Paliskates will host a Fire Relief Skate Jam on Saturday, June 7, from 12 to 4 p.m. at Stoner Park, with professional and amateur skateboarders, vendors, food trucks, and more.
“There will be games of skate, best trick skate jams, autograph signings from special pros, and prizes ranging from cash to a week of Skate Camp,” according to event information.
Supported by dozens of entities, including Councilmember Traci Park, city of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, LA Strong Foundation and more, the event is being hosted to support the Swarthmore Avenue skate shop, which was destroyed in the Palisades fire.
“This is a support your local skate shop event,” event organizers said. “Giving the skaters and kids an opportunity to connect with each other, their shop, and the greater skate community. Top professional skaters and leading brands have stepped up in solidarity with Paliskates—the nation’s longest-running, female-owned skate shop—to help ensure its future. The presence of these notable pros will make for an unforgettable and inspiring experience for all in attendance.”
Other event organizers include Heidi Lemmon of Skate Park Association International and Cindy Whitehead, sports stylist and founder of Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word. Participating brands include etnies, New Balance, Vans, The Skatepark Project and more.
Stoner Park is located at 1835 Stoner Avenue. Sponsoring brands and organizations will have booths and tables set up for the event’s duration. The Skate Jam competition will take place between 1 and 3 p.m.
California Fire Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Wildfire Disaster Relief & Recovery Grant—a funding opportunity offering up to $25,000 for fire departments, firefighter associations, nonprofits and tribal organizations in Los Angeles, including Pacific Palisades.
“When wildfires strike, they leave behind not just physical destruction, but long-lasting impacts on families, first responders and local infrastructure,” according to a statement about the program. “This grant supports long-term wildfire recovery efforts, funding projects that strengthen community resilience, help rebuild critical services and ensure our firefighters are equipped for future emergencies.”
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, local fire departments and firefighter associations, and federally recognized tribes.
Funding priorities include community relief and recovery, recovery planning, public education and community outreach, first responder training, vegetation management and fuels reduction, and more.
“Established in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the California Fire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing emotional and financial support to fallen firefighters’ families, active fire personnel and the communities they protect,” according to a statement. “Programs include victim assistance, community preparedness and memorial projects honoring the fallen.”
Individuals are encouraged to apply here. There is no deadline to apply at this time.
Councilmember Traci Park is hosting “Venice Welcomes the Palisades” at Colony on Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where attendees are invited to “shop, support and rebuild together.”
“Join us at Colony in Venice for a powerful community benefit supporting Pacific Palisades residents and small businesses affected by the recent wildfires,” Park said ahead of the event.
The event will feature local stores, Blue Crush Artist, community charities, Palisades restaurants and Venice Paparazzi. There will also be a karate exhibition at 12 p.m. by Gerry Blanck.
Colony has two locations that house dozens of food options: Santa Monica and Venice.
“Colony Cooks provides fully-equipped commercial kitchens for food businesses, offering flexible solutions for delivery, pick-up and dine-in services,” read the company’s website. “Turn your culinary dreams into reality with our premium spaces.”
The Venice space includes Sweet Rose Creamery, Main Chick Hot Chicken, Culture Crush, King Taco and more.
Colony is located at 401 N. Lincoln Boulevard in Venice. Admission is free.
“Let’s show up, support our neighbors and stand together,” Colony wrote of the event.
Councilmember Traci Park and Team Palisades have partnered to present a lunch at Rustic Canyon Recreation Center on Thursday, June 5, from 12 to 2 p.m. to honor the “strength and spirit of our elders.”
“I’m proud to partner with Team Palisades to host a special lunch honoring the strength, spirit and lasting contributions of our elders,” Park wrote ahead of the event. “Their resilience has shaped this community—and continues to inspire us every single day. Hope to see you there.”
Those who attend are invited to bring their family to “enjoy some lunch, uplifting conversation and a beautiful afternoon in one of our most cherished parks.”
