The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades will reopen to the public on Saturday, January 28, bringing to an end the protracted renovation construction that began in 1997 but was interrupted by opposition to the project. This cultural landmark returns with a new mission as an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. The renovated Villa includes new galleries, which feature steel support systems hidden in the walls and floors to secure large and heavy works of art and protect them in case of earthquakes. Among other highlights are the new 250-seat auditorium and the 450-seat Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater, an outdoor theater based on ancient prototypes that allows contemporary audiences to experience classical performances as they were once viewed. The site also incorporates new space for Getty staff and scholars, including state-of-the-art conservation laboratories, seminar rooms, a classroom, and the research library at the Villa with about 20,000 volumes. The Getty Villa will house the J. Paul Getty Museum’s collection of about 44,000 antiquities. More than 1,200 works will be on view in 23 galleries devoted to the permanent collection, now organized by theme, with five additional galleries for changing exhibitions. Two educational spaces will offer alternative ways to engage with art. The Family Forum, a hands-on discovery room for families, features activities that encourage shared learning experiences, while another interactive installation, the TimeScape Room, focuses on time, place and artistic style in the ancient Mediterranean. Research and scholarly activities at the Villa will be fueled by the presence of the Museum’s antiquities collection and the resources of the Research Library. As is the case with the ongoing scholars program at the Getty Research Institute, the new Villa Scholars Program will have an annual theme that serves as a focus for research and programs. A distinguished figure in the field will be honored as Villa Professor each year and will collaborate with Getty staff responsible for the intellectual direction of the program. The Getty Villa will also be home to the UCLA/Getty Master’s Program on the Conservation of Ethnographic and Archaeological Materials, the first master’s degree program on this subject in the United States. Three inaugural exhibitions will celebrate the opening. “Antiquity and Photography: Early Views of Ancient Mediterranean Sites” (January 28-May 1, 2006) explores the efforts of pioneering photographers to capture and study the visual remnants of the ancient world. “The Getty Villa Reimagined” (January 28-May 8) looks back on the Villa’s history and traces the vision that guided the development of the present site. “Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity” (January 28-July 24) celebrates the recent acquisition of the Oppenl’nder collection of more than 350 pieces of beautiful and rare ancient glass. The Getty Villa off Coastline Drive will be open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and major holidays. Admission is always free, but advance, timed tickets are required for each individual. Tickets can be obtained online at www.getty.edu or by phone at 440-7300 beginning today. Parking is $7 per car, cash only.
Pali Is Third in 62-School Drama Fest
By DIVYA SUBRAHMANYAM Palisadian-Post Intern Last Saturday, Palisades Charter High School had the honor of hosting and participating in the annual Drama Teachers Association of Southern California (DTASC) Fall Festival. After the day-long competitive event, Pali came away with third place overall, as well as several awards in the individual categories. Pali entered the festival in each of 10 categories: publicity, sets/lights and costumes (all of which were in the technical division), monologue, two-person, screenplay, student-written on a social issue, musical, group drama, and group serious. Students began arriving as early as 6:30 a.m., and by 7:30, most of the 62 competing schools had each claimed an area on the quad as their own. Pali students spread blankets near a brick wall next to the cafeteria, and were huddled together against the early morning chill. Some of them were lounging on the bench, chatting, while others seemed to be full of nervous energy. “Will you fix my hair?” asked a bouncy Teagan Miller of her friend, holding out a hairpin. Before the opening ceremonies, Monica Iannessa, Pali’s drama teacher and the school organizer of the event, gathered her students together in a classroom, telling them all how proud she was of them. She also gave them some valuable advice: “I want to impart the very important message that we have to spread goodwill today’We need to drop the petty.” When the announcement came from the outdoor stage for round one to begin, a crush of people spread out across the quad as students tried to find their assigned classrooms. I decided to follow the Pali “group drama” actors (“The Lion in Winter”), who were placed in the