By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

American Legion Ronald Reagan – Palisades Post 283 is launching a nationwide initiative alongside several Fourth of July celebrations, designed to “improve the standing of the military and veterans in American society.”

“The long-term initiative, led by Post 283 Commander Jim Cragg, aims to draw the public closer together to its veterans and military service members for a renewed camaraderie and mutual respect,” read a statement about the initiative. “In part, the Post will organize and promote events that highlight three military communities whose members exemplify the core values that define and guide America: Medal of Honor recipients, United States service academies and United States special operations forces.”

With several Fourth of July events taking place in Pacific Palisades—from the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K in the morning to fireworks at Palisades Charter High School in the evening—the Post plans to have an increased role.

“Medal of Honor recipients, the superintendent of U.S. Military Academy at West Point and many members from the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets will participate in a full schedule of the day’s events in the community,” the statement continued.

“Run with the Supe” will take place at 8:15 a.m. on July 4 as part of the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K, which starts and ends at Palisades Recreation Center.

“Post 283 will honor all military services by inviting and hosting active duty military members, West Point Cadets, local ROTC Cadets and veterans to join U.S. Military Academy at West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Gilland in the annual Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run,” according to the statement.

Following the race, active duty military, veterans and their families are invited to brunch at Post 283, located at 15247 La Cruz Drive, at 9:30 a.m., which will be attended by Gilland and Medal of Honor recipient Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell.

When the Fourth of July parade begins at 2 p.m., the Post will participate alongside “distinguished guests.”

“Post 283 founded the Pacific Palisades 4th of July Parade,” according to the statement. “This year will feature a number of military vehicles, to include a military flyover, coordinated by Post 283 and various local military units. The 76th annual parade will include U.S. Military Academy at West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Steve Gilland as the reviewing officer and Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Littrell as an honored guest in the parade. As tradition dictates, Post 283 members will also walk in the parade.”

After the parade, Post 283 will host a “Meet Our Military” barbecue at 3 p.m., with military vehicles on display for children and families to explore. Gilland, Littrell, members of the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets and Post 283 Legionnaires will be in attendance to speak to and ask questions of their military experiences. Gilland and Littrell are also slated to give speeches on “American independence and how the enduring values of freedom, patriotism and community sustain our country today.”

“We invite everyone to come out and celebrate our nation’s independence with American Legion Post 283,” Cragg said in a statement. “This is a day filled with pride, patriotism and community spirit. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary celebration.”

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Pacific Palisades Community Council is seeking input from the neighborhood regarding three options for the redesign of the Palisades Recreation Center playground ahead of the next meeting of Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board meeting, which is slated for July 18.

There are three different designs—an ocean/meadow theme, forest theme and desert theme—proposed by Recreation and Parks and Council District 11 for the “revamp and upgrade of the Palisades Recreation Center,” read information shared by PPCC.

“We encourage everyone to take a look at these and send your feedback by email to PPCC,” the email continued. “We will share the feedback with the PAB, which will consider this matter at their July 18 meeting, when the input from the community could inform their decision. The Council Office has pledged Quimby funds to this project to upgrade the playground and bathrooms, and bring them to compliance with current regulations. They believe they can accomplish this, if they begin timely.”

For more information, including photos of the three options, visit pacpalicc.org.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Porta Via Palisades will host a 4th of July brunch fundraiser on Thursday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with proceeds being donated to Los Angeles Fire Department Station 69.

“Celebrate Independence Day with delicious brunch and celebrate our local heroes,” read a post on social media by Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce. “As we enter fire season in Los Angeles, this is a chance to show our appreciation for their bravery and service.”

Reservations are “strongly recommended,” and can be made at portaviarestaurants.com/pacific-palisades or by calling 310-499-2989.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Palisades Branch Library will host Pajama Storytime on Monday, July 8, and Monday, July 22, at 7 p.m.

The evening events invite babies and toddlers to Palisades Branch Library for storytimes and read alouds.

“Wear your jammies to the library,” the event description read. “For children of all ages—parents and teddy bears welcome.”

Reservations are not required. For ADA accommodations, call 213-228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

During its most recent board meeting on Thursday, June 13, Pacific Palisades Community Council hosted a presentation by City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering regarding the Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail—formerly known as the Lateral Trail.

