As of June 30, 84 single-family Palisades residences were listed in the Multiple Listing Service. The current level of inventory is 10% higher than last year’s June 30 available inventory.
A total of 104 homes were sold in the Palisades in the first half of 2024, which is a 13% decrease from 2023’s first half of the year. Median sale prices ($3,685,000) were down 20% from 2023’s first half.The median list price is currently $6,095,000—8% higher than this time last year. There are currently 20 escrows open in the Palisades, which is 13% fewer than at the end of the second quarter last year.
The lowest-priced residence available is a three-bedroom, two-bath home on Sunset Boulevard, which is being offered at $1,895,000. The highest-priced available property is a seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom on Casale in the Riviera, which is listed at $49.95 million.
The most affordable areas so far in 2024 are the South of the Village and El Medio Bluffs neighborhoods.
The lowest sale price for the second quarter of 2024 was on Chalet Terrace ($1,395,000). The highest sale ($25,375,000) so far this year was on Sunset Boulevard.
There are 17 condominiums/townhouses on the market, which is 23% lower than what was available at the end of the first half in 2023. They range from a one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset being offered at $790,000 to a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath that is new construction on Tramonto for $2,999,000.
Thirty condominiums were sold in the Palisades since the start of the year (unchanged from last year), ranging from a one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset, which sold for $500,000, to a two-bedroom, three-bath on Sunset, which sold for $2.5 million. The median sales price for condos at the end of the first half was $1,387,000, which is down 14% over 2023 first half median sales prices.
There are currently nine pieces of raw land available, ranging from $699,000 for a 3,703-square-foot lot on Castellammare to $14,995,000 for approximatelysix acres off Casale. There has been one lot sold so far this year.
There are currently 75 available leases in the Palisades (a 20% decrease over the first half of 2023), starting at $2,450 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit on Sunset Boulevard and asking as high as $98,000 per month for an eight-bedroom, 11-bath house on DePauw.
There were 156 Palisades leases done in the first half of 2024 (a 16% increase from last year’s first half), ranging from a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit on Sunset Boulevard, which leased for $2,700 per month, to a four-bedroom, seven-bath on Toulon, which leased for $65,000 per month. The current median lease price is approximately $11,415 per month, which is a 14% bump from this time last year.
Michael Edlen, an agent with Coldwell Banker, has been keeping statistics of Pacific Palisades housing prices for the last 38 years.
Many people have heard of Zestimates, which are readily available from Zillow, and often rely on them to decide how much their home is probably worth or how much to offer on a home for sale. Others have no awareness of what a Zestimate actually is. Fundamentally, a home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay.
What is the Zestimate and how is it created?
The Zestimate is simply a home evaluation by computer technology that takes into consideration many factors that are available in public records. It is one of many similar systems that use sophisticated algorithms in calculating a probable range of value on a particular property. Today Zillow covers more than 100 million homes in the U.S.
The factors used include recent comparable sales in the area, the square footage of the home and property, tax assessments, number of bedrooms and baths, and history of previous sales. The estimates are updated several times per week automatically and are modified by any market trends that are present.
How accurate are the Zestimates?
The accuracy of Zestimates has been questioned by many people ever since Zillow began using the tool in 2006. For example, when their model was used to estimate the home value of their company’s president more than 10 years ago, the eventual sale of the property was about $1 million lower than the Zestimate had predicted. This was due to the fact that it backed up to a major roadway, which the evaluation model could not have taken into consideration.
Over the years, though, Zillow has made significant progress in improving its accuracy.In some areas it is highly accurate, especially when due to a large number of sales of relatively similar properties. However, if a homeowner has made significant improvements to their property, which might increase the value substantially, Zillow would not likely include that information. Also, Zestimates vary in accuracy based on the area. For example, it has been found to be off by 5% half of the time in some areas.
Within communities such as west of the 405 freeway, the estimates can quite often vary widely. Since Zillow’s system does not know the difference between the Huntington Palisades and the adjacent Alphabet Streets area, for instance, several recent sales in either one of those neighborhoods may skew the numbers in the other one. The reverse is found in areas such as the Palisades Highlands townhomes, where the units are much more homogenous, making it easier to calculate more accurately.
A home in the hills may have a great view, while one below it by a few hundred feet might have none. Their Zestimates might be almost identical, even though one would sell for $1 million more than the other.
