The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a “green tip” to our readers in each newspaper. This edition’s tip was written by Sara G. Marti.
Many of you are reaching out to us and asking the same questions: What should I plant now? What’s safe near the house? How do I make it beautiful again while keeping my home protected?
Together with our friends at Theodore Payne Foundation, we’re answering those questions—helping neighbors reimagine their yards as both sanctuaries and shields.
With guidance from Theodore Payne Foundation, you can design defensible, fire-resilient landscapes rooted in beauty and biodiversity. They specialize in California native plants—species that not only belong here but also protect our hillsides. When planted thoughtfully, native gardens can slow fire, save water and bring the pollinators back.
Rebuilding is a chance to plant hope. Native gardens are beautiful and an important part of defensible space. As Katie from TPF reminded us: Keep it “lean, clean and green”—lean (space plants out), clean (remove dead debris) and green (keep plants hydrated and well-maintained).
If you’re re-planting right now, they’ve got you covered with:
Free one-year memberships for anyone affected by the fires—call 818-768-1802 extension 27. Members get 10 to 15% off plants and seeds (more during their big Fall Plant Sale).
Fall Plant Sale: October 28 to November 8 (Tuesday to Saturday)—RSVP for parking at theodorepayne.org.
About Theodore Payne Foundation
TPF empowers SoCal communities with a nonprofit native plant nursery, science-based education, professional landscaper training and bilingual outreach. Their Wildfire Resilience program blends classes, community engagement and free resources to reduce risk in the Wildland–Urban Interface—the zone where human development (homes, neighborhoods, infrastructure) intermingles with wildland vegetation like forests, chaparral or grasslands.
Pros and Community Groups Professionals in the landscape trade can join the TPF Professional Membership ($250 per year) for 25% off plants and seeds and 10% off TPF merchandise. To set up an account, email flora@theodorepayne.org.
Resilient Palisades is teaming up with Theodore Payne Foundation to offer workshops designed for our community. Sign up for our newsletter to stay connected and get the latest resources to help you rebuild and restore: resilientpalisades.org/join-us.
Lowe Family YMCA Pumpkin Patch Photo by Jude De Pastino
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
From fundraising efforts to trunk or treating, several community entities are offering ways for Palisadians to gather this October.
Photo courtesy of Taylor Mammen
Trunk or Treat Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host its annual Trunk or Treat Halloween event on Saturday, October 18, beginning at 6 p.m.
“The entire Palisades community is invited to decorate their cars and kids are invited to trunk or treat,” Pacific Palisades Ward Bishop Taylor Mammen told the Palisadian-Post. “This is an annual tradition, and even though our building is still going through smoke remediation, there’s great desire to get together.”
In addition to trunk or treating, the event will include dinner, a costume contest and slide. It will take place in the church’s parking lot, which is located at 575 Los Liones Drive.
Photo by Sarah Shmerling
‘The Birds’ Halloween Party Palisades Recreation Center
Each year, Palisades Recreation Center hosts a Halloween-themed event, and 2025 is no exception. With a theme of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” this year’s Halloween Party will take place on Saturday, October 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with “fun for all ages.”
Festivities will include food trucks (The Love Bird and The Beignet Truck), spooky crafts, inflatables, games and prizes, a scavenger hunt, coloring contest, trick or treat stations, and a 360-degree photo experience. There will be a costume parade at 12 p.m.
Palisades Recreation Center is located at 851 Alma Real Drive. The event, which is free to attend, will take place in the courtyard and inside of the small gym, which reopened for limited programming at the end of July.
Photo courtesy of RCDSMM
Not-So-Creepy Crawlers Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
The first workshop in this year’s WiLD CiTY series will be Not-So-Creepy Crawlers on Saturday, October 18, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The series is hosted by Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, with the workshop led by Darlyn Prieto, environmental scientist and outreach/communication associate at Santa Monica Mountains Fund.
