Driver in Hospital in Critical Condition after Crash on Chautauqua

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Sue

The driver’s car left the road, went through an iron fence and hit this home on Chautauqua.

There was a single vehicle accident on Wednesday, May 24, around 10:15 p.m., in the 300 block of Chautauqua. A driver, who was driving downhill on Chautauqua (between Vance Street and La Cumbre Drive), had to be extricated from the car by the Los Angeles Fire Department and was transported to a hospital in critical condition.

In a CBS late-night report, camera showed a special heavy-duty tow truck that was used to pull the black GMC Denali out of the yard between two homes, which were located on a steep cliff.

Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin received an email notification of the accident and was told that West Traffic Division is handling the investigation due to the severe injuries.

One resident in Santa Monica Canyon wrote, “Last night sounded like Armageddon here in the Canyon. There were sirens and helicopters.”

Another Canyon resident who was looking at the accident site this morning, noted that the iron fence probably slowed the car down, enough that it only did damage to the stucco on the side of the house and possibly an air-conditioning unit.

The owner was not home at the time of the accident.

The car went off the road between the two houses.

Posted in Accidents/Fires | Leave a comment

Hosted by Blake Arnet, Dunk MS Raises More Than $70,000

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Sue

Pros participating in the Dunk MS were (left to right) Guy Oliver, Brandon Ruffin, Chris Staples, Elijah Bonds and Tyler Currie.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT

Blake Arnet, who played basketball at UCLA from 2008-2011, created Dunk MS, a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It was personal. His mother, Brigitte Renae DeRouen-Venclik, 47, died from the disease when Arnet was a sophomore in college in 2009.

“She was the rock of the family and her independent and hardworking spirit helped so many people throughout her life,” Arnet said. “She was my best friend and role model who inspired our family to never give up and always persevere.”

At an event at UCLA on May 20, more than $70,000 was raised.

Dunk MS Founder Blake Arnet                                                                   PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT

“To my knowledge, Dunk MS is the world’s only charity dunk show!” he said. This year donations will support MS research at UCLA Health led by world-renowned MS researcher, Dr. Voskuhl. Dunk MS is now an official event of MS4MS (Mission Stadiums for Multiple Sclerosis).

Arnet organized the first Dunk MS event in 2018 that was held at Palisades High School. The next year a second fundraiser was held at PaliHi. Covid necessitated the 2020 event be held virtually. There was a year’s absence, and in 2022 and2023, the fundraiser was held at UCLA.

“We’ve raised over $150,000 in our first four years,” said Arnet, who works on Dunk MS in his spare time. “We’ve split the funds between kids’ basketball and MS research in the past.” He also thanks his year-round volunteer team, advisory board and junior board, for producing the event.

He said, “Our goal is to host Dunk MS 2024 in May at UCLA’s legendary Pauley Pavilion.”

Working as a Senior Customer Success Manager at Solid (a Fintech startup), Arnet was asked how he came up with the idea for Dunk MS. “Being a former Mater Dei and UCLA Basketball player, basketball is a huge part of my life,” he said.

Arnet received UCLA Athletics Rose Gilbert Courage & Character Award in 2011, during his junior year at UCLA.

“After attending Walk MS and Bike MS for a few years with my family, I was determined to create my own event and raise as much as possible in honor of my mom,” Arnet said. “I took my basketball, sports coaching, and entrepreneur background and decided to create a new event that would cater to the entire family, the MS community and attendees without kids.”

While the kids’ basketball clinic is underway, there are sponsor tables, a photo booth, lawn games, raffle prizes, a virtual silent auction and free food.

“I think we resonate with people because it’s a fun event for kids and parents, attendees without kids – and MS Warriors alike,” Arnet said. “We also have a DJ playing fun and upbeat music the entire time.”

Kids participate in basketball clinics during Dunk MS.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT

Arnet was asked if it’s difficult to get athletes to participate. “Ever since 2018, it hasn’t been too hard to get new pro dunkers as it’s a small dunker world and they love to support a great cause,” he said. “I couldn’t throw this event without them, and they put on an amazing dunk show every year! It’s great to watch the kids’ reactions as well.”

This year, pro dunkers participating were Guy Oliver, Brandon Ruffin, Chris Staples, Elijah Bonds and Tyler Currie.

In addition to already looking to next year’s fundraiser, Arnet hopes to rebrand and launch Heart of Hope in 2024.

