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Calendar of Events: Things to Do in and Around Pacific Palisades this Fall

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Jessica Vosk
Photo courtesy of Pepperdine

‘tick, tick… BOOM!’

Theatre Palisades will present “tick, tick… BOOM!”—with book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, the creator of “Rent”—at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road, through October 13. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. with tickets priced at $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and students.

theatrepalisades.org

‘Memnon’

Getty Villa Museum and Classical Theatre of Harlem will present “Memnon” for the 18th annual Villa Outdoor Classical Theater production through September 28. Performances take place at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $55.

getty.edu

Block Party

Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association will host its annual Block Party along Marquez Avenue, highlighting businesses and celebrating the community, on Saturday, September 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

palibu.org

Barbershop Harmony Ice Cream Social

An afternoon of “musical delights and fine frozen confections,” presented by The Oceanaires at Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Boulevard, on Saturday, September 14, between 2 and 4 p.m. for a suggested donation of $25.

evntn.co/e/VgOxL9DJ

Family Storytime

Palisades Branch Library will host Family Storytime with “stories, fingerplays and rhymes” for children ages 3 and up on Thursday, September 19, at 4 p.m. at 861 Alma Real Drive.

lapl.org

Jessica Vosk

A singer and actress known for roles on the musical theater and concert stage, Jessica Vosk will perform at Pepperdine’s Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, on Thursday, September 19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $50.

arts.pepperdine.edu

Beach Clean Up

Kehillat Israel will host its annual Tikkun Olam Beach Clean Up Day on Saturday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Temescal Canyon Park.

ourki.org

An Afternoon Concert

Chamber Music Palisades will begin its 28th season with a free community concert on Sunday, September 22, at 3 p.m. at Pacific Palisades United Methodist Church, 801 Via De La Paz.

cmpalisades.org

Hands-Only CPR

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will provide drop-in, hands-only CPR training between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. at Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real Drive, on Wednesday, September 25.

lapl.org

Season Opener

The 40th Anniversary Season of St. Matthew’s Music Guild will begin on Friday, September 27, at 8 p.m. with a concert featuring Jan Berry Baker (saxophone) at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. Tickets are $45 or available as part of a season subscription.

musicguildonline.org

Yee Haw Fall Festival

Palisades Charter Elementary School will host its annual Yee Haw Fall Festival fundraiser on Saturday, September 28, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the school, 800 Via De La Paz.

yeehawpali.com

‘Twilight’

Street Food Cinema will present a showing of “Twilight” at Will Rogers State Historic Park, 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road, on Saturday, September 28, with doors at 5:30 p.m. and the film beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $32.

streetfoodcinema.com

Mythical Creature Mask Making: Family Workshop

Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, will host a drop-in workshop on Saturday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to “explore the art of ancient Greek theater masks.”

getty.edu

Spooktacular

Palisades Recreation Center will host its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Sunday, October 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. at 851 Alma Real Drive.

laparks.org

‘Tribute to Joel Lish’

Palisades Symphony will host a “Tribute to Joel Lish”—the late founder of the symphony—with Music Director Maxim Kuzin on Sunday, October 27 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

palisadessymphony.org

Rising Stars

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Photos by Steve Galluzzo

Palisadian-Post Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo Highlights Star Student Athletes to Watch Out for this Year

Alexandra & Kingsley Wolf

In July, sisters Alexandra and Kingsley Wolf paired up to win the silver ball in the 16-and-under doubles division at the USTA Clay Court Nationals in Huntsville, Alabama. Seeded fourth in a draw of 128 teams, they upset the top-seeded duo in the semifinals before falling to the No. 2-seeded tandem in the final to take second place. Alexandra, or Lexi, is a junior while Kingsley, or Kiki, is a freshman at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. They live in the Riviera, trained for many years at Palisades Tennis Center and graduated from Corpus Christi. Lexi has moved up to the 18s division while Kiki remains in the 16s.