“The Santa Monica Mountains after dark is a completely different world,” read an event description. “Most of the animals we normally see during the day are fast asleep. But as the sun sets, different kinds of animals, like scorpions, are just waking up.”
With UV flashlights, participants will hike a two-and-a-half-mile trail under the stars, searching for “these mysterious creatures in their natural habitat.”
“Scorpions often get a bad rap, but they play an important role in the ecosystem and they’re not as scary as they seem,” RCDSMM wrote. “This adventure is all about opening minds and seeing the beauty in misunderstood wildlife. By the end of the night, you might just walk away with a newfound appreciation for these amazing arachnids.”
Half of the funds raised from the workshop will go to SAMO Fund, which “works to protect and encourage appreciation and understanding of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.”
The workshop will take place at Paramount Ranch, located at 2903 Cornell Road in Agoura Hills. Tickets are available for purchase at rcdsmm.org/wild-city.
Lowe Family YMCA Pumpkin Patch Photo by Jude De Pastino
Fall Community Picnic & Glass Pumpkin Sale Lowe Family YMCA Pumpkin Patch
Following its opening on Thursday, October 2, the Lowe Family YMCA Pumpkin Patch will host a Fall Community Picnic and Glass Pumpkin Sale at on Saturday, October 11.
The Fall Community Picnic will take place between 12 and 4 p.m., with spooky stories being read/told for kids by Theatre Palisades performers from 2 to 4 p.m.
“Bring a blankets and chairs to enjoy outdoor fun like frisbees and bubbles,” read an event description. “See your friends and neighbors, catch up, laugh, hug, family time, and community.”
There will also be food trucks on site, as well as opportunities to purchase pumpkins or walk through the art installation at Winding Way.
The annual Glass Pumpkin Sale, presented by Santa Monica College Art Department, will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. with blown glass pumpkins available for purchase.
“Join the fun at the pumpkin patch and purchase a beautiful glass pumpkin to last all year round,” read the description. “A portion of the proceeds go to the YMCA.”
The patch hours are Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at Simon Meadow, at the corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard.
Photo courtesy of Night of the Jack
Palisades Gift Shop Pop-Up Night of the Jack
Palisades Gift Shop will host a series of pop-ups at the marketplace at Night of the Jack—an immersive Halloween experience at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.
“We’re popping up all over the place over the next few months,” Palisades Gift Shop said. “Our first pop up of this season will be at Night of the Jack, where we will be selling lots of fall items and a special Malibu collection.”
Night of the Jack is designed for attendees of all ages, with “vast grounds of intricately hand-carved and illuminated jack’olanterns” throughout a walking trail around the ranch’s grounds. Festivities include a live pumpkin carver, food trucks and a “Spookeasy Bar.”
The pop-up dates are October 11, 12, 19, 23 and 26 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. King Gillette Ranch is located at 26800 Mulholland Highway. Tickets and more information are available at nightofthejack.com.
Photo courtesy of Friends of Marquez
Boo Bash Marquez Charter Elementary School
Marquez Charter Elementary School will host its annual Boo Bash on Sunday, October 26, beginning at 12 p.m. at Pacific Palisades Highlands Park, located at 1950 Palisades Drive.
“Calling all ghosts and goblins, witches and wizards,” read an event flyer. “You are invited to a fun afternoon filled with games, activities, tricks and treats. Join us for Marquez Charter’s community Halloween party.”
The event is hosted by Friends of Marquez, the parent-run nonprofit that funds supplemental educational programs at the schooo. Tickets go on sale beginning October 12.
Palisadian Arden Seretean Shares a First-Hand Account of the Palisades Fire and Debris Removal at Her Home
By ARDEN SERETEAN | Intern
My name is Arden Seretean, and Pacific Palisades has been my home my entire life. It’s where I walk my dogs every evening, take dance classes, perform for the community, make documentaries, write poetry, participate in the Fourth of July parade and watch the fireworks from Pali High’s field.
