Courtesy of Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce will host its first Connections Breakfast in Pacific Palisades since the January 7 fire at Ciela in the Highlands on Thursday, September 4, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
“We are proud to host our first Palibu Connections Breakfast back in the Palisades,” the Chamber wrote. “Our distinguished speaker is Palisades’ own Sam Laganà, voice of the LA Rams.”
Tickets for the breakfast are $45 for Chamber members, $55 for non-members. The event will include a coffee mixer before a sit-down breakfast with talk.
Ciela is located at 17310 Vereda De La Montura. For more information or to RSVP, visit malibu.org.
Shamon and Sara Shamonki at the beach with their three boys Malek, 15, Alexander, 12, and Nicholas, 7 Photo by Nicola Buck
Shamon and Sara Shamonki Launch Website for Residents to Share their Stories
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
After any tragedy there comes a time for healing. Palisadians Shamon and Sara Shamonki are seeking to help provide that through The Faces of Pacific Palisades—a campaign devoted to the community they love that gives fellow residents a platform to share their stories with the world.
Whether the person is retired, a student, a teacher, a doctor, a business owner, a government official or a military officer, the Shamonkis want a range of voices heard because they believe in the power of community and that any information shared keeps people connected.
On January 7, Shamon and Sara lost their home in the Palisades fire. Nearly everything they owned was gone in an instant, but in the days and weeks that followed, the couple was surrounded by kindness—from friends, neighbors and even strangers. In turn, Shamon supported affected homeowners with his guidance and helped families find new temporary places to reside.
Hilary Cannon and family Photos courtesy of Sara Shamonki
They experienced firsthand the strength of the Palisades community, and it reminded them that home is not defined by walls, but by the people who stand with you when it matters most. That strength inspired the couple to launch the project that has become near and dear to their hearts.
Shamon and Sara both work in the real estate business and have grown their brand while affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty. As real estate professionals, they have served the Palisades and surrounding communities for more than two decades.
They have three boys (ages 15, 12 and 7) who all started at Calvary Christian School at a very young age, beginning with the “Mommy and Me” program. Their eldest son went on to Palisades Charter High School after Calvary, and their two younger boys were still attending Calvary when the fire erupted.
The Palisadian-Post interviewed Sara, and here is what she had to say.
Post: When did you launch The Faces of Pacific Palisades? Do you let people submit their own stories or do you interview them?
Sara: We officially launched The Faces of Pacific Palisades in the summer issue of the Palisadian-Post’s 90272 Magazine but we’d been working behind the scenes for months before that, gathering interviews, building the website and shaping the vision.
People may nominate themselves or others to share their story. If you know someone who contributes to the Palisades’ heart and soul, we want to hear from you. If that someone is you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We have a private questionnaire for them to answer.
Post: How many people have you highlighted so far? What are the longterm goals for the project?
Sara: As of today, we’ve shared the stories of four incredible people (including Palisades Garden Cafe Owner James Kwon and House Pilates Owner Lana House), with multiple more interviews waiting to be posted. Our vision is simple: It’s a community-building passion project, created for all of us.
Palisades Garden Cafe Owner James Kwon and family
At its core, The Faces of Pacific Palisades is a love letter to our hometown. We hope it helps keep the faith and spirit of the Palisades alive as we collectively rebuild stronger, more connected and more inspired than ever. And … it’s entirely self-funded.
Post: How do you decide who to feature on your website and who came up with the idea?
Sara: We’re looking for people who love the Palisades—whether they live here, work here or simply care deeply about this community. The Faces of Pacific Palisades began as a way to spotlight the small business owners who keep our town running and help us feel more connected to the people behind the storefronts.
Since the fire happened and as the project has grown, so has our vision. Many incredible Palisadians are quietly making a difference. Parents active in their school communities, neighbors stepping up to help wherever needed and local community members working tirelessly behind the scenes to protect and rebuild our town.
We were introduced to The Faces Of platform a few years back, and we immediately connected with the community-building spirit behind it. That’s when and why we signed on to host The Faces of Pacific Palisades, but it wasn’t until after the fires that we truly understood how vital something like this could be.
In the midst of all the newly created communication groups and rebuilding efforts we realized what was missing was real human connection. So, we decided to contribute in the best way we knew how: by telling people’s stories and bringing our community closer through them.
Post: Where were you living at the time of the fire and how long had you been there?
