Monthly Chamber of Commerce mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., hosted by Theatre Palisades at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Admission is free for Chamber members. Non-members: $25. Cast members will perform several numbers from TP’s current musical production, ‘Smokey Joe’s Caf’.’ Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library meeting room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will sponsor a Family Fun Campfire Night, an evening of nature tales, campfire songs, games and, of course, marshmallows, beginning at 7 p.m., at Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd. Parking: $7. Contact: Lisa Ann Carrillo, (310) 858-7272, ext. 115. Palisades High alum Norman Ollestad signs and discusses ‘Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival,’ a New York Times best-seller that explores the bond between father and son, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
Fun Family Friday Nights, a free Palisades-Malibu YMCA community event series sponsored by the Pacific Palisades Rotary Club, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Simon Meadow in Temescal Gateway Park. Pre-registration is not required. Parking inside the park is $7. The Theatre Palisades production of ‘Smokey Joe’s Caf’ continues its run at the Pierson Playhouse tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., through July 19. Tickets: Friday and Sunday, adults, $20, seniors and students, $18; Saturday, adults, $22, seniors and students $20. Contact: (310) 454-1970 or visit www.theatrepalisades.org
SATURDAY, JULY 11
The Palisades Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Village-Wide Sidewalk Sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at participating stores and restaurants in the business district.’ ‘
SUNDAY, JULY 12
A kids event, 4 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore, featuring ‘Surf Angel,’ a book about a young and playful surf angel who ensures a good night’s sleep to all of her ocean friends and brings children closer to the magical wonders of the sea. The CD is read by the real Gidget, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, a Palisades resident.
MONDAY, JULY 13
Moonday, a monthly Westside poetry reading, will feature poets Mel Weisburd and his daughter Stefi Weisburd this month, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.
TUESDAY, JULY 14
”””Story/Craft Time,’‘suggested’ for ages 4 and up, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The Temescal Canyon Association’s summer evening hiking group will hike from the Highlands and explore beautiful upper Santa Ynez Canyon. Meet in the Temescal Gateway parking lot at 6 p.m. for carpooling. No dogs! Expect to be back by 9 p.m. Information: temcanyon.org.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Ann Kerr, a Pacific Palisades resident and author (‘Come With Me from Lebanon,’) will speak at the Palisades Rotary Club meeting about her recent trip to Lebanon and Sweden to visit former American University of Beruit classmates, 7:15 a.m. at Gladstone’s restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway. Contact: (310) 442-1607. Paper arts teacher Peggy Hasagawa will demonstrate the art of origami, a free program for teens, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Dani Modisett reads ‘Afterbirth: Stories You Won’t Read in a Parenting Magazine,’ about what parenting is really like: full of inappropriate impulses, unbelievable frustrations, and idiotic situations, 7 p.m. (not the usual 7:30) at Village Books on Swarthmore.
Here’s a mule of a different color: Animal trainer Julie Sterling, representing Palisades Lutheran Church, appeared in the parade with her mini donkeys for the sixth straight year. Photo by Tom Hofer
From grand marshal Miss America (a.k.a. Katie Stam) to the Santa Ana Winds Youth Band, the 2009 Americanism Parade swept through town Saturday and, in its wake, left smiles on the faces of thousands lining Via de la Paz and Sunset Boulevard. Prior to the parade, Palisadian Chloe Donovan, 8, met Stam before riding as a special guest in her horse-drawn carriage. ‘She’s nice and pretty and fun,’ Donovan said of the reigning Miss America. ‘She’s very engaging,’ added Bill Prachar, who, as the parade’s longtime official clown, gets to wear as much makeup as he wants. ‘She wanted to know what my real clown name was.’ Along the parade route, Steven List, with wife Heidi and daughter Evita, 2, saw the Patriotic Pups brigade as the perfect opportunity to proudly walk their dogs, Bernie the St. Bernard and Doc the Australian shepherd. ‘We crashed the parade,’ List joked. This year’s Mr. and Ms. Palisades, Wyn Delano and Sabrina Giglio, rode by in separate cars, while last year’s Mr. Palisades, Chris Alexakis, participated as a photographer, documenting the day digitally. At Sunset and Drummond, he snapped Ava Horowitz, 5, who was holding her miniature poodle, Prince, while full-sized poodle Precious rode alongside as her dad and driver Seth Horowitz, general manager of the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard, drove a truck in the procession. Along Sunset, local Laurie Hudson has seen the parade numerous times during her 15 years in the Palisades. But this year, she was accompanied by her daughter, Hope, 3. Hope’s personal highlight: ‘When the water came from the fire trucks!’ Local residents Brett and Alison Duffy staked out their seats along Sunset with daughter Carly, 9, and their Maltese, Lucky. This year, they brought a special guest, Vernonica Victor of Connecticut, who is interning at VH-1 for the summer. The University of Colorado student jumped right into the Palisades holiday spirit by participating earlier that morning in the Will Rogers 5K/10K Run. Standing in front of Pharmaca with 9-month-old Madison on his shoulders, Mark Lorentzen said, ‘The parade is the best this year.’ His family has long been active with Troop 223. ‘My friend is riding with the Cub Scouts,’ said Lorentzen’s son, Chris Hannah, 11. ‘I liked when the firetrucks came by.’ Palisadian pals Guy Byington and Dr. Steve Krems brought a group of friends from the Valley to the Swarthmore intersection. Among that group was Lisa Ende, who saw the parade for the first time with her kids, Samuel, 7, and Abby, 5. ‘It’s awesome!’ Ende said, mere minutes after the skydivers had landed just up Sunset. Nearby were David Moore and Helen Chuang, who came all the way from Pasadena. ‘We thought the skydiving was pretty awesome,’ Moore said. Over on Via, Theresa Corcoran experienced her first parade with her daughter, Audrey, 1, just a month after moving here from Brentwood. ‘Next year, we’re going to have her be in the parade,’ Audrey’s proud mom promised. Several prominent Hollywood players were also out with their families enjoying the festivities. Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company, has lived in the Palisades for 15 years. He told the Palisadian-Post that for years he had spent the holiday taking in a parade in the Valley, where a friend lives. ‘I never knew what I was missing,’ said Reilly, who was pleased that one of the floats had played the version of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin,” sung by the cast of Fox’s breakout show, ‘Glee.’ Close by lounged Pat Kingsley, founder of the reigning Hollywood PR firm PMK/HBH, reclining comfortably on a sidewalk chair next to her family”daughter Janice Scott, son-in-law Christopher Scott, and grandson Ethan, 6. From underneath her sun-blocking hat, Kingsley told the Post that she has enjoyed watching the parade for some 30 years. The Post also encountered one conspicuous Hollywood wannabe, hamming it up in what was probably his big impromptu audition: the giant Quizno beverage cup. The guy inside the costume found the parade crowd ‘high energy,’ and he joked that he had effectively swayed hungry pedestrians away from cross-town rival Subway. For the past nine years, Jim Buerge and wife Colleen have made an annual tradition of throwing a party at their Toyopa Street home during the last leg of the parade. But this year’s Buerge barbecue was a particularly poignant event, as the Buerge family has put its house up for sale and will relocate to another part of town. ‘We bought six kegs and we burned through all of them, so it’s one of the biggest parties I’ve thrown,’ said Buerge, who admitted experiencing some relief that his house parties are coming to a close. ‘It’s a lot of work, but people know to come to the Buerges’ house.’ Dan Johnson and Perry Richards attended all nine Buerge parties. Richards said he will miss ‘the social setting, seeing old friends and counting on coming every year.’ ‘Every time an old tradition ends, a new one begins,’ Johnson commented. Sure enough, across the street at the Gilhooly residence, people were already partying at the family’s inaugural party. ‘Pat Gilhooly built this house and this is his first parade,’ said Palisades native Jimmy Klein, announcing next year’s post-parade party destination. ‘Everyone just show up!’ Heather Gilhooly’s reaction: ‘Surprised!’ she said, laughing. Next door to the Gilhooly residence, Jim and Vicki Mercer hosted a celebration on their front lawn, where guests included Larry Bridges, an editor on several of Michael Jackson’s classic videos, including ‘Beat It,’ ‘Dirty Diana’ and ‘The Way You Make Me Feel.’ He was hands-on, Bridges said, remembering Jackson. ‘When we were in the studio for ‘Beat It,’ we got nothing done because all day long, people were filing into the studio to view the video footage.’ It transcended the ‘Billie Jean’ video because it saved MTV.’ Outside the Mercer home was Phillip Parks, better known as the Westside Rentals guy, who enjoyed his third year on the route. Dressed this year in Mickey Mouse ears and gloves, Parks paid his own tribute to Jackson by moon-walking during the parade on Sunset at Drummond. Theatre Palisades’ Andrew Frew opened up his Sunset home for his annual party, which included such guests as Theater Palisades’ regulars Sherman Way, Martha Hunter and Rebecca Silberman, and a rooftop view of PaliHi’s fireworks show. Another guest was Frew’s brother, James, an aerospace inspector for Honeywell who flew in from his home in Phoenix, as he has done for 15 years. And don’t think Andrew didn’t make his older brother earn his stay. ‘I like riding in the parade and waving to the folks from the Theatre Palisades float, and I like the tradition, the small-town feel,’ James said, before helping Andrew out collecting admissions at the pre-fireworks concert. Craig Hunter, Martha’s husband, experienced the parade for the first time and enjoyed ‘a neat variety of different bands, kids and dogs. It’s a nice slice of life.’ And Dr. Nikita Bezrukov, who works at UCLA Medical Center, shared his parade highlight: an improvised jam between the First Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton and the New Orleans Traditional Dixieland Band before the parade began. Also ushering in a new annual party tradition was artist Gaby Gottlieb, a longtime Palisadian who had just moved into her new home on El Medio. Among Gottlieb’s guests were actor and Palisades Honorary Mayor Gavin MacLeod, his son, Drew, daughter-in-law Jill, and grandchildren Shelby, 13, and Jade, 10; Palisades Film Festival organizer Bob Sharka and his wife, Debbie; longtime Amy Soufo, whose daughter, Christina Soufo, was at PaliHi where the band she manages, The Elevaters, were closing the concert; and Gottlieb’s mom, Laurie Gottlieb, a former writer for the Los Angeles Times’ innovative Home magazine. The party culminated on the front lawn, where rows of chairs were set up to view the fireworks display. ‘I’m so grateful to have my home in the Palisades and a great view of the fireworks,’ Gottlieb said. ‘This is my favorite holiday, and I felt it was my civic duty to have a party. I also love bringing old and new friends together.’ One might say the same thing of the annual Independence Day parade.
In the midst of springtime celebrations and June graduations, Las Madrinas announced the 32 families and their daughters who will be honored for their service to the Southern California community and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles at the Las Madrinas Ball on December 21. Among the debutantes from Pacific Palisades are Elizabeth Grace Porter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Willard Porter, and Katherine Ann Sebastian, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Bryson Sebastian. On May 14, the debutante families gathered at the Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles to hear a presentation by Dr. Michele Kipke, director of the Las Madrinas Endowment for Autism Research, Interventions and Outcomes. She gave an overview of the lives of children with autism spectrum disorders, and described how early diagnosis and intervention are critical and known to make a difference. Dr. Kipke’s group is developing and analyzing new tools and technologies for early diagnosis, testing and evaluating interventions and therapies, and tracking the outcomes of these interventions to ensure the best care for autistic children. Following the meeting, the families toured the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit in Childrens Hospital and Kipke’s diagnostic center. Further, the debutantes and their mothers and grandmothers were guests of honor at the tea where the president of Las Madrinas, Kathleen McRoskey, a Palisades resident, formally welcomed the families and thanked them for their contributions and commitment to the Los Angeles community. Las Madrinas has supported pediatric medicine for more than 75 years and is one of the first Affiliate Groups of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Donations made in honor of the young women by their families together with the annual support of Las Madrinas members and friends will contribute to the Las Madrinas Endowment for Autism Research, Interventions and Outcomes.
The Skirball Cultural Center holds its 13th season of free Sunset Concerts on Thursdays from July 16 through August 13 at 8 p.m. The Skirball is located off the 405 freeway in Bel-Air. This summer’s opening concert next Thursday will showcase the electronica-fueled Malian grooves of Issa Bagayogo. Despite remarkable talent on the three-stringed n’goni lute, a long-lost relative of the banjo, Bagayogo was down and out in Bamako, working as a bus driver, when he ran into French record producer Yves Wernert. They teamed up to create a sound that showcases Bagayogo’s sixth sense for honoring treasured traditions while grooving to edgy beats. Other concerts will feature the trans-Atlantic, bluegrass-meets-Swedish folk encounter of Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and V’sen (July 23); the Roma and klezmer-inflected jams of Montreal’s Gadji-Gadjo (July 30); the serious funk of New Orleans’ beloved Mardi Gras Indian ensemble, the Wild Magnolias (August 6); and the Sufi-inspired virtuosity of Turkish multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek Ensemble (August 13). Doors open at 7 p.m. No reservations are needed, but seating is limited to a first-come, first-served basis. On-site parking is $5 cash. Visit www.skirball.org.