What difference do these inaccuracies make though?
The record shown by Zillow indicates that approximately 20% of the Zestimates are off by 20% or more. This variance could be either above or below the actual present value of a property.Therefore an owner who thinks the value is just what the Zestimate says, may be leaving a lot of money on the table if he accepts an offer anywhere near that level. Or, he may be sorely disappointed if the market does not bear what he is so sure its value is. Likewise, a buyer may think a listing is overpriced, whereas it may be priced right at its market value.
According to Zillow’s data, the median average error rate is greater than 7% for homes that are not for sale. Even for homes that are on the market, the error rate is more than 2%. In an area where the average home may sell for $4 million or more, even a variance of 5% is $200,000.
Can the consumer use online evaluation systems like Zillow effectively?
There are at least six other similar algorithm-based systems that are readily available to people wanting a potentially greater degree of confidence in the estimates done in this manner. Redfin, Realtor.com, Core Logic, Quantarium and Collateral are some examples. Since each method has its own algorithm, someone can look up the estimates of a property on each one, note the ranges of value on each, and then calculate an average of all of them. This way, one might minimize the variation from value that any particular system has.
Are there more accurate ways to estimate the potential value of a property?
An evaluation done in person by a licensed professional appraiser will usually result in a number that is very close to what the home is actually worth at that time. However, few owners or potential buyers would want to invest in the cost of obtaining such an appraisal.
A Comparative Market Analysis by a local real estate expert will be customized to the particular property and based on much more specific information than any online evaluation method can possibly know. It will also take into consideration any factors that could impact the value such as potential view obstruction, limiting easements or deed restrictions, etc. A review of properties currently under contract as well as those on the market would be taken into consideration too, as those might affect the pricing strategy to maximize ultimate sales value.
As an example, our team’s evaluations are accurate 98% of the time within 5%. Of course the ultimate sale price of a home will be affected by the preparations an owner is willing to do before putting their home on the market. These can easily make a difference of 3 to 5% in sale value.
Are Zestimates and similar valuations of no value?
These estimates definitely do give a rough idea of potential value of a property, and thus, are a good starting point for planning and discussions with a professional Realtor.However, owners and potential buyers would do well to not place heavy reliance on the numbers derived this way.
Michael Edlen has been a leading consultant in real estate for 30-plus years, and is available for a complimentary and confidential conversation upon request at 310-600-7422
or michael@edlenteam.com.
Here are some questions: What do you consume 19.2 pounds per year on average? (And that represents a 79% increase in the last 30 years.) What is produced in 25 states? What takes 350 semi-truck loads to provide for daily consumption?
What is grown on 125,000 acres and produces 6.75 billion pounds per year? What is a member of the lily family, and there were 71 native species in America before European settlers like Christopher Columbus arrived? Where did the word “Chicago” come from, and what did it really mean?
If you guessed onions, then you are right.
On the shores of Lake Michigan and all the Great Lakes, leeks and other bulb-type plants grew on the shore, and the Miami and Illinois people called them “Chicago,” and used them to season what they were cooking.
George Washington was a big onion eater. He planted them at his farm at Mt. Vernon. Thomas Jefferson planted onions at his farm at Monticello.
By 1806, there were six varieties of onions in the new world. By the Civil War, there were 14 varieties. Because onions stored well, they became a staple provision for pioneers coming west across America. Even General George Custer, who died at Little Bighorn, was a big onion eater (cepaphiles).
In a documented letter that Elizabeth Bacon Custer wrote, she described her husband as having “onion breath.” Onions have become big business since those days.
The reason I am writing about onions is because of my experience as a grower and nutritional consultant overlooking 1,000s of acres of onions in the Bakersfield area. I have been bringing onions to friends and clients in the Palisades for over 20 years.
I like bringing the spring onions (over wintering) to the Palisades because they are truly sweet. Most people don’t know the difference, but some do.
A spring onion is grown in areas like McAllan, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley; Vidalia, Georgia; Las Crusas, New Mexico; and El Centro, California (Imperial Valley). These locations are the first to harvest onion in the crop year.
Later in the year the onions from Oregon, Washington and Idaho start harvesting, and those onions will make you cry.