Sara: We lived on Avenida de la Herradura in the Highlands for six years, and before that we called the Alphabet Streets home.
Post: Were you at home when the fire started? If so, when did you evacuate? Did you make any attempt to save your house?
Sara: Our eldest son and I had just finished a walk on the beach and were driving back home when we saw the plume of smoke around 10:28 a.m. as we came up Palisades Drive. I pulled over at Piedra Morada and called 911 to report it. Thankfully, Shamon worked from home that morning, and our two younger boys were back in school at Calvary.
We ended up evacuating around 12:15 p.m. Shamon considered hosing down the house and yard but I was eager to get out so I asked him not to. We also evacuated our neighbor with us because her husband was away at work and was unable to get back home due to the traffic and road closures.
Pali High football coach Tharen Jerome Todd
It was a harrowing drive down the canyon with flames on both sides of us, embers falling down from the center divider palm trees and just complete and utter chaos with cars backed up with nowhere to go. Thankfully we made it out safely, but it was a traumatic experience for all of us to endure.
Post: How long had you lived in Pacific Palisades and why did you decide to move there originally? Where did you live before that?
Sara: Shamon’s family immigrated from Beirut, Lebanon, to Los Angeles in 1974 and planted their family roots in 1976 when Shamon was only 4 years old. He attended Calvary as a preschooler, then Marquez Charter Elementary School, then Paul Revere Charter Middle School and finally Pali High. Although he spent time attending university in San Francisco and later working on Wall Street in New York, he eventually returned to LA to resettle in the Palisades.
I’m an LA native, having grown up in both Palos Verdes and the San Fernando Valley. After Shamon and I met in 2005, we knew the Palisades was where we wanted to raise our family. We were soon married, and within a few years, we bought our first Palisades property together in 2011. It’s always felt like home.
Post: What were your favorite places to go and things to do in the Palisades?
Sara: You could always find us at Moku Sushi or Spruzzo for an early family dinner. Beech Street and Pearl Dragon were longtime favorites, and after the boys’ Spring Sing and Christmas performances at Calvary, we’d head straight to Vittorio’s—our go-to celebration spot.
On Sunday mornings, Shamon loved taking the boys into town for a stroll through the farmers market, always running into friends and neighbors. As a family, we enjoyed hiking behind our house in Trailer Canyon or hitting the trails at Temescal Canyon.
During baseball season we practically lived at Palisades Recreation Center and on the PPBA fields, cheering on at least two of our boys at any given time. Shamon proudly sponsors a team every year and was lucky enough to see two of his teams win PPBA World Series Championships. We truly miss those days.
Head of Calvary Christian School Vince Downey
Living in our neighborhood felt like being part of a small village. We looked out for each other, gathered at the pool in the summer and made lifelong memories trick-or-treating with close friends off Piedra Morada. One thing I cherished most was my morning beach walks with dear friends after school drop-off.
Some of Shamon’s favorite old-school memories of the Palisades in the 1980s include the annual Moonlight Madness village event, family dinners at Barrara’s, The Captain, Mort’s and eating ice cream at Baskin Robbins.
Post: Where have you been living since the fire? Do you plan to rebuild and move back, and if so, what is the timeline for returning?
Sara: For the time being we’ve resettled in Palos Verdes Estates and plan to remain there until we rebuild our house. All three of our boys are going the local schools there. While it’s far away from everything, we know, it offers a semblance of peace and normality for our family during this difficult journey.
We hope to return by early summer 2027, which honestly can’t come soon enough. There’s truly no place like home.
Post: What advice do you have for residents who have lost everything?
Sara: Our advice is to take each day as the gift it truly is because nothing in life is guaranteed. Celebrate the small wins, embrace your loved ones often and never take a single moment for granted. We’re deeply thankful for all of our blessings every single day.
For more information or to submit a story, visit thefacesofpacificpalisadesca.com.
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 Marti, Resilient Palisades board member and social media lead.
Resilient Palisades has been focused on not just rebuilding, but rebuilding smarter and more resiliently. This is a mission we’ve long been committed to. For years, we’ve pioneered the use of rooftop solar and battery storage for energy independence, even helping over 50 households install solar through our group purchasing program before the fire.
As our community faces this historic recovery, we are proud to announce the next phase of our work with our new initiative, Electrify the Rebuild. To help lead this effort, we have secured a grant of $50,000 to fund our work, and we are thrilled to welcome Charlotte Fall as our new program coordinator.
