A plan for the Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project has been approved by California State Parks with support of stakeholders, officials announced on September 12.
“The approved restoration plan, identified in the Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Report as Preferred Hybrid Alternative 3A, was developed and selected after extensive public, agency and land manager feedback,” read a statement. “The project will not only protect two critically endangered fish and associated habitats but will improve coastal access and visitor services, while building the resilience of beach areas.”
The plan includes restoration efforts of Topanga Lagoon and a portion of the Topanga Ranch Motel, which are located within Topanga State Park along Pacific Coast Highway, just north of Pacific Palisades, Topanga Beach, and the Caltrans right of way along PCH and Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The Resource Conservation Department of the Santa Monica Mountains is the project’s grant manager.
“The Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project is a multiagency cooperative effort that seeks to protect and restore the Topanga Lagoon ecosystem, one of the last coastal wetlands in Southern California,” the statement read. “The restoration seeks to preserve and expand the unique biological, cultural and recreational resources of Topanga Lagoon.”
The project aims to “enhance coastal access,” “expand recreation opportunities” and “develop buffers for projected sea level rise.” Design is anticipated to take place between 2024 and 2026, with construction in 2027 and beyond.
“Other key project elements include expansion, restoration, and enhancement of the existing lagoon and open space habitats; expansion of the existing Caltrans Pacific Coast Highway bridge to improve endangered fish passage and habitat; restoration of up to 15 units of the Topanga Ranch Motel; the development of a visitor’s hub within Topanga State Park with interpretive facilities and a trail system; relocation of Topanga Beach facilities further inland to protect from wave damage; and placement of native soils in the nearshore to nourish area beaches,” read the statement.
With the approval, the project is now entering the design phase. Additional public meetings will be scheduled in the future to collect input on the design, as well as uses of the visitor services features.
“All ages are welcome,” read information from KI ahead of the fifth annual event. “Students can earn community service hours for their participation.”
The Jewish concept of “tikkun olam” is defined as acts of kindness performed in order to perfect or repair the world.
“Our yearly beach cleanup is an important and impactful tradition both for our natural surroundings and our community as a whole,” KI Tikkun Olam Trustee Amy Lehr said to the Palisadian-Post. “Kehillat Israel is committed to being environmental stewards and role models for our children and our community. This event reminds us that caring for our surroundings is caring for one another.”
The group will meet at Temescal Canyon Park, near 233 Temescal Canyon Road. KI members will be present, as well as balloons.
“Let’s come together, make a difference, and enjoy a day of community and care for our beautiful coastline,” the statement about the event concluded.
Photo courtesy of American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283 will host its second annual Spirit Hike on Saturday, September 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with guest speaker Nate Boyer—a veteran, actor and producer.
“Join us for the second annual Spirit Hike, a community-building event that brings veterans and locals together for an inspiring morning on the Temescal Ridge Trail,” read the website for the event.
The hike will take place at Temescal Ridge Trail, which is a .8-mile trek to a viewpoint and back, for a total of 1.6 miles of hiking.
“This is more than just a hike—it’s an opportunity to network with others, get inspired and support our veterans,” the website continued. “The hike itself is a moderate 1.6 miles, including an 0.8-mile trek to a stunning viewpoint.”
Registration for the hike is $20, which will include a T-shirt, lunch, keynote speaker following the hike and networking opportunities.
Those who wish to hike are asked to meet at Simon Meadow at 9 a.m. Non-hikers can meet at American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, 15247 La Cruz Drive, at 11 a.m.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information about where and when to meet for hikers and non-hikers.
Ciela will host a three-day Autumn Open House from September 19 to September 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
Those who participate will be able to explore the facility’s residences, meet members of the team, have complimentary food and drinks, and participate in wellness classes, according to the Ciela website.
Ciela is described as a “pioneering community” in the Highlands dedicated to holistic well-being and luxury. Founded by President Rony Shram, Ciela represents a “seven-year labor of love, aimed at revolutionizing the way seniors experience their golden years.”
“With a goal to go beyond the traditional concept of senior facilities, Ciela is described as a modern resort-like community,” according to the facility.
Ciela offers independent living, assisted living and memory care. Individuals can choose from a studio, or one- or two-bedroom apartment. Included in the monthly rent is a variety of services, including all food and beverage, housekeeping and laundry services, transportation, and more.
“We believe in providing seniors with an environment that fosters joy and rejuvenation as they age,” Shram said in a statement. “Our location overlooks the beautiful Santa Monica mountains from every corner of the property, providing a connection to nature that’s vital for residents’ well-being.”
“Learn how to use and navigate the Libby app and the online catalog from a Cybernaut,” read the Los Angeles Public Library website.
