A preview of one of the songs, as seen at the Theatre Palisades Awards Show. Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Theatre Palisades next show—“tick, tick… Boom!”—is set to open on Friday night, September 6, at 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse.
“Before the revolutionary rock musical ‘RENT,’ Jonathan Larson had another story to tell … his own,” read a synopsis provided by Theatre Palisades. “‘tick, tick… Boom!’ is a three-chapter pop rock musical about facing the crossroads in life and holding on to your dreams that was first produced off Broadway in 2001.”
Book, music and lyrics for the production are by Larson. The Theatre Palisades iteration of the show is directed by Lindsey Johnson, with Alexander Tovar as musical director, and Martha Hunter and Laura Goldstein as producers.
“It tells the story of young Jonathan, a promising young composer on the eve of his 30th birthday,” the synopsis continued. “His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city (tick); his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue (tick); and he’s still waiting tables and trying to write the great American musical before time; and life, passes him by (Boom!).”
The cast features Destin Bass (Jon); Anthony Galang (Michael); Bimei Flores (Susan), Charlotte Nevins (Karessa and Female #1), Katherine Rogers (Female #2) and Ian Riegler (Male #1).
The show will run through Sunday, October 13, with performances at Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available for $25 for students and seniors, or $27 for general admission.
“We are delighted to keep this amazing Palisades tradition alive, and the support has been incredible” said David O’Connell, event co-founder and organizer. “We had hoped back in 2013 that this event would be a convenient, family-friendly way to start the holiday season here in the Palisades. It has once again exceeded all of our expectations.”
The event, O’Connell reported, is on pace to have “another record-breaking turnout,” with an anticipated field of 2,500 runners and thousands of spectators.
The trot—which has both a 5K and 10K option—will begin and finish at Palisades Charter High School at Stadium by the Sea, with a course that weaves through El Medio Bluffs.
“This year, the route will not include Temescal Canyon Road,” O’Connell explained. “The 10K runners will do a second loop through El Medio and enjoy the spectacular panoramic ocean views a second time. This decision was designed to minimize the impact on holiday travelers.”
There is also a Pacific Palisades Kids Race, which is open to participants ages 5 to 16.
Sponsors that are returning in 2024 include Exela Technologies, which is “powering the event with their corporate energy and their team of orange-clad runners.” Palisades Village will also return to host pack pick-up in the days before the event. At the time of publication, additional sponsors were expected to be announced.
The event will benefit Los Angeles Fire Department Stations 23 and 69, as well as other charities.
The Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot Powered by Exela Technologies will begin promptly at 8 a.m. and end by 11 a.m.
For more information or to register, visit paliturkeytrot.com. Prices are set to increase after October 20.
The Pali High varsity football team will try to reclaim the coveted Charter Bowl trophy on Friday night, September 6, in Granada Hills. Photo by Rich Schmitt
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Addressing his players minutes after the August 29 victory, Palisades Charter High School football coach Dylen Smith made it clear what the motivation would be at practice this week: “They took it away last year … now we have to go get it back!”
Smith was speaking about the bronze Charter Bowl trophy, which Granada Hills rode away with on the bus following last season’s 26-10 triumph over the Dolphins at Stadium by the Sea. It not only ended Palisades’ nine-game winning streak in the rivalry dating back to 2006, it marked the very first time Palisades lost the annual grudge game on home turf.
The rivalry is renewed Friday night, September 6 (varsity kickoff at 7:30 p.m.), when the two schools clash in the 17th Charter Bowl game. Palisades holds an 11-5 lead in the series (the contest was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and again two years later because of extreme heat in the Valley).
Palisades and Granada Hills achieved independent charter status in 2003—the first two high schools in Los Angeles Unified School District to do so. The Charter Bowl was established three years later, and since then, it is a date players on both sides circle on the calendar at the start of camp.
Prior to last year’s loss, the Dolphins had won nine straight by an average margin of 25 points, but Granada Hills prevailed, thanks to the tailback tandem of Kanye Martin and Darrell Stanley, and a stout defense that came up with two fumbles and an interception. It was the Highlanders’ first win in the series since head coach Bucky Brooks took the helm in 2019.
