By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Lowe Family YMCA will open its annual tree lot at Simon Meadow—with community events planned to take place at the lot this December.

“The holiday season is almost here and we’re excited to share that the Lowe Family YMCA Christmas Tree Lot will be taking place,” Executive Director Jim Kirtley said.

It serves as one of two fundraisers hosted by Lowe Family YMCA (previously Palisades-Malibu YMCA) during the year, following the Halloween-time pumpkin patch.

Kirtley said there are four types of trees this year: Noble, Nordmann and Fraser firs, as well as vintage Nobles.

Kirtley said they hope to have the lot open by Friday, November 28. Updates will be posted online.

The lot will remain open through Friday, December 19. This year’s lot hours are Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Events set to take place this year at the lot include the Santa Monica College Holiday Glass Sale Fundraiser and the 2025 Pacific Palisades Holiday Ho!Ho!Ho!

Santa Monica College Art Department will host a Holiday Glass Sale Fundraiser on Sunday, December 7, from 12 to 5 p.m. at the tree lot. The sale will include “handcrafted vases, jewelry, platters and other artworks created by SMC glass artists.”

“Each piece is a unique work of art that can add seasonal home and office decor, as well as take care of holiday, anniversary, birthday and other gift needs,” read a description.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit Lowe Family YMCA, SMC Art Department and local artists.

The next weekend—with more than seven decades of history in the community—the annual Ho!Ho!Ho! will take place on Saturday, December 13, from 1 to 4 p.m.

“With the theme Return to Joy, we warmly welcome every family, neighbor, friend and community member—of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs—to share in an afternoon created to lift the spirit, offer comfort and celebrate joy,” read a statement. “Expect moments of wonder, connection and true holiday magic.”

Organizers are planning an “extra-special family celebration for the community,” including food, entertainment and “activities for everyone.” The event will feature visits from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves.

There will be performances by Fancy Feet Dance Studio, Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center and local singers. Palisades Garden Cafe and Cinque Terre West will also be present.

New this year, area schools, organizations and churches are invited to host a table, activity or interactive experience to help “make this a truly community-powered celebration.”

“Also debuting is the heart-centered Gratitude Wish Project, offering a chance to reflect, share blessings and set intentions for the season ahead,” the statement continued. More details were expected to be available soon.

Simon Meadow is located at 15551 Sunset Boulevard.

For additional information and updates, visit instagram.com/palimaliymca.

Palisades Village will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 6, beginning at 4 p.m. The tree lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m. with “seasonal activities” between 4 and 7 p.m.

“Though the property remains temporarily closed, this year’s gathering honors a heartfelt tradition that continues to bring the Palisades together during the holidays,” a statement read.

The tree is a “50-foot white fir, hand-selected from the Mt. Shasta region and thoughtfully adorned with 3,000 lights and over 1,500 ornaments.”

The event is set to include a visit from Santa Claus, who will light the tree, followed by “gentle snowfall”—a “meaningful moment that reflects the strength and spirit that define the Palisades.”

There will be live musical entertainment, ornament making, kids holiday crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, and food and drink options, including Sunset Smash.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Pacific Palisades Interfaith Council hosted its annual Thanksgiving service on Monday evening, November 24, at Palisades Lutheran Church with the theme “Foundations of Faith: A Time to Renew and Connect.”

A tradition for more than 30 years, Rev. Dr. Martin Lee offered a “very warm and gracious welcome” to the community to the space on behalf of Palisades Lutheran Church, speaking on how he was “deeply moved” by the attendance at the service with it being after the Palisades fire.

He invited longtime congregant Diane Reagan to speak on the history of a quilt, which survived the Palisades fire, that was displayed during the service. Reagan explained that it dated back to 2001, when the community gathered at the interfaith Thanksgiving service that year “reeling from 9/11.” That year, 10 houses of worship each contributed a panel for a “Pray for America” quilt, crafted by Reagan, that served as a prize for a raffle fundraiser for Red Cross.

The raffle winner, Barbara Windebank, and her husband, Harold, lived in England, which is where the quilt went next to be displayed in community centers and Salisbury Cathedral. It was returned to the Palisades in 2002, where it has since been on display at different houses of worship, fire stations and the county fair.

