2023… 2023… “The world is too much with us. Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.â€� Beloved poet William Wordsworth wrote these words around 1802..Read more 48th Annual Topanga Days 2023 48th Annual Topanga Days 2023 It’s almost Topanga Days and the colorful Topanga Days Signs are decorating Topanga’s roadways to remind you to buy your tickets now before the ev..Read more 5G Free California Strategy Meeting 5G Free California Strategy Meeting On November 5, at their first in-person meeting since the pandemic began, 5G Free California presented members with local strategies to stop the roll ..Read more 5G Equipment Upgrades Poses Risks 5G Equipment Upgrades Poses Risks Dear Fellow Resident, The 5G Free California Team wants to bring your attention to the rollout of technology infrastructure that is happening ..Read more   A Gift from the Pandemic A Gift from the Pandemic An evening with John Waters and Jim Jarmusch Amidst all the bad right now, there are a few good things that have come out o..Read more Adventures on Kauai—Mild to Wild Adventures on Kauai—Mild to Wild Following the tragic fires on Maui, the state of Hawaii, whose economy depends on tourism, is encouraging travelers to put the Hawaiian islands at the..Read more Aliso Canyon Plan ‘Unwise and Unsafe’ Aliso Canyon Plan ‘Unwise and Unsafe’ State Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles), representing the district containing the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in Los Angeles, wrote to..Read more Spotlight On... America's Got Talent Spotlight On... America's Got Talent Tune in to America’s Got Talent (AGT) on July 28 to watch Topanga brothers, Alex and Brody Gage, perform in their second-round audition. ..Read more   Are We Prepared for the Mega-Drought? Are We Prepared for the Mega-Drought? Southern California is an idyllic place to live with perfect weather, beautiful scenery, rich cultural history, and a growing population of over 23 mi..Read more As the Presidential Election Looms, Young Voters Look Local As the Presidential Election Looms, Young Voters Look Local Twenty-one-year-old Polly Pierone was born in LA—but until a few months ago, she hadn’t paid much attention to her city’s local politics. Growin..Read more Atmospheric Rivers and Other Meterological Misconceptions Atmospheric Rivers and Other Meterological Misconceptions It should come as no surprise to anyone that the popular media often sacrifices scientific accuracy on the altar of enticing clickbait entertainment. ..Read more Baby Rhino Rescue Baby Rhino Rescue Topanga residents Helena Kriel and David Walker, Co-Founders of Baby Rhino Rescue, a non-profit organization headquartered in Topanga, have recently b..Read more   Back to the Beach Cleanup Back to the Beach Cleanup By The TECS News Team It’s been a busy month at Elementary Charter School (TECS). As construction continues on campus and students are able to go mask-free for outdoor ac..Read more Bookshelf of Nightmares: Readings for the Age of Trump Bookshelf of Nightmares: Readings for the Age of Trump As a journalist friend of mine said recently, Trump has been good for one thing at least: the book business. What I call “my bookshelf of nightma..Read more But, Seriously... But, Seriously... The staff of The Canyon Chronicle are no fools. Well maybe we are... once in a while. Like today, April 1, 2022. We do like to have fun, but we ta..Read more Butterfly Day at the Mermaid Butterfly Day at the Mermaid Under blue skies and surrounded by native flowers, community partners Bill Buerge, Gail McDonald-Tune of the Mountain Mermaid and the Topanga Elementa..Read more   California’s Dream of a Carbon Neutral Future California’s Dream of a Carbon Neutral Future The California dream of achieving 100 percent carbon-free electricity and economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2045 might be on its way to becoming a rea..Read more Canyon Sages Return Canyon Sages Return The Canyon Sages, Topanga’s dues-free organization for seniors, is reborn this spring and open for business. On Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to..Read more Carolyn Day’s Growing Hope Gardens Goes from Strength to Strength Carolyn Day’s Growing Hope Gardens Goes from Strength to Strength When Topanga’s master gardener Carolyn Day founded Growing Hope Gardens in 2019, her aim was to bring the joy of gardening and connecting with the s..Read more Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories International Women’s Day (IWD) arrives on March 8 and is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of wom..Read more   Christmas on the Downbeat Christmas on the Downbeat Christmas is not my holiday, but I’ve always vicariously enjoyed it. Its inspired glorious liturgy, wonderful literature, drama, and timeless classi..Read more Coping With COVID-19 (part 1) Coping With COVID-19 (part 1) A Covid Diary These are snippets where I’ve naturally created something modular so you can step into..Read more Cultural Arts Program Funding Benefits TECS Students Cultural Arts Program Funding Benefits TECS Students Cultural Arts Program Funding Benefits TECS Students The Cultural Arts Passport (CAP) program promoted by LAUSD during the last school year, was ..Read more Days of April Days of April With April Fools Day kicking off the month, how are the final 29 days of April supposed to compete? Not to worry! Days 2-30 rose to the challenge agai..Read more   Dear Editor, Dear Editor, I was reading the Aug. 18 paper and saw the awesome story about Aurora Behrman! I wanted to let you know that there were [other] MVP’S!  The secon..Read more Dear Jessica Dear Jessica October 27 2023 Is there ANY place that I can get accurate news? We are living in a dark time when giants like @nytimes and @washingtonpost rush..Read more Dear Reader, Dear Reader, For the first time in 4 years, I wake up with trust in the government and in President, Joseph R. Biden and VicePresident, Kamala Harris who will no l..Read more Dear Reader, Dear Reader, In this column I asked contributors to write 2-3 sentences about historic moments that stood out for them. I bow to their offerings. Ottawa, Canad..Read more   Decentralization…! Here We Come! On to Web 3.0! Decentralization…! Here We Come! On to Web 3.0! By Paula LaBrot English philosopher John Stuart Mill wrote in the mid-1800s, “The fraud is the pretense that the welfare of ordinary people matters to the el..Read more Endocrine Disruptors Are Everywhere Endocrine Disruptors Are Everywhere There are many chemicals in the environment that affect our bodies, and especially our hormones. These are found in the air, soil, water supply, food ..Read more Eve of Destruction Eve of Destruction The Eastern world, it is explodin’ Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’ You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’ You don’t believe in..Read more Events Events Sunday, December 24. Christmas Eve Day Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m. “They entered..Read more   Everything But the Dog Everything But the Dog By Kim Zanti Chris Kelly sends an annual April Fools Day message to everyone on Topanga Creek Outpost’s email list. In 2022, he sent a different kind of message...Read more February is Valentine’s Day and More February is Valentine’s Day and More Of course, most of us love Valentine’s Day, but February is a month of holidays. We have Chinese New Year opening the shortest month of the year, ..Read more Fifty Years — The Spirit of Two Wills Fifty Years — The Spirit of Two Wills Ellen Geer’s earliest memory of the McCarthy Blacklist era—when her father Will Geer was drummed out of Hollywood for refusing to name names befor..Read more Finding Light During Challenging Times Finding Light During Challenging Times In these challenging times, our hearts are heavy with the ongoing war, which has unfortunately led to a rise in anti-Semitic sentiments. It can be dis..Read more   Fire Alerts on Nextdoor Not Always Accurate Fire Alerts on Nextdoor Not Always Accurate The “Shirley