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.”
Greet Your Kids Like You’re a Dog
Photo courtesy Jimmy Dunne/Shutterstock
As a young dad, I was forever hunting for that magic manual with all the answers on “how to raise a kid.”
Never found that book.
My parents never found it either.
As a dad, sometimes you look back at things you wish you could take another swing at.
Here’s one on my list.
I learned it from watching all the fabulous dogs we’ve been so lucky to have in our lives.
……………
You know how when you walk in the door, and your dogs run up and jump all over you? Just go absolutely looney tunes? Their tails spin around like helicopters?
And they try so hard to say something like, “Aaaaarrrrhhhrr. Ouuurrrrhhhhrrr.” Trying their best to say, “I just love you and missed you so, so, so very much that I can’t see straight.”
I think they’re on to something.
Moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, here’s an idea.
When you see your kids or your grandkids …
Do that.
Every time.
Whether they’re 2 months—or 32.
Give it to ’em with everything you’ve got.
Every noise, every hug, every everything that tells ’em they’re the bee’s knees.
That they bring you so much crazy joy.
That whatever wonderful is, that’s what they are.
And, in return, I think we all get a door prize.
A little glimpse of that kid in all of us again.
Gotta go.
I think my grandkid just walked in our front door.
“Auurrrrrrhhh. Ouwwwoooohhh!”
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 Friends of the Palisades Branch Library has postponed its first parking lot book sale since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale was originally slated for this weekend, Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. but was postponed due to forecasted rain.
“The beloved tradition is back,” read a statement about the sale. “All books have been generously donated by our wonderful community and include a mix of contemporary fiction, nonfiction, art books, cookbooks, special interest, children’s and young adult books.”
All books are in “excellent” condition. Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted as forms of payment.
“Proceeds help the Friends continue to supplement library materials, host speaker programs and provide special initiatives for youth creative writing and art,” the statement concluded.
Additional information can be found at friendsofpalilibrary.org.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Rotary Raffle | Pacific Palisades
Photo courtesy of Marie Tran
Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win dinner with Palisades High School graduate and head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr, while supplies last.
There will be a maximum of 200 tickets sold for $100 each, which will serve as a fundraiser for the Rotary to support its programming, as well as Palisades-Malibu YMCA. Proceeds will be split evenly between the two.
Steve’s mother Anne will do the drawing on August 12, and then dinner will take place at a mutually agreeable date, time and place. Tickets are available for purchase at Palisades-Malibu YMCA, at 821 Via De La Paz.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Pali Runway Auction Gala | Pali High
The Pali Runway Auction Gala—“Pali Runway: Where Style Makes Waves”—will take place at a private residence in Brentwood on April 13 from 6 to 10:30 p.m.
“For the first time in Pali history, our annual auction is taking on a fabulous new twist with a spectacular Fashion Show, inspired by our beloved Dolphin mascot,” read the event website. “The Pali High Booster Club invites you to join the PCHS community on April 13 as we celebrate and support our students and staff. All proceeds from the event will support the students and programs at Pali High.”
Community members have several ways to support the event, including buying tickets for the gala, buying raffle tickets or bidding on auction items. The Booster Club has a goal of raising $80,000.
For more information, visit go.palihigh.org/auction.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Hank’s Reopens | Palisades Village
Palisades Village eatery Hank’s has reopened with a “revitalized interior and a tantalizing new menu of American Bistro classics,” read an email announcement from Caruso.
“Building on his distinguished legacy with Caruso, Tancredi DeLuca (Angelini Ristorante & Bar, Trattoria Amici, Ombra Wine Bar, EMILIA) and his esteemed team bring a fresh perspective to Hank’s,” the statement continued. “The revamped interior radiates a sense of modern elegance, while the menu showcases a delectable array of beloved American favorites using the finest local ingredients.”
SMC’s Malibu Campus Offers High School Concurrent Enrollment and Emeritus Programming for Palisadians
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
After two decades in the making, Santa Monica College’s satellite Malibu Campus on Civic Center Way recently celebrated its first anniversary—and offers several educational options for Palisadian students and lifelong learners.