When complete, the trail will extend from the bottom of George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon along Pacific Coast Highway to the Temescal Canyon Road crosswalk light, “in order to provide safe passage from the park to the beach,” according to PPCC.

Project Manager Kristen Ly spoke during the June 13 meeting, answering a series of questions posed by PPCC—including regarding the timeline Bureau of Engineering has in mind, the projected cost and expected outreach process—as well as from meeting attendees.

“This trail … is currently required as part of the Coastal Commission permit for the park and is expected to be constructed in order to provide parkgoers with beach access,” Ly explained.

The trail was given $1.15 million in federal funding, Ly reported, thanks to the efforts of the office of Council District 11 and then-Congressmember for Pacific Palisades Ted Lieu.

“A couple of notes about this federal funding: I do want to make it clear that it requires quite a bit of paperwork,” Ly said. “We have to go through the state in order to access that, and even then, it’s not like they just deposit that money into an account that we are free to use. There are a lot of requirements that go with it.”

A previous “rough layout” of the trail created in 2016 is “no longer feasible,” Ly explained, as it was based on information from 2012. Later in the meeting, a question was posed to Ly about what changed in the area from 2012 to present day that makes the previous design unusable.

Ly explained it was a combination of erosion and construction activities in the area, including the construction of the park itself. The consultants will take into account creating a design that is “usable” and “relatively maintenance free” that will not “erode away,” according to Ly.

At the time of the June 13 meeting, Bureau of Engineering had secured funding to hire Geosyntec—“the consultant company that will undertake the predesign and community outreach phase of the project.”

“They will be getting a new survey and they will be establishing a preliminary layout,” Ly said. The report is “not necessarily the final decision,” that will come during the design phase, which will be “through a different consultant later down the road.”

According to Ly, the community can expect a meeting, as well as the start of the outreach process, in late summer or early fall. The overall project will take a “significant amount of time,” Ly explained, “as in years kind of time.”

“The project still requires an agreement between LA City and Caltrans, which owns the land where the path will be laid,” PPCC wrote. “This process has been long unfolding, and once a preliminary layout is established, the city will begin talks with Caltrans in earnest.”

Ly said she wanted to make it clear it is “really hard” for Bureau of Engineering to “come up with a definite timeline and the cost estimate until” the report is done.

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon is a 46-acre passive park that spans from Palisades Recreation Center to Pacific Coast Highway. It opened, after decades of planning and construction, on December 10, 2022.

The Pacific Palisades Pedestrian Trail project is separate from the Potrero Canyon Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge project, which is currently in its public outreach phase and would develop a bridge that connects Will Rogers State Beach to the park.

“We are aware of each other, we’re all sharing the same space,” Ly described. “So the [project manager] for the bridge project and myself are working pretty closely to make sure that we’re working together on this.”

For more information, including a link to a video of Ly’s presentation, visit pacpalicc.org.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Palisadians across all neighborhoods are invited to show off their red, white and blue decor for a chance to win a prize in this year’s Patriotic Home Contest, which is accepting entries through July 2 at 5 p.m.

“Showcase your patriotic spirit and creativity by decorating your home for a chance to win exciting prizes,” read a postcard at the start of the contest.

The 2024 contest is sponsored by “local real estate legends” Susan Montgomery and Violetta Hargitay, who work at Sotheby’s International Realty, as part of Palisades Americanism Parade Association’s Fourth of July festivities.

Montgomery explained to the Palisadian-Post that her and Hargitay have worked together for “many, many years.” In addition to real estate, Hargitay also does photography (and she was the most recent winner of 90272 Magazine’s Travel Tales contest).

“I’m honored that she wanted me to partner with her,” Hargitay, a Highlands resident for 25-plus years, said. “We are friends and colleagues, and I think we’re pretty like-minded in how we approach our business, and what we think about the community and how long we’ve been in the community.”

Awards will be given to the “Most Patriotic Home,” “Runner-Up Most Patriotic Home” and the “Joan Sather Memorial Sponsor’s Award,” which will be given in honor of the late contest sponsor to the home that has the “most outstanding use” of homemade elements.

Montgomery and Joan Sather—longtime friends and both Realtors with Sotheby’s International Realty—co-sponsored the event together for years until Sather died in 2022, which is when the contest introduced the award in her honor.