The Palisades holds a special place in my heart, and losing parts of it to the fires has only strengthened my commitment to telling its story. Having documented this place my whole life, I felt an even stronger desire to create a documentary for the Palisadian-Post during my time as an intern.
Below is a first-hand account of the Palisades fire, from January 7 through the start of June, as well as a poem.
01/07/25
The day we were told to evacuate.
We saw the fire growing on the other side of the hill. A news team asked if they could film the fires from our deck. We even locked our doors, thinking we might return.
Alarms blared. Traffic was so jammed that people had to abandon their cars on Pacific Coast Highway, taking only what they could carry.
01/09/25
Photos from two days after the fire.
No residents were allowed to approach their homes. Most streets were closed off, and from anywhere you stood, you could see smoke billowing from the fires. The wind pushed the flames several football fields per second.
I remember frantically watching the news, desperately hoping our house had survived. An article showed a fire burning inside someone’s house, and for a moment, I thought it was mine. It was around 2 a.m., and I completely broke down, panicked, thinking it could be our house.
Here are photos of our home then, taken by someone who was able to get access up there.
01/11/25
Trying to get closure.
Photos by Arden Seretean
We waited in a line for 10 hours where cars filled the streets for many blocks—everyone desperately wanting to see if their house had survived. Only two cars were allowed up every hour.
After waiting, the National Guard let us see our house for a maximum of 10 minutes, as I was seeking some closure before returning to college. I couldn’t recognize anything; nothing looked like our home, and I was in denial for many months after.
05/30/25
Pacific Palisades.
Our drive to our house that day showed the damage in Pacific Palisades. Our neighborhood was completely gone.
05/30/25
Debris removal at our house.
Our mom let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers handle it, but we stayed during the process in case we saw anything that had survived and could be salvaged. We wore masks, boots, suits—everything. We couldn’t save anything because the floors had collapsed on top of each other, making anything inaccessible.
05/31/25
Day two of the debris removal by the Army Corps.
The team worked quickly and efficiently. By the end of day two, noticeable progress had been made. We had very little time to look through the debris for anything we could save, while they took their lunch break.
05/31/25
Our neighbor’s house to the right.
I documented my neighbor’s home; they lived to the right of us. They saw their house on fire through their security cameras. They did not use the Army Corps for debris cleanup. Nothing was recognizable—just gone.
05/31/25
Debris removal is complete.
Here’s when the Army Corps completed our debris removal. Unfortunately, in the process, there was nothing for us to save. It took them just a few days to fully clear out our house. It was unfamiliar and devastating seeing our home this way. Everything was completely gone.
06/01/25
Ready for approval.
Our house was cleaned up and cleared out. The debris removal was finished, and they prepared the property for inspection and fenced everything off to mark the completion of their work. Here’s our house in its entirety.
“My Thoughts Undress the Silence”
I will never wake up to you again, my heart murmurs,
as my eyes remember the sun’s warm fingertips resting on your cheek of glass.
I wonder if you’d still recognize me as I stand over your body—splintered into the things I loved most
strings from a burned piano,
photographs collapsing from lack of air,
letters torn from their origins—
all spilling into the bed of a truck.
I miss your moon-colored skin
how you stood like a soldier
once a mother shielding me
from the heavy blankets of night
Now you lie cold, shaking
I try to cradle you,
gathering your shattered bones,
cupping them in my hands like how you used to hold me
My heart soaks my chest as I cry a little too
I don’t know how to deal with this pain as I write about loss to erase the feeling
Losing you left a dent in me
while the smaller things tug at me like an impatient child
Your smile that greeted me at the door
the letters you kept safe inside your ribs,
the shelter of your spine.
Since losing you,
I’ve been in constant motion—sliding from cousin’s house to grocery store, pet store to gas station—never really landing
I’ve become weightless
A kind of floating that feels like falling
I never thought you could burn, with
shoulders so strong they mocked the heaviness of rain,
arms so warm they held me as if I were fragile.
