On Mother’s Day, May 12, the beautiful, tiny, but mighty Judith Ann “Judy” Citron was escorted to heaven by the angels—a fitting farewell for our beloved and cherished mother of four and grandmother of eight.
Judy was born on July 9, 1944, at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., the first child of Dorothy and Henry Clatterbuck. Shortly after WWII, her family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where her childhood was filled with music, dance, fashion and a special devotion to her pets, especially her pet skunk, affectionately known as “Stinky.”
From a young age, Judy’s beauty and charisma shone brightly. She won a beauty pageant, earning the title of Miss Paris, Scottsdale’s sister city, sparking a lifelong passion for all things French.
She became an accomplished French chef, studying under renowned chefs, including Julia Child and Roger Verge, mastering the art of French cuisine. She loved her many trips to France, and the pleasures of speaking the language and enjoying their fine wines.
Judy pursued her love of fashion at Stephens College before moving to Los Angeles to work at Bullocks. There, in the City of Angels, she met the love of her life, Joel Citron. Their serendipitous meeting, thanks to a matchmaking apartment manager, led to a first date the Monday after Joel completed his bar exam. Less than six months later, they married, beginning a remarkable 59-year journey of love and devotion.
Family was Judy’s greatest priority. She was the heart of the Citron family, instilling confidence, love and determination in her four children. She never missed a game, recital or match, always volunteering at her children’s schools.
Her infectious smile could light up any room, making everyone in her orbit feel instantly welcome. To her children’s friends, she was a second mother, always opening her home with warmth and generosity.
She had a true gift for entertaining, hosting festive Christmas Eve parties and transforming her backyard into the heart of countless celebrations. Her home was a haven of joy and hospitality, where memories were made and cherished by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Judy’s commitment to community service was unwavering and there was no cause too great for her to champion. She served as a docent for Mayor Tom Bradley early in her career and later on, dedicated countless hours to charities, including the National Charity League (where she served as president), the House Institute, ARCS, the Children’s Museum, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Las Floristas and the Irene Dunne Guild at St. John’s Hospital.
Traveling was another of Judy’s passions. She cherished annual family trips to Hawaii and global adventures with Joel, making lifelong friends along the way. Paris, however, always held a special place in her heart as her favorite foreign city.
Judy’s life was a testament to love, dedication and joy. Her legacy lives on through her family and the countless lives she touched with her generosity and spirit. She leaves behind a world made brighter by her presence and a family eternally grateful for her love.
Judy is survived by her husband, Joel, her children, Tom, Nancy, James and Katy, and her eight beloved grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Bastille Day, July 14. Please contact the family or email friendsofjudycitron@gmail.com to be added to the guest list.
Judy’s family would like to thank her devoted caregivers, Alejandra, Laura, Jessica and Malka, for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Irene Dunne Guild, one of St. John’s Health Center’s philanthropic and service group (irenedunneguild.org/donations.html) or via on her online tribute page (pledge.to/judy), which features nonprofits close to Judy’s heart. All donations are tax-deductible, and your generous contributions will honor her memory and support causes she deeply cared about.
Edwin John Staley, III, fondly known as “Ed” or “Eddie,” peacefully passed away on May 6 in Camarillo, California, after bravely battling pancreatic cancer. He was 62 years old.
Born on March 14, 1962, in Redwood City, California, Ed was predeceased by his beloved father, Edwin John Staley, II, and his mother, Stella Frances (Holosko) Staley.
Ed proudly carried his father’s name, a legacy passed down from his grandfather, Edwin John Staley, who was a native to Canada and lived there his entire life. His paternal grandmother descended from a long line of Irish immigrants, while his maternal grandparents immigrated from Poland (then Ukraine), enriching his heritage with diverse cultural roots.
Growing up amid the breathtaking beauty of Pacific Palisades, he was deeply influenced by the surroundings that painted his fondest memories and molded his character. Ed graduated from Palisades Charter High School (formerly Palisades High School) in 1980.
