So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Palisadian-Post Reporter Magnolia Lafleur Shares a Message to the Community Following Departure from Full-Time

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

As soon as it began, is as quick as it has ended.

My time at the Palisadian-Post as a full-time writer has come to an end. While I may pop in from time to time, I will be moving on to new pastures.

I wanted to thank the community of the Palisades for opening your doors to me and allowing me to tell your stories.

I’m grateful to the office staff on Alma Real Drive for their humor and kind-heartedness led by Carolyn Morrison, who was always a delightful officemate, to Michael Dijamco for the spectacular layouts and Sam Szeto for all the computer-savvy help.

To the Editor-in-Chief Sarah Shmerling, thank you for hiring me and doing a great job holding the weight of the paper on your shoulders. I’m happy to see she’s now a new mommy and admire her work ethic.

While in the Palisades I met so many lovely people and developed an appreciation for this little corner of the States, where kids still walk around with their friends after the school bell rings and small business is truly revered.

Since joining the Post in October 2021, I witnessed no less than five small businesses closing—a reflection of the changing face of mom and pop shops being guzzled down by corporate enterprises.

I wanted to encourage the neighborhood to support local business and never forget that communities are made up of you, the individual. Every person can make a difference by upholding the value of “loving thy neighbor as thyself,” which extends to respecting, protecting and supporting each other’s families, traditions, passions and livelihoods.

Supporting local spots like Chanel Malin’s Palisades Gift Shop, Teddi Bandt’s Palisades Pizza, Greg Dacyshyn’s Camp High, Cinque Terre West, Jeffrey Ridgway’s Collections Antiques and Books Store, The Draycott, Spruzzo and Theatre Palisades is a way you can reinforce the dreams—and pockets—of your fellow neighbor.

In terms of volunteering or donating, our local Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, led by Sharon Browning and Sharon Kilbride, is the perfect organization to lend your time and support. They are a transparent organization, with every dollar and second invested going right back into keeping the community safe and sound.

Thank you, Ms. Kilbride, for sharing the history of the Palisades with me through opening the doors to your own family history, and for guiding me through the ins and outs of how PPTFH works tirelessly for its city.

A special thank you to LAPD Captain Jonathan Tom, Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin and Officer Adam Margin for giving me a great experience working alongside police officers.

Lastly I’d like to thank three people that shaped my experience while at the Post. First, Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo, who was beyond welcoming, engaging in conversations filled with wisdom, faith, and journalistic passion and precision.

To Rich Schmitt, the Post’s staff photographer, who demonstrates the highest level of artistry in every photo shoot, from simple stories to the more profound, he takes pride in every shoot as though each story is of presidential importance.

I learned so much from these two veteran journalists, as they are consummate professionals with a deep passion for the community, people’s lives and the truth. I will sorely miss my food review experiences with Rich.

Lastly Lily Tinoco, my co-reporter, who for 90% of the time while I was at the Post, acted as the interim editor-in-chief while Sarah was on maternity leave. It was a wonderful experience working under Lily, as she led with empathy, warmth and a succinct focus on ensuring that Palisadians were delivered stories that were not only fresh and interesting, but more importantly fact based, useful and uplifting to the community. She trusted me as a writer and gave me the room needed to manifest the best of myself as a reporter.

I always think that being a journalist is like being Lieutenant Columbo, an impartial investigator, for whom no price can buy one’s integrity or duty to tell the truth.

In these strange times we’re in, it’s most crucial that we all rise up with courage to the challenge of delivering the best parts of ourselves by being honest. For me, as a journalist, that means upholding the five cardinal principles of journalism, and knowing that what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.

So with that, I encourage you all to ask questions, research, grow through challenges and stay connected as you uphold the values you all have as individuals, families and neighbors, because you all matter. In the end, it’s always best to get through storms hand in hand, together as a community.

Thank you Palisadians—and don’t forget to support your local newspaper.

As I leave, I continue my work as a writer and fine artist, and welcome any of you, at any time, to not be a stranger.

Magnolia Lafleur can be found at magnolialafleur.com, magnolialafleur@gmail.com
and Instagram @magnolia.aotr.