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‘Jimmy Dunne Says’

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Photo courtesy of Jimmy Dunne

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.”

Words on the Flagpole

Something so wonderful happened at our park—at Veterans Gardens early Saturday morning.

With the birds still whistling their songs, four sweet pea girls from the Huskies Patrol of Troop 223 showed up with buckets of soap and scrub brushes.

They came to clean all the picnic tables and benches.

They looked at some of the words circling the base of the flagpole …

Words that, in the early morning, shine out onto the walkway around the pole.

Family. Dreams. Integrity. Courage.

Heart. Freedom. Hope. Humanity.

For just a moment, they realized they weren’t just scrubbing for their “Huskies Patrol” credit.

They were scrubbing those tables as their way of saying “thank you” to veterans from our very own town—who once lived on our very own streets.

Veterans.

We talked about how that word makes ’em sound so old.

How many were 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds. How many were only a handful of years older than they are.

And how many died in wars—all alone, frightened, 1,000 miles from their family—for those words.

Those words.

And how those very same words define what makes our town …

A town.

———

Those words somehow, some way, in our town, generation after generation, continue to be those things that make us us.

A town where we’re connected and bound in a tapestry to each other in many, many wonderful ways.

———

The girls got to work.

Scrubbed out a lot of dirt. Gunk that had built up. It sure looked better when they finished.

And they felt better.

And we all felt better, sitting at those clean tables. The tables even smelled fresh. Made us feel fresh.

———

I felt like the girls, these eighth-grade girls, grew up, just a little bit that morning.

Thinking about those veterans.

Thinking about what scrubbing those tables meant.

Maybe we’ll do the same.

Maybe we’ll be growing up just a little bit.

Thinking about our responsibilities. To our kids and their kids.

To the future of our country. To the future of our planet.

And maybe we’ll think about those words.

Those beautiful words that flow from our flagpole onto the ground.

Those beautiful, beautiful words.

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. To learn more or visit a Scout Troop 223 meeting, contact Greg Frost at frostfamily@frostinvestigations.com (boys) or Scoutmaster Larry Kirven at lkirven@gmail.com (girls).

 

Crime Report

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Burglary

200 Pintoresca Drive, October 17 at 1:19 a.m. Suspect entered side sliding door. Suspect drank a soda from refrigerator. Suspect found sleeping in living room and taken into custody by officers.

400 Mesa Road, October 17 at 5:30 p.m. Suspects used unknown tool to enter residence and took victim’s jewelry valued at $35,000.

700 Via De La Paz, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. Suspects climbed up to second-story balcony. Suspects smashed patio door, entered, ransacked, and removed jewelry, designer handbags and money valued at $300,000.

1200 Chautauqua Boulevard, October 20 at 6:20 p.m. Suspects smashed rear window, entered, ransacked, and removed jewelry and designer handbags valued at $45,400.

13700 Brinkley Avenue, October 23 at 4:30 p.m. Suspects smashed rear door, ransacked, and removed jewelry and designer handbags valued at $14,000.

200 Mabery Road, October 26 at 5 p.m. Suspects shattered rear glass door, entered, ransacked and removed property. Victim was not at scene and officers were unable to determine what type of property was taken.

17000 Livorno Drive, October 29 at 12:40 p.m. Suspects smashed rear glass door, entered, ransacked and removed jewelry valued at $54,500. Suspects repositioned the victim’s surveillance cameras during the burglary.

Hot Prowl

1200 Las Lomas Avenue, October 22 at 2:30 a.m. Suspect entered victim’s garage (attached to residence). Suspect took victim’s keys, walked out of garage and took victim’s vehicle.

Provided by LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin. In case of emergency, call 911. To report a non-emergency, call 877-275-5273.

Palisades Neighborhood News

By
the Palisadian-Post
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‘The Outsiders’ | Pali High

Performances of “The Outsiders” will continue at Palisades Charter High School from Thursday, November 14, to Saturday, November 16.

The show, which opened as the school’s fall play on Thursday, November 7, is adapted by Christopher Sergel from the S.E. Hinton book.

“The story deals with real people, seen through the eyes of young Ponyboy, a Greaser on the wrong side of life, caught up in territorial battles between the have-it-made rich kids—the Socs—and his tough, underprivileged ‘greaser’ family and friends,” read a synopsis. “While the Socs appear to have everything, the only thing a Greaser has is his friends. This is a play about young people who are not yet hopeless about latent decency in the midst of struggle.”