During these formative years at Palisades High School, Ed displayed an innate talent for baseball, particularly as a hard-throwing pitcher. His passion for the game blossomed further during his time at Santa Monica City College, where he forged lifelong friendships and etched unforgettable moments on the field. His love for sports extended to actively coaching both his sons and youth sports teams in hockey, football, baseball, basketball and lacrosse.
Following his academic pursuits, Ed embarked on a rewarding career as a dedicated painting contractor, establishing EJ’s Painting Company. He had a keen eye for detail and showcased creative flair in each project.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Ed devoted himself to nurturing young minds through the family’s daycare business, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Ed’s culinary skills were legendary, and his home was a haven for laughter, delectable dishes and cherished gatherings. His love for cooking and hospitality made every holiday and celebration memorable for those fortunate enough to share his table.
Ed leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion. He is survived by his sons Tyler (with Ashlee Berner) and grandson Avery, as well as Riley Staley. He is also survived by his sisters Linda (married to Peter Biche) and Cheryl Staley, his brother Craig (married to Cathy, with son Connor), and his former spouse, Gina Estrada-Staley, along with her extended relatives.
Furthermore, he is remembered by many cousins across California, Colorado and Massachusetts. Moreover, he is survived by relatives of his mother in British Columbia, Canada, as well as his father’s sister, Aunt Sheila Staley (married to Brian McElwain), and their four children: Susan, Brian Jr., Megan and Peggy, all residing in Ontario, Canada.
The inurnment took place following a Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8.
Ed will be remembered for his generous spirit, unwavering commitment to family and enjoyment in life. While his physical presence may be gone, his memory will forever inspire and bring solace to those who knew and loved him.
Rest in peace, Ed. Your memory will forever be cherished by those whose lives you touched.
If you have further inquiries, email labiche@verizon.net. To plant trees in memory, visit the Sympathy Store.
Lillian K. Jaderberg passed away in her sleep, gently and without pain, on Friday, May 31. She was 98 years old.
Born K Elsie Lillian Akergren in Chicago, Illinois, on March 4, 1926, to Emil and Agnes Akergren, Lillian had one half-brother, Uno, who grew up in Sweden.
At the age of 2, she visited Sweden with her parents for a year, but returned to live in Chicago with them for the rest of her early childhood.
Soon after Lillian turned 13 years old, they all moved back to Stockholm, Sweden, and she spent summers in northern Sweden at her grandmother’s house in the town of Bergvik, where she enjoyed the company of her cousins, Margit and Inger.
After graduating from high school, being fluent in both English and Swedish, she secured a coveted secretarial job with the American Embassy in Stockholm where she met many diplomats and helped Embassy personnel understand the Swedish way of doing things.
At around age 20, Lillian returned to Chicago with her parents where she took a secretarial job at the University of Chicago. She often saw Enrico Fermi, a physicist who had a major role in developing the atomic bomb, and while filling in during the switchboard operator’s lunch break, she was asked to place a call to Albert Einstein and was surprised that Dr. Einstein picked up his own phone instead of having his secretary do it for him. She was embarrassed to have to ask such an important person to hold while she put the call through.
One autumn day in 1947, a friend of Lillian’s set her up on a blind date with a young man whose family was also from Sweden. She and Roland Jaderberg hit it off right away, and in May 1949 they were married.
They raised two daughters in the Chicago suburb of Homewood. Linda became a rocket scientist and helped design the space shuttle’s main engine, among other projects; Barbara became a molecular biologist and did research in neurodegenerative diseases at UCLA.
After retirement, Lillian and Roland lived briefly in Tampa, Florida, as well as Edmonds, Washington, and up and down the California coast, mostly buying houses and fixing them up to sell a few years down the line.
