Palisades Charter High School will present a two-weekend run of “Legally Blonde the Musical” at Santa Monica High School in the Humanities Center, located at 601 Pico Boulevard.
“A fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’ follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams,” read a synopsis from Pali High. “Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances—this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal.”
Performances will take place on March 27, 28 and 29 and April 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m., as well as 2 p.m. on March 29 and April 5. Tickets are available on gofan.co at $10 for students, $18 for general admission and $25 for VIP.
The Palisades fire has tested our resilience as a community, but together, we are making a strong recovery. As your Los Angeles Unified School District board member, I want to provide an update on how we are moving forward to ensure that our schools remain safe, open and ready to serve our students and families.
First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the educators, school staff, families and first responders who worked tirelessly to keep our students safe and supported during this crisis. Thanks to their dedication, we were able to respond quickly and effectively to minimize disruptions to learning.
When Marquez Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter Elementary schools were irreparably damaged by the fires, we immediately prioritized getting our students back into the classroom. Within a week, both schools were successfully relocated to nearby campuses, ensuring that students could continue their education in a stable environment. We are currently in the process of engaging with families to figure out plans for next year.
All other schools that had been evacuated and temporarily closed due to the fires have now reopened, and we are taking extensive measures to ensure their safety. Preliminary soil and wipe sampling data collected at both Canyon Charter Elementary and Paul Revere Charter Middle schools appear to show no impacts from the fire or are at levels that are above safety thresholds. We have also implemented several new health and safety measures, including extra cleaning, upgraded air filtration, and providing masks and bottled water as needed.
For Palisades Charter High School, the transition has been more complex due to its larger student population and the extent of the damage. While Pali High initially pivoted to remote learning, we worked closely with their leadership team to secure a temporary space at the Sears building in Santa Monica so students can return to in-person instruction in April. We are committed to supporting them throughout this entire process, and expect them to reopen on the Pali High campus once it is safe to do so in the next school year.
Beyond these immediate responses, we are leading with urgency and vision in our long-term recovery efforts. LAUSD has just announced a $725 million rebuilding plan that puts health, safety and sustainability at the forefront of these projects.
This investment is part of a larger, $2.2 billion plan to make all our schools more climate-resilient. As we think about the future, we are dedicated to ensuring that every student has access to a safe and modern learning environment.
We understand that this has been an unimaginable time for many in our community, but our commitment remains steadfast: ensuring the well-being of our students, families and staff. I want to personally thank everyone for their patience, resilience and collaboration as we navigate this recovery together.
We are not just rebuilding schools—we are strengthening our entire community. Together, we will make sure that our schools come back stronger than ever.
You can always find more information on my website at boardmembermelvoin.com and by following @nickmelvoinBD4 on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news and updates.
Nick Melvoin Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member
Palisades Symphony will present a concert on Sunday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica with works by “unique women’s voices.”
The program will feature Clara Schumann’s “Piano Concerto,” with soloist Xiao Chen, Maria Newman’s “Our Rights and Nothing Less” and Florence Price’s “Symphony No. 3.”
“Our normal concert venue, the Palisades Lutheran Church, miraculously survived the Palisades fire disaster,” read a statement from Palisades Symphony. “However, it will take some time for the building to be restored to normal use. We thank the Pilgrim Lutheran Church for providing us with an alternative venue.”
Admission to the concert is free and seating is open at the church, which is located at 1730 Wilshire Boulevard. For more information, visit palisadessymphony.org.
The first baby of 2024 Photo courtesy of Lauren Nabi
The Palisadian-Post is now seeking the first baby born to a Palisadian family in 2025—a tradition of honoring the baby born closest to 12 a.m. on January 1 that began in the paper in 1954 and has been published since.
In past years, entries have been sought in January, with the story published at the end of January or early February. This year’s selection process and story was postponed following the Palisades fire.
In addition to a feature in the Post, the family will receive a basket of prizes from contest sponsors, including a handmade quilt from Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, a gift certificate to Sanctuary Spa at the Palisades (temporarily closed but still standing with plans to reopen), items and a gift card from The Pump Station & Nurtury in Santa Monica, and products from Busy Benny—which were delivered before Founder Laura Gowing lost her inventory and home in the fire.
Other contest sponsors are Above Bar, The Gray Dragon and tawnya, who lost their business spaces, inventories and homes in the fire. The Post wanted to acknowledge and thank them for their willingness to sponsor the contest.
Families who had a baby in the new year are invited to email mypost@palipost.com with the date and time of the birth to be considered.
Los Angeles Youth Orchestra—which is composed of students from 50 schools in the Los Angeles area—will perform its Spring Concert on Monday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. at Alex Theatre in Glendale.
The program includes the premiere of “Palisades is Gone,” which was composed by conductor Russell Steinberg, who “lived in the Palisades for many years and performed in Theatre Palisades,” according to information shared by LAYO.
“His ode comes from deep grief—and budding acceptance and hope for the future,” the statement continued.
The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver “green tips” to our readers. This edition’s tip was written by Resilient Palisades Social Media Lead Sara G. Marti.