Performances will take November 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. in Mercer Hall. Tickets are available for $10 for students and $17 for general admission at gofan.co/app/school/CA18976. A VIP preferred seating ticket is available for $25.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Bodega Rack Winter Clothing Drive | The Village

Pacific Palisades Friends & Newcomers Community Engagement Committee has partnered with BOCA to host a winter clothing drive on November 16 and 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Gently used winter clothing, including sweaters, jackets, coats, sweatshirts, hoodies and jeans, will be accepted to will support the Santa Monica College Bodega Rack GIVING THANKS(giving) clothing drive.

“Every donation goes directly to SMC Bodega Rack, providing students free access to a collection of curated, gently used clothing to support their personal and professional needs,” read information provided by Friends & Newcomers. “Your generosity directly translates into degrees, careers and dreams achieved.”

Friends of the Bodega Rack will be at BOCA, located at 970 Monument Street, to help with donations. Donations were also accepted on November 9 at Laya on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.    

—SARAH SHMERLING

PPAA Juried Art Show | Palisades Branch Library

Pacific Palisades Art Association will host a Juried Art Show at Palisades Branch Library on Saturday, November 16.

“All forms of art are welcome to participate,” according to PPAA.

There is a $10 fee for each piece of artwork submitted, with a maximum of three artworks per artist.

The day will kick-off at 9:30 a.m., and artwork drop-offs will take place until 10:30 a.m. A reception will be held at 1:30 p.m., followed by an awards presentation at 2 p.m. The event will wrap up at 3 p.m.

For more information, contact palisadesart@gmail.com.

—LILY TINOCO

Holiday Toy Drive | The Village

Unwrapped toys for children, gift cards for teens and nonperishable food items for families will be collected at Coldwell Banker Realty Pacific Palisades by WISH Academy High School junior Joseph Hood.

“I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to share with you my service learning project, partnering WISH Academy High School with Deaf Latinos y Familias for their annual holiday event,” Hood said. “DLyF is a nonprofit organization serving deaf, hard of hearing and special needs children in the Los Angeles area … WISH offers American Sign Language as a foreign language option, and I am currently a third year Honors ASL student.”

Hood will pick up donated items on December 13 to bring to the school’s holiday event on Saturday, December 14.      

—SARAH SHMERLING

Introduction to CA Native Plants | Palisades Branch Library

UC Master Gardener Emi Carvell will host an introduction to California native plants at Palisades Branch Library on Saturday, November 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“Unlike Emi’s usual programs, this will not be hands on,” read an event description. “Emi will be joined by two other Master Gardeners who will share their expertise with you and show slides of the different native plants.”

RSVPs can be made by emailing palsds@lapl.org or by stopping by the Reference Desk.      

—SARAH SHMERLING

Westside Ballet to Present ‘The Nutcracker’

By
Lily Tinoco
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The Palisades dancers
Photo by Sarah Madison

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s holiday-time performances of “The Nutcracker” will return to the stage this year with several Palisadian dancers—marking 51 years of the production.

“For generations, so many people have considered our annual ‘Nutcracker’ performances the start of the holiday season,” Artistic Director Martine Harley said in a statement. “2024’s production will be truly world-class. The Westside Ballet has enjoyed a huge resurgence since 2020, and it feels fantastic to be back out, supporting the greater Santa Monica community with internationally renowned stars, a live symphony orchestra and stunning new set designs. Topping last year’s 50th-anniversary production is a major challenge, yet we believe we’ve done just that.”

Set to the score of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, led by The Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra, this year’s production includes newly enhanced backdrops and scenic elements that capture the “timeless elegance” of the holiday classic, according to the statement.

“Designed by Ian Lovell, the updated snow and portal scenes transport the audience into a whimsical world, from a grand Victorian party to the magical Land of the Sweets, where classic characters like the Peppermint Candies and Marzipan Mirlitons come to life,” it continued.

Westside Ballet alumna Tiler Peck is set to return to the stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy, joined by Roman Mejia as her Cavalier.