Lars Refnes

In May, Lars Refnes made it clear he is one of the most gifted young baseball prospects in the Palisades after he led Pali Blue to the Westside Interlock Pony Division championship at the Field of Dreams. He struck out 16 batters in a three-hit shutout victory over Pali Black in the final. That came after his 13-strikeout performance in five no-hit innings in the semifinals. Refnes’ combined 29 strikeouts in 12 postseason innings will go down as one of the finest pitching performances in PPBA history. He was one of the standouts at Pali High baseball tryouts and will play for the Dolphins in the spring.

Braun Levi & Cooper Schwartz

Tennis buddies Braun Levi and Cooper Schwartz enter their senior year at Loyola High School with great expectations after joining forces to become one of the top doubles duos in the CIF Southern Section, as evidenced by their run to the quarterfinals of the Ojai Tournament in April. Schwartz lives in the Riviera and transferred from Brentwood to Loyola before his sophomore year. Levi lives a few doors down from St. Matthew’s and attended Corpus Christi School before becoming a Cub. They played with different partners as sophomores but upon uniting last season, they won the Mission League doubles title.

Lauren Song

Now an eighth-grader at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, Lauren Song is one of the best golfers in her age group in Southern California. In May, she played on the school’s coed team that won the Delphic League boys championship at Sinaloa Golf Course in Simi Valley. Song carded a 4-over  31
for fifth overall. As a sixth-grader, she shot 3 over to finish in a three-way tie for third at league finals on the same course. Song’s older sister Anna is a senior at Palisades Charter High School and has won back-to-back City individual championships.

Amelia Sarkisian

After a stellar freshman year at Brentwood School, distance runner Amelia Sarkisian sits poised for a breakout sophomore campaign, having won the Gold Coast League cross country championship last fall while earning the girls Most Valuable Award and qualifying for the CIF state meet. In the spring she won her heat in the 800 meters in 2:32.25 and lapped several of her competitors on her way to first place in the 3,200 meters in 12:06.36 at the league track prelims. Then, in the finals, Sarkisian completed the sweep of the distance races by winning the 800-meter run by over one second in 2:39.34 and winning the 1,600 meters by almost 11 seconds in 5:30.07. Raised in the Alphabet Streets with athletic siblings, she used to play basketball at the Rec Center.

Mitchell Majors

Fourteen-year-old Mitchell Majors won his age group and placed third overall in 2024 the Palisades Will Rogers 10K on the Fourth of July, clocking 36:07. He also ran the Turkey Trot 10K in November, placing 13th overall and second in the male 13-16 age category in 40:31. Majors went to Marquez Charter Elementary School and recently graduated from Revere, where he broke a long-standing school mark in the “Sub Six Mile” by clocking 4:41. He is attending Viewpoint School in Calabasas this fall, where he will run cross country and track. He also competed in his first two half marathons this year: Surf City USA (taking second in the 1-14 male age group in 1:28:34) and Santa Barbara Wine Country (finishing first in the 1-19 division and 11th overall in 1:24:55).

Sloane Le Chang & Charlie Albores

As members of the Santa Monica Girls Fastpitch 12U Gold All-Star team this summer, Palisadians Sloane Le Chang and Charlie Albores helped their squad finish fifth out of 31 teams at the Western Nationals in Salem, Oregon—one of the highest finishes of any team in any age division in league history. Chang resides in the Highlands and is entering eighth grade at Calvary Christian School. She started in center field and was one of the team’s best hitters. She will age up to the 14Us next summer. Albores, who lives near The Village and is beginning seventh grade at Revere, was the starting second baseman and incredibly did not commit an error in 32 fielding chances at Nationals. She will remain in the 12U age group next summer.

Will Horowitz

Village School graduate Will Horowitz scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Suns to a 45-21 victory over the Grizzlies in the finals of Palisades Recreation Center’s Coed Major Division basketball championship in June, then he stepped back onto the court in the large gym to play with his older brother Jake for the Celtics in the Junior Division final. Horowitz has won two Pali Rec Center Major hoops titles and is starting seventh grade at Windward School this fall.

