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PPTFH Seeks Additional Volunteers for Annual Homeless Count

By
Lily Tinoco
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The 2023 count
Photo by Rich Schmitt

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Volunteers are needed in Pacific Palisades to count the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and their location in the community as part of the annual Point in Time Homeless Count, which will take place on Wednesday, January 24.

The count is scheduled for the early morning, beginning at 5 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church—located at 880 Toyopa Drive.

The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is a three-day census of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Palisades first participated in the count in 2015 and has assisted annually since, with the leadership of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness.

The 2023 count took place from January 24 to 26 across LA County. LAHSA reported a number of changes were implemented “to improve the count,” including a new counting app, hiring a demographer and two data scientists, simplifying volunteer training, and adding accountability measures.

An estimated 75,518 people were found to be experiencing homelessness in LA County on any given night, a 9% increase from 2022. An estimated 46,260 individuals were found to be experiencing homelessness citywide, a 10% increase from 2022.

LAHSA described the count as “a snapshot of homelessness at the regional level,” going through extensive quality control to provide a countywide view, not a neighborhood-level survey.

The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is currently seeking 50 volunteers to help in the Palisades.

“This count provides crucial data and cannot be conducted without adequate help,” according to an announcement.

For more information or to sign up, visit theycountwillyou.org/palisades.

‘Beau Jest’ Opens at Pierson Playhouse

By
Sarah Shmerling
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A scene from "Beau Jest" at Pierson Playhouse
Photo by Sarah Shmerling

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Theatre Palisades opened its six-week run of “Beau Jest” at Pierson Playhouse beginning Friday, January 12.

“Sarah Goldman is worried that her Jewish parents will not be accepting of her WASP boyfriend, so she hires an actor to pose as a Jewish doctor she’s dating,” according to a synopsis provided by Theatre Palisades. “However, he turns out not to be Jewish either, but is so convincing in a role that he could just win over her parents … and quite possibly Sarah as well.”

The show is directed by Jonathan Fahn and produced by Martha Hunter. The cast features Jasmine Haver as Sarah Goldman, as well as James Jobs as her brother Joel, Laura Goldstein as her mother Miriam and Lou Saliba as her father Abe. Thomas McDonough plays her boyfriend, Chris, while Jeff Coppage plays her hired boyfriend Bob/David.

Performances run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m., through February 18 at Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Tickets are $22 for general admission, and $20 for students and seniors.

A full review of the show is slated to appear in the January 25 print edition of the Palisadian-Post. (Not-so-spoiler alert: The show is very funny.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit theatrepalisades.com.

Palisades Recreation Center to Host Volleyball Dedication

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Courtesy of Palisades Park Advisory Board

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Palisades Recreation Center and the Park Advisory Board are hosting a volleyball dedication celebration—honoring the Toppel family—on Thursday, January 18, beginning at 6 p.m.

“Join us to thank [Haldis Toppel and the Toppel family] for their generous donation to make volleyball possible at the rec center,” read a flyer ahead of the event.

Haldis has been a longtime member of Pacific Palisades Community Council and Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association. Her late husband, Kurt, led both boards before he died in February 2018.

Kurt was instrumental in raising almost $2 million and protecting an additional $1 million in Prop A funds to assure the construction of a new gym in Palisades Recreation Center. For this effort he was honored with the Pacific Palisades Citizen of the Year award and the Sparkplug Award.

Their son, Curt, grew up in Marquez Knolls and attended St. Matthew’s before embarking on a prep career at Loyola High School. Playing volleyball at Stanford he led the country as a freshman in kills per game, and was third as a sophomore and fifth as a junior. In 2001 he played on the USA’s World University Games squad that won a gold medal in Beijing, China, and in the summer of 2002, he trained with the U.S. National Team.

Palisades Recreation Center Senior Facility Director Jasmine Dowlatshahi will present a plaque to the Toppel family, and refreshments will be provided by the Park Advisory Board.

The 2024 Spring season at Palisades Recreation Center includes girls minor (born in 2013-14) and girls major (born in 2011-12) volleyball leagues. Evaluations are March 12 and 14, with minors at 6:30 p.m. and majors at 7:30 p.m.

RSVPs for the dedication can be sent to palisadespab@gmail.com. Palisades Recreation Center is located at 851 Alma Real Drive.

Music Guild, CMP Continue Seasons With January Concerts

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Yale Whiffenpoofs
Photo courtesy of Music Guild

By SARAH SHMERLING and LILY TINOCO

Two Pacific Palisades institutions will continue their respective seasons with concerts in the next week: St. Matthew’s Music Guild will host a program that features the Yale Whiffenpoofs on Friday, January 19, followed by Chamber Music Palisades on Wednesday, January 24.