Renae DeRouen-Venclik holds son Blake Arnet.

He remembers when his mom was diagnosed with MS in 2007. “Sadly, she didn’t know there were support groups and never had one during her battle with MS,” Arnet said.

His mom was not aware of the people who were fighting alongside her to find a cure. The Heart of Hope coin is a symbol for the fight. Currently, they are available at the Cedars-Sinai MS Program in L.A. and at the UCLA MS Program in Westwood (visit: dunkms.com/heart-of-hope).

To learn more about DunkMS, visit: Dunkms.com, Instagram: @DunkMS and on Facebook and Twitter: @DunkMSOfficial.

Pros wowed crowds with the ability to dunk the ball.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT

 

Posted in Health, Sports | Leave a comment

Little Library Rededication, Leads to Marquez Kindergarten Reunion

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Sue

(Editor’s note: Rich Schmitt’s photos are copyrighted and cannot be used without permission. To view other photos of the event contact richschmitt@mac.com.)

The rededication of the Little Library took place on May 13 and included (left to right) Ava Leslie, Kendall Wilken, Kira Valensi, Gabby Abraham and Sophie Davidson and (front row, left to right) Phoebe Appelbaum-Schwartz, Sara Mirtorabi and Sara Steiner.
Photo: Rich Schmitt

 

Girl Scouts in Fourth Grade when they installed the Little Library.

The year was 2011 when parents Melissa Appelbaum-Schwartz and Jodi Lynne Steiner started Girl Scout Troop 12805.

Twelve years later the Girl Scouts, now seniors on the brink of graduation from high school, gathered on May 13 to rededicate the Little Free Library they had installed as Marquez fourth graders. The little book nook is located at the corner of Jacon Way and Marquez Avenue.

“We built it for our Bronze Award,” said Ava Leslie, who will be attending NYU this fall for recorded music.

When asked whose idea it was for the little library, Sophie Davidson, who is also an Eagle Scout and will be attending the University of Oregon said, “Ours—we wanted to add something to the Marquez community.”

Sara Steiner, who will be attending UCS for business, said, “We knew it would be self-sustaining and it wouldn’t require a lot of maintenance. This is a very community-oriented area, and that people would take care of it.”

Kendall Wilken, who will be attending St. Francis college in Brooklyn, N.Y. for film, said, “My grandpa [Rich Wilken] helped us put in the stake [that anchors the little library].”

Sara Mirtorabi, who will be majoring in chemistry at Moorpark College, said they had repainted it a couple of years ago during the pandemic.

Troop leader Jodi Lynne Steiner said that the troop started at Marquez Elementary in first grade.

Two girls from Palisades Elementary, Audrey Czerniewski and Georgie Thomas, joined after fifth grade.

“These 13 girls have continued through 12th grade,” said Steiner, who sent a photo of the troop when the library was first dedicated and the plaque that the girls added at the rededication on Saturday.

Other members of the troop included Elena Roby, Gabriella Abraham who will be attending Notre Dame for biology, Kira Valensi who plans to attend Northeastern University (Boston) for computer science, Laura Thompson, Phoebe Appelbaum-Schwartz who will go to Carnegie Mellon for visual arts and Samantha Kissane.

After hugs and photos, members of the girls’ Marquez kindergarten class started to show up for a mini-reunion in front of the school.

There were 27 former students who made it to their old school at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

“It looks so small,” said one senior, who peered through the Marquez school gate.

After fifth grade, students attended a variety of public and private schools, so this provided an easy way to reconnect – over doughnuts – provided by Steiner.

Many parents accompanied their high school seniors and had a chance to reconnect with other parents at the elementary school where they had volunteered and spent so much time.

Steiner was asked how she managed to reach so many people, “A lot of e-mail, texts and Facebook,” she said, “and asking everyone to do the same.”

These students, now high school seniors, were members of the kindergarten class at Marquez.
Photo: Rich Schmitt

Posted in Schools | Leave a comment

Give Yourself a Me–Treat on June 4

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Sue

It is the end of the school year, which means parties, graduations, planning vacations and camps and STRESS. Alison Burmeister of Balanced Beauty and Kathy Katims of Saved by a Story, are offering a me–treat, as a way to destress, to connect and to create on Sunday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Me-treats are a great way to bond while nurturing your mind, body, soul, and friendships,” Burmeister said. “Everybody can relax, re-energize, leave refreshed and feeling great.”

