2008 – October - Los Angeles Figure Skating Club

The Los Angeles Figure Skating Club
NEWS BULLETIN
Volume 63, Issue 6
October/November 2008
TEAM LAFSC
We kicked off Regionals on September 27, 2008,
at Pickwick Ice Center with our annual Team Jacket/
Regionals Send Off Party. The following week, our
skaters rocked the house at the Southwest Pacific Regional Championships held in Anaheim. LAFSC came
away with FIVE Gold Medalists in the qualifying
events, and THREE Gold Medalists in the nonqualifying events. In Senior Ladies, the very lovely
Angelyn Nguyen, placed first. In Junior Men, displaying a wicked triple Axel, fast, confident skating
skills and a dynamic presence, Stanislav Samohin
placed first. In Intermediate Men, our skaters stood
1st and 3rd on the podium. Shotaro Omori, bested
the field to come away with the Gold Medal, and
Devin Perini placed third. In Intermediate Ladies,
Katarina Kulgeyko proved her competitive mettle,
and came away with the championship title. In Juvenile Boys, our LAFSC boys dominated the podium.
Spencer Howe skated a very confident program to
win the title. Following close behind were fellow
LAFSC teammates, Daniel Samohin (2nd) and Patrick
Leahy (3rd). Way to go guys! Kudos also to Brenda Ji,
who won the Silver in Juvenile Girls, Aaron Li Hai
(1st Preliminary Boys), Cristina Wong (1st Open
Juvenile Ladies FS Group B), and Nadine Orellana,
who came in 1st in Pre-Juvenile Girls FS Group A. As
a club, we had an awesome competition with many of
our skaters making final rounds in their events, and
skating personal bests. Congratulations to everyone!
NEWS BULLETIN
Page 2
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Hello everyone! Well we made it through another Regionals and now it is on to Sectionals.
Our Southwest send-off party was great! We had a big turn out and a lot of fun. I would like to
thank everyone who helped to make it a great success: Sean Bachand for all his help (as always) with
the room and setup, Michael Cruz for organizing and his generous donation to the skaters gifts,
Vicki Costanzo for helping with the setup and donating to the skaters gifts, Jan SooHoo for helping
to organize the party and contact all the skaters, Anna Wallace and her team for the beautiful (and
delicious!) ice cream cake, Laina McFerren for the wonderful Caesar salad, Rachelle Concepcion for
the delicious spaghetti, Alice Rothenberg for the bottled water, and Sandy Matlow for all her hard
work on the jackets and the soakers. They look great! I would like to congratulate everyone who
participated at Regionals this year including those non-qualifying competitors, it is a big commitment and we are proud of you!
I would like to congratulate our 2009 Southwest Pacific Regional Senior Ladies Champion
Angelyn Nguyen. Way to go Angelyn! Also qualifying out of Regionals for Pacific Coast Sectionals
will be the Southwest Pacific Regional Junior Men’s champion, Stanislav Samohin, and
Victoria Hecht (3rd Junior Ladies). Qualifying for Junior Nationals are Southwest Pacific Regional
Intermediate Ladies champion Katarina Kulgeyko, Southwest Pacific Regional Intermediate Men’s
champion, Shotaro Omori, Katherine Gorodetsky (Intermediate Ladies 4th), Devin Perini
(Intermediate Men 3rd), Southwest Pacific Regional Juvenile Boys Champion, Spencer Howe, Daniel
Samohin (Juvenile Boys 2nd), Patrick Leahy (Juvenile Boys 3rd) and Brenda Ji (second in Juvenile
Girls). Congratulations to everyone! Was anyone counting how many champions we had? (There
will be a test later!)
As we announced at the send off party we will be selling the blue LAFSC club jackets to our
membership. We will have ordering set up on the web site soon. We also hope to offer other items
like soakers and garment bags. For jackets ordered through the end of this year you will get the
special 75th Anniversary logo on the jacket, after that we will return to our regular club logo.
I am going to sign off for now, keep up the good work everyone. See you soon!
