Anthony Hopkins—a former honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades—takes on a starring role in “Mary,” set to release on Netflix on Friday, December 6.
From director D.J. Caruso, “Mary” is described as a biblical thriller.
“In coming-of-age story ‘Mary,’ the title character is shunned following the otherworldly conception of her child and forced into hiding,” according to IMDb. “King Herod’s relentless drive to maintain power at any cost ignites the murderous pursuit of the newborn child that he believes is a threat to his reign on the throne. The film sees the young Mary and Joseph on the run, and having to hide their baby, Jesus.”
Hopkins will take on the role of King Herod, alongside actress Noa Cohen as Mary. The cast also includes Mila Harris, Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Ori Pfeffer, Hilla Vidor, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Milo Djurovic and more.
The picture is produced by Mary Aloe, founder of Aloe Entertainment, and Hannah Leader. Timothy Michael Hayes wrote “the original screenplay after consulting with priests, bishops, Baptist pastors, rabbis, Mormons and Muslims along with biblical scholars and theologians,” according to Deadline.
Aloe shared that Hopkins was “primed” to play King Herod: “He embodied this historical figure of a king who was steeped in mental illness and greed with such great ferocity,” she said to Deadline.
“At this time of my life, I’m drawn to the challenge of complex scripts,” Hopkins said to Deadline. “As well, the level of the detail given to this production with extraordinary sets, props and costumes—makes me proud to be a part of this.”
In the 1990s, Hopkins appeared in movies “Desperate Hours,” “Nixon,” “The Mask of Zorro,” “Meet Joe Black” and “Instinct.” He is well known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs.” Hopkins won an Oscar for Best Actor in 1992 for his performance in the film.
Most recently, he won an Oscar for Best Actor in 2021 for his performance as Anthony in “The Father.”
St. Matthew’s Music Guild will host its annual Holiday Concert on the evening of Friday, December 6, with a program that features the music of Henry Purcell, Arcangelo Corelli and more.
The 40th anniversary season will continue with a “lively program of music for the holidays.”
“The concert—featuring The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and Choir of St. Matthew’s Parish, conducted by Dwayne S. Milburn—kicks off with Baroque masterpieces by Henry Purcell and Arcangelo Corelli,” read a statement. “The Chamber Orchestra will be joined by choir and soloists in [Antonio] Vivaldi’s effervescent ‘Gloria’ in D major. A traditional sing-along of [George Frideric] Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ will round out the program.”
Vivaldi composed the majority of his major works, including “Gloria,” while working as master of violin at the Ospedale della Pietà, which was an orphanage for girls in Venice, according to Music Guild.
“The ‘Gloria,’ in the festive key of D major, is beloved for its charming melodies and driving rhythms, and features operatic arias and duets for soprano and alto—solos that would have originally been sung by the girls in Vivaldi’s charge,” the statement continued.
Together with Vivaldi, Corelli is credited with establishing the “language of Baroque instrumental music in Italy.” Corelli wrote “Concerto Grosso Op. 6, no. 8,” which is known as the “Christmas Concerto” for his hometown, Rome. It is written to evoke “the sense of calm and quiet on Christmas night,” with “a pastorale in a lilting ‘Sicilian’ rhythm.”
Purcell composed “The Gordian Knot Untied”—“incidental music for a theatrical production of the same name.” Though “little is known about the play,” it is “presumed to have been based on the legend of the Gordian knot.” The legend states that whoever untied the “complex knot tied to an oxcart” would become the ruler of all of Asia.
“No holiday concert is complete without a rousing rendition of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus,’” the statement read. “The choir and orchestra will lead the audience in a sing-along of the holiday favorite.”
The concert will begin at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Parish, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. Tickets are available for $45 or as part of a season pack.
A free, pre-concert conversation will be offered by Milburn starting at 7:10 p.m. in the church.
For more information, including a link to purchase tickets, visit musicguildonline.org.