They finally ended up living in Pacific Palisades near their daughter, Barbara. A few years after Roland passed away, Lillian moved to Sparks, Nevada, to be closer to her other daughter, Linda.
Lillian is survived by her two daughters, Linda St-Cyr and Barbara Schaffer; her three grandchildren, Gaetan St-Cyr, Anne-Elisa Yeager, and David Schaffer; and three great-grandchildren, Tesla Yeager, Rex Yeager, and Arrow Schaffer. She will be buried in Chicago’s Oak Hill Cemetery.
Distance runner Max Fields and soccer player Erica Hamilton display their Post Cup Award trophies at Stadium by the Sea. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
Max Fields and Erica Hamilton Are Pali High’s Outstanding Senior Athletes
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Being the very best at what they do is a reality Max Fields and Erica Hamilton have accepted with dignity throughout their careers at Palisades High so after being named 2023-24 Palisadian-Post Cup winners May 29 at the school’s annual Senior Awards Banquet in Mercer Hall, both took the news in stride.
This year’s outstanding athletes capped their final prep seasons with microcosms of what they have been doing since they arrived on campus. For Fields, that meant running a personal-best time (9:03.84) in the 3200 meters at the state track and field meet in Clovis last month; for Hamilton that meant burying her penalty kick in the back of the net in a shootout in the City Division I soccer semifinals in March.
Fields has been the backbone of the Dolphins’ cross country and track programs for three years, winning four individual section titles, being runner-up in three other finals and leading his team to three straight cross country championships.
In a nutshell, Hamilton enjoyed the greatest offensive season everby a girls soccer player at Palisades, shattering the school records for goals (33) and points (71) this winter.
When they showed up for a photo shoot at lunchtime one week before graduation they compared their gold trophies and reminisced about days gone by. They took different paths to be sure, but ultimately ended up with the same prize. Both reside in Westwood and the two have known one another since kindergarten at Warner Avenue Elementary. They even played for the same soccer club (then called LA Breakers) for many years until Fields dropped the sport. They were in two of the same classes this year, AP Literature and macroeconomics, and both have weighted GPAs above 4.0.
Fields (whose dad works in the aerospace industry) is headed to the Air Force Academy, an elite NCAA Division Iprogram, andreports to Colorado Springs on June 26 for six weeks of basic training. Hamilton will continue her soccer career at Macalester College, a Division III school in St. Paul, Minnesota where she will be joined by one of her best friends and Dolphins teammate Kyra Morris. Practice starts August 17.
“I did a general and broad search of colleges and teams and coincidentally came across the Academy,” said Fields, majoring in chemistry but hoping to explore the field of laser communications. “I didn’t know what it was until my junior year but I made up for that after doing research while narrowing my search. Once I took my official visit there I knew it was somewhere I could excel despite the extra rigors presented. There was a culture of excellence and camaraderie on the team that I identified with and I knew it was a prestigious school that would afford me many opportunities.”
Hamilton, who has begun playing with a semi-pro team for high school seniors and college freshman, will study psychology and aspires to work in the CIA or FBI.
“I picked Macalester because I wanted to go to a high academic, liberal arts school but also have access to a city,” she said. “Mac fit all those boxes! Kyra was the one who introduced me to the school and the head coach. All the amazing things she said about it were all true!
After seeing his freshman season canceled because of COVID, Fields won the City cross country title for the first time as a sophomore and won it again as a junior. He tried to become the first three-time champion at Pierce College in the fall. but ran a subpar race and settled for second. However, he helped the Dolphins set a new a team time standard of 1:17:21.11, breaking the record of 1:17:42.8 held by Belmont’s 1997 squad, and paced the Dolphins to fourth in Division I at the state meet in Fresno. On the track, Fields was second to teammate Lucas Schriver in the City 3200 finals as a freshman, won it as a sophomore and was the runner-up to teammate Owen Lewicky in 2023 after getting sick the night before. He won the eight-lapper for a second time May 17 at El Camino College and Pali High track coach Rob Hockley was pleased to see a healthy Fields finish his senior year strong.