Many of us at Resilient Palisades have faced unimaginable loss, with most of our organization members losing their homes and vital community spaces. While our homes are gone, our community stands strong.
As we navigate our new reality and take time to grieve, we recognize the urgency of moving forward—lawmakers and legislators are advancing plans for our community with or without us, and we must join them in shaping our future.
Our rebuilding plan emphasizes that sustainability means insurability. By focusing on these key goals, we can create a safer, more resilient community without delaying the rebuilding process, all while ensuring long-term financial benefits:
Bioremediation: Cleaning toxins from soil, air and water while creating community spaces that promote health and well-being.
Electrification of All New Homes and Businesses: Transitioning to all-electric systems to reduce emissions and enhance safety.
Use of Native Plant Landscaping: Emphasizing fire-resistant native plants that reduce fire risk, promote biodiversity and prevent the reemergence of invasive species that pose a fire hazard, ultimately creating a healthier and more resilient ecosystem.
Fire-Resilient and Sustainable Construction Materials and Design: Implementing fire-resistant materials to protect our homes and ensure insurability.
Rainwater Harvesting: Utilizing rainwater capture and greywater reuse to enhance sustainability and resilience in our community.
Community Engagement and Education: Promoting awareness of sustainable practices and involving residents in the rebuilding process to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Together, we can turn this tragedy into an opportunity for collective growth and renewal. Work hand-in-hand with us to rebuild a vibrant, insurable Pacific Palisades that stands strong against future challenges.
We invite you to sign onto the letter to elected officials advocating for a S.A.F.E. Rebuild of Los Angeles. For more information and to add your name, visit rebuildlasafe.org.
I want to publicly thank the DWP service provider named Jeremy, who, upon seeing my orchid fence had fallen to the ground in a heap, realized the rains were coming and propped it up for us, even though we weren’t anywhere near the property. Amazing how helpful total strangers can be. Thank you, Jeremy!
Businesses
Will the Palisadian-Post be keeping a list of all of the re-opened businesses on your website? If not, I would love to request this, as I have had many friends and fellow residents asking. I’m a subscriber, but I would suggest that this be in front of the paywall so that all Palisadians could benefit. Thank you for your consideration, and for all you are doing for our community.
(Editor’s note: Yes we have this available on our website outside of the paywall: palipost.com/businesses. Updates can be sent to sarah@palipost.com.)
Family Home
Realizing we may not be able to rebuild the family home of 50 yrs where my heart is.
Yogurt Shoppe
Yes to supporting Casa Nostra in Westlake—also there is a yogurt shoppe location in Brentwood for those missing that!
Theater
Bravo to all of the youth actors who are moving forward with performances during a challenging year.
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.
Pacific Palisades Art Association is hosting an Instagram challenge where people are encouraged to draw, paint or sketch a number of items by April 1 to be featured on its page.
“Direct message and tag us on Instagram @pacificpalisadesart to have your artwork featured on our Instagram profile,” read the challenge. “If you don’t have an Instagram but wish to participate, send us a photo of your work to palisadesart@gmail.com.”
The items on the list include a coffee mug, flower, dolphin, apple, sunset, telephone, jewelry or view.
“We are also having a side challenge where artists can send us a picture of what they are working on and we will feature their artwork on our profile,” PPAA wrote. “Send us an image to palisadesart@gmail.com, or tag us and direct message us the photo on Instagram @pacificpalisadesart [by April 4].”
Allied Artists Launches Fundraising Campaign to Benefit Wildfire Recovery
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
One group of artists with nearly three decades of history in Pacific Palisades is looking for a way to give back to its community and help heal through art.
Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore has launched the “Art is the Healing Force” fundraising campaign to benefit wildfire recovery.
“Our member artists donate paintings to auction on our Instagram page,” Allied Artists Board President Barbara Freund explained. “Bids start at $100, [and] 100% of sales proceeds are donated. To date, we have raised $1,170.”
Freund, who lives in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County along Piuma Road, said she has been experiencing “survivor’s guilt” after not losing her home in the Palisades fire—though it was damaged. She described jumping into action through art, trying to find different ways that Allied Artists could support ongoing efforts related to fire recovery.
“We’re trying to figure out ways to use art to help heal,” she described. “It’s not going to be the only thing that heals, but it certainly helps it.”
Some of the works that have been sold in the auction have been pieces by Ruth Askren, Allied Artists board member and paint-out chair, and Donna Goldstein.
Askren contributed a piece with a view of the Palisades. When it sold, she matched the bid to double the fund being donated.
Goldstein contributed a painting of the historic Will Rogers house, which was destroyed in the fire.
Freund has contributed five paintings, two of which had sold at the time of publication, with the three others still available.
“Beach Boys” by Barbara Freund
“The two sold are ‘Happy Trails’—painting of two figures on horseback with [a] dog trailing behind at Will Rogers State Historic Park—and ‘Beach Boys’—two dogs playing … at Will Rogers State Beach,” she described. “The paintings still available are ‘Keeping Pace’—[a] woman and dog running on a trail—and two of the view of the Palisades across Pacific Coast Highway from Will Rogers.”