Carla Golubski
President, LAFSC
The Curtis Women—by Lynn Bender
him; specifically those who have Figure Skating Club. Though she
been involved with the world of had been a single skater, she
figure skating.
now started ice dancing and
pairs because the 6am patch for
The foremost female in
figures was a little too early for
Jack's life is Ellie and she is a
the forty-five minute drive from
matriarch in the truest sense of West L.A. One of Ellie's fondest
the word. Jack may be the ship skating memories is of winning
but Ellie is the rudder and she
third place in Juveniles at the
has guided her family for over
1947 Pacific Coast Sectionals in
six decades, on and off the ice.
Colorado Springs. Another fond
Ellie began skating in 1943 when memory is of taking first place at
Over the years there have she was eight years old and
the 1956 Sectionals in Junior
been many skating families as- fondly remembers sharing the
Dance, then advancing to Nasociated with the LAFSC but
ice with another beginner
tionals with husband and partnone quite so endearing as the
named Richard Dwyer. They
ner Jack and placing fourth
Curtis'. Most of you are familiar took to the ice at Sonja Henie's while being four months pregwith Jack; the tall, soft spoken
Ice Palace, home to the All Year nant with Michael. Ellie admits
patriarch of the family. When he Mercury FSC in Westwood near that her biggest challenge was
speaks in his slow dignified
UCLA. The rink closed seven
getting her gold medal in ice
manner, people listen. But this years later and Ellie began skat- dancing. It wasn't that it was too
article isn't about Jack. It's
ing at the Polar Palace in Holly- tough a goal for her, but that
about the women who surround wood, home of the Los Angeles pregnancies kept interfering
Volume 63, Issue 6
Page 3
THE CURTIS WOMEN — Continued
with the test schedule. It took
her a long time but she finally
earned her gold when she was
30 years old. Ellie says skating
skating is a great sport! It helps
builds character, offers wonderful travel opportunities, and offers friendships in any ice rink
the world over because of a mutual love for the sport. Ellie's
message to skaters is if you enjoy it, then do it. If you don't,
then you shouldn't.
Of her four children,
three learned to skate. One of
them was Michael who started
skating while in the womb. Another was Marcelle who especially loved the artistic side to
skating. Most of her childhood
memories are of playing, eating, and sleeping at the rink.
They spent as much time there
as at home. She loved the
"high", that excitement before a
competition. She recalls peering through the old wooden
flats during Showcase…it was
the greatest feeling in the
world! Marcelle won the first
Intermediate Dance Competition offered at Regionals. She
skated with Charles Finance
until she was 16 years old. At
that time Charles wanted to
pursue singles and Marcelle got
a new partner; a purebred Arabian horse named Silver. They
were riding partners for eighteen years until Silver passed
away at 26 years. Marcelle is no
longer actively involved in figure skating. It's more a sideline
sport for her now because she
has 5 year old twins who took
to the ice this last spring. Alana
and Breanna skate at the
Blades Ice Rink in Rio Rancho
outside of Albuquerque and are
coached by a pair of identical
twins! Marcelle's fondest
memories of Pickwick have to
do with the Junior Board. During Halloween the kids would
create a haunted house in the
bathroom near the pool (Yes!
In the olden days Pickwick
sported a circular pool instead
of the gardens!) And during the
holidays, Santa Claus gave
sleigh rides on the ice in a sled
drawn by a miniature horse.
Marcelle wants Junior Board to
make a comeback; wants to see
the older, more experienced
skaters mentoring the younger
ones, bringing them into the
club, making them part of a
bigger family, the Los Angeles
Figure Skating Club family. She
wants young skaters to love
their skating! She advises that
winning at competitions is an
extra; if it's something you feel
like you have to work at, then
maybe it's not the thing for you.
But if you have the passion and
want to be there and its fun,
then skate!
The third child of Ellie's
who learned to skate still skates
as a member of the Los Angeles
Figure Skating Club at Pickwick. Ellie enjoys telling the
story of how, while judging
Senior Pairs at Pacific Coast,
she went into labor with Denise. She completed the event,
and then announced that she
had to go to the hospital. Contractions were five minutes
apart. When fellow judges
heard this, they fled the scene!