“Join Councilwoman Traci Park and Team Palisades for a heartfelt luncheon celebrating our community’s elders—especially those 65-plus—whose resilience continues to inspire us all,” the flyer read.
Those who wish to attend can RSVP to Palisades Field Deputy Arus Grigoryan or here.
Palisades Charter Elementary School Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Los Angeles Unified School District will host a series of design concept community meetings for the three charter school campuses that sustained damage in the Palisades fire.
“The purpose of these meetings is to introduce the architectural teams and begin the important dialogue on the future design concepts for each campus,” LAUSD Community Relations Director Lorena Padilla-Melendez said.
The Palisades Charter Elementary School meeting will take place Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. followed by Palisades Charter High School on Thursday, June 5, at 6 p.m. and Marquez Charter Elementary School on Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m.
The Pali Elementary meeting will take place in-person at Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet in the Multi Purpose Room, located at 740 South Gretna Green Way, and via Zoom. Its architectural firm is PRACTICE, which is “nationally recognized for its innovative, sustainable and community-centered design.”
For Pali High—whose architectural firm is DLR Group—the meeting will take place virtually via Zoom.
“For over 25 years, DLR Group has been a trusted partner to LAUSD, and has collaborated with schools and communities to create learning environments that are not only safe and sustainable, but truly transformational,” read information shared by LAUSD.
Marquez’ meeting will take place in person at Nora Sterry Elementary in the Multi Purpose Room, located at 1730 Corinth Avenue. It will also take place virtually via Zoom. The school’s architectural firm is NAC, a “national leader in K-12 educational design and architecture.”
Anna Fulop Sorotzkin, a 30-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on January 24 at age 92 with her beloved family by her side.
Anna (Panni) was born in Budapest, Hungary, on June 13, 1932. She narrowly survived the horrors of the Holocaust in Europe during World War II with her parents, Paul and Ilona, and her brother, Egon. She and her mother were saved by the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who miraculously pulled them from a line destined for extermination camps by vouching for them as Swedish citizens. They were able to survive until the end of the war in the ghetto in Budapest.
Anna and her family were forced to live under communism until the student-led Hungarian Revolution in 1956, when she heroically escaped across the border and ultimately to America to begin a new life. Through the utmost perseverance and hard work, Anna forged a path from Miami, to Detroit, and then to Penn State, where she completed a degree in horticulture. She eventually fulfilled her life-long dream to come to California, having secured a job at Burpee Seed Company in Santa Paula.
Anna met her husband, Joshua Sorotzkin, a new immigrant from Israel, who was working as a chemical engineer for Shell Chemical in Ventura. Josh volunteered with the Jewish Agency with a desire to help Jewish refugees and met Anna. The young immigrants were soon engaged. They married on the 8th of May to commemorate Victory Day in Europe, a symbol of the end of World War II.
Anna decided to pursue a teaching certificate, and she entered the field of education as a middle school teacher. As a civics lesson, Anna invited her students to attend her citizenship ceremony at the courthouse in Ventura. With a deep appreciation for their new homeland, Anna and Josh created a beautiful life in Ventura, rich with family and good friends.
After moving into their first new home, Anna and Josh soon welcomed their first daughter, followed by twin girls a year later. With Josh’s expertise needed at other Shell locations, the couple briefly relocated to Northern California, followed by a transfer to Houston for the next 15 years.
While raising their young family, Anna was a deeply involved mother, enjoying all of her children’s activities and interests. She also pursued her own advanced learning with a Master’s in Education, returning to teaching. She continued to be an active member in the synagogue, establishing and teaching various Jewish educational programs.
Following Josh’s retirement from Shell, the couple returned to their beloved California and resettled in Ventura to be close to Anna’s parents. They eventually moved to Pacific Palisades to be close to their daughters and grandchildren.
Anna taught science in the early years at Village School and actually started the school’s first science fair. She cultivated many deep friendships in the community, including the Chabad of Pacific Palisades, where she was honored with the Woman of Valor award.
