Palisadian Ali Riley Photo courtesy of Angel City FC
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
One day before the New Zealand women’s national soccer team was set to play its Olympic opener against defending gold medalist Canada, head coach Michael Mayne announced Wednesday, July 24, he was withdrawing team captain and left back Palisadian Ali Riley from the roster because of medical reasons.
Riley grew up on Kagawa in the Alphabet Streets and was a multi-sport standout at St. Matthew’s before embarking on a stellar soccer career at Harvard-Westlake High and later Stanford before starting her pro career in 2009 with the Pali Blues.
Now a member of Angel City FC, the NWSL’s Los Angeles-based franchise, she was hoping to compete in her fifth Olympics, having served as the Football Ferns’ captain since the Cyprus Cup in 2017.
Replacing Riley in the starting lineup is Michaela Foster, and being called up to fill the alternate spot was reserve Grace Neville.
Riley, who at age 36 has 162 caps to her credit for New Zealand, has also played in five World Cups. She made her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008, playing every minute for the Ferns.
She played for FC Gold Pride and Western New York Flash of the WPS before playing seven years with Rosengard in Sweden, followed by Chelsea in England (2018-19) and Bayern Munich in Germany (2019-20).
Ever positive, Riley posted the following statement on her Instagram: “My Olympic Games are over. For the past seven months I’ve been struggling with a nerve injury. It’s been frustrating, confusing and excruciatingly painful in a way that’s hard to describe. The Ferns and ACFC medical and performance staff did everything possible to get me healthy for this Olympics (rehab, injections, strength, conditioning, treatment, medication, more injections) and I am so grateful to all of them. Getting selected for the team and leading the girls out for our final prep match gave me hope that I would have the honor of representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games once more but during this camp there have been bad days along with the good, and due to the unpredictable nature of this injury my coach decided that it would be best for the team to withdraw me completely from the squad. There have been a lot of tears and I’m still struggling to wrap my head around it all, but what I do know is that while my Olympic journey has ended, my Olympic dream—the Football Ferns making history at Paris 2024—is just beginning. Now I will take time to heal, cheer on my teammates and embrace the unwavering support I’ve been receiving from people near and far.”
New Zealand lost to Canada 2-1 Thursday, July 25, in Saint-Etienne and resumes Group A round-robin action Sunday, July 28, against Colombia and next Wednesday, July 31, versus host France, hoping to advance to the quarterfinals August 2.
Only once in five Olympics have the Ferns made it out of pool play, falling to the USA 2-0 in the quarterfinals in 2012 in the United Kingdom.
The Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board met on Thursday, July 18, with an agenda that included the discussion of three options for an updated playground and hearing a presentation about a community garden by board member David Card.
There are three different designs—an ocean/meadow theme, forest theme and desert theme—proposed by Recreation and Parks and Council District 11 for the “revamp and upgrade of the Palisades Recreation Center,” read information shared by Pacific Palisades Community Council, which solicited comments from stakeholders ahead of the meeting.
There was a collective preference—from community members who wrote in to PPCC and PAB, as well as the PAB board members—for Option #1, which is the blue and green theme.
The board deliberated on certain aspects of the playground, including whether or not the slides could be seen through and for what age range the playground would be, with feedback expected to be taken into consideration as the design is finalized. There were also suggestions made for additional shade and benches.
“The Council Office has pledged Quimby funds to this project to upgrade the playground and bathrooms, and bring them to compliance with current regulations,” PPCC reported. “They believe they can accomplish this, if they begin timely.”
PAB board members suggested the group aim to “hitch” themselves on a Venice park, which is also having its playground redone by Recreation and Parks, in order to gain traction and momentum on the project. PAB President Andy Starrels suggested “striking while the iron is reasonably hot,” and also considering that once the playground at Palisades Recreation Center is placed, it will likely be there for many years.
An updated ADA-accessible bathroom at the park is also a priority for the board, though it is being considered as a separate project.
