Palisadians looking for a way to give back this year have the chance: The West Los Angeles Community Police Station is hosting a Holiday Toy Drive and accepting donations.
The Toy Drive will run through Tuesday, December 17. Donations can be dropped off at 1663 Butler Avenue in the front lobby.
LAPD is requesting “unwrapped and new toys for kids 8 [to] 12 [years old],” according to a flyer. The toys will be given away on December 18.
Max Hejazi catches a 21-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter for Palisades’ first score in November 30’s City Division I final versus King/Drew. Photos by Craig Weston
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The Palisades Charter High School football team enjoyed a storybook season—only the final chapter was not what the Dolphins envisioned.
King/Drew scored the first 21 points and went on to a 56-35 victory in the City Division I championship game Saturday night, November 30, at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa in a prime-time matchup between two programs seeking their first section title.
The Dolphins were making their second appearance in the Division I final in three years, and as was the case in 2022 when they were unable to stop running back Dijon Stanley—who rushed for 367 yards and five touchdowns in Granada Hills’ 44-7 win—this time they had no answer for Jahmir Torres, who rushed for three touchdowns, had two touchdown catches and returned a kickoff for another score, amassing 431 all-purpose yards.
Torres was living in Maryland with his mom but decided to come to California to play for his dad, Golden Eagles head coach Joe Torres, for his senior season. He had to sit out the first four games due to transfer rules but once he became eligible King/Drew’s offense had another dimension.
“I was balling in Maryland but I wasn’t getting the looks I needed so I wanted to show that I can ball on both sides of the country,” Torres said. “My dad’s been trying to convince me to come here since my freshman year. In this game, it was important not to underestimate Palisades at all. We knew they have a good offense, and we had to go out and match that.”
King/Drew marched down the field on its first drive but came away with no points when a 27-yard field goal attempt hit the upright. After Palisades failed to pick up a first down on its opening series, the Golden Eagles got the ball back and proceeded to drive 51 yards in five plays, scoring on Torres’ nine-yard reception from Keenan Jackson to make it 7-0 with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
The Dolphins punted again and this time Jackson found receiver Damico Martin in stride along the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown that increased King/Drew’s lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter. Palisades went three-and-out on its third possession, and Jackson threw to Jayden Mitchell for a 32-yard touchdown to end the Golden Eagles’ ensuing drive.
Palisades head coach Dylen Smith and his captains with the runner-up plaque after their 56-35 loss in the City Division I final at Birmingham High.
Harrison Carter returned the kickoff 57 yards to the King/Drew 43, and four plays later, the Dolphins got on the scoreboard when Jack Thomas found Max Hejazi in the end zone from 21 yards out to pull Palisades with 21-7 with 4:47 left in the second quarter.
Palisades’ defense almost held the Golden Eagles on their next possession, but on fourth-and-13 from the Dolphins’ 26, Jackson lofted a pass to the back of the end zone and Torres made a leaping catch that gave King/Drew a 28-7 lead with 35 seconds left in the first half.
Thomas completed three passes and back-to-back personal foul penalties put Palisades in position to score at the Golden Eagles’ seven-yard line with a second left, but Thomas’ toss into the end zone was incomplete and the margin was 21 points at intermission.
Palisades got the ball first in the second half and was determined to cut into King/Drew’s lead, but Thomas was hurried into throwing from his own end zone and Roberto Salazar intercepted for the Golden Eagles at the Dolphins’ 42. Eight plays later, Torres scored from one yard out to put the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles ahead 35-7 midway through the third quarter.
The Dolphins’ offense found its rhythm and Deveron Kearney capped their next drive with a two-yard run. However, Torres returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown to make it 42-14.
Carter caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to pull the Dolphins back within three scores but Torres capped the Golden Eagles’ next drive with a 35-yard touchdown run up the gut and Palisades found itself trailing 49-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Palisades—seeded fifth in the 16-team draw—would not go down without a fight, marching 73 yards in 17 plays and scoring on Thomas’ one-yard sneak with 7:46 left. On the second play of King/Drew’s next drive, though, Torres lined up in the Wildcat formation, took a direct snap and sprinted 45 yards up the middle for his last touchdown with 6:38 left.
