From Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades Brian Espin on July 12: “Last week’s crime picture shows multiple incidents on Bollinger. Detectives are working the case and looking to connect any other crimes where they could be related to the same people involved in other areas. As I mentioned before, if you are not occupying your property, please have someone check your property as frequently as possible. I am anticipating our theft crimes increasing due to the amount of construction equipment and tools being stored on people’s property. Please educate your working crews on your property to best secure their equipment and tools so we can try and make it harder for thieves to take our stuff.”
Burglary
Bollinger Drive, June 29 at 2 p.m. Suspect(s) used tool to smash rear glass sliding door. Suspect(s) entered and ransacked residence. Suspect(s) left back through rear glass sliding door in unknown direction.
Bollinger Drive, June 30 at 6:45 p.m. Victim was checking on her home when she discovered one of her wine bottles on the lawn. Victim entered her home and observed another alcohol bottle on the counter and her bathroom window open. Officers’ observation revealed suspects removed screen to residence, opened window, entered and removed two bottles of alcohol. DNA swab taken from bottle.
Bollinger Drive, July 1 at 2:20 p.m. Suspects smashed bedroom window, entered and ransacked, but did not remove any property.
Pacific Coast Highway, July 1 at 7:23 p.m. Suspects entered vacant premise and removed miscellaneous property. Victim observed suspects via CCTV, responded to location and prevented suspects from fleeing. Officers arrived and placed suspects under arrest. Victim’s property was recovered from suspects’ vehicle and returned.
Provided by LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin. In case of emergency, call 911. To report a non-emergency, call 877-275-5273.
Palisadians affected by the fire would probably love to have copies of the pictures and stories written about their kids over the years. A great project for the new summer interns.
(Editor’s note: We are assembling a list of archive requests. Please email any to mypost@palipost.com.)
Colonel Swenson
I echo the sentiment of many other community members: Thank you, Colonel Swenson, for your commitment to the Palisades these past six months.
Interfaith Statement
How special that Pacific Palisades has an Interfaith Clergy and that they are continuing to support the community. I loved reading their message in the Post.
‘Bravo’
Bravo for Theatre Palisades and Theatre Palisades Youth for continuing their programming!
Reopenings
I was happy to read that Gladstones has reopened. That was one of my favorite spots before the fire. I was also glad to see Luxe Homecare found a new space in Brentwood. Supporting our local businesses and neighbors is so important.
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.
Local Galleries, Organizations Offer Art-Based Events, Exhibitions and Workshops This Summer
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains & Seashore
The works of members of Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains & Seashore are on display through November 19 at Santa Paula Art Museum, located at 117 N 10th Street.
Described as “a group show for juried members” of the organization, the works “will be original representational paintings depicting the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.”
Allied Artists is a group of painters—including Palisadian members—who have “joined together in celebrating the inspiration and beauty of our local coastal region through the joy of painting” for more than 25 years.
The Santa Paula exhibition features works by 23 members of Allied Artists, according to its Instagram, including Timothy Kitz, Susan Flanigan, Nora Koerber, Sharon Weaver, Laura Wambsgans, Carole Garland, Barbara Freund and Russell Hunziker.
“Celebrating nature … something the members of the Allied Artists do with every brush stroke,” the group wrote ahead of the exhibition. “We are excited to have this special exhibit at the Santa Paula Art Museum and hope you enjoy spending some time there enjoying the celebratory art.”
Members of Allied Artists are also part of Malibu Art Association, which will be hosting Art in the Park at Legacy Park in Malibu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 10 and September 14.
In Santa Monica Canyon at gallery169, Kelly Sena’s “For the Wild”—“a collaborative photographic project with seven imprisoned environmental activists”—will be on display through the end of summer.
In 2006, Sena wrote to the “incarcerated activists,” asking “where are the places you travel to inside your mind’s eye?” and offered to take photos of the places, beginning a “long collaborative project” that spanned from the Pacific Northwest to the Arizona desert, South Dakota Badlands and Atlantic Ocean.
“As a photographer, I sometimes secretly yearn to feel liberated from everything I know about the history of art and photography,” Sena wrote in a statement. “I want to be reckless and make beautiful photographs that celebrate nature. Instead, I work toward resuscitating a clichéd genre—nature photography—while acknowledging that nature and politics will always be inextricably bound together.”