Bruce Schwartz is a 24-year resident of the Palisades Highlands. He was an agricultural consultant for 20 years, specializing in soil nutrition for crops grown in the Central Valley. He was named Pacific Palisades’ Citizen of the Year in 2017 and a Golden Sparkplug award winner in 2013, and is a member of several community organizations. To reach Schwartz, call 310-779-1773 or email bruceschwartz@rodeore.com.
Henry (Hank) George Ullerich was born January 29, 1931, in Charter Oak Township, Crawford, Iowa, to Ernest and Remda Ullerich. He was always grateful for the strong but humble beginnings his early years gave him and would reminisce fondly of his childhood on the Ullerich family farm, which his father continued to operate until 1978. The family belonged to St. John’s Lutheran church.
After graduating from high school, Henry attended the University of Iowa and attained a Bachelor of Arts degree. He next enlisted as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, hoping to be a pilot, but his high blood pressure prevented him from becoming a pilot.
He served three years in the Air Force, based in California. After leaving the Air Force, he decided he wanted to become a lawyer and he enrolled in law school at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
After graduation from law school, Henry was admitted to the State Bar of California on January 6, 1960. He did well in his legal endeavors and soon was able to advance in his career and became a deputy attorney general for the State of California.
He served in that position for the next few decades, working his way up to become senior assistant attorney general in the years before his retirement. He was highly successful in his work and traveled to Washington, D.C., in February 1973 to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wanting to liven up the local social scene, Henry organized and started the Westwood Ski Club. It became extremely popular and every single on the westside of LA had to be at their regular Friday night parties at the Velvet Turtle. It was the major social event of the week.
In 1962 Henry met a beautiful young lady named Mary Martin at a Westwood Ski Club meeting. He and Mary soon started dating and they married at the Westwood Presbyterian Church on July 14, Bastille Day, in 1963. Had Mary not died on March 23, 2023, they would have been married 60 years on July 14, 2023.
Henry and Mary were a happy couple, sponsoring many of the Westwood Club ski trips, hosting parties at their home and hosting events featuring Mary’s beautiful piano playing. They were active in the Palisades Lutheran Church (PLC) and in the Palisades Optimist Club, among other organizations.
Henry was a member of the Riviera Tennis Club and played tennis there for many years. He was also an avid golfer and played weekly with several of his close friends. Henry served on the PLC church council as well as on many committees, and he was always willing to use his talents as an attorney to handle legal problems and documents pro bono for PLC.
Henry passed away on June 17. He was lovingly cared for in the last few years by his devoted long-term caregiver, Annie Dewgarde, who had also cared for Mary for many years.
He is survived by his sister Julie Weiss and some nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be greatly missed by all, including his PLC church family and other local friends. His integrity, decency, kindness, dry wit and midwestern humor will be remembered forever.
As Henry had planned, he will be interred in his family plot at the at the St. John’s Lutheran Church cemetery in Charter Oak, Iowa. Arrangements will be handled by the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa.
A memorial service will be held at Palisades Lutheran Church on Saturday, July 20, at 1:30 p.m. Those wishing to contribute to a memorial in Henry’s memory can give a contribution to the church’s music ministry.
Gerald Francis Corrigan, beloved husband, father, grandfather and longtime resident of Pacific Palisades and Montecito, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family, at the age of 87 on May 26 in Santa Barbara, California.
Born on April 16, 1937, in Dublin, Ireland, Gerry immigrated to the United States in 1959. He earned his B.A. and M.B.A. from UCLA, where he became the first foreign-born student body president for the 1962-63 school year. Gerry later served as assistant dean of the UCLA School of Business and remained a lifelong Bruin.
It was also at UCLA that Gerry met Virginia Tang, a beautiful UCLA undergraduate who had emigrated from Hong Kong. They were married for 58 years, and enjoyed raising their two children in Pacific Palisades and later retiring to Santa Barbara.
Gerry and Virginia valued hard work, time spent with family and friends, and loved to surround themselves with a flourishing garden.
Gerry had a distinguished career as an executive recruiter at Korn Ferry and later operated his own business in Santa Monica. He served as the Irish Olympic Team Attache for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games, dedicated many years to the Board of the University College Dublin Business School, and was bestowed the Irishman of The Year Award in Los Angeles.