Zoey Morris

As a ninth-grader at Pali High, Zoey Morris pulled off a surprising upset in the City cross country Finals at Pierce College last fall, winning the three-mile Division I race by 13 seconds in a personal-best 17:41. In the spring, she captured the City 3,200 meters in 11:19.93 and was third in the 1,600. She will try to defend her cross country title while leading the Dolphins to the team championship in November.

Waldorf Education: Nurturing Children to Become Confident, Passionate Adults

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Photo courtesy of Westside Walfdorf

In today’s rapidly changing world, children need more than just academic knowledge to thrive; they need emotional resilience, creativity and a deep sense of self.

Waldorf education stands out as a beacon of hope for parents seeking a holistic approach to their child’s early development. Unlike conventional education, Waldorf nurtures the whole child—mind, body and spirit—offering a well-rounded foundation that prepares children not just for school and tests, but for life.

At Waldorf we believe that the role of school is about nurturing each child’s innate passions, curiosity and joy. Through activities like storytelling, art and outdoor play, our school fosters deep emotional connections and encourages a genuine love of learning. This approach helps children develop empathy, self-awareness and the ability to think critically.

Waldorf schools are screen-free environments. This allows children to fully immerse themselves in the richness of real-world experiences, developing their imagination and social skills without the distractions of digital media.

For parents of infants, toddlers and kindergarteners, Waldorf offers a nurturing space where your child’s uniqueness is honored and their natural curiosity is celebrated. In a society that often prioritizes conformity, Waldorf education provides a path to developing confident, whole-hearted individuals ready to make a positive impact on the world.

Learn more at westsidewaldorf.org, and book a tour of our Palisades and Santa Monica campuses.

The Willows Community School Celebrates 30th Anniversary

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Photo courtesy of The Willows

In September 1994, The Willows Community School opened its doors to 93 students on a single building campus in Culver City’s Hayden Tract. Now, three decades later, The Willows campus extends across four acres with five buildings and educates 480 students annually.

In honor of this milestone year, the Willows begins a yearlong celebration commemorating its balanced progressive educational program and distinctive contributions to Los Angeles as a center for learning, innovation and creative thought.

We reaffirm our commitment to challenge, inspire and nurture our students to succeed as leaders, citizens and lifelong learners, and will highlight the accomplishments of our alumni. We also will celebrate our Ideas@TheWillows Speaker Series that offers all of Los Angeles parenting, educational and creative programming and our role as a Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence RULER Spotlight School, mentoring and supporting other peer schools in the development of social emotional learning.

“Community is an intentional part of our name,” said Founding Head of School Lisa Rosenstein. “This year our schoolwide theme, HOPE, will be a call to action to celebrate all people, to see the world with new perspectives and to recognize what connects us to people everywhere.”

Our Ideas@TheWillows Speaker Series opens free of charge to all of Los Angeles with internationally acclaimed psychologist, New York Times bestselling author Michael Thompson on Tuesday, October 1, at 7 p.m. on The Willows campus, 8509 Higuera Street, Culver City. The event is free to attend but RSVP is required at thewillows.org/community/events.

To learn more about The Willows, visit thewillows.org.

Palisadians Invited to ‘Kick Cancer’ with Lynne Cohen Foundation

By
Lily Tinoco
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Photo courtesy of Lynne Cohen Foundation

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Lynne Cohen Foundation will host its 23rd annual Kickin’ Cancer 5K, 10K and Women’s Wellness Expo on Sunday, October 20, in Brentwood.

The event invites Pacific Palisades and surrounding communities to run, walk or stroll through Brentwood in support of the fight against women’s cancers, raising funds and awareness for ovarian, breast and other gynecologic cancers.

The Kickin’ Cancer 5K/10K is the Lynne Cohen Foundation’s signature fundraising event, also featuring a women’s wellness exposition, giveaways, fitness activities, entertainment and prizes.

