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Pali High Football Schedule Set

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Head football coach Dylen Smith is optimistic his second season at Palisades High will be better than his first. The 2024 schedule has been finalized and the Dolphins will be tested throughout as they hope to improve on last year’s 7-3 record.

The season kicks off Friday, August 23 against Dymally at Stadium by the Sea (JV at 4 p.m., varsity at 7). The schools last met two years ago in the Division I quarterfinals when the host Dolphins won 42-14.

Sxi days later Palisades travels to Boyle Heights for a Thursday night game at Roosevelt, which lost by 28 points at Palisades last August.

On September 6 the Dolphins travel to Granada Hills for the Charter Bowl. The Highlanders won 26-10 last year. The next week Palisades hosts Brentwood in the sixth Sunset Showdown. The Eagles hold a 3-2 edge after their 43-24 win last fall.

In Week 4 Palisades takes on Harvard-Westlake in Studio City.

After a bye week, Palisades opens Western League play at Fairfax. Back-to-back home games follow with Westchester and Venice before a final road trip to University. The last regular season game is at home versus Hamilton on Nov. 1.

Homegrown Ump

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Thad Collins is enjoying his first season umpiring Pinto and Mustang games in the PPBA, where he played seven years.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Watching Thad Collins umpire it is hard to tell who is having more fun—him or the kids. That is because he was in the players’ shoes not so long ago and he knows what a thrilling win and a heartbreaking loss feel like, having experienced both as well as every possible emotion during his seven glorious years spent on the Field of Dreams.

Now, the proud PPBA alum is the newest member of his hometown Pony league’s umpiring crew and one month into the job he is having a blast not only calling out balls and strikes but teaching youngsters the fundamentals of baseball.

“I played all seven years from Pinto through Pony and loved every minute of it,” said the third oldest of four Collins boys whose father Joe headed the Cardinals organization, served as a board member and ran the Bat & Grill for many years while his sons were matriculating through the program. “I only got to play in one World Series, my last year of Bronco. We battled through the loser’s bracket to get to the finals but we lost to the Tigers . I loved to pitch but I also played third base, left field and catcher. [Head ump] Dirk Robinson called my games.”

Growing up in the Huntington, not far fron the park that became like his second home, Thad went to Corpus Christi, Calvary Christian and back to Corpus before moving on to Loyola High, where he was on the water polo and swim teams.

Before his junior year at UC Santa Cruz he started umping little league 9 and 10-year-olds for extra money and he found it rewarding in more ways than one. He also works as a counselor at St. Matthew’s Day Camp in the summer.

“I like encouraging them and making sure thery’re having fun,” said the 22-year-old, who graduated in December with a degree in film and digital media, which he has put to good use to collaborate with older brother Emmett (also a PPBA alum)on a feature-length screenplay titled The Golden Valley.”

Now living in the Alphabet Streets, Thad has decided to make unping his “career” for now while he gets his creative juices flowing on future storytelling projects. Younger brother Charlie is among his biggest supporters and with his pedigree Thad is well respected in the community.

“The best part is that I’m able to give back to the game and the league that gave me so much,” he said.

Gurevitch Is Hit Leader as Sophomore for San Diego

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Jack Gurevitch
Courtesy of USD Athletics

Sophomore slump? Not a chance for University of San Diego infielder and former PPBA All-Star Jack Gurevitch.

After appearing in 49 of San Diego’s 50 total games, starting 34 at first base and 10 as the designated hitter, and earning All-West Coast Conference Freshman Team honors last season, he has picked up right where he left off.

Gurevitch came out of last weekend’s three-game sweep at Pepperdine leading the Toreros in batting average (.381), hits (56) and on- base percentage (.489) in 38 games played (all of which he started) this spring. Entering Tuesday’s home game against San Diego State he had accumulated 35 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, six homers, 27 RBIs, 25 walks and a slugging percentage of .585. On defense he has been just as impressive, holding a .996 fielding percentage with 251 put-outs and only one error.

Gurevitch refined his skills at the Palisades Recreation Center, where he belted numerous home runs while playing Pony All-Star tournaments. He batted .357 and collected 41 hits his senior year at Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks while earning All-State First Team, Mission League MVP and All-CIF honors. His plate prowess led the Knights to a 25-9-1 record and a CIF title game appearance his senior year. He played travel ball for Garciaparra Baseball Group and the Socal Giants.