“The three-acre campus, SMC’s first in Malibu, includes a two-story educational building with a dedicated art studio and a classroom for science; a multipurpose physical activity space, which will double as an emergency operations center, should the need arise; a 100-seat lecture hall with raked seating; a computer lab; and two general education classrooms,” read a press release from SMC. “Designed by QDG Architecture with numerous sustainability features, the campus fulfills the city’s ‘dark skies’ standards. A one-story wing of the campus will house a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s substation, marking the first time since the early 1990s that Malibu has had a police substation within city limits.”
The campus opened its doors on February 13, 2023—the first day of the Spring 2023 semester—and celebrated with a ribbon cutting and open house in April. SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery said at the time that it took “tremendous teamwork to make SMC Malibu a reality.”
There are four types of classes offered by SMC at the Malibu Campus: credit (can be used toward an associate degree or transfer to a four-year college or university), noncredit (short-term vocational and workforce preparation courses and certificates), emeritus (noncredit and adult education courses, offered for free, designed for older adults) and community education (class, seminars and workshops available at a low cost).
SMC Associate Dean for Malibu Alice Meyering has been with Santa Monica College since December 2007, starting in the president/superintendent’s office, working with community relations and public programs. She then oversaw the school’s community education program (fee-based, not-for-credit programming) before joining the Malibu Campus as associate dean.
When describing her favorite aspects of the Malibu Campus, Meyering said she likes that it is spacious, yet intimate.
“This is the reaction I get from all the students too, people are just so happy when they come into the building,” Meyering said. “They feel like they have space to breathe … We really try to do our best to give our students and our faculty the best service.”
Some of the credit classes that were available during Spring 2024 at the Malibu Campus were Western Art History I, Beginning Oil Painting, Stellar Astronomy with Laboratory, Introduction to Business and General Psychology.
One of the ways that high school students in Pacific Palisades can prepare and gain experience for college is by taking courses at SMC’s Malibu Campus during “tuition-free Summer concurrent enrollment.”
“How great is it for high school students to get college credits before they even graduate high school?” Meyering said. “And it’s free to them. They only have to pay for books, so that is very, very minimal. I think it’s a great deal.”
Palisades Branch Library will host a seminar for teenagers about the high school concurrent program on Wednesday, April 24, from 4:30 to 5 p.m. in the Community Room.
The campus will offer a “full lineup of interesting and fun for-credit classes” in Summer 2024—and the classes are “completely tuition-free” for California residents. The only requirements are having completed the eighth grade, and approval from a parent, school counselor and principal.
This summer, the Malibu Campus will offer several for-credit courses, including business, psychology and photo, which Meyering described as a “popular class.”
“Cameras are free for students who want to take the class, so they don’t have to worry about buying a camera,” Meyering said. “They can check out a camera from the department.”
Priority enrollment for the courses opened on March 25 and extends to April 30, while general enrollment is set to begin May 7. The classes will all begin the week of June 17.
When it comes to emeritus courses—designed for learners aged 50-plus—the Malibu Campus offered Drawing, Painting, Poetry and Fiction, Autobiography, and Current Events as part of its Spring 2024 programming.
SMC’s main campus is located at 1900 Pico Boulevard—described as “the central location for most of Santa Monica College’s classes and services.” Most satellite campuses, including Malibu, are linked by a free shuttle bus.
Additional satellite sites include Airport Campus near the Santa Monica Airport, Bundy Campus (the largest satellite campus), Center for Media and Design (housing the Design Technology Department, as well as the college’s only bachelor degree program: Interaction Design), Emeritus Campus (designed for older adults) and Performing Arts Center (a complex that includes The Broad Stage).
SMC previously offered educational options in Malibu, dating back to the 1970s and early 1980s, according to the press release, recently through the Malibu Senior Center in City hall as part of the college’s Emeritus Program and evening credit courses at Webster Elementary School.
Those looking for additional information can reach out to Santa Monica’s Malibu Campus directly, or keep an eye on the website for additional informational webinars and seminars.
“We’re very happy and feel very fortunate to be here to serve this community,” Meyering concluded. “We want everyone to know that we want everyone to come here, and that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to help.”