Moonday will host a father/daughter poetry reading featuring Mel and Stefi Weisburd at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13, at Village Books on Swarthmore. The event will contrast Mel’s 1950s perspective of Los Angeles with Stefi’s present-day sensibility. Mel, a Brentwood resident, co-founded Coastlines literary magazine in the ’50s. He is the author of ‘A Life of Windows & Mirrors, Selected Poems,’ and the recently published chapbook about his late wife (and Stefi’s mother), ‘The Gloria Poems: A Short Memoir of a 50-Year Marriage.’ Stefi, a Palisades High graduate, has degrees in physics from UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is the author of ‘The Wind-Up Gods,’ which won the St. Lawrence Book Award, and ‘Barefoot: Poems for Naked Feet,’ a collection for children. She received a Discovery Prize from The Nation, was a scholar at Bread Loaf, and was awarded a writing residency by the Lannan Foundation. She currently lives in Albuquerque with her husband and two children.
32nd Annual Will Rogers 5/10K Run Kicks Off Town’s July 4th Festivities
Therese Fricke crosses the finish line in Saturday’s Palisades-Will Rogers Run. She won the 5K for the second time in 18:47. Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
By the time Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry took the stage to fire the gun that officially started the Palisades-Will Rogers Run last Saturday morning, the sun had begun to creep out of the clouds–a bright beginning to the community’s most patriotic day of the year. “It’s all of you who keep my great grandfather’s legacy alive,” she said, referring to the famous actor/comedian after whom the landmark holiday event is named. “Thank you all so much.” Moments later the field of the 32nd annual July 4 race–some 2,612 strong–began its journey into the Huntington Palisades and, for the 1,050 runners in the 10K, up Sunset to the dreaded switchbacks of Will Rogers State Park. Just past the 15-minute mark the first winner rounded the bend on Toyopa at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center. That was 20-year-old Ravi Amarawansa, who won on his fourth attempt in 15 minutes, 13 seconds. “I was hoping Peter Gilmore would run because I would’ve liked to test myself against the best,” he said. “This is my best time for a road race. It’s a nice flat course. Good for running a PR.” Gilmore, a former Palisades High/UC Berkeley distance runner and now one of the nation’s top marathoners, has won his hometown race eight times and set the course record of 14:10 in 2003. Amarawansa ran track and cross country at Venice High, graduating in 2007, but he got his start in the sport at Paul Revere Middle School, where he trained under Paul and Stacy Foxson. “They introduced me to the long jump, the mile, the 400, everything,” said Amarawansa, a psychology major at the University of San Francisco. “It all started with them.” The last time Amarawansa ran the 5K here was his freshman year at Venice when he clocked 19:38. He would have run it at least once since except he got stung in the ankle by a bee the day before, the ankle swelled up and he decided not to run. “I think I’ll try the 10K next year,” he said. A sleepless night might have affected her time but it couldn’t keep Therese Fricke from winning the women’s 5K for the second time in 18:47. In her first prep race since getting back into training with Coach Eric Barron’s Track Club L.A. before Christmas, Fricke was first in her division and third overall at last month’s Brentwood 5K, won by 2008 Palisades-Will Rogers 5K champion Vivien Wadeck. Fricke, 35, lives in Santa Monica. She won the Palisades-Will Rogers 5K for the first time in 2005 and her goal is to crack the 18-minute mark. “Even though I won today I would’ve preferred a faster time,” said Fricke, who has her own business (“On the Move” Pilates & Fitness) and is a singer/songwriter and guitarist. “I think it takes a good three or four races so I plan to continue getting my time back down, closer to where I left off with racing a couple years ago when I won the Heart of the City in 18:01.” Fricke’s personal-best 5K time is 17:52, which she ran in college at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. Another of Fricke’s personal goals is producing her music CD. She recently sang at the Summer Soulstice in Santa Monica and her band “Tereza & the Banditz” is