PAB created and voted to support a motion to let Recreation and Parks know the community’s general preference.
“The PAB, in conjunction with the outreach efforts of PPCC, has solicited community input for the suggested playground design schemes and has observed a community preference for the first choice of playground schematics, with the blue and green color theme,” read the final motion. “In relaying that preference, the PAB also recognizes several important concerns that have been noted by the community and are desirable in the final design. These include more shaded areas and structures that offer shade for all age groups, an implementation of optimal age group appeal in play spaces, a clear visibility layout that allows for easy scanning of playground structures so parents and caregivers can monitor children easily, a delineation of boundaries and demarcation for safety, as well as increased benches for seating and areas for tree planting.”
The three renderings of the potential playground are available at the PPCC website. Comments can be sent to the Park Advisory Board via palisadespab@gmail.com.
Also during the meeting, Card presented on a community garden concept drawing, a “proposed landscape plan for the area from the playground to the library” at Palisades Recreation Center on Recreation and Park land. The concept drawing was brought to fruition with help from Palisadian Valeria Serna.
Card explained that the idea for the potential garden came from a conversation with Council District 11 Field Deputy Michael Amster, as other parks throughout the district and under RAP’s direction have community-run gardens with things like vegetables and native plants.
“It’s only a concept, subject to change based on community input, funding and other factors,” Card said about the design. “The primary concepts are: a raised bed community garden next to the kids playground, native plants and trees, groundwater replenishment, and a log seating area (for reading, etc.) next to the library.”
The garden, which was presented at a previous Palisades Forestry Committee meeting, would be maintained and run by volunteer efforts, Card continued.
There are also options for school visits and educating through the garden, including about things like food systems, habitats for animals, pollinators and beyond.
Following the presentation, the PAB board offered Card feedback, including about the size and scope of the project, reiterating the priority for the park would be the playground and restroom projects.
Starrels asked Card what he needed from the board at this time, to which Card explained he was seeking an audience at the meeting, especially to gauge interest in potential volunteers to undertake the project, which he estimated to be a several-year commitment.
More information about the proposed community garden design is also available at the PPCC website.
The Park Advisory Board is slated to meet for the next time on October 17.
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority released the results of this year’s Point-in-Time Count on Friday, June 28, revealing the first reductions in the number of people experiencing homelessness in LA City and County since 2018.
Meanwhile, the Palisades saw “a few more” people experiencing homelessness compared to last year, according to a tally compiled by Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness.
The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count is a three-day census of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The 2024 count took place from January 23 to 25.
“Los Angeles County’s Point-in-Time estimate declined by 0.27% to 75,312, while the City of Los Angeles’ Point-in-Time estimate declined by 2.2% to 45,252,” according to LAHSA.
LAHSA reported that the estimate for unsheltered homelessness in the county decreased by approximately 5.1% to 52,365 compared with last year, while the shelter count increased by 12.7% to 22,947.
The city saw its unsheltered homelessness estimate decline to 29,275 or 10.4%, while the shelter count increased by 15,977 or 17.7%.
LAHSA reported that people are moving through the rehousing system faster.
“This year’s Homeless Count shows that we are finally moving in the right direction,” Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the LAHSA Commission Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. “We must continue to move with urgency across all levels of government and in every community in Los Angeles County to bring our unhoused neighbors inside.”
Pacific Palisades first participated in the count in 2015 and has assisted annually since, with the leadership of PPTFH.
Approximately 40 individuals volunteered early Wednesday morning, January 24, to help conduct the annual Homeless Count in the Palisades. Individuals were divvied up into teams and made their way to the streets—spanning the Highlands, Alphabet Streets and beyond—taking count of encampments, cars, tents and individuals.
A tally by PPTFH showed a “few more” people experiencing homelessness in the area than the previous year.
This year, PPTFH Co-President Cindi Young said a few changes were made to the process. Volunteers in the Palisades were requested to not count people experiencing homelessness on the beach or in vehicles along Pacific Coast Highway, according to Young.