In retirement, Gerry continued to share his passion for knowledge with the Santa Barbara community through Vistas Lifelong Learning, where he spent hours researching, writing presentations and attending lectures. One of his favorites focused on William Mulholland and the LA Aqueduct, which he presented in 2022. He also taught economics at Santa Barbara City College and demonstrated his heartfelt sense of civic duty as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
In his later years, after spending afternoons watching his grandchildren bike around the neighborhood, Gerry found solace sitting outside at dusk and contemplating the world and its mysteries. Gerry’s evening would end with him quietly sitting in his well-worn Eames chair with a book in hand. His insatiable thirst for knowledge and relentless pursuit of understanding serves as a profound legacy that will inspire and guide his family.
Gerry is survived by his wife Virginia; children Peter Corrigan and Elizabeth Branham; their spouses Karen Bergan and Eryc Branham; grandchildren Sophie, Aedan, Jocelyn, Connor; and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choosing.
Runners pack Alma Real Drive in the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K on Fourth of July morning. Nearly 2,500 patriots participated in the race, which started and ended at the Recreation Center. Photo: Craig Weston
Henry Didden and Laura Osman Repeat as 10K Champions in 47th Annual Palisades Will Rogers Run
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Upon winning the Palisades Will Rogers 10K last July 4, both Henry Didden and Laura Osman expressed a desire to return this year and defend their titles. That mission was accomplished last Thursday as they not only prevailed again but vastly improved their times—proof that familiarity makes a difference on one of the most difficult courses in California.
“It was harder, but I hammered up the hills to try to distance myself from whoever was behind me,” the 20-year-old Didden said shortly after crossing the finish line in 32:46 to win by 19 seconds. The Woodland Hills resident took first in his age group in 2019 and 2022 and clocked 34:04 to win the 6.2-mile race to Will Rogers State Park and back for the first time last summer when he won it by 55 seconds. The Viewpoint High graduate just completed his sophomore track season at Bucknell University, placing eighthin the 5000 meters in 14:32.15 at the IC4A/ECAC Outdoor Championships in Fairfax, Virginia in May.
Osman, a 43-year-old mother of three from Encino, was the leading lady and 16th overall in 38:36—a 23-second improvement from 2023.
“My training has been better and I know the course, having run it once before,” Osman said. “I was in the lead by the one-mile mark and there were no other women around me.I wanted to give my best with a mile left but I thought ‘don’t try to push on the switchbacks knowing I have to come back up the hill on Sunset.”
Didden became the first male to repeat since Tonny Okello won the last of his record five straight 10Ks in 2018 while Osman was the first female to go back-to-back since hometown girl Kara Barnard won three in a row from 2010 to 2012
The only other time in the event’s 47-year history that the men’s and women’s 10K champions both repeated in the same year was back in 1981 when Charles Gray and Teresa Haro defended their titles. Both 10K records were set in 1983—by New Zealander Russell Edmonds (29:46) and Palisades High graduate Katie Dunsmuir (35:09).
David Olds, the 10K winner in 1993 in 32:13, turned back the clock to take first place in the 60-64 age division with a 41:29 effort this year.
Placing third in his age division in 41:59 was 53-year-old Darren Wald and right behind him was 48-year-old Sean Whiteley, who was fourth in the 45-49 age group in 42:02. Two years ago, the friends finished side by side in the 100-mile Stagecoach Ultra Run from Flagstaff, Arizona to the Grand Canyon.
Having just wrapped up a stellar freshman track season at Brentwood School, 15-year-old Alphabet Streets resident Amelia Sarkisian topped her age division in 46:22, a little more than five minutes behind older brother and NYU gradWyatt.
Fresh off being named valedictorian at Harvard-Westlake High, El Medio Bluffs resident Leo Craig was third in the 16-18 age category in 38:15. He was third overall in the 10K last year and won the Palisades Lutheran Church 5K in October.
While the other boys his age were warming up forthe half-mile Kids’ Fun Run later that morning, 7-year-old Philip Devkar was showing age is only a number. The youngest 10K competitor, he finished the race in 1:02:46 while his 9-year-old sister Vivienne won her age groupin 1:09:03. Max Wagner, 11, won the male 10-12 division in 1:01:05.