The workshop is limited to 10 women and will be held in Temescal Gateway Park (at Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard). The day starts with yoga and relaxation/breathwork, followed by lunch, and then Saved by a Story prompt-writing workshop with Katims.

Burmeister has taught yoga and chair yoga at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, at the Woman’s Club and at the American Legion. During Covid, you could find her classes on Zoom. Now in addition to watching her on YouTube, you can book her for private classes.

“My ultimate goal is to help as many people as I can feel and look great inside and out,” she said. “Also, to find balance and beauty in their lives, homes and workplace.”

Kathy Katims loves bringing people together to share stories. The idea started at her daughter’s school, where she asked parents to write personal essays for the school’s newsletter.

She said “People wrote about real things, hilarious things, moving things, surprising things. People wrote about fertility issues, weathering Father’s Day without a father, losing a husband, an annual food fight, opening a school, falling in love with a same sex partner, a first kiss, writing their first love song. This landscape of unfamiliar parents suddenly felt familiar and welcoming. Strangers became friends, and friends learned new dimensions of each other.”

In a workshop Katims tells people the main guideline is to start and keep going. “If you are stuck, write ‘I’m stuck,’ ‘I’m stuck.’”

She tells people that often, you find what you want to write about, just by the act of writing. “I don’t give advice or critiques and I ask that no one does. What we give each other is active listening, without judgment and with an open heart. We keep what we share between group members.”

To register, visit click here or click here.

Posted in Community, Health | Leave a comment

Chautauqua Medians Will Be Redone by PRIDE

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Sue

PRIDE helps maintain medians on Sunset.

A resident wrote Circling the News: “Do you know anything about why and by whom the plants in the planting strip on Chautauqua where it meets Sunset were dug up, twice?

“The space is now empty except for some weeds.  The natal plum bushes and red lantana growing there were tough, pretty, and thriving.  Natal plum has shiny green leaves and fragrant lush white blossoms.   A crew of men in dark green outfits dug them up one day. The plants began sprouting up again and were dug up again. They have not recovered.  It’s been months.”

Circling the News contacted PRIDE President John Padden because that nonprofit has gone through the onerous process of getting approval from the City for other medians (Marquez Triangle, the road median on Alma Real, at Sunset Boulevard and Chautauqua and the median on Sunset between the Palisades High School baseball field and Temescal Gateway Park).

P.R.I.D.E. planted a fallow and weed filled median on Sunset Boulevard and is maintaining it.

Padden responded in an email, “PRIDE is working on this project. We are in mid process of obtaining our full Adopt-A-Median permit from the City of LA.”

About the Chautauqua medians, he said that workers found “The vegetation that was there was not thriving but dead and full of weeds with the medians full of rocks, old cement, broken pipes, glass, cigarette butts and trash. It was lifeless and colorless, an eyesore.”

He said a close inspection had been done and the media was “Far from vibrant and thriving.” Before the rainy season this past year, in anticipation of starting on the median, PRIDE had cleared and mulched it.

“Then the heavy rains came and nothing, but weeds grew back,” Padden said. “We had those weeds also removed as they were becoming a traffic danger due to their height blocking visibility. Once PRIDE receives a full permit, PRIDE (at the sole cost to PRIDE) will enrich the soil, repair the irrigation system, introduce plants per the city specifications that are colorful yet drought tolerant and maintain the medians.”

He also asked CTN to tell whoever inquired about the median that the city has been quite slow with the process, but once the permit is received, we “will beautify these medians in a quality manner as it has with multiple other medians throughout our community.”

Founded in 1992, P.R.I.D.E.’s mission has been to improve and enhance the visual appeal of the Palisades, specifically the business community.

Other PRIDE projects have included replacing the rotting trash bins and ensuring bus benches are in good shape. PRIDE member Bruce Schwartz in an earlier story told CTN, “We got a call from a woman about a bus bench at Las Casas, saying the bench had rusted,” Schwartz said. “When we pulled on it, it collapsed.” He and another PRIDE member Sam Rubin replaced the bench.

“We also got a call from a person at Palisades Drive and Sunset, who asked if PRIDE could replace the bench that was rusted out there,” Rubin said. “We said we’d do it.”

They removed it and then went to City for an official permit to install a new bench at the location.

