Several Former Paliskates Employees Share About Shop Owner Erica Simpson’s Influence on Their Current Career Endeavors

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Of all the things Erica Simpson prides herself on after more than two decades of owning and operating a store in Pacific Palisades, the success of her previous “kids” is at the top of that list.

Since Paliskates first opened in 1999, Simpson has served as a mentor, trainer, confidant and second family to dozens of her employees—often guiding them to their future career accomplishments, as detailed to the Palisadian-Post by several now-adults who previously worked at the skate and surf store in their teen years.

Evan Powell—who worked at the store in eighth and ninth grade, and was part of the inaugural Paliskates skate team—described Simpson as a “second mother” to everyone “affiliated with Paliskates.”

“Her warmth and compassion left an indelible mark on each of us,” Powell said. “Paliskates transcended being merely a skate shop; it was a sanctuary for skateboarders and a hub for our community. The lessons Erica imparted didn’t fully resonate until later in life. Yet, her role as a caring adult in a teenager’s life was rare and invaluable.”

Today, as CEO of Key Healthcare, which operates “both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs tailored for teenagers grappling with mental health and substance use challenges,” Powell said “belief in the future of our youth lies at the heart of what” he does. Powell added that he “strives to emulate” Simpson’s example by ensuring the teenagers feel “heard and supported” in the work he undertakes.

Creative/art director and senior designer Clyde Corley, who lived in the Palisades and worked at the store as a teenager and a brief stint after graduating college, described Simpson as a “local icon.”

“She was really was supporting that aspiration of skateboarding and surfing in the community, which is such a part of the DNA of Southern California,” Corley said. “I think she was really bringing culture to the Palisades, and being an epicenter of what is true and valuable about SoCal culture. She had it going on there and no one else really did that specific lane of culture there.”

Corley’s career has spanned from growing a brand called Miaou, as well as working freelance and with some retained companies, like Nike and STAUD, doing art direction and graphic design. He said one of the lessons he has applied from his time at Paliskates is “showing up and being warm, and having a warm energy.”

“I think having a job while you’re a kid can teach so many lessons about just being warm, and not being afraid to talk to people and not being afraid to ask if people need help,” Corley described.

He said the “human connection” that is in retail—like saying “hi” to people—can go a long way, a sentiment with which Simpson agreed.

“First I’d say that Paliskates provides an opportunity to enhance their social skills,” Simpson said of the on-the-job training her employees receive. “We are big on customer service here and want to make sure customers have the best experience possible. In order to do this, everyone needs to hone their listening skills and feel confident in their ability to communicate with the general public.”

In addition to general sales and customer service, Simpson said they learn about what it takes to run a small business.

“We try to foster each person’s talents as they pertain to retail in general,” Simpson explained. “They are allowed to assist in buying, designing as well as more basic aspects of running a business. Of course, they also do things like cleaning, restocking, etc.”

Her employees also learn the importance of being responsible and how to work with a team.

“They understand and love that phrase ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’” Simpson said. “Everyone feels and values the family feeling that is created here. I love it when people learn skills to help them succeed in life. It always makes me so happy to have employees come back and tell me that I taught them how to start and run their own successful businesses.”

When it comes to her previous employees, some of them lived or went to school in the Palisades while they were working at the store, but others, like Elizabeth Do, drove in from as far away as California State University, Fullerton.

Do, who worked at the store starting at the age of 15 for her first retail job, is 44 now and resides in Huntington Beach. With 23 years of experience in real estate, she is CEO of The Elizabeth Do Team, which serves “all of Orange County and parts of Riverside and Los Angeles” counties.

Do described Simpson as having “one of the biggest impacts” on her, since Do “had to be self-sufficient at such a young age.”

“She took me in, and really mentored and coached me to be a great female in business,” Do explained. “She has a vision like no one else I know. When she sees an opportunity she always strives for it. That’s what she taught me, and execution plays a huge role in what we do to start, create and run successful small businesses.”

Other things she said she learned at the store include customer service, sales and numbers, goals, hard work, the importance of being humble, and community.

“She has always had a sense of community wherever she was at and that led me to not only be a business owner but for me to help the community through our nonprofit [Generation Elevate], helping via teaching classes, growing my team as the next leaders in our community,” Do said. “It’s not just about ‘work’ or running a business. It’s about seeing the bigger picture of growth and generational wealth and opportunities.”

