Special Show to Raise Money for PaliHi Theatre Program

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Sue

Annika Johansson (left) in a scene from “Legally Blonde.”

One night only, “Showstoppers!” will be performed by current Palisades High School students and alumni at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, at the Paul Revere Auditorium, 1450 Allenford. This musical theater night will be a great way to enjoy some of the finest talent on the Westside, while supporting the arts.

PaliHi Visual and Performing Arts teacher Cheri Smith wrote: “Come join our current Pali artists as well as many of our cherished alumni, (so many talented faces from the past years of Pali), to celebrate the resilience of our young artists and raise funds to meet our program needs! We really need your support so please get your tickets now.

“Our alumni performers list is growing by the day, and our current students are excited to share their show tunes with you, with music from Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Little Show of Horrors, Kiss Me Kate, Legally Blonde and more.

It sounds like it will be a perfectly delightful night.

The Palisades Fire forced the school to find rehearsal space for its spring musical Legally Blonde and the performance venue was changed to Santa Monica.

Smith, who directed Legally Blonde said, “The show was an amazing celebration of the resilience of our Pali performing arts community! The spring musical took place against all odds with both virtual rehearsals and meetings at numerous in person locations on the Westside. Pali’s unbelievable talent was on full display in this collaboration between the theater, choral music, instrumental music and dance programs. Audiences were on their feet, responding to the celebratory energy pouring from the production. Bravo Dolphins!”

If you missed the show and the actors, here’s another chance to hear and see some great performances. Tickets are available at https://gofan.co/ .

Sam Jacobson performed in the spring musical.

 

Posted in Arts, Palisades Fire, Schools | Leave a comment

Residents to Discuss Safety with Councilmember Park

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Sue

All residents are invited to RSVP and join Councilmember Traci Park at a Zoom safety meeting at 4 p.m. on May 22, to discuss security and access transition with the opening of Pacific Coast Highway at the end of May, per Governor Gavin Newsom’s instructions.

Will the streets be opened into Pacific Palisades? Will checkpoints disappear?

CRIME UPDATE:

This editor heard about a burglary call last week and reached out to Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin. He responded “I have limited information. California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a burglary radio call.

“Our Los Angeles Police Department helicopter was overhead and guided CHP to possible suspect,” Espin said. “The individual was an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. CHP placed the individual under arrest.”

The intruder gained entry to the home via an open window.

Today, May 20, the owner of a home at 302 Mesa came home to check on the ongoing remediation and saw someone in her house.

The resident called 911 and then called Canyon resident Sharon Kilbride. Although police are by the checkpoints, they are not allowed to leave.

Kilbride also called the beach detail officers, who were close by and responded within five minutes. About 20 minutes later the 911 officers arrived. The individual refused to come out of the bedroom and a door had to be kicked in and the suspect was arrested.

It was learned that the suspect entered through an open window. The home does not have cameras nor a security company. It is recommended that people not currently living in their homes, take appropriate measures to ensure their homes do not become residences for squatters.

This squatter locked himself in the bedroom and a door had to be broken down to extricate and arrest him.

Posted in General | 4 Comments

Additional Trespassing Signage Information for Palisades Homes and Lots

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Sue

“No Trespass” information and other little known LA laws.

Councilmember Traci Park’s office is coordinating with Palisades residents and Block Captains/Team Palisades to begin distributing Trespass Arrest Authorization forms. https://housing.lacity.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Trespass-Arrest-Authorization.pdf

These forms authorize the Los Angeles Police Department to enforce trespass laws on your private property. The Council office strongly encourages everyone to complete and submit this form and to post “No Trespassing” signs on your property.

Here’s how you can submit your form:

Drop-off Option: Forms can be dropped off at the American Legion Post (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). A secure drop box will be available.

Online Upload: We’ve created folders categorized by specific areas within the Palisades. You can upload your signed form to the folder corresponding to your area. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y4fdK9PicwS2OJYkyGKPTE3CGI4P7vVe?usp=sharing

In-Person Submission: You may also take your signed form directly to the West LA Police Station or the nearest LAPD station to your location.

 

OTHER LA LAWS:

On a more humorous note, a resident who has posted a “NO Trespassing Sign” on his property wrote that while he researched trespassing, he found other laws on the books that need to be enforced.