“Max left an indelible mark on the Pali program,” Hockley said. “He was a catalyst for elevating those around him, including my coaching skills and the whole team. He was unfortunate to have battled sickness on a few untimely occasions but was resilient and determined to overcome it and continue. He has a lot of untapped potential and the chance to improve greatly in college.”
Erica Hamilton set school single-season marks for goals (33) and points (71) in 2023-24.
Asked what race meant the most to him as a member of the Dolphins, Fields cited the 2023 CIF state cross country finals: “I ran slower than the year prior but it was a testament to what I’d been working for, having a team that shared my values by my side. Ever since my freshman year I dreamed of making NXN and I thought I had a good chance individually but I always knew I’d rather make it with my team. I felt terrible and was running off of fumes as I’d been plagued with injury and illness that postseason but to cross the line and look for my guys only to see them right behind me was close to a fever dream. I balled my eyes out for a while realizing I could’ve been the difference to get us to NXN but everyone got me to calm down and I now can look back and take in the fact that we went from placing second to last in 2021, refreshing the varsity roster, then putting ourselves in the mix to get sixth in the merge. We were the top team not to medal because we were in Division I but I think I it’s fitting and a testament to the team. Now the guys have that chip on their shoulders as they carry on the legacy in the years to come.”
Max Fields won the City 3200-meter race for a second time on May 17, clocking 9:21.09.
Hamilton needed only 17 games to break the school record of 27 goals in 20 games set by Kathryn Gaskin in 2009-10, doing so in a three-goal effort Jan. 31 versus league rival LACES that pushed her season total to 28. She went on to tally five more, including all four in a playoff victory against Venice, and averaged 1.6 per game. She graduated with a three-year total of 66 goals in only 49 career games (she did not play as a ninth-grader) and kicked her team to three City semifinal appearances.
“All of the games were memorable to me, especially this year as a senior,” Hamilton said. “However, one game that will always be with me is the game where I broke the single-season goal record. At that moment I had no idea that the goal I just scored was the one to put me ahead. I remember it going past the keeper’s hands and me celebrating to myself but then all my teammates started cheering and running to me. That game is very memorable to me and I will never forget the cheers and applause from the stands, my coach, and my teammates. It was a surreal moment I will never forget.”
Although Hamilton is hesitant to talk about herself, her game speaks volumes, as do the people who are proud to share the field with her.
Pali High head coach Christian Chambers had a lot to say in praise of his star striker, the first soccer player to win the Post Cup since Kaitlyn Parcell in 2016: “Erica was one of the standout players on our team this season and has been for the past three years. She was not only a prolific scorer but displayed exceptional team spirit and natural leadership. Her keen eye for the goal, ability to finish with both feet and remarkable speed made her a constant threat to opposing defenses. Beyond her impressive statistics, she is celebrated for her unwavering commitment to her team. Whether orchestrating plays or providing encouragement, her leadership on and off the field was a huge factor in our success. Her positive attitude and dedication inspired her teammates, fostering a cohesive and motivated squad. Erica’s combination of skill, sportsmanship and leadership sets her apart as a role model for all future players at Palisades.”
Sharing her coach’s sentiments was Dolphins senior goalkeeper Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez, who received her diploma last Thursday a minute after her teammate: “Playing with Erica for the last three years has been so incredibly fun. She’s such a talented player who really gives 100 percent effort each game and she’s also one of the funniest people I’ve met. She made practices and games so fun because she has the best positive spirit!”
Fields is the second distance runner to claim the school’s highest athletic honor in as many years, following in the footsteps of girls captain Ava Baak last spring. The last male distance runner to hoist the Cup was Grant Stromberg in 2012.
