www.palisadesnews.com
May 27 - June 23, 2022 Volume 34, Issue 60
Pacific Palisades Rotary Club Holds Its First in Person Meeting in Over Two Years Matthew Rodman the award for Business Person of the Year B y D olores Q uintana
The Pacific Palisades Rotary Club has returned to in-person meetings as of April 12 as reported by the Palisadian Post. The first meeting took place at their new meeting place Modo Mio and the first guest speaker after the hiatus was the owner of Modo Mio, George Zaoui. Holly Davis, former Rotary president and board member, said, as quoted by the Palisadian Post, “Our first in-person meeting post-COVID was well attended and everyone enjoyed the food and the pleasure of each other’s company and saw the smiles on our faces in person rather than Zoom. During the pandemic, Rotary continued with community involvement and money donations to the many causes Rotary supports [including the] Food Bank, Village Green, school scholarships, Meals on Wheels and more. As COVID appears in the rearview mirror, Rotary is optimistic about continuing and making greater strides.” During the meeting, the Rotary gave
Matthew Rodman the award for Business Person of the Year of 2021 according to the Palisadian Post. He received this distinction because of his dedication to and involvement with the Pacific Palisades Community. Rodman has lived in the Palisades for over 20 years and his list of contributions to the community is quite extensive. He has also been awarded the Golden Sparkplug award from the Community Council of the Pacific Palisades for his work on solving the traffic problems around the Paul Revere Middle School. Davis said, as quoted by the Palisadian Post, “[He] has demonstrated leadership and involvement within the Palisades community and demonstrated a character of ‘Service Above Self. When selecting the nominee, the Rotary voting memberships felt, hands down, Matthew Rodman not only met the requirements but exceeded them.” During the time when Rodman’s children attended the Paul Revere School, Rodman started a program that arranged for parentsponsored chartered buses to and from the students’ homes and school according to Holly Davis. This program is still working to help Palisades area children get to and from school. Rodman’s two sons attend Palisades Charter High School and the very same program helps
Pali High students go to and from school. Rodman is also the President of the Palisades Americanism Parade Association and he has been in charge of the volunteers involved in producing the annual 4th of July fireworks displays and parades. Rodman said, as quoted by the Palisadian Post, “I was very moved by the surprise acknowledgment for the work that I do in the community with the July 4th events. It never occurred to me that the Rotary would award and give recognition to somebody that is not a typical business in the Palisades so I was flattered to receive it. Rodman added, as quoted by the Palisadian Post, “[This year] we are going to have an
exciting 4th of July, starting with the Palisades Run in the morning and ending with the fireworks in the evening.” The award comes with a $500 monetary award for the honoree and Rodman donated the money to Palisades High. Rodman was also made an honorary member of the Palisades Rotary Club. Holly Davis stated finally that “Rotary is looking to a successful 2022 in all its endeavors and looking forward to adding new members as we move forward. Rotary prepandemic, and now going forward, travels yearly to countries around the world who need water, cooking ovens … and brings money and the needed appliances and hope.”
The Bay Club in Pacific Palisades Closing After nearly 20 years, Bay Club to close Palisades location May 31 B y D olores Q uintana The Bay Club in Pacific Palisades at 17383 W. Sunset Boulevard will close on May 31, 2022. The health and exercise club is located in the Sunset Coast Plaza and has been serving the Pacific Palisades community since 2003. Prior to that, the building had a Spectrum Club on the same site. After 19 years, the Bay Club and the owner of the building were unable to negotiate a new lease. The Bay Club’s lease actually expired last year and negotiations continued between the two parties. “The Bay Club is grateful to have formed countless friendships with members and their families throughout the Pacific Palisades and we hope to be able to continue serving as many of these members
as possible at our newly renovated club in the Water Garden in Santa Monica, just six miles away. Our lease in the Palisades had in fact expired a year ago in the midst of the pandemic and given the uncertainty of that time, we had elected to extend that lease for a year to pursue discussions with our landlord,” Morell Marean, Senior Executive Vice President of Operations at the Bay Club Company told the Palisades News. “We had tried to reach an agreement that would enable us to continue on. But ultimately, we were not able to come to terms and now our lease has expired.” Marean was very firm on the point that The Bay Club would welcome Pacific Palisades members at the Bay Club location in Santa Monica and that he hopes members would consider that option. But Marean left the door open to the Bay Club potentially returning to the Palisades at some point. “We’re deeply committed to continuing to grow our network of clubs across Los Angeles and we would welcome the opportunity to return to the Palisades if the right opportunity to do so were to present itself,” Marean said.
The Bay Club Pacific Palisades.
Photo: bayclubs.com