Photo by Anne Slattery

This year’s show will feature over 125 dancers—as well as a number of Palisadians, including Mila Bakhshandehpour, Clara Ditter, Valentina Finci, Izzy Heidt, Inès Macpherson, Imogen Marble, Carlin McCaffrey, Zoe Nakamura, Laurel O’Donnell, Addison Russell, Kaia Sappington and Olivia Yu.

“Dance has become such a pivotal part of my life and I can’t really see a future without it,” said Bakhshandehpour, a sophomore at Marlborough School. “Ballet has truly helped me grow and develop into the person I am today, and learn so much more about myself, my ability to persevere, grow and improve both as a person and a dancer. It would genuinely be such a dream come true for me to dance professionally in a company, but I am just excited to see what will come as I can envision myself following numerous paths in the future.”

Westside Ballet’s late Co-Founder Yvonne Mounsey first brought “The Nutcracker” to Los Angeles in 1973, adding her own choreography—today, the company’s rendition of the ballet is Southern California’s longest-running production.

From 1973 to 2011, Mounsey oversaw Westside Ballet’s annual performances of the show, teaching dancers the same choreography and techniques she learned directly from George Balanchine. The show is a close rendition of Balanchine’s classical ballet, which was an homage to the original story—first danced in 19th century Russia.

Tickets to the show are $65. Show times are Saturday, November 30, at 1 and 5 p.m.; Sunday, December 1, at 1 and 5 p.m.; Friday, December 6, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 7, at 1 and 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, at 1 and 5 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit westsideballet.com/nuttix or call 800-595-4849.

‘Private Eyes’ Opens at Pierson Playhouse

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Theatre Palisades

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Theatre Palisades season continues with “Private Eyes” by Steven Dietz, which opened at Pierson Playhouse on Friday evening, November 8.

“Matthew believes his wife, Lisa, is having an affair with Adrian,” read a synopsis provided by Theatre Palisades. “Or is he just imagining it? Or is it actually a play they are rehearsing? Or is it something to keep his therapist entertained? The twists and turns keep coming, as the audience is left to determine what is actually true in this self-styled ‘relationship thriller’?”

The show is directed by Michael Keith Allen, with Maria Pavone as assistant director. It is produced by Sherman Wayne and Martha Hunter.

A five-member cast includes Richard Conolly in the role of Adrian, Erin Galloway as Matthew, Cara Kluver as Lisa, Nikki Marie as Cory and Richard Osborn as Frank.

“‘Private Eyes’ is a comedy of suspicion in which nothing is ever quite what it seems,” read the synopsis.

Performances will run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m., through December 15.

All shows take place at Pierson Playhouse, located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Tickets are $22 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors.

Additional information can be found at theatrepalisades.org.

Our Town

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

Several Palisadians were honored at the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala, which took place on October 5 at The Event Deck at LA Live, with Courage to Care Awards, including Chuck Lorre, and Bernadette and Sugar Ray Leonard. The award is given to those who “demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to children, pediatric-related causes and humanitarian efforts at CHLA and beyond.”

It was announced during the event that Lorre made a “transformational gift” to create the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute, which “will build comprehensive education and training opportunities across CHLA.”

Palisadian Jamie Lee Curtis, a longtime supporter and advocate of CHLA, paid tribute to the event’s Mission Ambassadors, CHLA nurses, for “their unwavering commitment and compassion to caring for children in need.”

Pictured, from left: Colin Hanks, Paul Viviano, Curtis, Ella Nelson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pierce Kelly, Martha Saucedo, Lorre, Ellen K., Lisa Joyner and Jon Cryer

Photo courtesy of Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

In October, mBIOTA Elemental and its founder Krystyna Houser hosted an event in The Huntington “dedicated to gut health.” The afternoon included a Good LFE Lunch cooked by chef Emily Ruybal, a talk by Houser, and an “Ask Me Anything” Q&A panel with experts from Cedars Sinai and medical advisors from mBIOTA.

The lunch highlighted dishes from Houser’s “Good LFE” cookbook, which is curated to be “SIBO- and IBS-friendly.”

“Developed by mBIOTA Labs in partnership with leading gastroenterologists and innovative food scientists, mBIOTA Elemental is a highly palatable and clinically proven medical drink formula for the dietary management of GI dysfunction, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis,” read information provided.

Photos courtesy of Avery Smith

Palisadian Jacqueline Jacobs Caster, founder of Everychild Foundation, received the Wellnest Impact Award at its Centennial Celebration gala at the end of September at Skirball Cultural Center.