After four years in the neighborhood—and a “head-to-toe makeover”—actor Max Greenfield, well known for his role in “New Girl,” and wife Tess Sanchez, a casting director, have sold their Castellammare home for just over $3 million.
The couple originally purchased the home, which is located steps away from the beach, for $1.68 million, Variety reported at the time. In a 2022 interview, Sanchez told Sunset magazine that she was inspired to complete the remodel during the COVID-19 pandemic, after being laid off in the beginning of 2020 and left with “idle time.”
The home hit the market in early March, according to Robb Report, when it was listed for $2,975,000. It went into escrow by mid-March, before being listed as sold on April 2.
The home offers “stunning ocean and mountain views,” according to the listing. It features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, across 1,907 square feet of living space.
Described as a “mid-century beach cottage” and an “architectural gem,” the home is “flooded” with natural light from “ample windows and sliding glass doors,” which lead to wrap-around decks.
A main living level includes high ceilings, oak hardwood floors, an over-sized fireplace, chef’s kitchen with an eat-in bar, and a primary suite and en-suite bathroom.
Located downstairs are two “well-appointed” guest bedrooms, which includes a “perfect beach house bunk room,” as well as an additional guest or media room, which share a bathroom and laundry room.
“With easy access to the beach below from the pedestrian bridge over PCH, this special property is ideally located between the best of Malibu, Santa Monica and the Palisades,” the listing concluded.
Sanchez and Greenfield maintain a primary residence in Hancock Park, according to Robb Report, which they purchased in 2014.
Greenfield, who has recurring roles in “Veronica Mars” and “Ugly Betty,” received an Emmy nomination for his role of Schmidt in “New Girl.”
One evening, my friend and I decided we wanted Chinese food for dinner, so we went to the Lotus on 4th and Wilshire, which I have previously reviewed favorably. We arrived there to find it had closed—so much for Chinese food near the ocean. I heard a rumor recently that it will reopen as a Korean steak house. That will be nice—stay tuned.
We were pretty hungry, so we saw a new restaurant across the street—Osteria Del Fornaio—and decided to go there. I had seen it for a while but hadn’t tried it yet.
We were pleasantly surprised. The room was light and airy with high ceilings, and tables around a long table where large groups could sit (and did while we were there) with good spacing between the tables.
It reminded me a bit of Basque restaurants where single people sat at a large table and mingled with others. Did you know there used to be a Basque restaurant in Santa Monica?
In any event, this is a beautiful restaurant. There are two patios outside: one covered and one open air. This will be a terrific venue if Santa Monica ever heats up.
I saw some good-looking pizza coming out of the open view kitchen, but we decided on pasta. Both pasta dishes were excellent, and we were too full for dessert.
The menu was pretty standard for Santa Monica Italian restaurants, but there is a chef’s special menu each week. There are so many Italian restaurants in Santa Monica that it’s hard to find one that has something special that makes it worth going to. When I say something special or different, I mean something like the duck ragu pasta I had at Felix.
The food and service here is good, it has a nice setting, and the prices are middle of the road. They have an excellent drink menu, although the wine list is average.
If I find myself nearby one night when I’m hungry I’ll probably stop in, and perhaps have one of the very attractive courses on the menu, such as the Grilled Cauliflower, the Pollo ai Funghi ($34) or the Costata al Pepe (ribeye steak in brandy sauce $49).
All of these dishes look very good on the menu. But I might end up at one of the other 200 Italian restaurants in town.
Merv Hecht, like many Harvard Law School graduates, went into the wine business after law. In 1988, he began writing restaurant reviews and books. His latest book “The Instant Wine Connoisseur, 3rd edition” is available on Amazon. He currently works for several companies that source and distribute food and wine products internationally. Send comments to mervynhecht@yahoo.com.
St. Matthew’s Music Guild is set to continue its 39th season on Friday, April 19, with a concert beginning at 8 p.m.
The program will feature Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Principal Clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan, who is joining the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s to present Wolfgang Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto.”