“For the Wild” has been on view since May 31, when gallery169 celebrated with an artist opening reception. The gallery—part of Canyon Square—is located at 169 W Channel Road.
Bruce Lurie Gallery will host summertime art events—as well as display “a diverse selection of artwork”—at 608 Santa Monica Boulevard.
Gallery owner and Palisadian Bruce Lurie lost his Via De La Paz space in the Palisades fire, but opened a new gallery in downtown Santa Monica, just over two months after January 7.
“After the devastating fire, it’s more important than ever for our community to come together with a shared purpose,” Lurie said at the time. “I envision our space as a hub for design and visual arts, where creative minds can connect, collaborate and contribute to meaningful progress.”
The gallery specializes in “showcasing emerging to mid-career artists,” with a “focus on cutting-edge pop art, street art, abstract minimalism, photography and monumental sculpture.”
Some of the artists that have works on display in the gallery include Nick Veasey, Brad Howe, Jon Krawczyk, Jack Winthrop, Todd Gray and Hamilton Aguiar.
“We currently have a diverse selection of artwork available from the talented group of artists we represent,” Gallery Director Lan Guan said.
The gallery is currently finalizing details for upcoming events in August. Visit its website for more information as it is available.
Foam Block Fun: Family Printmaking Workshop Photo courtesy of Getty
Getty
For those who want to create their own art this summer, Getty is offering two drop-in series on Sundays: Artist-at-Work: Printmaking and Foam Block Fun: Family Printmaking Workshop.
“Get ready to roll up your sleeves and explore the world of printmaking,” read information about the Foam Block Fun series. “In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create your own foam block print inspired by traditional relief techniques, and discover the creative connection between drawing and printmaking.”
The bilingual workshops will be led by artist Yaneli Delgado, produced in partnership with Self Help Graphics & Art.
“Yaneli Delgado is a Mexican American artist and educator,” read a bio provided by Getty. “She has a BA in sociology and Spanish literature, along with a teaching credential in art education. Delgado has developed a distinctive approach to printmaking, and her work has been showcased at the Mattatuck Museum and the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, and acquired by LACMA.”
The Artist-at-Work: Printmaking series will be led by artists Marianna Sadowski (July and August), a “visual artist and art educator,” and Victor Rosas (September), a “self-taught printmaker.”
Each workshop will feature a “live printmaking demonstration” to “explore the materials and techniques behind one of the oldest forms of printmaking: the traditional woodcut and its modern counterpart, the linocut.”
Those who attend will “discover how these relief processes inspire artists today.”
Workshop dates for both programs are July 27, August 10 and 24, and September 7 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will all take place at Getty Center, located at 1200 Getty Center Drive.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information about where the Foam Block Fun series will take place, which was previously reported as Getty Villa but has been corrected to Getty Center.
Former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades Martin short is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for "Only Murders in the Building." Photo by Rich Schmitt
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The nominees for the 77th Emmy Awards were announced on Tuesday, July 15, by Harvey Guillén and Brenda Song—and several Palisadians are up for awards.
In the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, Former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades Martin Short is nominated for “Only Murders in the Building,” Palisadian Adam Brody is nominated for “Nobody Wants This” and Jason Segel, who grew up in the Palisades and attended St. Matthew’s School, is nominated for “Shrinking.” Brody is nominated for an Emmy for the first time.
Palisadian Jamie Lee Curtis is nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for the second year in a row for her role as Donna Berzatto in “The Bear”—a category that also includes Olivia Colman for “The Bear,” Cynthia Erivo for “Poker Face,” Robby Hoffman and Julianne Nicholson for “Hacks,” and Zoë Kravitz for “The Studio.”
“How lucky are we all to get to say the great words from these shows with complex characters and such great teams and scene partners,” Curtis wrote following the nomination.
When it comes to Outstanding Comedy Series, “Nobody Wants This,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “The Bear” and “Shrinking”—with co-Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades Ted McGinley—are all nominated. “Shrinking” garnered seven nominations in total.
Palisades Charter High School graduate Forest Whitaker is nominated in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series category for his role as Saw Gerrera in “Andor.”
Palisadian Barbara Corcoran is nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program alongside Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Daniel Lubetzky for “Shark Tank.”
The Oscars—which were hosted by Palisadian Conan O’Brien—are nominated for Outstanding Variety Special (Live). He will return to host the Oscars in 2026.