Gianna Caruso—founder and CEO of GIGI C and nonprofit Hear With You—partnered with Cult Gaia Founder and Designer Jasmin Hekmat to host a shopping event in celebration of Cult Gaia’s holiday collection at its Palisades Village store. A portion of the proceeds from the event support Caruso’s foundation.
“Gianna’s foundation is dedicated to making a wide range of resources, community events, education and treatment opportunities more accessible to individuals and families affected by hearing loss,” according to a statement. “Hear With You also aims to raise awareness of hearing health among the general population.”
Level UP Los Angeles recently partnered with BOCA for their fourth annual fundraising shopping event at the Monument Street store. An event organizer described it as “the most successful fundraiser to date for the Pacific-Palisades nonprofit, which supports under-resourced community schools.”
“We are so grateful to BOCA for partnering with us on this incredible event to support our organization,” the statement continued.
Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club hosted a Holiday Gift Bazaar on Saturday, November 9, inviting the community to shop for the holidays while raising funds for its 2025 Grant Program. In addition to a bake sale, the event featured housewares, jewelry, mixed-media art, apparel, handbags, linens, baskets, candles and more.
“We are thrilled to share how truly remarkable our Holiday Bazaar was last Saturday,” the PPWC board wrote. “Together, we achieved our fundraising goals and created a memorable day for the community.”
Girl Scout Troop 70455 teamed up with Palisades-Malibu YMCA to open a Free Little Library and earn their Bronze Award. The grand opening event featured a book drive, with items collected going to Marquez Charter Elementary School. The troop includes students in sixth grade at Calvary, Corpus Christi, Paul Revere Charter Middle, Seven Arrows and Village schools.
Los Angeles-based children’s nature program HAWKs Kids—“dedicated to fostering a love for the outdoors, helping children grow up with reduced anxiety and a deeper connection to the environment”—hosted an event in Temescal Gateway Park.
The event featured a plant dye workshop with Berbo, foraging, apple tasting with Aliza Sokolow and a lunch under the oaks with HAWKs educators and special guests. It was co-hosted by Chudney Ross of Books and Cookies, as well as HAWKs Founder Emma Flanders.
Pali High Grad Releases New Song, Gives Updates About Producing and Making Music
By ALLIE YANG | Intern
For Marquez Knolls musician Chantal Trent, an elementary school poetry class was the catalyst of her career.
“That [class] really got me into writing poetry, which is kind of how I started,” she said to the Palisadian-Post. “I was like, ‘I love poetry so much; I feel like it wouldn’t be that hard to just transition it into songwriting.’ I started taking guitar lessons, and then I went on from there.”
Since her introduction to music and songwriting, Trent has released numerous albums and EPs, with her first, “Lights,” being when she was a student at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, which was featured in the Post in 2019.
Continuing into high school, Trent has utilized the resources and support of Palisades Charter High School, which she graduated from with the Class of 2024, to advance her career and build her style as a musician.
“Going to school in the Palisades was what started my whole music career,” Trent said. “At Pali, there’s been a ton of things that have been really great for me and my music. I made the music video with another Pali student that I met named Jonah Sachs, who’s incredible, and he’s a part of the film department. We met through theater with Ms. [Nancy] Fracchiolla. Everybody that I work with, even my producer, went to Pali when he was a kid. It’s all pretty connected.”
With a decades-long relationship with music, Trent has noticed the gradual shift in her work’s style, from youthful and unfiltered to mainstream and complex. She noted the introduction of modern instruments as an indication that her music has become sonically refined. However, “Stupid Love,” her newest song and release from June 1, has kept to her original taste.
“The style I had in the past was definitely very ‘singer-songwriter,’ almost a little folky,” Trent observed. “It had a lot more percussion, tambourines and shakers. What I kind of transitioned into was a sleeker, more electronic alternative pop hybrid. I’m getting more into the alternative sound in terms of synths that we’re exploring and electronic drums. ‘Stupid Love’ was meant to be an acoustic ballad, so we kind of tried to keep that as it was.”
In addition, the content of her work has matured alongside her. As the backdrop to her music, the production serves as an important way for Trent to control the finer details of her music, which she has grown proficient with over time.