Next to speak was Rev. Dr. Grace Park of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, who said: “When we gather, we heal.” She was followed by a hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth,” by John Rutter, which was presented by Ross Chitwood and the Palisades Methodist Praise Team.

Bishop Chris Eastland of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints followed, speaking on “Renewing Our Foundations of Faith,” noting that faith is a “uniquely individual thing.”

“Faith is born of hope,” he said, and “hope is a gift.” While navigating life after the Palisades fire, he suggested the community commits to “reaching out.”

“Renew the faith that has always been the foundation of our community,” Eastland said.

Before leading a guided meditation, Brother Satyananda of Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine spoke on “united hearts.”

“We have endured a lot this year,” he said. “We have to recharge, we have to renew.”

Kehillat Israel Rabbi Emeritus Steven and Didi Carr Reuben then performed a duet, “Every Miracle Given Me,” after speaking on morning prayers and gratitude.

Rev. KC Robertson of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church shared about moments where people come “undone or unglued” that don’t “make sense.” She described her own moment, standing in an aisle at HomeGoods, looking for a cutting board.

“None of them were my cutting board,” she said, noting she had to sit down and call a friend to talk through the moment and feel the grief.

Rev. Cathleen Coots spoke on being called back to serve at Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades following the fire.

“What do we say after this difficult year?” Coots said, later noting: “I love this community and the people and its traditions.”

This year’s collection, facilitated by Rev. Stephen Smith of The Parish of St. Matthew, will be given to Team Palisades, which is a “neighbor-led support network formed in the aftermath of the January 2025 wildfires,” built on the Block Captain framework.

Rabbi Amy Bernstein spoke on behalf of Kehillat Israel, committing to match the collection for Team Palisades from discretionary funds.

“It’s so good to be home,” Bernstein said of the evening. She described the Pacific Palisades Interfaith Council as “BFFs in the faith world,” then led a Litany for Peace, where the clergy and congregants went back and forth, reciting lines.

Last to speak was Msgr. Liam Kidney of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, who talked about the “huge challenge” the church and community are facing.

“We’re building for people who haven’t been born yet,” Kidney described. “We will rebuild for the future.”

The evening concluded with the clergy and attendees singing “Lean on Me” together. Pastor Lee invited everyone to stay for dinner and fellowship after the service.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Palisades Auxiliary Unit 283 visited Los Angeles Fire Department Stations 23 and 69 on Friday, November 21, with Thanksgiving gifts.

Seven members— Auxiliary Past President Gina Jakel, Arlene Vaillancourt, Eva Kurtz, Linda Andrews, Mary Jo Stirling, Terri Webb and Stephanie Hubsch—visited LAFD Station 69 first. They were greeted by Captain Tommy Kitahata and were given a tour of station, including the kitchen, and met many of the firefighters on shift.

“They made freshly baked cookies for us—so nice,” said Hubsch, Auxiliary Unit 283 treasurer.

The group then gathered in front of the station where Jakel said a few words of gratitude for the firefighters. She presented them with Thanksgiving cards and three gift certificates (for Shift A, B and C) for $250 to Palisades Garden Cafe, with the Auxiliary saying the firefighters were “very happy” to receive the certificates and cards.

Afterward, eight Palisades Auxiliary Unit 283 members—the previous group plus Fran Aponte—visited LAFD Station 23 where they were greeted by Captain Cesar Garcia. They took a tour of the station, meeting the firefighters on shift.

“The rescue rig was out on a call, but returned before we departed,” the Auxiliary shared.

The group then gathered out front of the station, where Jakel shared words of gratitude and presented the firefighters with a Thanksgiving card and gift certificate for $500 to Palisades Garden Cafe.

At both fire stations, the members and firefighters gathered out front to take a photo. Auxiliary members also purchased T-shirts from both stations.

The Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. in person at the small gym as well as virtually via Zoom.

The agenda includes updates from Senior Facility Director Jasmine Dowlatshahi regarding sports and programming activities, and park facilities from Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Jimmy Kim (including ground and soil testing, Quimby funds status, and the temporary library).

