By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

With the new year underway, the Palisadian-Post is now seeking the first baby born to a Palisadian in 2025.

The tradition of honoring the baby born closest to 12 a.m. on January 1 began in the paper in 1954 and has been published since.

The winning family in 2024 welcomed a baby on January 2 at 7:01 a.m. It was a close call, as another baby was born on January 2 at 10:28 a.m., followed by the third closest baby on January 4 at 6:10 p.m. The year prior was a baby born on January 3, 2023, at 4:43 p.m.

This year’s contest is sponsored by Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, Busy Benny, Sanctuary Spa at Palisades, Above Bar, tawnya, The Pump Station & Nurtury and The Gray Dragon. The winning family will receive a basket of prizes from the contest sponsors, including a handmade quilt, gift cards and more.

Families who welcome a baby in the new year are invited to email mypost@palipost.com with the date and time of the birth to be considered.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Voting for the Palisadian-Post’s 11th annual Deck Your Halls holiday home decorating contest is set to close on January 5 at 8 p.m.

Community members are invited to vote for their top picks in three categories: Best Decked Out Hall, Best Theme and Greenest Decor, which was launched in 2023 to honor a home with environmentally sustainable decorations.

This year’s sponsors include McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Alfred, Theatre Palisades, Porta Via Palisades, Palisades Gas & Wash, and Roku Sushi.

Winners of this year’s contest will be published in the January 9 print edition of the Post. To see the entries for the contest and vote, click here.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Tickets are now on sale for Theatre Palisades’ first production of 2025: “Jest a Second!” which is set to open on Friday, January 10, at 8 p.m.

The play, written by James Sherman, is produced by Martha Hunter and directed by Jonathan Fahn. It is the sequel to “Beau Jest,” which ran from in January and February 2024 at Pierson Playhouse.

“In this follow-up to ‘Beau Jest,’ Sarah and Bob are now married and expecting their first child,” read a synopsis. “However, Sarah’s brother, Joel, is now the one having trouble admitting something to their parents—and Bob once again steps in to ‘help.’ Hilarity once again ensues as the family deals with its latest drama.”

The role of Sarah Goldman will be filled by Jasmine Haver and Claire Goldhush, with her mother, Miriam, played by Laura Goldstein and her father, Abe, played by Lou Saliba. Joel will be played by Jon Paul Burkhart, Bob by Arden Maden and Dr. Rosen by Levente Tarr.

Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m., through February 16. Tickets are $22 for adult, and $20 for seniors and students.

All performances take place at Pierson Playhouse, which is located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Tickets are available at the Theatre Palisades website or by calling 310-454-1970.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Palisades Branch Library invites community members to meditate and create a vision board for 2025 with a class on Monday, January 6, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

“A vision board is a collage of images that represent goals and dreams,” according to the event description. “It can include cut-out pictures from magazines and words that help inspire you to manifest your dreams and get where you want to go.”

The event invites teenagers, adults and seniors to participate. Silvi Winthrop will be acting as the meditation leader for the class.

“Vision boards may also help us imagine what a positive future could look like for us,” the event description continued. “Imagining a positive future is a helpful way to increase positive emotions and optimism.”

The health and wellness event will take place at Palisades Branch Library, located at 861 Alma Real Drive. To RSVP, contact palsds@lapl.org.

January 11

• Following a pre-holiday increase in reports of burglaries, Los Angeles Police Department West LA Burglary Detectives hosted two communitywide town halls via Zoom—explaining on January 3 that 12 suspects had been arrested in connection with some of the incidents. “In the last few weeks, we here at LAPD have arrested seven South American burglary crew suspects,” LAPD Detective Robert Hoebink said. “Our fellow agency partners have arrested another five—that’s Beverly Hills and Glendale.”

January 25

• A tradition started in the Palisadian-Post in 1954 and published since, parents Usman and Lauren Nabi welcomed the first baby born to a Palisadian family in 2024 on January 2 at 7:01 a.m. Asher Nabi is the couple’s third child, after Aiden and Noah. The contest will return in 2025—for those who have a baby near the beginning of the year, email the date and time to mypost@palipost.com to be considered.