You were not meant to be a sandcastle for the tides
Not meant to melt away
But the fire found your spine
Bathed in your lungs
Consumed your skin
Until all that was left was sand.
Photo courtesy of Luke Content/Johnson Tree Company
Johnson Tree Company and Local Creatives Launch Comeback Campaign After Palisades Fire
By LUKE CONTENT | Special to the Palisadian-Post
After nearly a century serving the trees and landscapes of Los Angeles, Johnson Tree Company—a third-generation family business—is launching a spirited comeback campaign in partnership with boutique production studio Luke Content.
The grassroots campaign aims to lift community spirits, support local businesses recovering from the Palisades fire and encourage residents to take proactive steps toward fire-prevention tree care.
The Palisades fire in January marked a turning point for Johnson Tree Company: With long-standing clients facing scorched properties, Eli and his crew—who had cared for many of these trees and landscapes for decades—were called in to assess the damage. Some trees were lost, while others endured.
The fire reduced the number of properties the team regularly maintained and shifted their work toward recovery and renewal. Now, the nearly 100-year-old, family-owned Palisades business is using humor and heart to reconnect with longtime neighbors—and reach new communities—through a campaign that highlights local resilience, small business recovery, and the vital role of community-supported tree and landscape care in rebuilding.
Johnson Tree Company’s story is deeply rooted in the fabric of Southern California. Founded by Everett Johnson, a graduate of the famed Bartlett School of Tree Surgery, the company has grown through three generations, earning a reputation for expert craftsmanship and family values. Today, the nine-person team provides tree trimming, pruning, shaping, installation, fire-prevention services and post-fire recovery to help neighborhoods rebuild and reduce future fire risks.
This new chapter comes to life through a collaboration with Luke Content, a local creative studio specializing in community-driven campaigns.
“The fire devastated our communities and left many of us feeling helpless,” said Lucas Spaulding, partner at Luke Content. “I know so many wonderful businesses that were impacted, and I wanted to help. My creative partner, John ‘Mochi’ Park, and I decided to put our marketing skills to work for them.”
Spaulding, Park and their team of filmmakers developed a “whimsical, high-energy” campaign starring a cast of woodland puppets.
“After so much hardship, we wanted to create something funny, uplifting and heartfelt,” Spaulding explained. “Puppets turned out to be the perfect storytelling tool—with a big heart.”
At the center of the campaign is Wayne, the fast-talking squirrel and new spokesperson for Johnson Tree Company, alongside his woodland crew, including a crow, possum and skunk. Through humor and heart, the campaign celebrates family tradition, community resilience, and the importance of supporting local businesses and protecting green spaces after the fire.
“The response has been incredible,” Spaulding said. “People genuinely want to help, and this project has reminded us of all what community is about. I’ve worked in advertising for years, but this project has been uniquely meaningful. It’s been a joy to give back while seeing firsthand how we can come together to rebuild and reconnect.”
#RootedInPALI and #RootedInLA Campaign Call to Actions
Share the campaign on social media using #RootedInLA and #RootedInPALI
Support small businesses recovering from the fires
Attend local pop-ups: Join pop-up events or markets featuring fire-impacted businesses and artisans to show direct support
Book preventative tree care: Schedule a consultation with Johnson Tree Company to protect your property and reduce future fire risks
Volunteer for green space clean-ups: Organize or join local clean-up events in parks and public spaces to help restore natural areas
Adopt-A-Tree initiative: Sponsor tree planting in a local park or fire-affected area in honor of community resilience
Support local creators: Follow and promote local artists, filmmakers and musicians who are using their craft to uplift the community
Advocate for local business policies: Contact your city council to support policies that prioritize local business recovery and sustainable landscaping practices
By blending storytelling with actionable steps, the campaign turns viewers into participants—helping rebuild community ties, support small businesses and prevent future fire damage.