The agenda also includes a proposal for synthetic turf athletic fields, which will be presented by Pali Community Center Committee and Youth Sports Organizations representative Bryan Whalen. There will be public comment on the item (in person and by Zoom), as well as a PAB discussion and vote.

A link to the agenda, which includes a link to the Zoom, can be found at laparks.org/reccenter/palisades.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association will host its annual block party—described as an “informal gathering for all residents of Marquez Knolls, as well as their friends, families and friendly pets”—on Saturday, December 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We celebrate the vibrant spirit of our community and embrace the occasion to come together and strengthen the bond within our neighborhood,” MKPOA wrote ahead of the event. “Celebrate our LAFD and LAPD first responders, and most of all, enjoy the camaraderie of our marvelous community.”

There will be music, food trucks, drinks, tables and chairs, informational stations, and representatives from Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department and Council District 11.

This year’s party will take place near the 1300 block of Duende Lane cul-de-sac, off Lachman Lane. Admission is free. There will be a “brief program” at 1 p.m. Reservations can be made at marquezknolls.org.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Pacific Palisades-founded nonprofit griefHaven is offering free grief and trauma support via Zoom twice per month for people who lost their homes in the Palisades fire. The next meeting will be Monday, December 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

GriefHaven Founder and CEO Susan Whitmore and Dr. Denise Mandel have been facilitating the groups for five months. Whitmore described the groups as a “loving, confidential and educational place to deal with the impact of the fire.”

It is a drop-in group, so people can “come as needed” and “meetings vary in size.” The meetings include writing prompts, educational information about grief and trauma techniques, and time to share.

“This is not a place for people to exchange information about rebuilding,” she explained. “This is a therapeutic meeting for people to talk about their grief and trauma from the fire.”

Based in the Palisades, griefHaven lost its office space in the fire. It has been temporarily relocated to Water Garden in Santa Monica.

To get on the mailing list for the Zoom group, email hope@griefhaven.org or call the office at 310-459-1789. A few days prior to the meeting, an email reminder will be sent to those on the mailing list with the Zoom link.

—SARAH SHMERLING

A Window Between Worlds—founded by Palisadian Cathy Salser—will host “Wellness Day: Art in Times of Crisis” on Tuesday, December 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. via Zoom.

“When life feels uncertain, art offers a way to breathe, reflect and begin again,” read information about the event.

During the free virtual live event, attendees will experience “shared stories of resilience” from Salser and Youth Facilitator Sonia Hsieh Schumacher, a “hands-on art experience” “Beyond the Break: A Kintsugi Journey,” led by Kiyomi Knox, and “reflection and renewal.”

“Whether you’re seeking calm, inspiration or connection, this gathering offers space to begin again and reminds us that healing is something we build together,” AWBW Executive Director Zachery Scott-Hillel said.

For additional information or to register to attend, visit awbw.org/a-year-of-healing-and-rebuilding-together-registration.

—SARAH SHMERLING

By STEVE GALLUZZO| Sports Editor

Pacific Palisades Troop 223 hosted its annual Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Sunday afternoon, November 23, in the chapel at the Parish of Saint Matthew—marking the first time the troop has been back at the church since the Palisades fire in January.

Jack Musitano (2023 Eagle Scout 223B) and Carly Crane (2023 Eagle Scout 223G) shared Master of Ceremonies duties, while Teddy Chang (Senior Patrol Leader 223B) led the gathering of current and former scouts and their family members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then Kim Morera (Senior Patrol Leader 223G) gave the invocation, expressing gratitude for the journey they have all been on and acknowledging the troop’s 25 scouts who earned the highest honor of Eagle Scout—the largest group to Eagle this year.

Based in Pacific Palisades, Troop 223 has a long tradition of scouting, while serving both boys and girls (following the expansion of the Scouts BSA program). More than 1,000 scouts in the troop have advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout under Scoutmaster Mike Lanning’s leadership (the milestone was reached during the 2024 Court of Honor last November).

“The rank of Eagle Scout is a badge of honor that carries a sense of pride and accomplishment that will remain with you the rest of your life,” said Lanning, who is beginning his 73rd year as scoutmaster. “This is a unique club and you should be proud.”