Pitch Perfect

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Briana Vasquez was all smiles after her perfect game versus Hamilton. She struck out 13 of the 15 batters she faced.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Perfection is seldom achieved at any level in any sport, but last Thursday afternoon at Stadium by the Sea is a day Briana Vasquez will not soon forget. The Dolphins’ senior pitcher faced 15 Hamilton batters and not one of them reached base—a remarkable feat considering how many innings the University of La Verne commit has logged in the circle this season.

Vasquez was “in the zone” from the start and finished with 13 strikeouts in a game that was called after five innings with the Dolphins ahead 10-0. The only balls the Yankees managed to put into play were a lazy fly to center in the second and a slow roller back to Vasquez, which she flipped to first base for the first out of the fourth. Along the way, she surpassed the 100-strikeout mark for the season, but then who is counting?

“I don’t really focus on the number of strikeouts I get because I have great teammates behind me and they have my back,” she said. “Sometimes you can tell warming up that you’ve got good command.”

The dominating performance was a confidence booster after Vasquez threw 149 pitches in a heartbreaking last-inning defeat to archrival Venice three days earlier.

“You don’t feel it until after the game but my arm was sore so I took the next two days off [after Venice] so I’d be ready for today,” she said.

Vasquez needed 60 pitches to complete the masterpiece, which earned her hugs and high-fives from her teammates and the game ball from coach Manny Flores.

“It’s just Bri being Bri,” Flores said.

Vasquez nearly made it back-to-back perfectos, surrendering only a single and striking out 14 batters in another 10-0 shutout Monday, this time against University. She also flirted with perfection April 3 in a 15-0 victory over visiting Fairfax before settling for a one-hitter with nine punch-outs while tossing a mere 54 pitches. On April 11 she and Stella Honda combined to no-hit LACES (Honda pitched the first three innings, Vasquez the last two). That was three days after Vasquez struck out 12 of 18 batters in a two-hitter against Westchester.

Perhaps her best outing all season came in a game in which she did not get the decision when she held a potent Mira Costa lineup to two hits and fanned nine Mustangs in a 0-0 tie on March 9 at the TNT Classic in Torrance.

Palisades has three league games left, beginning today at Fairfax, and would clinch second place outright if it is able to win all three.

Earth Day-Themed Events to Take Place at Will Rogers State Beach, Pali High

By
Lily Tinoco
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Photo by Alix Levy

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

For those looking to celebrate Earth Day—which is Monday, April 22—Palisadians have several local options this weekend, including beach cleanups and a soirée.

The office of Councilmember Traci Park will host an Earth Day Clean Up at Will Rogers State Beach on Saturday, April 20, from 9 to 11 a.m.

“In honor of Earth Day, volunteers will help remove trash and debris from our shoreline to help mitigate the harmful impact of pollution on marine life and to protect coastal habitats,” according to a description of the event.

This cleanup is in partnership with Pacific Palisades Community Council and the office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

Participants are asked to wear active and comfortable attire, and to bring their own reusable water bottle. The group is set to meet at Lifeguard Tower 15 (17000 Pacific Coast Highway).

For additional information, contact Field Deputy Michael Amster or 310-568-8772.

The next day—Sunday, April 21—Rif Care will present an Earth Day Soirée from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., free and open to all ages.

Founded by Palisades Charter High School alumni Valerie Emanuel, Rif Care is a “wellness company,” which makes “period care out of hemp fiber,” according to its website.

The day will begin at the Pali High campus, with a 1 p.m. dance class led by celebrity trainer Jason Wimberly.

The class was described as a “new adult jazz dance class” meant to make participants “sweat, stretch and dance [their] heart out.”

“Designed to be accessible for both dancers and non-dancers alike, this is a real dance class that will go through a rigorous warm-up before practicing skills like turns, across the floor and choreography,” according to an event announcement.

Attendees will then walk down to the beach at 2 p.m. and enjoy snacks by Sambazon Acai, before embarking on a beach cleanup from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. with Rif Care and Compostic. Drinks will also be supplied by Bear’s Fruit.

For more information, RSVP at partiful.com/e/3xLifXtSbdNabvJSkcTX.

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation Seeks ‘Howling Heroes’ Contest Entries

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of LAFD Foundation

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Entries are now open for Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation’s fourth annual Howling Heroes contest—a call to find the next official LAFD mascot while raising funds for the department’s canine program and beyond.

Funds raised through the contest support LAFD Foundation, which is the nonprofit arm of LA City Fire Department, established in 2010 to “bridge critical funding gaps for essential tools, equipment and programs.”