Nearly a year after the wildfire destroyed more than 5,400 homes in Pacific Palisades, the pace of rebuilding remains far slower than many expected. Instead of hundreds of lots flooding the market and rapid new construction, the process has stalled at multiple points, leaving thousands of families in limbo.
Permits Slower Than Promised
In February and March, the city assured residents that building permits would be fast-tracked and approved within weeks. Officials anticipated a surge of applications and even brought in outside staff to handle the workload.
Yet by mid-September fewer than 400 permits had been fully approved—about 7% of the total vacant lots. While some progress has been made, the average wait for full plan approval is now closer to 70 days, as reported by Pali Builds, far longer than first promised. And yet, the volume of new applications is still relatively low.
A Surprisingly Balanced Market
Despite early predictions that more than 600 lots might be on the market by summer, the inventory has remained relatively steady. New listings have been offset by steady buyer demand, bringing what was once a 15-month supply of unsold lots down to about six months by mid-September.
Fewer than 200 lots are for sale and nearly the same have sold since January. In real estate terms, that’s a level considered relatively balanced between buyers and sellers.
Still, this balance masks deeper challenges: a rebuilding process slowed not only by permits but by financial, legal and emotional obstacles.
Insurance Delays: The Biggest Roadblock
The single greatest factor holding back recovery is the widespread gridlock in insurance settlements. The majority of property owners I have spoken to remain stuck in prolonged negotiations, despite having paid premiums for decades with the expectation of fair compensation in the event of disaster.
Although insurers did release partial payments and Alternative Living Expenses funds quickly, many owners were left with misleading information about expiration dates. Some went through $20,000 to $40,000 a month in rent, only to discover that ALE coverage could have been far longer.
Today, thousands remain uncertain about how much they will ultimately receive, leaving them unable to commit to architects or builders. The battle between insurance adjusters and the policy holders seems never-ending for thousands of people.
Emotional and Legal Challenges
Beyond financial setbacks, psychological trauma continues to weigh heavily. Most owners are still grieving the loss of homes, memories and community. Many have been advised by attorneys to delay any action until lawsuits are resolved. The result is widespread paralysis: people unwilling to sell, unable to rebuild and increasingly weary of temporary housing.
Families in Limbo
Some displaced families have relocated to the South Bay, San Fernando Valley or other areas while waiting for clarity. Months later, their children are in new schools and new roots are being established. Faced with diminished property values—down as much as 40 to 50%—and shifting family priorities, they question whether returning to the Palisades even makes sense.
Some residents report that their friends and neighbors have already decided not to rebuild. Few want to be the only family in their circle moving back, especially if completion may not happen until 2027 or later.
Investor Takeover Risk
The longer delays persist, the more vulnerable the community becomes to outside investors who are acquiring lots at discounted prices. While this will accelerate new construction, it reduces the likelihood that former residents will return, changing the fabric of the community for decades to come.
What Lies Ahead
Until insurance carriers resolve claims more fairly and efficiently, progress will remain slow. Each month of delay increases frustration, lowers property values and weakens the chance that families will return.
For now, what was once hoped to be a rapid wave of rebuilding has instead become a slow and uncertain recovery, shaped as much by legal and financial barriers as by the trauma of loss.
The Edlen Team has counseled hundreds of local property owners following the fire. Online updates regarding recovery and the real estate market are available at edlenteam.com. Contact them at team@edlenteam.com or 310-600-7422.
As of September 30, 187 land parcels (aka lots) are currently available, ranging from $599,000 for a 4,567-square-foot lot on Palmera to $10,599,000 for a 14,534-square-foot lot on Via De Las Olas. Twenty-seven lots are in escrow and 230 lots have sold since January 7, ranging from $500,000 for a 7,503-square-foot lot on De Pauw to $5.6 million for a double parcel on Las Lomas. Additionally, at least 25 lots have sold off-market since January.