“Nonetheless, PPTFH did send a team to count Will Rogers [State] Beach, as well as RVs and other vehicles along PCH,” according to PPTFH. “This enabled us to compare this year’s data with previous years’ data. PPTFH reports raw data.”
PPTFH’s count results saw a total of 16 individuals experiencing homelessness, 43 vehicles—comprised of 25 cars, 12 vans and six RVs—and three tents, or makeshift shelters.
These numbers are slightly higher than last year’s findings. In 2023, PPTFH reported a total of 11 individuals, 35 vehicles and two tents, or makeshift shelters.
LAHSA told the Post community data will be released, but “isn’t ready yet” and “will take some additional time.” This will include Palisades-specific numbers through LAHSA’s raw data.
“We no longer calculate estimates below the [service planning area] level, but the Palisades should be included when it is released,” a representative said.
Principal Suzanne Stewart Duffy has retired from Corpus Christi School in Pacific Palisades, passing the torch to Paola Sessarego, who has been at the school for eight years and vice principal for five.
Duffy spoke to the Palisadian-Post of her personal and professional journey in education. She was 21 years old when she graduated from University of California, Irvine, and started graduate school at Loyola Marymount University.
Nearly 40 years later, Duffy found herself back at Corpus Christi School—“a kindergarten through eighth-grade parochial school serving the Catholic faith community of the Pacific Palisades and its surrounding areas,” according to its website—which she attended as a child.
“It was like coming home,” Duffy said. “I grew up in the Palisades, went to school here … and my main goal would be to model that, and that students would consider a career in education … and carry on the legacy. There are not enough kids who want to go into education and be teachers and administrators. It’s harder and harder to find them.”
When asked what she will miss most about her six years as principal, Duffy emphasized the collaboration between home, school and parish.
“The highlights are really the teachers that I got to work with, the parents that I worked with and collaborated with,” Duffy said. “And then of course, the students there … They are why I stayed in this for so long … We are still educating and creating great kids that could go on and do things, and make a difference and the world a better place. It’s just a really special community, and that part I will miss a lot.”
Of her retirement, Duffy said she plans on staying in the Palisades.
“We live up with a view of the ocean and the mountains … I don’t think there is any better place to retire,” she said.
Her retirement will be spent with her family. Duffy said when she began as principal, she was 41 years old and three of her children were still in high school. Now, her children are in their 30s and 40s, and she has six grandchildren.
“It’s just time to spend more time with the family,” Duffy said of her retirement to the Post. “But I definitely had to think long and hard about it … It was not an easy decision. The school is left in great hands because Monsignor Liam Kidney is still the pastor, and the new principal was my principal that I hired … She’ll do a great job.”
Sessarego stepped into the role of principal on Monday, July 1.
“As VP and now as principal, I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships with students, parents and the community,” Sessarego said to the Post. “I am also excited to bring in new programs that will enhance learning and make school a fun experience, not only academically but socially.”
Photo courtesy of Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pacific Palisades-based small business Luxe Homecare recently received an award from the office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, recognizing work done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This week, we honored incredible local businesses throughout our West Valley and Santa Monica Mountain communities,” Horvath wrote in a statement following the event.
Several small businesses in Malibu and Pacific Palisades were honored during the inaugural Small Business Recognition Breakfast, hosted by Horvath at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas on July 12.
“These community heroes selflessly gave back, even while facing their own struggles during the pandemic,” read a statement made by the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce. “A heartfelt thank you to Supervisor Horvath, Field Deputy Sophia Soudani and the entire team for this special event. It’s a reminder of the incredible kindness that emerged during challenging times.”
Helmed by Fay Vahdani and Ben Adel, Luxe Homecare offers an array of services geared toward aging adults in the Palisades and surrounding communities to “live with dignity and comfort at home,” including personalized in-home care, health services and more. Vahdani is an “active board member” with the Chamber.
“I am honored to share that our company has been recognized with an award for our service to the Pacific Palisades and Malibu community during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Vahdani said. “This award is not just a personal accolade but a testament to the dedication of our entire team.”