“The spirit of Mozart bookends this sparkling program,” according to Music Guild’s website. “Beginning with Marianna Martinez’s sparkling ‘Sinfonia in C,’ we’ll continue with David Diamond’s brilliant ‘Concerto for Small Orchestra.’ A contemporary—and competitor—of Aaron Copland, the concerto is one of many works by Diamond making their long overdue appearances on American concert stages.”
Allakhverdyan has appeared as a soloist with orchestras across the world, including the United States, Canada, South Korea, Dubai, Armenia and Kazakhstan. He is also a winner of the Rimsky-Korsakov International Woodwind Competition, Hellam Concerto Competition, and the Tuesday Musical and the Oberlin Concerto competitions.
Allakhverdyan was appointed principal clarinet of Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2016, having previously been principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Allakhverdyan currently serves on the faculty at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and California State University, Fullerton.
St. Matthew’s Music Guild’s current season will come to a close on Friday, May 31, with its season finale.
“The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and Choir and Soloists of St. Matthew’s Parish conclude the 2023-24 season in grand style, with one of Mozart’s greatest choral works, the ‘Solemn Vespers,’” according to Music Guild. “Our season finale opens with Copland’s ‘Music for Movies.’ Drawn from his soundtracks for ‘The City,’ ‘Our Town,’ and ‘Of Mice and Men,’ the suite is a quintessential example of Copland’s ‘Americana’ style.”
St. Matthew’s Music Guild wrote that it was “thrilled” to feature Concertmaster YuEun Gemma Kim in Felix Mendelssohn’s “Concerto for Violin in D minor.”
The April 19 concert will take place at St. Matthew’s Church in Pacific Palisades, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. A pre-concert lecture will be offered by Music Guild President Tom Neenan, beginning at 7:10 p.m.
Tickets for the show are $45, and season passes for the remaining concerts are available for $165.
For tickets, season subscriptions or additional information, visit musicguildonline.org or call 310-573-7422.
Scouts from Troop 223 share their experience during Good Turn and Career trips.
Henry Mauch | Bruins Patrol Leader Troop 223
Photo courtesy of Henry Mauch
Helping people in need is one of the important values of Troop 223 and our specific patrol within the troop, the Bruins. For that reason, we decided to help a local cause in town for a Good Turn Trip.
We volunteered for the Hang Out Do Good organization. They run lunch drives here in the Palisades and deliver the lunches to the Hollywood Food Coalition every week. “Making the world more just” is their goal.
More or less, that is what the Bruins thrive to achieve on a daily basis. It sounded scoutly enough, so we decided to pursue this cause.
In all we made 70 homemade lunches with personalized messages with drawings on them. All we wanted to do was add a little hope to the lives of the recipients.
We even saw Pacific Palisades Community Council board member Beth Holden-Garland. She provided encouragement for what we were trying to accomplish.
Troop 223 and the Bruins patrol are happy to give back when we can. I mean, the scout slogan is “Do a good turn daily.”
Alexander Vari | Seminoles Patrol Leader Troop 223
Photo courtesy of Alexander Vari
The Seminoles Career Trip took place on Sunday, March 3. This is where my group of scouts gathered to learn about someone’s career.
The patrol met with Mr. Jim Cragg, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. We learned about military technology and LTC Cragg’s motivations for joining the Army. We also got the opportunity to hold and try on military backpacks, armor carriers, and even night vision goggles!
Overall, the trip was very educational and interesting, and the scouts really enjoyed it.
By now, most people have heard or read about the recent lawsuit settlement agreement made by the National Association of Realtors. This agreement will not take effect until July, and there is already much misinformation about the outcomes, even from federal government officials.
Some of the statements have implied that real estate transactions could become almost free, making homeownership more affordable, and consumers would be much better protected. This settlement would assure none of this.
The settlement forces real estate brokers to reduce their compensation. Not True. The settlement does not impose any limits on what Realtors can charge or on the services they provide. Realtor fees have always been negotiable, in line with the competitive nature of the industry. There is a wide variety of fees, levels of marketing, service and professional competence.