After decades of not wanting to talk about her experiences during the Holocaust and her life under communism, Anna published her autobiography, “Panni’s Quest for Freedom,” as a family legacy and a tribute to the lives lost. She also hoped that her book would serve as a cautionary lesson of how crimes against humanity can unfold.
A private family burial was held in Ventura, California. Her family cherishes her memory, with her husband, Josh Sorotzkin (z”l) preceding her in death; daughters Ruth (Bert) Sorotzkin Mandelbaum, Aliza (Ira) Astrachan and Dalia Sorotzkin; her grandchildren, Rachel (Landon), Jordan and Ava Mandelbaum, Talia and Arielle Attia; and her great-grandchildren, Aaron and Miles Polakof.
Anna’s legacy is one of a heroic and indomitable spirit, a pride in her Jewish heritage, a deep gratitude for America, and a charming wit. She will be remembered as a gardener extraordinaire, an avid reader, a connoisseur of classical music and operas, a wondrous baker of delectable pastries, and above all, a profound love for her family.
The names and pictures of Anna’s relatives who perished in the Holocaust are listed at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel, and at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C. Anna’s testimonial can be accessed through the Shoah Foundation’s website.
Two Disaster Recovery Centers—which have been in operation since after the start of the Palisades and Eaton fires—are set to wind down operations on Saturday, May 31.
“Final day to visit Disaster Recovery Centers is Saturday, May 31,” read the LA County Recovers website.
The two DRCs that will be closing are at UCLA Research Park West, located at 10850 West Pico Boulevard, and in Altadena at 540 W. Woodbury Road.
“FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are temporary offices set up after a disaster to provide support to impacted areas and communities,” read the FEMA website. “These offices may assist with the application process, answer questions about your application and help you submit information to FEMA. You may also visit other disaster support partners (Small Business Administration, the Red Cross, etc.) at a DRC.”
LA County departments that are available on-site until the closure include the Assessor’s Office, Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health – Environmental Services, Department of Public Works (Environmental Programs/Municipal Services and Flood Control), Department of Registrar-Recovery/County Clerk, and Department of Treasury Tax Collector.
Also on site are federal agencies, including Federal Emergency Management Agency, Small Business Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Contractors, residents, business owners and employees who have needed to obtain access passes to enter the Palisades have been able to do so at the UCLA Research Park West DRC Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Once the DRC closes, the access passes will be available starting June 2 at a location determined by the city.
The DRCs are open to the public Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Following the closure of the DRCs, “those impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires can continue to receive essential services beginning Monday, June 2” at the One-Stop Rebuilding Center (1828 Sawtelle Boulevard) and Altadena Community Center (730 E. Altadena Drive).
“Come join us for a heartfelt afternoon of art, music and community as we raise money for our Palisades community and honor the cherished objects lost in the fires,” read the event website. “There will be a communal art exhibit, music, nostalgic Palisades lore, dancing, drinks and a whole lot of love. Whether you’re here to reconnect, support or just hang, you’re in the right place.”
All ticket sales and donations from the “grassroots fire fundraiser” and “communal art show,” organized by Kristen Goldberg, Liz Madden and Josie Washburn, will go toward Together Palisades, which Goldberg described as a “community-led initiative dedicated to rebuilding” places like small businesses, parks, gathering spaces and others.
“While the fires may have happened months ago, the need for support and rebuilding is very much ongoing—and this event is a beautiful example of how our neighbors are continuing to show up for each other,” Goldberg wrote. “Through our art show, we’re creating space to transform our collective grief into something connective and healing. We’re also spotlighting local businesses like the Sunset Smash burger truck and Paliskates, whose presence helps weave the fabric of our community back together.”
“Objects of Affection” pieces are designed to explore the “emotional, spiritual and sentimental” weight that is placed on objects.
