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Our Town

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos courtesy of Avery Smith

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

Photo courtesy of Marisol Barrios Perez

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

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

Golden Hour in Hamburg

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Photo courtesy of David Grinsfelder

By DAVID GRINSFELDER | Contributing Writer

Sometimes, romance strikes when you least expect it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Phoenix Patrol: Career Trip

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Photo courtesy of Ella Sarn

By ELLA SARN | Contributing Writer

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

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

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

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

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

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon Receives Architectural Award

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of LABC

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finding Her Name

By
Sarah Shmerling
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Photo courtesy of Tawnya Warren

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

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

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

The shop is at 15117 Sunset Boulevard.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Late Actor Matthew Perry’s Pacific Palisades Home Sells for $8.55 Million

By
Lily Tinoco
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Photo courtesy of Zillow

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Matthew Perry’s former Pacific Palisades home sold in an off-market deal in mid-October for $8.55 million, just over one year after the actor’s death.

With four bedrooms spread out over 3,000 square feet, the residence was built in 1965 and underwent renovations in 2018 to give it the more contemporary style it boasts today.

The mid-century modern home has an open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling windows that stare out at the Pacific coastline.

There is also an extra-wide pivoting front door to transition from the living and dining spaces. The kitchen comes complete with a concrete breakfast table, top-of-the-line appliances and a wall made up of floating planters for an in-house vegetable garden.

The property is situated on a steep hillside with hosting amenities, such as a fire pit, raised pool and spa “perched” on the cliff’s edge overlooking the ocean.

Perry purchased the home in 2020 for $6 million.

The home was reportedly sold to Anita Verma-Lallian, a movie producer and real estate developer, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Verma-Lallian bought the home through a trust and was represented by Brooke Elliott Laurinkus of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, her representative said,” the LA Times reported. “The listing was held by Greg Holcomb of Carolwood Estates … She intends to use the property as a vacation home, her representative said.”

Perry died on Saturday, October 28, 2023. He was found in the hot tub at his home on Blue Sail Drive in Castellammare.

Perry died from “acute effects of ketamine,” the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office reported in December 2023. The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine as contributing factors in his death.

How To Win In Multiple Offers

By
the Palisadian-Post
-
Michael Edlen

By MICHAEL EDLEN | Special to the Palisadian-Post

A buyer recently asked: “I offered the most money for a property that received multiple offers. Why didn’t I get it?”

Unfortunately for many would-be buyers in prime Westside areas, there are still more people trying to buy than there are sellers willing to sell. This has been the case since 2013 and could well continue to be so for at least another few years. The reasons for this situation are complex, but relatively easy to identify.

Demographics: The current generation having the greatest buying power is beginning to raise families, desiring to either buy a home of their own or to move to a larger space. The older generations are living longer, less motivated to move because of financial considerations such as taxes and willing to continue staying in homes much larger than they need.

Financials: The younger generation is often inheriting wealth from their grandparents or parents, coupled with the relatively high income they are fortunate to have. This combination enables a greater percentage of younger families to be able to afford homes in higher-priced neighborhoods.

Interest rates are still below long-term average levels, and more creative approaches have been used in the loan industry that make purchasing more affordable by temporary ways to reduce the rates.

The inevitable results of this combination of factors are simply governed by the law of supply and demand. Only one potential buyer can succeed in purchasing a home for sale, and the seller will often have more potential offers to consider in deciding whose proposition they will accept.

However, as this buyer discovered by experience, merely having the highest offer will in no way assure someone being successful in buying the property. There are many other factors that can significantly influence the course of events that determine who the eventual winner is.

To begin with, one must view the situation from the perspective of the seller. What would be the most ideal perfect offer that could best satisfy the seller’s wishes?

In many cases, that offer might be this:

  1. More than the full asking price
  2. An all-cash purchase (or at least the verification that it could be if necessary)
  3. No loan contingency
  4. No appraisal contingency
  5. Relatively short property investigation contingency period
  6. Escrow to close in less than a month
  7. Seller can keep living there for several weeks after the escrow closes if they want to, at no charge
  8. Buyer is represented by a well-known agent who has successfully represented many other buyers
  9. Seller is given the choice of their own escrow and title companies
  10. Buyer states that they will not ask for the seller to provide any concessions or do any work or repairs on the property

The buyer who asked that question had decided not to have an agent represent them in the purchase. Their reasoning was that by saving a buyer’s agent fees, their offer would be even more attractive to the seller.

