Neighborhood News

Family Seeks Community Help to Find 21-Year-Old Dane Elkins | Pacific Palisades

The Elkins family is asking the community for help as they search for Dane Elkins, a 21-year-old Palisades Charter High School graduate, who went missing over one month ago.

Law enforcement officials found Dane’s abandoned vehicle near the 5 Freeway and Templin Highway on December 20.

Dane’s mother Deborah reported that he had called 911 multiple times next to the location of where his car was found, but when first responders arrived, he was nowhere in sight. The last trace of him was near a road in the rural area of Castaic.

“He can be anywhere, but he has friends in the [San Fernando] Valley and the surrounding areas,” Deborah said to The Valley Post.

Dane is an engineering student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, but was home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the weeks preceding his disappearance, Deborah said she noticed a change in his behavior and signs of possible mental illness.

“He is missed and loved by his family and … if he is reading this, we want him to know we love him and want him to come home,” Deborah said to the Palisadian-Post.

The family and community have searched in Santa Clarita, San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas, including Kern County.

Dane is described as a 5’11” male with green eyes and brown hair, weighing in at about 170 pounds. His mother said she believes he might have not shaved since going missing and may have a beard.

In the case of a potential sighting, Deborah asked community members to take a picture to ensure it is Dane. Photos can be sent to searchingfordaneelkins@gmail.com.

Anybody with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 213-996-1800.                              

— LILY TINOCO

Resilient Palisades Hosts Upcoming Events | Pacific Palisades

Locally based environmental nonprofit Resilient Palisades will host two upcoming events: a visit from the Refillery LA truck and a virtual zero-emissions garden workshop.

On Thursday, January 28, between 2 and 4 p.m., community members are invited to “fill up household and personal care bottles” with things like soap and cleaning products during a visit from the Refillery LA truck, which will be based on Temescal Canyon Road as part of the weekly Thursday farmers market—about one-half-mile up from Pacific Coast Highway.

“Reduce single-use plastic pollution by refilling your household and personal care products at the Refillery LA mobile refill station,” the website reads. “Bring your own containers to fill up household and personal care products.”

To learn more about the service and what products are offered, visit refilleryla.com.

A zero-emissions garden workshop hosted by the organization is scheduled to take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, February 2, between 7 and 8 p.m.

“Please join us for a one-hour presentation and Q&A with the nationally acclaimed, zero-emissions professional Dan Mabe, the founder of AGZA.net,” information about the event read. “Get the scoop on the latest zero-emissions alternatives on the market, advice on how to help your gardener make the switch, free in-person gardener training in your own home and updates on the latest rebates of up to 70% on commercial-grade equipment.”

For more information or to sign up, visit resilientpalisades.org.

—SARAH SHMERLING