She said the recognition belongs to every nurse, caregiver, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and the Luxe Homecare management team, who “faced risks and uncertainties with unwavering commitment.”
“Their selfless dedication, compassion and resilience have been the cornerstone of our efforts,” Vahdani continued. “Throughout the global pandemic, our team stood strong, ensuring that our patients received the highest level of care and support. They have exemplified the true spirit of healthcare heroes, consistently putting the needs of others above their own. This award would not be possible without their love and dedication to our community. This award is for them.”
Other local businesses that received recognition during the ceremony were Sorenity Rocks, The Malibu Lawyer, 4 Malibu Real Estate, Vintage Grocers, Johannessen Homes, John’s Garden, Harwell Brothers, Milestones Ranch and Salon Jazmeina.
“Our small businesses are the very fabric of Los Angeles,” Horvath concluded. “From the Topanga Business Interruption Fund, to the services offered by [Department of Economic Opportunity] Office of Small Business, LA County is here to support you.”
Kroger and Albertsons Companies announced a merger agreement in October 2022, followed by plans to offload over 60 locations in California—including Vons in Pacific Palisades.
The Sunset Boulevard supermarket is among hundreds of stores, distribution centers and plant locations on a list released by the grocery companies, revealing which locations it plans to sell to C&S Wholesale Grocers, should the merger receive clearance.
The planned divestiture of the stores is part of the grocery chains’ efforts to secure regulatory approval, addressing increasing concerns that the merger will lead to higher prices of items, store closures and, subsequently, job losses.
In February 2024, the United States Federal Trade Commission and eight states sued to block the grocery chain merger, saying the proposed deal would “eliminate fierce competition between Kroger and Albertsons,” leading to higher prices for groceries and other household items.
“Executives for both Kroger and Albertsons have acknowledged that the two supermarkets are direct competitors, forcing each other to aggressively compete for customers by lowering prices,” according to the FTC. “Similarly, executives for both supermarket chains have conceded that Kroger’s acquisition of Albertsons is anticompetitive, with one executive reacting candidly to the proposed deal: ‘You are basically creating a monopoly in grocery with the merger.’”
In April 2024, Kroger and Albertsons Companies announced that they would amend their agreement—expanding their planned sale of grocery stores, offloading an additional 166 locations than previously agreed upon.
“The amended divestiture package responds to concerns raised by federal and state antitrust regulators regarding the original agreement,” according to a press release. “The companies believe the amended divestiture package will bolster their position in regulatory challenges to the proposed merger, including pending court proceedings.”
Kroger and Albertsons Companies plan to sell 579 stores across the nation. The 63 California stores consist of 15 Albertsons locations, 31 Vons locations, 16 Pavilions locations and one Safeway.
The grocers shared the list ahead of a trial expected in August, which should decide the outcome of the deal.
According to Bloomberg, the companies have started notifying staff at affected locations, and impacted workers would become employees of C&S Wholesale Grocers.
“The divestiture plan ensures no stores will close as a result of the merger and that all frontline associates will remain employed,” Albertsons Companies shared in a statement to the Palisadian-Post. “Furthermore, associates will also continue to receive the competitive wages and benefits that they do today, maintaining their pay, health and wellness plans, and all collective bargaining agreements whether they are in place.”
The Sunset Boulevard store opened as a Safeway in January 1969 and became a Vons in April 1989. It has since served as one of the grocery stores in the Palisades, alongside Gelson’s, Ralphs, Ronny’s Market and Erewhon.
The Ludwig family Photos courtesy of Victory Ludwig
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
In the summer of 2014, three men living with Lou Gehrig’s disease—also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS—launched a movement that would change the fight against the disease, along with a trend that spanned the globe.
Anthony Senerchia, Pete Frates and Pat Quinn encouraged millions of people to dump ice water on their heads to raise awareness, a movement that has maintained traction even 10 years later.