“When I started writing, I was 12, so I think the subject matter developed, and I would say the biggest development for me would be my production skills,” Trent said. “When I first started, I would meet with my producer, I would show him the song that I wrote, and then he would imagine it and produce it how he thought would be best.
“Over time, and [by] listening to music, and starting to write more and getting a bigger catalog, I was able to find a sound I liked and was more authentic to me. I started to take over a bunch of the production. I’m not good with the technical aspects of it, but I’m pretty much planning it all sonically and directing the production of the music that I make.”
Where Trent’s musical agency comes to light is in her original song, “Stupid Love,” which is about feeling disillusioned by one’s experience with love, but wanting to believe in its beauty anyway. Trent’s choices in the music video mirror this central theme of love, with the help of Sachs’ creative decisions.
“‘Stupid Love’ is one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever written because it’s set in three instead of four, so it’s almost like a waltz, which I love,” Trent described. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before in anything that I’ve released. Sachs was like, ‘What if we do the scenes where you’re so in love and you’re so happy in this film, like it’s a beautiful memory, and then we switch to regular camera for the reality?’ which was the fighting scenes and where things started to fall apart. The juxtaposition between the film camera and the regular camera, I think, is so good and is part of what makes the music video for me.”
“Stupid Love” also includes references to Trent’s own musical inspiration, which her collaborator and fellow Palisadian Sachs, worked to incorporate.
“In the lyrics, I have this line that I really like,” Trent said. “It’s the opening line: ‘Spent all night with Tyler in my ears/My love’s gone/Is it really how it feels?’ That’s a reference to the Tyler the Creator song. I was listening to a ton of Tyler the Creator at the time, so I liked that I incorporated that. My favorite part of that song is definitely the bridge, because it’s super emotional.”
Trent said she believes her collaboration with Sachs has been critical for the direction and artistic choices displayed within her music video, as he offers a nuanced perspective on her ideas and how to bring them to life.
“He’s a genius,” Trent said. “He brought [‘Stupid Love’] to life, and gave it a real storyline and plot. His direction is just so incredible … He was able to bring everything to life and portray in the music video what happened in real life that inspired that song. He got the message across so beautifully with how he edited it and put all the pieces together. It just flows so well.”
As for the future after “Stupid Love,” Trent said she wants to continue her career as a songwriter while utilizing her catalog ideas.
“I’m working on a lot of new music,” she revealed. “I’m writing a lot, which I kind of took a break from, because I had a catalog of 100 to 150 songs. I wasn’t really running out, but I took a pause to focus on the production side, and I started writing more … I’m spending a ton of time on music this year, because I’m going to [Santa Monica College], but taking minimal classes. My goals are to play a lot more shows [and] release a lot more music. I’d love to do another EP or album in the future, and explore alternative production style as well.”
Corpus Christi School Principal Paola Sessarego—who took over the position on Monday, July 1, from Suzanne Stewart Duffy as she retired—answered questions about her history teaching, her goals while in the role and more.
How long have you been teaching? How long have you been at Corpus Christi School?
I’ve been teaching for almost 35 years—all of which have been in Catholic schools. I spent 25 years at Saint Monica Prep in Santa Monica and joined the faculty at Corpus Christi School nine years ago as a fourth-grade teacher. I went on to become the eighth-grade teacher and vice principal.
What is your background?
I was born in Brazil, but my parents are originally from Genova, Italy. We briefly moved back to Italy for three years, but returned to San Paulo, Brazil, for the remainder of my childhood. My brother and I spoke Italian at home, Portuguese when out in Brazil and English at the American School we attended in Brazil.
I played tennis for Brazil’s national team and was offered a scholarship to play tennis at USC. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I graduated with a B.A. in teacher education from USC and received my M.A. in education from USC as well.
What are your goals as the new principal of Corpus Christi School?
My top priority as principal is to make sure that we have a strong curriculum and that our students are well prepared for high school. I also want to ensure we care for our students’ social and emotional needs.
Most importantly, we must continue to partner with our parents to instill good values in our students. We want Corpus graduates to go out into the world and be kind, caring individuals with a strong sense of community.