Palisades enters Friday’s matchup at 2-0, having beaten Dymally and Roosevelt—teams which run a similar style offense to that of Granada Hills. The host Highlanders are 1-1 and will try to bounce back from last week’s 53-30 loss at Banning.
Granada Hills won four of the first six games. Palisades won the next nine in a row before the Highlanders stole the trophy back last fall. Palisades is 6-1 at home and 5-4 on the road.
The teams first met in 1977 when the Highlanders edged the Dolphins 28-27 in a California tiebreaker in the City 4A quarterfinals in a matchup between John Elway and Jay Schroeder. The future Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks faced off again in the same round in 1978, and Elway’s team again came out on top, 31-12. Granada Hills won three of four regular season meetings from 1980-83, losing only in 1981.
Including games before the Charter Bowl, Palisades has a 12-11 advantage in head-to-head meetings. Palisades is 12-8 in regular season matchups. Granada Hills is 3-0 in the playoffs, including a 44-7 rout in the City Division I championship game two years ago in Valley Glen.
Roosevelt running back Alan Ortiz is tackled behind the line of scrimmage by Palisades defensive end Mike Tobin in the second half. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
It took a while for the offense to get on track, but once it did, Palisades Charter High School’s varsity football team took control of the Thursday evening, August 29, nonleague game versus Roosevelt, winning 27-14 to improve to 2-0 in its second year under head coach Dylen Smith.
The Dolphins scored three touchdowns in a span of three minutes, 39 seconds in the second quarter to build a 21-7 lead and tacked on another score midway through the third quarter to go up by 20 points.
“They’re definitely a step up from the first week and ran their [Wing-T] offense much better,” said Smith, who improved to 9-3 all-time as the Dolphins’ coach. “I thought we could run the ball in an empty set to exploit them and I think we tired them out a bit as the game went on. There are six spots on the field to attack and they have to spread out to defend them all. We did a nice job moving left to right, not getting into any predicable pattern. Last year our offense was trying to catch up to the defense. So far this year it’s the other way around.”
Palisades entered the contest as one of the eight top teams in the City Section and stayed on track for an Open Division playoff berth.
Palisades failed to gain a first down in its first two possessions and Roosevelt drove 65 yards in eight plays to cap its second drive, taking an 8-0 lead on a two-yard run by Alan Ortiz on the opening play of the second quarter and a successful two-point conversion by Abraham Cardenas.
The Dolphins appeared to get on the scoreboard on the fourth play of their ensuing drive but an illegal block penalty nullified a touchdown. However, tailback Harrison Carter swept left on the very next play and ran eight yards for a touchdown at the 10:04 mark of the second quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out, Palisades got the ball back, and on the third play of the drive, quarterback Jack Thomas ran 19 yards on a keeper to put the Dolphins in front 13-8 and Jack Malloy added the extra point.
Pre-game honoree and Pali High alum Sam Lagana with the referees before the August 29 nonleague contest with Roosevelt.
Palisades alertly pounced on a bouncing ball on the ensuing kickoff, and on the second play, Thomas rolled to his right to buy time and found double-covered tight end Augie Evans in the corner of the end zone. Malloy’s extra point made it 21-8 with 6:35 left before halftime.
Jayden intercepted a pass near midfield to snuff out Roosevelt’s next drive but the Dolphins turned it over on downs at the Roosevelt 28.
The visiting Rough Riders got the ball first in the second half, but on their fourth play, cornerback Jackson Kaufman recovered a fumble and Palisades took over at its 35.
Six plays later, Thomas threw to King Demethris for a touchdown to extend the lead to 19 with 7:34 left in the third quarter but Malloy’s extra point try was wide—his first miss of the season.
Manny Madrigal’s one-yard quarterback sneak capped a 15-play, 69-yard drive that pulled Roosevelt (1-1) to within 13 points with 8:02 left in the fourth quarter, but after a missed 27-yard field goal, the Rough Riders got a chance to narrow the deficit even more.