performing at the House of Blues in Hollywood at 10 p.m. Sunday night. “It’s so great that my hobbies–my passions–became my career,” Fricke said. “It’s awesome that I can motivate, heal and inspire others through fitness and music! It’s the greatest job!” The women’s 5K record is 16:29 by Annetta Luevano in 1995. Mikal Sandoval, a ranger at Will Rogers State Historic Park set the mood for the race with her stirring rendition of the national anthem. Then, announcer Bob Benton asked for a round of applause for Brian Shea, who was recognized for his tireless work as race coordinator every year since the race began in 1978. As usual the Fluffy Bunnies, a men’s track club based in Santa Monica, showed up in force–and properly attired in white bunny rabbit ears. Having completed the Seattle Half-Marathon in one hour and 10 minutes just a week before, the 10K must have been a walk in the park for men’s winner Lewis Eliot, a 29-year-old from Phoenix. At first, Eliot turned up Alma Real instead of proceeding through the 10K chute, but race officials yelled “You’re going the wrong way!” and quickly re-routed him to the finish in 33:29 with plenty of time to spare. Four-time winner Nate Bowen of Redwood City finished second in 34:10. “I’m staying in Santa Monica right now doing a lot of smaller races,” Eliot said. “This was my first time doing it and it was so cool.” Eliot is a triathlete and his goal is to qualify for the Olympic Triathlon in London in 2012. He has completed about 30 half-triathlons and seven full triathlons. His best Ironman time to date is 8 hours and 53 minutes. “I plan on sticking around for the Nautica [Triathlon] in Malibu and the L.A. Triathlon,” he added. “I’m going back to short course for a while.” The dreaded switchbacks were no big deal for Eliot, who got used to hilly courses while racing for the U.S. national cycling team before attending college at Montana State. Russell Edmonds of New Zealand holds the 10K course record of 29:46, set back in 1983–the same year that Katie Dunsmuir set the women’s record of 35:09. Shawna Burger wore a neon gold outfit and matching shoes on her way to winning the women’s 10K last year. This time, she arrived with a new color (pink) and a new strategy: follow the Fluffy Bunnies. “I thought to myself ‘Just try to keep up with them,'” said Burger, who charged to the front of the pack right away and was never challenged, covering the 6.2 miles in 38:02. “It helped a lot having run it last year and being more familiar with the course.” The 24-year-old Burger recently moved to Santa Monica and is majoring in fine arts at Cal State Los Angeles, where she ran cross country and track before using up her athletic eligibility. Burger finished almost two minutes ahead of VS Athletics Track Club teammate Laura Conley. Burger’s only regret is that she couldn’t run the 5K too: “Maybe I’ll try that next year. I love this race and I want to keep coming back.” Amarawansa and Burger celebrated their victories by riding in the parade that afternoon. Camille Chapus won the 13-15 age division and was second overall in the women’s 5K, finishing in 19:31 and 12-year-old Palisadian Mackenzie Howe won her age group in 21:56. Carol Gordon won the 45-49 division in 21:14 and Diane Goldberg won the 75-79 age group in 45:40. Palisadian Andrew Bland won the men’s 13-15 age division of the 5K in 17:34, Ron Graham won the 50-54 age group in 18:11, Anthony Reading won the 55-59 category in 21:12 while locals Ted Mackie, Tom McKiernan and Ken Adams swept the top three places in the 80-99 division. In the 10K, Gregory Dunne, Sawyer Pascoe and Tommy Collins swept the top three spots in the 13-15 division and Adam Gooch was first in the 65-69 age range in 47:20. Michaela Keefe, Elisabeth Lomis and Caitlin Keefe finished 1-2-3 in the 12-and-under division, Hannah Cranston won the 16-18 division in 47:24 and Eleanor Keare won the 40-44 category in 44:17. Jennifer Levi, Brianna Becker and Tanya Bentley swept the 35-39 age division while Jamie Halper, Susan Harbert and Maria Marrone were 1-2-3 in the 50-54 age group. Pacific Palisades-own kickboxing champion Baxter Humby, in training for his July 25 fight in Las Vegas, took it easy in the men’s 5K, completing the 3.1 miles in 23 minutes flat. For complete results visit the official race website at www.palisades10k.com or try the Race Central website at www.runraceresults.com.