Denise was told by her mother
that she was destined to be a
skater and was introduced to
the ice at 2 years. Well, like
mother, like daughter; Denise
was seven months pregnant
with Gwyneth and still spinning
on the ice. On the day Gwyneth
was born, Denise taught at
Pickwick and skated there herself. A girlfriend and Denise's
maid of honor, Allison Brooker,
took the sonogram and
morphed skates onto the fetal
Gwyneth! Denise has so many
good skating memories; jumping classes in the sand at Will
Rogers State Beach, and birthday parties sponsored by the
Junior Board once a month after the Saturday night
freeskate. Denise loved to decorate the cakes. She said her biggest challenge was being the
daughter of judges. She had to
be twice as good as every other
skater because judges expected
more out of her. Denise overcame this by working very hard
and proving that she was up to
the challenge. When asked
what changes she would make
in organized skating, Denise
responded much like her
mother. She would like there to
be a return to the more artistic
side of skating. If there were
fewer required elements, then
more time in programs could
be dedicated to the artistic side.
Nowadays there is no freedom
to tell a story through choreography because a skater is always rushing to connect elements. Denise's advice to skaters is exactly the same as her
mother's and sister's; skate because you love it! It's gotta
come from the heart!
The youngest of the Curtis women interviewed was 8
year old Gwyneth. Denise put
her on the ice before she was 2
years old and Gwyneth can't
remember exactly how it happened. She just knows that the
ice has been a part of her life
for as long as she can remember. Gwyneth's fondest memory
to date is of performing in
"Annie" at the 75th Anniversary
Gala this past summer. She finally got to perform in a group
number with all her friends
while skating with spotlights.
Her greatest challenge to date
has been landing her axle. She
had a fear of falling and getting
bruises that hurt a lot. Gwyneth
admits it's scary but she wants
to do an axle in her program
and be successful. Her advice to
fellow skaters is to just have
fun! And if she could make one
change, it would be to have
more competitions because she
has fun at competitions!
Jack & Ellie at the 75th Anniversary Gala this
summer. Photo courtesy of former LAFSC
skater Lois Franke Warren
Page 4
NEWS BULLETIN
2009 Southwest Pacific Regionals Qualifying Results
October 3-7, 2008—Anaheim, CA
Senior Ladies
Intermediate Men
1. Angelyn Nguyen—LAFSC
1. Shotaro Omori—LAFSC
2. Laney Diggs—AYFSC
2. Nix Phengsy—AYFSC
3. Anna Malkova—AYFSC
3. Devin Perini—LAFSC
4. Jessica Houston—AYFSC
4. Max Settlage—CSA of Arizona
8. Kristy Evans—LAFSC
5. David Allen—LAFSC
10. Arielle Trujillo—LAFSC
6. Othniel Chan—LAFSC
Junior Men
9. Brooks Ishler—LAFSC
1. Stanislav Samohin—LAFSC
Intermediate Ladies
2. Sean Rabbit—GFFSC
1. Katarina Kulgeyko—LAFSC
3. David Wang—AYFSC
2. Courtney Hicks—AYFSC
4. Grisha Fournier—AYFSC
3. Ibuki Mori—AYFSC
Junior Ladies
4. Katja Gorodetsky—LAFSC
1. Ellie Kawamura—AYFSC
8. Rebecca Phung—LAFSC
2. Carolyn-Ann Alba—AYFSC
13. Shayanne Casapao—LAFSC
3. Victoria Rose Hecht—LAFSC
Juvenile Boys
4. Vanessa Lam—AYFSC
1. Spencer Howe—LAFSC
7. Nichole Huenergardt—LAFSC
2. Daniel Samohin—LAFSC
10. Kyrstal Davis—LAFSC
3. Patrick Leahy—LAFSC
Novice Men
4. Juntin Ly—San Antonio FSC
1. Jay Yostanto—AYFSC
8. David Kazarian—LAFSC
2. Joshua Santillan—AYFSC
Juvenile Girls
3. Phillip Warren—IEFSC
1. Angel Sarkisova—SBFSC
4. Allen Gaghinjian—AYFSC
2. Brenda Ji—LAFSC
6. Brent Mercado—LAFSC
3. Emily Kaiser—AYFSC
7. Dustin Perini—LAFSC
4. Cheryl Douglass—AYFSC
10. Philemon Chan—LAFSC
8. Shayna Rothenberg—LAFSC
Novice Ladies
11. Catherine Giese—LAFSC
1. Lindsay Davis—AYFSC
14. Amanda Gelb– LAFSC
2. Yuna Kinoshita—SBFSC
