By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

An Open Forum regarding the Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail Project will take place at Palisades Branch Library on Wednesday evening, August 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“Join us to discover the proposed walking path linking George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon and Will Rogers State Beach,” read the event flyer.

The trail is being developed separately from the Potrero Canyon Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge project, which had its first community meeting on March 14.

As being considered, the trail will connect Potrero Canyon to the beach via a lateral walking path that extends to Temescal Canyon Road.

The meeting, which will take place in the community room, is being hosted by Geosyntec Consultants and the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering. Those who attend will be invited to share their thoughts, according to the flyer.

“The trail is a required element under the Coastal Development Permit for the Potrero Canyon park project, issued by the California Coastal Commission,” read information provided by Pacific Palisades Community Council. “For more information about Potrero Canyon (including ongoing posts with updates on Canyon matters), visit PPCC’s Potrero Canyon page.”

Palisades Branch Library is located at 861 Alma Real Drive.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Nonprofit Sages & Seekers is seeking sages—adults ages 60 and older—and seekers—students between 15 and 24 years old—to participate in its upcoming fall program, including at Palisades Charter High School.

The eight-week intergenerational program, which is offered both online and in-person, is described as an opportunity to build meaningful relationships.

With a mission to combat social isolation and “dissolve age-related segregation,” the program has been implemented across the country, in private and public schools, universities, senior centers, and beyond.

“Sages & Seekers has launched many long-lasting friendships that have transcended age and geographic boundaries,” according to the program. “We provide both students and seniors an alternative to isolation: a sense of purpose and a connection to the larger picture of society and the world.”

Sages & Seekers will be hosting a program at Pali High on Wednesdays from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. beginning September 25. Subsequent meeting dates are October 9, 16, 23 and 30, and November 6, 13 and 20.

The deadline to enroll for Sages & Seekers’ fall program is Wednesday, September 18. An informational Zoom session will take place on Tuesday, August 27, at 10 a.m.

“If you have not participated in one of our programs before, and would like to learn more about our online and in-person programs before enrolling, this is a great opportunity to hear from our staff and ask questions,” according to Sages & Seekers. “This info session is not mandatory for new Sages. It is optional for those who would like to learn more about the program.”

The session will also be recorded for those who cannot attend live.

To sign up for the informational session or to enroll in the program, visit sagesandseekers.org/enroll or contact loriann@sagesandseekers.org.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Wise & Healthy aging will present “Fall Prevention Dos & Don’ts” at Palisades Branch Library on Wednesday, August 21, beginning at 11 a.m.

“Falling is not a natural part of aging,” read an event description. “Learn about the risks for falling and how you can prevent them.”

Each participant will receive a free nightlight at the end of the one-hour program.

Wise & Healthy Aging is a community-based, nonprofit organization that is designed to advance “the dignity and quality of life of older adults through leadership, advocacy and high-quality, innovative services.”

Palisades Branch Library is located at 861 Alma Real Drive.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Pacific Palisades Art Association is hosting two upcoming events at Palisades Branch Library.

The first event is an Art Show and Tell, which will take place on Monday, August 19, from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. It is the second Art Show and Tell of the year, following a previous program in May.

“Feel free to bring any of your pieces to share and talk about,” read the PPAA website. “Please try and limit yourself to no more than two pieces. We will try and have enough time for everybody to talk.”

The show and tell is open to “all forms of art.” Those who participated in May are welcome to join again with “new or other art pieces.”

The second event is a Color Pencil Techniques demonstration, led by Caryl Wolff, on Wednesday, August 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Supplies will be provided, but limited, according to PPAA. Those who have their own supplies are invited to bring them in.

Both events take place at 861 Alma Real Drive in the Palisades Branch Library Community Room.

“As always, thank you for your continued interest in our Art Association,” wrote PPAA President Annette Alexakis, “and I am looking forward to seeing you all at our next events.”

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Songwriter, screenwriter/producer of television series, entrepreneur and Palisadian Citizen of the Year Jimmy Dunne and actor Ted McGinley will host an author event on Wednesday evening, August 21, beginning at 6 p.m.

The event will focus on Dunne’s latest book, “Jimmy Dunne Says: 47 Short Stories That Are Sure to Make You Laugh, Cry—and Think.” The column—an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says”—has been published in the Palisadian-Post since it launched in August 2021.

“‘Jimmy Dunne Says’ is a collection of author Jimmy Dunne’s best bite-sized stories that Americans everywhere are spreading and sharing,” according to a synopsis. “These stories are heartfelt, smart and thought-provoking, and some will have you absolutely belly-laughing. Some stories about navigating everyday life today, some that take you right back to your childhood days.”

The event will begin with a discussion from 6 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A from 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. and a signing from 6:45 to 7 p.m. Dunne will be joined in conversation by McGinley, an actor known for roles in series like “Happy Days,” “The Love Boat” and “Married… with Children.”

Zibby’s Bookshop is located at 1113 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. It is owned and operated by Marquez Knolls resident Zibby Owens.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

The Pacific Palisades Democratic Club has announced the opening of a new election headquarters space for 2024, with a soft opening planned for August and grand opening on September 1.