PRIDE replaced two bus benches in front of the Shell station at Sunset and Via de la Paz. “One was wiped out by a car,” the men told Circling the News. “It’s happened more than once.”

PRIDE has a blanket permit to try to modify the garbage bins in Pacific Palisades. For the most recent replacements of bins and benches, the nonprofit has spent almost $11,000. “It wouldn’t have been possible without donations from the community,” Rubin said.

Rubin initially got involved in PRIDE when the City wanted to install large-scale advertising at the bus stops in Pacific Palisades in 2003-2005.

PRIDE and the Pacific Palisades Community Council fought to keep the attractive cast-iron benches and trash cans already here and to minimize the “big media” advertising bus shelters.

Under an agreement between CBS/Decaux and the City of Los Angeles, the big shelters were kept to three (one in front of Corpus, one at Temescal Canyon and Sunset and one in front of Palisades High School—now removed).

Swathmore beautification, prior to Caruso’s mall, was made possible through money raised by PRIDE by selling donor sidewalk tiles and honorary lamp posts, trees and benches that were placed on that street in 1996. That effort was led through PRIDE members Hal Manninger and Charles McGlothin, who together received Citizen of the Year honors for their efforts.

When developer Rick Caruso purchased property for his Palisades Village mall in 2016, the engraved tiles were destroyed, the lamp posts replaced, and benches and trash cans that were located along Swarthmore and Monument were stored in PRIDE member’s garage.

Since then, Village Green was the recipient of two PRIDE trash containers. “We had some left from the Caruso project,” Schwartz said, “so it was a win-win. We took the other two away and replaced them with these.”

To read about other PRIDE projects, visit palisadespride.com. To donate, checks may be sent to 15332 Antioch St. #13, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Call (310) 913-8762 or email info@palisadespride.com.

 

 

Posted in businesses/stores, Community | 1 Comment

PaliHi Teen, Jack Schwartz, Hosts After-Prom Parties

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Sue

A scene from an after-prom party attended by Palisades High School students.

BY CHAZ PLAGER

Six months ago, Circling the News ran a story (“Pali Teen Entrepreneur Produces My Plots, a Party App”) about up-and-coming teen entrepreneur Jack Schwartz, founder of Loonar clothing and creator of the MyPlots app.

The concept was simple. Using an app, teens or young adults could set a location, date, and time for a party, and send out invites directly, or accept join requests from other users.

Users were encouraged to post on their Instagram or Snapchat stories “What’s Plots tonight?” to find other users. Active parties were shown on a map corresponding to the user’s location and could be clicked on to learn more.

Dubbed the “Party King”, Schwartz, a Palisades Charter High School senior, has spent the last two months on the “MyPlots After Prom Tour.”

Schwartz set up after-prom parties for several high schools, including Santa Monica, El Segundo and PaliHi.

The Pali party was held from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the Pluto Penthouse, the 17th floor of a building in West Hollywood. The space is about 10,500 sq.ft. and holds 650 people. According to the website, the rental fee is between $7,500 to $25,000 per event.

Musician SSGKobe made an appearance, one of many celebrities that have appeared at the MyPlots Tour parties.

SSGKobe boasts more than 700,000 listeners on Spotify, and his most popular song, “Thrax,” recently broke 38 million plays on Spotify. His surprise performance at Pali’s party began at midnight and went until 1 a.m. He performed six songs, including one that is currently unreleased.

The event was originally intended to run until 3 a.m. However, the party had to be cut short after the Fire Marshal was called due to unsafe conditions, owing to an overflow of people in a tight space. While a shutdown here and there is par for the course when it comes to hosting parties, this is just one of many shutdowns that have been occurring on the MyPlots tour.

Partygoers were not offered refunds for the Pali After-Prom Party, which required tickets to be purchased in advance. There were refunds offered to those who had bought a $70 ticket after outcry lowered the price to $50.

Several other parties have shut down well before the expected ending time, due to police being called, fire concerns or health emergencies. Refunds have not been offered.

One student said, “We were at this birthday party MyPlots hosted, on Wilshire– in that tower near the Peterson Auto Museum, I think– and this girl just had a panic attack in the bathroom. One of the security guards helped take her downstairs, and then as soon as he sat her down, one of the other security guards just started yelling at her to snap out of it or something. She got scared and started scrambling around, knocking stuff over. They got her home safely, but they had to shut down the party.”