“Winning this prestigious award and learning how rich in tradition it is I can say it’s an honor,” Fields said prior to boarding a plane Tuesday for the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Oregon. “It’s the cherry on top of what I’ve been able to do at Pali and it’s nice knowing people appreciate what I was doing even if that attention’s not what I was looking for.”
Hamilton was both surprised and humbled.
“This award means everything to me,” she said. “I’m so grateful I was chosen to receive it. I’m honored I got to represent the girls soccer team on a school-wide level as I feel as though this team is one of the best at Pali High.”
Cardinals players go wild moments after outlasting the Orioles 6-5 in nine gut-wrenching innings to win the PPBA Mustang Division championship last Thursday at the Field of Dreams. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
Cardinals Top Orioles in Nine-Inning Mustang Thriller, Red Sox Win Pinto Division and Yankees Claim Bronco Crown
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The final game of the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association playoffs this season was one of the longest and most dramatic championship battles in league history. It had it all—close calls, acrobatic catches, pinpoint throws, clutch hits, ebbs and flows, even a little controversy—and when it was over the Cardinals mustered extra energy to celebrate after holding off the Orioles 6-5 in nine innings to capture the Mustang Division title as daylight turned to dusk last Thursday at the Field of Dreams.
The No. 1-seeded Cardinals edged ahead in the top of the ninth when Tate Dore alertly broke from third base to steal home on a wild pitch. However, Brandon Gimlestob singled to lead off the bottom half, hustled all the way around the bases and stepped on home plate while avoiding catcher Finn Purdy’s tag for what appeared to be an equalizing run. The game was delayed several minutes as the umpire discussed the play with Commissioner Bob Benton and Gimelstob was ultimately called out for not attempting a slide. After a pop up on the infield, a pair of singles and a pitch in the dirt put runners on second and third. Everett Somer hit a grounder to third baseman Nate Underwood, who made a backhand grab and coolly fired across the diamond to Dore at first to beat the runner by two steps. At last, the red birds were flying high.
“That was certainly one of the best and craziest games I’ve been a part of and I’ve seen my fair share of PPBA action,” admitted Orioles head coach Mike Badt, whose team forced the winner-take-all contest with a 6-2 victory two days earlier to hand the Cardinals their first loss in the double elimination format. “It’s the rule (sliding at home) but desperately needs amending to avoid issues like this in the future.”
The Cardinals (14-6) scored three runs in the top of the first but their opponents pulled within one in the second on a solo home run by Dylan Pickart (his first of the season) and an RBI groundout. The Orioles took a 4-3 lead in the fourth but Purdy’s RBI single in the sixth tied it. The teams traded runs in the seventh, setting the stage for a dramatic ending two tension-filled innings later. Dash Mastantuono had three hits for the Cardinals while Purdy and Aiden Bierman added two apiece.
“Definitely an exciting finish to the season,” said Cardinals head coach Matt Underwood, who piloted the Pinto Pirates to the title last spring.
The teams faced each other five times over the course of the season. TheOrioles won three, but the Cardinals took two out of three in the playoffs.
Despite having only three 10-year-olds on the roster, the Cardinals won eight of their nine outings decided by less than two runs. The team’s talented lineup also included Bennett Underwood, Bradley Merrill, Charlie Morici, Gray Russell, Matteo Posner, Ryan Binder and Buck Dufour.
Defeating the Cubs 15-6 to win the Pinto Division last Tuesday was extra special for first-year Red Sox head coach Brad Hill and his youngest son Ford, who completed the family “three-peat” by catching shortstop Noah Mehring’s throw to first base for the last out of the game. Ford’s older brothers Henry (2019) and William (2021) also won titles with the Red Sox in their last season of Pinto—in fact Henry also played first and caught the championship-clinching out five years ago.