  • 41.16: No person shall throw, blow or otherwise scatter on any street, sidewalk, restaurant, café, theatre, place of amusement or other public place any snuff, or any substance which injuriously affects the olfactory nerves or which causes sneezing or coughing or otherwise injuriously affects the person.
  • 41.29: No person shall operate or play any hand organ or hurdy-gurdy in, upon or along any street or sidewalk.
  • 41.47: No person owning, controlling or having charge of any bathroom or water closet room shall permit any person to use such rooms for any purpose other than toilet purposes.
  • 41.53: No person shall occupy, use or bathe in any tub or tank in any public bath house at the time such tub or tank is being occupied, used or bathed in by any other person, or occupy, use or bathe in any such tub or tank if the bathing water has been used by any other person.

The resident wrote, “More annoyingly is the requirement to file, in person, the authorization at West LA police station. I went to Pacific station and was told to file my authorization at West LA.

“Oh, and they put the form in a binder so when an officer radios in the officer working dispatch can look it up. LAPD has virtually no automation as ~80% of the budget goes to personnel costs which include salaries, benefits, and overtime. Let’s pray Pacific station doesn’t burn down like the Palisades,” he said.

Then added, “And remember, in Los Angeles it is illegal to have a pet crow, toad, snail, bat, kangaroo, or capybaras (largest rodent native to South America).”

 

 

Posted in City, Palisades Fire | 6 Comments

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Gives $3.2 Million for Wildfire Prevention

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Sue

Santa Monica Mountains

 

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy announced on May 13 that it has awarded $3.2 million in State funds to Los Angeles County and Ventura County Fire Departments to implement wildfire prevention programs.

The grants, unanimously approved by the Conservancy and its Advisory Committee at its May 12 meeting, include $2.2 million to Los Angeles County Fire Department and $1 million to Ventura County Fire Department.

The Conservancy was allocated $31 million from Proposition 4, which passed in November 2024 for watershed improvement, wildfire resilience, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development.

The proposition authorized $10 billion in debt to spend on environmental and climate projects, with the biggest chunk, $1.9 billion, for drinking water improvements. The bond prioritizes lower-income communities, and those most vulnerable to climate change, and requires annual audits. Repaying the money could cost $400 million a year over 40 years, a legislative analysis said.

The State Legislature enacted an early action measure and signed into law by Governor Newsom in mid-April that allows the Conservancy to use Prop 4 bond funds for urgent wildfire prevention and resilience efforts.

Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jaqui Irwin, who are legislative participants on the Conservancy and whose Districts were highly impacted by the January 2025 Palisades fire championed early action funding.

“My community has seen firsthand the devastating effects of wildfires,” said Senator Ben Allen, author of Proposition 4. “We have been working with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy with a sense of urgency to get these Prop 4 dollars to work as soon as possible.”

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. “Wildfire experts from both the Los Angeles and Ventura County Fire Departments continue to work hard to ensure the safety of residents living in these areas however, their safety will be greatly enhanced through additional wildfire mitigation and the much-needed fuel reduction plans funded by these grants.”

In January 2025, the devastating Palisades, Eaton, and Kenneth wildfires underscored an urgent need for wildfire and climate resilience efforts to address the growing severity of fire seasons in Southern California.

The Conservancy is an active member of the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Alliance, an umbrella group of government agencies groups convened by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath to address environmental and community safety problems related to wildfire in the Santa Monica Mountains.

(Note: The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is a State Agency established by the Legislature in 1980. Since that time, it has helped preserve more than85,000 acres of parkland in both wilderness and urban settings. Its mission is to strategically buy back, preserve, protect, and restore pieces of Southern California to form and interlinking system of urban, rural, and river parks, open space, trails, and wildlife habitat that are easily accessible to the general public.)

Posted in Accidents/Fires, Environmental, Palisades Fire, Parks | 3 Comments

Letter: Rebuilding Myths and Realities

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Sue

Large portions of the Palisades needs to be rebuilt.

As a Pacific Palisades homeowner who lost our home in the January fire, I feel compelled to speak out about the widening gap between the City’s public promises and the reality many of us face as we try to rebuild.