18. Lauren Campbell—LAFSC
3. Kelsey Chan—AYFSC
19. Hannah Wallace—LAFSC
4. Katlynn McNab– AYFSC
5. China Loza—LAFSC
7. Deanna Inn—LAFSC
8. Anna Drozdova—LAFSC
9. Ashlynne-Marie Ragasa– LAFSC
14. Sina Choe—LAFSC
Volume 63, Issue 6
Page 5
2009 Southwest Pacific Regionals
Non-Qualifying Results of LAFSC Skaters
October 3-7, 2008—Anaheim, CA
Pre-Preliminary Girls FS Group B
Pre-Juvenile Girls Free Skating - A
2. Elise Middleton
1. Nadine Orellana
9. Chelsey Wang
5. Brooke Johnson
Pre-Preliminary Girls FS Group C
7. Elizabeth Westerlund
6. Gigi Goff
9. Ferra Rose Kochanek
10. Daela Haerle
Pre-Juvenile Girls Free Skating – B
Pre-Preliminary Girls FS Group D
7. Arin de los Reyes
5. Jessica Pilner
9. Shannon Wynne
Pre-Preliminary Girls FS Group E
3. Audrey Hoang
Pre-Preliminary Girls FS Group F
4. Noelle Munoz
5. Kyra Josephson
10. Courtney Wegener
Pre-Preliminary Girls FS Grp. G
7. Andrea Hill
Pre-Preliminary Boys Free Skating
1. Aaron Li Hai
2. Robert Hennings
9. Adam Kaba
Open Juvenile Ladies Free Skating Group A
13. Aleli Vuelta
Open Juvenile Ladies Free Skating Group B
1. Cristina Wong
6. Winifred Lee
10. Mandee McFerren
Open Juvenile Ladies Free Skating Group C
5. Claudia Chai
Preliminary Girls Free Skating Group B
8. Ayla McNeil
10. Harmony Corona
Preliminary Girls Free Skating Group C
6. Rachel Wiegmann
10. Dalaney Haerle
Preliminary Girls Free Skating Group D
3. Graysen Guercio
4. Kathleen Albert
Page 6
NEWS BULLETIN
Fall Competitions Swing Into Gear
The fall season of qualifying
and international competitions
is in full swing, and we’d like
to briefly recap the season to
date. Most definitely, the
Trooper of the Year Award
must go to Austin Kanallakan
for his trials and tribulations trying to get to
Belarus for his Jr. Grand Prix assignment,
along with coach, Peter Oppegard. As documented in his blog on IceNetwork, poor Austin
had to battle with a canceled flight, lost luggage,
and a myriad of events straight out of a movie
script. But in Austin’s inimitable style he rolled
with the punches, and came away with an
eighth place finish, despite all his travails.
Great job Austin! Galvani Hopson and pairs
partner, Kloe Bautista (AYFSC), begin their
globe trotting with their first ever Jr. Grand
Prix assignment in the Czech Republic, where
they finished a very respectable sixth place.
Based on the strength of their finish at this
event, Galvani and Kloe were awarded a second
Jr. Grand Prix assignment, and competed in
Great Britain, at the John Curry Memorial Trophy in mid-October. At this event, after a very
strong short program (where the entire flight of
20 pairs teams skated clean short programs),
Galvani and Kloe finished 9th in the short program, and in 12th place overall after their long
program. Austin, and Galvani and Kloe will
now move on to Pacific Coast Sectionals, which
will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, November
11-15, 2008. Joining them in Scottsdale will be
fellow LAFSC skaters: Angelyn Nguyen,
Stanislav Samohin, and Victoria Hecht. In
pairs, we have Alex Merritt and Lindsay Davis
(AYFSC), Don Baldwin and Jennifer Brunn
(ABFSC), Brooke Johnson and Brooks Ishler,
Rachel Trail and Darian Weiss, and Devin
Perini and Devynn Sharpe (AYFSC). In dance,
we have Jessica Perino and William Avila
(IWSC), and Yura Min and Sean Sunyo
(OFSC). LAFSC member, Jonathan Harris, will
be competing at Mids with dance partner
Kellene Ratko (CFSC). Scheduled to make the
trip back east to Junior Nationals in Lake Placid
in early December will be LAFSC skaters, Katja
Gorodetsky, Spencer Howe, Brenda Ji,
Katarina Kulgeyko, Patrick Leahy, Shotoro
Omori, Devin Perini and Daniel Samohin. Also
scheduled to join them in Lake Placid will be
Brooke Johnson & Brooks Ishler, Rachel Trail &
Darian Weiss, Devin Perini & Devynn Sharpe
(AYFSC) and Yura Min & Sean Sunyo (OCFSC).