O’Brien is also nominated for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special and Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program for his travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go.”
Palisadian Miles Teller is nominated as executive producer of “The Gorge” in the Outstanding Television Movie category.
Palisadian Thomas Newman and daughter Julia Newman are nominated for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) for their work on “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
Palisadian Adam Sandler is nominated in the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for his comedy special: “Adam Sandler: Love You.”
In the Outstanding Narrator category, Palisadian Tom Hanks is nominated for narrating “The Americas.”
Palisadian Lesli Linka Glatter is nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “Zero Day.” The series has also been nominated for Outstanding Cinematography and Outstanding Sound Mixing.
“I was on set shooting in LA when I got this incredible ‘Zero Day’ news,” Glatter wrote. “I am stunned and thrilled. I was blessed to have worked with this extraordinary cast, a director’s dream, and the most incredible crew. The word that comes to mind is ‘grateful.’”
This year, the Emmys will air live on CBS at 5 p.m. on September 14. They will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.
Local Galleries, Organizations Offer Art-Based Events, Exhibitions and Workshops This Summer
“Low Tide” Courtesy of Virginia Kamhi
Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains & Seashore
The works of members of Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains & Seashore are on display through November 19 at Santa Paula Art Museum, located at 117 N 10th Street.
Described as “a group show for juried members” of the organization, the works “will be original representational paintings depicting the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.”
Allied Artists is a group of painters—including Palisadian members—who have “joined together in celebrating the inspiration and beauty of our local coastal region through the joy of painting” for more than 25 years.
“Bu Lagoon” Courtesy of Barbara Freund
The Santa Paula exhibition features works by 23 members of Allied Artists, according to its Instagram, including Timothy Kitz, Susan Flanigan, Nora Koerber, Sharon Weaver, Laura Wambsgans, Carole Garland, Barbara Freund and Russell Hunziker.
“Celebrating nature … something the members of the Allied Artists do with every brush stroke,” the group wrote ahead of the exhibition. “We are excited to have this special exhibit at the Santa Paula Art Museum and hope you enjoy spending some time there enjoying the celebratory art.”
Members of Allied Artists are also part of Malibu Art Association, which will be hosting Art in the Park at Legacy Park in Malibu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 10 and September 14.
allied-artists.com
Photo courtesy of Kelly Sena
gallery169
In Santa Monica Canyon at gallery169, Kelly Sena’s “For the Wild”—“a collaborative photographic project with seven imprisoned environmental activists”—will be on display through the end of summer.
In 2006, Sena wrote to the “incarcerated activists,” asking “where are the places you travel to inside your mind’s eye?” and offered to take photos of the places, beginning a “long collaborative project” that spanned from the Pacific Northwest to the Arizona desert, South Dakota Badlands and Atlantic Ocean.
“As a photographer, I sometimes secretly yearn to feel liberated from everything I know about the history of art and photography,” Sena wrote in a statement. “I want to be reckless and make beautiful photographs that celebrate nature. Instead, I work toward resuscitating a clichéd genre—nature photography—while acknowledging that nature and politics will always be inextricably bound together.”
“For the Wild” has been on view since May 31, when gallery169 celebrated with an artist opening reception. The gallery—part of Canyon Square—is located at 169 W Channel Road.
gallery169.com
Photo courtesy of Lan Guan
Bruce Lurie Gallery
Bruce Lurie Gallery will host summertime art events—as well as display “a diverse selection of artwork”—at 608 Santa Monica Boulevard.
Gallery owner and Palisadian Bruce Lurie lost his Via De La Paz space in the Palisades fire, but opened a new gallery in downtown Santa Monica, just over two months after January 7.
“After the devastating fire, it’s more important than ever for our community to come together with a shared purpose,” Lurie said at the time. “I envision our space as a hub for design and visual arts, where creative minds can connect, collaborate and contribute to meaningful progress.”
The gallery specializes in “showcasing emerging to mid-career artists,” with a “focus on cutting-edge pop art, street art, abstract minimalism, photography and monumental sculpture.”
Some of the artists that have works on display in the gallery include Nick Veasey, Brad Howe, Jon Krawczyk, Jack Winthrop, Todd Gray and Hamilton Aguiar.
“We currently have a diverse selection of artwork available from the talented group of artists we represent,” Gallery Director Lan Guan said.