Showing the determination and pride that defined their season the Dolphins moved 77 yards in 13 plays, scoring on Thomas’ 14-yard strike to Hejazi with 1:24 left to create the final margin. Three kneel downs later the Golden Eagles celebrated their first City crown in only their third year.
Thomas, a junior transfer from Loyola, completed 17 of 46 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, and added 30 yards rushing to bring his season totals to 3,369 yards passing with 46 touchdowns and 570 yards rushing with 12 more touchdowns.
Shilo Beavers had 51 yards rushing in seven carries and caught two passes for 54 yards. Hejazi caught six passes for 80 yards, Carter had three receptions for 65 yards, LeHenry Solomon had three catches for 36 yards and King Demethris had three grabs for 53 yards.
Nico Townsley had 11 tackles in the game. Fellow linebacker Jake Treibatch added 10 and finished the season with a team-high 146 tackles.
King/Drew, which improved to 11-3, advanced to the Friday, December 6, Southern California Regional Division 6-AA bowl game against Portola at Harbor College. Palisades finished 11-3, but under second-year coach Dylen Smith the future of the program is bright.
“I’m proud of every single one of you guys,” Smith said after the trophy presentation. “We demand a lot from you guys. Remember this feeling because we’ll be back next year.”
Four Palisadians Will Be Honored During the Annual Holiday Dinner & Awards Gala on December 12
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pacific Palisades Community Council has announced its four award winners for 2024 during the Thursday, November 14, board meeting.
Cindi Young has been named Citizen of the Year, while Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez are this year’s Golden Sparkplugs. Pride of the Palisades—a discretionary distinction that is bestowed in “exceptional circumstances,” determined by the Awards Selection Committee—is Thomas Hathaway.
“We salute Cindi, Leslie, Carlos and Thomas for their amazing contributions to the Palisades community,” PPCC wrote in a statement.
Citizen of the Year honors “long-term, steady, reliable and continuing outstanding” volunteer service, as well as a recent “extraordinary” accomplishment by an individual that resulted in a “substantial” benefit to the Palisades community.
Young has been given the award for “selflessly volunteering to continue the mission of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness,” according to PPCC.
“She stepped up to take on the extensive duties required of the co-president as of January 1 when no one else was willing to volunteer,” the statement continued, “thus rescuing this esteemed organization, which has been so critical to ensuring the safety of the Palisades community and which would have otherwise ceased to exist.”
Young has dedicated “countless hours” to area volunteer efforts, including as a former president of the Castellammare Mesa HOA, PPCC Area 1 1st alternate and representative of PPCC on the Westside Regional Alliance of Council Homelessness Committee.
Her team includes current PPTFH Co-President Carmen Kallberg (her nominator), as well as past Co-Presidents Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride, fundraising director Carol Sanborn, and volunteer director Kim Clary.
“Cindi is truly a community hero for saving PPTFH and for all her volunteer efforts,” read the statement. “She well deserves Citizen of the Year honors.”
Golden Sparkplug awards honor citizens who have ignited original ideas and projects that have benefited Palisadians. The project must have been initiated, in progress or completed during the current or prior calendar year.
Campbell has earned her Golden Sparkplug honors for her “tireless, sustained advocacy and leadership” working to “create and secure a much-needed dog park in Pacific Palisades.”
“She devoted many hours of work over the course of 10 years toward realizing this worthy goal, starting with efforts to explore obtaining a dog park in 2014, when she learned that a prior effort in the Palisades had failed,” according to PPCC. “Undeterred, she continued relentlessly lobbying government officials and agencies, eventually obtaining the support of Councilwoman Traci Park.”
Now a member of the Pacific Palisades Dog Park Working Group—alongside Lynn Miller and Carol Ross—the park has secured Measure A funding and is now in the midst of community meetings ahead of its completion on Temescal Canyon Road.