When a donated painting gets sold, the contributing artist then gets to select the entity who receives the funds—as long as they were affected or are aiding those affected by the fire. Donations have been made to the California Wildlife Center and Skydog Sanctuary in Malibu, as well as California State Firefighters’ Association.
“The artists are donating and not getting a dime,” Freund explained. “Every little bit counts.”
Equally as important, Freund continued, has been the response from those who are bidding on pieces, “many of whom have lost their homes, and see these paintings of our local area as a reminder of their favorite places and places that will be beautiful again.”
The fundraiser is ongoing, Freund explained: “We continue to post paintings are they are donated … we’ll keep is going as long as we have art and artists [willing to donate].”
Allied Artists has been “painting and preserving the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for 25 years,” read its website: “Our mission is to promote the appreciation of our environment through art, and to support conservation and maintenance of the national, state and local parks and open spaces in Southern California.”
“The members of Allied Artists organize exhibitions of their paintings in order to raise money and increase public awareness of the endangered land that they depict in their paintings,” read its website. “They collaborate with local, state and national agencies to present several art shows a year in local and natural settings in and around the recreation area.”
Over the course of a typical year, Allied Artists hosts several art sales and exhibits—including at Palisades Village Green—which each donate a portion of proceeds from sales to conservation and environmental organizations, including the upkeep and maintenance of the Village Green.
The next show Allied Artists will participate in will be at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, which will take place on Sunday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Keeping Pace” by Barbara Freund
“The group will present an art exhibit and sale featuring 20 local artists displaying representational landscape and seascape paintings of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area,” according to information about the event. “The 156,000-acre recreation area stretches from Runyon and Franklin Canyons in Hollywood to Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County, and contains over 500 miles of trails, including the 67-mile long backbone trail that follows the crest of the coastal mountains from Will Rogers State Historic Park to Point Mugu State Park.”
The sale will support Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, National Park Service and Western National Park Association.
Allied Artists also host paint-outs on the second Saturday of each month—which have continued since the Palisades fire, most recently at Sycamore Cove Beach in March. Freund said the organization is trying to find locations that are relatively “easy for everybody” to get to.
The next paint-out will take place at Satwiwa/Rancho Sierra Vista at the intersection of Lynn Road and Via Goleta in Newbury Park on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“If there are people who could use some art therapy, we do demos and we will support people,” Freund said, adding that for the paint-outs, “if I know in advance if people are coming, we’ll bring extra supplies.”
Freund and Askren have both participated in Homes in Memoriam, a collective of artists, led by Palisadians Ashley Miller and Amy Beemer Lev, creating pieces in the likeness of homes lost in the recent Los Angeles area fires free of charge.
As part of the conservation efforts, Freund said she plans to find ways for Allied Artists to participate in things like trail cleanups, giving back to some of the spaces that have inspired their work. She said that while rebuilding efforts are underway throughout the community, “Mother Nature will be working full-time” to restore the area’s beauty.
“This is such a difficult and challenging time for everyone—several of our artists also had homes destroyed or damaged—and we hope that sharing our art can help with the healing,” Freund concluded.
Tickets are now on sale for the Irene Dunne Guild’s 19th annual Think Pink for Women’s Wellness fundraising event, which will take place at Regent Santa Monica Beach on Wednesday, May 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Think Pink was founded by Palisadian Fran Flanagan, a trustee at Saint John’s Health Center who serves on the boards of the Irene Dunne Guild and Saint John’s Health Center Foundation. She has called the Palisades home for 50 years.
The event, which is planned around Mother’s Day, serves as a fundraiser for Saint John’s Health Center.
“As our community continues to recover from the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, the Irene Dunne Guild is more committed than ever to creating meaningful gatherings, and bringing health education and awareness to women and their families,” read a statement about the event. “The Irene Dunne Guild, a support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, raises funds for women’s health programs, nursing scholarships, medical equipment, programs for caregivers and family support services.”
The “informative” and “fun” social event includes breakout sessions, with lectures from “notable physicians and health experts.”
“Over the years, topics have included brain health, addiction, urology, dermatology and breast health,” the statement continued. “Think Pink culminates with a delicious luncheon held in the beautiful dining room at the Regent Santa Monica Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean.”
There will also be “boutique shopping” available throughout the event, with net proceeds benefiting the programs, equipment and services at Saint John’s Health Center, including the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute. The foundation will receive 20% of proceeds as well.
“The Irene Dunne Guild is celebrating its 38th year as a major support group of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica,” read the statement. “The Guild is comprised of over 100 members committed to putting their hearts forward to find innovative ways to fundraise, comfort patients, support caregivers, support families and educate the community.”
Since its founding in 1987, Irene Dunne Guild has raised more than $16 million to benefit Saint John’s Health Center programs. In previous years, the event has taken place at Bel-Air Bay Club in the Palisades.
This year’s event chairs are Suzanne Caldwell and Sila Vokshoor. Tickets are available for $195. RSVPs are requested by April 15. Regent Santa Monica Beach is located at 1700 Ocean Avenue.
“We look forward to seeing you at Think Pink 2025,” the statement concluded.
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