By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Councilmember Traci Park will host a virtual meeting regarding the forthcoming Temescal Canyon Dog Park in Pacific Palisades on Thursday evening, November 6, from 5 to 6 p.m.

The meeting will be hosted in partnership with City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

“Join me and our partners at LA Rec and Parks for a virtual community meeting … to review plans for the Temescal Canyon Dog Park and share your input,” Park wrote on November 1. “Your feedback will help shape the final design and guide next steps as we move this long-awaited project forward.”

The history of the dog park dates back decades, with Pacific Palisades Dog Park Working Group members Leslie Campbell, Carol Ross and Lynn Miller involved with bringing it to fruition.

The dog park will be located on Temescal Canyon Road near Pacific Coast Highway on the east side of the road. It will be north (or to the left, if looking at the space) of the playground/bathrooms.

As of a community engagement meeting in October 2024, draft designs of the 33,255-square-foot dog park featured two areas, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. The design included shade and seating, as well as agility features, hydration stations, fencing (at least six feet high), gates, and native landscaping.

Sign up here to receive a link to attend the November 6 meeting.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Multiple state, county and local agencies, as well as volunteers from the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, gathered at Will Rogers State Beach near Lifeguard Headquarters on Wednesday morning, October 22, at 7 a.m. to assist in the annual Pacific Palisades Hillside Task Force.

The task force, which has taken place since 2019, was organized by Sharon Kilbride. The day includes groups splitting up to traverse hillside areas across the Palisades to monitor for people experiencing homelessness and clear out abandoned camps, to help mitigate potential fire hazards.

Kilbride described putting out a call for volunteers for this year’s task force and, despite many of them losing their homes in the Palisades fire, hearing mostly yesses within minutes.

“That’s the part that warms my heart,” Kilbride said.

Participating agencies included PPTFH, LAPD, The People Concern, park rangers, and representatives from the offices of CD 11 and the mayor.

“The task force is a very important part of our ongoing community engagement and enforcement in the [Very] High Fire Severity Zones of the Pacific Palisades,” Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades Brian Espin said ahead of the day.

Kilbride reported results of the findings: In Area 1 (Corona Del Mar Bluffs), one abandoned camp was cleaned up. Area 2 (Temescal Canyon Road) five abandoned camps were cleaned up.

One “old abandoned camp” was cleaned up in Area 4, which is along Palisades Drive.

Ahead of splitting up, PPTFH Co-President Cindi Young was presented with a replacement for her 2024 Citizen of the Year award, which was lost in the Palisades fire, by Councilmember Traci Park.

“We are going to keep doing the work,” Park said of the community coming together for things like the task force, describing them as the “glue that keeps us all together.”

Several members of LAPD spoke before the groups dispersed, including Commander Jonathan Tom (who, before changing roles within LAPD, helped assemble the task force), Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard and Captain Richard Gabaldon.

“Thank you for the work,” Gabaldon said to volunteers for their service.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Nonprofit Saved By A Story—founded by Palisadian Kathy Katims—will host a fundraising event on Saturday, November 1, at BLANKSPACES in Venice.

“After losing my Pacific Palisades home in the 2025 wildfires, I created an ongoing group for other survivors to process and heal,” Katims said. “To sustain this and other work, we’re hosting our annual fundraising event, the Storytelling Salon, on November 1.”

Storytellers from the Palisades, Altadena and greater Los Angeles area will share stories and songs during the event on the theme “Still Here,” which “honors the resilient Palisades and Altadena communities.”

Writers and storytellers slated to present are Tamara Rawitt, Karen Leigh Hopkins, Jason Katims, Shermaine Barlaan, Megan Chan Meinero, Chris Douridas, David Israel, Jessica Goldberg and Al Madrigal. Musicians include Priscilla Ahn, mehro and Lucy Schwartz.

“I lost more than my home in the wildfire,” Katims said. “For me the diaspora of community was a profound grief. I also was so overwhelmed with all the things that needed to be done that I wanted to create a space apart from the doing. I wanted to come together in community and give voice to all the things we lost and all that we were finding. Monthly meetups of the Wildfire Survivor Writing Workshop at the Wende Museum helped knit our community together and give voice to our pain and our hope.”

Founded a decade ago, Saved By A Story hosts “free community writing workshops for under-resourced and under-served populations” to “empower voices and build connection.” More than 500 storytellers have participated in programming.

The November 1 event will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at 606 Venice Boulevard.

“100% of ticket sales go toward free community writing workshops for under-resourced, underrepresented people, including senior citizens, wildfire survivors, intergenerational participants and former foster youth,” read the description.

Tickets start at $150, with a sliding scale available for those who reach out to Katims.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Santa Monica Mosaic will present “When Landmarks Fall: Honoring the Past to Inspire the Future” on Sunday, November 2 from 5 to 6:15 p.m.

“This is the final livestream event of the 2025 Mosaic season, dedicated to Pacific Palisades following its devastation in the January wildfire,” read information about the event, which is hosted by Santa Monica Conservancy. “The first two events, ‘The Way We Were’ and ‘A Cultural Landscape,’ explored ‘what was’ with a reflection on the Palisades’ origins and growth as a community.”

The November 2 event will discuss “what’s next,” with three “civic leaders” who will speak on “historic resources that were impacted during the fire and various approaches toward recovery.”

Speakers include Ken Bernstein (City of Los Angeles principal city planner), Barbara Tejada (California State Parks cultural resources supervisor) and Randy Young (Pacific Palisades Historical Society curator).

“Ever since wildfires ripped through Pacific Palisades and Altadena back in January, we’ve mourned the loss of cherished landmarks like Will Rogers’ meticulously preserved ranch house, or the Palisades’ iconic Business Block, which anchored the village for more than a century,” read information about the event. “Beyond these heartbreaking tragedies, many other historically significant places were impacted by the fires—from vintage homes with prized collections to beloved businesses that served generations of customers.”

The program is set to explore questions like “how do we appropriately honor the memories of these lost treasures, especially given limited resources of uncertain times?” and “do we find a way to build them back as they once were, thus restoring the heritage, spirit and promise of a stricken community?”

RSVP to receive a link to the livestream.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Calvary Palisades will present “Rise Together”—a live concert performance by Hillsong’s Aodhán King—on November 15 beginning at 5 p.m.

“You’re invited to an unforgettable night of worship, connection and celebration with Hillsong’s Aodhán King, live at Calvary Palisades,” read an event description. “In the wake of the Palisades fire earlier this year, our community has shown incredible strength. Now, it’s time to come together—to lift our voices, our spirits and one another as we continue to rise, rebuild and move forward in hope.”

The event will begin with a live DJ and Amigos Tacos in the courtyard at 5 p.m., followed by King performing at 6 p.m.

Born in Sydney, Australia, and now based in Los Angeles, King is a founding member of Young & Free. He has made “significant contributions” to songs such as “Sinking Deep,” “Highs and Lows,” and “This Is Living.”

“This night isn’t just a concert—it’s a moment to unite as a community, celebrate what we share, and be reminded of the joy and power we find in faith, music and each other,” the description continued. “Whether you’re part of the Calvary family, the school community or simply looking for a meaningful night out—you’re invited.”

The event will take place at Calvary Church, located at 701 Palisades Drive. Tickets are available for $25 at aodhan.eventbrite.com.