“Approximately 97% of the city’s fire budget is allocated toward personnel costs,” according to the LAFD Foundation website, “leaving just 3% to cover all other life-safety costs.”

Entries for the contest—which is “easy and free”—will be accepted through Wednesday, April 24, at 8 p.m. Those who want to enter can visit supportlafd.org to upload a photo of the dog with a brief description of what makes them a hero.

“Friends, family and members of the community can vote an unlimited number of times for their favorite pets,” read a story published by LAFD Foundation. Votes are $1.

A panel of judges, including LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, Lori Greiner of “Shark Tank” and more, will evaluate the top 10 contestants and select the winning dog on Friday, April 26.

“Dogs have several important roles across the department, from the Canine Therapy Program to the Arson Counter-Terrorism Section and Urban Search and Rescue teams,” the story read. “All proceeds from Howling Heroes will benefit these canine programs and others that help our firefighters create more resilient communities.”

This year’s Howling Hero will take over for Sampson El Calafate, the 2023 winner—a therapy dog and sheepadoodle entered by Amy Yee.

“It changed our lives completely,” Yee said of Sampson’s contest win in the story. Some of the events they were able to attend as LAFD’s official mascot included a Chinese New Year parade in Chintatown, LAFD’s Valor Awards at Dodger Stadium, and carnivals and festivals.

“While Sampson loves all the events and crowds, his favorite place to be is at local LAFD fire stations with his favorite firefighters,” according to the story. “Over Halloween, Sampson helped pass out candy at a station.”

Sampson has visited stations as far north as Sunland and as far south as San Pedro with his family, with a goal of one day visiting every LAFD station in the city.

This year’s first-place winner will take home an LAFD gift basket for the owner and winning pup, an opportunity to be featured in a KTLA News segment, recognition on LAFD and LAFD Foundation social media platforms, invitations to appear at LAFD events throughout the year, and a pet portrait photography session by Charlie Nunn Photography and custom framed print.

Second- and third-place winners will also take home an LAFD apparel gift basket.

Villa Aurora to Present ‘Artist Talk’ With Janet Sternburg

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Villa Aurora

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Villa Aurora will present Artist Talk: Janet Sternburg in Conversation with Lorenz Kienzle on Thursday, April 25, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“In a conversation with Villa Aurora Fellow Lorenz Kienzle, author and photographer Janet Sternburg will present her newest publication “‘LOOKING AT MEXICO / Mexico Looks Back,’” read a synopsis of the event.

The two are slated to “discuss the exploration of unfamiliar territories through photography and an awareness of foreignness juxtaposed with the ‘assumption of ownership foreigners can bring to adopted places.’”

“In the book’s introduction, Sternburg explains how, having no high-quality camera, she took her first photographs in Mexico, more than 20 years ago, using a simple, ‘disposable,’ single-use camera, and how this led everything in the frame, including reflections, to appear in a single ‘interpenetrating’ plane,” read the Villa Aurora website. “For Sternburg, this was an innovation. Many of the photos here are imbued with a similar planar elision, often to breathtaking effect.”

Sternburg captured people and places around her adopted home of San Miguel de Allende, in Guanajuato, Mexico, as well as Mexico City and Mérida, with an iPhone 10, without manipulation.

Sternburg is a writer of memoirs, essays, poetry and plays, and also a fine art photographer. Kienzle studied photography in Rome and Berlin. He is a Villa Aurora Fellow of the Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Berlin.

General admission is free, and tickets can be reserved via Eventbrite.

“Villa Aurora maintains and cultivates the historic landmark home of exiled German-Jewish writer Lion Feuchtwanger and his wife Marta as a residence for an international body of artists,” read a bio provided by Villa Aurora. “We are a transatlantic bridge-builder, promoting intercultural exchange and enabling dialogue between the arts community in Los Angeles and our resident artists.”

There is a variety of arts and cultural programming that takes place at Villa Aurora throughout the year, including public lectures, concerts, screenings, performances and more.

The event will take place at Villa Aurora, located at 520 Paseo Miramar in Pacific Palisades.

Chamber Music Palisades to Conclude 27th Season

By
Sarah Shmerling
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A previous Chamber Music Palisades concert
Photo courtesy of Chamber Music Palisades

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Chamber Music Palisades will finish its 27th season with a concert on Wednesday, April 24, beginning at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Parish.