2008 US Pair Champions Keauna
McLaughlin and her partner, Rockne Brubaker
(BFSC), will be making their Grand Prix season
debut at Skate America in Everett, Washington.
Best of luck to all our skaters. We’ll be
rooting for you!
UPCOMING COMPETITIONS:
October 25-26
Arrowhead Open
Ontario, CA
November 6-9
Skate San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
November 11-15
Pacific Coast Sectionals
Scottsdale, AZ
December 8-13
US Jr. Figure Skating Championships
Lake Placid, NY
January 18-25
US Figure Skating Championships
Cleveland, OH
January 29-31
Midwest/Pacific Coast Sect. Syncho Champs
Broomfield, CO
February 7-8
New Years Adult Invitational
Ashburn, VA
February 20-22
Pacific Coast Adult Sectionals
Las Vegas, NV
March 3-7
US Synchronized Skating Championships
Portland, MA
March 22-29
World Figure Skating Championships
Los Angeles, CA
April 21-25
US Adult Figure Skating Championships
Grand Rapids, MI
May 28-31
International Adult Competition
Oberstdorf, Germany
Volume 63, Issue 6
Page 7
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MEMBERS!!
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Karen Dillon Pillsbury
Pamela Langmaier
Chantine Akiyama
Ayda Rashtchi
Jessica Lee
Joy Alich
Erika Shorr
Themi Leftheris
Don Baldwin
Elda Stillwell
Petrina Maples
Deborah Wyman Barry
Morry Stillwell
Bobbi Marks
Helen Bender
Donna Taylor
Isabel Mena
Kyra Berger
Arielle Trujillo
Elise Middleton
Madelynn Bruno
Paula Trujillo
Caroline Miranda
Jackie Bundy
Renee Velasquez
Noelle R. Munoz
Vicki Busch
Darian Weiss
Susie Richardson
Caetlyn Caldwell
Elizabeth Westerlund
Patricia Romano
Tabitha Chan
Deborah Wolen
Natali Rybak
Doug Chapman
Marisa Sharma
Diane DeLeeuw-Chapman
Angelica Song
Danelle Cole
Ken Taylor
Teoddy Domingo
Jessica Terzian
Richard Dwyer
Rachel Trail
Kristy Evans
Sabrina Uribe-Ventrella
Mike Eyerly
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Barbara Velasquez
Shenney Fern
Marykate Abad
Ida Winder
Joanne Funakoshi
Meaghan Baitel
Jessica Xu
Jacksen Goodley
MacKenzie Brazeal
Graysen Guercio
Sabina Chen
Andrea Hill
Eleanor Curtis
Nicole Huenergardt
Gina DeNatale
Amanda Johnson
Kellie Fox
Faye Kovler-Kitariev
Randy Gardner
Marie-Laure Leglise
Wanda Gelsebach
Mary Lucas
Mary Casale Goodley
Amara Moncayo
Katherine Gorodetsky
Carrie Phillips
Caroline Guttman
Paulina Pinsky
Heidi Han
Christina Kopp-Plutchak
Vivian Harvey
Hannah Mathewson
Roxette Howe
Jenni Meno-Sand
Ann Jensen
Rachel Miller
Duane Johnson
Olivia Ouyang
Adam Kaba
Calista Papalakos
Lucy Krubiner
Page 8
NEWS BULLETIN
THE HISTORY OF THE LOS ANGELES FIGURE SKATING CLUB
by: Jo Lawless, Club Historian
In recognition of the 75th Anniversary of LAFSC’s founding in 1933, we look back into our
archives through a series of articles to remember events from our colorful past. The passing decades
have brought profound changes for LAFSC and for skating. Let’s go back to 1983.