St. Matthew’s Music Guild will continue its 39th season on Friday, January 19, with a concert beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“Every year, 14 senior Yale students are selected to be in the Whiffenpoofs, the world’s oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group,” according to a press release. “Founded in 1909, the ‘Whiffs’ began as a senior quartet that met for weekly concerts at Mory’s Temple Bar, the famous Yale tavern. Today, the group has become one of Yale’s most celebrated traditions, with over a century of musical excellence.”

Their performances feature a mixture of Yale tunes, jazz standards and other hits from various decades, according to Music Guild. The concert will take place at St. Matthew’s Church, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue.

Tickets are $35 for general admission, $10 for students (available at the door only) and free for attendees under 16. They are available through musicguildonline.org.

Photo courtesy of CMP

Chamber Music Palisades will host the next concert in its 27th season, featuring harp, violin, viola and flute, on Wednesday, January 24, in the sanctuary of St. Matthew’s.

The concert will feature professional performers from Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the studios, showcasing works by Mozart, Prokofiev, Bach, del Aguila and a world premiere by local composer Todd Mason, according to a press release.

“Enjoy the sounds of our extraordinary performers: Cristina Montes Mateo, world-renowned harpist and frequent soloist with major orchestras; Maya Magub, British violinist who has performed in the world’s greatest concert halls and played on numerous movies and records,” CMP wrote, “Rob Brophy, violist with the New Hollywood String quartet and member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; and Susan Greenberg, long-time flutist at Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, principal flute at Santa Monica Symphony, and president and artistic director of Chamber Music Palisades.”

Todd Mason will also present commentary on “Magical,” his world-premiere, CMP-commissioned piece for flute, viola and harp, and KUSC host and CMP associate Alan Chapman will provide program notes.

Tickets will be available for $35 online or at the door at St. Matthew’s. Full-time students will be admitted free of charge with an ID. For more information, visit cmpalisades.org.

Pacific Palisades Art Association to Present Artist Talk

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of PPAA

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Pacific Palisades Art Association will host guest speaker Teresa Bernadette on Tuesday, January 23, beginning at 6 p.m. at Palisades Branch Library for an artist talk.

“Teresa Bernadette will present a selection of drawing, painting and sculpture at an artist talk at the library,” according to PPAA. “A multidisciplinary local artist, Teresa’s work looks to the ancient, archaic and arcane as tools of innovative storytelling. Experimenting across media, scale and form, they wrestle with ephemerality, interrogating the bittersweetness of time and transformation.”

Bernadette’s work has appeared in local group shows, as well as publications, according to PPAA. Four of Bernadette’s pieces will appear in the Screenland 5K tribute to Motion Picture Magic on Sunday, March 10, in Culver City.

“Follow the yellow brick road and the iconic steps of legendary stars and directors along the Heart of Screenland’s 100 Points of Motion Picture Magic,” read the website for the 5K. “Families are in for an exciting treat, Oscar Sunday, March 10, as they play a part in movie- and TV-themed experiences, and celebrate the centennials of MGM Studios, Culver Hotel and other motion picture landmarks. Guests will move through cinematic magic, visiting exotic places in adventures that could take them into outer space or under the sea, and into a springtime of surprises.”

For more information, visit runsignup.com/Race/Screenland5K/Page/EventInfo.

Palisades Branch Library to Host Series of Bridge Games

By
Lily Tinoco
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By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

This January, Palisades Branch Library is launching “Bridge for Beginners” and “Duplicate Bridge,” two new monthly series of games.

Bridge for Beginners welcomes those just starting out playing bridge to the library to learn from a “skilled player” who will be volunteering their time to teach others how to play the game. The first session of Bridge for Beginners will take place on Friday, January 26, at 1 p.m.

Bridge was described as a card game using a standard, 52-card deck, enjoyed by players of all ages.

“If you’ve always wanted to learn bridge, this is your chance,” according to the library. “Just come on by.”

The first session of the Duplicate Bridge series will take place on Friday, January 19, from 12:45 to 3 p.m. Space is limited and attendees are asked to RSVP by emailing franblaustein@gmail.com.

Duplicate Bridge is a form of the game, but the set of bridge deals are played by different competitors.

“The organizer has requested that people come with partners, but if you don’t have one, please come anyway,” according to the library. “There may be other people who don’t have partners with whom you can partner for the afternoon.”

All events take place at Palisades Branch Library, located at 861 Alma Real Drive.