Fireâ€� in Chatsworth set off a firestorm of postings and comments on Nextdoor after hikers in Topanga reported sightings of..Read more For the Love of Dogs, Part III For the Love of Dogs, Part III In Memoriam Remembering those went before and were dearly loved. Suki “I am Suki,â€� a princess but a very sweet princess. I never do anything wrong. I am always a pleasure to be around. When I meet anyone I li..Read more Gallery Surpasses Expectations Gallery Surpasses Expectations On October 23, the opening reception at the Topanga Canyon Gallery and its show, “When Pigs Fly,â€� was a delightful surprise to behold in its new ..Read more Halloween,s Fangtastic Forever Memories Halloween,s Fangtastic Forever Memories Hundreds of revelers from Topanga and beyond gathered at the Topanga Community Center for this year’s Spooktacular Halloween Carnival. Attendees ..Read more   Hani Naser, 1950-2020 Hani Naser, 1950-2020 By Elise Mallove The magnificent soul known as Hani Naser left his mortal coil peacefully in the early morning hours of 16 November. Hani was known for his big, beaut..Read more Harvesting & Preserving Abundance Harvesting & Preserving Abundance As the growing season approaches its conclusion, Mother Nature seems to put more pressure on plants to complete their cycles. Harvest season is up..Read more Healing Tana Healing Tana Sometimes, even those who inspire us need our help. One of the reasons those who live in Topanga love living here is because of the close-knit com..Read more HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Saturday, December 10, 4-7 p.m. Topanga Canyon Gallery’s Artists reception with food, drinks and a new collection of contemporary fine art. The seco..Read more   Homeschool Options Homeschool Options I want to homeschool my children…but how? These past few months, many parents were forced to learn how to homeschool, virtually (pun intended) over..Read more Israel’s Onslaught: to What End? Israel’s Onslaught: to What End? Israeli Proposals for Total Expulsion of Gazans Seventy percent of Gazans, their children or grandchildren are refugees. Palestinians refer to th..Read more Kaien Orion: Olympian Dreams Come True Kaien Orion: Olympian Dreams Come True Kaien Orion (both names rhyme with Ryan) first moved to Topanga at age two when his older brother was an active child actor. At four, he began taking ..Read more Keep On Hoping in the Free World Keep On Hoping in the Free World In hopes of making only one stop, we’ve adjusted the shopping list several times, discovering milk listed twice by mistake. Three cans of corn, one ..Read more   Lamar Hawkins 1938-2023 Lamar Hawkins 1938-2023 Longtime Topanga resident Lamar Hawkins passed away at home on October 12 of cancer. Her family is holding a memorial and celebration of her life fo..Read more Larry Coulson—1945-2020 Larry Coulson—1945-2020 Topanga has lost an original.  Larry Coulson passed away suddenly but peacefully on August 31 after complications from cancer. In his final moments,..Read more Latest Confirmed Dates and Timeline for North Area Plan Latest Confirmed Dates and Timeline for North Area Plan The final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which identifies changes to the Santa Monica Mountains North Area Plan (SMMNAP) and Community Standards D..Read more Lights in the Dark Lights in the Dark The Canyon Chronicle pages have been full of children of late. What a rich education they receive at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS). Its par..Read more   Lindsey Horvath Lindsey Horvath Endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood, and the Los Angeles Times, Third District Candidate Lindsey Horvath says sheâ..Read more Lori Precious was Born to Draw Lori Precious was Born to Draw Artist Lori Precious creates art that is in veneration of the fragile side of life. Perhaps no one knows better that endings are also beginnings than Lori Precious. Before she was the Lori Precious we’ve come to know—the Topang..Read more ‘Bill and Pablo Return to Brookside’ ‘Bill and Pablo Return to Brookside’ Having written the book “Topanga Beach: A History,â€� I’ve become an expert on the area; but one part I still know little about is Brookside, a ne..Read more ‘Mindwalk: The Screenplay’ ‘Mindwalk: The Screenplay’ By Floyd Byars, Bernt Capra & Fritjof Capra with Scientific Commentary by Fritjof Capra, a Director’s Note by Bernt Capra, and behind-the-scenes pho..Read more   ‘On the Road to the Past,’ March 6, 3 p.m. ‘On the Road to the Past,’ March 6, 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 3 p.m., “On the Road to the Past.â€� The Topanga Historical Society (THS) presents a virtual Zoom presentation by Suzanne Guldimann..Read more ‘Studio 666’ is a Devilish Delight ‘Studio 666’ is a Devilish Delight Foo Fighters’ feature film highlights group dynamic in comedy-horror flick. Never mind the rock doc, it’s the feature film where rock bands rev..Read more Maggie Puertas Wray, 1920-2020 Maggie Puertas Wray, 1920-2020 Margaret (Aunt Maggie) Puertas grew up in the midst of the Great Depression. She was born in 1920, ninth in a family of ten children. Life in the Puer..Read more Mimi Turns 100... Vamos a Ver! Mimi Turns 100... Vamos a Ver! On the warm, sunny Sunday of January 30, Mimi Jaffe turned 100 in the beautiful Topanga orchard of Dr. Ben LaBrot and Karine Tchkarian. Surrounded..Read more   Moira Talan Dwyer Moira Talan Dwyer “Topanga,â€� Moira Talan told a New York Times reporter last fall, “is kind of a crystal place.â€� Ms. Talan — who taught at Wilbur Avenue Ele..Read more MOMentum Place Dazzles the Senses MOMentum Place Dazzles the Senses Spring is in the air as MOMentum Place returns triumphantly to the Theatricum Botanicum for a special Mother’s Day tribute on Sunday, May 8, at 2 p...Read more Movin’ On Movin’ On It is with the greatest reverence that with this issue, Long Distance Listening Party comes to an end, at least in its current form. I’ve begun anot..Read more Evident Truths Evident Truths Fireworks can be heard in our hills. A random, surprising boom off in the distance, somewhere. Even though the Fourth of July has come and gone, it is..Read more   Non-Holiday Gifts, Maybe for Yourself Non-Holiday Gifts, Maybe for Yourself A play, an Academy Award press screening, and a film festival at MOMA are all good escapes from the holiday frenzy. What happens when a former pris..Read more North Italia Brings Fresh Italian Fare to Canoga Park North Italia Brings Fresh Italian Fare to Canoga Park North Italia, the Italian eatery known for its scratch-made dishes, seasonal menu items and craft cocktails, opened its newest location in Canoga Park..Read more Of Monoliths and Mangers Of Monoliths and Mangers By Kathie Gibboney This year it took much longer to put up our Christmas decorations, four days alone to mount the house lights and yard display. Usually, that wa..Read more Perspective on the Housing Market Perspective on the Housing Market Because you may be getting your information from the news or limited sources, it’s time to look at the stats over the last five years: We are in the..Read more   Pesach (Passover) 2022 April 15 to April 23 Pesach (Passover) 2022 April 15 to April 23 Egypt is not only a geographical location but also a state of mind. Passover is celebrated by Jews every year, commemorating the anniversary of o..Read more Poetry Poetry Practical Love Poem #33 Summer in the backyard is sitting on the Sears Porch swing, with a fringe On top and you can move By touching the grou..Read more Pumpernickel, aka Buddha, but What’s in a Name? Pumpernickel, aka Buddha, but What’s in a Name? After a year of the constant barrage of puppy photos from my wife, Morgan, I finally gave in the day she rescued little Pumpernickel. It was something..Read more Ready? Set? GO! Buy Your Tickets Now (online)! Ready? Set? GO! Buy Your Tickets Now (online)! Topanga Days is right around the corner and it’s going to be well worth the price of admission to support your local community center. As usual,..Read more   Returning Home Returning Home My name is Jennifer and I grew up in Topanga with my brother, Jonathan, and sister, Jessica. We moved there in 1971 from deep in the San Fernando Val..Read more Ring in the Holidays with Theatricum’s ‘Holiday Family Faire’  Ring in the Holidays with Theatricum’s ‘Holiday Family Faire’  On December 9 (Rain date: Dec. 16), from 11 a.m.