This year, a Kickin’ Cancer Tribute Wall will honor and remember “all those touched by cancer,” and individual and team fundraising awards will be given out to the top finishers.

“I founded the Lynne Cohen Foundation with my sisters when I was just 21 years old after losing my mom, Lynne, to ovarian cancer,” Founder and Executive Director of the Lynne Cohen Foundation Amy Cohen Epstein said in a statement. “Prevention is our cure, and Kickin’ Cancer helps fund Preventive Care Clinics across the country. This event raises the endorphins and healthy living quotient for all participants, while offering a high-impact and fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.”

Every dollar raised at Kickin’ Cancer will go toward funding a national network of Lynne Cohen Clinics at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, LA County Hospital, Bellevue Medical Center in New York City and NYU Langone.

“These clinics are highly specialized, innovative women’s care facilities that unite research, screening and clinical care for women who are at high-risk for breast and ovarian cancers,” according to the statement. “While the benefits of research might take years to touch the lives of patients, by funding these Preventive Care Clinics for women at risk, Kickin’ Cancer participants, donors and fundraisers impact women’s lives both today and tomorrow.”

The event, including onsite registration and the Annual Kickin’ Cancer Women’s Wellness Expo, will start at 7:30 a.m. on October 20 at 11620 San Vicente Boulevard. The race will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 12 p.m.

“By engaging local, national and global communities with our Kickin’ Cancer athletic events, the Lynne Cohen Foundation can support women and families in need,” Epstein said. “Our clinics estimate 33% of at-risk women put off their regular screenings out of fear or financial hardship. We stand in solidarity with our community, especially those who are vulnerable and underserved.”

To register, fundraise or donate, visit lynnecohenfoundation.org/kickin-cancer.

Home Spotlight

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

235 Vance Street
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
6 Beds  |  8 Baths  |  9,117 SF  |  14,954 SF Lot

Tucked in one of the Westside’s most coveted enclaves, this designer-done, newly constructed estate is located on an expansive flat lot and sets the bar for Pacific Palisades homes. The gated and private residence blends organic California style with Traditional architecture, achieving an unparalleled look and feel utilizing high-end fixtures, finishes, and amenities. Guests are welcomed into the main level by a stately two-story entry bathed in natural light. The chef’s kitchen, equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and a center island, is complemented by a walk-in pantry and a butler’s pantry accessible through a stunning archway. The adjacent family room is designed for both large gatherings and intimate evenings, features a wet bar, fireplace, and pocket sliding glass doors that open to the spectacular backyard. An impressive formal dining room, living room with fireplace, powder room, office, guest suite, mudroom, and laundry room round out the first floor. The lower level offers a wellness center with a gym and sauna, temperature-controlled wine cellar, state-of-the-art theater with stadium seating, a living area with a full wet bar, and a private guest suite—all under soaring ceilings. Upstairs, find four sumptuous suites including the huge primary suite along with a den and secondary laundry. Surrounded by tall privacy hedges, the sprawling backyard features a luxurious pool/spa, massive grassy lawn, loggia with built-in heaters and a fireplace, BBQ area with bar, and a firepit lounge. Other amenities include a large two-car garage with two EV charging ports, Control4 Smart House system, white oak floors throughout, a robust security system, gated access, and more. Set on one of the Westside’s few remaining Private Roads just a block from the beach, within the Canyon Elementary school district, and a couple minutes from the Palisades Village, this offering is not to be missed.

Sale Price: $17,000,000
Listing Agent: Dan Urbach + Sam Green  |  Compass  |  DRE 01147391/02100618
Contact: email: Dan@DanUrbach.com  |  phone: 310.367.9865
Website: DanUrbach.com

The Disadvantages of Not Having Your Own Buyer’s Agent

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Michael Edlen

By MICHAEL EDLEN | Special to the Palisadian-Post

The recent game-changing class action lawsuits have resulted in new real estate forms and procedures, which have introduced new complexities, particularly in defining relationships between agents and prospective buyers.