The gallery is currently finalizing details for upcoming events in August. Visit its website for more information as it is available.
luriegallery.com
Photos courtesy of Getty
Getty
For those who want to create their own art this summer, Getty is offering two drop-in series on Sundays: Artist-at-Work: Printmaking and Foam Block Fun: Family Printmaking Workshop.
“Get ready to roll up your sleeves and explore the world of printmaking,” read information about the Foam Block Fun series. “In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create your own foam block print inspired by traditional relief techniques, and discover the creative connection between drawing and printmaking.”
The bilingual workshops, which will take place at Getty Villa, located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, will be led by artist Yaneli Delgado, produced in partnership with Self Help Graphics & Art.
“Yaneli Delgado is a Mexican American artist and educator,” read a bio provided by Getty. “She has a BA in sociology and Spanish literature, along with a teaching credential in art education. Delgado has developed a distinctive approach to printmaking, and her work has been showcased at the Mattatuck Museum and the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, and acquired by LACMA.”
The Artist-at-Work: Printmaking series at Getty Center, located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, will be led by artists Marianna Sadowski (July and August), a “visual artist and art educator,” and Victor Rosas (September), a “self-taught printmaker.”
Each workshop will feature a “live printmaking demonstration” to “explore the materials and techniques behind one of the oldest forms of printmaking: the traditional woodcut and its modern counterpart, the linocut.”
Those who attend will “discover how these relief processes inspire artists today.”
Workshop dates for both programs are July 27, August 10 and 24, and September 7 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nearly 30 years have passed since the original, but as Netflix put it: “Happy Gilmore isn’t done with golf—not by a long shot.”
Palisadian Adam Sandler is back to star as the titular character in “Happy Gilmore 2,” the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 sports comedy, which will be available to stream on Netflix beginning Friday, July 25.
Happy Gilmore returns as the former hockey player who discovered an unexpected talent for golf. Now retired, he finds himself pulled back into the world of competitive golf where he needs to help pay tuition for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school. Vienna is a young dancer with big aspirations played by Sandler’s real-life daughter Sunny.
The movie was directed Kyle Newacheck, and Sandler co-wrote the script with Tim Herlihy. The project is produced by Happy Madison Productions, owned by Sandler, which is the company behind movies such as “50 First Dates,” “Grown Ups,” “Murder Mystery” and “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.”
Several original cast members are returning to their roles: Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit, Christopher McDonald is back as Shooter McGavin and Ben Stiller as Hal L.
The film features new characters as well. Filmmaker Benny Safdie and music star Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, join the cast, with Bad Bunny playing Happy’s new caddy. In addition, Sandler’s wife Jackie and older daughter Sadie also appear.
“Happy Gilmore 2” also features many celebrity and athlete cameos. Golf figures Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus, Brooks Koepka and Nelly Korda make cameos, alongside artists Eminem and Post Malone, athletes Reggie Bush and Travis Kelce, and sportscaster Dan Patrick.
Former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades Kevin Nealon is also set to appear in the film.
Filming began on September 9, 2024, and wrapped on December 10, 2024. Production took place across New Jersey, with scenes shot at golf courses, schools, restaurants and town centers, bringing new life to Happy’s journey.
Methodist Preschool Continues Programming Following Palisades Fire
By ALEC HARRISON | Contributing Writer
On Tuesday, January 7, Methodist Preschool of Pacific Palisades, affectionately known as MPS, welcomed families back after their three-week winter break. The preschool children, aged 2 to 5 years old, rushed through the school doors at 9 a.m., excited to be reunited with their friends and teachers to share stories of their vacations away from school.
They were also particularly thrilled to begin working in the newly constructed garden-to-table atelier, a beautiful kitchen space that had been designed for the children and was due to be completed that very day. Although a little blustery as the seasonal Santa Ana winds had started, all the children were ready to dive back into work and play.
Methodist Preschool has been a huge part of the Pacific Palisades community, with thousands of families passing through its famous blue doors over the years. The school is attached to the Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades (the founding building in the Palisades), and the preschool was started in 1945. The preschool was due to celebrate its 80th anniversary this year.
Around 10:30 a.m. that day, the school’s administration team began to see smoke coming from the neighboring mountains and soon learned that a wildfire had broken out. It was clear that the fire was spreading fast, and the strong winds exacerbated the situation.
In an abundance of caution, the children’s families were contacted and alerted to come and pick up their children. The school closed, and the children, families and teachers made their way to their cars.