The settlement will, for the first time, prohibit sellers from paying a commission to a buyer’s agent. Not True. Sellers have never had an obligation to pay buyer agent compensation, even though it has long been a general practice in this country to incentivize buyer’s agents to ensure optimal exposure to a seller’s listing. The agreement does restrict properties with an offer of buyer agent compensation from being displayed on a Realtor-owned MLS. Still, the practice cannot be restricted in any other form of marketing. Sellers may still choose to pay buyer agent compensation to help differentiate their properties.
The settlement relieves sellers of any financial burden of buyer agent fees. Not True. Sellers may decide not to offer buyer agent compensation, but they still have various costs in the transaction. Buyers may choose to write an offer that includes a contingency requiring the seller to cover some of their costs or request other concessions.
The settlement will reduce the total costs of transaction services, leading to lower prices that, in turn, make home ownership more affordable. Not True. The market supply and demand always determine real estate values. Real estate transaction costs include many other charges besides the fees paid to agents involved. Even if the commission is reduced by 1% because of increased pressure on the brokerage community, it would have a relatively small impact on the cost of the home. Also, most likely, few sellers would then believe their home was worth less and gladly give that difference to the buyer. Homeownership is less affordable at the present time due to economic market forces, such as interest rates and very low inventory available in nearly all areas of the country, not because of typical brokerage commission structures.
The settlement benefits buyers, who will now be able to negotiate their fee for representation. Partially True.
Buyer representation has traditionally been compensated by sellers, which benefits buyers who are obtaining a loan because it allows them to finance that amount over time instead of coming up with additional cash to close the escrow. On the other hand—and especially for all-cash buyers—this settlement might somewhat lower the buyer’s costs. One difficulty with the settlement in this regard, though, is if a buyer obtains a VA loan, they are prohibited from any buyer-paid commissions.
The settlement results in significant restitution to consumers who were “harmed” by their real estate transactions in recent years. Not True. While the settlement fund is huge, the attorneys are requesting the court to give them over $80 million in fees. From what we are informed, with more than 20 million people in the “settlement class,” the projected payout per seller works out to between $10 to 13 each.
Because broker’s fees will now be negotiable, costs for real estate transactions will always be lower now and into the future. Not True. As pointed out in the previous clarifications, sellers may elect to offer buyer’s agents even higher compensation of one sort or another, depending on the real estate market. In a “buyer’s market” environment, which we have not experienced since 2010, there may be a variety of incentives sellers will choose to offer.
There will certainly be procedural changes in the industry due to the settlement and other lawsuits, but the fundamentals of residential real estate will essentially be much the same. It’s crucial to recognize and appreciate the complexities of real estate transactions, and the essential roles of Realtors in providing services to both sellers and buyers. The brokerage community has always been able to adapt to changes in the world, and no doubt, by this summer, it will have done so again.
Also, in defense of the real estate industry and profession, this is an unusual field in which the agents often must work long and at odd hours in the best interests of their clients—be they buyers or sellers—and without any compensation until they help people achieve their goals.
While it is true that the most successful agents do earn a great deal of income through their work, the average agent in this country has a taxable income of less than $50,000. They take on a great responsibility and assume the risks of managing their business, hoping to end the year with some compensation for their investment of time and money.
Michael Edlen has been a Realtor for more than 35 years, has experienced three major real estate cycles, and provides consultation services to people with questions regarding their real estate properties and investments. He may be contacted for a confidential discussion at 310-600-7422 or michael@edlenteam.com.
As of March 31, 67 single-family Palisades residences were listed in the Multiple Listing Service. The current level of inventory is flat over last year’s March 31 available inventory.
A total of 86 homes were sold in the Palisades between October 1, 2023, and March 31, which is a 28% decrease from the same period the previous year. Median sale prices ($4,297,000) were down 19% from the same period the previous year. The median list price is currently $7,995,000, and there are currently 22 escrows open in the Palisades.
The lowest-priced residence available is a three-bedroom, two-bath home on Sunset Boulevard, which is being offered at $1,995,000. 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 Highlands and south of the Village. The Riviera currently has the largest number (15) of homes for sale in the Palisades.
The lowest sale price for the first quarter of 2024 was a four-bedroom, three-bathroom on Las Lomas ($1.98 million). The highest sale ($20 million) so far this year was a six-bedroom, eight-bathroom on Alma Real in the Huntington.
