By MICHAEL AUSHENKER | Contributing Writer
In hindsight, 2017 may go down as the year when the annual Independence Day parade 
began reflecting signs of the “Caruso Effect.”
Due to construction on Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village, Palisades Americanism Parade Association organizers decided to forego the usual Sunset-and-Swarthmore landing spot.
The three-man skydiving team touched down perfectly on Sunset Boulevard between Carey and Monument streets instead.
The final parachutist—dubbed “Mr. Pink” by onlookers—won extra points for his big grin as he landed on his feet gracefully from the 90-mph plunge.
The day began early with a warmly-received celebration of past race champions before the 5K and 10 races got underway.
Nearly 3,000 runners took part in the 40th anniversary race.
The 10K from the Palisades Recreation Center to Will Rogers was won for the fourth year in a row by Tonny Okello. (pictured top right)
Erika Aklufi won the women’s 10K for the second time, Loyola High’s Shane Bissell won the men’s 5K and Regina Lopez of Alhambra was the women’s 5K winner.
The afternoon’s 69th Pacific Americanism Parade was anchored by Marshals Nancy and Kevin Niles as well as Honorary Mayor Kevin Nealon who told the Palisadian-Post “it gets better every year.”
This year’s Grand Marshall was Emmy-winning TV chef Giada De Laurentiis who declared that she “loved my wheels.”
She sat in the back of her official car with her kids to keep them cool, saying the day’s task was both tougher and hotter than cooking.
Other paraders included City Councilmember Mike Bonin, organizer and Citizen of the Year Daphne Gronich and Mr. Teen Palisades contest winner Daniel Allen.
Closing out the day’s festivities at Palisades Charter High School’s stadium—as it has since 2008—the annual Palisades Rocks the Fourth saw a robust concert line-up and fireworks display.
Look out for full coverage of the races and the rockin’ night in next week’s
Palisadian-Post.
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