The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.”

Our Town’s Run

Runs.

Kind of a funny thing.

You take off from a place—and, after a while, you end up in exactly the same place you started.

Truth is, it couldn’t be anything farther from what it is.

Here’s what I mean.

———-

I thought about it at our town run. The 4th of July run.

Here’s what it is in a nutshell.

Almost 3,000 of the most amazing, lovely people on the planet all get up along with the chirping birds and run around the most stunning homes in town—just thinking about how absolutely wonderful life is.

But let’s go back. From the beginning. None of it was by accident.

A rich history, chock-full of Palisadian legends.

It started in 1977 and has evolved into one of the most popular 5 and 10Ks in California and the country.

Back in the 1970s, a group of spectacular Palisadian dads ran together, sharing a common bond—a love of running.

They called themselves—“The Ridgerunners.”

They got up and ran together at the crack of dawn to peek in the window of our hometown hero, Will Rogers.

They ran along the Santa Monica Ridge, overlooking the most stunning town—snuggled and cuddled between the mountains and the big, blue Pacific sea.

As legend has it, one Sunday morning on a picnic bench together on San Vicente Boulevard, after a bunch of the guys were in a 10K race in neighboring Brentwood, they imagined the same idea for the Palisades.

But I’ll bet what Brian Shea and his best buddies imagined for the Palisades was so much more than a race.

So much more than top runners sprinting across a finish line.

I’m pretty sure they imagined what I was privileged to see last week—on that glorious, truly magical 4th of July morning …

I’ll bet they imagined a dad proudly running right alongside his fourth-grade school kid—crisscrossing the tree-covered Huntington streets.

And a cheering Grandpa and Grandma standing on their curb handing out cups of water to thirsty, thankful runners galloping by.

And a couple of high school runners with big hearts and strides, wearing their school’s name across their chests—hoping to make their alma mater, their parents and themselves proud.

And a mom pushing a stroller with the most precious cargo in the absolute world in front of her—letting her baby know they will forever run and tackle life together—and that she’ll be there, no matter what.

And this town will be there for them, too.

Or a single man stepping into the backside of his 80s. Finding himself without his partner by his side. They ran—and then walked the race every year together.

He’s doing it alone for the first year.

But he’s not.

Maybe he’s not keeping up with everybody else in the race, but he’s in the race.

He bought his number.

Walking along, he’s seeing his wife in the faces of kids and families on the curbs he’s passing; knowing how she touched their lives. He’s seeing her as he rounds the corner of the church where they spent every single Sunday, and then some with their best pals.

He’s with her, alright.

That’s why he got up to do the run/walk. That’s why he’s wearing those socks she liked so much.

For her.

To let her know how much it hurts him every day that she’s not there by his side doing this, not doing life together.

———-

I’ll bet that’s what those guys were thinking about, sitting there, in the quiet. Thinking about what a race in the Palisades could be.

That’s what you earn with truly great friends. Quiet.

Moments when it’s OK just to think. Just to dream.

I’ll bet they did just that.

———-

Time sure flies, doesn’t it?

We see it in our kids’ lives, in our own lives. We notice it most on birthdays. On holidays.

We realize how fast this journey is going, this incredible at-bat at life that we have. This one swing.

Sometimes, in looking back at pictures, at videos, at plaques, we’re reminded of things that stop us. For just a second.

To pause. To breathe.

There’s a plaque at Will Rogers State Historic Park at the drinking fountain. Not a big plaque.

But an important one.

It’s in memory of three of the Ridgerunners: Lynn Borland, Chris Carlson and Dick Lemen.

It says, “There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise.”

That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read about what a friend is.

May we all give thanks to Brian. To all the Ridgerunners.

Of what they dreamed our town could be.

What all of us could be.

And for the canvas they have given us, every 4th of July …

To draw anything we can imagine.

Jimmy Dunne is a modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com or jimmydunne.substack.com.

The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a “green tip” to our readers in each newspaper. This edition’s tip was written by Valeria Serna, a member of the Plant-Based Solutions, Zero Waste and Water Sages teams.

Artificial turf—often seen as a low-maintenance solution for sports fields and playgrounds—comes with significant environmental and health concerns.

While its typical lifespan is eight to 15 years, in coastal areas like Pacific Palisades, exposure to marine salinity and sun can drastically shorten this period, leading to frequent replacements and hidden costs.

In addition to environmental impacts such as the heat island effect, methane emissions, microplastics in air and water, non-recyclability, soil deterioration, and flame retardants, there are serious human health hazards. These include increased heat stroke, bacterial infections and exposure to cancer-causing PFAS, which then enter our air and water cycles. Current water filtration systems, whether municipal or home based, struggle to filter these particles out of our drinking water.

Recent EPA findings state that no levels of PFAS are safe. Estimates suggest that, between our water and food, each of us consumes up to five grams of plastic weekly—roughly the volume of a credit card.

Artificial turf has been shown to cause more injuries to recreational users, including leg, ankle and foot injuries, as well as burns. The surface of artificial turf can heat up to 37 degrees hotter than asphalt and 86.5 degrees hotter than natural turf grass. Anything over 120 degrees Fahrenheit can cause skin burns within seconds of contact.

Without regular watering, the soil beneath artificial turf becomes compacted and as hard as concrete, increasing the risk of injuries. Many major league sports are switching to natural grass.

Beyond chemical exposures, critics say the material also emits high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and sheds microplastics and other chemicals into waterways.

Artificial turf can act as a heat island, increasing playing field temperatures to as much as 93°C (200°F). National Football League players pressured the league in 2022 to ban artificial turf because of injuries, and the U.S. national soccer teams will only play on natural grass for the same reason.

Artificial turf is an impervious surface, meaning it prevents water from infiltrating the soil, which is crucial for recharging aquifers. Given we are entering La Niña we should do all we can to capture water.

This year, the Palisades experienced 12 inches of rain in 24 hours. According to studies, one inch of rain on an acre of impervious surface generates 27,000 gallons of stormwater, equivalent to runoff from 20 acres of grassland. Natural grass fields, on the other hand, can reduce stormwater management needs by a ratio of approximately 30:1, significantly cutting down on runoff.

Cooling and cleaning artificial turf with potable water is not cost effective, given the ecological negative impacts. Additionally, municipal water facilities like Hyperion Water Reclamation cannot filter out PFAS (see May 23 Green Tip), meaning these harmful chemicals persist in our waterways for generations. This poses long-term health risks and environmental damage.

Fields with natural turf grass, managed organically, can collect, filter and store stormwater, serving as a vital piece of stormwater management. In contrast, artificial turf contributes to urban tree canopy die-off, exacerbating heat and air quality issues.

Given these significant concerns, it’s imperative that we move away from artificial turf and toward drought-tolerant, CA-friendly landscapes. AB 1572, recently signed into law, supports this shift by promoting the conversion of nonfunctional turf to native vegetation.

Let’s prioritize the health of our community and environment by supporting initiatives that foster sustainable, healthy landscapes. For more information, visit safehealthyplayingfields.org.