Race car driver and Palisades High alum Jaxon Bell had double poles in Virginia. Courtesy of Jaxon Bell Racing
Rounds seven and eight of the 2025 Toyota GR Cup Championship took place at Virginia International Raceway last weekend near Danville, Virginia and Palisadian Jaxon Bell qualified first to earn the pole position for both races, showing again that he is a rising star in the sport of auto racing.
Bell finished fourth in the first race and third in the second, although a post-race 30-second penalty for contact dropped him to 15th.
“That was a difficult weekend in Virginia,” Bell said. “Our BraunAbility #7 was fast and I had high expectations after starting on pole for both races. However, a few crucial mistakes I made put us in a bad spot. I learned a lot, will take those lessons going forward and can’t wait to bounce back at Road America.”
A 2021 graduate of Palisades High, Bell had six wins and 11 podiums in 16 races as a rookie in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series in 2023 and placed fourth overall in the Toyota GR Cup standings last year with seven podium spots, including a win in Austin and a pole position in Virginia. Jaxon is the oldest son of Townsend Bell, a three-time Top-10 finisher at the Indianapolis 500 and a Verizon IndyCar Series pro.
Growing up near the top of Chautauqua, Jaxon attended Palisades Elementary, went to middle school at Calvary Christian and played flag football and PPBA at the Palisades Recreartion Center. After graduating from Pali High ee decided to move to Charlotte, North Carolina because it is the home of motorsports in North America. Every NASCAR team is based in one town in the USA, Mooresville. For 18 months he worked for Hattori Racing, sweeping floors, cleaning the bathrooms, delivering parts, servicing and cleaning race car parts—whatever they needed him to do. It was humbling but instilled a strong work ethic, all-around racing technical knowledge and valuable insight into how a professional racing team works. In March 2023 he moved to Miami to work as the simulator racing instructor at The Concours Club and a few weeks later he debuted in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series with two checkered flags at Michelin Raceway in Atlanta after placing second in both practice sessions. His career has continued to produce positive results ever since.
The next event of the 2025 Toyota GR Cup Championship will be on August 15-17 at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Demare Dezeurn caught 20 passes for 451 yards and five touchdowns in seven games at Alemany High last season. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Speedy Transfer Demare Dezeurn will Try to Propel Palisades to Its First City Football Championship This Fall
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
In the spring, Demare Dezeurn established himself as one of the fastest high school track athletes in the country. In the fall he hopes to establish himself as one of the nation’s best wide receivers—and in the process helpthe Palisades High football team win its first-ever City Section title.
Coach Dylen Smith knows he is lucky to have a player as talentedand skilled as Dezeurn, who transferred to Palisades from Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, where he turned heads by placing third in the 100-meter dash at the CIF state championships in Clovis on May 31, clocking 10.39 seconds. He blazed to a personal-best 10.35 to win the event one week before at the Masters Meet in Moorpark, where he also ran a personal-best 21.04 to take second in the 200 meters.
Now, as he enters his junior year, he has pass-catching on his mind and he figures to be targeted a lot by quarterback Jack Thomas, who won the Joe Spector Award as Team MVP after throwing for 46 touchdowns and running for 12 more last season.
“It’s a hard transition after only two or three weeks off from the end of track season, but I wanted to be here just to show my face… it’s all about football right now,” Dezeurn said after the first day of practice at Santa Monica College. “It’s not an easy decision switching schools but I believe this is the best opportunity for me and my future. It’s been nothing but love since I got here. We’ve all got the same goal—to win City. I love the team aspect of football and I’m studying all of the plays. I go to sleep with the playbook.”
Demare Dezeurn wins his heat in the 100 meters at the state prelims in May. He took third in the finals the next day. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Dezeurn is happy to be joined at Palisades by his uncle Donte, who will be the Dolphins’ defensive backs coach and has been training his nephew since he was 8.
“We were thinking he was going to be an offensive lineman,” Donte said. “Then we saw how fast he was.”
Dezeurn already has more than 20 Division I offers and revealed his top five choices are USC, UCLA, Texas, Miami and Ohio State. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds on a recent recruiting trip to Texas Tech.
