Palisades High Stadium Opens

Lewis Runs Ceremonial First Lap Before Homecoming Game

Bob Jeffers could not stop smiling last Friday evening–and why not? Several years of painstaking effort had finally come to fruition. When Palisades High opened the gates to its newly-renovated Stadium by the Sea and Jeffers saw fans start to file in, the moment finally got to him. ‘It’s great to see,’ he beamed. ‘This is the kind of facility this school and this community deserve and I’m grateful to all the people who have helped make it possible.’ Jeffers and Jim Bailey of Brentwood have served as co-chairmen of the $1.6-million renovation project that saw Field Turf synthetic replace the natural grass football field and a rubberized, all-weather surface placed over the dirt running track, which will be named the ‘Carl Lewis Lewis Track’ in honor of the 10-time Olympic track and field medalist and local resident. During a ceremony prior to the kick-off of the football team’s homecoming game against Venice, Jeffers thanked the numerous individuals and organizations involved in the project, including the Optimists Club, American Legion 283, The Lions Club, Masonic Lodge 780, the Kanoff Family Foundation, AYSO Region 69 and Bill and Cindy Simon. Then Lewis stepped to the podium–not to have a medal placed around his neck, but rather to address his Palisades neighbors. ‘I’m excited to be here tonight and all of us should be very proud to have one of the best tracks and stadiums in the world,’ Lewis said. ‘I hope to see you all out here.’ With that, Kym Begel (Director of the Carl Lewis Foundation) fired the starting gun and Lewis ran a ceremonial first lap around the track, which will not be officially completed until early January when the blue ‘top’ surface ordered from Germany arrives. Also on hand was Skylar Little Meinhardt, who grew up in the Palisades and went on to play collegiate and pro soccer. She was there to promote the Pali Blues, a women’s professional team coming to the Palisades in Spring 2008. Perhaps no one, however, was more relieved to see the field done was Palisades’ Head Football Coach Kelly Loftus, whose team got to play a home game for the first time all season (see story in Sports). ‘This is a beautiful field, it really came out nice,’ Loftus said. ‘It’s nice to not be nomads anymore and actually have a place to call home.’ Construction began after graduation in June and fundraising for the project is ongoing. To make a donation, call Jeffers at (310) 230-8914 or e-mail him at forcopy@aol.com.