Little did they know that this would be the last time they would set foot on the grounds of their beloved school. Unfortunately, the fire ended up devastating much of Pacific Palisades, and the homes of virtually all of the preschool families. By the following evening, the school building was gone.
“The whole school community was in complete and utter shock,” Methodist Preschool Director Laura Bieber said. “We were all completely devastated about what had happened to our school, to our community and to our families. After the initial shock had passed, our first thought was, ‘How can we get our families back together?’”
Immediately, the administrative team started reaching out to their LA educator network to see if anyone had any space they could utilize. Fortunately, Palisades Preschool of Santa Monica responded to offer a potential space in its facility. By the following Wednesday, Methodist Preschool had set up temporary classrooms, and were ready to be reunited with their families and children.
There were a lot of tears from the parents on that first day, as everyone was seeing each other for the first time since being displaced. The children were so happy to see their friends and teachers after everything that had happened. All the school wanted was to provide stability to their families and children during this turbulent time.
After a couple of months of searching for a new location to house the school while the Palisades rebuilds, MPS has settled in a beautiful location in West LA.
“We were so intent on finding the perfect space, a place that would really uphold our mission, and we truly believe we have found that,” Bieber said.
MPS is now located in a building that was previously a preschool attached to another Methodist Church. After spending some weeks preparing the new facility and creating an outdoor space and garden to uphold the school’s nature-based philosophy, the school was ready to open its doors once again.
“We have only been in the space a few weeks, and although we miss our school in the Palisades desperately, we couldn’t have asked for a better location for our children and families,” Bieber said.
The school is now in the swing of summer, offering its popular summer camp program and ready to welcome its families back in the fall. It has limited available spaces and is able to welcome a few new families in the fall.
“It has certainly been an unforgettable year, but what it has shown us is the importance of community,” Bieber concluded. “When you have a strong and supportive community, like we do at MPS and in the Palisades, you can truly get through anything.”
Anyone interested in touring Methodist Preschool’s new West LA location can reach out to Admissions Director Flynn Aldis at flynn@methodistpreschool.com. Alec Harrison is assistant director of MPS.
Kristine Granz (center) Photos courtesy of Kristine Granz
Palisades Collective Has a Mission to ‘Rebuild, Uplift and Unite’ Through a Line of Hats and Necklaces
BY AUDREY SMITH | Intern
Looking for a way to bring her community together—while raising funds for local fire relief efforts—Marquez Knolls resident Kristine Granz created Palisades Collective, which offers a line of hats and necklaces.
“At Palisades Collective, we believe in the strength of community—especially when it’s tested by fire,” read the brand’s website. “Born from the ashes of the recent blaze that swept through the Palisades in Los Angeles, our mission is simple: to rebuild, uplift and unite through the power of jewelry.”
Palisades Strong necklace
The idea of Palisades Collective took shape one month after the Palisades fire, when Granz gave out custom “Palisades Strong” hats as favors at her daughter Kayla’s bat mitzvah.
“People kept asking me where they could get one,” Granz recalled.
Guests also asked about the matching “Palisades Strong” necklaces worn by Granz and her two daughters, Kayla and Cassidy.
“I thought, ‘Let’s just make some more of them,’” Granz said. “And this time, let’s fundraise and give back to something important to us.”
She produced more hats and necklaces with the help of her friends who work in jewelry and merchandising, and used the proceeds to support the Palisades’ recovery. Palisades Collective officially launched on Valentine’s Day.
“It was born from a desire to rebuild with purpose, to unite the community and to connect people,” Granz said.
In its first month, all proceeds were donated to Marquez Charter Elementary School, where both of her daughters had attended. Since then, Granz and her daughters have chosen a different local cause each month to support.
“The mission is also deeply personal to our daughters,” read the Palisades Collective website. “Having grown up in the Palisades, they want to give back to the schools, parks and places that shaped their childhood. As we grow, our goal is to expand our support to the institutions that have meant the most to them and so many others in our community.”
Granz and her husband bought their first home together in the Palisades in 2008, according to the Palisades Collective website.
“The devastating Palisades fire uprooted us, forcing difficult decisions about where to live and how to move forward,” the website continued. “Through it all, one thing remained clear: the strength of our neighbors, the kindness of friends and the unwavering love we have for this place.”