Since His Story Went Hollywood Former Notre Dame Player Has Inspired Others
Palisadian and 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte (left) talks Notre Dame football with Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger before both rode in Saturday’s Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Steve Galluzzo, Sports Editor
Riding in the backseat of a convertible, waving to throngs of spectators lining neighborhood streets during Pacific Palisades’ Fourth of July Parade last Saturday must have brought back memories for Daniel Ruettiger. Memories of a Saturday 35 years earlier when he was hoisted onto the shoulders of teammates and carried off the field. That was a monumental moment in his life, but one that might never have been remembered outside of South Bend, Indiana, had it not been for Ruettiger’s will and determination to make his story known–the same attributes he had used to fulfill his childhood dream of playing college football at Notre Dame. “I got into a game and I made a tackle, not exactly the most distinguished career, right?” Ruettiger joked. “Thousands of other players accomplished more in football than I did, but for someone like me that meant as much as winning the Super Bowl.” Thanks in part to Hollywood, Ruettiger is known now simply as “Rudy,” the title of a 1993 movie that turned out to be as big a longshot as a 5′ 6,” 165-pound walk-on senior playing two downs for the Fighting Irish in the final home game of 1975. Ruettiger sacked Georgia Tech’s quarterback on the final play and, in 2005, an ESPN poll named “Rudy” one of the 20 best sports movies of the previous 25 years. “It took me 10 years to get the film made,” Ruettiger said. “The first time I met [screenwriter] Angelo Pizzo he told me ‘I’m not interested in doing a sports story and I hate Notre Dame.’ I just wasn’t about to give up and two years later he ended up writing the script.” Not only did Ruettiger have to convince a studio to back the project, he also had to get permission from his alma mater’s administration to shoot the movie on campus. Such a request had not been granted since “Knute Rockne, All American” in 1940. “There were so many obstacles,” said Ruettiger, who is now a motivational speaker and author. “You know, it wasn’t like Sony and Universal were fighting for the rights. Everyone was skeptical about the idea at first but I believed in it so much that I was willing to risk everything I had to make it happen.” The movie, in fact, launched Ruettiger into a new and rewarding career, one he did not anticipate: “It all started shortly after the movie was released when a corporate executive called and said he just saw the movie and wanted me to speak to his company. He thought I might be able to inspire his employees the way the movie had inspired people. I agreed to do it, then I began to get requests, from corporations, clubs, high schools, universities–you name it.” Ramis Sadrieh, an Executive Committee member of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, was the first to inquire about Ruettiger but didn’t know how to contact him. That is, until he talked to Palisadian Kevin Quinn, a Notre Dame alum and friend of the real-life Rudy. Ruettiger was honored to be invited to this year’s parade and was even more honored to meet one of his childhood idols, 1964 Heisman Trophy winner and Pacific Palisades resident John Huarte, at lunch one hour earlier. “I was in high school in Joliet, Illinois, and he was like a god,” Ruettiger recalled. “John was the quarterback for one of Notre Dame’s finest teams ever. We watched the games every week!” Huarte seemed just as thrilled to meet Ruettiger: “Of course I remember him. The movie was terrific, really inspiring. And I think there are a lot of Rudys on a lot of teams.” Ruettiger has a wife and two kids and now lives in Henderson, Nevada. His newly-established Rudy Foundation, based in Las Vegas, helps children around the world reach their full potential by developing and supporting programs that positively impact young people’s lives cognitively, emotionally, physically and spiritually. “We just showed the movie to 400 foster kids in Florida and they loved it,” said Ruettiger, who has 13 brothers and sisters. “See, it’s really not about football or about Notre Dame. The message is that our thoughts change our lives. Believe you can do something and you’ll do it.” Ruettiger graduated from Notre Dame with a Sociology degree. Although actor Sean Astin played the role of Rudy in the movie Ruettiger appears in one scene–as a fan in the stands during the final game–standing right behind Ned Beatty (who played Rudy’s father).