Our family was already in plan check before the fire. We are not developers. We’re not adding density. We’re simply trying to rebuild our home—one that is larger than the original—and return to our community. But because our design exceeds the 110% threshold defined in Mayor Bass’s Emergency Executive Order No. 1, we’ve been excluded from nearly every support system designed to help fire victims recover.

That arbitrary cap has become a barrier. We’ve been denied access to the Self-Certification Pilot Program (Executive Order No. 6) and—most frustratingly—we’re being told to pay full permitting and plan check fees, even though Mayor Bass’s April 25th executive order states clearly that those fees should be waived for homes damaged or destroyed in the wildfire, including those already in plan check. That waiver language includes no mention of a 110% cap. Yet the City is now applying one.

We’ve been stalled for months. Despite stamped engineering plans, a cleared lot, and ready contractors, our project has been caught in subjective interpretation and red tape. Our assigned LADBS plan checker rejected a code-compliant design because he “didn’t like the approach.” One revision even required a raised deck with open space below it—a known ember trap. This isn’t enforcement. It’s obstruction.

Councilmember Traci Park stated publicly that homes over 110% would face “a longer review,” not exclusion from support. But that is not what’s happening. The message we’ve received—through delays, denial of fee waivers, and policy loopholes—is that slightly exceeding an arbitrary number means you’re on your own.

If the City truly wants to support fire victims, it must extend meaningful, consistent support to all displaced homeowners—not just those who fit neatly within a percentage cap. Otherwise, Executive Orders 1 and 6 become symbolic gestures that leave families like ours behind.

Darcy Bieber Maki

(Editor’s note: Circling the News shared this letter with Osama Younan, general manager for the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, who responded “Thank you Sue, we will definitely reach out to Darcy to help.”) 

Posted in City, Palisades Fire | 2 Comments

2025 Film Festival Tradition Continues: Winner Announced

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Sue

These were the award winners from the 11rh Annual Revere Film Festival.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

The 11th Annual Paul Revere Film Festival was held on May 16 continuing an event that was started by a former parent, Lisa Robbins, to allow students a chance to tell a story.

Annually awards are given in six categories: 1) live action, 2) animation, 3) documentary, 4) music video, 5) public service announcement and 6) commercial. Judges pick 1st, 2nd and third place in each category.

“I continue to volunteer with the festival because I love helping students bring their creative talents to the big screen,” said organizer Susan Fitzer. “The event provides a wonderful opportunity for our Paul Revere community to come together and celebrate the art of storytelling through film.”

On the night of the event, filmmakers walk the red carpet and view their creativity on the big screen.  Every student who enters a film, receives a gift and raffle baskets this year were donated by Warner Brothers, Family Guy, American Dad, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks Animation and Skydance Media.

A few years ago, “we introduced the Lisa Robins Spirit of the Festival Award,” Fitzer said, noting that the award is chosen by us volunteers and “we usually award it to the film we feel embodies the Spirit of Paul Revere.  We love picking it each year.”

This year that award went to Always Look For The Helpers, which was created by Mr. Wechsler’s Yearbook Class.

LIVE ACTION AWARDS:

“Invisa Man Goes Wrong” was done by directors Ali and Jalil Jackson and Nahum Mulu.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

First Place went to Imaginary Friend directed by Pugliese Schwartz. Second went to Invisa Man Goes Wrong and third to Mark Williams Falls Back, Directed by Austin Geiger and Peter McCarthy.

“This is the second time I’ve been a judge at The Paul Revere Film Festival and I find it inspiring to watch the creative minds of these students,” said Tia Nolan. “Their imagination is refreshing and it’s a joy to watch their young filmmaker minds at work.”

Nolan is a feature film editor. She began her career in the early 1990’s moving up the ranks from apprentice editor to assistant and finally to editor. She got her big break editing Bewitched (2005) with Nora Ephron and from there she built a career in comedies with films like Friends with Benefits (2011), Annie (2014), How To Be Single (2016), I Feel Pretty (2018), Superintelligence (2020) and Thunder Force (2021).

MUSIC VIDEO:

I Get Those Tardies Every Time directed by Eli Rokhsar won first; Leave the Door Open ASL, directed by Eli and Logan McCune took second; and You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Mr. Wechsler’s Yearbook and Journalism Classes took third.