“The Palisades community is now assured that the dog park will move forward toward completion in the required city process,” the statement read. “We are indebted to Leslie for her relentless and successful volunteer efforts to realize the long-wished-for Palisades dog park.”
Fellow Golden Sparkplug Rodriguez has been honored for his “extensive volunteer work” with PPTFH, including clearing “hundreds of abandoned encampments and safeguarding the bluff and canyon areas.” He has been volunteering with PPTFH since 2017, including working closely with Bruce Schwartz, Sue Pascoe and Kilbride.
“This year, Carlos was called on to clear a large, abandoned campsite in the El Medio hillside, hauling away all the rubbish to prevent fires and making sure no other unhoused individuals would set up camps in the wilderness near homes and Temescal Gateway Park,” according to PPCC. “He also cleaned up several campsites in the Via de las Olas bluffs, where previous fires had been set, using his own personal truck to haul away debris.”
Rodriguez also replaced broken and damaged “high fire severity” signs in the hillside areas on his own initiative this year.
“Carlos’ volunteer efforts have kept the community safe from fires and our environment pristine,” PPCC wrote. “This recognition is long overdue for his tremendous work as a true community steward of our hillsides.”
Hathaway is being recognized as Pride of the Palisades for his “extraordinary work” for over 10 years as CFO and director of the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run Foundation and principal organizer of the Fourth of July race.
“Thomas has devoted countless volunteer hours over the past 13 years to the success of the run, in which 3,000 runners/walkers participate annually,” PPCC described.
Starting on July 5, Hathaway—assisted over the years by Jimmy Klein and Mike Solum—spends five to 10 hours per week closing that year’s event, preparing for the next year, which includes securing sponsorships, completing financial arrangements, paying bills, obtaining city permissions and more over the course of several months. Then, beginning in March, Hathaway dedicates 15 to 25 hours each week finalizing plans and permits for each race.
“Thomas is an unsung hero of the Palisades community for his amazing volunteer efforts to produce the successful Will Rogers 5K/10K Run, year after year, on the Fourth of July,” PPCC wrote. “Pride of the Palisades honors are not awarded every year. It takes a special person like Thomas to earn this special recognition.”
The Awards Selection Committee—with Committee Chair Quentin Fleming, Kilbride, Karen Ridgley, JoAnna Rodriguez and Chris Spitz—considered “the many nominations received” to finalize the list.
All of the winners will be honored during the annual PPCC Holiday Dinner & Awards Gala, which will take place at Casa Nostra Ristorante in The Highlands on Thursday, December 12, beginning at 6 p.m.
The evening will begin with “a glass of bubbly and short meet and greet,” followed by a four-course dinner with a choice of entree and complimentary wine. There will be silent and live auctions, with “wonderful items” donated by area businesses, organizations and officials.
Tickets are now on sale for $125 per person. They will be available until December 6 or until sold out—whichever comes first.
For more information, including a link to purchase tickets, visit pacpalicc.org.
A beloved community tradition for over 70 years, this year’s holiday Ho!Ho!Ho! will return to Simon Meadow on Saturday, December 7, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Santa Claus and his team have visited Pacific Palisades each holiday season during Ho!Ho!Ho! since December 1949.
“This year, we’re celebrating a landmark 75 years of free holiday Ho!Ho!Ho! merriment,” according to a statement. “This event has been a treasured part of the Palisades community since 1949. Each holiday season, little kids and grown-ups look forward to the Pacific Palisades Ho!Ho!Ho!”
This year’s event will kick off with Santa and Mrs. Claus riding down the streets of town aboard Los Angeles Fire Department Station 69’s fire truck—culminating at Palisades-Malibu YMCA Tree Lot.
“Once the very approachable Claus couple takes their seats at Simon Meadow, you can take a photo with them—no charge,” the statement continued. “So make sure to bring your phone or camera.”
Their arrival will be followed by a lineup of entertainment and performances, activities, local food offerings, and more. This year includes hot chocolate and toppings from Palisades Garden Cafe, performances by Fancy Feet and Palisades Studio, singers from Bluecat Music Voice Studio and Palisades Charter High School, New Vibe Gymnastics, a demonstration by Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts, and more.