While many processes remain the same, understanding these changes is crucial, especially for buyers considering navigating the market without dedicated representation or by working solely with the listing agent.

Buyers Risk Exposures

1. Misaligned Interests

The primary fact to consider for buyers who rely on the listing agent is not understanding the agent’s fiduciary duty. The listing agent, by their legal fiduciary obligation, must prioritize the seller’s best interests, not the buyer’s. This may influence their negotiation efforts, leading to a less favorable outcome for the buyer, and may not insure that the buyer has top quality representation or advocate for the buyer during renegotiations based on inspection findings.

2. Increased Responsibility

Without an agent, the buyer must handle every aspect of the transaction themselves. This includes:

– Conducting a thorough property evaluation

– Deciding which forms to include in the offer

– Preparing and presenting the offer package to the listing agent

– Reviewing counteroffer terms and navigating potential bidding wars

– Managing all aspects of the contract, from reviewing disclosures and public reports to scheduling and attending inspections

– Handling loan and appraisal processes, as well as renegotiating with the seller based on inspection outcomes

All of these tasks require a significant amount of time, expertise and attention to detail.

3. Lack of Protection

Since the listing agent’s fiduciary duty is to the seller, they are not required to disclose potential drawbacks or issues that might affect the buyer. Without a buyer’s agent, the buyer might miss important details that could have been crucial in making an informed decision. Also, an agent could save costs for the buyer by recommending some actions the buyer would not have considered.

4. Missed Opportunities for Buyers

Buyers risk losing their ideal home if they cannot resolve issues during the transaction, which can lead to frustration and disappointment on both sides.

Risks to Sellers

1. Potential Complications

If a seller enters escrow with a non-represented buyer, they must hope the buyer has legal counsel to ensure that all necessary forms and procedures are followed correctly. The seller’s agent will still need to review all buyer-related paperwork due to their fiduciary responsibility to the seller, often resulting in additional work and potential added costs.

2. Escrow Challenges

Should issues arise during escrow—such as discoveries during the property inspection process—a non-represented buyer would need to negotiate directly with the listing agent. Without another agent to mediate, resolving these issues can be more difficult, potentially jeopardizing the transaction.

3. Dual Agency Conflicts

If the buyer chooses to be represented by the listing agent, that agent must balance representing both parties. This dual agency scenario can lead to conflicts of interest, making it harder for both parties to proceed smoothly through the transaction.

Risks to Both Buyer and Seller

The likelihood of a failed escrow increases when either party is not properly represented. Even if the buyer hires an attorney to save on agent fees, attorneys may not be as effective in handling the emotional and personal issues that often arise during the escrow process.

1. Increased Likelihood of Escrow Failure

About 25% of escrows fail to close for various reasons, even when each party has their own agent. The chances of friction, misunderstandings and disagreements increase when the same agent represents both sides, or when there is no buyer’s agent involved.

2. Financial Loss for Sellers

If an escrow falls apart, the seller may face delays and additional costs in relisting the property, potentially resulting in a lower final sale price.

Conclusion

While new procedures introduced by recent legislation and court decisions have made agency relationships more transparent, the fundamental processes of real estate transactions remain largely unchanged. Buyers now have greater awareness of their options, but it is clear that having a dedicated agent is in their best interest.

Professional fees are nearly always a part of real estate transactions, and attempting to save on these costs by going it alone or relying on the listing agent can easily result in greater expenses or missed opportunities.

Michael Edlen has been a trusted advisor to thousands of people for 35 years. He and his team maintain a 95% escrow closing rate. Contact him for a complimentary consultation at 310-600-7422 or michael@edlenteam.com.

Monthly Update: Lower Palisades Prices

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

By MICHAEL EDLEN | Special to the Palisadian-Post

As of September 1, there were 71 single-family Palisades residences listed in the Multiple Listing Service, which is the same as the start of September 2023. So far this year, 148 Palisades homes have sold, which is 8% lower than this time last year. There are now 21 homes in escrow in the Palisades, a 17% increase over last year.