same room as nine other groups. Each performance had an 8-minute time limit, and actors were allowed four chairs as their only props. The room was filled with surprising mutual respect, and gracious applause followed every scene. Outside, after round one, senior Griffin Pepper (“The Lion in Winter”) said, “I’m a little nervous, because in the second round, you don’t have as much energy. But I’m still really pumped!” Once round two had finished, lunch began on the quad, with Pali’s own jazz band performing on stage. Students mingled with one another, and large circles of dancers sprung up on the grass. In an effort to further bring together participants, the organizers asked each class to identify themselves. They called out each year: “Sophomores! Juniors! Seniors!” and huge roars erupted. The yelling was carried by students striking up their own chants. Calls of “’06!” were returned with even louder cries of “’07!” as the schools were united in their common identity as high school students who loved acting. The semi-final results were announced soon after, the approximately 30 schools in each category written on long posters. Pali made it in all seven acting categories; the technical divisions presented only once and had no semi-final round. During another break, students gathered on the quad once again, dancing to music from the speakers, talking, laughing, and playing games. At around 4:30 p.m., soon before the results would be read out, the speakers began playing “Seasons of Love,” a popular song from the musical “Rent.” Everyone seemed to know the words, and a throng of people flocked in front of the stage to sing along with swaying arms. When the music changed to something more upbeat, these same people, all from different schools, grabbed on to one another’s shoulders, and a huge conga line snaked crazily around the school. Then came the moment of reckoning. As the posters revealing the top groups in each category unfurled above the stage, shrieks and squeals echoed across the quad from excited finalists. Pali made it in five categories, with the exception of screenplay and comedy. The cast of “The Lion in Winter” excitedly congregated in front of B101, where all the group drama finalists would be performing. Junior Spencer Strasmore fluidly shook out his arms and legs in his version of jiu-jitsu, insisting, with a laugh, that it helped him loosen up. Travis DeZarn, also a junior, said, “There’s a lot of stiff competition but we made it to the top ten, and that’s all that matters.” Once the judges had tabulated the results of the final round, at around 6:45 p.m., all participants jammed into Pali’s big gym for the awards ceremony. During the wait, the competition among schools seemed to become far more evident. “Whose house?” yelled one Pali student, and received the customary response of “P-House!” Some fans, also in marching band, began to loudly hum the school’s fight song, in another display of solidarity. The atmosphere within the group varied: some were nervous, others seemed to not care. “What happens, happens,” said Teagan Miller (“A Lion in Winter”). “It’s pretty much out of my control now, so I’m relaxed.” Finally, the DTASC director quieted the crowd, and informed them that there would be a surprise guest speaker to begin the ceremony’Val Kilmer. The star of “Batman Forever,” who attended Chatsworth High School, walked through the door to a standing ovation and exclamations of “Look, it’s Batman!” He gave a short speech, and was followed by the director, who then introduced the DTASC Festival’s newest, most informal category: the video showcase. This event did not count in Sweepstakes (the overall ranking), and the winners received a giant cookie rather than a conventional trophy. Pali received third place in this category. The awards were given out in order: the top 10 groups in each category were called up to the floor, and places 10 through six received honorable mentions. The top five received a trophy and a certificate, and the first-place scene performed to the huge audience. Pali’s rankings were as follows: publicity’third place; sets and lights’second; monologue (in which more than one participant from each school could compete)’fifth place and second place; and honorable mentions in group drama, two-person, and costumes. They placed third in Sweepstakes. When asked how she felt with an honorable mention, Teagan Miller said: “I’m happy; I had fun and it was a good experience.” This seemed to be the general consensus. There were the usual tears and bitterness for a low placing, or for not making it to finals, but overall, people seemed satisfied. Lauren Hunziker, from Pali’s two-person scene, summed up the true idea of festival: acting, not necessarily competition. “I think,” she said, referring to the many compliments she received, “to do something that powerful that compels people to make an effort to comment on it to your face is far more rewarding than a plastic trophy that sits in an office and no one remembers.”
