indeed, the Dolphins did not earn many style points for their sloppy 20-13 victory over a game but overmatched Hollywood squad, but they did enough to win–barely. On the bright side, Dajuan Cofield rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns in 15 carries and Robert Gillett added 64 yards in 13 carries for the Dolphins. Then there was starting quarterback Raymond Elie, who had his first pass attempt of the season intercepted but shook it off to finish 7 of 16 for 136 yards. He also scored on a quarterback sneak that tied the game, 13-13, midway through the second quarter. It was the Dolphins’ first season-opening win since 2003. However, the result was hardly the convincing opening statement the Dolphins were hoping to deliver. Palisades looked sluggish throughout the first half and had to overcome two early deficits before finally taking control in the fourth quarter. “We have to learn to finish–finish drives and finish games,” PaliHi Offensive Coordinator Aaron Castro told his players in the postgame huddle. “We won’t always get away with making this many mistakes.” While the Dolphins were taking the field for the first time, the Sheiks did have the advantage of having played the week before (a 41-20 loss to Washington) and they got on the scoreboard first when Gyasi Jesse Rivers ran 20 yards for a score two plays after Elie was intercepted. Walter Contreras kick the extra point for a 7-0 Hollywood lead. Cofield’s two-yard run pulled the Dolphins to within a point on their next possession, but Joe Berman’s extra-point try hit the upright and bounced back, leaving Palisades one point behind. Rivers scored again on a 40-yard run early in the second quarter (the extra point attempt was wide) and Hollywood increased its lead to 13-6. A 21-yard pass from Elie to receiver Daniel Prothro set up Elie’s one-yard run and Berman’s kick tied the game, 13-13, midway through the second quarter. Palisades was its own worst enemy in the third quarter. An electrifying punt return for a touchdown by Elie was negated by a clipping penalty, then a botched punt return prevented the Dolphins from taking over deep in Hollywood territory. Early in the fourth quarter, Elie hooked up with Gillett for a 26-yard pass play, then found Sudsy Dyke for a 36-yard completion to the Sheiks’ 5-yard line. A sack and a penalty backed Pali up to the 19, but Cofield took a pitch wide left, cut back and outran two safeties to the corner of the end zone for the decisive score. Pali missed a chance to put the game out of reach on its next possession, driving inside the two, but the Dolphins were flagged for illegal procedure and the Sheiks recovered a fumble by Elie two plays later to end the threat. The Dolphins take a step up in competition Friday night when they take on crosstown rival Santa Monica at Santa Monica College. The Vikings were more impressive in their opener, routing host Hueneme, 49-21, behind 220 rushing yards from tailback Louis Adeyemi, who was a thorn in the Dolphins’ side last year in SaMo’s 24-14 victory. Palisades’ frosh/sop squad, which also defeated Hollywood, plays this afternoon at Santa Monica High. The varsity game will be at 7 p.m. Friday night at Santa Monica College. Santa Monica leads the intersectional rivalry 12-6-2.
Pirates Sweep Doubleheader
The Palisades Pirates, a local Under-10 travel baseball team, opened their season by sweeping a doubleheader against the Mission Viejo Halos on September 3. The Pirates won the first game 19-2 and the second game 11-0. In the first game, the Pirates pounded out 22 hits, including three each by Palisadians Jackson Kogan, Matt Douglas and Sam Cohen (who also homered). The nightcap was highlighted by triples in the third inning by Ezra Steinberg, Jed Moscot and Kogan. Pirate pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts in the two games. The staff includes Kogan, Cohen, Jed Moscot, Cameron Kao, Matt McGeagh and Zack Dufour. The Pirates hosted the San Gabriel Valley Cobras last Sunday at the Field of Dreams.
Irvin and Lee Finish Ninth at World Beach Volleyball Finals
Palisadian Kelly Irvin and her partner Ashley Lee tied for ninth in the Under-19 division at the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Championships last weekend in Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda. In their first pool play match, Irvin and Lee lost to the eventual champions, Beccharra Palmer and Alice Rohkamper of Australia. They bounced back in their second match to outlast a duo from Austria, 16-21, 21-10, 15-13, and won the first game against a team from Italy in their third match before being edged 18-16 in the decisive third game. Irvin and Lee then fell to France in Friday’s elimination round. Seeded seventh out of 24 teams, Irvin and Lee qualified for the international competition by defeating Devon Dykstra (Hermosa Beach) and Megan Saraceno (Redondo Beach) in the U-18 final at the USAV Beach Junior Olympics in July.