“The team played incredible defense all year and we were hard to score on—we only allowed double digit runs twice all season, which kept us in games and set us up for some come-from-behind victories,” said Coach Hill, whose team ended up 12-7 after winning seven of its first nine, dropping five of its last six regular season contests, then catching fire in the playoffs—including a 10-6 upset of the top-seeded Cardinals in which the Sox rallied for six runs in the sixth inning to advance. “Our bats would come and go but the kids got hot at the right time.”
The Sox and Cubs were tied 6-6 after three innings of the clincher before the Sox plated four runs in the home half of the fourth and five more in the fifth to put the game out of reach. In all, the Sox had 24 hits. Ford Hill went 13-for-14 at bat in the postseason and got help in the final from August Baker and Charlie Beall (each had two doubles), Cameron Schwartz (four-for-four with four RBIs) and James Rudin (three RBIs). Rounding out the squad were Finley Solt, Ruby Rosen, Alec Boghosian, Ford Rauth and Miles Agramonte-Silber.
On Field 2 that same afternoon, the Yankees were hardly the “Bronx Bombers” but they executed “small ball” to perfection in a 9-4 triumph over the Cubs that wrapped up the Bronco Division crown—a first for Coach Barry HoAire.
“No homers, but timely hitting,” he said. “We’ve made the championship game or play-in almost every year. It’s the first time we’ve won.”
Walker Johnson threw 3.2 innings, striking out six and allowing an unearned run for the Yanks (14-5-1), who got contributions from Lucas Barrutia, James HoAire (who pitched the last inning), Cameron Liska, Jace Roshan, ChristianReynolds, Alexander Shamonki, Brooks Stuber, Issac Ungerleider, Oliver Widhelm and Wesley Wolf.
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Yankees players rejoice after their 9-4 triumph over the Cubs to wrap up the Bronco Division championship last Tuesday.
Cardinals batter Dash Mastantuono hits a double to lead off the third inning last Thursday in the Mustang Division final.
Pinto Red Sox runner Ford Rauth steps on the bag at the same instant Cubs first baseman Brennan Walsh makes the catch.
Connor Reyna gets a base hit for the Orioles during last Thursday’s Mustang final.
Tate Dore scores the go-ahead run in the ninth for the Mustang Cardinals.
Dylan Pickart is elated rounding the bases after belting his first home run of the season, a solo blast to left field to pull the Mustang Orioles within one run of the Cardinals in the second inning.
James HoAire throws a strike in the sixth inning. He squelched a Cubs rally to close out the Yankees’ vicory in the Bronco Division.
James Rudin singles up the middle—one of 24 hits the Pinto Red Sox racked up in six innings in their 15-6 clincher over the Cubs.
Ford Hill celebrates at first after catching the final out of the Pinto finale. He was 13-for-14 at bat in the playoffs.
Yankees outfielder Brooks Stuber catches a line drive in the Bronco Division clincher last Tuesday on Field 2.
Brandon Gimelstob of the Orioles avoids a tag by Cardinals catcher Finn Purdy, but is ruled out for not sliding.
Applause from their peers was music to the ears of Palisades High senior athletes on May 29 in Mercer Hall, where they received recognition for excellence in their sports at the school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony.
The following individuals were presented with Booster Club Exceptional Athlete Scholarships by Athletic Director Rocky Montz:
Aniah Bradley, an All-City small forward/shooting guard and captain of the girls basketball squad who helped the Dolphins to 17 wins and an Open Division playoff berth.
Jay’ce Jones, an All-City forward on the boys soccer team who tallied a team-best 19 goals and 50 points while leading Palisades to first place in the Western League and the quarterfinals of the Division I playoffs.
Briana Vasquez, All-City pitcher for the softball team who recorded 165 strikeouts in 118.2 innings andallowed only eight extra base hits as the Dolphins reached the Division I semifinals.
Pierce Bergstein, a captain and outside hitter in boys volleyball whoearned All-City Open Division First Team honors after he powered the fifth-seeded Dolphins to a three-set upset of No. 4 Granada Hills in the quarterfinals.