Helen C. Vella; Talented Craftswoman
Helen Caroline Vella, a longtime Pacific Palisades resident, passed away peacefully on October 21, following a long illness. She was 74. The second-oldest child of Peter and Evelyn Ilnicki, Helen was born on May 25, 1931 in Windsor, Ontario. She met her future husband, Joseph, at a sewing class he was teaching. They married on November 12, 1955 in Canada and moved to California following a vacation out west. They bought a house in the Palisades in the Alphabet streets, where they lived for 19 years. Their daughter Caroline was born in 1959 and attended local schools where Helen participated in supporting Girl Scouts and other activities. Following a divorce in 1977, Helen moved to Santa Monica where she remained active in the St. Monica’s church boutique. She was known for her success at selling raffle tickets at the annual St. Monica’s Oktoberfest fundraiser. A longtime employee of Hughes Aircraft, Helen earned her high school diploma through a program offered by the company. She assembled, modified and did rework for experimental and production purposed in the Hughes El Segundo development laboratories. She also worked at the Hughes Malibu Research Lab, where she was an electrical and mechanical prototype assembler in the NASA Experimental Lab. She retired from Hughes in 1994. Helen enjoyed selling Tupperware, Jafra Cosmetics and Herbalife for many years and continued to do so into her retirement years. At the birth of her granddaughter, Amanda Mae Fausett, Helen devoted herself to spending time with her. They enjoyed tea parties for two, baking cookies and shopping. Helen also enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world and the United States. Her talents in needlepoint, crocheting, and crafts were evident to her family and friends. She is survived by her loving daughter, Caroline Fausett (husband Richard); granddaughter Amanda Mae Fausett; and sisters Edna Ilnicki, Mary Ann Healy, Frances Atkinson, Jean Rybka and Janet Phillips. Services are scheduled for Saturday, November 5 at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. A reception will follow at Caroline’s home in Reseda.
Mariella Hayes, 86; Past Resident Here
Mariella Fraser Hayes, formerly of Palo Alto and Pacific Palisades, died suddenly Monday, October 24 at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa. She was 86. She was born March 6, 1919, in Chicago, the daughter of the late Norman Appleton and Frances May Ludden Fraser. In Chicago she met Edward M. Hayes. The couple married, and in 1947, made the trip west to live in San Mateo, where they resided until 1954. Mariella and Edward spent seven years in Pacific Palisades before moving to Palo Alto in 1961, where they remained for more than 40 years. Later in life, she received an associate of arts degree from Foothill College and a bachelor’s degree in English from San Jose State University. She and her husband, a retired United Airline executive, enjoyed traveling, and the couple toured the world together three times. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and had been a member of P.E.O. for more than 50 years. She was a skilled domino and bridge player, enjoyed creative writing and even had a shopping guide published in her book “Recreational Shopping.” Mariella was preceded in death by her husband in 2000, her sister Norma Fraser, and brother Hugh “Bud” Fraser. She is survived by her son, Edward Hayes (wife Jean) of Los Angeles; daughter Frances Young (husband Robert) of Napa; and daughter Janice Stolper (husband Jeff) of Pacific Palisades. Also surviving are her eight grandchildren, Robert (Stephanie) Hayes, Michael (Stephanie) Hayes, Gary Hayes, Suzanne (Mark) Shaffner, Carly (Thomas) Gill, Kimberly Faller, Ryan Faller and Brandon Faller; and five great-grandchildren, Alessandra and Haile Carillo-Hayes, Jake and Ryli Shaffner, and Nicholas Hayes. A service to celebrate Mariella’s life was held at The Springs of Napa, where she had been a resident. Private committal will be at Skylawn Memorial Park in Woodside. The family asks that memorials be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 844, Santa Rosa, CA 95402; or to one’s favorite charity.