The average price per square foot ($1,585) is down by 7% over this time last year, and the median sale price ($3,862,500) is down by 14% now.

The lowest-priced available home is a three-bedroom, two-bath on Sunset Boulevard asking $1,849,000. The highest-priced property is a seven-bedroom, 11-bath on Casale Road, asking $49.95 million.

The lowest sale price so far this year was a three-bedroom, three-bath on Chalet Terrace, which sold for $1,395,000. The highest sale so far this year was a six-bedroom, 12-bathroom home on Chautauqua, which sold for $32.3 million.

There are now 18 condominiums/townhouses on the market, a 29% increase from this time last year. They range from one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset offered at $750,000 to a three-bedroom, three-bath on Palisades Drive for $2,949,000. Only one condo is currently in escrow.

There have been 46 condo sales so far this year, up 9% from this time last year. The lowest was a one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset, which sold for $500,000, and the highest was a two-bedroom, three-bath on Sunset, which sold for $2.5 million. The median condo sales price is $1,349,000, which has decreased by 11% from this time last year.

There are currently eight pieces of raw land available, ranging from $699,000 for a 3,703-square-foot lot on Castellammare to $14,995,000 for six acres off of Casale Road in the Riviera. One lot has sold this year.

There are now 75 available leases in the Palisades, down 26% over last year. They range from one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset asking $2,800 per month to a six-bedroom, 10-bath home on Anoka asking $84,500 per month.

There have been 205 leases so far this year, a 12% increase from last year. The highest lease so far this year was a four-bedroom, seven-bath on Toulon for $65,000 per month, and the lowest was $2,300 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom on Sunset. The median leased price is now at $11,990 per month.

Michael Edlen, an agent with Coldwell Banker, has been keeping statistics on Pacific Palisades housing prices for the last 38 years.

Garden Tips: The Results of the Palisades Pumpkin Crop

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Almar Avenue

By BRUCE SCHWARTZ | Contributing Writer

The results of the 2024 Palisades pumpkin crop are in—and while I would like to be able to brag about the crop like any proud farmer, this year, conditions dictated the results. It was not hot enough.

I have been planting giant pumpkins for the last few years here in the Palisades. I have had some good years and some bad years.

For the last three years I have been planting them in front of a house on Almar Avenue. This year, I also grew them on Theatre Palisades’ property below the mural on Temescal Canyon Road.

The beginning of the season near Pierson Playhouse

If you recall, we had a persistent marine layer pattern this year that lasted to the first week of August. As I write this column at the start of September, we are experiencing our first real heatwave of the year. Before this week we had one 80-degree day all season in the Palisades.

Too much marine layer and no sunshine promotes powdery mildew. That was also a factor that kept the pumpkins from sizing up.

I will be at it next year, as farming is in my DNA. If any reader is interested in growing pumpkins next year, let me know and I will see if the conditions are right.

One of the things that is amazing is watching people watch the pumpkins grow. I was an agricultural consultant for 20 years in the Central Valley. I have looked over 1,000s of acres of different crops in my career, such as cotton, carrots, onions, melons, watermelons, lettuce, grapes, almonds and others.

Final crop outside Pierson Playhouse
Photos courtesy of Bruce Schwartz

I like to grow giant pumpkins here because residents love it. It is a great example of the power of plants and a testament of the beauty of nature itself, and how much our life depends on strong agriculture and the plants that grow the food that feeds us all.

This time of year, the results of the largest pumpkin grown in the United States are starting to be reported. Last year the largest pumpkin weighed 2,749 pounds and was grown by Travis Gienger, a horticultural and landscape teacher from Minnesota.

This year, the only results in are of a 2,035-pound pumpkin grown in Alaska by Dale Marshall. Alaska has almost 20 hours of sunlight per day in the summer, so that is a huge advantage.

The results for the lower 48 states are not in yet. By the time I write next month’s column, I will have the numbers with photos.