“She spearheaded this whole thing and it’s turned into a very popular part of the celebration of the Fourth of July,” Montgomery said of Joan. “I want to continue to do it to honor Joan. I think it’s such a great tradition in the Palisades.”

Montgomery and Hargitay encouraged residents in all neighborhoods of the Palisades to enter the contest, from Castellammare and the Highlands to the Riviera and Alphabet Streets—even if the homeowners plan to be out of town for the holiday.

Winners will be notified on July 3 around 4 p.m. and available on the Palisades 4th website, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

Those who wish to enter the contest can fill out a form at palisades4th.com/parade/home-contest. They may also be sent directly to homecontest@palisades4th.com or uploaded to Instagram with #Palisades4thHomeContest.

Last year’s first-place prize went to the Mass family, followed by runners up the Grigsby family in second place and the Gold family, which won the Joan Sather Memorial Sponsor’s Award. Two additional runners up were also selected: Mary Dekernion and Nina Almaraz.

Winners will receive prizes and gift cards from local businesses.

For more information, contact Montgomery at susan.montgomery@sothebyshomes.com or Hargitay at violetta.hargitay@sothebys.realty.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor 

Pacific Palisades Community Council elected its slate of officers for the upcoming 2024-25 term, which will begin on July 1.

Elected by board acclamation on Thursday, June 13, Sue Kohl will lead PPCC as president, Quentin Fleming will be vice-president, Jenny Li will continue as treasurer and Beth Holden-Garland will continue as secretary. Current President Maryam Zar will become PPCC chair emeritus, taking over for David Card.

Kohl has lived in the Alphabet Streets since 1994, raising five kids in the area and being an active member in the community. She served as the Area 5 representative—covering the Alphabet Streets and Village, north of Sunset—for PPCC for several years, before serving as vice-president.

“I am excited and a little intimidated, if I am totally honest,” Kohl said to the Palisadian-Post about taking on the role. “It’s a tremendous honor to lead our PPCC board, the most dedicated, hardworking and smart group of community volunteers anyone could imagine, and Maryam Zar’s shoes will be hard to fill. I hope and pray that we will successfully carry on our tradition of advocacy for the Palisades community.”

Kohl said her hope for the future of PPCC is that “many more” community members will become “interested and engaged” in the council’s work.

Fleming has lived in the Palisades since 2001, currently in the Via Bluffs. Fleming told the Post he joined PPCC in 2008 when the late George Wolfberg asked him to be his alternate for the “at-large” position, a role Fleming held for 12 years before stepping down in 2020. Fleming then rejoined PPCC in 2022 as the alternate for Area 6.

“Becoming vice-president is a big honor and big responsibility,” Fleming said to the Post. “I know Sue Kohl is going to do a great job as president, and I want to support her.”

Li has lived in the Palisades since 1999 and first joined PPCC in 2020. She previously served as Area 7 representative, vice-president and treasurer. She said she looks forward to continuing to serve the community.

Holden-Garland has served as PPCC secretary from 2022 to 2024, and said she has enjoyed her time being involved with the council, advocating for issues concerning the Palisades.

“In this new term, I look forward to [continuing] to advocate and protect quality-of-life issues for the Palisades,” Holden-Garland said. “I love our community and the beautiful place in which we live, and I’m excited to help do more great work. The best is yet to come.”

Zar told the Post she is “so proud” to have been able to serve alongside Kohl as vice-president, Li as treasurer and Holden-Garland as secretary over the course of her most recent term, and she congratulated all three of them, along with newly elected vice-president Fleming as they take the helm at PPCC.

She said she has known Kohl and Fleming since she first came on to PPCC as the education representative in 2014, and is confident they will be “excellent, informed and thoughtful PPCC leaders.”

“As I transition away from PPCC leadership for the second time in a decade, I am reminded of the great work we do on this council, on a volunteer basis, and all the ways that we continue to serve as a model for LA City as to how micro-government rooted in community should work,” Zar said. “I am immeasurably proud of this council and its members for their commitment to community, and I thank everyone for lending me their trust as PPCC president. I leave this council in its 51st year of activity … never more sure that your next 50 years will be even more impressive and impactful.”

PPCC’s meeting on Wednesday, June 26, was the last one of the current officers’ term. The new slate of officers will lead their first board meeting in July.