This campaign is a direct response to the fire, and our vision is to make Pacific Palisades a national model for post-disaster recovery, with resilient, all-electric neighborhoods powered by clean energy. When combined with solar, battery storage and our vision for a Pali Microgrid, many of us in the community will never have to go without power again. This campaign is a major step toward that future.
So, what does “electrification” mean for your rebuild? It’s about choosing efficient, electric-powered machines for your home, from heat pumps for heating and cooling to induction cooktops for cooking. It’s a choice that offers powerful benefits for you and our community, including:
A Healthier Home: Going all-electric eliminates the indoor air pollution associated with burning gas, which can improve the health and safety of your family.
Long-Term Savings: Pairing efficient electric appliances with rooftop solar—something we have extensive experience with—can lead to significant savings on your utility bills.
Increased Resilience: Building all-electric with backup battery storage provides an added layer of security and energy independence, especially during a power outage.
To help make this a reality, we want to make you aware of a valuable program from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The High-performance, Optimized, Modern Electrification for Los Angeles (HOME LA) pilot program is now available to help residents with their rebuilds. This program provides significant financial incentives, with up to $18,000 for a whole-home electrification project.
We will be hosting a series of events and workshops to help you navigate these incentives and connect you with qualified experts. Stay tuned to our social media and website for more details: resilientpalisades.org.
He grew up on the rough side of a New Jersey town.
Short, scrappy, the first over the boards when hockey fights broke out.
By senior year in high school, he was flunking classes, running with the wrong crowd and dabbling in dealing.
The chip on his shoulder did most of the talking.
One night after midnight, he and two buddies were in the town’s bowling alley, stole a bowling ball.
Because anger wanted an audience—heaved one through the front window of a small corner house in his neighborhood.
The shock of glass, then the sprint home.
This old guy lived there. He’d always come out on his front porch barking at the kids to stop cutting across his lawn on their way to high school.
Late the next afternoon, there was a knock. That old man stood in the doorway, the stolen bowling ball in his hands.
“I saw you,” he calmly said, looking him smack in the eyes. “You’re going to pay for the window.
“You’ll wash my car every Sunday until it’s covered. It’s our secret. I’m not telling the cops. I’m not telling your parents,” he said. “This stays between us … unless you walk away.
“Deal?”
He added one more thing.
“I spoke to our priest. He said, ‘Lead with mercy. Expect more.’ I’m choosing both.”
They started that Sunday.
Bucket, sponge, chrome, silence. Then talk. The old man asked real questions and listened to real answers.
He didn’t sermonize; he sketched next steps. “Here’s the math teacher who’ll stay late. Here’s a foreman who’ll hire you if you show up on time. Here’s a new draft of your resume.”
Week after week, the car shone and the chip got lighter.
After a couple of months, he came by for the Sunday wash—and the front window wasn’t boarded up. The glass was back in.
He said to the kid while they were washing the car, “My wife died 10 years ago in a car crash. Drunk teenagers killed her.”
He looked at the window.
“When I looked out every day, all I saw was kids wrecking my lawn. My lawn,” he said.
“I looked out that window this morning—and saw you showing up. Walking right across the thing,” he said. “Best feeling in the whole world.”
The kid made up credits, applied to a local college, found night shifts and kept going. The first small business worked, then a bigger one. He moved west, married a woman he adores, has three kids who know how to shake hands and look people in the eye.
On Tuesdays, he volunteers with court-referred teens.
He keeps a bucket and sponge in his garage.
One act of quiet kindness—merciful, specific and paired with expectations—reset what was possible.
No headlines, no miracles.
Just a different boundary, a different path and a life that now spills forward into other lives.
We’ve all had bowling balls and broken windows. That shatter everywhere.
Maybe the trick is—what we do next.
Jimmy Dunne is a modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com or jimmydunne.substack.com.
Pacific Palisades Civic League wrote a letter on August 8, addressed to the residents of Tract 9300 in Pacific Palisades, which is “the area surrounding the commercial Village and including much of the Palisades from the El Medio Bluffs to Chautauqua Boulevard,” according to its website. A map, and more information, is available at ppcl9300.org.
Given the devastation of the Palisades fire, the Plan Review Committee of the Pacific Palisades Civic League has decided to suspend our review and approval of any and all rebuilds of houses and other structures in Tract 9300 that were damaged or destroyed by the fire, to simplify the reconstruction process of our community.