Unfortunately, even though they did offer full price and a 30-day escrow, their contract included 14 days for removal of all contingencies. These included them obtaining an 80% loan and request to use an escrow company someone in their family had recommended.

Personal connections can also play a role occasionally. Some sellers may favor a potential buyer who is a family member, close relative of their neighbor, belongs to the same religious or fraternal organization, etc.

We once were involved in a transaction where the seller had several offers and decided to issue counter offers that were not identical in price due to various different terms in their offers. The seller was leaning toward one particular buyer because of an interest they shared in common. Ultimately they selected this buyer even though the price was more than $200,000 less than the highest offer had been.

Michael Edlen and his team have been involved in hundreds of multiple offer situations, providing a wide variety of winning strategies to help both sellers and buyers in the emotionally charged process involved. They can be reached at 310-600-7422 or michael@edlenteam.com.

Fewer Sales at Slightly Lower Prices

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

By MICHAEL EDLEN | Special to the Palisadian-Post

A s of October 31, there were 72 single-family Palisades residences listed in the Multiple Listing Service, which is 6% higher than the available inventory this time last year. So far this year 185 Palisades homes have sold, which is 5% lower than last year at this time. There are now 25 homes in escrow in the Palisades.

The average sale price per square foot has decreased by 8% as compared with the same period in 2023 and is now at $1,500 per square foot. Median sale prices are currently $3,715,000, compared to $4.5 million a year ago—a 17% decrease.

The lowest-priced available home is a three-bedroom, two-bath on Michael Lane at $2,295,000. The highest-priced property is a seven-bedroom, 11-bath home 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 is a six-bedroom, 12-bath on Chautauqua, which sold for $32.3 million

There are 17 condominiums/townhouses on the market—a 24% decrease. They range from one-bedroom, one-bath on Sunset (Edgewater Towers) offered at $605,000 to a five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath unit on Tramonto Drive offered at $4,599,000. Six condos are currently in escrow.

There have been 54 condo sales so far this year, ranging from $539,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bath condo on Sunset to $2.5 million for a two-bedroom, three-bath unit on Sunset Boulevard. The median condo sale price is currently $1,367,000, which is a 10% decrease over this time last year.

There are currently seven pieces of raw land available ranging from $650,000 for a 3,703-square-foot lot on Castellammare to $7,995,000 for approximately one and a half acres on Marquette. Only one lot has sold in the Palisades this year.

There are currently 79 available leases in the Palisades, down 27% from this time last year. They range from a guesthouse studio on Glenhaven asking $2,200 per month to a six-bedroom, 18-bath home on San Onofre asking $450,000 per month.

There have been 259 leases so far this year, which is a 12% increase over last year. The highest lease so far this year was a six-bedroom, eight-bath on Amalfi Drive for $80,000 per month and the lowest was $2,300 per month for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit on Sunset Boulevard. The median was $11,900 per month.

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

Michael Colvard

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

Dr. Michael Colvard, a beloved ophthalmologist, humanitarian and educator, passed away on September 18, surrounded by loved ones. He was 77 years old.

He was born of very humble beginnings to Virginia and Stewart Colvard, the middle of three sons in Decatur, Georgia. He grew up instilled with the virtues of hard work, respect, dignity, perseverance and kindness, principles that would guide him throughout his life.

Despite his many accomplishments, Mike rarely spoke about his achievements. He was a quarterback for his high school football team in Georgia and in his senior year won the state championship. As an all-state quarterback and excellent student, he received several scholarships, both academic and athletic.

He chose to remain close to home and went to Emory University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Continuing on to Emory Medical School, he graduated with AOA honors and then went to Boston’s New England Medical Center for his medical internship.

It was there that he met Sue, a cardiac nurse. After a year they were married and proceeded to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he pursued his ophthalmology residency.