When it comes to Pacific Palisades, people with ties to the community recently participated in the challenge in support of Calvary Christian School’s Dave Ludwig, until his death from the disease on June 9.
Dave, a resident of the Highlands, taught at Calvary for over 20 years—acting as an English and history teacher, and the school’s elementary and middle school head. He also coached and assisted in local sports, including Pacific Palisades Baseball Association and Palisades Recreation Center.
He was diagnosed with ALS in January 2024, though his symptoms began in February 2023 with weakness in his left hand.
ALS is a disease that gradually degenerates nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord over time, leading to a loss of muscle control. ALS affects over 31,000 people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At this time, there is no known reason for what causes most cases of ALS, and there is no cure for ALS yet.
“At first he had quite slow progression, but unfortunately, it sped up drastically since his diagnosis,” Dave’s wife, Victory Ludwig, explained to the Palisadian-Post at the start of June. “He has been able to be at work every day until very recently, and our school community has truly been an incredible source of strength and comfort to our family.”
Calvary parent Sue O’Connor posted herself participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to Instagram on Friday, March 15, in support of Dave.
The challenge invites participants to get a bucket and fill it with ice, water—or anything “creative”—take a photo or video in action, post it to social media, and challenge friends and family to participate too.
Participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge
O’Connor nominated two more people to take part in the challenge and help her raise awareness for ALS.
“I have a family at Calvary, we’ve been here for 12 years, and Dave is our favorite person in the whole wide world,” O’Connor said to the Post. “When we learned about his diagnosis, everybody was scrambling to figure out something to do. [I thought] it would be fun to start the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.”
O’Connor took the plunge first, followed by her daughter in Boston, her other daughter in Mexico, her 10th-grade son at Loyola High School, her sixth-grade son at Calvary and her husband.
After taking the challenge to social media, O’Connor said it “picked up like wildfire.”
Everyone who participated in the challenge in support of Dave submitted their videos to the Instagram account @DaveLudwigRocks.
Dave’s daughter, Sofia Ludwig, offered to help O’Connor run the Instagram account, and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support for her father.
“It just reiterates the fact that he’s a really special person,” Sofia said to the Post. “Because he’s my dad … and I think he’s best, but I never really put it together that he’s the best to everyone else, too. He’s great at connecting with kids, and making people feel special and loved, so the fact that he gets to feel all of that back is really special … I know that without this community, it would be a lot harder for him.”
At the start of June, over 260 videos had been shared. The posts came from current and former students, family and church members, and friends from all over the world.
“To see that many people come together has really been something,” Victory said to the Post on Dave’s behalf. “We figured it would spread through the Calvary … families and sort of run its course … we had no idea that it would take off like it has.
“It has been an unbelievable encouragement to him to have the Ice Bucket Challenge spread so wide, even to people he doesn’t personally know.”
To date, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has inspired over 17 million people around the world to dump ice water on their heads, according to the ALS Association.
“Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen major advancements in research, advocacy and care that have impacted the ALS community,” according to the ALS Association. “It’s safe to say the Ice Bucket Challenge changed the future and trajectory of the disease, and our hopes for the future.”
Another way Calvary students supported Dave and the Ludwig family was through a fundraising effort. Two eighth-graders, Tommy Geraty and Jax Wagner, teamed up to launch GromGrips Surfboard Wax.
In May, they announced that they would donate 10% of all their proceeds to a local ALS Network Chapter, which supports “ALS research and initiatives close to the hearts of the Calvary community.” The team offered a GromGrips starter package, consisting of a T-shirt, two bars of wax and a sticker for $40.
Wagner’s father, Mark, told the Post the boys sold approximately 80 packages.
Geraty and Wagner sell GromGrips gear.
Photo courtesy of Mark Wagner
“The fundraiser was inspired by David Ludwig with donations going to the ALS Foundation,” Mark said. “David Ludwig was not only the head of upper school, but their teacher, coach and general mentor … He’s the best.”
