‘Stronger Together’

Palisadian Neighbors Gathered at St. Monica at an Event Coordinated by Sunset Mesa Resident Anne Plechner

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

If there is one sentiment that continues to ring true, it’s that Palisadians are “Stronger Together.”

This was the idea behind an event that Sunset Mesa resident Anne Plechner planned for the community to gather at St. Monica on Monday, February 17, following the town’s displacement from the Palisades fire.

Billed as an “interfaith community event for neighbors to gather in support of each other,” more than 200 people attended, Plechner explained to the Palisadian-Post.

“We’re bringing the Palisades fire neighbors together for a community gathering—an opportunity to reconnect, share time together and enjoy each other’s company,” read the event description. “This is purely a social gathering—no town halls, just good company. We hope to see you there.”

To bring the event to fruition, Plechner said she worked with her fiancé, Mike Dwyer, as well as her longtime friend Darya Allen-Attar and her husband Michael. Darya had said to Plechner: “Wouldn’t it be lovely if we had a community get together?”

Plechner described calling St. Monica Catholic Community in Santa Monica to request the use of its space for the event. Before she could even finish the thought, she said, her contact had offered the Grand Pavilion.

“They could not have been more supportive,” Plechner said, explaining that they were able to offer a date just a couple of weeks out at the time of the conversation. A representative from St. Monica set up the Eventbrite page, and within five days, 150 people had registered to attend.

Those who attended were able to check in with neighbors, while sipping wine and eating pizza. Extra pizza was given to Palisadians to take to their temporary living spaces.

Monsignor Liam Kidney from Corpus Christi Catholic Church said a few words toward the beginning of the three-hour event, while Cantor Chayim Frenkel from Kehillat Israel “brought the house down,” Plechner said.

Having served in the Palisades for more than 40 years, Frenkel said he “lives, loves and breathes the community.” He referenced the quote, “Life is best lived and most fulfilling when lived in community.”

“Right now, that statement couldn’t be more apropos and true and on the spot in terms of how people are desperate for community,” Frenkel said to the Post. “I saw that Monday.”

Frenkel said that on Monday, he shared with attendees about how in Jewish culture, when a loved one dies, there is a mourning ritual called Shiva.

“There’s no mourning ritual to recite when you lose a home, but it’s a death of sorts,” he described.

But during the event, he explained, he saw “people’s eyes open wider and their shoulders were taller—their heads weren’t down”—and attendees were catching up with each other.

“We are creatures not meant to be alone,” Frenkel said. “We’re just not meant to be alone … The Palisades, that’s really what—I don’t want to say died, because it’s going to come back—but that’s really what we lost. We lost community, among so many other things.”

Plechner said that people drove from all over Southern California to attend, including Ronny Naidoo of Ronny’s Cleaners in Marquez Knolls and Pacific Palisades Community Council President Sue Kohl.

“It was just one of those rooms that was so filled with love and so filled with people reconnecting,” Plechner said. “I can’t even describe how amazing it was … I’m so grateful to St. Monica and the people of the Palisades who showed up for no other reason than to see each other.”

Lower Bienveneda resident of 34 years Marc Birenbaum attended the gathering and expressed his gratitude to St. Monica for hosting.

“It was a wonderful interfaith event where I could talk with so many Palisadians I hadn’t seen since before the wildfire,” Birenbaum said. “Kudos to St. Monica Catholic Community for hosting the event. And there was lots of food offered, including excellent pizza.”

Kohl shared a similar sentiment—thanking the organizers for providing the community with the opportunity to attend.

“It was such a pleasure to see and connect with Palisades friends in such a festive, friendly environment,” Kohl described.

Plechner has deep roots in the community, having graduated from Palisades Charter High School and returning to live in Sunset Mesa over two decades ago.

“I’ve been living in wonderful Sunset Mesa,” she described. “Somehow your hometown calls you back.”

When asked if there would be events like this in the future, Plechner said she was open to planning something, perhaps even coordinating with St. Monica again.

“St. Monica has really stepped up for the fire victims from both fires,” Plechner said. “After they said ‘yes absolutely’ [to hosting the event], their next question was: ‘What else can we do?’ … St. Monica is delighted, as am I, to figure out a second event.”