Pali High Football Players Earn All-City Honors

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Safety Matthew Spoonamore earned All-League and All-City First First Team honors after leading Palisades to the league title.
Photos by Steve Galluzzo

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

After leading the Palisades Charter High School football team to the Western League title and the Open Division playoffs, eight Dolphins have been named to the All-City Team.

Senior end Evan Nehrenberg was selected the Defensive Line Most Valuable Player, having recorded 46 tackles (21 for losses) and a team-best 10.5 sacks in the eight games he played.

Teammates joining Nehrenberg on the Defensive First Team are senior safety and cornerback Matthew Spoonamore (49 tackles, three interceptions, two pass deflections and one fumble recovery) and senior punter Caden Robertson (35.6-yard average). Making the Second Team are senior safety Saxon Wald (56 tackles) and junior linebacker Jake Treibatch (a team-best 60 tackles and 2.5 sacks).

Senior Maynor Morales of City champion Birmingham is the Defensive MVP.

Center Alfonso Orozco was named Western League Offensive Lineman of the Year and made the All-City Offensive First Team.

Three Pali High players earned Offensive First Team recognition: junior tailback Teralle Watson (who won the Joe Spector trophy as Varsity MVP at the team banquet in December 2023 after pacing the Dolphins with 741 yards rushing, 223 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns); senior center Alfonso Orozco; and senior wide receiver Braydon Sanford, who led the squad with 23 catches for 418 yards and seven touchdowns.

Birmingham wide receiver Peyton Waters is the Open Division Player of the Year for the second straight season. Patriots quarterback Kingston Tisdell is the Offensive MVP and Abdoni Ubeda is the Offensive Lineman of the Year. Birmingham’s Jim Rose was voted Coach of the Year.

“I’m so proud of the Palisades High football players who were named All-League and All-City,” Dolphins first-year coach Dylen Smith said on social media. “Your hard work and dedication has paid off.”

Highlighting the All-Western League First Team are Orozco and Nehrenberg, who were chosen Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year, respectively. Smith got picked Coach of the Year.

Making the All-League Offensive First Team were Watson and Sanford and earning Defensive First Team accolades were Treibatch, Spoonamore and Wald. Venice receiver/cornerback Amir Smith was chosen MVP. 

Mambas Advance to AYSO Area Finals

By
Steve Galluzzo
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The Mambas, a local 12U Boys AYSO squad, finished the season 14-1 after advancing to the Area 1-P championship game.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Pynes

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The AYSO Area 1-P League Champions Tournament consisting of teams representing Culver City, West LA, South LA, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, Los Feliz and Hollywood was held last weekend, January 13 and 14, at Belmar Park in Santa Monica.

The Mambas, a local Boys 12U squad representing Region 69, won the league title in December and continued their winning ways in the Area playoffs, advancing all the way to the final game after two thrilling wins. Head coach Jordan Pynes and assistant Steve Gilison guided the soccer team to a 14-1 overall record in one of the best runs by a Palisades-based AYSO team in over 30 years.

The Mambas’ roster consisted of 11 talented players: Ryan Bonakdar, Oliver Darvish, Max Gerber, Leo Gilison, Kai Holyoak, Jack McCutchen, Linken Merrill, Dominic Petersen, Asher Pynes, Josiah Vazales and Noah Zarnegin.

In the first game on Saturday, the Mambas beat Santa Monica, 5-4, on penalty kicks after the sides tied 2-2 through regulation and overtime. Bonakdar converted the winning kick in the shootout.

The semifinals on Sunday saw the locals beat West LA, 5-2. The championship game that evening was a tense struggle as Gerber scored with 10 seconds left in regulation to pull the Mambas even at 2-2 with Los Feliz and force overtime. Neither team scored in the extra session, and Los Feliz prevailed, 5-4, in the shootout to hand the Mambas their only defeat in a remarkable season.

Justin Howard Powers OSU Volleyball

By
Steve Galluzzo
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By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor 

Pacific Palisades native and former Palisades Charter High School standout Justin Howard is off to a fast start for the Ohio State men’s volleyball squad.

On January 9, the Buckeyes’ 6-foot-6 redshirt senior middle blocker was selected the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Defensive Player of the Week—the first of the 2024 season—by the league office.

Howard was deserving of the recognition after pacing the fourth-ranked Buckeyes with nine blocks in the team’s first two matches: victories over North Greenville and Daemen College in Columbus.

Since then, Ohio State has picked up two more home wins, beating St. Francis in four sets and UC San Diego in five sets. Through four matches, Howard has recorded 32 kills and 13 blocks.