“In the wake of loss, losing these objects can feel like losing a piece of ourselves,” read the website. “It can even feel irretrievable … until however, we remember art.”
Ahead of the event, people were invited to choose an object that holds “deep personal significance” to them—whether that was an item that they still have, was lost or only exists in memory.
“Express this object and its meaning in any medium that speaks to you—painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, poetry, mixed media, an … iPhone photo that you framed, an audio excerpt of you talking about your item or something else entirely,” read the website. “You may choose to depict the object as it was, as it is now, or as something transformed by memory and feeling. You may even choose to abstract its essence into colors, textures and shapes. The options are endless, and we welcome them all.”
The June 1 event will take place at 3376 Robertson Place in Los Angeles. Tickets to attend start at $35.
The Evening Will Also Serve as a Gallery Opening for Kelly Sena’s “For the Wild”
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association and The Canyon Alliance will host its annual meeting, along with a party, at Canyon Square on Saturday, May 31, from 4 to 7 p.m.
The evening will feature a “Canyon Square party,” with food, a DJ and SMCCA’s annual meeting.
“By having the brief meeting as a portion of a party, residents can meet their representatives while also enjoying a festive get-together with their broader community,” read information from the organization. “Election of the new board will be held online the week before the May 31 event. Another item on the ballot will be a proposed name change to The Canyon Alliance from Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association.”
The Canyon Alliance is a “2025 post-fire/food initiative of SMCCA,” which is a “neighborhood association” founded in 1947 that represents “the general Santa Monica Canyon area.”
“The change is aimed at resolving long-standing confusion about the Canyon’s geographic identity,” read information from The Canyon Alliance. “Despite the name, the Canyon is located within the city of Los Angeles, not Santa Monica—a misunderstanding that became especially problematic during recent emergencies. The proposed new name also reflects the organization’s role as a unified voice for both Rustic and Santa Monica Canyons, and it underscores the importance of collaboration among the area’s five distinct neighborhoods.”
Courtesy of Gallery 166/Kelly Sena
The May 31 evening will also feature a gallery opening from 5 to 8 p.m. of Kelly Sena’s “For the Wild,” which is described as a “collaborative photographic project with seven imprisoned environmental activists.”
In 2006, Sena wrote to the “incarcerated activists,” asking “where are the places you travel to inside your mind’s eye?” and offered to take photos of the places, beginning a “long collaborative project” that spanned from the Pacific Northwest to the Arizona desert, South Dakota Badlands and Atlantic Ocean.
“As a photographer, I sometimes secretly yearn to feel liberated from everything I know about the history of art and photography,” Sena wrote in a statement. “I want to be reckless and make beautiful photographs that celebrate nature. Instead, I work toward resuscitating a clichéd genre—nature photography—while acknowledging that nature and politics will always be inextricably bound together.”
“For the Wild” will be on display at Gallery 169, located at 169 W. Channel Road, through the end of summer.
A sample portrait Photo courtesy of The Vanity Portrait Studio
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The Vanity Portrait Studio is offering free family photo portrait sessions to those affected by the Los Angeles fires and first responders on May 31 and June 1 at LA Convention Center.
“In partnership with LA Tourism, the LA Convention Center and the City Tourism Department, The Vanity Portrait Studio is offering free family portrait sessions to those affected by the LA wildfires,” read information about the event. “With space to welcome hundreds of individuals, families and loved ones, this event is a tribute to healing, love and the resilience of our incredible community. Each 10-minute session includes professional posing, on-site editing and same-day black-and-white prints, plus digital copies.”
The sessions are open to those “directly impacted by the LA wildfires,” as well as “first responders who bravely served.”
“We are a team of California photographers, and we wish to share our gift of portraiture with you as a small gesture of support,” read the event website.
Sessions will take place on May 31 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and June 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at LA Convention Center, Concourse Hall, located at 1201 S Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. Free parking will be provided, with a pass emailed the day before the event.
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1932 – 2025