–5 p.m, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum presents the third annual Holiday Family Faire at its spe..Read more R.I.P. Tony Morris R.I.P. Tony Morris By Flavia Potenza We, at the Canyon Chronicle mourn, along with many others in the canyon, whether we knew him well or superficially, the passing of Tony Morris. We hav..Read more Rocco’s Cucina to the Rescue! Rocco’s Cucina to the Rescue! After selling their legendary pizza restaurant in 2004, the Rocco’s family business is still going strong as Rocco’s Cucina in the Palisades andâ€...Read more   Sages Garden Club Looks to Sustainable DIY Home Gardens Sages Garden Club Looks to Sustainable DIY Home Gardens October 13, 2023 Balmy breezes wafted through the open doors of the light and bright Sages room as the first meeting of the Sages Garden Club got u..Read more Saints and Poets Saints and Poets The following contains the description of a psychedelic experience. Let it be known that I do not condone teen drug use especially in these dangerous ..Read more Santa Checks in Early with TECS Students Santa Checks in Early with TECS Students Santa Claus landed early in our canyon this year—bringing joy to students at Topanga Elementary’s Holiday Party. The special guest continued his p..Read more Saving the Magic of the Night Saving the Magic of the Night With light pollution increasing by nearly 10 percent each year, it’s more than just our view of the stars that are being lost. Earlier this year, I..Read more   Spiritual Topanga Spiritual Topanga Joseph Campbell said, “The seat of the soul is where the inner world and the outer world meet.â€� Here in Topanga Canyon there is an eclectic varie..Read more Plague Punk: Steam Punk Goes Viral Plague Punk: Steam Punk Goes Viral Topanga Canyon Gallery is pleased to present “Plague Punk: Steampunk Goes Viral  by Kitonius V Plumii,â€� aka Kit Plumridge, that opened August 1..Read more The Blessings Of Bounty The Blessings Of Bounty At the end of one year and the start of a new one, we take account of that which is meaningful in our lives. And that’s what my last column of the y..Read more   The Cat And Mouse Days Of Summer The Cat And Mouse Days Of Summer The cat lies on the cool marble of the fireplace hearth, snoring. I’m hoping the last mouse has been caught. It seems that for the entir..Read more The Difference Between Gray, Blue, And Green Hydrogen The Difference Between Gray, Blue, And Green Hydrogen Hydrogen has potential as a clean fuel, depending on how it’s produced. Hydrogen fuel burns clean, so it has potential as a low-carbon energy sou..Read more The Joy of Purim The Joy of Purim A few years ago I volunteered with friends to read the Megillah and celebrate Purim in the federal prison of North Carolina. It was an emotional exper..Read more The Many Gifts of Gio The Many Gifts of Gio Eight-year-old Gio opened his art exhibit at Artists Matter Gallery in the Topanga Creek Courtyard to a Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring the electr..Read more   The Moment When Everything Falls Apart The Moment When Everything Falls Apart While preparing to direct a short documentary about the Akumal Arts Festival in Mexico, I faced a pivotal moment. Icy fear coated my gut. The ghost of..Read more The Return of Elephant Rock* The Return of Elephant Rock* The tall sandstone cliffs of Eagle Rock are one of Topanga’s most popular hiking destinations. If you’re planning a hike in Topanga, Eagle Rock is..Read more The Scottish Play The Scottish Play Joel Bellman Even if it weren’t adapted and directed by the Joel half of the Coen Brothers filmmaking team, I’d run out to see the upcoming Tragedy of Macbeth,..Read more The Stone House, Part 3: ‘John Bonnell and the Palmaymesa Family’ The Stone House, Part 3: ‘John Bonnell and the Palmaymesa Family’ In 1918, the man who would have the biggest impact on Old Topanga Canyon arrived, John H. Bonnell (1864–1938). “He was a cultured man and the ..Read more   The Stone House, Part 9: ‘A President of Heart and History’ The Stone House, Part 9: ‘A President of Heart and History’ “When I was 12 years old, I saw a remote house in the hills in Coldwater Canyon and thought, ‘That’s the ideal life!’â€� Ed O’Neill remember..Read more The Stone House, Part Two: ‘Mail Carrier Jack Wood’ The Stone House, Part Two: ‘Mail Carrier Jack Wood’ Horace Waller (b.1881) married schoolteacher Maud E. Wood (b.1881) in July 1905. That same month, they bought the Mazet ranch and stone house with her..Read more The YouTube War The YouTube War “All of us individuals are the targets of these wars—whether it’s a marketing war or a real-world war. We’re the ones whose clicks decide whos..Read more This is Who We Are This is Who We Are Saturday, November 7, Topangans awoke to a light rain that brought in a cold snap and a Double Rainbow (above) that Eric Fitzgerald captured from his ..Read more   Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today Compiled by Pablo Capra Topanga Historical Archivist When Pablo Capra, The Canyon Chronicle’s (and Topanga Historical Society’s) intrepi..Read more Thank you for bringing your vital paper to our community! What a great team you are! The design and graphics are so tasty making it such a pleasure to..Read more Topanga Symphony Presents Pamela Goldsmith on the Viola D’Amo Topanga Symphony Presents Pamela Goldsmith on the Viola D’Amo The Topanga Symphony will present the free summer concert of their 41st season on June 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Topanga Community Center. A favorit..Read more Topanga Youngsters Shine in Special Moana Jr. Show Topanga Youngsters Shine in Special Moana Jr. Show Topanga’s next generation of stars shone brightly in a spectacular performance of Moana Jr. at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS). Local th..Read more   Unleash the Joy Sustainable Giving Unleash the Joy Sustainable Giving A Canine Gift Guide for a Pawsitively Perfect Holiday Season According to recent insights from a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Asso..Read more Vague Intentions Vague Intentions This week “vagueâ€� is the operative word. The longer I live outside of Topanga, the more I appreciate it. Topanga is a place that doesn’t chang..Read more Verdugo Moon ft. Mina Bloom! Verdugo Moon ft. Mina Bloom! Thursday, Sept. 2, 5pm-8pm, Topanga Center..Read more Water Restrictions Affect Everyone Water Restrictions Affect Everyone It’s time for Topangans to cut back on water use. California is now in the throes of a 1,200-year drought emergency and climate change has take..Read more   What if the Most Powerful Way to Live Longer is Just Exercise? What if the Most Powerful Way to Live Longer is Just Exercise? A few weeks ago, I rolled my right ankle and found myself back in physical therapy, fearing I’d really done it this time. After reassuring me that t..Read more What Is Rosh Hashanah? What Is Rosh Hashanah? The Jewish New Year, anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, a day of judgment and coronation and sounding of the shofar . . . What: Rosh H..Read more World Premiere of ‘The Last, Best Small Town’ is World Class Theater World Premiere of ‘The Last, Best Small Town’ is World Class Theater Opening night at Theatricum Botanicum of The Last, Best Small Town by Latinx playwright John Guerra introduces us to a pair of neighboring fami..Read more 11-8-20 11-8-20 By Ann Buxie The day after Biden’s president-elect speech a certain tension, held unknowingly, in my body, had relaxed. The effort of plugging a hole in th..Read more   Marketplace 72-Hour Watch 72-Hour Watch This week I’m taking a deep dive into the world of mental health facilities. I’m doing this by placing myself