Evan Epstein and Casey Longstreet were named Mr. and Miss Palisades at the 57th Annual Teen Contest, held May 18 in Mercer Hall at Palisades High.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Arnie Wishnick, who has been involved with the contest for 37 years, said: “The kids were fabulous!”
Epstein, a sophomore at Brentwood School, and Longstreet, a PaliHi junior, each received a $1,000 cash prize and food for a year at Palisades Garden Café, plus the opportunity to ride in the Fourth of July parade and on the firetruck with Santa Claus at the Chamber’s Ho!Ho!Ho! celebration. (The Palisades Optimist Club donates $1,000, and the remainder comes from the Cathie Wishnick scholarship fund, established by Arnie in memory of his first wife.)
The emcees were last year’s winners Danika Masi and Daniel Gottesman. The opening number was performed by AcaPali, a PaliHi group popular about town for its a cappella music (Masi is a member). A troupe from the Fancy Feet Dance Studio also performed.
Longstreet competed against six other girls: PaliHi students Esmee Greenfeld, Sophia Eberlein, Emma Sims, Jhyre Alvarado, Katie Duke and Brentwood student Morgan Singer.
Epstein competed against Jack Berglas (Viewpoint), Jackson Hamm (Campbell Hall) and Daniel Allen, Connor Smith and Gene Tanaka (PaliHi).
Scott Groza, founder of the Groza Learning Center, served as a judge and was a tabulator for the scores from the six-judge panel, which included 1983 Miss Palisades Pamela Lynn Tayler.
The contestants, in addition to demonstrating a talent, were judged on extracurricular activities, honors, community service and poise in speaking.
Longstreet’s talent was a dance routine to “Old Money” by Lana Del Rey with choreography by Rose Zing. Epstein, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, played “Mephisto Waltz” by Liszt.
By SUE PASCOE
Editor
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