The misty 76-degree morning was ideal for running, perhaps onereason this year’s edition attracted 2,470 runners (1,828 in the 5K and 642 in the 10K)—the biggest field since the race resumed in 2022 following a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Announcers Sam Lagana and Jimmy Dunne kept the crowd entertainedbefore actor and 37-year resident Steve Guttenberg, with Bib No. 1304 pinned to his t-shirt, stated: “If you’re rich you live in Beverly Hills. If you’re famous you live in Malibu. If you’re lucky you live in Pacific Palisades!”
While runners packed the starting line on Alma Real Drive just before 8:15 a.m., Lagana handed the microphone to Mia Ruhman, a 21-year-old classical singer and composer who is studying music composition at UCLA. The lifelong Palisadian confidently delivered a beautiful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner—drawingthunderous applause from the fast- growing gathering at the Palisades Recreation Center parking lot.
The runners were sent on their way through Huntington streets and 16 minutres later, 22-year-old Gus Marshall rounded the last turn on Toyopa. He sprinted under the banner in 15:40—the fastest 5K time since the course waslengthened by approximately one-tenth of a mile to gain USATF certification in 2015. A cross country and track runner at UC Santa Barbara, Marshall is no stranger to the Palisades race. His familylives in Brentwood and he had run the 5K prevously on five or six occasions though not nearly as swiftly as he did this time.
“I like the course, the atmosphere is amazing” said the Loyola High alum and Economics major whose father Douglas played football at Pali High before joining the UCLA rugby team. “There’s a challenging downhill at the beginning, then an uphill stretch and that first mile can really make it or ruin it for you.”
In second place, 14 seconds behind the winner, was Pali High’s Blake Sigworth, who was also runner-up to teammate Max Fieldsin the City 3200-meter finals May 17.
It marked the third straight year that a Palisades runner placed second in the 5K (Fields was second in 2022 and 2023).
Incredibly, 10 of the next 18 5K runners represented Loyola, which retained the Dick Lemen Trophy awarded to the high school team based on aggregate score of each progam’s top three runners. Pacing the Cubs’ contingent were Aaron Pavon (16:02) and Ernesto Jalomo (16:11), who finished third and fourth, respectively, for the second consecuitve year.
Coming in seventh and topping the 45-49 division in 16:55 was Brian Duff, who won the Will Rogers 5K in 16:49 in 2008, took second in 2019 in 17:05, was seventh two years ago in 17:20 and won the inaugural Palisades Lutheran Church 5K in 2021.
The ever-smiling Okello, who turned 40 the day after Christmas, finished in the exact position (20th) in the exact time (18:39) as he did last year when he tried the 5K for the first time. This year he was also first in his age group.
The first female and 25th overall in 19:13 was Santa Monica High distance runner Phoebe Benun, who beat runner-up Caitlin Chrisman (the 10K winner in 2019 and runner-up in 2018) by 29 seconds.
Having just wrapped up her junior track season at Samo, the 17-year-old chose to give up soccer about a year ago to concentrate on running and is happy with her decision.
“I’ve run this a few times before and I got second two years ago,” she said. “I like how the whole community comes out and cheers. I’d like to come back next year and see if I can win again.”
Both 5K records are safe for yet another year. Peter Gilmore, a 1995 Pali High graduate, won it a record eight times, setting the standard of 14:10 in 2003 on the slightly shorter route while Annetta Luevano’s 16:29 clocking in 1995 remains the time to chase for the women.
Pali High swimming alum Darby Green (Class of 2020), who won the 5K two years ago in 19:46 and was third among women last summer, took first in the female 19-29 age group this year in 19:55.
Maya Hively, who just graduated from Paul Revere Middle School, won the girls’ 13-15 division for the second straight year in 20:49; Savannah Moore ran the 3.1 miles in 20:58 to top the 10-12 age group; 11-year-old Ally Humby (24:13) was a split second ahead of 13-year-old sister Mila (13) while their dad, retired kickboxing champion and proud Palisadian Baxter Humby, was 28th in the male 50-54 division in 30:23.
Former Harvard-Westlake, Gene’s Team and Yale volleyball standout Jessica Kronstadt was first in the40-44 age group and 20th overallamong females in 25 minutes flat.
Several local males also led their divisions in the 5K. Recent Revere grads Micah Martin-Price (17:22) and Theo Mayeda (17:23) were the top two placers in the 13-15 category; Jace Hansen, a member of the Pali Co-Rec Minor Basketball team that won the West Region title in March,clocked 25:11 to win the 9-and-under division.
