Seniors Nicole Nguyen and Anne Kelly could not have dreamed of a better way to cap off their Palisades High tennis careers than teaming up to win the City Section Individual doubles title November 20 at Balboa Sports Center in Encino. The Dolphins duo rallied to defeat Marshall’s Sascha Carmichael and Sophie Welch, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, in the finals two weeks after sweeping all three sets at the No. 1 spot to help Palisades claim its 30th team championship and sixth in the Open Division. Fellow seniors Ella Engel and Anais Israels took third place in doubles with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Chatsworth sisters Megan and Riley Park and Maria Kandinova won the third-place singles match with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Juniper Chao of GALA.
Pali High Football on the Rise
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Despite a disappointing 42-21 loss to Garfield in a downpour in the City Section Open Division quarterfinals November 14 it was a successful season for the Palisades High football team.
The Dolphins finished 10-0 in regular season play (5-0 in Western League action), retained the Charter Bowl trophy and earned the No. 4 seed in the top playoff division.
Jack Thomas put up numbers most quarterbacks can only dream about, completing 183 of 299 attempts for 3,284 yards passing with 43 touchdowns and three interceptions. Demare Dezeurn was an impact player on both sides of the ball, catching 64 passes for 1,372 yards and 21 touchdowns and intercepting five passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Enzo Allen paced the defense with 121 tackles (31 solo), two sacks and six pass deflections and kicker Cooper Schwartz converted 36 of 41 extra point tries.
Coach Dylen Smith has a 28-7 record in three seasons while leading the Dolphins to two league titles and two Open berths.
Paul Revere 5K Fun Run Is Dec. 7
Paul Revere Middle School will hold its 10th Annual 5K Fun Run on Sunday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m. The event is open to students, parents, teachers, alumni and the community at large.
Registration is $25 per runner. All proceeds will go toward the Paul Revere P.R.I.D.E./Booster Club fund that implements programs to enhance the educational experience at Revere—bringing opportunities that go beyond the standard LAUSD curriculum and reflect the strength and diversity of Revere’s vibrant school family.
All participants receive a t-shirt and there will be a DJ, prizes, raffle and refreshments. This year’s co-chairs are Revere parents Michele Vanger, Natalie Khoury, Alana Katz and Samantha Humphries. PE Teacher and cross country Coach Paul Foxson will MC and run the event. The sponsors are V&A Law Firm Natural Pilates and Juice Crafters.
The circular 3.1-mile route is the same as last year—roughly two laps around the campus.
More than 150 participated last year when 32-year-old Ripley Sellers won in 19:24. Sign up now at paulreverems.lausd.org.5K.
Pool Boys
Pali High Water Polo Team Defeats Granada Hills at Valley College to Capture Its 18th City Crown
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Teammates were calling Aidan Moriarty the “brick wall” after his performance in the City Section Division I boys water polo finals November 12 at Valley College.
The Palisades High goalie used cat-like reflexes to stop 12 shots—including four on one possession in the fourth quarter—and saved the day for the Dolphins, who held off top-seeded Granada Hills 8-7 to claim their 18th City crown—by far the most of any school.
“Being a goalie is all about confidence… if you tell yourself you are going to block every shot, you will,” said Moriarty, who plays the same position in soccer. “I was just trying to give us a chance to win. It’s the best feeling in the world when you make those saves and your team cheers for you!”
Hudson Mirzadeh got the Dolphins on the board first with a skip shot 21 seconds into the contest. Granada Hills anwered with two quick goals but Mirzadeh and Reed Winters put Palisades up 3-2 and after the Highlanders tied it Winters ripped the back of the net on a five-meter shot to make it 4-3.
Palisades increased its lead to 6-3 by half-
time on long range shots by Mirzadeh and Sean Ellis and Mirzadeh’s fourth goal made it 703 early in the third quarter. When Moriarty got his arm out to deflect a five-meter attempt it appeared the third-seeded Dolphins (19-13) were home free but Granada Hills scored twice in the third quarter and again early in the fourth before Moriarty worked his magic, thwarting four shots from point-blank range in a span of 10 seconds to keep his team ahead.
Mirzadeh fought off a double-team to tally his fifth goal with 1:24 left but the Highlanders crept back within one 10 seconds later and nearly netted the equalizer in the final seconds but a shot clanged off the crossbar.