Maya Otero, who carded an 84 to tie teammate Katie Kim for fourthin the City girls golf championships while contributing to the Dolphins’ third straight team title at Balboa.
James Van Wagenen, who scored a 9-6 decision over Roman Arakelyan of Birmingham in the finals to take the 126-pound title at the CIF-LA Wrestling Championships at Roybal on Feb. 10. He heads to USC with two City medals around his neck, having won the 106-pound division as a sophomore.
Owen Grant, a scoring machine who pumped in a City finals record 12 goals versus Granada Hills (more than doubling his total a year ago) to power the Dolphin boys to their 11th consecutive section title.
Sophie Szeder, girls tennis captain and No. 1 singles player whose steady groundstrokes contributed to Palisades’ City runner-up finish and got her to the singles quarterfinals.
Yonah Cohen, an outfielder whose leadership was a steadying force for the baseball team. He played all 29 games with 10 hits (including two doubles), 12 runs, nine RBIs and four stolen bases.
Ava Pearce, an All-City outside hitter whose kills helped Palisades win league and advance to the City Open Division semifinals.
Axel Greve, who led boys lacrosse in goals (19), assists (8) and ground balls (13)and led the Dolphins to their eighth City title in a row.
Genessis Zuniga, a Navy-boundswimmer and water polo player who helped the Dolphin girls to section championships in both sports.
Jordan Farhadian, an All-City boys basketball guard who led Palisades to an 48-44 upset of league champion Westchester.
Montz also presented the Larry Palmer Leadership Award, named after Palisades’ former line coach, to football kicker Kellan Ford and safety Matt Spoonamore.
Dave Suarez presented the Shane Thomas Award to All-City soccer midfielder Alex DiGennaro; Alex Joannides (volleyball) and Noah Ferrero (soccer) received Rose Gilbert Scholar Athlete Awards and Kyra Morris (soccer, track and cross country) was the All-Around Athletic Achievement winner.
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The Resilient Palisades Plant Based Solutions team will host its fifth iteration of Pali Veg Fest on Saturday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Palisades Village Green—with organizers sharing they expect it will be the “biggest” yet.
“Join us at Pali Veg Fest, the vegan street food festival happening right here in the Palisades,” Resilient Palisades wrote in an email ahead of the event. “It’s not just about the food, but also about connecting with your neighbors and getting answers to all your questions about living a sustainable lifestyle.”
The event will feature food trucks and local vendors, including Prana by Lana, Shane’s Tamales, La Crepe de Jardin, Vegan Hooligans and more. Festivities will also include music and giveaways.
“Don’t forget to bring your reusables to help us in our mission to waste less and support the zero waste movement,” the email continued. “Water refill stations and a zero waste station providing reusable cutlery and cups will be available in case you forget to bring your own.”
Pacific Palisades-based environmental nonprofit Resilient Palisades, which was launched in 2020, has multiple teams, including Zero Waste, Clean Air and Water: Green Gardens and Clean Energy Resilience.
The Plant Based Solutions team was created to “effectively communicate the power of a plant-based diet and lifestyle to help stop and reverse climate change while supporting [the] local community in becoming more vegan-friendly,” according to the organization’s website.
Previous Pali Veg Fests have included one in January, which featured food trucks, vendors and a visit from Porkchop the pig.
The Palisadian-Post is now seeking messages for its fifth annual graduation special, celebrating the Class of 2024.
To be considered, send a graduation message and high-resolution photo to mypost@palipost.com by Sunday, June 9, at 8 p.m.
Messages can be sent for students who live or attend school in Pacific Palisades who are graduating elementary school, middle school, high school or college. Include the student’s name and school from which they are graduating in the message.
The Molly Steinsapir Foundation is supporting Camp Harmony by collecting new kids’ bathing suits, clothes and personal care items during events at Marquez Charter Elementary School and the Steinsapir home in a campaign that runs through June 15.