Victory shared that Dave was committed to “walking this well,” and found every opportunity to love people well, imparting words of wisdom and encouragement, and leaving nothing unsaid.
“His personal motto throughout this journey has been his commitment to, ‘Get busy living’—[a quote from] ‘The Shawshank Redemption’—and he has done just that,” Victory said. “The outpouring of love and support has been a comfort to us in these difficult days. It has truly been a gift and such a sweet thing, and he watched every one. They truly put a smile on his face.”
Dave died on Sunday morning, June 9. A memorial gathering took place at Calvary Church on Saturday, June 22. Attendees were asked not to wear black to the service: “Dave is too cheerful for that,” the invitation read.
Family members and friends gathered to celebrate Dave, and share memories and tidbits of his life. Memories were shared by longtime friends and family members, his wife, and children—Lily, Sofia, Violet and Becker. All spoke of the life he led as a leader, husband, father and friend.
“Love your friends, love your family,” Dave shared to Instagram in a vlog post dated June 5. “Get busy living, baby.”
The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a “green tip” to our readers in each newspaper. This edition’s tip was written by Beverley Auerbach, writer, editor, co-owner of A Marketing Perspective and a Resilient Palisades member.
In an ideal world, every item in our possession would be acquired thoughtfully. We would consider its durability, its functionality, its health benefits, the pleasure it engenders and its afterlife.
At the other end of the scale is single-use plastic, the poster child for our throw-away culture. Often acquired as a byproduct, this waste clutters our homes, fouls our natural world, and usually ends up in the dump or the ocean, much to our detriment.
Resilient Palisades’ number one goal is to reduce the proliferation of single-use plastic. Eliminating it entirely will have to wait for scientists and inventors to produce a viable, environmentally healthy, bio-degradable, non-plastic alternative for that handy little bread bag closure, water bottle, chip bag and shipping envelope. But we can help by changing the way we look at waste.
If it took resources to make an item, if we paid for it even indirectly, if it was even minimally useful, we can send it on a better path by making it useful again. In other words, we need to look at everything as a resource.
Enter Ridwell, a social purpose corporation with a mission to mitigate the environmental impact of usually unrecyclable items—items not accepted by the city in blue bins.
Presently working on their B Corp certification, Ridwell seeks out industrial and nonprofit partners who can take what would ordinarily end up in landfill and transform it into a resource that leads to new products.
Ridwell was founded in Seattle in 2017 by a father and his young son who tried to properly dispose of dead batteries, only to discover how difficult it was. Founder and CEO Ryan Metzger gradually found outlets for many difficult-to-recycle items, developing the infrastructure and systems to expand what Ridwell could take and where they could get it: presently Atlanta, Austin, the Bay Area, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Portland and Seattle.
To date, Ridwell subscribers in these cities have diverted over 20 million pounds of waste from landfills. Seattle remains the largest market, with some neighborhoods boasting 30% participation. The biggest area in Los Angeles so far … Pacific Palisades!
When Resilient Palisades first mentioned Ridwell, I knew I was in. As a resident of Cool Block Embury, an environmentally cooperative community in the 1100 block, I was already passionate about reducing waste of all kinds. Together with four other Embury households (with one more in process), we were among the first to sign up for a Ridwell subscription.
Ridwell picks up their tidy white metal bin (about a 13” cube) every two weeks, right from the porch—no carrying it out to the curb. Inside are clean cloth bags to segregate several waste categories: multilayer plastics, plastic film, light bulbs, batteries, threads (usable or unusable fabric, clothes, even shoes) and a scheduled bonus category that can be anything—corks, cords and cables, holiday decorations, broken jewelry, office supplies, empty prescription bottles—all a boon to responsible decluttering.
I am now on the Ridwell Community Advisory Board. Recently I toured Ridwell’s Van Nuys warehouse—impressive despite being a heap of sorted trash. This is trash that is going somewhere, and it’s not to the dump.