under an involuntary 72-hour watch a..Read more A DOZEN POEMS ONE FOR EVERY MONTH A DOZEN POEMS ONE FOR EVERY MONTH Why War When Beauty Abounds? So now let’s let the poetry of our days drift Into May, June, July, August Into the revels of holidays galore ..Read more A Dream Come True A Dream Come True What magical place had I stumbled into, here in Topanga Canyon? IRL couples, families, friends, milling about with drinks in their hands, smiling from..Read more   A New Chapter for Ballet for Topanga A New Chapter for Ballet for Topanga Over the past 44 years, Sherry Jason has become known throughout the Canyon for her commitment to teaching ballet to Topanga’s children of all ages...Read more A Note of Profound Gratitude A Note of Profound Gratitude I am overflowing with gratitude today, and I would like to share the wonderful news with all of you. “Who’s Who in Americaâ€� recently reached out..Read more A Time to Plant… A Time to Plant… Planting time is here! After a long wet winter, there’s never been a better time to get your garden growing. Planning a garden can be a daunting..Read more Acclaimed Violinist Ken Aiso Performs Beethoven’s ‘Violin Concerto in D’ With the Topanga Symphony Acclaimed Violinist Ken Aiso Performs Beethoven’s ‘Violin Concerto in D’ With the Topanga Symphony October 13, 2023 The Topanga Symphony presents its 41st season of free concerts under the direction of Jerome Kessler, featuring internationally a..Read more   Elusive Truths Elusive Truths Last November I told G that I dreaded 2020. “Why?â€� he asked. Because this election year is going to be so ugly, so divisive, so intellectually be..Read more An Evening of Song, Storytelling, and Inspiration An Evening of Song, Storytelling, and Inspiration This winter, Rabbi Mendy Piekarski of Chabad of Topanga will offer â€�Judaism: The Soundtrack,â€� for an evening of immersive musical experience, feat..Read more An Irish Adventure An Irish Adventure Years ago, a friend gave me some of the best advice about parenting that I ever got: everything you’ve always heard about it is true. And guess wha..Read more Bob Hertzberg Bob Hertzberg “Los Angeles County’s canyon communities and the Santa Monica Mountains are national treasures that must be protected,â€� retiring State Sen.Rober..Read more   Break-in on Penny Road Break-in on Penny Road By Pamela Mesaros shattering of breaking glass woke my husband and me at 7:30, Sunday morning October 25. What my husband, who was brave enough to investigate, foun..Read more California as a World Leader in the Climate Challenge California as a World Leader in the Climate Challenge As California takes bold steps to address climate change, which Governor Newsom called one of the “greatest existential threatsâ€� we’re facing, i..Read more Caring for Your Trees During Drought Caring for Your Trees During Drought While our long-lived trees are able to withstand quite a bit, the combination of almost 20 years of below normal precipitation and more days with extr..Read more COVID Through the Artist’s Eye COVID Through the Artist’s Eye Artist/Sculptor Megan Rice, like many of us, adapted as best she could to the COVID -19 lockdown. Faced with unscheduled hours at home, time turned to..Read more   Creating Clean Water with Solar Stills Creating Clean Water with Solar Stills As droughts make water more scarce, every drop counts. Hundreds of millions of people around the world lack easy access to safe drinking water. An..Read more Dear Reader, Dear Reader, by Jean Colonomos January 6, 2021 will live in infamy when armed mobs threatening death to Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, broke into t..Read more Dear Reader, Dear Reader, By Jean Colonomos Wanting some fun, I asked my contributors to write one to two sentences about what’s on their minds. There was no content agenda and I enjoyed the s..Read more Excerpts from Dogs in Topanga 2000-2018 Excerpts from Dogs in Topanga 2000-2018 Dogs In Topanga These spirits, these fakers, adventurers out to filch a bone, a bowl of water, treats, can charm you to dea..Read more   Electric cars vs. gasoline cars: Which is better for climate change? Electric cars vs. gasoline cars: Which is better for climate change? Electric cars already have a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline vehicles, and the grid is getting cleaner all the time. Electric vehicle..Read more Elizabeth Carter of Honest Rituals Holistic Skincare and Ethereal Yoga Studio Elizabeth Carter of Honest Rituals Holistic Skincare and Ethereal Yoga Studio Serendipity seems to have brought entrepreneur Elizabeth Carter into another test of “patience In 2019, Elizabeth Carter turned off of CA-1 onto Route 27 to visit a friend and found instant resonance in Topanga Canyon’s curving roads and mount..Read more Everyday Hugs Everyday Hugs What people yearn for the most in this extended lockdown, they say, are hugs, so here are some Everyday Hugs that might prompt you to find your own. ..Read more For the Love of Dogs, Part II For the Love of Dogs, Part II Max It’s true what they say. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like with a dog before one finds you, but it’s even harder to imagine wh..Read more   Fresh Breeze Out Of Tennessee Fresh Breeze Out Of Tennessee Fresh Breeze Out Of Tennessee* In the dark gulch of the great divide do yo..Read more Good Times! No Troubles! Good Times! No Troubles! The first hint was the signs were back! After two COVID years, like mushrooms springing up overnight, those familiar, handmade signs, the Cowboy, the ..Read more How Is Rosh Hashanah Celebrated? How Is Rosh Hashanah Celebrated? Rosh Hashanah’s Traditions and Customs Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday marking the first and second days of the Jewish year. (In 2022, Rosh H..Read more In March Celebrate ‘Dadgum That’s a Good Day!’ In March Celebrate ‘Dadgum That’s a Good Day!’ With Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras making March sizzle, it’s hard to imagine that anyone’s feeling short on celebration. But if you do need more part..Read more   Julian is 3! Julian is 3! Julian Himmel celebrated his third birthday on Sunday, January 30, in Bonnell Park with friends and neighbors, donuts from the donut truck, and Spider..Read more June to July Events June to July Events Special Reception, Saturday, June 25, 12:30-7 p.m.— Steampunk artist Kit Plumridge invites you to a unique solo exhibit on the Isle of Plumii..Read more K-12 Schools can be Major Players in the Clean Energy Transition K-12 Schools can be Major Players in the Clean Energy Transition October 13, 2023 Converting all schools to 100 percent clean energy would cut as much carbon pollution as retiring eighteen coal-fired power plants..Read more Kidiwische Connections Kidiwische Connections Exciting times are gathering together for workshops at Kat High’s Kidiwische Corner, the Theodore Payne Foundation, Chumash Museum, and more, Sch..Read more   LAUSD Update LAUSD Update The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) agreed to distance learning as the model for opening the..Read more Leslie Doolin—1938-2023 Leslie Doolin—1938-2023 Leslie Doolin was born in Melbourne, Australia on June 10th, 1938 to Eileen and Austin Edwards. She was the second of four children, Katy, Leslie, Joc..Read more LETTERS LETTERS Kim Lamorie, president of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation (LVHF), forwarded this letter from David W. Pedersen, P.E., General Manager, Las Virg..Read more Letting The River Flow Letting The River Flow I try to think ahead. To be smart, make right choices. I can’t take the terrycloth robe, it’s too fluffy to pack. I can’t wear the lace-up boot..Read more   Los Angeles County Waterwork Drought Conservation Guidelines Los Angeles County Waterwork Drought Conservation Guidelines The Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD) has issued the following mandatory water use restrictions effective immediately: Outdoor yard a..Read more ‘Buy Nothing Topanga Helps Save the Planet’ ‘Buy Nothing