Helping to judge music was Fred Coury, who is best known for being the drummer for multi platinum band CINDERELLA for 30 years. He is an award-winning composer for both film and television. In addition, Fred composes music for sporting events and arenas, including all the music for the Los Angeles Kings.

Organizer Fitzer said, “We try to get judges from different entertainment industry disciplines each year, but Fred Coury loves it so much, he has asked to do it every year.  So Fred has been a judge for the last 9 years!”

Also judging this year was Aaron Kenny is an Australian Film and Theater composer based in New York City. He is a music assistant to Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken. He has had the pleasure of working on the songs and scores to the live-action Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid, as well as working with Stephen Schwartz on the score to Wicked – Part One.

DOCUMENTARY AWARDS :

Marina del Ray was the subject for Aaron Goldberg, Sandro Prilusky and Gabe Smith.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

In first place was Alpacas! that was directed by Austin Geiger, taking second was Marina del Ray directed by three students Aaron Goldberg, Sandro Prilusky and Gabe Smith. Third place this year went to Palisades Fire Documentary directed by GG Bostic.

Another judge was Jana Sue Memel is Executive Vice President of Schools of Entertainment at the Academy of Art University, where she also teaches screenwriting, and directing. Films Jana has produced have won three Oscars and have received an additional eight Academy Award nominations. She has produced, written, and/or directed over a hundred short films, thirty feature-length films, documentaries and television.

ANIMATION:

Director Emma Mack with actresses Zoe Milam and Olive Milam.
PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

First place went to A Cool School Movie directed by Emma Mack, second went to How Spicy Food Takes Effect on Your Body by Melanie Lee and third was a movie directed by August Brancato called Schrodinger’s Terms & Conditions.

“All the submissions showed so much creativity and inventiveness. Their uncensored joy in storytelling inspired me!” said Brian Pimental a long-time animation veteran whose credits include The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, Enchanted, Bambi 2, Lego 2 and most recently Spellbound and Flink’s Pigeon Problems.

Also judging was Lisa L. Silver a mom and a seasoned animation feature film editor. She has been working in film editing for 35 years honed her storytelling skills while editing shorts and feature films during her first 15 years at Walt Disney Animation (Emperor’s New Groove, Mulan 2, Cinderella 3, Winnie the Pooh, various Tinkerbell projects and the Academy Award winning Paperman).

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Austin Geiger                                                                                              PHOTO: RICH SCHMITT/CTN

In first was Teach Resilience, directed by Austin Geiger. Second place went to Don’t Trash Revere by Mr. Vial’s Screenwriting and Film Making Class. Third place Exercise Is Important directed by Brianna Reyes.

More judges include Phillip J. Bartell and Lori Korngeibel. Bartell, ACE, has edited a number of films and television series, including Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, To All The Boys I Loved Before, Bad Hair, and Dear White People.

Korngeibel is an Emmy Award winning producer with 30 years’ experience and has worked on Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Lilo & Stitch and Dreamworks Animation’s Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon. Her other Animation credits include the Oscar Winning “Spirited Away.” Her live action films include Armageddon, Maleficent, Cruella, and Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion.” She has also produced several documentaries such as Disney+’s Waking Sleeping Beauty and Howard.

COMMERCIAL

Glacier Water directed by Ethan Nedjati took first; Drop Stop directed by Eli Rokhsar was second; and third went to 3 Reasons Why To Go To Italy, directed by Ariana Zolfahari.

Judge Gabe Sachs is a writer and producer who has worked on many television projects including Freaks & Geeks, Just Shoot Me, Undeclared, Life As We know it, 90210 and The Night Shift. He co-wrote the feature films Diary of A Wimpy Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Sachs is an alumnus of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His creative partner is writer/director Jeff Judah with whom he co-owns Sachs/Judah Productions.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Film/Television, Kids/Parenting, Schools | 1 Comment

OBIT: Don Haselkorn, Businessman, Beloved Resident, Husband, Father

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Sue

With broken hearts, the family announced the passing of Eugene “Don” Haselkorn on May 16 at age 93. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, La. 90045.

