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Hi Everyone,
Hope you and your loved ones are holding up okay as we lurch toward the end of this tumultuous year.
Palisades Alliance is having another online meeting, this time with a speaker. It will take place one week from today, on Thursday morning, December 10, at 10:30 a.m. We hope you will join us!
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DECEMBER 10 ZOOM MEETING — 10:30 a.m.
Learn how you can stay connected to others with programs and services available through Los Angeles Public Library. Learn about dozens of Zoom programs that you can attend to learn about a new subject, join a book club, learn a new language or exercise or be entertained. Learn how you can still place holds on books, audiobooks and movies or download electronic materials. Learn about the power and possibilities of your library card.
You may already be familiar with Annie Cipolla, as she was previously the Young Adult Librarian at our own Palisades branch. In 2017, she was awarded the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award given out annually by The New York Times, The Carnegie Mellon Foundation and the American Library Association.
Annie is a powerhouse who has transformed the Fremont Branch into a community hub, sponsoring multiple workshops, reading groups, performances, talks, language lessons, and tutoring. When the pandemic began, she moved all that programming online. She'll teach us how to access it, and more.
The meeting will start promptly at 10:30 a.m., and run approximately one hour, including a 15-minute small-group discussion period following the lecture program.
To register to attend, please email us. Within 24 hours, you will receive an acknowledgment of your registration. The Zoom link will be sent to you at 9:00 a.m. the morning of the meeting and will be posted on our website at the same time.
We will open the Zoom meeting room a half hour early — at 10:00 a.m. If you are not comfortable using Zoom, please arrive early to allow time to resolve any tech challenges that may arise.
Here are some resources that may be useful:
- Directions on getting started with Zoom
- Guide to understanding and using the little icons on your Zoom screen.
- You can join a practice Zoom meeting at any time: click this link for details.
- Wondering about Zoom etiquette? Zoom has a guide for that.
ONLINE HOLIDAY EVENTS
- Sunday, December 6 @ 1:00 pm PST - Handel's Messiah presented by the Duke University Chapel. Free, but must register in advance.
- Sunday, December 13 @ 3:00 pm — Skirball Hanukkah celebration premiering on YouTube RSVP recommended; RSVPs will be taken through Friday, December 11, 12:00 pm. Click here for information and registration link.
- Friday, December 18 @ 8:00 p.m. — "A Winter's Solstice" Santa Monica College Planetarium online program. Invitation link will be posted on SMC Planetarium website the previous day. "We’ll discuss the history of various ancient observances of the Winter Solstice, and how they have evolved and melded with our later Judeo-Christian holidays....We’ll also have a look at a re-creation of a remarkable planetary conjunction in 2 BC—a leading candidate for a scientific explanation for the Star of Bethlehem."
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS FOR HOLIDAY GIVING
Here are some worthy Los Angeles area nonprofits:
- Covenant House California - serving homeless youth
- Los Angeles House of Ruth - haven for families affected by domestic violence
AND FINALLY...SOME PET STORIES

For years we owned Doberman Pinschers, but as senior citizens we realized it was time for a doggy downsize.
So 18 months ago we set out on our search, but at the first animal shelter they had only chihuahuas and pitbulls. Same thing at the second, and the third, the fourth and the fifth.
When presented with the same choices at the sixth, we were glumly headed out the door when we bumped into a rescuer coming in, arms full with two Bassett hounds and a little bundle of grey curly hair. We did an about-turn, and an hour later Ollie, the five-year-old grey terrier mix, was ours (in spite of being warned by a volunteer that adopting a dog right away was like getting married on the first date!)
The three of us are still happily married!
Dog owners generally devote much energy toward training their pets.
My tiny Yorkie, Bella, devoted her energy into training me. She also trained her canine walking companions to bark at every mailman.
We lost Bella on St. Patrick’s Day, 2020, after 15 1/2 years of joy and beautiful memories.
Please stay safe. We invite you to check our website for resources and ideas during this stay-at-home period.
And we hope to see you at the Zoom meeting on Thursday!
Palisades Alliance for Seniors Board
Esther Brudo
Therese Funk
Claude Goodrich
Iris Kaphan
Steve Lantz
Christine Odionu
Ron Segall
Karen Stigler