“What impresses me most about Demare is his desire to fit in from Day One,” said Smith, who enters his third season determined to pilot his team to a second straight championship game—only this time in the Open Division. “He’ll be a matchup nightmare for anyone we play.”
Dezeurn was on his way to a record-breaking sophomore season, amassing nearly 500 yards through the Warriors’ first five games, until an ankle injury sidelined him for most of the last six. He still ended up with 20 receptions for 451 yards and five touchdowns and added three special teams touchdowns (two punt returns and a kickoff return). He played in nine varsity games as a freshman, making 42 grabs for 567 yards and five touchdowns and returning a kickoff 92 yards for a score.
A talented squad of local players representing Santa Monica Beach Club won the AAU boys volleyball national championshipearlier this month in Orlando, FL.
SMBC’s Shack 16 Molten team finishes the tournament 11-0 (winning 22 of 26 sets) and edged #951 Elite Boys 16-1 of Murrieta, CA in an epic final, 26-24, 26-28, 29-27 on July 3 at the Orange County Convention Center.
Coached by Ethan Marshall and assistants Bruno Gamboa and Margaret Wall, the roster consisted of Husam Arab, Alexander Bloom, Tristan Carpenter-Rihs, Johan Cortez, Hal Craig, Andrew Hom, Jackson Hubbard, Henry Levin, Parker Murphy, Zachary Patawaran, Sean Saunders, Sam Schwartz, Payton Song, Gunnar Strain and Parker Tooley.
Hom, a libero, was named thetournament’s Most Valuable Player while outside hitters Levin and Saunderswere named to the All-American team.
Several players represent Palisades High and saw their school as well as their homes lost or damaged in the Palisades Fire.
“It brought everyone together,” Hom said. “We were able to bond and we all grew together as a team because of these fires despite all of the damage.Through this I’ve learned to trust my teammates, trust everyone around me. It was an awesome opportunity.”
On its way to the title match, Shack beat Torrimar 16-2 in three sets; Academy 16E Black in two sets; MVP Academy BOS 16 Black in two sets; Mamba 16-Purple in three sets; #951 Elite Boys 16-1in two sets; Atlanta Extreme 16 Gerald in two sets; Bay-to-Bay 16-National in two sets; Orlando Gold16 in two sets; MOD B16 White in three sets; and RVA Boys 16B Navy in two sets.
“The third set’s only supposed to go to 15 and we went almost 30 points over [in the finals], which is insane,” said Schwartz, who is still displaced after his neighborhood burned down on January 7. “We just told each other we want it more. We can do it!”
Three teams representing the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association advanced to the Super Regionals of the PONY All-Star playoffs this summer, proving once again that the local youth program can compete with the best in Soutthern California.
Palisades’ Mustang 9U and 10U teams each came within one win of reaching the West Zone Tournament. The 9Us went 3-2 in the 16-team bracket in Camarillo, falling to Seal Beach in the semifinals while the 10Us also finished 3-2 and lost to Garden Grove in the semifinals of the 16-team field in Corona. Palisades’ 9Us reached the Zonal round last year and in 2022, the farthest any PPBA teams have gone in the PONY playoffs.
Palisades’ Bronco 12U squad also earned a spot as one of 16 teams in the Super Region round. After routing Murrieta 11-1 in its opener, Palisades dropped its next two in the double-elimination format.
In the Bronco 11U division, Palisades was one of 10 teams to reach the Region Tournament in Camarillo. After going 3-1 in pool play (losing only to Newbury Park), Palisades lost to Wilshire 7-6 in the consolationfinal, falling one win short of advancing to Super Regionals.
In the Pinto 8U division, Palisades avenged a pool play loss to Wilshire with a 15-13 semifinal triumph to make the Section 4 final in Camarillo, but lost to Camarillo Red 10-9in the championship game.
Palisades Pitstop reopened its car wash and detail service space at 15233 ½ La Cruz Drive on July 3, following an almost six-month closure after the Palisades fire.
“The reception from the community has been amazing,” Palisades Pitstop Owner Kevin Miller told the Palisadian-Post. “We’ve had a steady flow of visitors and so many have expressed how thrilled they are that we are back open.”