A former Palisades Optimist Club President and a long-time member, fellow Optimists  remembered “Donny was a fun-loving guy who enjoyed playing Santa Claus and greeting all the children at our Optimist annual family Christmas events.

“When Don was at an event you were sure to have a good time,” one Optimist said. “Don was a member of our club for more than 60 years.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York, “Uncle Donny” (as he liked to be called) was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, son, friend, mentor, pharmacist, business consultant and so much more. He loved life and showered all who knew him with his generosity, humor, fun-loving spirit, and unwavering dedication to family, friends and community.

Don moved to Santa Monica as a teenager and attended Santa Monica High School. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he was the first in his family to go to college, attending UC Berkeley where he met his adoring wife Carolyn. He graduated from UC San Francisco Pharmacy School and UCLA Anderson School of Management.

The two married in 1954, spending their first years together in Berkeley before moving to the San Fernando Valley. The couple moved to Pacific Palisades to the Marquez Knolls area in 1964 and he purchased Knoll’s pharmacy. About living in the Palisades, Don said it was like being on a vacation.

He was a member of the Palisades Chamber of Commerce and was tight friends with Arnie Wishnick, Bud Petrick, Mort Farberow and Al Elfant. In one bowling tournament, Al Elfant told Don that if Don struck out those last frames (to win the tournament for the Optimists), “I’ll kiss your ass.” Don struck out and then provided a donkey for Al to kiss.

Don served as president of the Palisades Americanism Parade Association, orchestrating many successful Fourth of July Parades. He served as the Honorary Town Sheriff, Kehillat Israel and Optimist Youth Home board member, as well as being a proud member of the American Legion.

He also provided many teenagers with their first job at his pharmacy.

Don was a Dodgers fan and also a UCLA basketball and football fan. He put his full heart into everything he did whether fishing, boating, scuba diving, golfing, telling jokes, photography, playing poker, or making playlists and video montages for his friends and family.

In September 2023, he moved to Belmont Village in Encino, where he made many new friends and was popular with both residents and staff – but he still kept his Palisades Optimist Club membership current.

Don is survived by Carolyn Haselkorn, his wife of 71 years, his daughters Mimi Haselkorn, Francine Lis and Faye Haselkorn, and grandchildren Michael Lis and Liana Lis, sister Joyce Strassberg and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is predeceased by parents Fay and Murray Haselkorn and sister Marla Osband.

A funeral will be held at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 20, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Los Angeles Jewish Health, KI Community Palisades Fire Assistance Fund or the American Legion Palisades Fire Relief. 

May his memory forever be a blessing.

Shiva Schedule:

Immediately following the service, a meal of condolence will take place at HAMAKOM 7353 Valley Circle Boulevard, West Hills, Ca. 91304 with a Shiva minyan taking place at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21, Shiva at 7 p.m. followed by minyan at 7:30. Thursday, May 22, Shiva at 7 p.m. followed by minyan 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 24, minyan at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 25, Shiva at 7 p.m. followed by minyan at 7:30 p.m. For locations email flis1@sbcglobal.net.

Posted in Obituaries | 3 Comments

Foreshadowing of the Palisades Fire

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Sue

Trying to pare old emails from my inbox, this editor came across an email I received on December 20, 2024, from a reader.

The resident wrote: “The explosions occurred last night for five minutes, beginning at 1:41 a.m. This was just one of the booms. Check out the large plume of smoke.

“It was a group of teens who drove into the park, lit multiple explosives, then left. We are trying to use chat GPT to decipher their conversation.

The park (and LAPD) continue to sit on their hands. Imagine if one of these explosions sparked a fire? None of us who surround the park would have time to get out of our homes.

Then a little over a week later, the following alert went out from LAFD:

01-01-2025 12:17am 1699 Via Las Palmas

Approximately 3-4 acres of heavy brush burning under 15mph winds. LAFD Air Ops is unable to fly due to weather conditions. LACoFD is sending Copter 22. Firefighters have been making their way via ground to the isolated areas. LA County Fire is also sending four camp crews to cut line. Firefighters are in place to defend at least one home. There are no widespread evacuations at this time.

Thirty minutes later visibility had improved and three LAFD helicopters joined LACoFD Copter 22 in making continuous water drops. “LAFD firefighters on the ground and LACoFD Hand Crews are making good progress,” Stewart wrote. “There are no structures damaged, no injuries reported and currently no evacuation orders in place.”