Topanga Helps Save the Planet’ How do you gift unwanted items to friends and neighbors, get cool stuff, spend no money and help the planet? Easy! Just join your local “Buy Nothing..Read more Music at Butterfly Day Music at Butterfly Day An exciting day of musical and theatrical performances for all ages is sure to delight Butterfly Day attendees. The schedule includes nationally renow..Read more Neowise Comet at Dawn Neowise Comet at Dawn The interplanetary interloper dubbed Comet NEOWISE has brightened surprisingly in the pre-dawn skies in the northwest. Officially designated Comet C/2..Read more   No ‘Third Way’ for this Presidential Election No ‘Third Way’ for this Presidential Election Why this year’s presidential election, especially, is not the one for voters to play around with third-party candidates. ..Read more October is ‘Adopt A Shelter Dog’ Month October is ‘Adopt A Shelter Dog’ Month October 13, 2023 The County of Los Angeles (County) Board of Supervisors has officially declared October 2023 as “Adopt a Shelter Dog Monthâ€� th..Read more Optimism & Joy Mark Festival Despite Pandemic Optimism & Joy Mark Festival Despite Pandemic Reimagining the Indian Festival of the Chariots required protective masks, drive-through worship, and to-go boxes as the Hare Krishnas hono..Read more Parent Volunteers—More Than a Fly on The Wall Parent Volunteers—More Than a Fly on The Wall Assisting in a classroom provides an experience that enables parent volunteers to be more than just a fly on the wall. “Topanga Elementary is a gr..Read more   Preventing the Next Digital Divide Preventing the Next Digital Divide FIBER OPTICS WATCH: Like many municipalities across the country, Los Angeles is in the throes of trying to figure out the best way to close the digit..Read more At 91, Professor Charles Quigley Celebrates with a Hike At 91, Professor Charles Quigley Celebrates with a Hike Early morning hikers in Topanga State Pa rk at Trippet Ranch probably have met Chuck Quigley on the East Topanga Fire Road. Quigley starts every day w..Read more QUIPS & TIPS TO FACE 2024 QUIPS & TIPS TO FACE 2024 2023 was a personal brain-drain, so I raided the internet for some New Year’s encouragement or maybe just a good laugh or two to share. I did none o..Read more Reflections and Deflections Reflections and Deflections “The cliché is the handrail of the crippled mind,â€� the British comic actor and writer Spike Milligan has said. That may be true, but clichés—l..Read more   Resilient AF! Resilient AF! Kamakshi Hart, solo theatre artist, trauma-informed coach, and award-winning creator of Wild At Hart: A Tale of Trauma & Triumph, presents her newest ..Read more Safety Tips for your Pets for the Holidays Safety Tips for your Pets for the Holidays The holiday season brings many fun traditions to share with the ones we love, including our pets. While we enjoy the decorations, food and time spent ..Read more Sages Garden Club Growing Strong Sages Garden Club Growing Strong The Sages Garden Club launched earlier this year and is quickly gaining momentum as Topanga gardeners of all ages are loving getting together and shar..Read more See the Art, Feel the Energy See the Art, Feel the Energy Kate Browning and Lisa Baldwin each transport viewers to another state of mind with their paintings. Presenting the first solo show in Topanga Ca..Read more   Sen. Henry Stern Takes On Climate Emergency Bills Sen. Henry Stern Takes On Climate Emergency Bills Fires, Extreme Heat, and Grid Resilience are coming to a critical vote, plus bills on wildlife corridors, oil & gas reform, and an electric vehicl..Read more Snowy Egret, San Rafael, CA Snowy Egret, San Rafael, CA The egret was on the shore and I accidentally scared it while trying to get some portrait shots and it flew away. I managed to get a few snaps off whi..Read more Social Distance and Mental Health Social Distance and Mental Health Mental health issues may be the next-wave threat associated with the coronavirus pandemic. According to research, loneliness is as physically harmf...Read more Social Media and Your Kid Social Media and Your Kid The American Psychological Association recommends parents closely monitor the online activities of their preteens and teens. You may remember an ar..Read more   Soothsayers and Charlatans—How to Choose a Psychic Soothsayers and Charlatans—How to Choose a Psychic Choosing carefully before booking a session with a psychic could save you a cauldron-full of disappointment, not to mention time and money. It’s..Read more Speeding Accident on Highway 27 Speeding Accident on Highway 27 On September 18, local photographer Brian Kaufman happened upon this motorcycle accident on Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Highway 27) and gave The C..Read more Spotlight On... Jamie Mazur Spotlight On... Jamie Mazur Jamie Mazur grew up in Topanga and attended Topanga Elementary Charter School, Paul Revere Middle School, and Palisades Charter High School. I first m..Read more Spring Gatherings & Fun at Kidiwische Corner Spring Gatherings & Fun at Kidiwische Corner Spring has come to Topanga, thanks to the rain, and the following sunshine. Kidiwische Corner is in bloom, and we are out gathering the early bounty o..Read more   Surviving in Suburbia… The Move, Part 2 Surviving in Suburbia… The Move, Part 2 While not exactly homeless, almost as soon as I was heartily welcomed in the new place, I was, putting it kindly, asked, to leave. What to do…? W..Read more TEP at 40, a Topanga Legacy TEP at 40, a Topanga Legacy Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) students have returned for a landmark new school year—celebrating 40 years since the formation of Topanga E..Read more Thanksgiving Recipes Thanksgiving Recipes by Beverly Cox & Martin Jacobs Here are a couple of Thanksgiving recipes for our Southern California table, and a bibliography of Native stories and activities for Thanksgiving and ..Read more The Long Road Ahead… Or Was It Behind? Part 2 The Long Road Ahead… Or Was It Behind? Part 2 After getting stranded In a state park somewhere near Perris, California, my friends and I had become unwitting participants in a civil war reenactmen..Read more   The Mysterious History of the April Fool The Mysterious History of the April Fool April Fools’ Day—the only day of the year when we’re encouraged to take jokes to levels that boarder on cruelty and spin yarns that verge on dow..Read more The Playlist is the Piece The Playlist is the Piece “Long Distance Listening Partyâ€� is a new column by me, Miles Erickson. Its vague intention is to discuss topics framed in the context of what Iâ€..Read more The Stone House, Part 7: ‘The Zeidlers and Buffalo Springfield’ The Stone House, Part 7: ‘The Zeidlers and Buffalo Springfield’ Mazet’s vineyard may have drawn the next owners to the stone house because they were wine connoisseurs. Marvin (b.1928) and Judy Zeidler (b.1930) ha..Read more The Verdi Chorus Returns Triumphant to Live Performance The Verdi Chorus Returns Triumphant to Live Performance Opera lovers rejoice! The Verdi Chorus, now in its 38th season, celebrates the return to live performance with their Fall concert, Ritorna Vincit..Read more   Then and Now in Colorado with Isabella Bird Then and Now in Colorado with Isabella Bird Our travel writer Linda Ballou was chosen as the Isabella Bird expert to be interviewed for ‘Trailblazers,â€� a three-part BBC documentary about th..Read more Think Green This Holiday Think Green This Holiday In October, I attended the first-ever Orange County Sustainability Decathlon, where teams of students competed to build a sustainable house that offer..Read more Necessities of Life Necessities of Life While maintaining as much distance as possible, people are lined up on a downtown sidewalk, waiting. Some read newspapers, others engage in small talk..Read more Aycil Yeltan-The Artist and the Art Aycil Yeltan-The Artist and the Art I last touched based with filmmaker, actress, and artist, Aycil Yeltan, in May of 2020. I had the privilege of meeting her in her Topanga Canyon