According to Ho!Ho!Ho! organizers, this year’s event needs “a little financial help.”
“In the past, sales of raffle tickets for a firetruck ride with Santa helped fund the event,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, that raffle and the income it produced are no longer available. While the local YMCA generously provides the space and sponsorship, we need additional donations to cover costs for craft supplies, face painting, food and decorations. Every contribution makes a difference.”
Individuals can make a tax-deductible donation directly to Palisades-Malibu YMCA.
“We’re grateful for the many local organizations and volunteers taking part in this year’s community event, including Friends of the Palisades Library, LAFD Station 69, Pacific Palisades Historical Society, Pali High Ambassadors, Palisades-Malibu YMCA and Resilient Palisades,” the statement read.
As the holiday season approaches, so does a variety of fresh trees at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA annual Tree Lot at Simon Meadow, which opens Friday, November 29 at 3 p.m.—a tradition that dates back decades.
“Generations of kids, parents, neighbors and friends have come to buy a tree and celebrate the season,” according to a previous poster.
The sale of trees—just like the YMCA’s Pumpkin Patch each October—acts as a fundraising event for YMCA, helping provide programs and financial assistance to families in need, and beyond.
“The YMCA Tree Lot is a YMCA fundraiser that helps supplement programs, our financial assistance program and many other impactful programs,” Palisadian Lou Kamer said to the Palisadian-Post.
The 2024 selection includes a variety of trees, like nobles, Nordmann and Fraser firs, ranging from table-top size to 14 feet tall. Special decorative items will also be available for sale, including wreaths, wooden reindeer and snowmen, and garland by the foot.
The Tree Lot will also offer tree disposal bags and a “keep it green” preservative to extend the life of the tree.
“Light up your home with a beautiful premium tree from the Y and help youth learn, grow and thrive,” according to the Y.
The lot—located at 15551 Sunset Boulevard—will be open Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local delivery will be available.
Entries for the Palisadian-Post’s 11th annual Deck Your Halls holiday home decorating contest will open on Sunday, December 1.
Those who participate will have a chance to win one of three prizes: Best Decked Out Hall, Best Theme and Greenest Decor, which was introduced in 2023 to honor a home that uses environmentally friendly decorations.
Sponsors for this year’s contest include McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Alfred, Theatre Palisades, Porta Via Palisades, Palisades Gas & Wash and Roku Sushi. For more information or to sign up, visit palipost.com.
Sanctuary Spa at the Palisades—which is designed to be a “serene luxury day spa” with “transformative experiences to indulge and awaken the senses”—has opened in Palisades Highlands Plaza.
The space is owned and operated by wife and husband team Racquel and Jeff Jacobs, who have lived in the Palisades for 25 years in El Medio Bluffs. Their kids grew up in the area, attending Marquez Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter High schools.
Racquel took auyervedic training and in the process got her massage certification in 2008, she explained. After launching a “short-lived” brand of body products, she did volunteer work with nonprofits, which led to her getting a bachelor degree in social work with a minor in gerontology followed by a master’s degree from USC in the management field in gerontology.
While working as a care manager—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—Racquel said she realized self-care was “really, really important.”
“One of my passions was slow, clean beauty,” she described, wanting to bring that concept to a space in the Palisades. “I like to feed my skin with clean products … high end, but still in the price point where it’s not too expensive.”
The products used and sold at the spa are all either marine or plant derived, Racquel explained.
“I needed to redefine a typical day spa resort in a way,” she said, “because oftentimes, you’d have to get away for seven days to go to this beautiful resort and have this beautiful experience in a spa. So I decided, why not have something that you can come in and out, you don’t have to do the seven-day travel just to have that and still have that experience?”
Racquel said that her husband, Jeff, is a CPA and a “huge part in having all of this come together.”