Second-year mothers typically run the Court of Honor, and Molly Read (whose 12-year-old son Braden has been a scout for two years) was gifted a bouquet of flowers, after which Chang and Cleo Badt (Senior Patrol Leader 223G) offered congratulatory citations.

Then it was time for the presentation of Eagle Awards, where each of the 25 candidates was introduced by their own “presenter” who described how they met the candidate and what they achieved.

This year’s candidates were Jackson Baril (Harvard-Westlake High, 28 merit badges), William Chapin (Viewpoint School, 32 merit badges), Kade Craft (Mira Costa High, 27 merit badges), Ethan Davis (Pali High, 28 merit badges), Benjamin Davis (St. Monica Prep, 22 merit badges), Finian Fox (Loyola High, 30 merit badges), Haakon Knapp (Mira Costa High, 24 merit badges), Matthew Krieger (Loyola High, 27 merit badges), Dominic Longo (Mira Costa High, 24 badges), Henry Mauch (Pali High, 33 merit badges), Conor Merges (Loyola High, 24 merit badges), Jackson Itaya (Newton North High, 27 merit badges), Tucker Rowland (Loyola High, 30 merit badges), Ryan Ruud (Loyola High, 31 merit badges), Max Szymanski (Pali High, 24 merit badges), Cammie Lovett (Marymount High, 26 merit badges), Eloise McCarthy (Geffen Academy, 27 merit badges), Olivia Macdonald (Pali High, 25 badges), Sienna Nocas (Glenbrook South High, 29 merit badges), Aleah Plume (Pali High, 29 merit badges), Gemma Rahill (Santa Monica High, 25 merit badges), Presley Travail (Pali High, 30 merit badges), Avenali Weaver (Marlborough School, 27 merit badges), Abigail Yoda (Pali High, 27 merit badges) and Eleanor Yoda (Pali High, 28 merit badges).

“I’ve never seen a group that took to leadership more quickly,” Assistant Scoutmaster for Seniors 223G Sean Whiteley said.

Regular meetings and activities include monthly camp-outs, adventure treks to Yosemite, Montana, Idaho, Catalina Island and Philmont, and community service. The organization’s mission emphasizes leadership, outdoor skills, personal growth and service with a “Scouts Leading Scouts” philosophy.

Troop 223 focuses on giving local youth experiences in the outdoors through activities like hiking, backpacking and camp-outs that build confidence and resilience. The community and service dimension is strong, as many Eagle Scout projects involve local schools, nonprofit organizations and municipal improvement.

“These guys have been through an awful lot and the diversity of these young men’s activities—football, baseball, basketball, swimming, music, robotics, photography, sculpture, lacrosse, performing arts, lifeguarding, film and theater—is remarkable,” said Andy Hubsch, assistant scoutmaster for Seniors 223B. “This is something that’ll stick with you … You started as Tiger and Cub Scouts, and now you stand at the top of the mountain as Eagle Scouts and you are an Eagle Scout forever.”

Troop 223 meets at St. Matthew’s but recently, due to the Palisades fire, at St. Paul the Apostle in Westwood. New Scouts typically join in fifth or sixth grade and do not necessarily need previous Cub Scout experience.

“What you’ve all shown is the true heart of scouting—resourcefulness, commitment and courage,” Scoutmaster 223G Larry Kirven said. “This is just the beginning. You head into the future bringing integrity, service and perseverance.”

Last to speak was Lanning, who imparted this year’s candidates with his words of wisdom: “I’ve been here before and I pray to my God that I’ll be here again.”

Lanning referred to a lifelong resource he calls “The Force.”

“It’s something in you that you built—it’s not some Star Wars thing, but you can call on it the rest of your life,” Lanning continued. “You may have physical challenges or financial challenges or personal challenges, but you have to recognize this force is there and it’s characterized by three things: first, it’s unique to you; second, it’s indefatigable; and third, it’s placed in you by God and therefore it’s the best. When the going gets tough, it’s the force that will get you going.”

Finally, Senior Patrol Leader 223B Bryce Young read the benediction.

“May the values of scouting guide us in our daily lives,” he said.

Each scout received a medal and framed picture, and a reception in the courtyard was held after the ceremony.