The MyPlots Tour continues going strong, drawing thousands of attendees each time.

Schwartz will graduate this year and will attend UCLA. He plans to hold a farewell party, claiming it to be “something crazy that no one has ever seen before. I want to do something new and different. It may be my last high school party, but it’s just the beginning for MyPlots.”

He wants to have Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti perform at one of his events someday. “I want to do a MyPlots Fest one day and be the next Rolling Loud,” Schwartz said. “I want to change the world.”

For the better, one can only hope.

 

 

Posted in businesses/stores, Kids/Parenting | Leave a comment

Crime Report and Toyopa Burglary Update

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Sue

 

Officer Brian Espin

Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin sent out a crime report for May 7-13.

He also sent out a more detailed report from detectives regarding the “Hot Prowl Burglary” in the 800 block of Toyopa Drive that occurred on the evening of May 13.

The suspects entered the residence from a backyard through an unlocked door. Suspects took the victim’s property and fled through the point of entry. The suspects got into a white Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with a stolen license plate and fled the location.

The homeowners’ children were home at the time of the burglary, and the daughter interrupted the suspects as she walked down the first floor to retrieve a delivery.

Two suspects observed wearing the same clothing were seen burglarizing another home in the Rancho Park area.

Suspect 1 was described as a male, with a thin build, 20-30 years of age, wearing a back “Unknown Future” hoodie, black facemask, black (skelton hand) gloves, black pants and white shoes.

Suspect 2 was described as male,  thin build, 20-30 years of age, wearing a gray hoodie, black facemask, gloves, pants and shoes, and a Star Wars “Grogu” backpack.

West L.A. Detective Yoshioka (310) 444-1564, is seeking information about these suspects and the burglary.

What is not helpful are postings on Nextdoor that are not accurate. One woman wrote “Last week, a robbery occurred on Toyopa (near the park) at 7 p.m., and multiple cars on Ocampo and Alma Real were broken into that same night. Where were LAPD?

Another person wrote that the neighbor who was broken into said she was instructed by LAPD to remove her post off NextDoor and wondered why it had to be removed.

CTN reached out to Brian Espin on May 22, who said that only the crimes (below) were reported – “unless there are late reports that are filed online and we get them later.”

It became obvious that the person was asked to remove the photo because the license plate was stolen.

PALISADES CRIME UPDATE

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT :

May 7, 4:30 p.m. at Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. The victim and suspect married. They were in a physical altercation during an argument. The suspect grabbed the victim by the neck causing visible injury. The suspect was arrested.

BURGLARY:

May 13, 7:10 p.m., in the 800 block of Toyopa Drive. The suspects used an unknown took to gain entry in the residence. Victims were home at the time of the robbery and victim’s daughter surprised the suspects when she went to the first floor to retrieve a delivery.

GRAND THEFT AUTO:

May 13, noon to 1 p.m., at Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. The victim’s vehicle was taken from the street. The victim had left vehicle keys in a bag inside the vehicle. The vehicle was recovered the same day in another part of the city.

May 13, 10 a.m. to noon. In the 17300 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The vehicle was taken from the street.

THEFT:

May 12, 1:05 to 3 p.m. in the 15000 block of Bowdoin Street. The victim left behind property in the classroom. The victim returned the next day and the property was missing.

TASK FORCE RETURNS:

Members of the Task Force, led by Brian Espin, assembled on May 18.

Finally, kudos to SLO Espin for organizing the second Task Force Operations this year on May 18. The brush in the nearby parks, town and hills was scoured for illegal camping activity, to stave off the possibility of wildfires in the Very High Fire Severity Zone. More task forces are planned for this year.

Espin assembled members of the Los Angele Police Department, including Captain Craig Heredia, the commanding officer of the West Los Angeles Area and several Senior Lead Officers from other areas. Also in attendance were the LAPD Valley Motor Off-Road officers, the LAPD Beach Detail, a Santa Monica Conservancy Ranger, a California State Ranger, Los Angeles Station 69 Fire Captain Jeff Brown, Councilmember Traci Park’s field deputy Michael Amstel and volunteers from the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness.

After a debriefing and being assigned to different areas, teams canvassed hillsides looking for illegal encampments.

Posted in Crime/Police | Leave a comment

Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride Honored with ‘Pioneer Woman’ Award

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Sue

Councilmember Traci Park (left) presents the Pioneer Woman award to Sharon Kilbride in City Hall. Sharon Browning is not pictured.

Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride were honored by Councilwoman Traci Park as the “Pioneer Woman” of Council District 11 in a special ceremony at Los Angeles City Hall. This prestigious award celebrates women who have significantly impacted their community. This is the 33rd year for the awards and this year’s theme was “Locking Arms to Solve Homelessness.”

The Palisadians first received a May 15 letter from the L.A. City Commission on the Status of Woman notifying them of the selection. The letter said, “As a pioneer woman in Los Angeles, we express our gratitude to you through this award. Your unwavering dedication is truly appreciated, and we hope you accept this token of our appreciation.”

At City Hall on May 19, Park said, “Today, we honor those who stand as shining examples of dedication, courage, and service to their communities, particularly in addressing the pressing issue of homelessness.

“I’m acknowledging two very special woman this morning, Sharon Kilbride and Sharon Browning,” Park said. These women have generously dedicated themselves to the community and collectively are affectionately known across CD 11 as The Sharons.” Kilbride and Browning are the co-presidents of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTH).

Sharon Browning

Browning was unable to make the ceremony, but Park called Kilbride to the stage. “Sharon has shown exceptional commitment as the co-president of the Task Force and as the lead of the Volunteer Response Team. This team comprises 12 volunteers who tirelessly engage and offer services to newly homeless individuals in the community daily.
Park reviewed the women’s accomplishments. “Since its establishment in 2014, the PPTFH has provided housing and covered housing-related expenses for hundreds of unhoused individuals in the Palisades,” Park said.

“The PPTFH is responsible for engaging with more than 600 new homeless individuals annually and has successfully provided housing for more than 110 homeless individuals since 2016,” the Councilmember said. “In addition, they have also been able to get 173 people off the streets into some form of shelter or reunited with their families.

“These achievements would not have been possible without the immense contributions of The Sharons,” Park said. “Your efforts to address the fundamental obstacles that prevent the unhoused from securing stable housing are nothing short of heroic.”

She presented the award to Kilbride at City Hall. Browning will receive her award at a later time.

“Please accept this award as a thank you for the significant contributions you’ve made, and the tireless efforts you’ve put in,” Park said. “As your councilwoman, I will continue to offer my support for the remarkable work that you do.”

This award was given to Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride.

After the ceremony, Kilbride told CTN, “I was completely surprised and honored to be included in the Pioneer Women of LA.”

“Yes, I was totally surprised and didn’t believe it at first,” Browning said. “Once it sunk in, I felt proud to be part of a project representing Pacific Palisades’ contribution to addressing homelessness.

“It was especially meaningful to receive the award from Councilwoman Park,” Browning said. “Her leadership is so different from what we have experienced in the past. It inspires, is authentic and accountable and gives us hope for the work that we all know lies ahead.”

Kilbride said, “Sharon Browning and I continue to hope that this community initiative will serve as an example for communities across the county dealing with homelessness.”

“It has been a remarkable success and a privilege to be involved, since the very beginning,” Kilbride said. “PPTFH is a role model that works, and it takes a village of volunteers that are committed in solving homelessness in their own backyards.”

“The Sharons” also thanked PPTFH volunteers for the success of the program.

Browning said, “in my heart of hearts, I know that the award belongs to the each and every volunteer, as well our generous, caring, stand-up Funding Partners and each and every single donor.”

She said that it was important for City Council to recognize PPTFH’s work because the nonprofit is unique in Los Angeles. “Our community stepped up to provide funding and person-power to address homelessness in our community in a way that meets the concerns of both our residents and our people experiencing homelessness.

“We have built trusting, collaborative relationships with our partner The People Concern, Los Angeles Police Department, LA Harbors, Beaches and Parks and our residents to address the destructive consequences of homelessness and provided a model which can be replicated in other communities,” Browning said.

“We understand that government can only do so much,” Browning said. “In my view, our collaborative model is very much the kind of community care-law enforcement model that Mayor Bass and others are envisioning but is yet to become a reality.”

Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride were honored by Councilwoman Traci Park as the “Pioneer Woman” of Council District 11 in a special ceremony at the Los Angeles City Hall. This prestigious award celebrates women who have significantly impacted their community. This is the 33rd year for the awards and the theme this year was “Locking Arms to Solve Homelessness.”