Located behind Palisades Garden Cafe, Palisades Pitstop offers a range of services that can be booked online, including a Luxury Wash, Luxury Wash Club membership, Luxury Mini Detail and Luxury Full Detail.
The luxury wash was described on the website as a “high-end hand wash with a meticulous interior surface cleaning”—which includes seats, carpets, mats, doors, dashboard and console. This also includes door jambs, trunk, windows, polished wheels, dressed tires and a conditioned rim.
“This community has meant so much to us, and that’s why we’re committed to being at the forefront of the rebuild,” Miller said. “We’re here, ready to help lead the way forward together.”
An additional service offered out of the La Cruz Drive space is Wash Bins—a trash can cleaning service that can be booked online.
“Due to high demand,” according to Miller, Palisades Pitstop expanded its hours since reopening and is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“People can book online at palisadespitstop.com or call 310-573-9274, or drive in anytime,” Miller said.
“Excitement is in the air,” read a description of the event. “Get ready to be part of something extraordinary for Palisades Dolphin Strong’s first fundraising benefit event. We want you to be there for music, food and fun to benefit programs of the music community of Pacific Palisades.”
Nonprofit Palisades Dolphin Strong was formed by Palisades Charter High School alum Scott Berger and Larry Goldberg to “support those affected by the 2025 wildfires through community rebuilding, business revitalization and wellness programs.”
The event will honor Patrick Hildebrand and his son PJ of Amazing Music Store—“a beloved Pacific Palisades institution for over four decades.” Proceeds from the benefit concert will be used toward “relief efforts” for the store, as well as “ongoing community support initiatives and grants for families affected by the fires,” which will be organized by Palisades Dolphin Strong. The store, which was destroyed in the Palisades fire, was located at 867 Swarthmore Avenue.
“The event will be the first in a series of efforts to rebuild the touch-points of our neighborhood and safeguard the future for those that were most severely impacted by the Palisades fire,” the description continued. It will be emceed by Palisadian and Honorary Town Sheriff Sam Laganà.
The concert will take place at Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, which is located at 1210 4th Street. It will be from 5 to 9 p.m., with a red carpet starting at 3:30 p.m.
Food will be available from Sunset Smash Burgers, CHX and Gracias Señor food trucks. There will also be a “multitude of local talent,” as well as a silent auction and “opportunity for our community to gather in celebration of reviving the Palisades’ heartbeat of musical arts.”
“Auction highlights include a signed instrument from Grammy-winning saxophonist Tom Scott of Steely Dan, a guitar from Taylor and SWAG from Norman’s Rare Guitars, a Matador-Fire eco-friendly home protection system (valued at $5,000), a full architectural design package from Everlasting Homes (valued at $144,000), and many more unique items,” the organization wrote.
Tickets are available starting at $75 for general admission.
In lieu of its annual summer creative writing contest, Friends of the Palisades Library is sponsoring two youth-centric workshops that will take place in July.
“The Friends are supporting local children and teen writers this summer with the opportunity to participate in writing workshops at the Palms-Rancho Park Branch Library,” according to information shared about the workshops.
On Monday, July 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., children entering first through fifth grade are invited to participate in the Children’s Nature Writing Workshop.
“Inspired by nature’s images and sounds, children will be guided by Teen Council members to create poetry, prose or flash fiction to share and experience this immersive workshop,” read details.
A Teen Nature Writing Workshop—for ages 12 and up—will take place on Tuesday, July 29, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
“Inspired by nature’s images and sounds, teens will be guided by a peer teacher to create poetry, prose or flash fiction to share and experience in this immersive workshop,” read the flyer.
Limited spaces are available, and RSVPs are requested to prncho@lapl.org. Both workshops will take place at Palms-Rancho Park Branch Library, which is located at 2920 Overland Avenue.
The workshops are part of the Summer With the Library series.
A previous tree care event Photo courtesy of RCDSMM
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains is seeking volunteers for upcoming tree care events, including on Saturday, July 19.
“We’re officially welcoming oak care volunteers back to Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park,” read an email about the event. “Join us Saturday, July 19, as we care for the over 400 previously planted coast live oaks throughout Trippet Ranch.”