February 8

• As the first month of 2024 came to an end, Caruso’s Palisades Village prepared for a couple of tenant changes. FRAME and Cuyana closed their stores, while Golden Goose and Cult Gaia opened in their place in May and July, respectively. Other changes in the development in 2024 included Bonjour Fête relocating from near Swarthmore to near the Park, taking over the space where Flannel closed. AERIN opened its first West Coast location on October 17 in the space Bonjour Fête vacated.
• Approximately 40 individuals volunteered early morning January 24 to help conduct the annual Homeless Count in Pacific Palisades. In data reported July 25, PPTFH’s count results saw a total of 16 individuals experiencing homelessness, 43 vehicles—comprised of 25 cars, 12 vans and six RVs—and three tents, or makeshift shelters. In 2023, PPTFH reported a total of 11 individuals, 35 vehicles and two tents. The count will return to Los Angeles in January 2025. To volunteer for the Palisades count, which will take place on January 23 at 5 a.m., visit count.lahsa.org/pages/volunteer-registration.

March 14

• During its meeting on February 28, Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Design Review voted unanimously to support amended proposed plans to renovate the interior and exterior building of a forthcoming Equinox. The Pacific Palisades location—which will be at 17383 Sunset Boulevard in a space previously occupied by Bay Club—is slated to open before the end of 2024.

March 28

• The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering hosted an online community meeting March 14 to discuss the Potrero Canyon Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge project—the first in a series of public outreach meetings to gather input on plans and disseminate relevant information. The project includes the development of a bridge that would connect Will Rogers State Beach to George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon. The next meeting will take place in spring or summer 2025. For residents who want to stay informed as the project progresses, additional information can be found at potrerocanyonpedbridge.org. The project email address—which is where questions and comments may be sent—is potrerocanyonpedbridge@lacity.org.

May 9

• A treasured tradition in Pacific Palisades, community members age 90 and above gathered for the return of the in-person Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club 90th Birthday Club Celebration—“The Winner’s Circle”—on Saturday, May 4. “We are thrilled to be back meeting in person, as we did food drop-offs for a few years due to protecting against the spread of Covid,” PPWC shared in a statement. “We have had this tradition since 1996.”
• Efforts were underway to keep Santa Monica Canyon eatery Patrick’s Roadhouse open—including a GoFundMe. Owner Anthony Fischler told the Post the restaurant has been in business for over 50 years, serving customers from the Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu and all over the world. “We became a part of the community over decades,” Fischler said. “It became an icon … not just in the area, but all over Los Angeles. It’s listed as one of the things to do when you visit LA.” In an update posted via GoFundMe on October 29, longtime customer Kurt Benjamin, who launched the fundraiser, wrote that funds would be returned to donors on November 12 if an “acceptable lease” was not in place.

May 23

• Pacific Palisades Community Council hosted a special meeting on May 20 regarding the Tramonto landslide and proposed “largescale development” of four homes in Castellammare, ultimately voting in support of urging the city of Los Angeles to require an environmental impact report for the project. The PPCC Board reported in a background summary that it learned about the proposed construction of four homes over 12 existing lots along the 17500 blocks of Tramonto and Revello drives at the top of the Tramonto landslide, ranging from 2,619 square feet to 7,695 square feet. Although they were on the agenda for a December 3 Planning and Land Use Management Committee of the Los Angeles City Council hearing, the homes were not discussed due to a loss of quorum. The case is slated to head to a full City Council meeting in January 2025, according to Castellammare Mesa Home Owners Association. In a letter ahead of the December 3 PLUM hearing, Councilmember Traci Park recommended the project “be remanded back to the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission to ensure the proposed project be reviewed with the benefit of a new CEQA clearance.”

June 13

• As the sun slowly sank into the sea Thursday evening, June 6, Palisades Charter High School faculty and administrators bid a fond farewell to the Class of 2024 in the school’s graduation ceremony on the football field, where 750-plus seniors were handed diplomas during a commencement themed by hope and optimism for the future.
• Representatives from area nonprofit community organizations gathered on the evening of Tuesday, June 4, at Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club for the annual Grant Awards Night, where the 2024 grant recipients were revealed and congratulated. “Through various fundraising endeavors, the PPWC members raise funds which are then awarded to a variety of nonprofit community organizations in the Palisades,” according to the event program. “Each year the grant fund distribution is decided upon by PPWC members. Each member of the club has an impact on our community via her vote.”
• While Cinque Terre West closed its Monument Street restaurant and wine bar effective June 23, Palisadians do not have to search far to enjoy Chef Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni’s food, as DELIzioso Cinque remains open. “After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to renew our lease and will therefore be closing the doors of Cinque Terre West on June 23,” Gianba and Marlo Vinzoni wrote in an email to restaurant patrons sent May 31.