Nikki Washington jumps into the arms of Lauren Cheney (#8) after scoring in the Blues’ 4-0 win last Saturday at Stadium by the Sea. Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
The Pali Blues waited a day later to put on their own Fourth of July fireworks show, lighting up the visiting Ventura Fusion 4-0 last Sunday afternoon at Stadium by the Sea. Fans didn’t have to wait long for the first goal. Tobin Heath re-directed a pass from Iris Mora into the goal in the 33rd minute–just the cue the crowd needed to rain brightly-colored bears onto the running track for the club’s first-ever “Teddy Bear Toss.” The stuffed animals were donated to the Upward Bound House and the Elevate Hope Foundation. “Today was a great day,” Blues Head Coach Charlie Naimo said. “The performance on the field was very entertaining. The players really gave the fans a treat.” The defending W-League champion Blues (7-0-3) turned up the intensity in the second half and were rewarded with three goals against the Fusion (1-5-3). Then, in the 51st minute, Lauren Cheney made a well-timed pass to Nikki Washington, who beat goalie Kay Hawke for a 2-0 lead. Nine minutes later Kelley O’Hara got behind the defense for an easy goal. Mora applied the finishing touch to the one-sided contest in the 74th minute, kicking home a loose ball after Washington’s initial shot was blocked. “Outside the lines the operations were completely in line,” Naimo said, referring to the Blues’ noisy hometown fans and their spirited cheers. “I loved our new hooligans. They are the best I have seen in our league.” The Blues host the Colorado Force this Friday at 7 p.m. at Stadium by the Sea. For more information or to order tickets, call 310-264-4649.
JRK Property Holdings CEO Jim Lippman (front), his staff and families don their familiar Oceana t-shirts before the start of last Saturday morning’s Palisades-Will Rogers 5/10K. Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
All it takes to start a tradition are a touch of ingenuity, a degree of organization and, most importantly, a willingness to stay the course. Those qualities can all be attributed to Jim Lippman, who loved the Palisades-Will Rogers Race so much that he wanted to get his whole company involved. Suffice it to say the former Palisadian has succeeded’and then some. It started back in 1989 when he and his family ran in the race for the first time. Each year he invited more of his friends and extended family to run. In 1991, his third year living in Pacific Palisades, Lippman started his company JRK Property Holdings. He began encouraging his employees to participate in the race. The idea gained momentum from there until for the first time in 1995 company employees all wore Hotel Oceana t-shirts for the first time in recognition of the charity associated with the race. “I think we had around 20 or so the first time and today we have 102 people registered to run, which is the most we’ve ever had,” Lippman said proudly from underneath the gigantic tree at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center–the place his group always gathers on the morning of the race. “It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 18 years already.” The mix of red, white and blue t-shirts they wore on Saturday were a tribute to the group’s dedication to fitness and honoring America’s birthday. The commitment, however, starts long before July 4. “We train as an office from May until race day every Tuesday and Thursday,” Amy Ruka said. “So this is a big deal for all of us.” Lippman and his wife Linda lived in the Palisades until 1994. Their children, Alex (21), Matthew (18) and Danny (15) all went to Village School. Since the company is located in nearby Brentwood, employees can run local streets leading up to the race. “I always do the 10K but we have some people who do the 5K,” said Lippman, 51, who completed this year’s race in 58:33. “Some of us have run it many times, others might be trying it for the first time. What’s important is that we’re all doing something fun and healthy and for a good cause.”
The Palisades Tennis Center held its third annual Junior Open last week and, not surprisingly, several of its best players took home trophies in their respective age divisions. Julia Goldberg and Sophie Bendetti won the Girls’ 12s doubles title while Lucas and Robbie Bellamy won the Boys’ 10s and 16s singles titles. Last weekend was also the start of the Boys 14s National Championships and PTC players are still alive in several divisions. Deiton Baughman advanced to the semifinals after winning four matches. First, he outlasted Yannik Mahlangu of Las Vegas, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, then he beat Carson Williams of Chico, 6-3, 6-1, Max Hawkins of Rancho Palos Verdes, 6-4, 6-2, and Brandon Sutter of San Jose, 6-2, 6-1. Baughman, who just turned 13 and was the top 12-year-old in America, was recently the subject of a feature on Fox Sports Television. Robbie Bellamy won three rounds, beating Ryan Rosen of La Jolla, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, Adam Bagdy of Aliso Viejo, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 and Andrew Dykeman of Leawood, Kansas, 7-5, 6-3, before losing to Robert Seby of Oro Valley, Arizona, 5-7, 6-1 6-2. Blake Anthony beat Ciro Riccardi of Los Angeles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, in the first round, then lost to Ben Vierra, 6-2, 6-2. Bellamy and Baughman made the quarterfinals in doubles where they fell to Brandon Sutter and Tim Tan of San Jose, 8-4. Meanwhile, Anthony and Mahlangu advanced to the semifinals with 9-8, 9-8 and 8-4 pro set victories.
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