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.
Pictured, from left: PPCC President Sue Kohl, Allison Holdorff Polhill (senior advisor to LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin), Colonel Eric Swenson, Pali Strong Founder Lawrence Vein and Palisades Recovery Coalition President Maryam Zar Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
As Pacific Palisades reached six months after the Palisades fire began on January 7, the mission of United States Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Eric Swenson to lead the government-run debris removal program has come to an end.
Dozens of community members and stakeholders gathered at Palisades Village Green on Wednesday, July 2, to bid farewell to Swenson—recovery field office commander for the Palisades, Malibu and Altadena areas—in a program hosted by Palisades Recovery Coalition, Pali Strong and Pacific Palisades Community Council.
“Colonel Swenson, what you’ve accomplished on behalf of our community, we can look around and see a change,” Pali Strong Founder Lawrence Vein said at the start of the program. “Where our hearts were deeply broken when we came into the city six months ago—a city we were walking one week before with our children right up the streets—you have brought us to a place of greater hope and promise as we move into our rebuild.”
Community members, including PPCC board members, area organization leaders and residents, were then invited to speak to Swenson, sharing messages of gratitude.
“I hope to get back here, I hope to get some invites, some ribbon cuttings, so I can celebrate this great accomplishment with you,” Swenson said of the rebuilding progress. “I have walked with you since the 12th of January when I got here. I want to walk with you as you rebuild and re-move into your community, your houses, and rebuild your lives and livelihoods here in Pacific Palisades.”
Swenson was then presented with several items from the community and elected officials, including a copy of the Palisades flag, signed by community members, a California State Resolution presented by the offices of Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Congressional Flag from Congressmember Brad Sherman’s office, and a certificate of appreciation from the office of Mayor Karen Bass.
“The way Colonel Swenson showed up for our community was a masterclass in leadership,” Councilmember Traci Park wrote. “Personally, I will never forget how he graciously took my frantic calls, how he somehow prioritized every request I made and how genuinely he built trust with victims. We all owe him a debt of gratitude, and while we’re sad to see him go, let’s look forward to having him visit to see our progress down the road.”
Swenson was also honored by Park at Los Angeles City Hall Council Chambers on Tuesday morning, July 1.
The number of parcels that have been cleared of debris in the Palisades area has reached 3,757 as of July 8, according to Charles Delano with the USACE Public Affairs Office, with 3,544 receiving final sign off. USACE has received 4,010 total eligible rights of entry from the county.
USACE reported it has completed final sign off for 88% of the rights of entry, with 253 parcels remaining to be cleared. Its five-day average for sites cleared is seven, with 15 debris crews working in the Palisades area.
As of July 3, there are 15 parcels that have not opted in or out of the government-run debris removal program in the Palisades, according to the city attorney’s office.
“They have been declared a public nuisance and will be turned over to FEMA for possible cleanup by the USACE,” Deputy Director of Communications Ivor Pine explained.
Proposed trail options Photo courtesy of City of LA BOE
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Pacific Palisades Community Council met on Thursday, June 26, to discuss updates on the Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail, with project representatives outlining its current status.
When complete, the trail—formerly known as the Lateral Trail—will extend from the bottom of George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon to the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon, in order to provide safe passage from the park to the beach, as required by the California Coastal Commission.
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering Project Manager Kristen Ly and Project Consultant Goodwin Wharton of Geosyntec Consultants previously joined PPCC in 2024 to discuss the project, and heeded community feedback and concerns regarding the trail.
Ly and Wharton returned on June 26 to provide an updated presentation. Wharton explained that this project is “not high on anybody’s priority list right now,” but is a component of the rebuilding process after the Palisades fire. Construction of the project would continue at a later, more “appropriate time,” Wharton said.
“Right now, we are completing the Feasibility Study,” Wharton explained. “The purpose of this meeting is to present the preliminary recommendations that are going to go into our report … and also to solicit some feedback on that recommended alignment.”
At the start of the meeting, Wharton reviewed key points and takeaways from the August 2024 Community Meeting. During the 2024 meeting, three hypothetical examples of trail alignments were presented, and attendees were invited to offer verbal or written feedback. Concerns over potential safety issues were identified as the strongest sentiment, while trail maintenance and construction considerations were considered the lowest.
“Those concerns are well founded, so we did take that into consideration as we were developing our final feasibility criteria,” he said.