At the start of October, 66 single-family Palisades residences were listed in the Multiple Listing Service, ranging from a two-bedroom, three-bathroom home on Marquette asking $2.15 million to a seven-bedroom, 12-bathroom on Paseo Miramar asking $39 million (reduced from $54 million).
A total of 76 homes were sold in the Palisades in the first three quarters of 2025, ranging from a four-bedroom, three-bathroom on Akron, which sold for $1.4 million, to a five-bedroom, six-bathroom on Napoli Drive, which sold for $25.75 million. Median sale price was $4,144,000. There are currently 10 standing-home escrows open in the Palisades.
There are 22 condominiums/townhouses on the market as of October 1. They range from a two-bedroom, two-bathroom on Palisades Circle being offered at $1.05 million to a three-bedroom, three-bathroom on Palisades Drive for $2,295,000.
Five condos are in escrow and 11 have sold since the January 7 fire. They range from a two-bedroom, two-bathroom on Sunset, which sold for $575,000, to a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom on Tramonto, which sold for $2.25 million. The median sales price for condos at the end of the third quarter of 2025 was $1,599,000, which is the same as it was at the end of the second quarter.
There are currently 82 available leases in the Palisades, starting at $3,150 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit on Castellammare and asking as high as $125,000 per month for an eight-bedroom, 12-bathroom house on Amalfi Drive. There have been 82 Palisades leases done in the first three quarters of 2025, ranging from a two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhome on Antioch in the Village, which leased for $3,740 per month, to an eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom house on Casale in the Riviera, which leased for $95,000 per month.
The Edlen Team has been the
leading Pacific Palisades real estate team
for over 25 years and has been closely tracking all post-fire activity, as well as counseling property owners on various ways to navigate their next steps. They can be reached at: 310-220-9494 (Christina Wagner), 310-600-7422 (Michael Edlen) and 310-433-3124 (Tatiana Weiss).
By MICHELLE EDGAR | Special to the Palisadian-Post
As Los Angeles continues its rebuild in fire-affected neighborhoods, one challenge remains: ensuring homeowners, developers and lenders are protected during the construction process.
I sat down with Greg Econn, chair of the insurance board at Steadfast LA and executive vice chairman of Venbrook Insurance Services, to discuss the latest on builder’s risk insurance, homeowner engagement and environmental compliance—offering insights for anyone navigating the complexities of rebuilding.
Econn has five decades of experience in insurance broking and is known for his industry knowledge in all facets of real estate coverage and construction insurance. He leads Venbrook Real Estate Practice, focusing on product innovation, market agility, customer service and strategic partnerships.
Edgar: Why is builder’s risk insurance so important for rebuilds?
Econn: Builder’s risk insurance is typically required for anyone using a construction loan to finance a new build or rebuild. The policy protects against risks during construction—including wildfires, water damage, theft, etc.—before a homeowner’s standard insurance takes over. Without it, both homeowners and banks face palpable exposures.
Edgar: Can you give an example of how this plays out?
Econn: Absolutely. Imagine a homeowner with a $2 million loan on a property where the land is valued at $3 million. If their house is lost and they start rebuilding without builder’s risk insurance, they take a serious and unnecessary risk. This not only leaves the homeowner economically vulnerable but also jeopardizes the bank collateral.
Edgar: How about the policies on the market—are they sufficient?
Econn: That’s a key point and a complicated answer. Policies vary widely both in terms of price and coverage. Cheaper options may exclude wildfire, flood, water damage, theft, etc. during construction. Homeowners and developers must review policy terms, not just price … you get what you pay for.
Edgar: Who else is involved in this rebuild effort?
Econn: We are informed that numerous builders and developers are developing multiple homes. For example, developers, including Thomas James Homes, Samara, PacQuest, etc., including numerous general contractors, are predicting costs of around $500-plus per square foot, depending on scale, amenities and specific locations.
Edgar: Beyond insurance, what other strategies are being implemented?