Those who volunteer will “water and care” for the trees, as well as weed, helping “heal the Santa Monica Mountains through reforestation.” They will potentially be planting new acorns to replace trees that may have died, according to RCDSMM.
“Volunteers will also collect meaningful data to aid in an ongoing reforestation project the RCDSMM has been conducting since 2018,” read the description. “Please wear clothes you are willing to get dirty in as well as durable shoes. Be sure to bring a sun hat, layers and drinking water.”
Volunteers will be asked to hike .5 to two miles to access the planting sites: “The terrain is steep at times, uneven and may require off-trail trekking.”
The event will take place between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. The group will meet at Trippet Ranch, located at 20829 Entrada Road in Topanga. Volunteers are asked to RSVP.
“We look forward to your help in our efforts to reforest the wildlands of the Santa Monica Mountains,” RCDSMM concluded.
Cali Gilbert and her father, Joe Gilbert Photo courtesy of Tower 15 Productions
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Local author and filmmaker Cali Gilbert and her father, Joe Gilbert, will host a book signing and fundraiser at Mystic Journey Bookstore in Santa Monica on Saturday, July 19, from 12 to 2 p.m.
The event will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, which was created by Cali through her nonprofit, Tower 15 Productions, to “support female entrepreneurs who lost homes and businesses in the devastating January fires.” The fund will receive 10% of all proceeds from book and art sales at the event.
“Cali Gilbert’s newest release, ‘A Second Chance with Dad,’ is a deeply personal memoir chronicling her experience as a full-time caregiver for her 83-year-old father following the loss of her mother,” read a statement about the event. “The book explores themes of healing, forgiveness and finding unexpected beauty in late-life connection.”
Joe will be signing copies of his memoir: “The Nine Lives of Joe,” which “reflects on his journey as a Vietnam veteran, artist and storyteller.” The event will also feature “Siri’s Seaside Adventure,” Cali’s first children’s book.
Those who attend the event, which is open to the public, will have the opportunity to meet both authors, purchase signed copies of the books and view original artwork.
“This is more than a book signing,” Cali said. “It’s a celebration of resilience—through story, through art and through community. We wanted to use this special moment to give back to the women in our neighborhood who lost so much earlier this year.”
Cali came up with the concept of the 325 for the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, which represents the following: a three-year fundraising campaign with two missions (support entrepreneurial sisters and rebuild the Palisades) with five women/businesses that are initially supported.
“We’ve launched the 325 Campaign in hopes of reaching 325 women to donate $1,000 each to the campaign over the course of the next three years,” Cali previously told the Palisadian-Post.
Mystic Journey Bookstore is located at 2923 Main Street in Santa Monica.
Drone show at Paul Revere Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By MICHAEL MATLOF | Intern
Known as “the greatest day of the year” in Pacific Palisades, Fourth of July traditions had to be amended—but the community found ways to gather, from Venice to Santa Monica and Paul Revere Charter Middle School.
The day began with an early start at the Palisades Will Rogers 5K Run in Venice, as well as the Kids’ Fun Run. (Full coverage can be found in the Sports section, beginning on Page 6.)
Instead of the traditional parade through the Village area, this year, there was a Palisades contingent invited to participate in the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade, which began at 9:30 a.m. along Main Street and included Palisadian announcer Sam Laganá.
Participating Palisadians included Pacific Palisades Community Council, with its 2024 award winners: Citizen of the Year Cindi Young, Golden Sparkplugs Carlos Rodriguez and Leslie Campbell, and Pride of the Palisades Thomas Hathaway.
Diana Chavkin with daughters Nora and Sierra after the Palisades Will Rogers 5K Run and Kids’ Fun Run Photo by Steve Galluzzo
“This year’s parade was particularly meaningful on so many levels,” Campbell, who received a Golden Sparkplug for her work on bringing a forthcoming Palisades dog park to fruition, said to the Palisadian-Post. “I was organizing my Tahitian Terrace community to march in the parade when I got the call to ride with the PPCC. If ever I needed a clone, it was on this 4th of July. It was an honor, however, to ride alongside Carlos Rodriguez as the [most recent] Golden Sparkplug recipients and represent all things good about the Palisades.”
