Each cover of Pali Life featured a story highlighting everything from local nonprofits to area artists. Read on to see some of the stories that were published throughout 2024.
January 11
With Riviera resident Nate Berman as executive director, the high school-run nonprofit Feeling Full LA works to connect leftover food items with people who are experiencing food insecurity or homelessness—repurposing meals and produce at places like farmers markets and restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away. “Roughly one-third of food produced in the world is wasted, while so many people face food insecurity at the same time,” Berman said. “Spreading the word about food waste in general is really important.”
January 25
It was after a 16-hour flight to Australia in 2022 to visit her husband’s family when Marquez Knolls resident Laura Gowing was inspired to launch Busy Benny. At the end of the flight, the lights came on and the flight attendants started serving breakfast. Gowing said she looked down and saw plastic wrappers from the snacks all over the airplane floor. Hoping to find something more practical than what she used on the Australia flight, Gowing started searching and found various types of “snackle boxes,” but did not locate a “safer, more durable, longer-lasting option.” She said she was “shocked that nothing like this existed on the market,” so she decided to launch her own product.
February 22
Sometimes the right connection can make a world of difference. That is the foundation Ready to Succeed, launched in 2016 by Palisadians Patrick McCabe and Romi Lassally, is built upon. Ready to Succeed—a “career and personal development nonprofit”—is designed to empower foster college students to graduate, launch careers and “reach their full potential.”
March 14
Teachers have the opportunity to push their students to great heights and make an impact—and, throughout her career and beyond, late Palisades Charter High School art teacher Sherrill Kahn did just that. Alumna Cathy Salser now hopes to carry Kahn’s legacy on with a special scholarship in her memory, since her passing in December 2023.
May 9
Students at Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Magnet Center now have the option to travel the globe from their recently renovated library—or receive assistance to take a trip abroad. This is thanks to Worldride Impact Foundation, founded by Jamee Natella, which celebrated its official launch during a library dedication ceremony on Thursday, April 25. “Worldride Impact is dedicated to creating global citizens through education, literature, media, technology and travel,” read its website. “Through all of its initiatives, Worldride Impact aims to inspire children to learn about the lives of kids in other parts of the world and to better understand different cultures.”
May 23
Imagine a dinner party with friends, a drink in hand. You have work early the next day, but there’s no fear of a hangover, sluggishness, not feeling well—or, in some cases, saying something regretful. Why? Because you’ve been sipping on wine by No Alcohol Company—launched by Huntington resident Yalda Paydar in January. Founder and CEO Paydar created the brand during a time of “healing her mental, emotional and physical health,” read the NoAlchCo website. She originally “set out to create her favorite beverage without the drawbacks.”
June 27
Of all the things Erica Simpson prides herself on after more than two decades of owning and operating a store in Pacific Palisades, the success of her previous “kids” is at the top of that list. Since Paliskates first opened in 1999, Simpson has served as a mentor, trainer, confidant and second family to dozens of her employees—often guiding them to their future career accomplishments, as detailed to the Palisadian-Post by several now-adults who previously worked at the skate store in their teen years.
August 8
Recent books published by authors with ties to the Palisades cover everything from memories of the ’50s to a memoir about caring for one’s aging father. From children to adults, the featured books offer something for every aged reader.
September 26
Lee Calvert has long been known as Pacific Palisades’ “Golden Girl.” On August 15, she reached a milestone very few people do—turning 100 years old—and 10 days later, she was joined by family, friends and neighbors for a celebration in the clubhouse at Tahitian Terrace, where Calvert has lived for over six decades. Guests wore blue—Calvert’s favorite color—and shared stories and sentiments.
December 12
It’s the best of both worlds for Palisadian artist and designer Richard Harrington, who balances his corporate work with personal endeavors to fully tap into his creativity. Harrington is a British artist and designer with more than two decades of experience “building a global portfolio” who resides in Marquez Knolls. He studied and began his career as a graphic designer in London—and has since worked with brands like Adidas, The Academy of Motion Pictures, Meta and IKEA.
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