After four years their journey took them to Phoenix, Arizona, and finally to Los Angeles where Mike worked with a renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Richard Kratz, who was a pioneer in new techniques in cataract surgery. After five years Mike opened his own practice, the Colvard Eye Center, where he remained until he died.

In 1990, Sue and Mike moved to Pacific Palisades where they raised their three children, creating a loving home filled with the same values of hard work, compassion and perseverance that defined his life.

Dr. Colvard’s career was marked by extraordinary achievements. He was nationally and internationally recognized as one of the leading cataract surgeons in the world, and was known for developing key surgical techniques and instruments, including the Colvard Pupillometer, which is widely used for evaluating patients before laser vision correction.

As a clinical instructor at Jules Stein Institute, he dedicated himself to teaching and mentoring ophthalmology residents at both USC Doheny and UCLA. His textbook, “Achieving Excellence in Cataract Surgery,” is widely used by ophthalmology residents across the U.S. and Canada.

Mike’s passion for education also encompassed his deep concern for literacy among children. He was alarmed at the rates of illiteracy among school-aged children, believing that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic class, deserve the chance to rise to their highest level.

He founded a reading program called “Pups Quest” to address this trend. Over the course of a decade, he worked tirelessly to inspire a love of reading, believing in the transformative power of literacy.

On Saturday afternoons, you could often find him cozied up on the couch with his granddaughters, sharing the joy of classic literature. He cherished the moments listening to them read and then reading to them when they grew weary. Through these small acts, he continued to foster a love of learning, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of his family.

In addition to his clinical and educational roles, Dr. Colvard founded the Friends of Vision Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating reversible blindness in underserved countries. His humanitarian efforts led to the restoration of vision for over 10,000 patients on over 35 annual mission trips. While there, he established the Mwadinohmo School for disabled and impoverished children and developed a small farm next to it so the children would have nutritious food, reflecting his profound commitment to improving lives.

Dr. Colvard’s contributions to ophthalmology and his community earned him numerous accolades among which are: Humanitarian of the Year, S.E.E. International, USC Faculty Teaching Award, Dept. of Ophthalmology, and Distinguished Alumnus Award, USC Doheny Eye Institute, Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Strampelli Award, Italian Ophthalmological Society.

Mike will be remembered for his commitment to his profession, his kindness, his passion for helping others and for his gentle humility.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sue, his three children, Matthew, Caitlin Colvard Mehran, Megan Colvard, his son-in-law, Nima Mehran, his four cherished grandchildren, Olivia, Scarlett, Andrew, and Noelle, and many extended family and close friends.

A celebration of his extraordinary life will be held in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dr. Colvard’s nonprofit foundation, Friends of Vision, honoring his legacy of compassion, selflessness and service.

Alice Eve Wroblicky

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

December 5, 1927 – July 24, 2024

Alice Eve Zachacz (Wroblicky) of Pacific Palisades was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1927. She was the youngest of four daughters in a first generation of Polish immigrant family from southside Chicago.

Alice graduated from Fenger High School in 1945. She was the first in her family to attend a Junior College, Woodrow Wilson, where she was a Festival Princess.

Alice married Emil Wroblicky, her husband of 64 years, on January 28, 1950, before moving to South Bend where Emil earned his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.

In the fall of 1951 they moved to California for Emil to teach and coach at St. Monica High School before becoming a professor and football coach at California State University Los Angeles.

During this time she gave birth to three sons, Dan, Phil and Steve, hence beginning her years as a full time mother, Cub Scout Den Mother, regular “cheerleader” for son’s sporting events and activities, along with later being a business woman.

As her sons moved on to college she was an active member of American Legion Post 283 with Emil. She was also a supporter of her husband, Emil as “Citizen of the Year” of Pacific Palisades in 2006.

Alice was an active member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church since 1958. She was committed to a relationship with Christ, Bible study attender and helped at the donut table on Sundays.

Alice is survived by sons Daniel (Janet), Philip (Jan), and Steven (Ruta), nine grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 30, at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades. In lieu of flowers please honor Alice with donations to Society of St Vincent de Paul, Los Angeles: svdpla.org/donate.

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