By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Applications are now open for Palisades youth programs to request grant funding from the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10 K Run Foundation.

“The Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10 K Run Foundation will grant much of its annual net proceeds generated by the 2023 July 4th run to charitable, educational and community benefit purposes originally envisioned by the co-founders of the run,” read a statement.

Interested organizations are invited to fill out a Grant Request Application, which includes details about the applicant, funds needed and when, the program, how the funds would be spent, and any other additional information “that may be helpful in the consideration of applications.”

The run foundation partners with Palisades Optimist Foundation and the Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades to identify “qualified organizations” that will receive grants from the run’s net proceeds. Past organizations that received grants include Palisades charter schools/campus programs and Pacific Palisades Baseball Association.

Grants are awarded each year based on various criteria, including: “the impact on youth in Pacific Palisades, the number of youths impacted by the program, the effectiveness of the program and the likely longevity of the program.”

Preference—although not required—will be given to applicants that are based in the Palisades and/or provide services that benefit the youth in the Palisades community; request funds for a specific event, equipment, facility or service; request funds to be spent within a year; and cosponsor or assist Palisades Optimists “in their programs and services for Palisades youth and the community.”

Applications are due by March 15 by mail to P.O. Box 211, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 or email to Grants Committee Chairperson of the Pacific Palisades Optimist Club Jody Margulies at jodymargulies@mac.com. They may also be hand-delivered to Margulies.

“Awards decisions will be made within two months,” the statement continued, “and grant recipients will be notified and, if possible, receive their awards at one of the weekly Tuesday breakfast meetings of the Palisades Optimists.”

To receive a Grant Request Application, email jodymargulies@mac.com.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Following a “tremendous volume” of donations in January, Pacific Palisades Library Association will continue accepting donated books, but, going forward, only on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We are building a fabulous selection of gently read books and are planning a book sale for April,” an announcement read. “Please stay tuned for the big announcement regarding our first parking lot book sale since 2019.”

Volunteers will be in the Palisades Branch Library parking lot on Wednesdays through the remainder of February and March to accept book donations—February 21 and 28, and March 6, 13, 20 and 27.

PPLA will accept books in “good condition,” according to an announcement. Books donated should not be written or highlighted in, or show signs of excessive wear and tear.

PPLA asked that donors not leave book donations at times other than those specified or when volunteers are not present. They will not be able to accept magazines, textbooks, CDs, DVDs, encyclopedias or library books.

“Parking lot book sales have been a treasured community activity in Pacific Palisades for more than three decades,” according to a previous announcement. “The book sales provide critical funds for library books, educational materials, community programs and other improvements at the Palisades Library, as well as assistance to underserved libraries in other parts of Los Angeles.”

For more information, email friends@friendsofpalilibrary.org.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Palisadian Artist Martha Meade will lead an Adult Painting Class on Saturday, February 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Palisades Branch Library.

In an announcement from the library, community members were invited to an afternoon dedicated to learning how to paint with acrylics on canvas and producing a masterpiece of their own.

“Martha is a Pacific Palisades-based painter who works primarily in oils on canvas,” according to the statement. “She is a long-time resident of Pacific Palisades and a member of the Pacific Palisades Art Association.”

Because space is limited, the library asked that individuals RSVP to palsds@lapl.org or stop by the reference desk to reserve a place.

“First come, first served, regardless of whether you took a prior class,” the announcement read.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The month of February began with two storms in Pacific Palisades—bringing more than 10 inches of rain to the area so far.

The bigger storm, described as a “slow-moving atmospheric river,” which began Sunday, February 4, brought 7.89 inches of rain to the Palisades by Tuesday evening, February 6, at 5 p.m., according to Craig Weston, who tracks rain and weather from the Huntington.

Including the storm at the end of the previous week, the total rainfall for the Palisades in February so far reached 10.8 inches. The yearly total—measured from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024—was 21.44 inches as of Tuesday, with four and a half months remaining.

“We average roughly 15 inches per year,” Weston explained, “so well above that now.”

The bigger storm brought 13.2 inches of rain to Topanga, as measured at Topanga Canyon Fire Station 69, according to a map provided by Ventura County Public Works, while the Sepulveda Dam saw 12.97 inches. Bel Air Hotel measured 12.82 inches, 9.03 inches in Beverly Hills and 9.59 inches in Malibu Hills.

By Sunday afternoon, February 4, Governor Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency in eight Southern California counties, including Los Angeles.

A flash flood warning, issued by National Weather Service Los Angeles, was in place through February 5 at 9 p.m. A flood watch was then in place through February 7 at 1 a.m., according to National Weather Service.