Libby is an “innovative in-browser and mobile app” that allows library card holders to borrow e-books, magazines, streaming services and audiobooks.
Cybernauts are described on the Los Angeles Public Library website as “trained computer aides that offer technology assistance, computer support and mobile device support.”
Cybernaut Jake Folsom Photo courtesy of LAPL
“In working as a Cybernaut, Jake’s aim is to serve the vibrant community of Pacific Palisades while he builds his experience as a library professional in preparation for his graduate-level studies in library and information science,” read a statement from Pacific Palisades Library Association.
Folsom, a graduate of NYU Tisch with a double major in film/TV and journalism, grew up in Minneapolis.
“He has a passion for helping people and a love of technology,” PPLA wrote, “which makes him well equipped to help address your technology questions.”
Those who wish to attend are invited to RSVP at the library in person or by emailing jake.folsom@lapl.org. ADA accommodations can be requested at least 72 hours ahead of the event by calling 213-228-7430.
The event will take place at Palisades Branch Library, located at 861 Alma Real Drive in Pacific Palisades.
Chamber Music Palisades will begin its 28th season with a free afternoon concert on Sunday, September 22, at Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades at 3 p.m.
The concert will feature Alan Chapman’s original composition “Peter and Mr. Wolf” for woodwind quartet and piano, narrated by Chapman, plus other works.
“Alan Chapman’s musical career is woven from a number of threads,” according to a statement. “He is especially fond of his relationship with Chamber Music Palisades, whose concerts he has hosted since the series began.”
Chapman quickly came up with the idea for “Peter and Mr. Wolf,” according to CMP, which tells the story of an eighth-grader in search of a science project and his “somewhat scary” science teacher.
“He composed entirely new music—for an ensemble of flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano—and authored a narration infused with the sense of humor found in so many of his songs,” the statement read. “He is looking forward to performing the work with his Chamber Music Palisades colleagues on September 22.”
Other musicians to perform in the the concert include Susan Greenberg (flute), Jonathan Davis (oboe), Michele Zukovsky (clarinet), Alex Burns-Chay (bassoon), Sarah Bach (French horn) and Pierre Long-Tao Tang (piano).
Additional pieces on the program are “Quintet for Winds” by Jacques Ibert, “Ritual Fire Dance” for woodwind quintet and piano by Manual de Falla, and “Trio” for flute, clarinet and piano by Adrienne Albert.
The performance is sponsored in part by Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Admission to the concert is free, but donations will be accepted in-person and online.
Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades is located at 801 Via De La Paz.
For Palisadians who are not able to make it to the September 22 performance, Chamber Music Palisades’ next concert will be on Wednesday, October 16.
"Memnon" cast Photo by Craig Schwartz/Courtesy of Getty
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Theatergoers have a chance to catch a world premiere play run at Getty Villa in Castellammare through Saturday evening, September 28.
The museum and Classical Theatre of Harlem present “Memnon,” which opened on September 5.
Classical Theatre of Harlem is an American theater company that tells stories “through the lens of the African diaspora,” according to Getty Villa. The organization combines original adaptations, music and dance to present classics of world literature and contemporary works.
“With bold, vivid language and gripping dramatic conflict, ‘Memnon’ tells the tale of an Ethiopian king who journeys to the city of Troy to fight alongside the Trojans in their darkest hour,” according to Getty Villa. “This epic story, from the ancient Greek legend of the fall of Troy, has been overlooked for over a millennium, until now.”
Classical Theatre of Harlem previously performed a virtual rendition of “Memnon” in 2022 as part of the Getty Villa Museum’s Theater Lab Program.
“Memnon” is directed by Associate Artistic Director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem Carl Cofield and written by Will Power.
Cofield has directed a number of plays for the Classical Theatre of Harlem, including productions of “Twelfth Night,” “The Bacchae,” “Antigone,” “Macbeth,” “The Tempest” and “Dutchman.” He joined the Classical Theatre of Harlem as a staff member in 2018, and is also on faculty at NYU and Columbia University.
“I’m delighted to partner again with Will Power to bring this remarkable story to the forefront of our mythology,” Cofield said in a statement. “This is exactly the type of work that inspires me. Stories that force us to ask big questions and interrogate inherited folklore.”
The cast includes Eric Berryman in the title role of Memnon, Jennifer Mogbock as Helen and Daniel Molina as Polydamas/Antilochus.
“The Classical Theatre of Harlem and the Getty Villa are two organizations that are both producing exciting work that presents classically themed theater in highly innovative ways for engaged audiences,” Power added. “I am honored to bring this world premiere of ‘Memnon’ to the city of Los Angeles. I so look forward to the conversation that this old/new tale might spark.”