Econn: An Owner Controlled Insurance Program is being developed to cover liability for all parties, including a 10-year construction defect component after project completion. Being fire safe as a community effort, identifying home ignition zones and making the conditions of the neighboring homes and vegetation a part of the wildfire reduction effort and strengthening community connectedness. Additionally, we are working on data-driven safety frameworks, predictive analytics, including roof sprinklers (which are not currently required by permit).
Earth Analytics Group is a perfect example of addressing a loss before it occurs. Its predictive fire ignition modeling could be an invaluable tool to identify the most at-risk zones, prioritize brush-clearing activity, heat and wind detection monitors thereby providing automated alerts to the public (think schools and hospitals, for example) and even including private firefighting units, etc.
Edgar: Environmental compliance is another concern. What’s the status there?
Econn: Environmental soil testing is not mandatory under state, city and county guidelines. Banks rely on these standards, and contamination coverage is typically not included in homeowner policies. In some cases, a pollution policy may be required even if FEMA handled the debris removal. Legal teams are reviewing internal protocols to ensure compliance.
Edgar: Any urgent risks that homeowners should be aware of?
Econn: Yes. First, many homeowners haven’t yet secured builder’s risk insurance. Second, low-cost policies may leave homeowners exposed to major hazards.
Edgar: What’s the most important takeaway for homeowners and developers navigating this rebuild?
Econn: Don’t assume past insurance coverage is enough. Review terms carefully, secure builder’s risk insurance early and stay engaged with your developer or bank. This is about protecting your home, your investment and the broader community during a critical rebuild phase.
Greg Econn is executive vice chairman of Venbrook Insurance Services and a nationally recognized leader in real estate and construction insurance. At Venbrook, Econn leads the Real Estate Practice, developing innovative programs for property owners, developers and contractors. He also founded a real estate program called Real Estate America Property Association: reapa.org. Econn lectured for 30 years at UCLA’s Anderson School extension program and has made presentations to leading law firms, accounting firms and trade associations. He is also the Steadfast LA insurance chair, advancing insurance standards and supporting resilient rebuilding across
Los Angeles.
Karin Mae Plaskett Fintzy was born May 20, 1937, in St. Petersburg, Florida. She proudly called herself a Florida woman born and bred. As was typical of her, this was a bit of hyperbole. She actually spent some years with family in Minnesota as a youth, but we’ll give it to her.
She adored her younger brother Carl, although there was the one time she pretended to be kidnappers outside his window when he was very young. Carl was traumatized and her mother said, “You’d better not have ruined that boy.” (He was fine and grew into an amazing man, so perhaps the scare was good for him. Who can say.)
She received an English degree from the University of Florida and went on to Harvard/Radcliffe business administration graduate school.
She married Robert T. Fintzy in 1963. Surprising since she was late to their first date and he considered punctuality a moral imperative. On the other hand, she was very beautiful.
She worked at a management consulting firm until her children (Rachel and Katherine) were born. After the kids were less of a handful, she returned to school to get a UCLA’s landscape architecture degree and then worked as a landscape architect/designer and later as a Palisades Coldwell Banker Realtor. The family moved to Pacific Palisades in the late 1960s and she resided there for the rest of her life.
She loved reading, theatre, gardening and years ago could twirl a baton. (The amateur version of an EGOT perhaps.) In her later years she was very involved in the PLATO Society and was a docent at the Getty Center and Getty Villa for over 30 years.
She passed away at the end of September. She was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Ali led Stanford to one NCAA semifinal and one final from 2006-09.
Soccer Star Ali Riley Announces She Will Retire at End of NWSL Season
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
One of the hardest decisions every professional athlete has to make is when to retire. On September 30, Angel City FC captain Ali Riley announced she will be hanging up her cleats at the end of the season—and what an extraordinary career it has been for one of the most successful and beloved sports figures ever to hail from Pacific Palisades.
Soccer has been Riley’s passion since she was a young girl growing up in the Alphabet Streets but a chronic nerve injury to her left leg sidelined her from the middle of the 2024 campaign until July 29 when the veteran defender was taken off the NWSL’s season-ending injury list.