“It was important to sort of remember the way the Palisades used to be,” Jeff said of the spa. “It was fair and it treated people fairly … Sometimes you get newer companies or stores that move in here and they’re very, very expensive. We wanted to have incredible service, incredible product, at a price that’s very, very competitive.”
Sanctuary Spa offers a menu of facials, massage, body treatments and spa experience. Facials include the Sanctuary Palisades Signature Facial, Hydrasoothe Calming Facial, Gentleman’s Facial and Hydracloud High Performance Facial.
Body treatments come with a eucalyptus steam and shower, designed to open pores, while relaxing and soothing muscles. The menu has the Papaya Pineapple Saltmousse Body Exfoliating, Rose Body Wrap and Papaya Créme Fraiche Body Wrap treatments.
When it comes to massage, options include Restorative Massage, Couples Massage and the Ageless Massage.
“One of the things that Racquel did—based on her background in gerontology and aging services—we designed a specific treatment called the Ageless Massage, specifically for elderly,” Jeff explained. “It’s something that was important to us in creating the spa.”
A platinum experience is a half-day at the spa, including three hours of “pampering, relaxation and stress-relief,” which can be for a solo client or with one to two guests.
“Although all our therapists are licensed and experienced, Racquel made it a point to spend the past two months training her staff in the various specialty treatments and techniques that we use at the spa,” Jeff explained. The therapists have told us that they’ve never gone through such a detailed training, not even at the larger franchise spas. We likewise take a lot of pride in the level of training provided, which we believe will translate to a great customer experience.”
The spa also offers private parties, including baby showers, engagement parties, birthdays or get-togethers with friends. A “unique menu of spa treatments and goodies” can be assembled for the event.
Sanctuary Spa is located at 530 Palisades Drive. For more information, visit sanctuarypalisades.com.
Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a “slow-moving” brush fire near 1400 N Palisades Drive in The Highlands, according to LAFD Spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
The fire, reported at 9:50 a.m. on November 13, was in “heavy brush adjacent to the reservoir” and was “topography (not wind) driven with steep slopes.”
By 10:57 a.m. more than 60 firefighters on scene had stopped all forward progress.
“The precisely targeted, rapid water drops from LAFD Air Operations combined with the firefighters’ aggressive fire attack on the ground held the fire to approximately one acre (revised from initial size up [of five acres]),” Stewart wrote. “No structures damaged and no injuries reported. Due to the steep terrain and the work required to conduct a mop up operation, all resources [remained] on scene.”
The fire cause is “unintentional,” according to LAFD Public Information Officer Captain Erik Scott, and from a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power mower that had struck a rock with its blade—“sparking and igniting the hillside.”
“LADWP was unable to extinguish the fire with their water tender and quickly called 911 for assistance,” Scott reported.
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.”
Palisades Turkeys
I know what you’re thinking.
Nobody wants to be a turkey.
Add to the mix this Thursday a whole bunch of ’em will be covered in gravy on your and my plate.
But that’s not the real story.
Turkeys are anything but turkeys.
Turkeys are the absolute coolest.
For soooooo many reasons.
Here are a few fun facts to know from their highlight reel.
1. They’ve been around for 20 million years
That’s right. Way, way before us. We’re infants on the planet compared to turkeys.
Just for the record, humans started talking about 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. That’s nothing.
2. Their heads change colors.
Yep. Depending on their moods, they might sport a red head or a blue one … Very fashion-forward, if you ask me. Try that, Giorgio Armani.
3. Every turkey is unique.
Turkeys are firecrackers of emotion. With joy. With curiosity. Some are daring and bold. Some are shy and reserved. All different and unique.Some are smart and sassy—and tell you just what they think. I just love ’em so much.
4. They care about each other.
The big one.
Probably the reason they’ve been around so long. They hang out together. In a flock. They communicate in lots of different ways; they protect each other. They love their families, their buddies.
Hens rarely leave their nests—and will even fake an injury and sacrifice herself if it means protecting her little poults.
Siblings stick together their whole lives. As a flock, they groom each other, protect each other and root each other on. What’s not to love?
……………
Reminds me of somebody I know.