“After my first shot I saw an open pocket under the goalie’s arm and tried going there,” Mirzadeh said. “One million percent not putting us in the Open Division is a disrespect and we’re not gonna take that!”
Basketball Is Back
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Basketball season has tipped off and Palisades High’s boys and girls teams are expected to contend for the City Section Open Division championship in late February.
After losing to Chatsworth in the Open Division semifinals last winter, the boys are poised to win the program’s third section title and first since winning Division I five years ago. Highlighting second-year head coach Jeff Bryant’s talented group are junior captains, guard Jack Levey and forward/center Julian Cunningham, guard WIll Petoyan and 6-foot-6 twin guards OJ and EJ Popoola, who transferred from out of state over the summer. The boys dropped their opener to Village Christian 96-68 Saturday and lost to Loyola 69-58 Monday in a Section Crossover game at North Hollywood.
First-year girls coach LeBre Merritt has a group of returners who are motivated after falling to league rival Hamilton in the Open semifinals last season.
The Dolphins lost Saturday’s season opener to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 65-50 and fell to Bakersfield Liberty 52-48 Monday in pool play of the Battle at the Beach at Redondo Union. Senior guard Elly Tierney had 26 points.
Leah Philias, Ayla Teegardin and Miley Kinney are the other seniors and will be complemented by juniors Olivia Lewis, Riley Oku, Rhe’yanna Zeigler and Braelyn Manumaleuna.
“I’m excited,” Tierney said. “We have fun on and off the court. Our goal is to go all the way.”
Both teams are hoping to be able to practice and host games in the Pali High gym by the start of Western League play.
Pali Rx Pharmacy Reopens on Via De La Paz
Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pali Rx Pharmacy reopened at 900 Via De La Paz on Monday, November 3, following a nearly 10-month closure following the Palisades fire.
“Thank you for your patience as our community is rebuilding,” read the store’s website. “Pali Rx Pharmacy is back open and ready to serve our customers.”
The store, located at the corner of Via De La Paz and Antioch Street, is offering the same services as before the fire. In addition to filling prescriptions, the pharmacy is also offering a selection of snacks, drinks and over-the-counter medicine. Plus, Pharmacy Technician Alaia Maniago said when speaking to the Palisadian-Post on Thursday, November 13, anything can be ordered for customers.
Pali Rx Pharmacy accepts “all insurance” and offers “compound prescription and skincare creams in store.” It is owned and operated by Jasmine Shabbouei, opening in August 2011 in a space previously occupied by McKiernan Pharmacy.
Maniago said they are offering pickup and delivery, with the pharmacy able to ship to customers— “anywhere, really”—who have been displaced following the fire.
Maniago said it is nice to be back, speaking with the pharmacy’s “loyal customers,” though she’s had many “hard conversations” following the fire. She has worked at the pharmacy for about three years. She described being close to the customers, as well as neighboring storefronts, including Juice Crafters and elysewalker.
The store is operating with limited hours: Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, visit palirx911.com or call 310-454-0377.
Palibu Chamber Recovery Expo to Take Place November 23
Photo by Richard Cassel
Chamber CEO Maryam Zar Speaks at Connections Breakfast
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce will host a Recovery Expo on Sunday, November 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outdoors near La Cruz and Alma Real drives.
“The public is invited to attend this free family-friendly Recovery Expo,” the chamber said.
The expo will feature dozens of booths, including insurance adjusters, structural engineers, plan and permit, remediators, expediters, public agencies, architects, mental health specialists, general contractors, and fire-hardening suppliers.
There will also be a bounce house, food trucks and family-friendly activities for those who attend, designed to give the expo a “community street fair” vibe.
“The Palibu Chamber Recovery Expo is all about bringing our community together to rebuild stronger after the Palisades fire,” according to the chamber. “Homeowners and business owners will be connecting directly with a variety of trusted rebuild service providers who can help them move forward.”
The expo was originally planned to take place on November 16, but was delayed one week due to rain. RSVP to attend here.
Recently appointed Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce CEO Maryam Zar addressed dozens of attendees during a Connections Breakfast, which took place Thursday morning, November 13, at Palisades Recovery Coalition’s Sunset Boulevard headquarters.