Limited edition Fourth of July hats
Palisades Collective has also participated in fundraising events: They had a pop-up at the first block party in the community following the fire, hosted by Palisades Garden Cafe, and a pop-up at a Palisades Strong event on the Santa Monica Pier.
Granz has hosted a Mahjong party at her temporary home in Brentwood to raise money for Palisades Charter High School and a succulent-making party, catered by Gracias Señor and La La Land, to raise money for Pali High’s baseball team.
Inspired by community traditions in the Palisades, two limited-edition Fourth of July hats are available on the website.
“This is a way for people to still feel that Palisades spirit, even if things look different right now,” Granz reflected.
In addition to the Palisades-centric items, there are also LA Strong necklaces and hats, as well as hats that read Malibu Strong. There is a necklace with the Palisades’ zip code, 90272, as well as a necklace that says Pali.
“It’s not about the merchandise,” Granz said. “It’s about knowing I’m connected to all of these people, and we’re in this together.”
The collection is available at wearethepalisadescollective.com and Rosewood Miramar in Montecito.
Running the second “Unofficial Palisades 5K” on July 4 through the streets of the Huntington were (pictured clockwise from top left): Camila Cordara, James Kanoff, Chase Klein, Chad Kanoff, Beau Barnett, Spencer Sawai, Chris Groel, Mike Hart, Ty Gilhuly and Dylan Coleman Photo: Jillian Apel
Patriotic Palisadians Return to Huntington Neighborhood to Run Familiar Will Rogers 5K Course on Fourth of July
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Honoring a proud tradition is what a group of Palisadians sought out to do the morning of July 4. They did not just go the extra mile, they went three extra miles to show the spirit of their hometown is alive and well.
As a tribute to the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run, which has been the way countless residents have begun the town’s Independence Day festivities for nearly half a century, 10 individuals met at the intersection of Toyopa and Alma Real Drive to participate in the second “Unofficial” Pali 5K,” despite the “official” race being relocated to Venice Beach in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in January.
The original “Unofficial Pali 5K” took place four years ago during the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the cancellation of the Palisades Will Rogers Run for two years in a row. Dylan Coleman came up withthe idea of a substitute race and it was his social media influence thatmotivated 16 people to run the 5K course that starts and ends at the Palisades Recreation Center.
Coleman was happy to share with the Palisadian-Post the genesis of the “Unofficial Pali 5K.”
“Back in 2021 when COVID-19 canceled our beloved race we decided to throw our own,” the 2013 Palisades High School alum said. “It wasn’taffiliated with Will Rogers in any way. I created an Instagram account (@unofficialpali5k) to announce the make-up race and spread the word to the community. Everyone was welcome as the goal was to keep the tradition alive. My job as commissioner was simple: I chalked the route, catered post-race snacks and even designed a medal for the first place finisher, Spencer Sawai. My job was done. The 2021 ‘Unofficial Pali 5K’ was run and we were tracking to go back to the normal race in 2022.”
Palisadians (ll-r) Dylan Coleman, Spencer Sawai and Chris Groel at the Venice 5K on the Fourth of July. Photo: Jillian Apel
After a two-year hiatus, the Palisades Will Rogers Run did resume as normal in 2022—until another disaster jeopardized the annual race.
“Fast-forward to January 7th, 2025,” Coleman recalled. “That Tuesday night will live with us forever. Getting confirmation that our house was gone was devastating. The Palisades responded by showing its true colors. We’re a hardworking community that came together and helped our neighbors with any needs necessary. To this day, all the love and support is still here.”
Coleman, who was born and raised in the Palisades, felt compelled to act once more on behalf of his community.
“With July only months away, we suspected that the official Will Rogers Run was not likely to happen this year in the Palisades,” he said. “Once we got confirmation that Venice was hosting it was a no-brainer to login to the Instagram account and send out a blast to notify our followers we were coming back for 2025.”
“Chris Groel and I met the Thursday before to chalk the race route and prepare for the following day,” he continued. “This race wouldn’t have been possible without his help. Chalking the route is no easy job and there was a lot of hard work behind the scenes. We measured the race by memory and via smart watches: We didn’t want to run on Sunset so we tweaked the route just a little for an extra loop on Pampas Ricas.”
Early the next morning, Coleman met Groel, Spencer Sawai and Chad Kanoff in Venice to participate in the official 5K (which started at 7 a.m.) and upon completing that race they promptly drove to Alma Real Drive in the Huntington to get their own race going. Joining them were some of their lifelong friends from local schools, camps and youth sports teams.