At the peak of the storm, there were several reports of flooded streets. There were also reports of fallen trees, including on Alma Real Drive (which fell near Palisades Car Wash on February 2) and Toyopa Drive, where a large tree fell onto a home across from Corpus Christi Church.

“In case you are wondering, given all of the rain, how Will Rogers State Historic Park is doing, we learned that only one tree has fallen,” Temescal Canyon Association wrote in a post shared on social media February 5. “This was a eucalyptus tree that fell on the roping area … Will Rogers State Park Road is currently blocked, and only residents and park workers are allowed through.”

Several parklands in the area were closed as of Monday, February 5, including Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades, Franklin Canyon Park, Mill Creek and others.

Over the course of the storm, several roads were closed intermittently—including a portion of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Malibu Canyon Road, prompting the closure of schools in Malibu, while most Los Angeles Unified School District campuses remained open.

Sunset Boulevard was closed to westbound traffic between Rustic Lane and Chautauqua Boulevard as of Monday evening, February 5, according to information shared by Councilmember Traci Park.

Pacific Coast Highway was closed in both directions in Ventura County between Las Posas Road and Sycamore Canyon Road by Caltrans due to “a right lane shoulder that has been partially washed out from storm-related erosion.” The highway was anticipated to reopen by Tuesday morning, February 6.

The rain was expected to continue through Wednesday, February 7, which had a 40% chance of rain at print time. No additional rain was forecasted through Sunday, February 11, with temperatures to reach highs in the mid 50s to low 60s, and lows in the low 40s.

The last major storm to hit the Palisades—Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023—brought almost four inches of rain in two days.

“The Huntington Palisades received 3.88 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Hilary on August 20 through August 21,” Weston said at the time. He called the storm—the first tropical storm to hit Southern California since 1939—a “very rare event.” At its peak, Hilary was reported to be a category 4 hurricane, bringing rain and wind to the Baja California Peninsula before making its way to the Southwestern United States.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

As the first month of 2024 came to an end, Caruso’s Palisades Village prepared for a couple of tenant changes.

FRAME and Cuyana have closed their stores in the development, while Golden Goose and Cult Gaia have revealed plans to open soon.

Cuyana, which opened alongside the development in September 2018 as one of the original tenants, closed on January 28. Cult Gaia is slated to open in its place between Bonjour Fête and ANINE BING.

Cuyana operated with a “fewer, better” ethos, meaning “each piece is made with premium quality, smart design and sustainable production,” according to its website. The brand offered a selection of bags, clothing, leather goods and accessories.

“Our mission is to provide a fewer, better wardrobe,” the website continued, “a smart system of pieces that is so easy to style, it gives you more time to focus on what you love.”

Cult Gaia, which is currently slated to open in summer, according to a representative from the brand, has grown from accessories to “full-fledged lifestyle,” selling “everything from ready-to-wear to shoes.”

“Cult Gaia designs heirloom pieces that will live in your closet forever,” the Palisades Village website read. “The cornerstone of Cult Gaia’s DNA has been forged with the ideal of creating objet d’art that makes you look twice.”

FRAME closed its Swarthmore Avenue store, located between Angelini and Vince, in Palisades Village effective January 25. The FRAME brand, with headquarters in Los Angeles, was first launched in 2012. It is best known for its denim jeans and hand bags.

The Palisades Village iteration marked the seventh FRAME store at the time, but the brand had since expanded to 16. It opened in a Palisades Village space previously occupied by Rachel Zoe, who opened with the development with a “retail residency.”

Golden Goose—a “luxury fashion and accessories brand founded on the value of Perfect Imperfection”—is slated to open in the previous FRAME space on May 3, according to a representative from the brand. It will offer a “Venice-inspired” collection of sneakers and accessories, “for men and women and the world of Co-Creation.”

“The brand has become synonymous with high-quality materials made to last, meticulous attention to detail, an iconic lived-in signature aesthetic and bringing the Italian art of hand-made tradition to the rest of the world,” according to the Palisades Village website.

The brand encourages people to “immerse themselves in the Golden World through Co-Creation,” which will be available daily at Palisades Village.

“This highly unique customization experience gives customers the opportunity to participate in the design of one-of-a-kind sneakers together with Golden Goose Dream Makers, who ultimately translate each story into walkable art,” the website continued.

The representative said the brand is “thrilled to grow its Golden Family in Pacific Palisades,” with the opening marking its further expansion within California and the U.S.

Other recent changes at Palisades Village include the opening of Jemma Pizzeria, with Palisades-native Jackson Kalb at the helm, in a space previously occupied by ROCA Pizza.