Marymount Volleyball Topped by Mira Costa
An anticipated showdown between top-ranked girls volleyball teams turned into the Alix Klineman show. The 6-4 senior outside hitter pounded 22 kills and added four blocks to lead Manhattan Beach Mira Costa High past host Los Angeles Marymount, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23, Friday night in a match between reigning CIF champions. “She could start for any Division I [college] right now–she’s that good,” Marymount Head Coach Cari Klein said of Klineman. “I didn’t know that she would terminate points at will like that.” Senior middle blocker Lauren Bledsoe added nine kills and junior outside hitter Falyn Fonoimoana had seven kills for the Mustangs (2-0), ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA, who won both the CIF Division I Southern Section title and the state championship last year. “We played a lot better tonight than we did in our scrimmage [against Redondo] the other day,” Klein said. “Their coach told me this is the first time she didn’t sub her starters out. She had to keep them all in to win the games.” Klein, who lives in the Palisades, has built a dynasty at Marymount, coaching the Sailors to five consecutive Southern Section titles. Many of her players come from the Palisades and Sunshine Volleyball, her club program. The Palisadians on this year’s varsity roster are senior right side hitter Kelly Irvin, who had 10 kills and 15 digs against Mira Costa, and senior defensive specialists Ali Hoffman, Michelle Barrett, Kendall Bird and Madison Wojchiechowski. Junior Alex Ayers had 15 kills for the Sailors (0-1), who won the Division IV-AA Southern Section title last year and advanced to the SoCal Regional finals. Marymount entered Friday’s match ranked No. 1 in Division I-A. Senior Megan Tryon had 11 kills and junior setter Samantha Selsky contributed with nine kills and 35 assists for the Sailors. The Sailors could meet Mira Costa again at this weekend’s Las Vegas Durango tournament.
Pali Tennis Serves Up Aces in Fresno
Everything seemed to fall into place at just the right time for the Palisades High tennis team. Admittedly, Head Coach Bud Kling did not know what to expect when he took his team north to Fresno for the Peachtree Classic last weekend. “I was hoping we could just win two matches,” he said. “Turns out, we reached the finals of our division and could have won it.” After an opening 5-2 loss to Silicon Valley Saratoga, one of the toughest teams in the tournament, Palisades beat Sacramento Rio Americano, 6-1, and Pebble Beach Robert Louis Stevenson, 5-2, to advance to the finals of Division 1B. There, Palisades took a 3-1 lead before losing, 4-3, to Sacramento Loretto. Katy Nikolova, the Dolphins’ No. 1 player, won all of her matches. She beat Saratoga’s top player, 6-4, 6-1, beat Rio Americano’s top player, 6-1, 6-1, and rallied to beat Stevenson’s Katherine Dicconson, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8). Against Loretto, Nikolova notched Pali’s first point with a 6-4, 6-2 win. Kathryn Cullen was the other player to score against Saratoga, winning 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7) at No. 4 singles. She, too, won her matches against Rio Americano ( 6-1, 6-2) and Stevenson (7-5, 6-2). She lost a close match at No. 4 singles against Loretto, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. Playing No. 2 singles, freshman Krystal Hansard won 6-1, 6-2 against Rio Americano and beat Loretto’s Mackenzie Clark 6-2, 7-5 in the finals. “All of our singles players did well up there,” Kling said. “I was surprised at how well we competed.” In doubles, Lauren Pugatch and Audrey Ashraf proved a formidable duo at No. 1, blanking Rio Americano’s top tandem, 6-0, 6-0 and beating Stevenson’s top team, 6-1, 6-3. They also beat Loretto’s top team in straight sets. Erika Lee and Rose Schlaff partnered at No. 2 doubles and won two out of four matches, as did Alex Kling and Marina Sterngold at No. 3 doubles. “It was great experience for the girls and the team really bonded,” Kling said. “This is a young team, so it was good to get some matches in against quality competition before we start league.” On Monday, Palisades hosted Marymount in an intersectional match at the Palisades Tennis Center and the Dolphins won 5-1. The best match was at No. 1 singles, where Nikolova matched Palisadian Madison Akerblom shot for shot before prevailing 8-6 in a pro set. Akerblom was named most valuable player in the Sunshine League last season. “It was a good match,” Nikolova said. “I was really tired because I’ve played a lot of tennis over the last four days and she made me work for every point.” At No. 2 singles Hansard beat Michelle Greene, 8-1, and Cullen beat Kirsten Crowe 8-4 at No. 3 singles. In doubles, Pugatch and Ashraf beat Palisadian Ani Mardirossian and her partner, Caroline Jensen at the No. 1 spot. Mardirossian trains at the PTC. Pali’s Lee and Schlaff beat Kate Lasater and Morgan Halsay at No. 2. The Palisadian duo of Breanna Baraff and Margy Slattery notched the Sailors’ lone point, beating Kling and Sterngold at No. 3 doubles, 8-5. “It was quality tennis today–a lot of long points and winners,” said Marymount Head Coach Ty Metcalfe, whose team lost its season opener to Brentwood, 15-3. “I was impressed with Palisades. They are solid all the way through their lineup.” On Wednesday, Palisades hosted Beverly Hills at Riviera Tennis Club in the opening round of the Bay Area Classic. On Friday, the Dolphins travel to Manhattan beach to play Southern Section powerhouse Mira Costa.