For example, there are vast stacks of plastic film—bags full of the cling wrap found on store-bought meat and produce, the stretch plastic over tubs of berries, the wedge of plastic that tops banana bunches (and the blue plastic band that binds it together), LA Times bags, plastic shipping envelopes, Ziplock bags, etc.
This is ubiquitous plastic that cannot go in the blue bin because it would clog up the machinery or be too small for the city’s plastic sorters. Ridwell sells it to TREX, the company whose almost-indestructible fencing and decking materials are made from 95% recycled plastic film.
Another corner is piled almost to the ceiling with multilayer plastic, which is baled and sent out to a variety of partners, including HydroBlox, a Pennsylvania company that produces landscaping drainage material.
There is a tiered cost for a Ridwell subscription, but the most popular plan, at $18 per month, includes every named category except Styrofoam and fluorescent light bulb tubes (for these items there is an additional charge). New categories are added periodically as recycling partners are brought on board.
Pickup for the Palisades is every other Friday. You will receive a Ridwell white metal box; clean category bags are replaced with every pickup. You will also be told how to sort, clean and dry your plastic before submitting—an easy (and forgiving) process once you’ve done it a few times.
The type of waste Ridwell collects has little economic value in and of itself. Nonprofit partners pay nothing for the donations they receive, and commercial enterprises pay something but not enough to cover Ridwell’s operating costs.
Ridwell has applied for and received limited social action grants, and they stretch their dollars by cross-utilizing employees in the field and in the warehouse, but in the end, their success depends on growing their subscribers and their paying recipients—thus diverting more waste.
We all put our money toward causes we find to be deserving. The energy and enthusiasm I have found in this startup’s employees, from Founder Ryan Metzger, Community Builder Erin Metzger, and Los Angeles Market Leader Niall Murphy, to the efficient and helpful drivers who come by my home every other week, has more than confirmed to me the value that Ridwell brings to the community.
For more information, visit ridwell.com. If you would like to join, Ridwell offers incentives. Use this link: get.ridwell.com/rp-trial.
Are we any closer to getting a coffee shop in Marquez Knolls?
Theater
One thing I love is that there are chances to support community theater all year round – Theatre Palisades Youth and Teens are performing respective shows this summer, before the next Theatre Palisades show opens later this year. Please consider checking out a show.
Weather
I have spent some of this year traveling and I want to say: Nothing beats the weather in the Palisades. It has been getting hotter lately, but the number of days where the weather is perfectly tolerable is amazing.
Olympics
I share the concerns of other Angelenos regarding the Olympics coming to Los Angeles but it will be SO COOL to have some of the events taking place in Pacific Palisades!
July 4
Still reeling from the Fourth of July festivities! Every year just gets better and better.
Lil Redfoo
I have to say I loved reading about “Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” in the July 11 edition. I love learning about all the different talented Palisadians among us.
Gratitude
Not that I doubt anybody isn’t grateful to live in the Palisades, but wow! We really do have it good. Weather, great. Food, yummy. People, nice. Readers, please take a moment to express gratitude for living in this magical place.
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.
17500 Pacific Coast Highway, July 1 at 9:30 a.m. Camera equipment taken from trunk of vehicle for a total loss of $9,800.
15600 W Sunset Boulevard, July 6 at 8:15 a.m. Unknown suspects pried door, entered, and removed jewelry and wallet for a total loss of $10,000.
Aggravated Assault
15400 W Sunset Boulevard, July 3 at 6 p.m. Suspect (co-worker) was upset with victim because he believed the victim scratched his motorcycle. While victim was standing at the urinal, suspect punched him on the back of the head, causing him to fall and lose consciousness.
Robbery
Entrada/Pacific Coast Highway, July 3 at 1:30 p.m. Possible transient approached victim in a tunnel. Suspect grabbed victim’s necklace and punched victim numerous times. Witness attempted to intervene and the suspect produced a knife. Suspect fled on foot with victim’s property.
Provided by LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin. In case of emergency, call 911. To report a non-emergency, call 877-275-5273.
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