Each cover of Pali Life featured a story highlighting everything from local nonprofits to area artists. Read on to see some of the stories that were published throughout 2024.

January 11

With Riviera resident Nate Berman as executive director, the high school-run nonprofit Feeling Full LA works to connect leftover food items with people who are experiencing food insecurity or homelessness—repurposing meals and produce at places like farmers markets and restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away. “Roughly one-third of food produced in the world is wasted, while so many people face food insecurity at the same time,” Berman said. “Spreading the word about food waste in general is really important.”

January 25

It was after a 16-hour flight to Australia in 2022 to visit her husband’s family when Marquez Knolls resident Laura Gowing was inspired to launch Busy Benny. At the end of the flight, the lights came on and the flight attendants started serving breakfast. Gowing said she looked down and saw plastic wrappers from the snacks all over the airplane floor. Hoping to find something more practical than what she used on the Australia flight, Gowing started searching and found various types of “snackle boxes,” but did not locate a “safer, more durable, longer-lasting option.” She said she was “shocked that nothing like this existed on the market,” so she decided to launch her own product.

February 22

Sometimes the right connection can make a world of difference. That is the foundation Ready to Succeed, launched in 2016 by Palisadians Patrick McCabe and Romi Lassally, is built upon. Ready to Succeed—a “career and personal development nonprofit”—is designed to empower foster college students to graduate, launch careers and “reach their full potential.”

March 14

Teachers have the opportunity to push their students to great heights and make an impact—and, throughout her career and beyond, late Palisades Charter High School art teacher Sherrill Kahn did just that. Alumna Cathy Salser now hopes to carry Kahn’s legacy on with a special scholarship in her memory, since her passing in December 2023.

May 9

Students at Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Magnet Center now have the option to travel the globe from their recently renovated library—or receive assistance to take a trip abroad. This is thanks to Worldride Impact Foundation, founded by Jamee Natella, which celebrated its official launch during a library dedication ceremony on Thursday, April 25. “Worldride Impact is dedicated to creating global citizens through education, literature, media, technology and travel,” read its website. “Through all of its initiatives, Worldride Impact aims to inspire children to learn about the lives of kids in other parts of the world and to better understand different cultures.”

May 23

Imagine a dinner party with friends, a drink in hand. You have work early the next day, but there’s no fear of a hangover, sluggishness, not feeling well—or, in some cases, saying something regretful. Why? Because you’ve been sipping on wine by No Alcohol Company—launched by Huntington resident Yalda Paydar in January. Founder and CEO Paydar created the brand during a time of “healing her mental, emotional and physical health,” read the NoAlchCo website. She originally “set out to create her favorite beverage without the drawbacks.”

June 27

Of all the things Erica Simpson prides herself on after more than two decades of owning and operating a store in Pacific Palisades, the success of her previous “kids” is at the top of that list. Since Paliskates first opened in 1999, Simpson has served as a mentor, trainer, confidant and second family to dozens of her employees—often guiding them to their future career accomplishments, as detailed to the Palisadian-Post by several now-adults who previously worked at the skate store in their teen years.

August 8

Recent books published by authors with ties to the Palisades cover everything from memories of the ’50s to a memoir about caring for one’s aging father. From children to adults, the featured books offer something for every aged reader.

September 26

Lee Calvert has long been known as Pacific Palisades’ “Golden Girl.” On August 15, she reached a milestone very few people do—turning 100 years old—and 10 days later, she was joined by family, friends and neighbors for a celebration in the clubhouse at Tahitian Terrace, where Calvert has lived for over six decades. Guests wore blue—Calvert’s favorite color—and shared stories and sentiments.

December 12

It’s the best of both worlds for Palisadian artist and designer Richard Harrington, who balances his corporate work with personal endeavors to fully tap into his creativity. Harrington is a British artist and designer with more than two decades of experience “building a global portfolio” who resides in Marquez Knolls. He studied and began his career as a graphic designer in London—and has since worked with brands like Adidas, The Academy of Motion Pictures, Meta and IKEA.

In addition to the newspaper, Palisadian-Post publishes editions of 90272 Magazine over the course of the year, including spring-, summer-and winter-themed publications.

Best of Pacific Palisades: Travel Tales + Summer Camps

The spring edition of the magazine featured a series of Travel Tales (with the winning tale, “The Hills Were Alive in Salzburg,” penned by Violetta Hargitay), a look at the work longtime local organization Palisades P.R.I.D.E. has completed, and camps and programming that created “a summer to remember.”

Celebrating Fourth of July in Pacific Palisades

Publishing just ahead of Fourth of July, the summer edition featured a list of reads provided by local literary authorities, an interview with Sunset Smash—which expanded its menu this year—Marilyn Haaker speaking on her sister’s lasting legacy of “30 Years of Patriotic Pups” and all things Fourth of July

Holidays in the Palisades

In the winter edition, readers could find the annual gift guide, which featured dozens of gifts from local stores and brands, as well as a list of holiday-themed activities that take place in the Palisades and a look at “A Dragon for Hanukkah,” written by Palisadian author Sarah Mlynowski.

The Palisadian-Post works with interns who live or go to school in Pacific Palisades. Each intern has the opportunity to help out with several aspects of newspaper production, from pitching stories to taking assignments, proofreading and assisting with projects, including community events. Here are some of the stories that our interns wrote this year.

“Multiple Congregations Gather at Corpus Christi for 2024 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service”
Michael Matlof

The Pacific Palisades Ministerial Association hosted its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Monday evening, November 25, at Corpus Christi Church, with leaders from multiple congregations across the community gathering together to lead the processions—as covered by Michael Matlof and published in the December 12 edition.

“The event, occurring annually for almost 30 years, focused on a message of unity and coexistence,” Matlof reported. “It was open to all residents, regardless of membership status.”

“Above and Beyond: Palisadian Paige Thompson Launches Clean Protein Bars”
Sophia Masserat

El Medio Bluffs resident Paige Thompson launched Above Bar—a line of organic, plant-based protein bars—in November, which were written about by Sophia Masserat on December 12.

“As a vegetarian since age 10, Thompson realized early on the difficulties that can come with being an athlete on a plant-based diet,” Masserat wrote. “She said she struggled to find quick, protein-rich snacks that didn’t compromise on taste or health, turning to bars whose nutrition label held a long list of unfamiliar additives—and lacking the amount of protein that met her needs.”

“Service with a View: Palisades-Raised Peter Lamden Opens a Salon in Santa Monica Canyon”
Parker Keston

“How many haircuts have you had looking out onto the blue Pacific Ocean while being taken through a carefully curated and crafted experience?” asked Parker Keston in her article about Peter Lamden Salon in the May 23 edition. The salon opened in 2022 in Santa Monica Canyon by hairdresser and Palisades-raised Peter Lamden, who grew up in El Medio Bluffs.

“Making Her Mark: Pali High Grad Releases New Song, Gives Updates About Producing and Making Music”
Allie Yang

Allie Yang interviewed Marquez Knolls musician Chantal Trent for a story that published November 28. Trent said that an elementary school poetry class was the catalyst of her career.

“With a decades-long relationship with music, Trent has noticed the gradual shift in her work’s style, from youthful and unfiltered to mainstream and complex,” Yang wrote. “She noted the introduction of modern instruments as an indication that her music has become sonically refined. However, ‘Stupid Love,’ her newest song and release from June 1, has kept to her original taste.”