Also participating was Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades, Resilient Palisades, Pali Strong, Palisades Recovery Coalition, Palisades-Malibu YMCA, Oom Pa Pa band, American Legion Ronald Reagan – Palisades Post 283, and Pacific Palisades Pony League champions: Pinto Cardinals, Mustang Orioles and Bronco Orioles.
In the evening time, hundreds of Palisadians, friends, community leaders and beyond gathered starting at 5 p.m. for the annual Palisades Americanism Parade Association celebration, which took place at Paul Revere this year. Attendees were invited to enjoy various food trucks, games, live music on the field and a drone show by Pyro Spectaculars to cap off the night.
Gigi Rice and Ted McGinley are sworn in as co-honorary mayors. Photo by Steve Galluzzo
Palisadian Laura Traister, who lost her home during the Palisades fire, reflected on what she saw among fellow residents during the event.
“It’s this weird thing where out of tragedy comes camaraderie and community,” Traister said. “It’s this shared experience that has actually brought us together.”
On the main field, Laganá returned to emcee the event alongside Kimi Petrick throughout the evening on a large stage with a LED screen. Music groups performed songs throughout the night, including singer Matty Gottesman, Vinyl Jam, the Palisades Charter High School band and Chantal Trent.
Golden Sparkplugs Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez ride with PPCC in the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade. Photo by Steve Galluzzo
The evening also featured the inauguration of co-Honorary Mayors of the Palisades, Gigi Rice and Ted McGinley, who were sworn in on a copy of “Growing Up in Pacific Palisades,” by Stewart Slavin.
“We have experienced what the Palisades was,” the honorary mayors said in a statement to the Post. “We have made lifetime friends and educated our kids, while they thrived at the park in sports throughout the years. We want that for the new families coming into the Palisades and the ones who have shared this precious neighborhood with us all these many years. We don’t know what it will become, but we want to encourage a positive spirit and strength to overcome the hardship and loss left behind from the fire. We are in this together.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appeared earlier during the celebration, speaking and taking photos with student volunteers from Pali High and members of the community.
Bass spoke with Post about the importance of having the celebration, despite the devastation of the fires.
“It’s one thing to lose your home, but it’s so much more than a structure, you lose all your memories, but you also lose community,” Bass said. “An event like this, it’s an opportunity for that community to come back.”
Pali High student Justin Reimman, who met with Bass, remarked on the positive vibe at the occasion, despite its changed setting.
“Being here is just amazing,” Reimman said. “It’s got the same energy as years past.”
He and other student volunteers assisted in scanning tickets, delivering the drone show and managing the overall event.
Councilmember Traci Park appeared at the event, both in a CD 11 booth and on stage. Members of her staff handed out free merchandise and engaged with attendees.
Palisades Forever, a nonprofit dedicated to funding and empowering fire recovery, hosted its own stand adjacent to Park. Volunteers sold merchandise, including hats and shirts, that would help fund recovery initiatives. Crayon Collection, founded by Palisadian Sheila Morovati, had a booth with arts and crafts options.
Food trucks included Gracias Señor, Smile Hotdog, Travelin‘ Tom’s Coffee, Poutine Brothers, Dina’s Dumpling, Cousins Maine Lobster, Buddy’z, Sunset Smash and Richeeze Melts. Sweets were also sold at Kona Ice, a shaved ice food truck, and Afters Ice Cream.
“I believe that this event is going to bring us even more hope of rebuilding, because we have so many more experiences to look forward to as a community,” said Cantor Chayim Frenkel of Kehillat Israel while observing the celebration. He said he was thankful for the ability to celebrate, even if it wasn’t the typical festivities.
Additional activities on the field included bouncy houses and a magician. Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters and uniformed members of Los Angeles Police Department could be seen mingling with residents throughout the night.
Beginning shortly after 9 p.m., following a thank you message from PAPA’s Matthew Rodman and Daphne Gronich, who spearheaded planning this year’s event, the evening concluded with a drone show with 250 drones above the stage, displaying words and phrases like “Pacific Palisades,” “Raise Pali,” “Community,” “Hope,” “Resilience” and more.
Sarah Shmerling and Lily Tinoco contributed to this report.
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