Coleman, Groel and Sawai all graduated from Pali High in 2013 while Kanoff, Ty Gilhuly, Mike Hart and Chase Klein all graduated the same year from Harvard-Westlake High in Studio City. Rounding out the field were Beau Barnett, a 2012 graduate of Le Lycée in West LA), Kanoff’s younger brother James (a 2017 Harvard-Westlake alum) and Chad’s girlfriend Camila Cordara from Argentina.
Rustic Canyon’s own Ty Gilhuly won the second “Unofficial Palisades 5K” on the Fourth of July in 23:14. Photo: Dylan Coleman
“I couldn’t convince Camila to come to the 7 a.m. official race, but Ithankfully got her and some others to come for the unofficial,” said Chad, who was selected Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year after a record-breaking senior season at Princeton in which he broke the school record for career passing yards (7,510) and set league records for single-season passing yardage (3,474) and completion percentage (73.2%). “We love the race!
Coleman, who ran the official 5K race in Venice in 26:08 (good enough for 16th place out of 36 runners in age division), made sure the national anthem was sung and the runners were given some course tips.
The clock struck 9:30 a.m. and the race was on.
“Truthfully, it felt a little bit heavy navigating through the Huntington streets, a beautiful neighborhood that was very deeply affected by the fire,” Coleman said. “Some homeowners were out on their lawns giving us support and that made it all worth it. We just wanted some normalcy after this horrible year.”
Gilhuly and Sawai (the 2021 “unofficial” champion) battled it out for first place before Gilhuly shifted to a higher gear at the very end to win in 23 minutes and 14 seconds. He was subsequently awarded the first-place medal courtesy of Shakespeare Engravings in Santa Monica.
Coleman grew up in the El Medio Bluffs; Groel in the Highlands; Sawai in upper El Medio; Klein in the Via Bluffs; the Kanoffs above the Bel-Air Bay Club; Gilhuly in Rustic Canyon; Barnett in the Riviera; and Hart on Bristol Avenue. It was heartbreaking to Coleman, Klein and the Kanoffs to see their childhood homes lost. Groel, Barnett, Hart and Gilhuly were more fortunate as their houses were saved.
Coleman played soccer and lacrosse at Palisades and his goalkeeping propelled the Dolphins to the City Division I soccer finals his senior in 2013 when he posted seven shutouts in 17 games.
Sawai played football and lacrosse at Pali High; Klein played football and volleyball at Harvard-Westlake and went on to play outside hitter for the men’s volleyball team at NYU. He is now a Senior Producer at Fox Sports. Gilhuly was the leading scorer for the Harvard-Westlake boys soccer team his senior year and later played on the University of Michigan club team.
Groel, who played football and lacrosse at Pali High and won the Post Cup Award as the school’s outstanding senior athlete, went on to be a four-year starter on the lacrosse team at Rutgers.
“This tradition technically started during COVID 19 but the spirit of the race goes back much further,” Groel sad. “I’ve personally participated in the Palisades 5K every year since 2007 aside from a fluke in 2018 when I may have spent a little too much time on the BABC dance floor the night before and completely missed the start time. Every year it’s the same beloved routine: wake up far too early with zero interest in running, throw on the most absurd red, white and blue outfit we can find, meet up with whoever makes up “the team” that year and head to the start line. During the race we’d yell out to [photographer] Rich Schmitt in hopes of making the Pali Post cover (I think we actually did once in high school), hoot and holler through the run, catch upwitholdfaces, finishwithno real impressive time, take the required group photo at the finish, grab Noah’s bagels and talk about plans for the rest of the day. It’s been a tradition for well over a decade—and one that, to me, represents the absolute best way to start the Fourth of July. It’s silly, wholesome, challenging and deeply rooted in the community. We see our old teachers, former PPBA coaches, campers we once counseled, everyone in one place. It embodies what makes the Palisades special.”
Groel has been on board since the inception of the “Unofficial Pali 5K.”
“When COVID canceled the race for the first time, Dylan stepped up to create the unofficial 5K to make sure that even without an official race, we could still carry out our tradition—early wakeup, run through the Palisades, bagels, and celebration,” continued Groel, who now lives in Santa Monica with his girlfriend and fellow Pali High graduate Camille Castaneda, whose dad is one of the owners of Cafe Vida. Now, post-fire, we knew we had to “run” it back again. The homes and buildings may have changed but the spirit of the Palisades hasn’t. We want to show and preserve that.”