At 4:46, Steward reported that firefighters completed the hose line around the perimeter of the fire and that it was fully contained. The mop up operation continued to ensure no flare ups. The fire was held at eight acres, no structures were damaged, and no injuries reported.

Since the area where the fire started is a hiking area in Topanga State Park and isolated from traffic, CTN asked Stewart about the fire source: about the possibility of fireworks, since residents reported loud bangs and fireworks before, during and after New Year’s Eve in town.

One resident wrote on a social media site that “Even with a sizable fire ongoing in the Highlands, I can hear more fireworks down here in town. Parents, if you have teenagers still out and about, call them and make sure you know where they are and what they are doing.”

Stewart said no cause of the fire had been determined.

A week later, on January 7, the Palisades Fire destroyed about half of the Palisades. It will be five months in June and still no cause has been given.

 

Posted in Accidents/Fires | 1 Comment

Viewpoint: Lack of Leadership Leads to Devastation

Posted on May 18, 2025 by Sue

A Tale of Two Fires: Leadership in the Face of Danger

On the morning of November 2, 1993, the Topanga Fire ignited. By late afternoon, it had jumped Topanga Boulevard and was threatening the Pacific Palisades Highlands.

During an afternoon news conference, LAFD Fire Chief Donald Manning made a bold declaration: the Los Angeles Fire Department would stop the fire from advancing into the Palisades Highlands—period. At that time, nightfall was imminent, and the winds were blowing just as fiercely as they had during the more recent Palisades Fire.

But there was a critical difference—Chief Manning made the courageous decision to fly LAFD water-dropping helicopters despite the dangerous wind conditions and the onset of night, when air operations are typically grounded due to instability and safety risks.

That was real leadership. He was willing to take calculated risks to protect the community he was sworn to defend.

In stark contrast, during the Palisades Fire, Incident Commanders from LAFD, LACoFD, and Cal Fire made the collective decision to ground all air operations—including helicopters and Phos-Chek air tankers—because wind speeds were deemed unsafe.

While safety is always a consideration, they seemed to forget that firefighting is inherently dangerous.

Sometimes leadership demands making hard decisions, even in the face of personal and operational risk, to protect life, property, and entire communities.

Instead, they chose to play it safe, leaving millions of dollars’ worth of firefighting equipment grounded when it could have made a crucial difference, perhaps saving homes, lives, and our community from devastation.

Firefighting leadership is not just about following protocol. It’s about having the courage to act when the stakes are highest, even if it means putting yourself on the line. Chief Manning understood that. It’s time our modern leaders remember it too.

(Editor’s note: the author of this viewpoint asked to remain anonymous.) 

 

Posted in Palisades Fire | 3 Comments

Farmer Schwartz Looking for a “Pasture”

Posted on May 18, 2025 by Sue

These pumpkin plants need to go in the ground this week. Is your lot available.

Palisades resident Bruce Schwartz, who annually gives pumpkin plants to residents who are willing to grow them in their yard, has a problem. Many of those people had their homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

He has 30 mature seedlings that need to be planted this week. Schwartz wonders if there is a Palisades resident, who is not planning to start rebuilding before September. He will take that yard, lovingly improve the soil, plant the pumpkins and then water the plants during the summer.

Schwartz, who was Citizen of the Year in 2017 for his beautification efforts elsewhere in the Palisades (and also for the placement of high-fire-severity signs that prohibited camping in the brush), wants to ensure that the tradition of giving pumpkins to the YMCA pumpkin patch will continue this fall.

One year, he planted pumpkins on a median strip near the 76 Station at Sunset and PCH, securing water for the plants from owner Robert Munakash and manager Carlos Rodriguez. The harvested pumpkins (many them weighing more than 100 pounds) were donated to the YMCA.

Last year he took fallow ground by Theatre Palisades and grew a lovely crop.

If someone doesn’t have plans for their lot before September and would be agreeable to a pumpkin patch, contact Schwartz: bruceschwartz80@gmail.com.

There is an immediacy the plants need to go into the ground this week.

Posted in Geology/Dinosaurs/Earth, Real Estate | 3 Comments