First to speak was Chamber Connections Director Anthony McDemas, who welcomed those in attendance and explained that he’s been with the chamber for about 10 years—pre-dating the merger between the two chambers.
Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Ramis Sadrieh spoke next, acknowledging the chamber’s “great board.”
Those in attendance dined on food and beverages from Palisades Garden Cafe, as each person in the room was given 30 seconds to introduce themselves and the business they were representing.
When introductions were complete, Sadrieh returned to introduce Zar as the chamber’s new CEO, as of November 1, saying it was a “privilege” and “honor” to welcome her. He said she is an “amazing woman,” noting that she has chaired several area boards, including Pacific Palisades Community Council and Palisades-Malibu YMCA.
Zar spoke on her decade of service in the Palisades, with two terms as PPCC chair, a founding member of pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, and a member of Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board and Pacific Palisades Design Review Board.
She also founded and serves as president of Palisades Recovery Coalition, which was launched after the Palisades fire. Its mission is to “create lasting solutions for fire recovery and rebuilding in Pacific Palisades and other affected communities.”
“Quite a network I have built and nurtured,” Zar said of her time serving the community, noting her relationships with officials in both the City and County of Los Angeles.
She said she comes to the position with a “commitment to community,” highlighting the importance of networking events for the chamber, including the breakfasts and ribbon cuttings.
As fire recovery efforts are underway in Malibu and the Palisades, Zar shared plans of being involved: “I want us to be at that table.” She described the recovery as “challenging” and “long,” but that it will be “successful.”
‘Foundations of Faith: A Time to Renew & Connect’: Palisades Lutheran Church to Host 2025 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Photo courtesy of Sharon Browning
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
This year’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will take place on Monday, November 24, at 7 p.m. at Palisades Lutheran Church.
The theme of this year’s gathering is “Foundations of Faith: A Time to Renew & Reconnect.” The event, which is hosted by Pacific Palisades Ministerial Association, dates back almost 30 years.
“Our faith communities are an integral part of our members’ lives and the broader community,” PLC Pastor Martin Lee told the Palisadian-Post. “Many have been rooted in the Palisades for generations, and we hope to remain a vital part of the heart of this community for generations to come. We are convinced that in affliction and adversity, we are not alone.”
Participating congregations include United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades, Kehillat Israel, Palisades Lutheran Church, The Parish of Saint Matthew, Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine, Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Corpus Christi Church.
“The goal of this year’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is to reaffirm this reality and assure every member of our community that they are supported,” Lee continued. “We have immense gratitude for these community bonds, and we find much to be thankful for, even in the face of great loss. Our collective challenge is to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.”
Palisades Lutheran Church is located at 15905 Sunset Boulevard. Services resumed at the space on Palm Sunday, April 13, following three months of displacement following the Palisades fire.
“On behalf of Palisades Lutheran Church—and, I believe, all our participating communities of faith—we are deeply moved by the outpouring of support we have received,” Lee said. “We have experienced hope and love from people of all ages, both locally and internationally. The needs for short- and long-term support are abundant, spanning spiritual, relational and monetary requirements.”
Pali High Football Loses to Garfield
Photos by Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
One statistic tells the story of the City Section Open Division quarterfinal football game between Palisades and Garfield on Friday, November 14.
The fifth-seeded Bulldogs rushed for 551 yards in a downpour at Southwest College and that resulted in a 42-21 victory, which brought Palisades’ season to an abrupt end.
Zastice Jauregui did most of the damage, carrying the ball 30 times for 440 yards and five touchdowns. Replacing All-City tailback Ceasar Reyes, who suffered a season-ending knee injury three weeks earlier against Roosevelt, Jauregui had scoring runs of 76, 17, 65, 77 and 12 yards—three of them on direct snaps—while quarterback Javier Vargas ran seven times for 111 yards.
Those two players accounted for all of Garfield’s offensive yardage as the Bulldogs (9-2) averaged a whopping 14.9 yards per rush to advance to the semifinals to take on No. 1-seeded Carson, the Marine League champion.
Palisades received the opening kickoff and drove to the Bulldogs’ 24 before turning it over on downs. Garfield’s first play was a direct snap to Jauregui, who ran 76 yards for a touchdown to give the Eastern League champions a lead they would never relinquish.