Wharton presented the Final Feasibility Criteria list, which included accessibility, separation from PCH and separation from Via de Las Olas, user experience, pedestrian safety, slope stability, neighborhood privacy, hours of use enforcement or security, and more.
Wharton also presented a map with proposed trail options that was divided into four regions: a Trail Region, a West Region, a Central Region and an East Region.
“Within those four main regions, we have evaluated two or three alternatives for how the trail might be aligned,” Wharton said. “Then they’re connected by lateral trails, such that you could mix and match, or combine any permutation of these that you want to come up with a final trail alignment.”
Wharton walked meeting attendees through the feasibility rankings of each region, as well as the lateral trails, explaining that all three lateral trails are feasible. The recommended trail route, based on the evaluation, was listed as Trailhead B, along Lateral-1 up to the West-A route, using the Lateral-2 route down to Central B—and a final recommendation for East-A or East-B is to be determined.
Wharton concluded his presentation by answering questions from PPCC board members and meeting attendees. The team is expected to return in the future with updates.
According to PPCC, next steps for the project include discussions between involved stakeholders, including the city of Los Angeles, Caltrans and the Coastal Commission.
“Geosyntec has a recommendation for trail alignment (based on the ratings), but it’s unclear at this point which route will eventually be decided on, whether any might be altered, and/or when construction may actually begin,” PPCC said.
A recording of the presentation is available at pacpalicc.org.
Theatre Palisades Youth will present “Disney’s Descendants: The Musical,” which is set to open on Friday, July 11, at Paul Revere Charter Middle School.
Director Lara Ganz and Co-Director and Choreographer Rebecca Brancato Barragan spearheaded production of the show, leading a cast of 35 youth actors.
“Disney’s Descendants: The Musical” is a stage adaptation of Disney Channel original movies, featuring additional lyrics by Nick Blaemire, a score adapted by Madeline Smith and orchestrated by Matthew Tishler.
“‘Disney’s Descendants: The Musical’ is set on the Isle of the Lost—home of the most infamous villains who ever lived—where the teenaged children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella De Vil have been imprisoned, never venturing off the island … until now,” according to a statement. “When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: Should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?”
Theatre Palisades Youth lost its performance space, Pierson Playhouse, in the Palisades fire. Ganz, despite losing her own home, ensured the program would continue, working with Barragan to secure a rehearsal space just four days later.
“Everyone is so scared of losing this community of love and performing arts that we built together,” Ganz said at the time. “We have had so many ‘what ifs?’ flooding our minds. But we decided to ask: ‘What if we do everything possible to ensure that the show will go on?’”
Theatre Palisades Youth then presented “Crazy For You: Youth Edition” during a two-weekend run beginning at the end of February at Paul Revere.
Performances of “Disney’s Descendants: The Musical” will take place on July 11 at 4 and 7 p.m.; July 12 at 12 and 3 p.m.; July 16 at 7 p.m.; July 17 at 7 p.m.; July 18 at 7 p.m.; and July 19 at 12 and 3 p.m.
Tickets are $17 for seniors and students, $22 for general admission, and $25 to $30 for VIP. Paul Revere is located at 1450 Allenford Avenue. Performances will take place in the school’s auditorium.
For more information, including a link to purchase tickets, visit theatrepalisades.org.
Undergrounding load block approach Courtesy of LADWP
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Council District 11 hosted a virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, July 2, where Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was invited to present plans for undergrounding power, upgrading water lines and provide an update on the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
Councilmember Traci Park began the town hall by sharing that she has attended regular meetings with LADWP over the past several months, and there have been “many” conversations about infrastructure upgrades and planning for the future of the Palisades.
“I look forward to having DWP here with us this evening to share some of those big ticket items that they are working on,” Park said.
Park then handed the meeting over to Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System for LADWP Anselmo Collins to break down the agency’s efforts to “restore, recover and rebuild” in the Palisades.
Collins presented pictures of the Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Highlands, reporting that it returned to service on June 25. Collins explained that the Santa Ynez Reservoir is a drinking water reservoir, and is used to serve water to its customers for drinking purposes and to use around their homes. It can also provide water to the fire hydrants that are connected to the distribution system.
Collins spoke on short- and long-term plans.