The foundation was launched to honor the life and legacy of its namesake, Palisadian Molly Steinsapir, who died at the age of 12 in February 2021. It aims to “advance charitable causes that Molly cared deeply about.”
“I sprang into action and started raising funds and collecting items to stock the camp ‘store,’” said Molly’s mom, Kaye Steinsapir, when she heard from her daughter’s best friend and former camp companion’s mom that the camp needed items for its attendees. “As Camp Harmony serves approximately 300 campers from underserved parts of LA, there is a substantial need.”
Camp Harmony is “an overnight camp program designed to help children experiencing poverty develop positive self-esteem and to thereby inspire and empower them in their future endeavors,” according to its website. It hosts campers from 12-plus shelters, agencies and schools, Kaye explained. The camp is free to attend, but most campers arrive “with few personal belongings.”
“Many take things like owning a bathing suit for granted, but most of these kids need one,” Kaye wrote in a post shared on social media. “Molly should be a Camp Harmony counselor with her friend, Elise. Since Elise will be going without Molly, we’re ensuring that Molly’s kind and giving spirit will still be felt at Camp Harmony. #TEAMMOLLY is stocking the ‘camp store’ for the summer so that campers can be gifted the items they need.”
Molly Steinsapir Photo courtesy of Kaye Steinsapir
All donations made to Molly Steinsapir Foundation through June 15 will go toward supporting the camp, Kaye said. There are also Target and Amazon wishlists available with “items that are most needed” for those who want to support through a purchase.
The first event—a lemonade and snack stand—will take place at Marquez on June 10 when school gets out at 1:50 p.m. The event is slated to be attended by Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Nick Melvoin, as well as his Senior Advisor and District Director Allison Holdorff Polhill.
“We will encourage families and community members to drop off a new bathing suit,” Kaye explained. “All proceeds from our stand will go toward purchasing the remaining items on our wishlists for the campers.”
A similar event will take place at the Steinsapir home on Jacon Way on June 15 at the front of the house, where community members are invited to drop off bathing suits for campers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Camp Harmony’s campers are going to have an especially great summer this year,” Kaye concluded.
Caltrans reopened Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27) on Sunday, June 2—three months ahead of anticipated following a closure due to a landslide in March.
Crews worked around the clock to “remove materials and repair the damage” in order to safely and quickly reopen both lanes of the road, which Caltrans originally estimated to remain closed until September.
“Caltrans revised its original estimate of 50,000 to 90,000 cubic yards of material needing to be removed once a geotechnical report determined that the slide was shallower than first thought,” Caltrans reported. “Crews did not encounter any anomalies in the soil during removal, which benefited the expedited opening.”
The closure, which had been in effect since March 9, had “disrupted the lives of individuals living in the canyon, visitors to Topanga and beachgoers,” according to a statement from Caltrans.
“I cannot overstate just how important it has been for the state and everyone involved to see Topanga Canyon Boulevard open as quickly and as safely as possible,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in the statement. “Thanks to the diligent efforts by the state along with crews assisting on the ground and the support of locals, this repair work has exceeded all our expectations by opening months ahead of initial estimates.”
The road will have one-lane traffic control on off-peak hours using flaggers, Caltrans reported, as emergency repairs continue. Around 15,000 cubic yards of material were removed and repurposed for various entities, including Ventura County farmers, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and an art installation.
With the slope stabilized and material removed, geotechnical engineers and geologists will continue to monitor the site for any movement, according to Caltrans. A cable mesh drapery system may be recommended to prevent “any sloughing of remaining loose materials,” as well as planting native seeds to “further stabilize the slope.”
“I want to commend all those responsible for the quick reopening of this critical route,” Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin said in the statement. “Caltrans District 7 and the California State Transportation Agency, along with their contractors, have once again come through in record time … Thank you to all involved and in particular, thank you to the residents of Topanga who have experienced this disruption firsthand over these past months.”
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