Instead, they lost yardage and had to punt, and this time, the Dolphins kept the ball on the ground and gained two first downs to run out the clock as the home fans at Stadium by the Sea sang “Happy Birthday” to defensive coach Kelly Loftus.
“The defense really held us in there until the offense woke up,” said Thomas, a junior transfer from Loyola who has thrown for five touchdowns and run for two more in the Dolphins’ first two games. “Once we scored, got a quick stop, then scored again, we felt we were in command. Still, we know we can be a lot better.”
Thomas completed 10 of 18 throws for 140 yards, Carter finished with 95 yards in 12 carries, and LeHenry Solomon made three catches for 65 yards. Kenneth Sanchez led the defense with 13 tackles, Cash Allen added 12, and Mike Tobin and Jake Treibatch each had 11.
Palisades routed Roosevelt 42-14 in nonleague action last year on its way to earning the No. 6 seed in the Open Division.
Lifelong Palisadian and 1980 Pali High graduate Sam Laganà—now the stadium announcer for the Los Angeles Rams—was recognized before kickoff for his decades of service in the community. Afterward, he presented the game ball to the officials for the coin toss.
In the preceding junior varsity game Roosevelt scored 26 unanswered points to pull out a 34-28 victory. Palisades drove to the five-yard line in the final seconds, but a final pass was deflected away in the end zone as time expired.
The Dolphins’ JV hosts Granada Hills at 5 p.m. Thursday, September 5 while the varsity travels to Granada Hills for the schools’ annual Charter Bowl on Friday, Sept. 6.
The annual Palisadian-Post Football Contest, giving readers a chance to predict upcoming game winners, starts this week.
“Every week, the Palisadian-Post will have a selection of NFL and college football games,” according to the contest rules. “Check the team you predict will win each game. The person with the most correct picks wins. In the event there is a tie, the tie-breaker will be used to determine the winner.”
There will be an online submission process, making it easier than ever to participate. Contestants can download or copy their entry form, fill in their picks, take a photo, and email it back to footballcontest@palipost.com by the 5 p.m. Friday deadline. This week’s deadline is Friday, September 6, at 5 p.m.
One entry per person per contest will be accepted. Winners will receive a $10 gift card from our contest sponsor, The Yogurt Shoppe, via email.
Photo courtesy of County of Los Angeles Public Health
Update, 4:12 p.m.: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has lifted the ocean water closure affecting a portion of Will Rogers State Beach, according to a statement sent August 30 at 3:30 p.m.
“The Department of Public Health was notified today by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Flood Control Division that a low flow diverter on the affected storm drain successfully redirected the sewage discharge to prevent the sewage from contaminating the ocean waters,” read that statement. “Therefore, ocean water closure for Will Rogers State Beach is no longer in effect.”
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Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an “ocean water closure” of a portion of Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades due to the release of approximately “6,700 gallons of untreated sewage,” according to a statement from Thursday, August 29.
The closure was in place for Will Rogers State Beach one-half-mile north and south of Sunset Boulevard.
“The Los Angeles City Sanitation Department notified Public Health of a sewage discharge that occurred at the 17300 block of Sunset Boulevard at the intersection of Paseo Miramar,” read the statement. “Per the report the discharge was caused by a root blockage and resulted in approximately 6,700 gallons of sewage entering the storm drain and entering the ocean at Sunset Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades.”
Public Health advised residents and visitors to “avoid contact with ocean water and wet sand” in the area.
“The Department of Public Health will conduct water sampling beginning on August 30th,” the statement concluded, “and the closures will remain in effect until Public Health receives two sampling results indicating that bacterial levels meet health standards.”
Hypothetical trail alternatives Courtesy of Geosyntec Consultants
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Members of the community are invited to share their thoughts about a forthcoming trail that would connect George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon to Will Rogers State Beach via Temescal Canyon Road through a survey that will be open until Friday, August 30, at 5 p.m.
An Open Forum about the Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail project (also known as the “lateral trail” project)—with presentations by City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering Project Manager Kristen Ly and Geosyntec Project Consultant Goodwin Wharton—took place on Wednesday evening, August 21, at Palisades Branch Library and online.