How is the Pacific Palisades community integral to your mission at Corpus Christi School?
Everyone knows everyone in the Palisades. Our mission is to have a tight-knit community that is there for each other. A community where when someone is in need, we are all there to support one another. We are purposeful in instilling solid values and helping students create a strong community.
The Palisades is unique because most of the students who come to our school live here. Many of them even walk to school. There is an existing sense of community already, but we want to help teach our students how to make a difference and help others.
Why do you think parents in the community should consider Corpus Christi School for their children?
I think Corpus Christi School is a little jewel in the Palisades. We provide a vital education and strong sense of community. This is what we strive for.
People are coming together to help each other and graduating students who truly will make a difference in the world. I want all of our students to work to make their community a better place.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Being from Brazil, I love watching soccer, especially the World Cup. I love playing pickleball. We also have season USC football tickets. I’m a die-hard fan. Fight on!
Corpus Christi School, located at 890 Toyopa Drive, is a kindergarten through eighth-grade co-ed Catholic school. The school’s academic approach “develops engaged minds, cultivates work ethic and fosters a lifelong love of learning,” according to its website.
“We encourage curiosity, critical thinking and rigorous analysis,” the website continued. “Not only do our students master subject matter, but they graduate possessing the skills to succeed in high school and beyond.”
For more information, visit corpuschristi-school.com.
The following piece was penned by Ginny Winn—a Palisadian for more than 30 years. If you have a poem you’d like to submit for consideration in a future edition of the paper, send it to mypost@palipost.com.
No expiration date
I’m traveling on to celebrate
Hear ye hear ye
Another Thanksgiving year
And as each passes
more becomes clear.
Gratitude peaks my attitude:
I’m still here !
Time, precious time
This is yours, this is mine
Time to give huge
gratitudinous thanks.
I wish that our bounteous table
of people who love
of people who thrive
who are consciously alive
Know it, show it and glow it!!
Breathe in ~ Delish !
Breath out ~ your wish !
And what is the name
of your favorite dish ?
Give thanks and pray
that the whole wide world
All together Now ~
Could take a gratitude bow
Turn to each other
Smile and say
Happy Thanks~giving Day !
2518 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-450-3900 manchegosm.com
By MERV HECHT | Restaurant Critic
After tiring of the usual Italian, Thai, Mexican and Japanese options, I decided to host a family gathering at a Spanish restaurant for a change.
I tried to book a table for seven at Manchego at 6 p.m., but the online system required a credit card up front—only to inform me they couldn’t seat all seven together. We ended up reserving two tables, one for four and one for three.
When we arrived, however, the manager kindly seated us together in a “back room” at a comfortable table for seven. The room featured a waterfall, and the occasional cool droplet added a refreshing touch—a perk you miss with online reservations.
Manchego offers a well-curated menu with a range of authentic Spanish dishes and a reasonably priced wine list that includes various Spanish wines. I appreciated the selection of grapes from different regions, including several Tempranillos, a Grenache and more. I didn’t sample any since I’d brought an Oregon Pinot Noir, but we tried a variety of dishes.
The Serrano ham was as good as any I’ve had in Spain, and the crispy croquettes were excellent. Our main courses included a tender beef rib on creamy polenta, which came with a delicious sauce but was a bit salty for our taste. The beet salad was a favorite, and the Brussels sprouts were easily the best we’ve ever had.
The main event for me was the paella. While it was nicely presented, with a few shrimp peeking through the saffron-colored rice, I was hoping for fluffier rice and a broader variety of proteins, such as shrimp, chicken, duck, octopus or scallops. Though we enjoyed the flavors, I wouldn’t return for the paella alone.
For dessert, we indulged in the flan, flourless chocolate cake and, of course, churros with melted chocolate—they were delicious.
Manchego is owned by a Jewish Persian gentleman who lived in Spain, and he’s done a great job capturing the essence of Spanish cuisine. The menu is authentic and varied, the waitstaff are friendly and attentive, and the wine list is both interesting and affordable. I’d hoped to meet the owner in person, though he wasn’t there during our visit. Hopefully next time.