The Palisadians first received a May 15 letter from the L.A. City Commission on the Status of Woman notifying them of the selection. The letter said, “As a pioneer woman in Los Angeles, we express our gratitude to you through this award. Your unwavering dedication is truly appreciated, and we hope you accept this token of our appreciation. We look forward to seeing you soon.

At City Hall on May 19, Park said, “Today, we honor those who stand as shining examples of dedication, courage, and service to their communities, particularly in addressing the pressing issue of homelessness.

“Kilbride has shown exceptional commitment as the Co-President of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH) and as the lead of the Volunteer Response Team. This team comprises 12 volunteers who tirelessly engage and offer services to newly homeless individuals in the community daily.

“Since its establishment in 2014, the PPTFH has provided housing and covered housing-related expenses for hundreds of unhoused individuals in the Palisades. The PPTFH is responsible for engaging with more than 600 new homeless individuals annually and has successfully provided housing for more than 110 homeless individuals since 2016. In addition, they have also been able to get 173 people off the streets into some form of shelter or reunited with their families.

“These achievements would not have been possible without the immense contributions of Sharon and her Volunteer Response Team,” Park said.

The Councilmember also addressed Sharon directly, “Your efforts to address the fundamental obstacles that prevent the unhoused from securing stable housing are nothing short of heroic.

“We want to convey our heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering commitment to our community. Please accept this award as a thank you for the significant contributions you’ve made, and the tireless efforts you’ve put in,” Park said. “As your councilwoman, I will continue to offer my support for the remarkable work that you do.”

After the ceremony, Kilbride told CTN, “I was completely surprised and honored to be included in the Pioneer Women of LA.

“Sharon Browning [co-chair of PPTFH] and I continue to hope that this community initiative will serve as an example for communities across the county dealing with homelessness,” Kilbride said. “It has been a remarkable success and a privilege to be involved, since the very beginning. PPTFH is a role model that works, and it takes a village of volunteers that are committed in solving homelessness in their own backyards.”

Sharon Kilbride with her award at City Hall.

Posted in Homelessness, Traci Park | 1 Comment

Learn How Theatre Palisades Stage Scenes Are Orchestrated

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Sue

 

Brandon Polanco, the director of “Bell, Book & Candle,”  will be at the Palisades Library Community Room to discuss how the scenes are staged for the upcoming play at Theatre Palisades.

Theatre Palisades, in its first collaboration with the Palisades Library, will feature director Brandon Polanco, who will present and direct a scene from Bell, Book & Candle at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, at the Palisades Library Community Room, 861 Alma Real.

The 1950 Broadway play by John van Druten has been called one of that playwright’s greatest comedy successes. The New York Times wrote “. . .completely enchanting- a wonderfully suave and impish fantasy.”

The main character, Gillian Holroyd is one of the few modern people who can actually cast spells and perform feats of supernaturalism. She casts a spell over an unattached publisher, Shepherd Henderson, partly to keep him away from a rival and partly because she is attracted to him. He falls head over heels in love with her at once and wants to marry her. But witches, unfortunately, cannot fall in love.

At the library, Polanco will show how a scene is put together in real time. Actors from the upcoming play Andrew Cereghino, Jeff Coppage, Laura Goldstein, Jasmine Haver and Michael Anthony Nozzi may be on site.

Polanco is the owner of Writer’s Block Entertainment (click here). He has created many award-winning films, like Writer’s Block, which stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad); Cannes Short Film Corner project Vicky & Jonny; and Alchemy which has played a 175+ film festivals around the world. His feature film, Earth Mother, is now available on Amazon Prime.

Elementals a sequel to his first feature film, is in development, and a part of his independent film franchise Earth Magic. He is happy to return to live entertainment with this magical production and to collaborate with this amazing group of artists.

The play, which will open at Pierson Playhouse on June 2 and run weekends through July 8, is produced by Martha Hunter and Maria O’Connor.

A 1958 movie was made of the play, staring Jack Lemmon, Kim Novak and James Stewart and was called “A very bewitching comedy.” In 1959, it was a Golden Globe nominee for Best Motion Picture – Comedy.

Early in 1957, producers launched a promotional search for Siamese cats to play Pyewacket in the film. According to one release, as many as 12 cats were needed to perform the number of stunts in the film. The primary cat used for the role in close-ups was owned by animal trainer Frank Inn, who reportedly gave the cat to Novak when he saw she’d formed a close bond with him. Pyewacket’s name was derived from testimony given in a 17th-century witch trial in England, and referred to a witch’s familiar.

