Downtown Manhattan Beach Business Professionals Thank Cohen

On a beautiful March 31st evening, friends, associates and others gathered on the Sky Deck of Shade Hotel to honor former City Councilwoman Portia Cohen for her work as liaison to the Downtown Business Professional Association.

Cohen, who stepped down from the Manhattan Beach City Council on March 15 after choosing not to run for a second term, arrived to applause around 6:30 p.m. Mike Zislis, Shade Hotel owner, with Mayor Richard Montgomery at his side quickly popped the cork on a champagne bottle and the party gained even more momentum.

Betsy Butler, the Assembly member for the 53rd District, and Steve Napolitano from Supervisor Don Knabe's office attended the event. Manhattan Beach business owners who feted Cohen included Zislis, Mary Ann Varni, Kevin Barry, Chandra Trilogy and Tony D’Errico and Kris Mackerer D'Errico.