Merv Hecht, like many Harvard Law School graduates, went into the wine business after law. In 1988, he began writing restaurant reviews and books. His latest book, “The Instant Wine Connoisseur, 3rd edition,” is available on Amazon. He currently works for several companies that source and distribute food and wine products internationally. Send comments to mervynhecht@yahoo.com.
Local Scouts from Troop 223 Share Their Experiences on Recent Good Turn and Career Trips
Marcus McCannel
The Falcon Patrol of Troop 223 had a Good Turn Trip dedicated to spreading positivity in our community on Sunday, November 10, with the HangOutDoGood group. The day began at my house, where we gathered, ready to donate our time and energy to those in need.
We started the project by spending the first 20 minutes decorating 50 lunch bags. On each bag, we drew positive messages and cheerful drawings to brighten the days of those receiving the lunches. Then, we split up, making 50 PB&J sandwiches and packing them with water and other food, like cookies, a granola bar, and chips.
Once our preparation was complete, we packed the lunches into our cars and drove to the designated drop-off location, where we added it to the growing pile of lunch donations those in the community provided.
This Good Turn Trip not only allowed us to provide meals to those in need but also strengthen the bond in our patrol. It was amazing to see everyone come together, focusing on service and helping the community.
We look forward to more opportunities like this, that show even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
August Brancato
For the Troop 223 Bruins Patrol Career Trip, we visited the NFL offices with Mr. Andrew Uhm who is the director of engineering in the Next Gen Stats division of the NFL.
We toured the dynamic headquarters, with some incredible views of the NFL offices and SoFi Stadium. We saw the news studios, the podcasting rooms and the conference rooms where many famous athletes and coaches have been interviewed.
We learned about the purpose of Next Gen Stats and the colossal amount of data they gather from wearable technology. Next Gen Stats gathers this intelligence from RFID transmitters (built by Zebra Technologies) that are placed in the players’ pads, the footballs, the end zones and the yard markers, and how Next Gen Stats organizes the data that the transmitters provide.
They can use the data gathered to make charts upon charts of player statistics, team statistics and even game statistics. This information provides a more exciting and in-depth NFL experience.
We viewed some playthroughs from recent games and noticed how each of the transmitters are programmed to follow their specific player on the field. We saw how the transmitter embedded in the football clearly showed where the football was on the field and its relationship to each player on the field.
We heard a story about early days of the transmitters where the frequencies they were using to transmit information from a game at SoFi was the same frequency that police choppers were using to survey the area—it disrupted the Next Gen Stats information stream! Luckily, the NFL quickly made a compromise with the sheriff’s department.
We as a patrol learned about many career opportunities in the NFL and realized how fun it could be working there. We admired how incredible it was that such a huge and influential company does all these things just in our backyard.
The Bruins Patrol includes: August Brancato (patrol leader), Rowan Woodruff, Lincoln McCannel, Leo Holmes and Leo Huang.
Maxton Flaherty
On November 16, the Kahunas Patrol went to the VA to help rebuild the Japanese Garden built by Japanese American veterans after WWII.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the famed Japanese Garden of the VA was not maintained. It served as a place for many veterans to heal; it was a staple of the veteran community. Being left unmaintained, it was subject to overgrowth.
As a patrol we helped clear lots of overgrown plants from the garden, further beautifying it.
Lauren Whiteley
For the Foxes Patrol Career Trip, we visited the Lexus dealership in Santa Monica where we learned about selling cars and how to connect to a customer.
We first learned about what a day was like for General Manager Matt Unger and Product Specialist Golnaz “Naz” Mojtahedi. They told us how it can be exciting meeting new people. They also enjoy when customers can be a challenge, it’s more fun and a good experience for them.
Naz said she spends a lot of time connecting with her customers. She said that it is important to keep in touch with her customers even after the purchase. If you treat the customer right and have a good time selling the car to them, it’s a nice memory for the seller and you.