Dr. Klaus Lewin, 69; Renowned Pathologist and UCLA Professor
Dr. Klaus Lewin, a UCLA pathologist and longtime Palisadian, died on October 25 in Pacific Palisades. He was 69. Born in Jerusalem on August 10, 1936, Lewin attended Victoria College in Alexandra, Egypt, before pursuing a medical degree at Westminster Hospital in London. He and his wife, Patricia, also a physician, moved to California to start work at Stanford Hospital, but he eventually transitioned to full professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA, where he practiced for 25 years. There he helped train a generation of new pathologists while earning a reputation as one of the pre-eminent gastrointestinal pathologists in the world, lecturing and traveling widely. Lewin is survived by his wife, Patricia; three children (all physicians), David of Charleston, Nicola of Seattle and Bruno of Los Angeles; and five grandchildren, as well as many people who counted this gentleman as friend and mentor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the UCLA Geriatric and Gerontology Center, or to Kehillah Israel, 16019 Sunset, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
Joseph W. Stucker, 89; Longtime Palisadian
Joseph W. Stucker, a 55-year-resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on October 23. He was 89. Stucker was born on September 4, 1916 in New Albany, Indiana. He worked for 40 years with GTE in Southern California, starting as a linesman and retiring as a draftsman. He was a former member of the Palisades Lions Club, and loved golf and gardening. He was also a former deacon at the Palisades Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife Pat of Pacific Palisades; daughter Joan Goff (husband Monty) of Topanga; three grandsons, Bryan and David Goff of San Diego and Chad Larsen of Illinois; and great-grandson Kevin Goff.
Palisades Marching Band Steps High, Sounds Great
The musical sounds echoing out of the canyon the nights of a Palisades High home football game have changed from last year: they’re stronger, more vibrant. Pure brass, perfectly tuned, strong percussion, flutes, clarinets and a lone piccolo echo above the shouts and referee whistles. “Three years ago the band barely had enough kids to form a P,” junior Divya Subrahmanyam said. “This year we have enough kids to make formations.” The school’s marching band has grown from a pep band that played at football games to full-fledged marching band. At halftime during a recent game between Venice and PaliHi, the bands from both schools took the field. The difference in sound left no doubt to which had the superior sound: unlike the football game, Palisades won hands down. In late September 2002, sophomore Ivaylo Getov, a drum major, was trying to get a marching band started. His honors biology teacher Brendhen Van Loo (who also teaches Advanced Placement biology) saw his student working with the band and they struck up a conversation. Ivaylo learned that Van Loo had been in marching band in high school in Greeley, Colorado, playing the alto saxophone. His school had a strong music program and the marching band placed high in state competition during his senior year. Van Loo also played in the USC marching band, “which is one of the best bands in the nation,” he said in a recent interview. “It was one of the highlights of college for me.” Ivaylo asked for Van Loo’s help. He taught them marching steps and turns. “Our goal three years ago was to march during the halftime at homecoming,” Van Loo said. Which they did,with their short, two-song show. Band membership increased to about 40 the following year, and last year the Booster Club bought new uniforms, new music and three new drums. The band marched at all the games and performed a nearly 12-minute halftime show. This year the band has grown to about 50 members. “Since many of the musicians already have experience, we can do more in a shorter amount of time,” Van Loo said. “They are like a college marching band because they learn new formations every week.” Palisades High approved special funding for the band, which enabled it to buy 17 new songs, three new snare drums, two new bass drums and a new pair of quads. The school also funded new uniforms for the drum majors and a new conducting platform. Will they try marching in the town’s Fourth of July parade? “It would be great to see them do this,” Van Loo said, “but it would require a teacher or someone else to be in town for the Fourth.” He does think the group has the commitment to march. “Most are highly motivated students.” “It’s still a thrill to get out there and see them perform, to help design the shows, and see the final product,” Van Loo said. “Working with the band is relaxing. It takes away the stress of teaching.” At last Friday’s homecoming game against Hamilton, the band performed a 12-minute show with four songs at halftime. There’s a final home game November 10 against Westchester, and the band will be entering a competition on December 10. (Additional reporting provided by Palisadian-Post intern Divya Subrahmanyam)