Palisadians.
Wonderful Palisadians.
I was thinking about a few special folks right here in town who remind me of amazing turkeys.
Who don’t always get the attention they deserve. Never showboats. Always there when you need ’em. Full to the brim of life with heart and love.
Amazing, selfless, caring turkeys.
So here are my favorite “Palisades Thanksgiving Turkeys.”
They don’t make ’em better …
Shaye Hendricks
Shaye absolutely crushed it a few years ago at USC with all kinds of academic and leadership honors—and decided she wanted to make a difference in children’s lives as a teacher.
She’s the Lead Pre-School 2 Teacher at Calvary in town—and her 15 kids absolutely adore her.
“I get to watch them find the wonder of life in the littlest, most beautiful things,” Shaye said. “How blessed am I?”
They’re the blessed ones to have you, Shaye.
Bruce Schwartz
Turkeys feel a duty to each other. They look out for each other. They’re there when you need ’em. That’s Bruce in the Palisades.
Our steward.
Bruce is on the Palisades Forestry Committee, planting trees in all our parks in town, improving our sidewalks and so many other projects to make the town even more of a town.
And he’s filled up the back of his 1974 pickup truck with trash from abandoned homeless sites and from all around town—hundreds and hundreds of times.
How grateful we all are to you, Bruce.
Kathleen McRoskey
Kathleen has raised four great kids, she’s married to a super-duper guy and does all kinds of community service work. But here’s her “tell.”
That thing she does that defines everything, everything that is beautiful about her.
Doesn’t seem like a big deal, but says miles.
Every week, rain or shine, around sunset, Kathleen goes next door to the side of her 93-year-old neighbor’s house—and rolls his trash cans out to the front curb. The next day—puts ’em all back.
If she hears a neighbor on their block is under the weather, or maybe one of the kids on the block is struggling with something, or maybe there’s a new neighbor moving in—Kathleen is knocking on their door.
And in her hand is a plate of warm, spectacular, home-baked chocolate chip cookies. But that look in her eyes telling you how much she loves you will fill you up so much longer than any cookie could ever do in the world.
Lucky the McRoskey kids, lucky her husband Mike, lucky her neighbors and lucky the Palisades to have Kathleen McRoskey in our wonderful town family.
Steve Guttenberg
I know he’s a celebrity, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a regular guy.
I was shopping in Gelsons, and Steve was buying a pastry from Susie at the bakery counter.
No one was there, just Susie.
Steve’s way of saying “thank you” was to sing, just to her, “You are the sunshine of my life.” And he sang the whole chorus, melting Susie’s heart. Nobody else heard him.
And he looked right in her eyes the whole time.
Life. Sure is a beautiful, wondrous thing.
Four Palisades Thanksgiving Turkeys.
Shaye Hendricks. Bruce Schwartz. Kathleen McRoskey. Steve Guttenberg.
Four beautiful, inspiring, caring town treasures.
How grateful we are to you—and to who you inspire us to reach to be.
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.
Please, please, PLEASE, residents of The Palisades: stop at the stop signs in town. I sit at Pali Garden Cafe many mornings, literally no one stops at the t-junction at Alma Real and La Cruz. Aren’t we better that this??
Gutters
As our (hopefully) rainy season begins, homeowners please check to make sure your street gutters are cleared of leafy debris and trash. There is no excuse for letting this stuff flow into the ocean.
Interfaith
I love that the Palisades has the tradition of the Interfaith Thanksgiving service. What a special thing for the community.
Neighborhood Watch
I was feeling inspired after hearing about neighborhoods setting up a large groupchat/WhatsApp for their areas to stay in communication about crimes and emergencies. Has anyone in the Palisades done this with success? It would be nice to get more things like that going.
Good Luck
Good Luck to all the Turkey Trotters this week!
Halloween
It’s always so fun to see all the ways the community celebrates Halloween. There were some fun and spooky events this year!
Got something to say? Call 310-454-1321 or email 2cents@palipost.com and get those kudos or concerns off your chest. Names will not be used.
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