The last thing we talked about was how to sell to the customer. Pitching a product is easy, but in order to get the sale, you need to listen to the customer’s needs and understand how your product will address them. Matt said it is always important to give the customer good service and a great time.
Overall this experience was great! We even got some delicious cookies in the end. Thank you, Matt Unger and Golnaz Mojtahedi.
For more information about Troop 223, visit troop-223.org.
Longtime Palisadian Lois Ann Dunne passed away October 23. A bright and wonderful woman who was dedicated to her family, friends and Catholic faith fought a courageous battle against cancer.
Lois was born on January 3, 1941, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to parents Ann and Louis Manza. She grew up in Towson, Maryland.
After receiving her BA in English from Goucher College she left for NYC to begin her career. There she met her husband, Allen Dunne, on a blind date.
Early in their marriage, the couple moved to the West Coast and settled down in Pacific Palisades. It was here where they raised their two boys, Tony and Stephen, and became part of the Corpus Christi community.
After many years as a stay-at-home mom, Lois re-entered the work force. She worked in the Gerontology Department at USC, was a fundraiser for St. Anne’s Family Services, then later settled into a successful career in planned giving for Mount St. Mary’s University.
Lois was an avid reader and was often at the Palisades Branch Library. Later in life she volunteered at the library and was a member of local book clubs.
She loved the theatre, often going to plays at the Mark Taper Forum in downtown LA. She was a longtime member of the Irene Dunne Guild at St. John’s Hospital. Lois also enjoyed knitting, especially doing projects for her grandchildren while listening to her favorite singer, Frank Sinatra.
Despite her health challenges later in life she never stopped moving forward, facing those challenges with grit and determination. Her star shall forever shine. She may rest now in peace with her husband Allen.
Lois is survived by her two sons Tony and Stephen (Lacey), her two grandchildren, brothers Lou and Stephen, and a sister Jane.
There will be a private family memorial service. Memorial contributions can be made to everychild
foundation.org.
Stuart Hansen, longtime Santa Monica resident and dedicated general contractor serving West Los Angeles and surrounding communities, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 21. He was 75 years old.
Stuart (also known as “Stu”) was born in Seattle, Washington. As a child, he moved frequently due to his father’s career as an aerospace engineer.
At the age of 11, he, his dad and sister relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, where his father worked for NASA. Eventually, they settled in Woodland Hills, California, when Stuart was 15, and he attended Taft High School.
During his time in high school, Stuart began to develop his independent temperament. Being the new kid in town, without an established group of friends, he spent much of his time observing the world around him and immersing himself in books. These early experiences shaped the thoughtful and introspective man that he became.
Stuart founded his contracting company, Hansen Construction, in 1987 and became a highly respected general contractor. Structural engineers and architects valued him for his ability to grasp complex blueprints. Clients admired him for his exquisite taste and his talent for creating sophisticated and beautifully designed spaces.
Stuart was a pragmatic thinker when it came to design with his credo being: “have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” His Danish heritage shone through in everything he did. He embodied the essence of Danish modern design, with its focus on minimalism, functionality and simple elegance.
Above all else, nothing mattered more to Stuart than his two daughters. They were his greatest miracles and reflections of his character and heart. As a loving father, he instilled in them the values of strength, resilience, curiosity and determination. He inspired them to live courageously and become the deliberate builders of their own lives.
Stuart’s love for his daughters was deep and unconditional. He took immense pride in their achievements, found pure joy in their lives and nothing delighted him more than spending time with them.
His granddaughters were bringing new joy into his life. He relished being called Poppy and showering them with love.
Stuart often said he wanted to work until he could no longer do so, and he fulfilled that desire working right up to the very last day. He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his business and local community, his steadfast loyalty, the genuine and admirable bond he shared with his family, and his remarkable generosity and selflessness.
Stuart leaves behind his former wife and devoted lifelong friend, Sue Hansen, his beloved daughters, Austin Hansen Cowden and Logan Hansen, his son-in-law, Josh Cowden, his two granddaughters, Connelly and Bracey Cowden, treasured nieces and nephews, and many extended family members, friends, and colleagues.
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