Since 1943, the Pacific Palisades Civic League has reviewed new houses and other projects in Tract 9300 for outward appearance and design. However, over the last 20 years, the city of Los Angeles has adopted zoning regulations for area, height and setbacks, which are very similar to the PPCL Guidelines.
In addition, the series of executive orders from Mayor Karen Bass now provides an expedited plan check review process to accelerate the return of our community to their homes. You will still need to comply with the mayor’s executive orders and the requirements of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.
Correspondence can be sent to the PPCL Office at office.ppcl@gmail.com or at PO Box 129, Highlands Postal Center, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
Plan Review Committee & Board of Governors Pacific Palisades Civic League Inc.
I wish the renters of Palisades would be mentioned. There were a lot of us.
Schools
The circumstances are beyond unfortunate, but I am looking forward to what our rebuilt schools will look like. I am hoping the designs end up thoughtful, mixing old with new.
Pali LTRG
Thank you to the Pali Long Term Recovery Group. I was grateful to read about their launch.
Reopenings
Recovery is a long journey BUT I do have a bit of hope every time something else reopens.
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.
Crayon Collection participated in Palisades Americanism Parade Association’s Fourth of July event at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, hosting a booth with arts and crafts.
“We loved spending the evening with Councilmember Traci Park’s team as well as students from Pali High,” read information shared by the organization. “The Fourth of July is a major tradition for our beautiful community, and although this year looked different than years past, the same joy and community was present. We were so glad to connect with everyone and to all the kiddos who dropped by and colored jumbo coloring sheets, which were all about resilience and hope for Pacific Palisades.”
Photo courtesy of Crayon Collection
As part of a pre-college entrepreneurship program at USC, 16-year-old Palisadian James Reinstein met with Rick Caruso to “learn firsthand how companies are built.”
Photo courtesy of Melody Reinstein
“After seeing Caruso’s leadership in rebuilding parts of the Palisades and his reputation for creating spaces that prioritize community over commerce, James decided to approach him in person,” read information shared about the meeting. “To his surprise, Caruso readily agreed to an interview. Their discussion quickly moved beyond balance sheets and business plans. Caruso emphasized that his success was never solely about constructing profitable shopping centers, but about designing environments where people feel connected.”
Palisades Dolphin Strong—co-founded by Palisades Charter High School alumni Larry Goldberg and Scott Berger—hosted a benefit concert on July 20 at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club to launch its support efforts for fire recovery and local business.
“The event brought together celebrities, community leaders, musicians and over 250 supporters for a night of inspiration and action,” according to event organizers.
The event was emceed by Palisadian and Honorary Town Sheriff Sam Laganà.
Photos courtesy of Palisades Dolphin Strong/by Shannon Vergun, Paula Stein and Martin Llanos
Getty Villa Museum and Troubadour Theater Company will present performances of “Oedipus the King, Mama!” between September 4 and 27.
“In this production of the classic story of Oedipus, LA’s beloved Troubadour Theater Company gets Sophocles’ King Oedipus ‘All Shook Up’ with the musical stylings of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley,” read information from Getty. “In ‘Oedipus the King, Mama!’ plot twists and pelvic thrusts are plentiful, and a live band accompanies the salacious story. Fighting to find out the ugly truth, Oedipus gives in to ‘Suspicious Minds’ and digs deep into his past … only to find a forbidden future—and the meaning of blind ambition.”
The show marks the 19th annual Villa Outdoor Classical Theater production and the third production of Troubadour Theater Company at the space. The company has three decades of history—including 16 years of collaborating with Getty.
“It is special to have such a long-time collaborator and company from Los Angeles bring their talents to the Palisades community for what will undoubtedly be an entertaining show,” said Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle director of the Getty Museum.
The production was previously part of the Villa’s 2009 Theater Lab series, according to Getty. It is adapted and directed by Troubadour Theater Company Artistic Director Matt Walker.
The cast includes Walker as Oedipus, Cloie Taylor as Shepherd, Beth Kennedy as Jocasta, Rick Batalla as Creon, Mike Sulprizio as Teiresias, Steven Booth as Young Oedipus, Suzanne Jolie Narbonne as Ismene/Chorus, Lara Lafferty as Antigone/Chorus, Philip McNiven as Messenger and Katie Malia as Sphinx attendant.