Save Our Earth: Say No to Plastic Bags
Compiled by MARIE STECKMEST Palisadian-Post Contributor Disposable plastic bags came into use 29 years ago. Californians Against Waste estimates that Americans now use 84 billion plastic bags annually.’Think of how many you get in a week, especially if you “double bag it” at the grocery store, and extrapolate for a year. Plastic bags may be convenient, but they are bad for the environment. Today, this column will address some of the issues involved and also highlight things that other cities and countries are doing about plastic bags. Made from polyethylene, plastic bags are not biodegradable. They photodegrade and break down into smaller and smaller toxic bits and finally into a toxic dust, contaminating soil and waterways, and entering the food chain. Plastic bags are a major contributor to litter both on land and in the ocean. If not thrown away in the trash, they litter our landscape and can eventually go down storm drains directly into the ocean, where many animals mistakenly eat them. At least 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals and an estimated one million birds are killed every year by ingesting plastic bags. You can easily help reduce the amount of plastic bags. How? Put cloth bags in your car so they are always there.’Take your own bag to the grocery store so you can say, “No thank you” when offered a plastic (or paper) bag.’Cloth bags can hold the amount of three or four plastic bags.’Local grocery stores including Gelson’s, Ralphs, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s all sell cloth bags ranging in price from 20 cents to $5.99.’If you have used plastic bags at home, take them to grocery stores that recycle them.’Also, when someone offers you a bag for one or two items, consider saying, “No, thank you” and carrying these items in your hands. The other day, by using my Gelson’s and Trader Joe’s bags, I avoided getting 12 plastic bags! My daughter carries a large purse and uses it to carry small purchases.’If your kids attend a local school, encourage the school to sell cloth bags with the school logo and market this as a way to help the environment. Many countries have enacted measures to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment including taxing each bag, requiring the providers of bags to recycle them, or totally banning them.’Charging for each bag greatly reduces the amount used (www.banthebag.org). Grocery store shoppers in Ireland have been required to pay a 15-cent tax per new plastic bag since March 2002. This resulted in an estimated 90- percent reduction in plastic bag use in the first year.’ What do you think we could do in Pacific Palisades? What if the Palisades held a no plastic-bag day, for example on Earth Day? Think of the impact! Remember: Just do a little bit every day and you can make a difference. (For further information and to learn about the author’s local organization, visit www.palisadescares.org.)
Gary ‘Buddy’ Busey Sings for Holly’s B-Day
By JOHN WIRTH Special to the Palisadian-Post Theatergoers at Saturday night’s sold-out performance of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at the Pierson Playhouse were delighted when producer Gail Matthius took the stage moments after the rousing last number and introduced a surprise guest. The audience gasped as Gary Busey emerged from backstage and strapped on a guitar–not just any guitar, but Buddy Holly’s 1957 Fender Stratocaster that was given to Busey by Buddy’s widow, Maria Elena Holly. Busey, the charismatic actor who received an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Buddy Holly in the 1978 film “The Buddy Holly Story,” delighted the audience first by wishing Buddy happy birthday on what would have been the singer/songwriter’s 70th (on September 7), and then by donning the distinctive black-framed glasses he wore in the movie and singing Holly’s hit “Maybe Baby” in his soulful, Texas-accented voice. After complimenting the “Buddy” cast for “a great performance,” Busey briefly joined the audience for a wine and birthday-cake reception in the lobby and then carried his precious guitar to the safety of his car. Buddy Holly, whose real name was Charles Hardin Holley, was killed in a plane crash in Iowa on February 3, 1959 that also took the lives of J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) and Richie Valens. The three were later immortalized by Don McLean in his classic song “American Pie.” “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” a musical chronicling his all-too-brief career, has been selling out. The Theatre Palisades production represents a new direction for the theater, which Matthius describes as “a cherished community resource on the rise.” Very family-friendly, the show features many of Holly’s hit songs played live on stage by Joshua Brandenburg and a band cheerfully led by nimble guitarist Bray Ghiglia. Directed by Paula LaBrot, the show runs Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through October 8. Tickets: 454-1970.