Photo courtesy of Marisol Barrios Perez

The foundation was established by Caster in 2000 with a goal of “easing the suffering of children in the Greater Los Angeles area, whether due to disease, disability, abuse, neglect or poverty.” Today, the foundation is comprised of more than 200 women who contribute $6,000 annually to form a $1 million grant to support “innovative, replicable projects addressing the critical needs of children.”

“Renowned for its innovative philanthropic approach to raising funds in the community, Everychild Foundation has caused a ripple effect in the community with its success in leveraging its grants,” said Wellnest President and CEO Charlene Dimas-Peinado. “As a beneficiary of its targeted community grants, Wellnest has been able to expand our programs within the communities we serve and enabling us to have an even greater impact on the children and families who need us the most.”

Golden Hour in Hamburg

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Photo courtesy of David Grinsfelder

By DAVID GRINSFELDER | Contributing Writer

Sometimes, romance strikes when you least expect it.

One minute you’re scrolling through the endless dating app buffet, watching your hands wander from one profile to the next. And then, all of a sudden, a photo stops you in your tracks.

Maybe it’s the brilliant smile. Or perhaps it’s the mythical late afternoon lighting that captivates the eyes and soul on the screen.

Whatever the case, it was a sunny Tuesday morning in Hamburg, Germany, when I saw her. Having just arrived in the city for an extended two-week business trip, I didn’t know a soul in the city. Although I would normally prefer to meet people organically in the wild, I knew that two weeks would fly by, so I opted to expedite things by downloading Hinge.

After a few minutes spent setting up a profile, I stopped aimlessly swiping left and snapped to attention on her profile. It was like a part of me knew that nobody else would compare. I’d found the one, even if it was only for the next two weeks that I was scheduled to stay in Hamburg.

If you are a reader over the age of 40, this whole scenario might sound confusing, implausible and somewhat comical. Can you really know that you’ll connect with someone just by looking at a single photo of them on a dating app?

I had my doubts. After all, I’d sensed a tantalizing chemistry on Hinge a few times before, only to find out that in person, our connection barely lasted past the appetizers.

Using dating apps is a statistical gamble. You’re playing the odds—and they’re not great.

Does it dramatically expand your “reach?” Yes. Does it make for a fun afternoon with a few friends, reviewing the people who have “liked” you and wondering what a first date at a cute wine bar might be like with them? Absolutely.

But I’ve realized that it’s basically impossible to try and judge a book by its cover. Getting a sense of a person’s essence through six photos and a few clever prompts is like asking someone to describe the sights and sounds of Paris without ever having been there.

Whatever my reservations (or perhaps because of them), I decided to reach out to this stranger. In German (with a little help from Google Translate), I suggested over text that she and I meet for pizza and a drink in a busy area on the shore of the Alster, a lake popular with locals and tourists alike. She agreed, and I set off for Zara to pick up a decent outfit before our date later that evening.

Forty-seven Euros and a new pair of pants later, I strolled into Casa Nova Bistrorante, my eyes scanning for the woman resembling my date. Would she look like her photos? Would she even show up? All these questions raced through my mind until my eyes landed on a beautiful, red sundress at the counter.

As I strolled up beside her and introduced myself, she flashed a perfect smile that could earn a living in Crest toothpaste commercials. And when we finally sat down on a park bench overlooking the Alster, I barely had a moment to eat the pizza we’d ordered. The conversation flowed as fast as my limited German could carry it.

She was so engaging and had such a zest for life that I didn’t want to mess with our obvious chemistry by stuffing my mouth full of food. With the sun setting over the chestnut trees and illuminating her in golden light, I quietly took a mental picture to capture the moment.

That evening by the Alster would turn into a whirlwind, two-week adventure (during which my German would improve dramatically). Instead of pacing ourselves to avoid the inevitable sadness that would come with my departure, we saw each other almost every day.

Her German proclivity for long walks and bike rides boded well for my slightly more American predisposition to spontaneity. A sunset run around the Alster (her suggestion) ended with a romantic jump into the lake itself (my suggestion).

We both knew it was a fleeting moment in time. But in a decision that would make Shakespeare proud, we decided it was better to experience something worth losing, than to never experience it at all.

Will we ever see each other again? I hope so. Part of the beauty of life, however, is its serendipity.