There are 10 condominiums/townhouses on the market, which is 58% fewer than what was available at the end of the first quarter in 2023. They range from a one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset being offered at $625,000 to a new two-bedroom, two-bath on Sunset for $2 million.
Thirteen condominiums were sold in the Palisades since the start of the year (an 86% jump), ranging from a one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset, which sold for $500,000, to a two-bedroom, two-bath on Sunset, which sold for $1,565,000. Despite the increase in sales volume, the median sales price for condos at the end of the first quarter was just $1,175,000, which is down 35% from 2023 first quarter median sales prices.
There are currently five pieces of raw land available, ranging from $1,175,000 for a 7,286-square-foot lot on Castellammare to $14,995,000 for six acres off of Casale Road. There are no lots in escrow and only one land sale so far this year.
There are currently 89 available leases in the Palisades (a 24% increase over the start of 2023), starting at $2,600 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bath unit on Sunset and asking as high as $140,000 per month for a six-bedroom, 14-bath house on Pampas Ricas.
There were 70 Palisades leases done in the first quarter of 2024 (a 3% increase from last year’s first quarter), ranging from a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit on Sunset, which leased for $2,700 per month, to a seven-bedroom, eight-bath home on Spoleto, which leased for $55,000 per month. The current median lease price is approximately $9,775 per month (a 1% decrease over last year at this time).
Michael Edlen, an agent with Coldwell Banker, has been keeping statistics of Pacific Palisades housing prices for the last 38 years.
Will April showers bring May flowers? How about let’s wait and see. As this column is being written on Monday, April 1, the upcoming weekend, another storm with unsettled weather was heading this way.
I am happy to report a Palisadian-Post reader has told me that her citrus trees look better since she applied the fertilizer program I recommended. I would like more readers to try this fertilizer program on their citrus trees. I would walk anyone through the process if they want.
In April, if you plant tomatoes in the Southern California coastal region and in the San Fernando Valley at the same time, the tomatoes planted in the valley will have fruit ready to pick two to four weeks earlier.
Why? The cool marine layer. The marine layer along the coast can last up until mid-July, whereas the valley will have many more sunnier and hotter days than the coast. That is why Southern California commercial tomato growers along the coast (such as in San Diego County) do not start planting until June and July.
The hottest months along the coast are August, September, October and November. The Santa Ana winds can make it hotter at the coast than inland. This is ideal for tomato production. When the Central Valley is finishing their tomato crop, the coastal region is just starting to harvest.
What I am suggesting is that the planting schedule here on the coast can go into July and August, and—depending on the weather—you can still be harvesting tomatoes at Christmas.
I am not suggesting that you wait for June to plant tomatoes. I am saying you have a greater window of planting dates in this area. You can plant early season, mid-season and late season. Technically, you can start harvesting tomatoes from July to December.
Tomato varieties are determinate and not determinate. Determinate tomato varieties ripen early and then the plant quits producing. Indeterminate tomato varieties produce tomatoes for a longer period of time, up until the frost. We rarely get a frost in the Palisades. That is why you will see tomato plants growing into the next crop year.
I like the cherry tomato variety called “Sweet 100.” If you like sweet, true tomato flavor—and a lot of them—this is a good non-determinate variety.
“Early Girl” is another popular variety, appropriately named because it is an early variety. There is also the famous “Beefsteak tomato.” It is known for slicing.
There are so many varieties that it is tough to recommend a variety. That is why I like the Sweet 100 because the sweet tomato flavor is hard to beat.
The heirloom varieties also have distinct flavors. “Brandywine” is a good heirloom, but the yield can be light.
Heirlooms are an “open pollinated” variety. That means the seed from the fruit will grow that same plant as the parent.
Hybrid tomatoes mean that the pollen of two varieties are crossed to make a new variety. The seed from a hybrid will not be the same as the parent. Only open pollinated seed will produce the same plant as the parent.
John Atwill of Grow More and I want to host a seminar on fertilizer and plants to anyone interested in listening, so stay tuned for more information.
Atwill is like a college professor with great knowledge of chemistry and plant nutrition. Of course, I am not so bad at it myself.
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.
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