The son of David and Nicole Howard, Justin won three City titles at Pali High, and he captained both the Dolphins and his Pac6 Volleyball Club squad to championships in 2019. He also led Pac6 VC to a third-place finish in the 2018 Junior Nationals.

Howard powered the Southern California Volleyball Association to its first USAV High Performance national title in 2018, delivering the match-winning ace to clinch his team’s five-set semifinal victory. His brother, Spencer, was a forward on the Northwestern University men’s soccer team, and his uncle, Carl Borack, was a fencer in the Summer Olympics in 1972 in Munich.

A journalism major, Howard was the 2023 recipient of the Ken Dunlap Award, an annual honor that is given to a player who exhibits the character of the program’s very first men’s volleyball coach Ken Dunlap (1968-71) after whom the award is named. Howard was the third winner and was chosen by the coaches, players and support staff last fall.

A three-time MIVA Academic All-Conference and OSU Scholar Athlete honoree, Howard played in 31 matches and 114 sets as a redshirt junior last season, setting career highs in kills (142), assists (11), digs (44), total blocks (87) and points (190).

As a redshirt sophomore in 2022 he missed most of the season due to injury, but hit .361 with 40 kills in 10 matches. In 2021 he saw action in 40 sets, hitting .436 with 32 kills on 61 swings while recording 31 blocks. He practiced with the team in 2020 as a redshirt.

Ohio State takes on No. 1 UCLA (a roster that includes Palisadians Cooper Robinson and Spencer Graves) and No. 13 USC (led by Palisadian Dillon Klein) this weekend in the First Point Federation Cup Austin, Texas.

Pali High Hoops Teams Net League Wins

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Jack Levey looks for a teammate to pass to during January 12's 51-42 Western League victory over visiting Fairfax.
Photos by Steve Galluzzo

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Western League play resumed last week, and the Palisades Charter High School boys basketball team started the new year with back-to-back victories that boosted the Dolphins’ confidence after having endured a rough December in which they lost seven of nine games.

On January 10, Palisades held off visiting LACES, 63-60, thanks to Mikal Sims Dickerson, who scored the last of his 14 points on a layup off an inbounds pass with 10 seconds left to break a 60-60 tie with 10.2 seconds left. After Ryan Conner missed a go-ahead three-pointer for the Unicorns, Mo Butler was fouled with .5 seconds left and made the second of two foul shots to provide the final margin.

The highlight of the game was an alley-oop pass from Butler to Aten Hassan for a dunk that gave the Dolphins a 57-52 lead with 2:15 left. LACES was playing without two starters, including injured top scorer Donovan Cornelius.

Wyatt Junger and Hassan each had nine points, Jordan Farhadian had eight, and Butler, Lukas Haas, and Jack Levey each finished with six for the Dolphins, who nearly let a double-digit lead slip away in the last six minutes. Joshua Sangster scored 24 for LACES.

Two nights later the boys were back in action against visiting Fairfax, and this time it was the Dolphins who trailed for most of the contest before outscoring the Lions, 17-3, in the fourth quarter to prevail, 51-42. Farhadian scored 12 points, Hassan had 10, Butler had nine, Sims Dickerson had eight and Eli Levi added six as Palisades improved to 3-2 in league. Jaden Depina led the Lions with 17 points.

Lukas Haas defends LACES guard Yasin Sharif in the January 10 Western League game. Palisades prevailed, 63-60.

On Saturday, January 13, Palisades took on highly ranked Village Christian at Fairfax High and lost, 93-58. On Monday, January 15, the Dolphins beat Antelope Valley, 75-40, in the MLK Day Classic at Grant High to improve to 5-12. They wrapped up the first round of league Wednesday, January 17, at Hamilton and start the second half Friday night, January 19, at Westchester before returning home for an intersectional duel with Agoura on Saturday afternoon, January 20.

Meanwhile, the Pali High girls rallied late to edge LACES, 53-50, thanks to 15 points and 15 rebounds by Aniah Bradley. Jennica Essapour had nine points and Riley Oku added eight. On January 12, the girls won, 61-48, at Fairfax paced by Elly Tierney, who scored 16 points.

On Saturday, January 13, the Dolphins traveled south to face Redondo Union and had no answer for Sea Hawks center Ella Zimmerman, who recorded a career-high 38 points on 12 of 16 shooting from the field, and added 13 rebounds, five steals, three assists and a block. The University of Portland-commit scored 20 of her team’s 29 points in the first half. Alyssa Ramirez had eight to lead Palisades.

This a crucial week for the Dolphins (13-7), who host back-to-back games versus league frontrunners Hamilton and Westchester with a chance to climb to the top of the standings.

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