The fourth-seeded Dolphins (10-1), who went unbeaten in the regular season for the first time since 2021, were in danger of being shut out in the first half for the first time all year, but got a break when a tipped ball floated right into the hands of Demare Dezeurn, who backpedaled three steps into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left to pull Palisades within 15-6.
Garfield received the second-half kickoff and on its first play, Jauregui raced 65 yards up the gut for a touchdown. Vargas ran for the two-point conversion to make it a 17-point lead. Jauregui ended the Bulldogs’ next drive with a 77-yard touchdown run on the same play.
Dezeurn juked several defenders while returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown and quarterback Jack Thomas added the two-point run as the Dolphins crept back to within 15 points.
Vargas broke loose for an 81-yard gain on the second play of Garfield’s next drive and scored on a two-yard keeper to make it 35-14 midway through the third quarter.
A stiff wind and slippery turf affected the Dolphins’ passing attack all night. Palisades got stopped on fourth down four times, the last being in the fourth quarter after the Dolphins had a first-and-goal at the 2.
Dezeurn scored his third touchdown on a 77-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter. That was the only pass the Bulldogs attempted all game.
Jauregui’s 12-yard run capped the scoring with 2:03 left.
Deveron Kearney rushed for 123 yards in 24 carries, Dezeurn caught three passes for 82 yards, Malachi Ross added three receptions for 26 yards and Michael Peters had one catch for 29 yards for the Western League winners.
Thomas completed seven of 16 attempts for a season-low 137 yards but that did not diminish his statistically brilliant season in which he threw for 3,284 yards, 43 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Dezeurn led the squad in receptions (64), receiving yards (1,372) and touchdown catches (21). He also had five interceptions on defense—returning three of them for touchdowns—while adding a touchdown run and two more scores on kickoff returns for a total of 27 touchdowns.
Enzo Allen finished the season with a team-best 121 tackles (averaging 11 per game), safety Tavian Talbert had 92 and defensive end Augie Evans had 91.
It was the first playoff meeting between the teams since 2013, Palisades’ first season under Tim Hyde, when the host Bulldogs won 27-20 in the first round in Division I.
Dylen Smith is 28-7 in his three seasons as the Dolphins’ head coach. He has guided the program to two Western League titles, two Open Division playoff berths and one Division I finals appearance.
Palisadian to Compete in Mrs. Asia USA Pageant
Photo courtesy of Shlomit Levy Bard
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Palisadian Michelle Villemaire will participate in the Mrs. Asia USA pageant on Saturday, November 22, at 4 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.
She will be competing as the Mrs. Thailand USA delegate in the 37th annual iteration of the pageant, which is hosted by Virgelia Productions. This will be her first pageant.
“At some point after the fires, in Carhartt slippers, knee deep in receipts, I took off my Pali Strong hat, rubbed my head and asked the universe to put me on a different path,” Villemaire said on November 1. “And the universe replied, ‘Really girl? You sure?’ And I was like, ‘Why you gotta say it like that?’”
Villemaire—who, in addition to being a TV host, is an interior designer—described the pageant as a chance for herself to be the “design project.” She spoke about her “incredible team,” including a Thai designer who crafted all of her gowns, with silk hand-loomed in Thailand.
The competition includes National Costume and Evening Gown events, according to Villemaire. There is also a swimsuit portion, which is a presentation and not judged, Villemaire explained.
“There’s so much I could say about this—the impact it’s had on me, what I’ve learned about myself, beauty, aging, entrepreneurship, leadership, sisterhood … ” Villemaire wrote about the pageant. “Overall it’s been incredibly and surprisingly positive.”
A longtime resident of the Palisades, Villemaire has been responsible for “yarn-bombing” Palisades Village Green in March for Women’s History Month and for Fourth of July in 2020.
“It took my village burning down to realize I wanted a redesign for the second half of my life,” Villemaire wrote. “[Mrs. Asia USA] began as a shiny object to distract me from the cruel reality of having a home in the burn zone. But I had no idea how many beautiful connections I’d make while leaning into my Thai culture.”
Tickets for the pageant are available through Villemaire, with general admission starting at $85. She can be reached on Instagram.
“I would love to have a Pali cohort screaming their heads off for me,” Villemaire wrote. “We were told that being loud is encouraged, so I just want to bring the energy in the way only Palisadians can.”