“Memnon” features choreography by EMERGE125 Executive Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher, set design by Riw Rakkulchon, costumes by Celeste Jennings, lighting design by Brandon Baruch, original composition and sound design by David R. Molina, and projection design by Yee Eun Nam.
“We are thrilled to welcome the esteemed Classical Theatre of Harlem to the Getty Villa for their first major West Coast theatrical production as part of our annual outdoor theater program,” Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the Getty Museum Timothy Potts said in a statement. “The Villa’s theater program bridges the past and the present, showcasing the continuing relevance of classical dramas to modern day audiences. The world premiere of ‘Memnon’ this September is a must-see for all.”
Performances of “Memnon” will run Thursdays through Saturdays through September 28, at 8 p.m. American Sign Language interpreted performances will take place on September 19 and 26.
Tickets for Thursday night performances are $45, or $40 for students and seniors; Friday night performances are $50, and Saturday night performances are $55. Student and senior discounts are only available for Thursday night performances.
The Getty Villa is open Wednesday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the Getty Villa is always free, but a reservation is required for admission. It is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades.
Palisades defensive end Joseph Bucher-Leighton pressures Brentwood quarterback Ben Mikail in the September 13 Sunset Showdown. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
It was teacher versus student last Friday night, September 13, when Palisades Charter High School hosted Brentwood in the sixth edition of the Sunset Showdown.
Pali High football coach Dylen Smith was an assistant for nine years under Brentwood coach Jake Ford before taking the Dolphins’ job last season and wanted to beat his mentor for the first time, having been dealt a 43-24 loss in last year’s meeting.
Palisades trailed most of the night Friday, but tied it in the fourth quarter and had the momentum going to overtime before Eagles quarterback Ben Mikail scrambled for a nine-yard touchdown in the second overtime period to give the visitors a dramatic 33-30 intersectional victory at Stadium by the Sea.
“That was supposed to be a quick pass but it wasn’t there, so I put my shoulder down and went for it,” said Mikail, who was the junior varsity quarterback as a freshman last fall. “Guys were chasing me, and I didn’t think I’d make it to the end zone, honestly.”
Mikail’s winning quarterback keeper overshadowed a career night for Harrison Carter, who ran 17 yards for a touchdown in overtime, caught a nine-yard touchdown pass and also scored on a 90-yard kickoff return. Unfortunately, Carter’s 187 all-purpose yards were not quite enough to keep the Dolphins (3-1) undefeated.
Palisades quarterback Jack Thomas throws on the run in the Dolphins’ 33-30 double overtime loss to Brentwood at Stadium by the Sea.
Mikail completed 16 of 32 passes for 249 yards and three scores, two to Kayman Jackson and another to Alex Kisker, and Addison Patrick Stirling ran for 114 yards and one touchdown in 20 carries.
Brentwood got the ball first in overtime and needed only two plays to score from the 25-yard line, but the extra point try was wide. On the Dolphins’ first possession in overtime, Carter’s scoring run tied it 27-27, but Palisades missed a chance to win when the point-after kick was blocked.
Palisades got the ball first in double overtime and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Jack Malloy to take its first lead all night, 30-27.
On its ensuing drive, Brentwood gained a first down but a penalty pushed the Eagles (3-1) back to the 18, and after an incompletion and a nine-yard grab by Kisker, the Eagles faced a third down at the nine-yard line, setting the stage for Mikail’s game-winning gallop.
Brentwood won the previous two showdowns behind dual threat quarterback Boone Lourd (now the third-string quarterback at the University of Virginia) and made it three in a row thanks in part to the defensive efforts of linebacker Enzo Longhi (12 tackles), end Emmett Corwin (who transferred from Windward after it dropped its football program) and Jackson, who intercepted a pass at the Eagles’ seven-yard line late in the third quarter.
“Boone had so many plays like that … he was my mentor, my idol,” Mikail said. “I’m not nearly as fast as him, but I saw the opening and said to myself, ‘Be like Boone.’”
The campuses are located less than six miles apart off of Sunset Boulevard and kickoff occurs about the time the sun is setting, so the public private versus public school matchup is nicknamed the “Sunset Showdown.” Brentwood leads 4-2 in a series that started in 2018.
Palisades had the ball at the Brentwood 33 with two seconds left in regulation but rather than attempt a long field goal the Dolphins opted to pass, and Jack Thomas threw to LeHenry Solomon, who was tackled inside the 15.
“I watched Jack kick in practice all week, I know his range and in that situation we weren’t quite close enough,” Smith said.