“This was a preliminary meeting to inform the Palisades community that this project is underway and to obtain community feedback,” according to Pacific Palisades Community Council. “The presenters reiterated that the trail is required by the Coastal Development Permit for Potrero Canyon to provide coastal access. They emphasized that trail development is in the early stages: funding is not necessarily in place, nor is a specific trail route.”
During the meeting, those who attended in person at Palisades Branch Library were welcome to give their feedback, either by filling out a form or speaking with the project representatives. Now, additional community members are invited to give their feedback via the online survey.
“PPCC strongly encourages everyone to take the survey,” PPCC wrote. “It’s easy—only takes a minute or two of your time … and it’s crucial to convey to city engineers and planners the Palisades community’s opinions and concerns about the potential impacts of this major project. Again, because the city is committed to study the possibilities and return to the community, your input is important.”
A full story about the Open Forum is slated to appear in an upcoming print edition of the Palisadian-Post.
The two-week voting period for the Pacific Palisades Community Council area and at-large representative election is now underway through Friday, August 30, at 8 p.m.
The electronic ballot is available on the PPCC website—which is “the only way to vote.” There is also a link to full candidates statements, provided by each person running.
Residents of Pacific Palisades may vote for the area representative in which their primary residence is located (a map is available at the PPCC website) and for the at-large candidate. Property owners and business operators may vote for the at-large representative. Voters must be 18 years old as of August 30, 2024.
Candidates are vying to represent Areas One to Eight of Pacific Palisades, as well as an at-large seat, for a two-year term.
Running uncontested are JoAnna Rodriguez (Area One), Steve Cron (Area Two), Karen Ridgley (Area Four), Kimberly Bloom (Area Five), Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven), Andrew Wolfberg (Area Eight) and Chris Spitz (at-large).
There are two contested seats: Area Three (with candidates Joe Layton and Julia Nilsen) and Area Six (Lorie Cudzil and David Schwarz).
All candidates—contested or not—participated in a Candidates Forum on Thursday evening, August 8, at Palisades Branch Library.
Election winners will be announced at the next PPCC meeting on Thursday, September 12.
The contest is put on each year by Pacific Palisades Library Association, also known as Friends of the Palisades Library.
“Entries should be family friendly and relate to this year’s theme: A funny thing happened on the way to … ” read the PPLA website.
Submitted pieces can be any literary style, according to PPLA. Contestants are limited to one entry, which is not to exceed two pages, double spaced.
Entries can be submitted online or in person at Palisades Branch Library, located at 861 Alma Real Drive.
Those who enter have a chance to win gift certificate prizes as well as participate in an awards ceremony on October 9. There will be first-, second- and third-place prizes awarded in five categories, which are based on age. First place will receive $100 to DIESEL, A Bookstore, second place will receive $75 and third place $50.
“Good luck,” PPLA wrote. “We look forward to reading your work.
PPLA volunteers at a previous Parking Lot Book Sale Photo courtesy of Laura Schneider
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
If you’ve been holding on to books to donate to Friends of the Palisades Library for a future parking lot sale, the final day of the current chapter of the collection drive is Saturday, August 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We can only accept books in very good condition,” Friends of the Palisades Library—also known as Pacific Palisades Library Association—wrote in a notice about the collection drive. “Books should not be written in or highlighted, or show signs of excessive wear and tear.”
Magazines, textbooks, CDs, DVDs, encyclopedias and library books will not be accepted.
Books collected during the drive will be sold at the next parking lot sale, which is slated for Saturday, September 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Books are in excellent condition, priced to sell and include a variety of genres, including contemporary fiction, nonfiction, art books, cookbooks, special interest, children’s and young adult books,” PPLA wrote about the sale. “Cash and credit cards accepted.”
Funds raised will go toward supporting various programming Friends of the Palisades Library helps put on, including speaker series, events at Palisades Branch Library and more.
Donations will be accepted inside Palisades Branch Library, located at 861 Alma Real Drive.
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