“Because of the complicated nature of my injury, I didn’t think I’d ever return to the field,” Riley told the Palisadian-Post. “I went so many months without seeing any improvement that I’d begun to process the fact that my career was coming to an end. Returning to soccer has been one of my proudest accomplishments and I’m enjoying every moment with my teammates, but it’s not something I can physically sustain for another season. It’s important to me to be able to be healthy and active in my next chapter and I’m looking forward to spending more time with my husband and my parents.”
Five days before she and longtime boyfriend Lucas Nilsson were to be married in Ventura County, the Palisades Fire destroyed the house she was raised in by John Riley and Bev Lowe.
“First and foremost, we’ll be rebuilding the Kagawa street house,” Riley said. “Lucas and I plan on staying in LA and hopefully starting a family. I’d love to stay involved in soccer through continuing the media work that I’m doing now.”
The international star, who turns 38 in three weeks, is now living in Canoga Park—not far from her favorite newspaper’s current office— and she had a message for all of her fans: “I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who has supported me and believed in me over the years. I feel so loved and celebrated right now. It’s really overwhelming! I’d like to be remembered as someone who gave it her all everyday. Someone who was intentional in her actions to make every environment better and used her platform to make a positive impact.”
Riley excelled in multiple sports at St. Matthew’s, played club soccer for Westside Breakers and SoCal United and earned All-CIF honors at Harvard-Westlake High, leading the Wolverines to the CIF Division 1 final her senior year. She went on to earn All-Pac-10 First-Team honors at Stanford and played one season with the hometown Pali Bluesbefore winning back-to-back WPS titles with FC Gold Pride and the Western New York Flash. A dual citizen of the USA and New Zealand (her dad is originally from Christchurch), Riley debuted withthe Football Ferns’ senior national team in 2007 and was named captain in 2017. She has played in five Women’s World Cups and four Summer Olympics in addition to her club career that has included stints with Rosengard (Sweden), Chelsea (England) and Bayern Munich (Germany).
Asked to name her proudest accomplishment on the pitch, she told the Post: “Winning the first-ever game for New Zealand at home in the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. A close second is Angel City’s inaugural match in 2022.”
Though she enjoyed spanning the globe playing the game she loves, Riley was ecstatic when she got traded to Angel City in January 2022 because it meant she could play on her home turf for the first time in more than a decade. Not surprisingly, given her positive attitude and ever-present smile, she became the face of the franchise, even appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote the “Running with the Angels” music video. She started hosting an “Off the Ball” video series for Just Women’s Sports in 2021 and two years later published a cookbook titled “Girls Gone Veg” with a former teammate.
Through it all, she has never forgotten where she came from.
“I loved the Pali Rec Center—it’s where I’d climb trees and where my dad taught me how to ride a bike,” Riley recalled. “I did basketball, ballet, t-ball and tennis there. Until the fires it’s where I’d do my fitness and kick the ball around every offseason. My earliest memories of soccer are about picking the grass during games at Pali High, the park, Paul Revere or the polo fields, then eating at Greg’s Grill afterwards. Being a Palisadian meant I got to be a kid. I got to play in the driveway with my friends until dark. I could walk to the Village for Baskin-Robbins or froyo at Sparky’s. I ran races, walked in July 4 parades and roamed the Alphabets neighborhood on Halloween. Growing up in the Palisades makes me one of the luckiest people in the world.”
——- Click on any photo below to view slide show ——-
Ali showed skill as a youngster before joining the Westside Breakers.
Ali and her father John are all smiles after running the Palisades Will Rogers 5K together on the Fourth of July in 2014.
Ali with Palisadian-Post owner Alan Smolinisky before throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium on July 2, 2022.
Ali played in five World Cups and four Olympics for New Zealand.
Ali was named Angel City’s captain before its inaugural 2022 season.
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