In 2004, PPDC began spearheading efforts to open in-person Westside Democratic Headquarters in Santa Monica, with plans to reopen a WDHQ every presidential election year. This has allowed the organization to partner with multiple area clubs, including the Santa Monica Dem Club, West LA Dems, Heart of LA and more.

“The Pacific Palisades Democratic Club … has come a long way since a group of politically active Palisadians incorporated a local Democratic club in 1953,” according to the club. “We’re proud to have led the founding and running of the Westside Democratic Headquarters, opening brick-and-mortar Santa Monica locations every presidential election year—drawing, training and managing thousands of volunteers to become one of the top-performing in-person campaign centers nationwide from 2004 through 2016.”

PPDC recently announced that the headquarters space has expanded and will open a physical space in Santa Monica again in September.

The headquarters will act as a space to train and equip volunteers, host candidates and ballot proposition forums, host debates, parties and events, and provide a gathering place.

PPDC will host a soft opening on Thursday, August 22, which will also act as a watch-party for Vice President Kamala Harris’ Democratic National Convention nomination acceptance speech. A grand opening event is slated for Sunday, September 1. Both events will take place at the WDHQ, located at 1241 3rd Street Promenade.

For more information, visit palisadesdemclub.org/aboutus/aboutus.

A Candidates Forum Will Take Place August 8; Electronic Voting is Set to Begin August 16

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Pacific Palisades Community Council announced candidates in the 2024 election of area and at-large representatives during its regular board meeting on Thursday, July 25, with voting set to start on August 16.

“We will have the upcoming election for the area and at-large board members who will be serving a two-year term,” PPCC Vice President Quentin Fleming said.

The PPCC board is comprised of a chair/president, vice-chair/vice-president, treasurer, secretary, chair emeritus, area and at-large representatives, representatives of various community organizations, and non-voting advisors/positions.

When it comes to uncontested seats, JoAnna Rodriguez is running to represent Area 1, Steve Cron for Area 2, Karen Ridgley for Area 4, Kimberly Bloom for Area 5, Sharon Kilbride for Area 7, Andrew Wolfberg for Area 8 and Chris Spitz for at-large representative.

Two seats will have a contested election: Joe Layton and Julia Nilsen for Area 3 (including Marquez Knolls, Sunset Boulevard from Palisades Drive to Bienveneda Avenue and Bel-Air Bay Club), and Lorie Cudzil and David Schwarz for Area 6 (including Temescal Canyon Road from the Pacific Ocean to Sunset Boulevard to Chautauqua Boulevard). Linda Friar withdrew as a candidate for Area 3, and Barbara Schelbert withdrew from the Area 6 race.

Each candidate—contested or not—put together a statement that has been posted by PPCC on its website.

For the contested Area 3 seat, as a parent of two boys—and a resident since December 2018—Layton said he is “very interested in the present and future” of the “wonderful community.” He has volunteered as a youth sports coach, adding he would “cherish the opportunity to expand” his involvement to representing Area 3 on PPCC.

Nilsen has been a Palisadian for over two decades—the last nine as a resident of Marquez Knolls. She is an attorney by profession, certified divorce coach and business entrepreneur, who has participated in PTA, active in fundraising, and on the Beverly Hills homeowners association board and board of The Special Needs Resource Center nonprofit.

Running to represent the other contested seat, Area 6, Cudzil has lived in the Palisades for 12 years, nine in the area.

“Throughout my time here, I have been concerned about issues affecting our neighborhood, including the construction of Potrero Canyon, the building of a bridge to the beach and safety on our streets,” Cudzil wrote. “I have attended several PPCC meetings over the years, both in person and online, to become more aware of specific issues and how they are impacting the Palisades.”

Schwarz has resided in Area 6 since October 2021, writing that he has “a longstanding interest in good government and civic participation,” including a “two-term gubernatorial appointee to the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, a.k.a. the California ‘Little Hoover’ Commission,” “member [of the] Beverly Hills Pension Reform Task Force,” and “presidential appointee to three U.S. Delegations to the UN Human Rights Commission.”

A two-week voting period will begin on Friday, August 16, at 8 a.m. and end Friday, August 30, at 9 p.m. The electronic ballot will be available on the PPCC website—which is “the only way to vote.” Campaigning is now underway.

Residents of Pacific Palisades may vote for the area representative in which their primary residence is located (a map is available at the PPCC website) and for the at-large candidate. Property owners and business operators may vote for the at-large representative. Voters must be 18 years old as of August 30, 2024.

A Candidates Forum will take place during the PPCC board meeting at Palisades Branch Library on Thursday, August 8, beginning at 6 p.m. The meeting will also be available to attend via Zoom: A link will be posted on the PPCC website.

“During the forum, all candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves with brief remarks,” read information shared by PPCC. “Candidates in contested seats will then be posed a series of questions curated by the Election Committee and asked by the Election Committee Chair (one minute for each answer).”

Members of the audience who reside in Areas 3 or 6 will then be invited to ask additional questions to all candidates running in their respective area. At the end of the forum, all candidates will have a chance to make one-minute-or-less closing remarks.

“We hope you will attend our meetings, participate in PPCC and follow our work in the weeks and months ahead,” read a statement from PPCC. “Your voice, perspective and engagement informs our direction, and makes our advocacy stronger.”

For more information, including a link to the ballot starting August 16 and the full candidate statements, visit pacpalicc.org.