Others, like Haley Sanford, lived in the Palisades while working at the store and attended Palisades Charter High School.

“It was close to my school and home, so it was very convenient and a fun first real job,” Sanford said. “Erica took a bet on me, I didn’t have any retail or related work experience yet at that time. The longer I worked for Erica, the more I learned and the more responsibility she gave me. I went in with a growth mindset, and wanted to learn as much as I could about how the store operated and what made it successful.”

Sanford said eventually she became a store manager, giving her the opportunity to order products from suppliers, manage inventory, run payroll, schedule and lead the team.

Now 21 and still living in Los Angeles, Sanford is an assistant celebrity stylist, saying she is “so lucky to do something” she loves every day.

“When at Paliskates, I realized how much I love helping people find clothes that look great and make them feel beautiful,” Sanford described. “This is what I get to do for a living now, and love thinking about it artistically and individually, one look at a time, personalized for each client. Success is based on relationships, and I enjoy building connections in the fashion industry to help best serve our clients.”

Sanford said it’s “hard work” but she continues to learn every day: “And seeing our clients light up in just the right outfit makes it all worthwhile.”

Powell, now 37 years old, lives in Marquez Knolls with his wife and two young sons. He mostly grew up in the Bluffs area, attending Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Pali High.

“I hope that the legacy of Paliskates endures for generations to come,” Powell said. “Reconnecting with Erica upon my return to the Palisades in 2020 filled me with joy. She remains a cornerstone of our community, maintaining connections with nearly every individual who has been associated with her shop.”

Powell said that to him, this exemplifies the “essence of an exceptional boss.” Simpson “served as a mentor to countless young individuals,” Powell described, “irrespective of their backgrounds, who shared a passion for skateboarding.”

“It brings tears to my eyes—literally,” Simpson said when asked what it means to her to have this impact on her employees. “It’s been a blessing and a gift and an honor.”

Paliskates is located at 1021 Swarthmore Avenue. For more information, visit paliskates.net.

Connie Clotworthy Brings Meditation to the Classroom Through Worthy Beyond Purpose

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

After receiving the gift of meditation, Connie Clotworthy knew immediately she wanted to share it with as wide an audience as possible.

This led to the creation of Worthy Beyond Purpose, a nonprofit that brings mindfulness and meditation into schools in Los Angeles, with Marquez Knolls resident Andi Wagner on its board of directors.

“There was a time in my life when I started to really dive into meditation,” Clotworthy described. “It just started to enhance everything in my life, everything just started to get a little bit better—and some things got really good.”

Wagner got into Transcendental Meditation about eight years ago, leading her to an even deeper journey into meditation over the past three years, which is eventually how she met Clotworthy in October 2023.

When Clotworthy was introduced to meditation, she said she was taught how to be still, to connect to her breath and find her heart, leading to a wholeness inside: “The term I like to use is the chains came off. There was a wholeness and fullness to where I didn’t need anything out here to fix me.”

Prior to founding and leading Worthy Beyond Purpose, Clotworthy spent more than two decades in the restaurant and bar business. In 2016, she got sober, which she said shifted her perspective on where she wanted to be working.

Around this time, Clotworthy was looking for ways to share the “amazing gift” of meditation when her brother invited her to Jamaica to volunteer at a kids’ camp with him, helping with activities like arts and crafts.

During lunch one day at the camp, Clotworthy was doing her meditation practice when one of the campers approached her and asked what she was doing. After explaining that she was meditating, the kid asked Clotworthy to show her how.

“I just did this little playful guided five-minute meditation with her, and I watched this shift happen,” Clotworthy said. “I watched this rambunctious kid run to me, find her place, and I watched this dropping down. When I brought her out of it, she slowly opened her eyes and said, ‘Whoa, I want to do that again some time.’”

Clotworthy said after that moment of working with the camper, she realized she was meant to be working with kids, teaching them about meditation. She returned from Jamaica and said she felt like she was “on fire.”

“It was a time in our society where there was school shooting after school shooting … it was like one after the other,” Clotworthy said.

After reading about an idea to arm teachers, Clotworthy took to Facebook to post about arming students with “the tools they need to manage their emotions” instead. That led to the creation of a group of four people who got together each week.