“Our program comes from around the world, with music by American, German, French, Italian and Romanian composers,” read a statement from Chamber Music Palisades ahead of the concert. “The adaptability and skill of our musicians will be on display in different configurations, featuring piano four hands, trios, woodwind quintet and piano sextets.”

Musicians set to perform include Bernadene Blaha (piano), Kevin Fitz-Gerald (piano), Susan Greenberg (flute), Jonathan Davis (oboe), Sergio Coelho (clarinet), Judith Farmer (bassoon) and Amy Jo Rhine (horn). The evening will be hosted by Alan Chapman.

“Enjoy an evening of varied chamber music with talented players from Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Symphony and Santa Monica Symphony,” read the statement.

The program includes Theodor Blumer “Sextet, op. 45,” Antonín Dvořák “Slavonic Dances,” Gernot Wolfgang “Ghost Train,” Gioachino Rossini “Overture to Barber of Seville,” György Sándor Ligeti “Musica Ricercata” and “Six Bagatelles,” Emmanuel Chabrier “España,” and Manuel de Falla “Ritual Fire Dance.”

Tickets for the concert—which is sponsored by the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust—are available for $35. Students with current ID can attend for free.

St. Matthew’s Parish is located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue.

Palisadian ‘Luxury Headwear Company’ to Appear on ‘Shark Tank’

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Disney/Christopher Willard

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Those who tune into “Shark Tank” on Friday, April 19, may see a familiar face.

The episode is set to feature luxury headwear company HOOD, which was founded by Palisadian Max Nelson.

“HOOD was founded in 2018 with the intent of not just making another hat but creating a distinguished category in fashion that did not exist prior,” read a statement ahead of the show. “HOOD presents elevated, timeless headwear that is meticulously crafted to create an unmatched fit, feel and finish.”

Nelson lives in El Medio Bluffs with his wife, Carly, and two children, Rivers and Violet.

“It was important for me to start HOOD because I wanted headwear customers to have more elevated options as far as materials and the customization experience went,” he said to the Palisadian-Post. “I also wanted to empower people to tell their story from a geographical point of view through customization.”

The collection is available in a range of materials, including merino wool, wale corduroy, velvet, cashmere, Japanese twill, denim and canvas. A variety of style options is available as well, like snapback, snapback curved, fitted, dad hat and five panel.

“With more than 30 colors and a variety of fonts,” the statement continued, “HOOD has a style for everyone.”

But, according to the statement, “there is so much more to HOOD than just flawless construction.”

“HOOD represents stick ball games at the schoolyard, runs on the blacktop at dusk and mix tapes on the front porch on a summer night,” the statement read. “In other words, HOOD encompasses the essence of every neighborhood’s culture, something the brand believes is an instrumental piece to understanding who we are and the foundation of the brand.”

There are several different collections to shop from, including college and professional sports, U.S. and international cities (including the Palisades), ski spots, musicians, and more. There is also a hat customizer, so customers can “create the lid that best represents” them.

HOOD also donates 5% of sales to The Anti-Recidivism Coalition, which is working to “end mass incarceration in California.”

“Shark Tank,” which is on its 15th season, is an American business reality television series, where entrepreneurs present about their companies to a panel of venture capitalists who decide whether or not to invest.

“‘Shark Tank’ was a very enjoyable experience,” Nelson said. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Nelson’s episode is set to air on ABC from 8 to 9 p.m. on April 19.

‘Santa Baby’ Composer Receives Webby Award Nomination

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Tamar Springer

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Longtime Palisadian and composer Philip Springer has been nominated for a Webby Award—“the internet’s highest honor”—for Best Individual Performance for his rendition of “Moonlight Sonata.”

The performance is now up for two awards: The Webby Award (selected by the Academy) and The Webby People’s Voice Award (which is voted on by the public).

“The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the internet,” read its website. “Established in 1996 during the Web’s infancy, The Webbys is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS)—a 3,000-plus member judging body.”

Other nominated works in the category include “The Daily Show | Desi Lydic Foxsplains: Trump’s Indictment,” “EDEKA ‘Merry Easter,’” “Uber One | Uber Eats ‘Best Friends’” and “Olivia Rodrigo – vampire (live piano performance).”

With a career spanning more than seven decades, Springer, who will turn 98 soon, has been credited for over 500 works, including “Santa Baby.”

Voting will remain open through Thursday, April 18, at 11:59 p.m.

All Webby and Webby People’s Voice Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 23, and then honored at the 28th annual Webby Awards—hosted by Amber Ruffin on Monday, May 13.

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