Struggling Dolphins Lose Homecoming to Hamilton
The Hamilton Yankees spoiled Palisades High’s homecoming last Friday night by defeating the Dolphins, 25-3, at the Stadium by the Sea. Pali’s side of the stadium was filled with fans, but they didn’t have a lot to cheer about. Hamilton (5-3, 2-1) scored on their first possession, after returning the kick-off from their own 25 to their 48. A 25-yard pass from quarterback Noah Paul to Jercell Frost put them on the 27 and they scored six plays later. The conversion failed. Palisades (3-5, 0-3) barely had possession before a fumble was recovered near midfield by Hamilton. The Yankees used a combination of passing and runs down to the 8, where they had to settle for a field goal. After forcing Palisades to punt, Hamilton again marched downfield, only to fumble at the 6-yard line. The ball rolled into the end zone and the Dolphins were able to take possession on the 20. Palisades quarterback Raymond Elie, who was third overall in the Western League for passing, was again unable to generate any offense. Hamilton defenders Gary Peters, Jevoni Buchanan and Travon Morgan practically hurdled over Pali’s offense line, and Elie found himself scrambling. Luckily for Pali, the kid has wheels for legs or the score may have been even more lopsided. In the shotgun position, Elie was sometimes pushed back as much as 20 yards. He dodged and outran two and three Yankees, usually making it back to the line of scrimmage before being taken out. With just over four minutes remaining in the half, Hamilton scored their second touchdown, driving 45 yards in six plays. Pali had to punt again and Hamilton responded with another field goal. Thanks to two 15-yard penalties against Hamilton, Palisades finally moved downfield, before stalling at Hamilton’s 25. The half ended with Hamilton leading, 18-0. After a scoreless third quarter, the Yankees fumbled on their 4-yard line and Palisades took possession. Yet the Dolphins were unable to push the ball through for the touchdown, and senior Estaban Moreno kicked a short field goal. With under two minutes remaining, Hamilton scored a final touchdown. “We just aren’t playing well as I’d like to see at this point in the season,” head coach Leo Castro said. “The inexperience of our athletes is showing. We have 18 juniors and 12 seniors.” o o o The Palisades JV’s won their game, 28-12, with good blocking that allowed the offensive players to move the ball. Pali’s defense made it hard for Hamilton to get anything going until late in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins had a comfortable 28-0 lead. In the second half, the Pali coaches started substituting so that every player had a chance for some field action. “Our execution was excellent,” head coach Calvin Parker said. “We came to play today, and they did it. We started subbing players to see what they had.”
Pali Volleyball Open Playoffs Tonight
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
In their final regular match of the season, the Palisades High girls volleyball team suffered a frustrating loss to Venice on the Gondoliers’ court last Thursday. The Dolphins won the first game 25-19, lost the second 22-25, won the third 28-26, and lost the fourth 25-21, which sent the teams to a decisive fifth game. Venice won 15-10, to complete a 10-0 league season. The Dolphins finished second with an 8-2 record, losing only to the Gondoliers. The City playoffs begin tonight, with Palisades scheduled to host a lower-seeded team in the Pali gym at 7 p.m. (The seeding meeting was held after the sports section went to press.) Second round games will be played Monday, November 7. Jenna McCallister led Pali against Venice with 12 kills and six blocks, Alex Lunder had 12 kills and Teal Johnson added 10. Senior Megan Chanin let the team with six serving aces. “It was so frustrating,” senior Kaylie McCallister said. “We could’ve beaten them, but we just couldn’t finish the game, couldn’t get the momentum we needed.” Although three of Venice’s starters are seniors, Palisades Head Coach Matt Shubin doesn’t think it gave Venice an edge. “We have a big group of sophomores who are mature beyond their years,” he said. “Athletically we are on par with Venice.” Shubin, a former volleyball player for UCLA, came on as the Dolphin coach just before the season’s first game. “Our biggest problem has been our late start as a team,” he said. “Most of the other teams had six weeks more practice together than we did.” “He’s a really good offense coach,” Kaylie McCallister said about Shubin. This senior has had four different coaches in her years at Pali. “If we keep playing together we can make it to championships,” she predicted. The Pali JV’s won their final match at Venice, beating the Gondoliers in three games. They ended their regular league season 9-1, losing only to Venice. Their coach, Kristin Mitchell, wasn’t hired until late in the season and coached her first game against Venice. She will take the team to the City tournament in Sylmar on Saturday.