“We talked about our practices, what works for us and how we can make that kid friendly,” Clotworthy described. “We started to reach out everywhere—to schools, after-school programs, YMCA, Boys & Girls clubs … ”

A lot of places said they did not have the time or money to bring a program of that nature in, so at first, Worthy Beyond Purpose visits began on a volunteer basis. Over time, they learned what worked and what didn’t, leading to crafting a 10-month curriculum, including things like mindfulness basics, gratitude and kindness—and their first third-grade class in 2019.

Clotworthy shared a quote attributed to the Dalai Lama: “If every 8-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world in one generation.”

“This is one of the reasons why we began our teaching with third-graders (8-year-olds) but we have since grown and now our weekly curriculum teaches kindergarten through fifth grade,” Clotworthy said.

Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic closed school campuses, with Worthy Beyond Purpose shifting to online, where kids from LA joined, but also joined from as far away as Jamaica and London.

“It was just a space where kids could come together and see each other, and relate to one another and talk about their fears, their anxieties, their worries, what’s going on,” Clotworthy explained. “This is where I started to see impact happen super quick.”

After campuses reopened, there was more interest in bringing Worthy Beyond Purpose into the classroom, but most schools did not have it in their budget. So Clotworthy began fundraising, raising $77,000, which allowed seven schools to receive free programming.

Heading into the next academic year, Worthy Beyond Purpose is currently working with eight schools serving 1,500 students, which is covered through a mix of the schools paying and fundraised money. The program’s latest fundraising effort—Pack the Schools with Mindfulness—is currently underway.

Worthy Beyond Purpose also hosts quarterly fundraising breathwork and sound bath events that are geared toward adults. Clotworthy offers free adult meditation via Zoom on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

Wagner and Clotworthy met at one of these fundraising events, with Wagner sharing that Worthy Beyond Purpose’s efforts “tugged” at her heartstrings.

“I said, ‘What can I do?’” Wagner recalled.

She went up to Clotworthy after the event, telling her she’d donate and also help in any way that she could. They met the next day and “hit it off.” She asked Wagner to be part of the board of directors.

Wagner described it as “kismet,” adding that the “universe connects people at the right time in the right places.” Now, Wagner helps spread the message of Worthy Beyond Purpose to create “synergistic relationships between community and other businesses in the neighborhood.” She also helps with fundraising efforts and accompanies Clotworthy to schools.

“This whole thing has been like I’ve been led to just show up, and do the work and let go of the results, and let it take care of itself,” Clotworthy said, “and it’s just transformed and blossomed into this beautiful thing.”

For more information, including a link to donate or sign up for the email list, which includes future fundraisers and events, visit worthybeyondpurpose.org.

Beauty Bus—founded by Palisadian Wendy Marantz Levine—hosted its ninth annual fundraiser event, “All in For Beauty Poker Tournament,” at Tiato Kitchen & Garden in Santa Monica.

“It was truly a fantastic night,” fellow Palisadian and Beauty Bus Executive Director Ruth Laurent-Kocher said. “We hosted 250 people and raised over $200,000 to deliver personal grooming services to seriously ill patients and their caregivers in hospitals across Los Angeles.”

This year’s event was chaired by three Beauty Bus volunteers: Jill Berman, Stephanie Carson and Beth Schore, who worked alongside Laurent-Kocher and Levine to build a 30-member committee.

Led by Auction Chair Jaclyn Clifford, Laurie Haller and Dina Barry, over 80 items were solicited for a silent auction, including four nights at the Mauna Lani,Hawaii, XIV Karat of Beverly Hills jewelry, sports memorabilia and tickets.

“A special thank you also goes out to all our donors and who support Beauty Bus—Beauty Bus turns 15 this summer,” Levine said. “Partnering with over 20 hospitals throughout Los Angeles, we have delivered over 30,000 free beauty and grooming treatments to patients and caregivers. My family started Beauty Bus in memory of my younger sister Melissa. We are grateful to pay forward the lift and gift of beauty for people going through cancer treatments, struggling with serious diseases and caring for family members. It’s a simple service with a huge impact.”

Chrysalis hosted its 40th anniversary “Homecoming” event at the Pacific Palisades home of Mary Ellen and Chris Kanoff, raising more than $75,000 to benefit the nonprofit, which is “dedicated to changing lives through jobs.”

“Four decades ago, Chrysalis Founder John Dillon opened a social service agency in Skid Row to serve the area’s homeless population,” read a synopsis. “It wasn’t long before he realized that the individuals we served needed a different kind of support in order to make the transition out of poverty and onto a pathway to self-sufficiency. Since then, Chrysalis has served over 85,000 individuals facing housing instability, poverty or prior justice system involvement by providing people with the resources and support they need to secure and maintain meaningful employment.”