Junior quarterback Thomas was 20-of-41 for 283 yards and two touchdowns and rushed four times for 76 yards. Max Hejazi had six catches, including a 12-yard scoring reception to make it 21-21 with 7:17 reaming in the fourth quarter. Solomon had five catches for 163 yards, and King Demethris had four for 37 yards.
Linebacker Jake Treibatch led the defense with 10 tackles, Cash Allen had eight and Jackson Kaufman had four pass deflections.
Brentwood recovered a muffed punt at the Palisades nine-yard line late in the first quarter, and the Eagles capitalized when Mikail hit Jackson in the end zone on fourth-and-goal at the 28 to give the visitors a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Palisades cornerback Ethan Nazarian tackles Brentwood wide receiver Alex Kisker in the fourth quarter of the sixth Sunset Showdown.
Palisades drove 59 yards in 10 plays, capped by Thomas’ nine-yard pass to Carter, to tie it 7-7 with under two minutes left in the second quarter. Brentwood needed only 56 seconds to regain the lead on a 45-yard strike from Mikail to Kisker.
Mikail connected with Jackson on a 69-yard touchdown to give Brentwood a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter but Carter ran the ensuing kickoff back all the way to cut Palisades’ deficit in half.
Palisades had effectively shut down three double wing offensive teams in its first three games, but Smith said the Dolphins were prepared for Brentwood and simply did not execute at key times.
“There weren’t really any surprises,” he said. “Theirs is basically the same offense we run, so I knew what to expect. It was fun to see Jake and talk to him before the game but not so much after.”
As a high school senior, Smith quarterbacked Santa Monica to a 35-28 victory over Palisades in 1996 in a crosstown rivalry game then known as the “Rotary Bowl.” Ford was one of his coaches.
“I knew the name of every play called tonight,” Ford said. “Dylen did too. That kickoff return changed the whole game around. We were fortunate to win. Ben did his best Boone impersonation.”
The Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s Mustang 9U All-Stars, who advanced to the PONY West Zone playoffs (one step away from the International World Series) in July, were honored before the game. A moment of silence was observed for beloved Westside football coach Ray Humphrey, who died January 2.
Through four games, junior LeHenry Solomon leads all Dolphin receivers with 15 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns. Photo by Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
After four straight home games to start the season, the Palisades Charter High School varsity football team travels to Studio City to face Harvard-Westlake in its first road game and second straight intersectional contest Friday night, September 20, at 7 p.m.
The Dolphins (3-1) will try to get back on the winning track in the wake of their first loss last week in their annal Sunset Showdown against Brentwood.
The Wolverines (2-2) are riding high following their 25-14 victory over Royal. Their other win came August 30 by three points versus Palisades’ league rival Venice, which fell to 0-3 after getting crushed by Narbonne 55-7 in Harbor City last Friday, September 13.
Palisades and Harvard-Westlake have not met since the programs split a home-and-home set in 2013 and 2014. The visiting Dolphins stunned the Wolverines 45-18 in a huge upset in 2013 in their first season under coach Tim Hyde. Harvard-Westlake got revenge the following year with a 37-21 triumph at Stadium by the Sea.
Harvard-Westlake wound up 4-6 overall and 1-3 (third place) in the Del Rey League last season. They lost their opener this year 41-21 at Cleveland and fell to Burroughs Burbank 28-6 in Week 2. So far they are led by all-purpose back Aaryan Mehdi Williams and wide receiver/defensive back Ellis Robinson, both sophomores.
Quarterback Jack Thomas has posted impressive numbers in the Dolphins’ first four games, completing 52 of 84 attempts for 873 yards, 11 touchdowns, one interception and a QB rating of 121.5. He has also rushed 16 times for 198 yards and two more scores.
LeHenry Solomon leads all receivers with 15 grabs for 383 yards and three touchdowns; King Demethris has 13 receptions for 255 yards and five touchdowns, and Max Hejazi has caught 13 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Jake Treibatch has a team-leading 46 tackles (11.5 for losses) and a blocked punt.
Offensive line coach and Palisades alum Syr Riley challenged the Dolphins in the postgame gathering after the heartbreaking loss to Brentwood: “How are you gonna respond tomorrow? Control what you can control. Real men are defined by how they handle defeat.”
Friday’s game is Palisades’ last before its bye week. The Dolphins will return to action October 4 when they open Western League play at Fairfax.
Pacific Coast Highway will be reduced to one lane in each direction overnight from Temescal Canyon Road to Porto Marina Way from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night from Monday, September 16, to Friday, September 20, according to a statement from Caltrans.
Construction work will include repaving two sections of the way north of Temescal Canyon Road.
“During construction, the speed limit will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph,” Caltrans wrote. “Please drive safely through work zone areas.”
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