June 27

• Pacific Palisades Community Council elected its slate of officers for the 2024-25 term, which began on July 1. Elected by board acclamation on Thursday, June 13, Sue Kohl is leading PPCC as president, Quentin Fleming is vice-president, Jenny Li continued as treasurer and Beth Holden-Garland continued as secretary. Maryam Zar is now PPCC chair emeritus, taking over for David Card. Following a two-week voting period that ended August 30, PPCC then announced its newly elected area and at-large representatives. JoAnna Rodriguez is representing Area One, Steve Cron for Area Two, Julia Nilsen for Area Three, Karen Ridgley for Area Four, Kimberly Bloom for Area Five, Lorie Cudzil for Area Six, Sharon Kilbride for Area Seven, Andrew Wolfberg for Area Eight and Chris Spitz as at-large.

July 11

• Palisadians gathered along the route for the 76th annual Fourth of July parade, a community tradition presented by Palisades Americanism Parade Association. This year’s parade led with a theme of “Happy Days in the Palisades,” which was entered into the parade theme contest by longtime Palisadians Dean Grinsfelder and Vicky Collison, and selected by PAPA. Former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, actor and author Steve Guttenberg served as this year’s grand marshal for Fourth of July festivities, while lifelong Palisadian Rich Wilken took on the role of parade marshal.

August 8

• Pacific Palisades received a total of 31.38 inches during its most recent rain year—measured from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024—according to Craig Weston, who has recorded the rain and temperature from The Huntington since 2014. “The highlight of this ‘rain year’ was the deluge of rain that fell in February, which totaled a stunning 15.6 inches for the month alone,” Weston said. “This figure surpassed the previous record recorded downtown in 1998 of 13.68 inches of rain for February. The Palisades almost broke the all-time record of rain for any month downtown, which occurred in December of 1889 when 15.8 inches fell. 4.52 inches fell on February 4 alone, a huge daily total.”

September 12

• Theatre Palisades celebrated the four shows of its 2023-24 season during the annual meeting and awards show on Sunday, August 11. During the meeting portion of the evening, Theatre Palisades President Phil Bartolf reported that the theater is in a “renaissance,” that the prior season “surpassed expectations” with “solid audience” attendance.

October 10

• The city of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved a proposed restroom renovation project at Palisades Recreation Center—including commitment of funds to complete it—during its board meeting on Thursday morning, October 3. Staff recommended the board “approve the scope of work and the total budget of the Palisades Recreation Center Restroom Renovation Project,” read the report.

October 24

• The office of Councilmember Traci Park and city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks hosted their first Pacific Palisades Dog Park Community Engagement meeting on Monday evening, October 21, at Palisades Branch Library—sharing details of the proposed space and responding to questions from stakeholders. Pacific Palisades Field Deputy for CD 11 Michael Amster began the meeting by speaking on the decades-long history of the dog park, inviting Pacific Palisades Dog Park Working Group members Carol Ross, Lynn Miller and Leslie Campbell up to talk on their involvement in bringing the park to fruition.

November 28

• Pacific Palisades Community Council announced its four award winners for 2024 during the Thursday, November 14, board meeting. Cindi Young has been named Citizen of the Year, while Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez are this year’s Golden Sparkplugs. Pride of the Palisades—a discretionary distinction that is bestowed in “exceptional circumstances,” determined by the Awards Selection Committee—is Thomas Hathaway.