Dillon spoke at the event, as well as Chrysalis CEO Mark Loranger. The evening included “hearty hors d’oeuvres, inspiring speeches and beautiful ocean views.”

Methodist Preschool hosted its inaugural whole school exhibition, “Cultivating Connections: Developing Relationships,” highlighting the work of its 2.5- to 5-year-old children. The end-of-school-year exhibition was designed to showcase the “many ways the children form relationships at the school,” according to a synopsis, which included relationships with themselves, each other, materials and the community.

“The exhibition documented a year’s worth of work and exploration through the eyes of a child at the school, which takes inspiration from the schools of Reggio-Emilia in Italy, where children engage in deeper learning experiences and long-term projects explored through a multitude of artistic mediums,” the synopsis continued. “Among some of the highlights of the exhibition were an exploration into tempera paint and mark-making by the school’s youngest Blue Room children, an investigation into the concept of beauty by the school’s Green Room children, and a Rainbow Investigation, inspired by the Chumash Legend, The Rainbow Bridge, by the school’s oldest Yellow Room children.”

The gallery also featured the work that took place in the Methodist Preschool garden, where students engaged in a garden-to-table experience.

Summer Interns Allie Yang and Mickey Friedberg Will Help With Editorial Tasks From Interviews to Writing, Editing and More

Allie Yang

Hello! My name is Allie, and this will be my first year working at the Pali-Post.

I am a fairly new resident of the Palisades, having lived here for just over a year. However, I have quickly grown to love the small-town feel that sets this community apart from the rest of the city. Seeing spontaneous conversations among neighbors in coffee shops and communitywide events every weekend brightens my day and has inspired me to want to write for the Post.

Currently, I am a rising senior at the Archer School for Girls, and throughout my high school career, I have developed a deep interest in all things journalism and creative writing. I started as a staff reporter on Archer’s yearbook, Hestia’s Flame, to develop my photography and design skills in addition to my budding familiarity with AP Style.

During my sophomore year, I became a senior reporter for The Oracle, Archer’s award-winning digital newspaper. I wrote for the News, Features, Culture, Sports and Voices sections, with my work in opinion journalism being my favorite.

This broad experience led me to hone my craft by creating a column surrounding technology. Specifically, I write about social media, artificial intelligence, and the intersection of technology and current affairs.

I am most looking forward to expanding my versatility as a journalist by writing for the News and Pali Life sections while on the Post. I also hope to learn more about the members of the Palisadian community by interviewing them about their unique experiences and stories, because I believe the heart of journalism lies at the individual level.

Please feel free to reach out any time via the Post.

Mickey Friedberg

Hello readers! My name is Mickey Friedberg, and I am a new intern with the Palisadian-Post.

I am a rising senior attending Palisades Charter High School and have attended there for all of high school. I was on the Pali baseball team for the majority of my high school career, as well as playing the sport for most of my childhood growing up.

Some of my other interests include surfing, basketball and playing music, now mainly guitar. I have always loved writing and storytelling, and I am thrilled to learn more about journalism and hone my skills through this internship.

I am looking to pursue sports broadcasting and media in college, and potentially as a career, so I am hoping that this internship gives me the opportunity to write about topics revolving sports while also providing an introduction into the world of media, reporting and journalism.

In the latter part of my summer, I will be interning for the LA Rams during their summer training camp. That opportunity, paired with working at the Post, I hope will help me to grow my knowledge, confidence and comfort in the world of sports, media, communication and journalism.

That is an introduction to me and my life—look out for more stories and coverage to come!

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Street Food Cinema has invited Angelenos to partake in meals, films and music—from Arcadia to Manhattan Beach, Glendale and Pacific Palisades—since 2012.

Palisadians can join the festivities Saturday evening, June 29, with an outdoor movie screening of “The Goonies” at Will Rogers State Historic Park.

“When a band of local childhood friends calling themselves ‘the Goonies’ stumble upon an old map, secret clues leading to the fabled treasure of notorious pirate One-Eyed Willy set in motion a wild mission to save their homes,” according to a summary on IMDb. “With the criminal Fratelli family hot on their trail, a frantic race against time begins … Will the Goonies prove their mettle?”