*** Click on any photo below to view slide show ***
“The One-Armed Bandit” Baxter Humby loves his hometown 5K. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard is still cheered wherever he goes. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Henry Didden shaved 1:22 off of his time to win the 10K for the second straight year. Photo: Craig Weston
Laura Osman powers up Sunset on her way back to the Palisades Recreation Center. Photo: Craig Weston
UC Santa Barbara’s Gus Marshall clocked 15:40 in the 5K through the Huntington. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Santa Monica High distance runner Phoebe Benun breaks the tape in the 5K race. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Pali High tennis team member Erika Tontti completes the 5K. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Aaron Pavon helps Loyola High retain the Dick Lemen trophy. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Actor and proud Palisadian Steve Guttenberg is all smiles in the 5K. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Five-time 10K king Tonny Okello was 20th in last Thursday’s 5K. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Pali High’s Blake Sigworth took second place in the 5K in 15:54. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Amelia Sarkisian was first in her age group in the 10K in 46:22. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
The 26th Kids’ Fun Run gets underway. The flat half-mile loop course starts and finishes at the intersection of Alma Real and Toyopa. Photo: Craig Weston
Lifelong Palisadian Mia Ruhman sings the national anthem. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Cabe Talt singles for the PPBA Mustang 9U All-Stars in pool play of the PONY Region playoffs June 29 in Camarillo. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
PPBA Mustang 9U All-Stars Dominate Region, Advance to PONY West Zone Tournament
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Every baseball youth has dreams of playing in the World Series one day. That dream could soon be a reality for 12 boys on the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s Mustang 9U All-Star squad, whichcrushed its competition on the way to capturing the PONY Southern California North Region title June 30 at Bob Kildee Park in Camarillo.
This dynamic dozen, consisting of Cabe Talt, Anthony Layton, Axl Moody, Bennett Underwood, Dylan Morrow, Jack Hetherington, Owen Tyler, Nate Underwood, Maddox, Martin,Tristan Kawasaki, Will Feil and Carter Bergman, won its five region games by an average of seven runs, outscoring the opposition 53-17. The first contest June 27 proved to be the toughest as Palisades edged Simi Red 8-6. Two days later, the local squad beat Hart 11-6 and Camarillo Blue 11-1 to win its pool. In the semifinals, Palisades’ offense erupted for 12 runs against Westhills and in the final three hours later the bats remained hot to produce an 11-1 rout of Simi Red in a rematch.
By finishing atop the eight-team bracket, Palisades skipped the Super Region playoffs last weekend and advanced directly to the West Zone Tournament—a double-elimination competition that opens today at Creekside Park in Walnut.The PPBA representatives take on Rodeo from the San Francisco Bay area in the first round of the eight-team bracket. The winner will face either the host team Walnut or SoCal No. 2 on Friday at 3 p.m. while the loser plays the Walnut-SoCal 2 loser in an elimination game tomorrow at 10 a.m. The other four Zone teams are Tecolote Red of San Diego, El Cerrito, Orange and Kauai, Hawaii.
The final is set for Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Zone champion earns a berth in the PONY International World Series, which will be held July 19-22 at Keating Park in Vacaville. The World Series will consist of eight teams. Four Zone winners (North, South, East and West) will join host Vacaville and the champions from Mexico, Nicaragua and Philippines.
No PPBA team at any age level has made it all the way to the International World Series but the current 9Us could make history under the guidance of head coach Taylor Talt and his assistants Matt Underwoood and Joe Layton. Talt piloted the PPBA Mustang Royals in the spring while Layton coached the Tigers and Underwood led the Cardinals to an extra-inning victory over the Orioles for the Mustang championship.
The 9U All-Stars enter Zone action with a 21-4 record and are on a nine-game winning streak since getting blanked by Simi Red 5-0 in an Open tournament June 16. They won the Cheviot Tournament over Memorial Day weekend and have since claimed two sanctioned PONY crowns, the first being the Section 3 title in Simi Valley that ended with a 12-4 rout of Newbury Park in the final June 24. During pool play, Palisades combined for 40 runs against Santa Ynez and Simi White while allowing only seven.