home,..Read more   Topanga Christian Fellowship Church Topanga Christian Fellowship Church Because of a conflict with Labor Day weekend (September 4-6), Topanga Christian Fellowship will hold the September “First Sundayâ€� service on Augus..Read more Topanga Symphony Free Concert Topanga Symphony Free Concert The Topanga Symphony will be performing at the Topanga Community Center on Sunday April 2nd at 3 p.m., a free classical music concert featuring Music ..Read more Topanga Whimsy for the Holidays and Every Day Topanga Whimsy for the Holidays and Every Day Compiled by Flavia Potenza No one ever said Topangans don’t have a sense of humor. Much of it manifests in surprisingly whimsical ways where you can’t help but smile and won..Read more This is a letter Brian Planas sent to Sheila Kuehl when he observed illegal installation of wireless telecommunications equipment being installed on T..Read more   Vitamin D Deserves More Respect Vitamin D Deserves More Respect Do May gray and June gloom depress vitamin D levels? Quite possibly By Martha Groves, UCLAHEALTH The summer ahead promises to be sunny and hott..Read more Why Are Dems Feeling So Miserable? Why Are Dems Feeling So Miserable? Last May I wrote in this space that President Biden will be our nominee next year (barring, of course, any intervening calamity); that a third party w..Read more Zoe Mack Invited to Train at Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow Zoe Mack Invited to Train at Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow By Flavia Potenza When COVID-19 closed down the Westside School of Ballet where 16-year-old Zoe Mack had been training since she was seven, she switched to the Russian ..Read more 40 Years of Free Concerts 40 Years of Free Concerts Andrea Ehrgott Topanga Symphony musicians are tuning their instruments, rosining their bow hairs, adjusting reeds, and inviting you to the next free concert at the T..Read more   A Prophet, Finally With Honor A Prophet, Finally With Honor A Prophet, Finally With Honor Owing to our long lead times here at The Canyon Chronicle, as you read this you will have already seen the “Barbenh..Read more A Topanga Days POV at 25 A Topanga Days POV at 25 Miles Erickson As I trudged up the hill to the Topanga Days Fair, already shimmering under sweat, I heard some Van Morrison covers in the distance, which is par for ..Read more A Truly Lived Life A Truly Lived Life By Kait Leonard The life and work of local poet and author Philip Daughtry, who “left no part of myself unlived.â€� Dressed in western duds that would do his anc..Read more Blind Faith, Timeless Story Blind Faith, Timeless Story If you’re going to leave the Canyon for something worthy of the drive, don’t miss Pasadena Playhouse’s brilliant contemporary adaptation of Inhe..Read more   Butterfly Day is Every Day Butterfly Day is Every Day Topanga’s Fourth Annual Butterfly Day on May 7th was a family-oriented festival celebrating pollinators and environmental stewardship with live musi..Read more Butterfly School Butterfly School Monarchs are arguably the most well-known and best loved butterfly in the world. A while back, I took a two-day monarch butterfly teaching intensive..Read more Calling all Topanga Authors Calling all Topanga Authors The Topanga Canyon Sages and travel writer Linda Ballou are hosting authors who would like to participate in BOOK TALK, an opportunity for authors to ..Read more Catching Up with Topanga Actors Company Catching Up with Topanga Actors Company Starting July 23, Topanga Actors Company (TAC) begins streaming six plays from its 2020-21 season on Facebook beginning with Mary Shelley’s Frank..Read more   Celebrate and Discover Women’s History Celebrate and Discover Women’s History Women’s History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is c..Read more Claire Denis, the Indispensable Entrepreneur Claire Denis, the Indispensable Entrepreneur If you live in Topanga, chances are you’ve been to Cafe Mimosa. The second longest-standing establishment in the canyon, Mimosa has served as a meet..Read more COVID-19 New Rules for Schools COVID-19 New Rules for Schools Kids are back in school and as the COVID-19 virus and the Delta variant continue, the Canyon Chronicle has highlighted some recommendations and requir..Read more   Creativity Blooms Under the Oaks Creativity Blooms Under the Oaks Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) students showcased their blossoming talents under the magnificent oaks at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum ..Read more Dog Days in Topanga Dog Days in Topanga Missy: From Street Dog to Topanga Dog It took a long time to get my husband Stephen to agree to getting a dog. My daughter and I had been pestering him for over a year, and finally, six mo..Read more Events Events Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and celebrate the..Read more Exploring San Luis Obispo’s Dog-Friendly Wineries Exploring San Luis Obispo’s Dog-Friendly Wineries Traveling with your beloved furry companions can be a fulfilling adventure, albeit one that demands thoughtful planning. Here, seasoned traveler Susan..Read more   Final Farewells Final Farewells As if global chaos, murder and heartbreak weren’t enough, all the while seeping into our bucolic little village and casting a pall over many of us, ..Read more For the Love of Dogs & the Dogs we Love For the Love of Dogs & the Dogs we Love In the ’70s, we used to call Topanga “Dog Townâ€� because everyone had dogs, usually in multiples. While Topanga’s residents have changed over t..Read more Give Teachers The Gift of Time Give Teachers The Gift of Time When I first started teaching, I spent hours after my students left preparing lessons, cleaning my classroom, and setting up for the next day of class..Read more Hamas is not a ‘Revolutionary Group’ Hamas is not a ‘Revolutionary Group’ By Elyse Wien “The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and..Read more   How I Became A Volunteer How I Became A Volunteer By Stacy Sledge As an unincorporated mountain community, in order to meet its needs where the County can’t or doesn’t, Topanga has always been a community of volu..Read more How I Became A Volunteer How I Became A Volunteer As an unincorporated mountain community, in order to meet its needs where the County can’t or doesn’t, Topanga has always been a community of volu..Read more II. NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS II. NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS October 27, 2023 • A burglary of a shed occurred on Encina Road. The door of the shed was forced open; numerous tools, a surfboard, and a wet sui..Read more In The Company Of Greatness In The Company Of Greatness Recently in Old Canyon around Cheese Rock, a fallen Oak Tree took down some power poles and caused major traffic problems to residents. If a tree f..Read more   Interactive Art Events from Topanga Canyon Gallery Interactive Art Events from Topanga Canyon Gallery Fun With Drawing,â€� Saturday, March 5, 3-5 p.m. Enjoy an interactive art experience on the patio with Debbi Green, whose paintings in the north gall..Read more Introducing 2023, the Year of Change Introducing 2023, the Year of Change It’s hard to say whether 2023 will be better than 2022, but there’s no doubt that it’s going to be different. With the Nodes of the Moon slippin..Read more Kidiwische Bibliography for Thanksgiving Kidiwische Bibliography for Thanksgiving *Giving Thanks. Chief Jake Swamp. Lee & Low Books. (kids) 1621. A New Look at Thanksgiving. Catherine O’Neill Grace & Margaret M. Bruchac. National..Read more LACoFD Sees Sharp Decline of Internal Covid-19 Cases LACoFD Sees Sharp Decline of Internal Covid-19 Cases The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) has experienced a drastic decline in the test positivity rate and number of individuals out sick with ..Read more   Leslie Edwards Doolin June 10, 1938-September 11, 2023 Leslie Edwards Doolin June 10, 1938-September 11, 2023 Beloved mother, grandmother, artist, teacher, and long-time