Chad Kanoff played in the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association from Pinto through Pony, attended St. Matthew’s School and starred as thequarterback at Harvard-Westlake, where he threw for 3,400 yards as a senior. He ended his career with 85 touchdowns (running and passing).
He just started a new internship, has been at Stanford Business School and is working at Angeleno Group, a Los Angeles-based clean energy investor. James, has a start-up company called Terradot that does soilcarbon removal, so both brothers are in the energy transition world.
“James and I have been running the Will Rogers race for as long as I can remember,” Chad said. “I used to do the 10K and tried to win it up until about eighth grade but now I feel much too old and just do the 5K. When you’ve done something for so long it’s a habit and a tradition and I really lament the few years I’ve been somewhere else on July 4 since the Palisades is my favorite place to be for it and the morning race is a big part of that. Growing up, we spent so many days playing baseball, basketball and every sport imaginable at the park.”
Spencer Sawai with his medal and bottles of Martinelli’s after winning the first “Unofficial Palisades 5K” in 2021.. Photo: Dylan Coleman
Kanoff was only 25 when he scored the first touchdown in Los Angeles Wildcats history on a quarterback keeper in the franchise’s XFL opener versus the Houston Roughnecks in 2020.
“Chris [Groel] has been picking us up and taking us to the Will Rogers race for probably the last 10 years as our parents’ house was on the way from the Highlands,” Chad added. “Then normally we’d meet up with our sisters and parents and now sadly deceased dog afterwards. It’s a highlight every year so even with no town this year we wanted to keep the tradition alive.”
James Kanoff played football and soccer for the Wolverines and went on to attend Stanford University.
Now 30, Coleman works in fashion and merchandising. In retrospect, he felt duty-bound doing what he did but admits he hopes this year’s “Unofficial Pali 5K” is the last.
“Listen, I don’t like organizing these unofficial races, but when nature calls we come back swinging,” he said. “Our houses may have burned, but our streets did not. I hope I never throw an Unofficial Pali 5k again. The Palisades means everything to us and we just wanted to show our support back.”
Groel added: “Without Dylan, the Unofficial Pali 5K would never have happened. Like he said, we hope we never have to do it again, but if we do we’ll be ready.”
Mike Voelkel coached the Dolphins to more than 300 victories and 11 Western League crowns in his 18 seasons. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
All good things must come to an end and for Mike Voelkel that day was July 7 when he submitted his resignation as the head baseball coach atPalisades High.
In his 18 seasons at the helm Voelkel built the Dolphins into one of the LA City Section’s most consistent programs, posting an impressive 316-196-3 overall record, 11 Western League titles and an Open Division championship appearance at Dodger Stadium in 2019. Even more than the on-field success, however, was the way he conducted himself and represented the school, culminating in his being selected a CIF State Model Coach of the Year for 2024-25.
“I understand you’re judged by won-loss record but the Model Coach Award means more to me than winning 300 games or making the Hall fo Fame,” he said. “It justifies I tried to meet those high standards, pursuing victory with honor and playing by the rules. I didn’t recruit. Our players always had high GPAs. I developed the talent we had and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Although he is stepping away from baseball, Voelkel continues his job in the athletic departmentand will teach six P.E. classes for another two years until he retires. In the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in January the baseball field has been cemented over to create space for portable classrooms as part of campus rebuilding efforts.
“I do understand the situation created by the fire, I just wish they could’ve had another plan for the bungalows,” said Voelkel, who despite having to move his practices to Cheviot Hills Rec Center and rescheduling for all road games in the spring, guided the Dolphins to an 18-11 record and into the Division I quarterfinals.“Given the forecast of running a program under the circumstancesI just don’t have the energy to see this team through years of renovation. It’s time for someone new.”
He leaves big shoes to fill. On his watch the Dolphins made the upper division playoffs 14 times, won 20 or more games six times and reeled off 72 consecutive league wins from 2017 to 2024.
The 63-year-old has coached every level starting in 1983 and cherishes relationships he has built in his 40+-year career: “Coaching and teaching are tough jobs and those are your priceless rewards. The only thing I regret is not winning an Open Division title. We got close, but it’s the one box I wasn’t able to check.”
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