When I arrived in Hamburg, I had no expectation of charging headlong into a fortnight fling. But by keeping an open mind about dating apps and being just adventurous enough to take on the language barrier, I stumbled into something wonderful.

David Grinsfelder is a graduate of Palisades Charter High School (2015) and UC Berkeley (2019). He currently lives in New York and is writing a series of travel stories for the Palisadian-Post. The Grinsfelders have been Highlands residents since 1989.

Phoenix Patrol: Career Trip

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Photo courtesy of Ella Sarn

By ELLA SARN | Contributing Writer

I’ve had the pleasure of being part of this scout troop for four years, and my experiences have only deepened my love for scouting. As the current Patrol Leader of the Phoenix Patrol, I’m proud to share details from our recent career trip, which took place on October 28.

On that day, the Phoenix Patrol met at St. Matthew’s Parish School at 5:45 p.m. where we had the opportunity to meet with Machelle, a sales manager from Cold Open. This meeting was particularly valuable for us, as we’re currently working on earning our Salesmanship Merit Badge. Machelle’s expertise was incredibly insightful, and our scouts asked thought-provoking questions, fully engaging throughout the discussion.

We were fortunate to have two amazing ASMs, John Peed and Paullie, join us for this experience, though we missed a scout, who couldn’t attend due to illness.

This interaction gave us more than just salesmanship skills—it offered a window into how individuals in different roles experience and shape the world around them. Learning about the resources that support comfort and accessibility underscored the varying levels of privilege in society, including fundamental aspects like mobility.

Opportunities like this broaden our understanding of our responsibility in building a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone.

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon Receives Architectural Award

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of LABC

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon was honored during the 54th annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards, hosted by LA Business Council.

The park received the Chairman’s Award, with City of Los Angeles as the landscape architect, Marrs Services Inc. as the architect of record, Ford E.C. Inc. as the contractor, and city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks as the building owner and developer.

“Potrero Canyon spans 46 acres of steep slopes along the coastline of the Pacific Palisades,” read a statement from LABC. “To stabilize Potrero Canyon’s unstable slopes and prevent landslides, the team buttressed infill at a 2:1 slope and simultaneously restored a natural habitat. A new drainage system was installed with natural tan colored terrace drains as well as a pump station and storm drain that control water in canyon.”

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon officially opened on Saturday, December 10, 2022, with a celebration attended by local officials, community members and the Wolfberg family.

It features riparian landscaping, scenic ocean views, as well as fences and gates to ensure adherence to park hours, which is sunrise to sundown.

The City of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners voted during a meeting in January 2021 to approve the naming of the park in honor of late community member and activist George Wolfberg.

Wolfberg, who died in February 2020, was chair of the Potrero Canyon Community Advisory Committee, which was formed to help the city manage the design of the project.

The final speaker during the one-hour program in December 2022 was Wolfberg’s nephew, Andrew.

“Uncle George would be honored to have this park named after him, but would take great pride knowing that people were inspired by his volunteering and decide to become volunteers themselves,” Andrew shared. “If you feel inspired to volunteer to help your community, get off the sidelines, do something. Please find an organization that can use your help and your time, tell them that Uncle George sent you.”

The Chairman’s Award presentation was delivered by Marie Lloyd, Amazon and LABC Chair David Nahai. Other projects in the category included Port of Los Angeles Wilmington Waterfront Promenade and Wishing Tree Park.

“Winning projects were selected from a pool of hundreds of submissions in design categories ranging from adaptive reuse to landscape architecture,” a representative said.

The gala, which took place at Beverly Hilton hotel, was co-chaired by Nadine Watt, Watt Capital Partners & Lexi Barry, and Gensler.

The annual awards are designed to be a “celebration of projects that embrace innovative design standards to enhance the way we live in Los Angeles.”

“Congratulations to this year’s winning teams and projects,” read the statement.

Finding Her Name

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Tawnya Warren

After nearly three decades of designing, Tawnya Warren has a new name for her Sunset Boulevard business.

Warren has transitioned the space to being called tawnya from its previous iteration, Blueview ATELIER.

“It feels fresh in the shop with all the rebranding ribbon, bags, signage, stickers, new jewelry and clothing in this amazing silk cashmere material,” Warren wrote.

The shop is at 15117 Sunset Boulevard.

—SARAH SHMERLING

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