Will there be a cat in the play? Go to the library on Thursday, and chat with director Palanco to find out.

Kim Novak starred in the film version of “Bell, Book & Candle” with the cat Pyewacket.

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Book Review—”The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece”

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Sue

In the first chapter of Tom Hanks’ book The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, we’re introduced to writer Joe Shaw and a famous movie producer Bill Johnson.

The producer asks Shaw “What films do you hate—walk out of? Why?”

Shaw says, “I don’t hate any films. Movies are too hard to make to warrant hatred even when they are turkeys. It will be over soon enough. Walking out of a movie is a sin.”

This reviewer also feels similarly about books. Too write them is hard, “even when they are turkeys.” This book took forever to get through roughly the first 200 pages and this editor felt that it will not “be over soon enough.”

Hanks’ book, which actually takes off on page 188 and is worth reading, should be examined through the man’s acting, and Knopf’s lack of editing.

Tom Hanks is probably one of this generation’s greatest actors. When a good actor steps on a stage or film set, they come as the character. They have done their homework and fleshed out everything about the person they are playing. They know the character’s favorite color, childhood, even the kind of food that character will or will not eat—they have the back story.

It seems that Hanks approached this book the same way he would an acting role. Every character’s back story is examined and written about, from the producer’s to assistants’ to makeup people, to the reason the movie script was written.

With that attention to the “back story,” readers lose track of the story, of the main character – and on almost every page there are footnotes. It is tedious.

The New York Times wrote in a May 8 review (“Nice Guy Meets Iron Man in the First Novel by Tom Hanks: Whimsically chronicling the creation of a marvel-style movie”) The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece sags under a deluge of detail.”

The Times reviewer gives examples, “The word ‘coffee’ appears, by my count, on 85 pages: triple espressos from a Di Orso Negro machine with frothed half-and-half for Mac-Teer; HaKiDo with oat milk for OKB; Pirate drip for a Teamster named Ace Acevido. Highly specific smoothies are fetched; catering tables are lovingly inventoried.”

The Times review concluded “Encountering a vintage Smith-Corona Sterling, Johnson’s chosen instrument, on Page 96 of ‘Masterpiece,’” I rolled my eyes tolerantly.

“After turning 50 pages more and finding a minor character selling ‘Royals, Underwoods, Remingtons, Hermes, Olivettis, all in working order,’ as if in an Etsy shop, I had to fight a strong urge to close the book, fire up a triple espresso and see if anything was happening in the tiny palace of my iPhone.”

The CTN editor understands that sentiment, as I continued to struggle through the first 187 pages of Masterpiece. Reading Moby Dick, which is about the same length as this novel, was far more entertaining.

Then I hit page 188 of Masterpiece and there was a story, and it was fun to read. The second-half of the book is a first-rate explanation of how movies are made.

Here’s what I recommend, read the first chapter to meet the producer, and then skip to page 188, when the book focuses on the main characters and the actual filming of the movie inside the book Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall.

Hanks talks about how producers get rid of actors that aren’t cooperative. He speaks about the actor’s wife, who isn’t pleased that her husband may be falling in love with the star. How does the producer deal with unhappy spouses? Really interesting because one feels it’s based on Hanks’ experience on film sets.

The real problem with this book is the editing. In acknowledgments, Hanks thanks his editor Peter Gethers and other folks at Knopf—Morgan Hamilton, Rita Madrigal, John Gall and Anna Knighton.

Shame on these people, were they too awestruck to help a first-time author? Editing means helping the writer best sell the story they’re trying to tell.

Editors add, delete and rearrange information. By way of Hollywood gossip, Hanks is agreeable to work with. He singlehandedly tried to save Village Books on Swarthmore.  He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who wouldn’t have welcomed some suggestions.

Fiction should not be tiresome like the beginning of this book. Just when a reader thought they knew the main character he/she disappeared, and a new person and his/her “back story” was introduced. . . and the footnotes—this editor has read medical journal reports with less footnotes.

Where were the editors? Maybe they were hoping they would be invited to a showing of Hanks’ next movie and didn’t want to upset him? These editors did not do this first-time novelist any favors.

The book can be purchased in Pacific Palisades at Collections Antiques and Books at 15326 Antioch Street.

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