Topanga resident, Leslie Doolin passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her fami..Read more Let’s Go to Drive-In Movies in the Mountains! Let’s Go to Drive-In Movies in the Mountains! Enjoy classic movies at King Gillette Ranch as you sit comfy and cozy in your car. Street Food Cinema has partnered with th..Read more Local Businesses Support T-Days Parade Local Businesses Support T-Days Parade Topanga Days, the Topanga Community Center‘s (TCC) main fundraiser of the year, and the beloved parade are finally happening again this year, after ..Read more Love on the Other Side of Death: A Storytelling Performance by Mary Guillermin Love on the Other Side of Death: A Storytelling Performance by Mary Guillermin October 13, 2023 The eighth annual BFF Binge Fringe Festival of Free Theatre takes place at the Santa Monica Playhouse from Tuesday, October 17 to ..Read more   Of Tarot Cards And Crows Of Tarot Cards And Crows Ah, the Tarot cards. That mystical channel to lifting the veil, tapping into hidden answers, future possibilities, maybe meeting your own doom or high..Read more Pandemic in the Year 2022 Pandemic in the Year 2022 I’ve been thinking about Brady Sluder lately. You may not remember his name, but you know who he is: early on in the pandemic, he was the face and ..Read more Topanga Gets a Portable Toilet Topanga Gets a Portable Toilet A portable toilet was installed in June on Old Topanga Canyon Road, just north of Topanga Canyon Blvd., just past the Inn of the Seventh Ray. A hand..Read more Protected Oaks Cut Down at Topanga Elementary Protected Oaks Cut Down at Topanga Elementary In the spring of 2020, the LAUSD ordered brush clearance and tree cutting that removed mature, protected oaks and native pollinator habitats from the ..Read more   Riding in the Hoof Prints of Isabella Bird Riding in the Hoof Prints of Isabella Bird Fired by the rapturous descriptions of Estes Park and surrounds by Isabella Bird, a plucky Englishwoman who rode 800-miles solo in the Rockies in 1873..Read more Surge In Clean Energy Technologies Surge In Clean Energy Technologies October 13, 2023 Keeps Key Warming Target Alive “The pathway to 1.5°C has narrowed in the past two years, but clean energy technologies are kee..Read more The Akumal Arts Festival Documentary The Akumal Arts Festival Documentary To document the Festival’s impact on the community, Marti suggested that I write a funding proposal to Jonathan Webb, President of the Board of Dire..Read more The Double Standard of War The Double Standard of War In war, truth is the first casualty. —Aeschylus Aeschylus’ dictum should perhaps be added “perspective.â€� What we believe in and put our ene..Read more   The Long Road Ahead... Or Was It Behind? Part 1 The Long Road Ahead... Or Was It Behind? Part 1 This story begins in Perris, California, the morning after a long night spent sleeping in the back seat of a car. The situation was pretty simple...Read more The Poetry of Samuel Irving Bellman The Poetry of Samuel Irving Bellman It was a surprise when Joel Bellman and his brother, Jonathan, discovered that his father not only wrote but published poems in his lifetime that t..Read more The Stone House, Part 6: ‘John Heron Lives to 100’ The Stone House, Part 6: ‘John Heron Lives to 100’ Pablo Capra John Heron (1861-1961) was born in San Francisco, and worked for Wells Fargo & Company Express when it was a stagecoach mail carrier. In 1893, he marr..Read more The Yuck Factor The Yuck Factor Thanksgiving! It is not by accident that our national holiday centers around food. The original 102 Pilgrims, who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, su..Read more   Three Strikes! How a Softball League Spreads Happiness in Hard Times Three Strikes! How a Softball League Spreads Happiness in Hard Times This has been the season of strikes, beginning with the LAUSD Services Employees International Union, Local 99, joined in solidarity by the United Tea..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today Compiled by Pablo Capra, Topanga Historical Society Archivist When Pablo Capra, The Canyon Chronicle’s (and Topanga’s) intrepid researcher of Topanga history, began reading newspapers, he discovered numerous ..Read more Topanga Farmers Market Returns Topanga Farmers Market Returns Kate Kimmel and Freddi Swanson, two friends and canyon locals who met at the former farmers market in 2016, are determined to launch a successful and ..Read more Topanga Swap Meet & Chili Cook-off Topanga Swap Meet & Chili Cook-off October 13, 2023 Get ready for an exciting day of community spirit and a Chili-tastic Day of Fun at the Topanga Community Center, November 4, 9 a.m..Read more   Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Come to a summer workshop at Kidiwische Corner or schedule one for your group. Sunday, June 13, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.—Return of the round ..Read more Virtual Evacuation Drill Virtual Evacuation Drill About 500 Topangans participated in the Topanga Canyon/Sunset Mesa Online Virtual Evacuation Drill on Thursday, August 12 to educate residents abou..Read more What’s in a name? What’s in a name? As Topangans—and many others since the COVID-19 lockdown—drive up Fernwood Pacific to Tuna Canyon, they may notice an ornate wooden sculpture, a s..Read more Which Way District 3? Which Way District 3? With Third District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl opting out of a third term on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, Topanga voters will decide who will be..Read more   Wildfire Smoke More Toxic Than We thought Wildfire Smoke More Toxic Than We thought During a wildfire, hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses in Southern California increase, according to a recent study. Wildfires are..Read more 10 Signs You’re Computer Illiterate 10 Signs You’re Computer Illiterate (Technopedia: Last updated: May 13, 2021) 1. Multifactor authentication sounds like something vaguely related to math courses...Read more 5,000 Rabbis 5,000 Rabbis I want to share with you the inspiring experience I had at the annual gathering of 5,000 rabbis in Brooklyn, New York. The theme for this year cen..Read more Are sweet potatoes a climate-resilient crop of the future? Are sweet potatoes a climate-resilient crop of the future? They thrive in hot temperatures, within limits. As the climate warms, hotter temperatures will make it harder to grow certain crops. But you can gi..Read more   Art for Art’s Sake Art for Art’s Sake By Joel Bellman For some 15 years, I lived a short and pleasant walk from the La Brea Tar Pits, the Page Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Almost ever..Read more Art Integrates Life in Akumal Art Integrates Life in Akumal During the last week of January, the fourth Akumal Arts Festival will welcome approximately 100 artists from 13 countries to paint murals in this tigh..Read more Art Show Debuts TECS Students’ Talents Art Show Debuts TECS Students’ Talents Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) students proudly showcased their creativity in a chic art show in the heart of the community, with every sing..Read more Book Talk with Kenneth Miller & the Mysteries of Sleep Book Talk with Kenneth Miller & the Mysteries of Sleep October 27, 2023 The second Book Talk event featured Kenneth Miller, author of “Mapping the Darkness,â€� who gave an informative, entertaining, e..Read more   Bug Bites: Annoyance or Danger? Bug Bites: Annoyance or Danger? More than 160,000 different kinds of insects exist in the United States (si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos). Most of them live peacefully alongside hum..Read more Criss-Cross Brown Sugar Cookies Criss-Cross Brown Sugar Cookies I woke up one Saturday morning when I was five or six and decided to bake Criss-Cross Brown Sugar cookies for our neighbor Mrs. King. She’d always b..Read more Dear Reader, Dear Reader, I honor the humming bird, this tiny, fast, exquisite avian that weighs as little as a penny, a symbol of irrepressible life. The Aztecs called them, â..Read more Donate to Support Our Topanga Community Center Donate to Support Our Topanga Community Center By Nonie Shore, VP Fundraising & Events The Topanga Community Center (TCC) is seeking donations to compensate for a shortfall of $65,000 this year due to COVID-19 closures and needing to can..Read more   Events Events Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed! T..Read more Giving Thanks 2020 Giving Thanks 2020 By Kat High, Hupa Tribe America’s modern-day Thanks- giving celebration was created as a holiday by President Lincoln in 1863, as a way to “heal the gap in familie..Read more Gun Violence Rises with the Temperature Gun Violence Rises with the Temperature October 13, 2023 Data from 100 U.S. cities shows that hotter-than-normal days coincide with a higher risk of shootings. By YCC TEAM | OCTOBER 3, 2..Read more Hyperlocal Microfarms—Doing so much with so little Hyperlocal Microfarms—Doing so much with so little Hyperlocal Microfarms—Doing so much with so little Everyone’s heard the slogan, “Think globally. Act locally.