The first time any PPBA All-Star team reached the Zone playoffs was two summers ago when Coach David Hoffman’s Mustang 9U squad, nicknamed the “Nachos,” won 28 of 37 games in a seven-week span and finished 2-2 in the Zone playoffs, just short of a World Series berth.
Another PPBA All-Star squad was on the verge of making the Zone playoffs Tuesday: Hoffman’s Bronco 11Us: Tyler Racanelli, Henry Wyman, Will Hill, Ethan Montminy,Sam Foster, Perrish McGinn, Remy Moore, Jackson Moore, Blake Milinovich, Max Yost, Hudson Tucker, Wil Hoffman, Dylan Hartunian, Isaac Ungerleider and Cy Murphy.
The 11U team qualified for last weekend’s Super Region playoffs in Escondido by virtue of a runner-up finish in the regional round June 27-30 in Camarillo. Palisades won its first two games against High Desert and Torrance then lost to Olive in the 16-team Super Region bracket. After beating High Desert and Camarillo Blue, Palisades movedwithin one win of a Zone berth.
The PPBA Pinto 8U All-Stars claimed the District 1 championship June 17 in Camarillo and the Section 2 title in Santa Clarita one week later before being ousted in the Region playoffs in North Hollywood. Coach Kambiz Kamdar’s roster included Parker Atwood, Ford Hill, James Kamdar, Alex Pollack, Sam Schiff, Henry Janneck, Gavin Morrow, Noah Mehring, Spencer Bergman, Grey Schiff, Graham Aris, Theo Johnson and Luca House.
The PPBA Mustang 10Us and Bronco 12Us both hosted Section tournaments June 27-July 1 at the Field of Dreams and both reached the championship game. Head coach Darren Wald’s 10Us, made up of Luke Johnson, Ozzy Drubner, Ryan Binder, Foster Badt, Ryder Wald, Benji Goodman,Stowe Campbell, Zack Haynie, Logan Perez, Brody Webb, Brandon Gimelstob, Luke Roozen and Jake Jaret, advanced to the Region playoffs in Camarillo but did not make it out of pool play.
Barry HoAire’s 12Us, consisting of James Holscher, Oliver Widhelm,Marlon Dunn, James HoAire, Jack Prokop, Beckett House, Jack Feil, Mario Knapp, James Jelline, Walker Johnson, Grant Tyler, Silas Marucci and Jackson Mitchell, narrowly missed advancing out of the region.
Quarterback Jack Thomas and receiver LeHenry Solomon celebrate a touchdown. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
For the first time since falling in the City Section’s Open Division playoffs last November, Palisades High football returners got a chance to compete against players in different jerseys on Saturday, June 29, at the Conqueror Classic, a seven-on-seven passing tournament hosted by Los Altos High.
After dropping their first game to Bell Gardens 20-12, the Dolphins beat Bassett, Rowland and Santa Fe to finish pool play 3-1 and secure the No. 4 seed in a field of 20 teams in the single-elimination playoffs.
Quarterbacks Brett Federman and Jack Thomas alternated possessions in the first three games, each tossing a touchdown pass versus Bell Gardens (which earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs) and each adding two scoring strikes in a 24-6 triumph over Bassett. Federman threw for three touchdowns in a 20-10 win against Rowland and Thomas played the whole game against Santa Fe, throwing TD passes to Max Hejazi and King Demethris. Jaden Joch added two points on an interception in the Dolphins’ 14-12 triumph.
Brett Federman throws for one of his nine TDs at the Los Altos 7-on-7.
Palisades had a bye in the play-in phase and faced Rowland in the first round in a rematch of the teams’ pool play encounter. This time, the Raiders got off to a fast start, countering a Federman scoring strike to Asher Rothman with two touchdowns and an interception to take a 14-6 lead. Federman hit LeHenry Solomon in stride on a bomb to pull the Dolphins within two and they went ahead 18-14 on Federman’s flip over the middle to tight end Augie Evans. After Rowland answered to regain the lead, Thomas connected with Demethris for an apparent go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing drive but it was nullified because it took too long. Thomas made amends on the next play, rolling left and finding Solomon in the corner of the end zone. Rowland had one last chance and won it 26-24 with a touchdown on fourth-and-goal as time expired.