“We’re so thankful for our long-time artistic collaboration with the Getty,” Walker said. “They truly support artists and always bring out the best in us. ‘Oedipus the King, Mama!’ has a gifted cast of 10 actors who sing, dance, clown and improvise their way through an 80-minute-romp—as well as a live band and brilliant designers who are transforming the Villa into Graceland West.”
Previous co-productions between the company and Getty include “LIZASTRATA” in 2021 and “Haunted House Party” in 2016.
Performances will take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance will take place September 18. There are previews August 28 to 30.
Tickets are on sale now. Thursday night performances are $45, or $40 for students and seniors. Friday night is $50 and Saturday night $55.
Palisadian and former Honorary Mayor Martin Short will star in the upcoming fifth season of “Only Murders in the Building,” which will begin airing on Tuesday, September 9.
The first three episodes will be released on premiere day, with the remaining episodes released weekly every Tuesday on Hulu and Disney+.
Short will return to his original role as Oliver Putnam, one of three podcast members and a struggling theater director. Season five will pick up on the mysterious death of Lester, the doorman at the Arconia apartment building.
Charles-Haden Savage, played by Steve Martin, and Mabel Mora, played by Selena Gomez—the other two members of the podcasting trio—join Oliver in investigating the case. As they explore unexpected corners of New York City, suspense builds and brand new characters add to the mystery.
The television series is directed by John Hoffman and co-written with Martin. The show is produced by 20th Television, a subsidiary of Disney.
Short has also starred in comedy films such as “Three Amigos” (1986) and “Father of the Bride” (1991).
Several original cast members from previous seasons are returning to their roles: Michael Cyril Creighton returns as Howard, Jackie Hoffman is back as Uma and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams.
The series will also feature new cast members, including Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Jermaine Fowler, Christoph Waltz, Keegan-Michael Key and Beanie Feldstein.
Filming began around March of this year and wrapped in June. Production took place across New York City’s Upper West Side. The season is expected to conclude November 4.
The series is full of “twists, suspense and humor,” according to Hulu: “The season will balance grim discoveries and comic misadventures.”
After graduating from Palisades Charter High School, Todd Lawrence set off to see the world, visiting 22 countries before eventually settling in Taiwan, where he has lived for over three decades.
He learned of the fire raging in Pacific Palisades in January through anxious phone calls with his parents. They eventually learned that their family home remained standing, though they were displaced with it requiring “extensive remediation.”
When Lawrence flew back and saw the damage firsthand, something stood out to him: Amid the rubble and destruction, their Chase bank vault had stayed intact.
“Bank vaults are made with modular panels, protecting them in fires and disasters,” Lawrence explained. It was this realization that ultimately launched the idea for his latest endeavor, Custom Home Vaults.
According to the company’s website, Lawrence set out to “utilize modular paneling to convert standard shipping containers into fully secure, concealed bank vaults for residential use.” These bank-grade, walk-in vaults are designed to store everything—from jewelry and family heirlooms to sports memorabilia—discreetly and seamlessly within the home’s architecture.
Unlike his previous business venture, Whisky Vault—which was primarily with collectors in mind—Custom Home Vaults is aimed at everyday families looking to protect items.
“Pacific Palisades will rebuild,” Lawrence said. “And this time, security will bebuilt into the home to withstand the unimaginable. This isn’t just a product. It’s personal.”
The vaults use the same panelized steel and insulation found in commercial-grade safes, but with an emphasis on customization and design. A vault can be fully customized—from its size and color to the type of wood. Lawrence works with interior designers to ensure it blends into a home’s existing floor plan and aesthetic.
Beyond design, the vaults are crafted to offer long-term protection, created with “integrated fire resistance.” A Custom Home Vault is built to withstand 1,000-degree fires for extended periods of time, Lawrence said.
Additionally, the high-density composite concrete panels and one-and-a-half-ton, bank-grade vault door further reinforce.
Security and privacy are the brand’s core values, which is why the delivery and installation process is private.
“Even the neighborhood won’t know you just dropped a 20-ton, UL-certified vault into your floor plan,” Lawrence said.
The vaults are built entirely offsite and brought to the customer’s home in a shipping container, meaning the size and layout is kept entirely discreet.
Lawrence said he understands that home security is not just about safeguarding items—it is about ensuring peace of mind for customers in an uncertain world.
The memory of seeing the Palisades, his hometown, in ashes drives his mission forward. That is also why he has made sure that part of all sales will be donated to one of four charities that focus on “rebuilding after the devastating wildfires,” including California Community Foundation, American Red Cross, Direct Relief and Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
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