Here in the Palisades, the pumpkins that we grew this year will be on display at the YMCA Pumpkin Patch, which takes place at Simon Meadow in October. It serves as one of two major fundraisers Palisades-Malibu YMCA hosts each year, along with the Tree Lot.

What inspires me to grow these giant pumpkins is the look on the faces of both children and adults when the pumpkins are in the back of my pickup, as well as the children and adults sitting in the back of the pickup with the giant pumpkins, getting their photo taken at the Pumpkin Patch. It is the spirit of the fall season, and I am so glad to be a part of that function.

Meanwhile, let’s look forward to another beautiful fall season here in the Palisades.

Bruce Schwartz is a 24-year resident of the Palisades Highlands. He was an agricultural consultant for 20 years, specializing in soil nutrition for crops grown in the Central Valley. He was named Pacific Palisades’ Citizen of the Year in 2017 and a Golden Sparkplug award winner in 2013, and is a member of several community organizations. To reach Schwartz, call 310-779-1773 or email bruceschwartz@rodeore.com.

Marianne Johnson

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

Marianne Johnson, aged 97, passed away on August 25 at her home in Pacific Palisades. Marianne was surrounded by her loved ones at the time of passing.

Born on June 19, 1927, in Fresno, California. Preceded in death by her husband: The Honorable Thomas T. Johnson, Jr.; and brother: William Crumpacker.

She is survived by her brother: Jim Crumpacker; sons: William (Kristyn) Johnson, Blake Johnson; granddaughter: April Johnson; and grand-dog: Lurch Johnson.

Marianne was an iconic woman who paved her own way. Her brother Jim describes her as thoughtful yet decisive, and “someone who was destined to achieve a meaningful, successful life.”

Even as a child, Marianne was a voracious reader who showed signs of independent thought, intellectual excellence and curiosity for knowledge. She was among the top students in advanced classes at the esteemed Lowell High School in San Francisco. She ultimately graduated early, in 1944 at age 16 from Shasta Union High School in her hometown of Redding, California.

At 17, as a freshman at Chico State College, Marianne became an editor at the daily Chico Enterprise-Record newspaper. Upon transferring to Fresno State College’s journalism department, she took management positions at the twice-weekly collegiate newspaper.

Graduating in 1949, Marianne went to work for KMJ, Fresno radio station and was soon promoted to news director, becoming the first woman in the Western U.S. to fill such a position.

Marianne’s next stop became KFRC in San Francisco where she both managed the news department and became a contributing producer. KFRC remains on the air and still broadcasts in the Bay Area.

It was in San Francisco, at the Carlyle Hotel, where she met Tom Johnson, the love of her life. Marianne and Tom were married in 1953 and resided in the Berkeley for a short period of time before relocating to Tom’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where her first son, Blake Johnson, was born. The family eventually settled in Pacific Palisades.

The couple enjoyed many life achievements, including two sons, a wide circle of friends, extensive global travel and Tom’s rising legal career. Tom was eventually elected to serve as presiding judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, County of Los Angeles. With her typical creativity and efficiency, Marianne managed the ceremonial and attendant duties involved with Tom’s career, and the family’s social and philanthropic responsibilities.

The couple were active members of the Riviera Tennis Club and Bel-Air Bay Club. Marianne was the “jock” of the family, playing competitive tennis and later paddle tennis, with her myriad of friends multiple days weekly.

When she wasn’t on the tennis court, Marianne could be found playing bridge with her close companions, which continued up until her passing. She would complete the New York Times crossword puzzle daily, finding the Los Angeles Times crossword to be “too easy” for her.

Her greatest joy was spending time socializing with her friends and family, including annual travel plans with her closest cohorts. Marianne also found time for charitable contributions, including performing weekly tours of Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, and organizing and participating in events at the medical center.

Marianne’s great legacy is her brilliant example of intellectual curiosity and her deep love of family and friends. Please visit and share your memories in our guest book at everloved.com/memorial/marianne-johnson.

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