In January 1983, we began our celebration of LAFSC’s 25th Anniversary.
Planned events included a dinner– dance, a spectacular Golden Anniversary Revue starring
Linda Fratianne, Tai Babilonia, and Randy Gardner, a Sonja Henie film festival, and a skating party
at Pickwick. During the show, Eugene Turner was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall by
Eleanor Schultz and Jo Lawless.
Eleven members qualified for Nationals in Pittsburgh. Among them were Debi Thomas, who
was beginning her climb through the senior ranks, and Christopher Bowman, who won the junior
men’s title. Christopher was sent to Sarajevo, Yugoslavia to represent the United States at the Junior
World Championships. He took top honors with a first in figures, third in the short program, and a
first in the long program in a field of nineteen skaters.
Harland Burge was elected LAFSC president. Ruth Ann Burge and Morry Stillwell were
appointed national figure/free skating judges.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST LAFSC MEMBERS!
MARYKATE ABAD
NOELLE JIMENEZ
ABIGAIL SKEGIN-SIPES
KRISTIANA CERVANIA
ANA MALKOVA
ANGELICA SONG
CLAUDIA CHAI
CAROLINE MIRANDA
LILLY COWAN
PATRICIA SANO
ANASTASIA JI
ANNIE SANO
CRISTIAN JIMENEZ
EMI SHIINA
Volume 63, Issue 6
Page 9
Los Angeles Ice Theater – The 2008-2009 Season
The 2008-2009 Los Angeles Ice Theater (LAITI) Senior Team is made up of
returning and new members who were selected from auditions held from
September 5 through Oct 3, 2008. The team will be competing in June 2009 at the
US Theater on Ice National Competition which will be held in Chicago, Illinois. This
new team will also be launching a new production and a new choreographic exercise in their
9th Annual Benefit Show in June 2009. Congratulations to the 2008-2009 Senior Team members:
David Allen
Cheryl Douglass
Shayna Rothenberg
Helen Bender
Maya Golob
Jessica Terzian
Lois Betancourt
Laura Hirano
Rachel Trail
Elizabeth Brennan
Nichole Huenergardt
Lauren Umali
Natalie Breuer
Jullianna Kadel
Renee Velasquez
Harmony Corona
Lexi Kleen
Brionna Ventura
Carolyn Currie
Pamela Langmaier
Emma Weir
Rachel Cyprus
Samantha McCain
Darian Weiss
Krystal Davis
Mandee McFerren
Rachel Wiegmann
Gina DeNatale
Jessica Pilner
We would also like to recognize several team members who recently competed at the tough
qualifying events in the 2009 Southwest Pacific Regionals – David Allen, Helen Bender,
Rachel Cyprus, Krystal Davis, Gina DeNatale, Cheryl Douglass, Nicole Huenergardt,
Jullianna Kadel, Shayna Rothenberg, Jessica Terzian and Rachel Trail.
Good Luck to Cheryl Douglass (Juvenile Girls), Rachel Trail and Darian Weiss (Juvenile
Pairs) who will be competing in the upcoming 2009 US Junior Championships in Lake Placid, New
York.
If you are interested in learning more about the Los Angeles Ice Theater and gift-giving
opportunities to this non-profit organization, please contact Rebecca Trail at (310) 291-4419 or
check-out their website at www.laicetheater.org
TESTS PASSED
Listed below are tests passed by LAFSC home club members in July/August 2008. Slots to take
tests are given out on a first come, first serve basis. Tests taken at other clubs are based on that club
having reported the results to USFSA headquarters by the date of this report. Gold medalists are
in bold.