“We have the floating cover fixed now, but our goal is to replace this cover with another floating cover as a short-term solution,” Collins said. “We recognize that this cover obviously has been patched up quite a bit. We want to make sure that we can continue to have the resiliency that we need in our system, so we’re working to expedite the replacement of this floating cover with a brand new one.”
Collins said the long-term solution involves finding a different type of replacement cover. There are four options they are currently considering—one option involves replacing the floating cover with a fixed cover, with either an aluminum roof or a concrete slab that is placed on top of the reservoir.
Lastly, Collins said they are considering a treatment plan that would allow LADWP to remove the floating cover, and as water leaves or exits the reservoir, it would be treated before entering the system.
“Now all these alternatives that I just described, we consider them long term,” Collins said. “Meaning that it would take us probably eight to 10 years to implement. That’s the reason why having a short-term solution makes sense, to ensure that we can have reliable water supply.”
Collins then presented mainline infrastructure plans for the Palisades. Collins said there are approximately 95 miles of pipe, and some of the pipe is aging. A plan has been devised to replace roughly 13 miles of pipe—some are being replaced due to age and wear, and others will be replaced with “earthquake-resilient pipe.”
“We actually … already have dedicated three mainline crews that are going to be exclusively working in the Pacific Palisades area to accomplish these projects,” Collins explained.
LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager of the Power System David Hanson then joined the meeting to discuss power distribution recovery and a rebuilding plan.
Hanson said Emergency Recovery was completed toward the end of March, with power being restored to all standing structures by March 21. Then LADWP shifted into a Temporary Rebuild, which is also complete as of July 1.
“We set the last pole and have completely rebuilt the power system back to its original design,” Hanson said. “Where it was underground, it’s still underground. Where it was overhead, it’s back overhead. Essentially we can’t come in and set temporary poles when we rebuild our system … So we refer to it as a [temporary] restoration but in actuality, it will look very similar to permanent construction because it has to be built that way.”
The next phase is a Permanent Rebuild, which is in progress and under development. This phase involves undergrounding, which Hanson said—at the time of the meeting—was being worked on along Sunset Boulevard.
“That work was already in the budget to be done in a few years,” Hanson explained. “We’re just taking advantage of the schedule now to accelerate that and start building.”
Hanson said there are plans to bring in a new distribution level voltage that was originally going to be piloted in the Valley, but LADWP has decided to roll out to the Palisades.
Hanson also said there are plans to underground all the residential circuits.
“Our goal is 100% underground, and anything that keeps us from doing that would be … terrain or some sort of complications out there,” Hanson said.
Hanson said the team will be going neighborhood by neighborhood to configure design and sequencing for the load-out of the project.
Hanson said the team will be “very transparent” with the community about where above-ground equipment will go and will actively work with the community.
In an update sent July 5, Park confirmed that a proposed distribution station near Marquez Charter Elementary School is no longer being considered by LADWP.
“After more than a decade of community advocacy, I’m pleased to share that the proposed Distribution Station 104 next to Marquez Elementary is not moving forward,” Park wrote. “We heard the update directly from LADWP during our town hall this week. Thank you to the parents, neighbors and residents—your persistence made all the difference.”
Park said CD11 plans to continue engaging with the community through ongoing meetings and discussions focused on infrastructure projects in the community.
A link to the recording of the July 2 Town Hall is available at pacpalicc.org.
The Palisadian-Post is seeking fall interns who will assist with reporting, proofreading, covering events and more for the paper.
Those who are interested in an internship are encouraged to send a resume and brief background (including interest in journalism and ties to the Palisades), as well as two or three writing samples, ideally non-fiction, to mypost@palipost.com.
Luxe Homecare—which provides in-home care services for seniors—has opened a new office in Brentwood at 11726 San Vicente Boulevard in Suite 240 after the Palisades fire destroyed its previous office building on Alma Real Drive.
“While our hearts remain deeply connected to the Palisades, a community that embraced us for so long, our new Brentwood location is a natural extension to provide care for our beloved clients who are displaced in the surrounding Westside areas,” Luxe Founder Fay Vahdani, a resident of the Highlands, said.
Luxe offers “comprehensive and personalized” care solutions for aging adults, with “dedicated and highly trained caregivers” who are able to provide 24/7 care. This includes assistance with daily living activities, home health, senior transportation and hospice care when needed.
For more information, visit luxehomecare.com or call 424-260-5150.
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