Afterwards, coach Dylen Smith expressed optimism but also stressed the need to finish the job: “I saw lots of good things but if you beat a team, don’t think they’re gonna roll over if you play them again. It doesn’t work that way. Fatigue wasn’t a factor, we just have to work on our man-to-man and communication on defense.”
Junior tight end Augie Evans catches a scoring pass against Rowland.
Federman ended up with nine TDs and two interceptions in the four games he played. Thomas added six TDs and was picked off twice.
“I’ve waited for my turn [at QB] for so long,” said Federman, who backed up Roman La Scala last year. “I know this offense inside and out. I worked on my mechanics all offseason, now it’s all about getting the timing down and learning my receivers’ tendencies.”
The Dolphins will have a chance to show how much they have learned Saturday in the Westside Classic at Culver City High—their second and last seven-on-seven tournament. Fall practice begins July 29, helmets and shoulder pads are permissible August 1-2 and full pads and contact drills are allowed starting Aug. 5.
Photo courtesy of American Legion Palisades Post 283
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
American Legion Ronald Reagan – Palisades Post 283 is launching a nationwide initiative alongside several Fourth of July celebrations, designed to “improve the standing of the military and veterans in American society.”
“The long-term initiative, led by Post 283 Commander Jim Cragg, aims to draw the public closer together to its veterans and military service members for a renewed camaraderie and mutual respect,” read a statement about the initiative. “In part, the Post will organize and promote events that highlight three military communities whose members exemplify the core values that define and guide America: Medal of Honor recipients, United States service academies and United States special operations forces.”
With several Fourth of July events taking place in Pacific Palisades—from the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K in the morning to fireworks at Palisades Charter High School in the evening—the Post plans to have an increased role.
“Medal of Honor recipients, the superintendent of U.S. Military Academy at West Point and many members from the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets will participate in a full schedule of the day’s events in the community,” the statement continued.
“Run with the Supe” will take place at 8:15 a.m. on July 4 as part of the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K, which starts and ends at Palisades Recreation Center.
“Post 283 will honor all military services by inviting and hosting active duty military members, West Point Cadets, local ROTC Cadets and veterans to join U.S. Military Academy at West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Gilland in the annual Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run,” according to the statement.
Following the race, active duty military, veterans and their families are invited to brunch at Post 283, located at 15247 La Cruz Drive, at 9:30 a.m., which will be attended by Gilland and Medal of Honor recipient Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell.
When the Fourth of July parade begins at 2 p.m., the Post will participate alongside “distinguished guests.”
“Post 283 founded the Pacific Palisades 4th of July Parade,” according to the statement. “This year will feature a number of military vehicles, to include a military flyover, coordinated by Post 283 and various local military units. The 76th annual parade will include U.S. Military Academy at West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Steve Gilland as the reviewing officer and Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Littrell as an honored guest in the parade. As tradition dictates, Post 283 members will also walk in the parade.”
After the parade, Post 283 will host a “Meet Our Military” barbecue at 3 p.m., with military vehicles on display for children and families to explore. Gilland, Littrell, members of the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets and Post 283 Legionnaires will be in attendance to speak to and ask questions of their military experiences. Gilland and Littrell are also slated to give speeches on “American independence and how the enduring values of freedom, patriotism and community sustain our country today.”
“We invite everyone to come out and celebrate our nation’s independence with American Legion Post 283,” Cragg said in a statement. “This is a day filled with pride, patriotism and community spirit. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary celebration.”
One of the three potential options Photo courtesy of PPCC/Landscape Structures
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pacific Palisades Community Council is seeking input from the neighborhood regarding three options for the redesign of the Palisades Recreation Center playground ahead of the next meeting of Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board meeting, which is slated for July 18.
There are three different designs—an ocean/meadow theme, forest theme and desert theme—proposed by Recreation and Parks and Council District 11 for the “revamp and upgrade of the Palisades Recreation Center,” read information shared by PPCC.
“We encourage everyone to take a look at these and send your feedback by email to PPCC,” the email continued. “We will share the feedback with the PAB, which will consider this matter at their July 18 meeting, when the input from the community could inform their decision. The Council Office has pledged Quimby funds to this project to upgrade the playground and bathrooms, and bring them to compliance with current regulations. They believe they can accomplish this, if they begin timely.”
For more information, including photos of the three options, visit pacpalicc.org.
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