Ella Ales
Pre-Preliminary MIF & FS
Jane Park
Senior MIF
Elizabeth Brennan Intermediate MIF
Haley Peters
Pre-Preliminary FS
Joan Byes
Gold MIF
Betsy Roy
Pre-Preliminary MIF
Lauren Campi
Preliminary MIF
Abigail Skegin-Sipes Pre-Preliminary MIF
Tabitha Chan
Junior MIF/Gold MIF
Sina Choe
Junior FS
India Hinton
Pre-Juvenile MIF
Erynn Kim
Junior MIF/Novice FS
Ayla McNeil
Novice MIF/Pre-Juvenile FS
Olivia Ouyang
Junior FS
The Los Angeles Figure
Skating Club
PO BO
4055
BURBANK, CA
91503-4055
lafsc.org
The Los Angeles Figure Skating Clubs Newsletter is published by the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club. Letters to the
Editor, articles for publication, and advertisements should be submitted to News Bulletin Editor, Josephine Lawless at
7363 Sausalito Ave., West Hills, CA 91307. Phone: (818) 347-1510. Change of address, membership and subscription
inquiries should be mailed to the Membership Chair, PO Box 4055, Burbank, CA 91505. Rates: subscription $12.00 per
year. Classified ad: $5/3line/issue. Display ad: $5/column inch/issue (camera ready art). We make every effort to be
accurate and include as much timely information as possible. We encourage your submissions to keep all of our members apprised of events happening within the club and welcome your participation in reporting newsworthy events!
Ice Chips………………………………………..heard round the rink……..
Longtime LAFSC member
(first as a child training with
Frank Carroll, and currently as an
adult skater training with Wendy
Olson) Nanci Christopher, is an
actress and writer. Her hit autobiographical solo show, "...AND
BABY MAKES TWO - an adoption
tale" chronicles her journey adopting her son, Joshua, as a single
mom. There is already a French
translation in the works with a Parisian production planned for the
next year or so and Samuel
French, Inc. will be publishing the
play. It is also nominated for the
2009 SUSAN SMITH BLACKBURN PRIZE honoring exceptional women playwrights and
their unique voices. A benefit
reading will be done on November
13th, 2008 at the Santa Monica
Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street,
Santa Monica, CA. 90401. The
reading coincides with National
Adoption Month, and all proceeds will go to charity. For reservations call 310-285-2200. For
more information check out the
ABMT website: andbabymakestwo-anadoptiontale.com.
At Jefferson Elementary School,
Gwyneth Moore was elected by her
3rd grade Room 23 peers to be
class representative to the Student
Council. She will attend meetings
every week, keeping notes and
presenting a report to her class.
Hayley Soohoo is doing great at
the College of William and Mary .
She loves her classes and auditioned for and was admitted to
the wind symphony. She is taking
modern dance and working out a
lot...pilates, kickboxing, and using
equipment at the gym. In her
spare time, she tutors some of the
local elementary school kids. She
has only been able to skate a little
but hopes to increase that. Former LAFSC competitors Elizabeth
O’Donnell and Joanna Ng are enjoying their second season as choreographers and stars on Caribbean Cruise Line ships. They
skate on real ice, although the surface is small. Bonnie & Ken Taylor
recently traveled in Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Illinois, visiting
relatives after Ken served as Chief
Referee and Bonnie Chief Accountant at the Iowa State Games
in Ames. Former LAFSC President, Eleanor Schultz, celebrated
her 95th birthday on September
26. Congratulations! Joan Bys
relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular scenery during an Alaskan
cruise last September. Now, she is
celebrating her achievement as an
Adult Moves in the Field Gold
Medalist. Carla Golubski will
serve as Chief Music Coordinator
at Skate America; Gene Thielman
is her assistant. Tony Bardin will
be attending Skate America as
well. The competition will be held
in Everett, Washington from October 23-26, 2008. Maurice Palinski
just returned from New Mexico,
where he was doing some interior
finish work on the house he and
Tony are building. At Southwest
Regionals, spotted in the crowd
was former LAFSC competitor
Trisha Burton. Trisha skated pairs
competitively with Larry Schrier,
and with Burt Lancon in Ice Capades. Our best wishes for a
speedy and complete recovery to
Mark Arteaga and Joan Chanel
who are currently battling injuries.
Many thanks and kudos to Lee
Guttman who drew the cartoons in
this months newsletter! Thanks
Lee!