December 12

• Casa Nostra Ristorante is set to close its Highlands location at 1515 Palisades Drive, effective December 31. “This wonderful hidden restaurant in the hills has been a cherished place for countless memories for us all,” read an emailed statement from Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, which reported the news of the restaurant’s closing. “Birthdays, school fundraisers, anniversary celebrations and too many to mention.” Owner Giovanni Zappone’s Sunset Boulevard and Westlake Village locations will remain open.
• Ho!Ho!Ho! returned to Simon Meadow on Saturday, December 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. for its 75th year. Santa Claus and his team have visited Pacific Palisades each holiday season during Ho!Ho!Ho! since December 1949.

The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.” Here is the column that ran in the July 11 edition.

Our Town’s Run

Runs.

Kind of a funny thing.

You take off from a place—and, after a while, you end up in exactly the same place you started.

Truth is, it couldn’t be anything farther from what it is.

Here’s what I mean.

I thought about it at our town run. The 4th of July run.

Here’s what it is in a nutshell.

Three thousand three hundred of the most amazing, lovely people on the planet all get up along with the chirping birds and run around the most stunning homes in town—just thinking about how absolutely wonderful life is.

But let’s go back. From the beginning. None of it was by accident.

A rich history, chock-full of Palisadian legends.

It started in 1977 and has evolved into one of the most popular 5 & 10 Ks in California and the country.

Back in the 1970s, a group of spectacular Palisadian dads ran together, sharing a common bond—a love of running.

They called themselves—“The Ridgerunners.”

They got up and ran together at the crack of dawn to peek in the window of our hometown hero, Will Rogers.

They ran along the Santa Monica Ridge, overlooking the most stunning town—snuggled and cuddled between the mountains and the big, blue Pacific ocean.

As legend has it, one Sunday morning on a picnic bench together on San Vincente Boulevard, after a bunch of the guys were in a 10K race in neighboring Brentwood, they imagined the same idea for the Palisades.

But I’ll bet what Brian Shea and his best buddies imagined for the Palisades was so much more than a race.

So much more than top runners sprinting across a finish line.

I’m pretty sure they imagined what I was privileged to see last week—on that glorious, truly magical 4th of July morning …

I’ll bet they imagined a dad proudly running right alongside his fourth-grade school kid—crisscrossing the tree-covered Huntington streets.

And a cheering Grandpa and Grandma standing on their curb handing out cups of water to thirsty, thankful runners galloping by.

And a couple of high school runners with big hearts and strides, wearing their school’s name across their chests—hoping to make their alma mater, their parents and themselves proud.

And a mom pushing a stroller with the most precious cargo in the absolute world in front of her—letting her baby know they will forever run and tackle life together—and that she’ll be there, no matter what.

And this town will be there for them, too.

Or a single man stepping into the backside of his 80s. Finding himself without his partner by his side. They ran—and then walked the race every year together.

He’s doing it alone for the first year.

But he’s not.

Maybe he’s not keeping up with everybody else in the race, but he’s in the race.

He bought his number.

Walking along, he’s seeing his wife in the faces of kids and families on the curbs he’s passing; knowing how she touched their lives. He’s seeing her as he rounds the corner of the church where they spent every single Sunday, and then some with their best pals.

He’s with her, alright.

That’s why he got up to do the run/walk. That’s why he’s wearing those socks she liked so much.

For her.

To let her know how much it hurts him every day that she’s not there by his side doing this, not doing life together.

I’ll bet that’s what those guys were thinking about, sitting there, in the quiet. Thinking about what a race in the Palisades could be.

That’s what you earn with truly great friends. Quiet.

Moments when it’s OK just to think. Just to dream.

I’ll bet they did just that.

Time sure flies, doesn’t it?

We see it in our kids’ lives, in our own lives. We notice it most on birthdays. On holidays.

We realize how fast this journey is going, this incredible at-bat at life that we have. This one swing.

Sometimes, in looking back at pictures, at videos, at plaques, we’re reminded of things that stop us. For just a second.

To pause. To breathe.

There’s a plaque at Will Rogers State Historic Park at the drinking fountain. Not a big plaque.

But an important one.

It’s in memory of three of the Ridgerunners: Lynn Borland, Chris Carlson and Dick Lemen.

It says, “There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise.”

That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read about what a friend is.

May we all give thanks to Brian. To all the Ridgerunners.

Of what they dreamed our town could be.

What all of us could be.

And for the canvas they have given us, every 4th of July …

To draw anything we can imagine.

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.