The 1985 classic film, directed by Richard Donner, and written by Palisadian Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus, stars Sean Astin as Mikey, Josh Brolin as Brand and Jeff Cohen as Chunk.

Street Food Cinema presents movies outdoors, street food, audience games, live music and more.

“Founded in 2012, SFC has grown into a citywide community of entertainment and food enthusiasts reaching every corner of LA,” according to its website. “As a recognized and beloved event series, SFC has become a preferred partner for movie studios and entertainment platforms to engage fans.”

A number of food trucks will be available at the event, including Lupita’s Tacos, Locke BBQ, MexiBachi, Mariscos Arenita and District Burger.

The event will be emceed by Jenna Nickerson with music from Chester Copper Pot—a Los Angeles-based band that takes “inspiration from every style of music to generate a new retro funky sound,” according to the group’s website.

Guests can purchase general admission tickets in advance for $22, and tickets for children ages 6 to 12 for $10. At the door, guests can purchase general admission tickets for $27, and tickets for children ages 6 to 12 for $15. Children 5 and younger are free, and leashed dogs are welcome.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the live band at 7 p.m. and the film at 8:30 p.m.

To buy tickets and see a complete schedule of screenings this season, visit streetfoodcinema.com.

The American Legion: Four Years to Build a Community Beacon in the Palisades

By American Legion Palisades Post 283

Following the vision of Post Commander Jim Cragg, the American Legion Post in Pacific Palisades embarked on a four-year mission to become a cornerstone of one of the most influential communities in the United States with a mission to improve the standing of veterans in American society.

The recently renamed Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, named after one of its former members, has been a solid but relatively quiet pillar of the Palisades since 1927. Upon his election to Post Commander in 2020, Cragg laid out an ambitious three-phase plan.

First his team would undertake a multi-million-dollar remodel to the Post headquarters. Next, he would restructure the Post’s operating processes, promoting equity and transparency, and establishing a separate grant-making foundation to regulate its financial gifting.

And finally, they invested in developing programs and events to bond veteran families, support veteran career enhancement, and provide Post members with opportunities to continue to serve the community and their nation.

All of this was done while conducting a community outreach campaign that has resulted in establishing this American Legion Post as a family-friendly community center, drawing in all citizens with its programs.

The original Post facility was sufficient, but the joke about town was that it resembled the Post Office next door and that people frequently walked in to drop off their mail. Cragg and his team set off to create the look and feel of an exclusive club worthy of Pacific Palisades.

A wooden exterior resembling old Navy sailing ships with military brass lettering greets visitors as they approach a lobby adorned with a mural dedicated to the diversity of American veterans. Visitors are also greeted by a modern painting of Ronald Reagan—or “Comrade Reagan” in Legion terminology—set as an inspiration that any veteran can achieve great heights.

The decor of the main hall resembles a military museum with a subtle effort to show that veterans of all generations served and sacrificed similarly, no matter their role or standing. This decor enhances a setting for fun and camaraderie, best seen at the Post’s legendary dances, comedy events and lounge nights.

A relaxed dining and lounge area are supported by a modern bar and kitchen facility. All of this created the setting for the community-engaging events envisioned by Cragg, and was epitomized in the Grand Opening Ceremony in January 2023.

Shutting down the street, the community came together for a ceremony emceed by actor Joe Mantegna, attended by local politicians and dignitaries, and with music provided by the USC marching band. The opening fulfilled the vision of its coordinators, Cragg, Jay McCann and Kevin Niles.

First and foremost, Cragg saw the Legion as a place of leadership for the community, and immediately interfaced with local emergency services and government. Cragg created a postcard with a phone directory titled “Who to Call for Help in the Palisades,” which the Post mailed to every address in town.

Cragg invited the community to come in and listen to briefings by the Los Angeles Police Department West LA Division, LA Sheriff’s Department Homeless Task Force, Los Angeles Fire Department Station 69 and an LASD briefing on active shooter response. These town hall meetings were free to the public in an effort to inform and promote dialogue with these agencies.

During the COVID shutdowns, Cragg and Post members Kurt Heite and Peng Vang distributed face masks in the community and to hospitals sewn by Cragg’s company, S.O.Tech Inc. And taking it a step further, Cragg organized classes for members and local educators in first aid, stop the bleed, CPR and even Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, taught by himself and other veterans medics.

The Post already had a robust HAM radio program dedicated to supporting community emergencies. The philosophy behind this was to provide the veterans with an opportunity to feel like they were continuing to serve after they had left the military. They even organized efforts to send chaplains, funding and personnel to assist the homeless veteran issues developing at the West LA Veterans Administration.

In parallel, the Post’s Chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary launched a women’s self-defense class, and are planning a young people’s etiquette and leadership class based on the West Point model.

As a successful businessman and retiring Army Reserve Officer finishing a 30-year career in Special Operations, Cragg wanted to institute projects to enhance the careers of veterans. He saw the leadership, teamwork, organizational skills and performance-under-pressure skills ingrained in veterans, and sought to bring these out through speakers, trainers and networking opportunities.

The highpoint of this effort was a business leadership discussion led by Medal of Honor recipients Gary Littrell and Jim McCloughan, attended by veterans and public servants from across Southern California.

The Post has also supported events with Toastmasters, the Heroes Linked Veterans professional networking site, the Polk Institute’s Veterans Shark Tank, the West Point Society, the Association of the U.S. Army, and a number of speaking presentations and networking events with the Post’s chapter of the Sons of the American Legion.

Near to his heart as the father to a 9-year-old daughter are family programs in the American Legion.

“Veterans aren’t just struggling to improve their jobs, they are struggling to get quality time with their families too,” Cragg said.

As a flagship yearly event, Cragg established the Veteran Family Weekend at Emerald Bay, taking over 100 veteran families to Catalina Island each year and renting out the Scout Camp. They replace many of the scout events with military skills, like night vision goggles, emergency radio, survival field craft and a drone class, where the veteran parent teaches their kids while bonding with them. In 2024 they added SCUBA diving and listened to guest speaker Littrell talk with the kids about values.

Another event hosted at the Post included five Medal of Honor recipients on stage talking to young people about the principals and values of the Medal.

“Watching my daughter stand up and say what freedom meant to her in answer to a question from a man who received the Medal of Honor was one of my highpoints as a Legionnaire and as a parent,” Cragg said tearfully.

Post 283 has multiple kids’ programs, including leadership classes, picnics and camping. In an effort to become more cutting edge, Cragg suggested drone classes, SCUBA classes and HAM radio classes for kids interested in communications. And for those of faith, Cragg asked Chaplain Joe Ramirez to establish a non-denominational spiritual support program that has evolved into Sunday services at the Post.

Cragg said his hope is that this all comes together to form a place in the Palisades that attracts veterans and non-veterans alike to share in camaraderie, enhance their families’ lives and engage their skills to support their community. If there is any metric for success, they can point to the influx of new members to say they have hit the right note.

And to open their doors even further, they’ve established a new status at the Post called “Friends of Post 283.” For those people who didn’t serve and don’t have an immediate family member that served (these are standard requirements for Legion membership and Legion family membership requirements, respectively), they created the “Friends” status so veteran-friendly members of the community can apply and get on their mailing list to attend Post events. Notably, “Friends of Post 283” can attend events but do not have a vote in membership meetings.

And what does the future hold for Cragg now that he is stepping down as Post Commander? Since they’ve established Post 283 as a pillar of Pacific Palisades, providing a fulsome image of the successful veteran family in the community, he’s identified an opportunity change the way society perceives and treats its veterans.

McCann and Cragg crafted a resolution with Jason Mayo to “Restore Respect for the Military and Veterans,” which has been approved by the Post and is on its way to Department and hopefully Legion National. This is a resolution to compel Legionnaires to go out to schools and all those who influence opinions and provide a positive role model to change the way young people are being influenced to regard veterans.

And locally, he intends to approach the media to discuss improving the way veterans and active duty are portrayed to diminish the stigma that has been put on those who have worn the uniform.

This 4th of July, you will see Post 283 making great efforts to show the community and media the strength of the military and veterans—they will have the West Point Superintendent, a Medal of Honor recipient, a team of Green Berets, and groups of active military and Team RWB taking part in the events of the day: “We will make an impression.”

Cragg will be speaking on the subject at the Pentagon in July to provide awareness of the efforts Post 283 is taking to change the way American society has stigmatized its military and veterans.

Cragg is now passing leadership to Ramirez, a longtime member who is invested in Post programs and its future. His thoughts are melded with Cragg’s, and the future is bright for the Post, its members, its family and the Palisades community.

Both Cragg and Ramirez hope every member of the community will find something at Post 283 that draws them in!

*** click on any photo below to view slideshow ***