â€� But Jamiah Hargins, Founder,..Read more   I love Wikipedia! And Google! I love Wikipedia! And Google! October 27, 2023 “The Halloween holiday has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “SAH-winâ€�), a pagan..Read more Lifelong Learners, TECS Teachers Walk the Walk Lifelong Learners, TECS Teachers Walk the Walk As teachers, we are tasked with teaching students to become lifelong learners, to develop the love of learning, to give students a variety of experien..Read more MOMentum Place MOMentum Place A Mother’s Day spectacular like no other! Join us for MOMentum Place on Zoom Mother’s Day, May 9, 2 p.m. PST as Lexi Pearl hosts an afternoon of a..Read more No Shortcuts to Good Governance No Shortcuts to Good Governance The reform panel’s case for expanding the City Council—like a number of failed proposals to expand the Board of Supervisors—simply falls apart. ..Read more   Our Defender, Greg Humphries, 1947-2023 Our Defender, Greg Humphries, 1947-2023 Our Defender, Greg Humphries, 1947-2023 I first met Gregory in a swimming pool at a party. It was a hasty kiss in the deep end. I didn’t get his ..Read more PHILIP DAUGHTRY PHILIP DAUGHTRY Visiting Alaska, 2015 In Case Alaska Dies Before I Do (for Ulli Steltzer*) I wake in a hunter’s dream swimming against it until resistance surrenders to some und..Read more FRS Radio Giveaway FRS Radio Giveaway The TCEP Neighborhood Network (NN) team gave away 24 pairs of FRS radios to each NN coordinator who came by the booth at Pine Tree Circle on Saturday,..Read more Return of the Raptors Return of the Raptors By TECS News Team November 19th marked the return of the raptors at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS). Raptor Day has become a tradition where education and expo..Read more   Selected Poems 2021, Topanga, California Part 3, April 30 Selected Poems 2021, Topanga, California Part 3, April 30 Dress Pink in Drama Never use pink in a poem was a loving teacher’s only rule. What’s uncool about mauve sunsets often modulate to..Read more Smooth Operator Smooth Operator Practical Etiquette for Successful Communication with your Family Radio (FRS) on the Neighborhood Networks Recently, we had..Read more Spotlight for Two Spotlight for Two This playlist is available on Spotify, search my username, Mileserickson-354, New songs will be added every two weeks. TV Dinners, MJ Lenderman Se..Read more   Supervisors Pass Motion to Close Homeless Encampments in High Fire Zones Supervisors Pass Motion to Close Homeless Encampments in High Fire Zones On Aug. 10, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors moved to address the critical issues of cooking/camp fires in homeless encampments in very high fi..Read more Tech and War Tech and War It’s hard to write as a futurist while civilization is spinning in chaos and brutality. How do we talk about progress in the face of the present des..Read more The Boy Who Saw True Adapted and narrated by Harry Hart-Browne The Boy Who Saw True Adapted and narrated by Harry Hart-Browne October 13, 2023 A Victorian boy possessed of singular powers recounts his experiences of the paranormal and is roundly disbelieved by practically ..Read more The First Forty Acres The First Forty Acres The land we call Topanga Canyon has been a sacred home for thousands of years. Most of that time, the human beings who gratefully enjoyed life in its ..Read more   The Giving Season The Giving Season Think Love, Joy, Peace, and end-of-year tax-deductible Donations. Save Topanga Pet Resort—For 15 years, owners Pat and Keith Tomlinson’s Topanga Pet Resort has provided long-term boarding, training, and day care ..Read more The Heart of Giving The Heart of Giving For end-of-year tax-deductible and year-round giving, these are a few worthy volunteer non-profits that deserve year-round sustenance. Canyon Sages..Read more The Moon and Mars Flex Muscles in November The Moon and Mars Flex Muscles in November November competes with October for the spookiest month award. Mars retrograde fans the flames of conflict all month. The Total Lunar Eclipse on th..Read more The Stone House, Part 4: ‘An Artist in the Family’ The Stone House, Part 4: ‘An Artist in the Family’ The stone house was next purchased by Dutch immigrant Antonius “Anthonyâ€� Bonaventura Heinsbergen (1894-1981) for his parents Chrisosthomas “Chri..Read more   The Stone House, Part 5: ‘Lee Conger and the Topanga Riders’ The Stone House, Part 5: ‘Lee Conger and the Topanga Riders’ Pablo Capra In 1946, the stone house and ranch comprised 30 acres, with four acres for apple trees and a quarter acre for tomatoes. The “huge kerosene chandelie..Read more Theatricum Reopens with Julius Caesar Theatricum Reopens with Julius Caesar Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum triumphantly returns with a chilling production of the Bard’s timeless tragedy of blood, murder, death, war, and..Read more Too Long at The Fair The County Fair? On a Saturday? During a heat wave in August? I weigh the pros and cons. Too Long at The Fair The County Fair? On a Saturday? During a heat wave in August? I weigh the pros and cons. The cons are obvious; crowded, problematic parking, sticky surfaces, long lines, smell of farm animals, overpriced concessions, getting lost, spilled ..Read more Topanga Days. Were you there? Topanga Days. Were you there? Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who joined us at the Chabad booth during the vibrant Topanga Days event. It was truly an a..Read more   TPA Resumes In-person Meetings TPA Resumes In-person Meetings The Topanga Peace Alliance (TPA)is returning to the Inn of the Seventh Ray at 7 p.m., for monthly 5G Free California meetings on the second Monday of ..Read more Update on Greta Thunberg with Latest Appeal, ‘The Climate Book’ Update on Greta Thunberg with Latest Appeal, ‘The Climate Book’ “[Greta Thunberg], the 20-year-old climate activist put tgether a reading list for determined citizens willing to mobilize for a just and sustainabl..Read more What’s Happened to Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall? What’s Happened to Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall? A series of phenomena such as early flowering of plants and early migratory birds are suggesting that the traditional four seasons may have changed. A..Read more Wildlife Jamboree on the Central Coast Wildlife Jamboree on the Central Coast By Linda Ballou Winter on the Central Coasts means fewer tourists and plentiful wildlife. Birds and marine mammals gather there in chaotic profusion from December to ..Read more   2020 Year-End Reflections 2020 Year-End Reflections By Jean Colonomos 5/29/20 “Playtime Bewitches the Dayâ€� I vacuum to the Beatles’ “White Albumâ€�                                     swagger..Read more A FAMILY AFFAIR A FAMILY AFFAIR Jane Hammond, founder and formulator of Orovana, is a Physician Assistant specializing in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for men and women...Read more A Ghoulishly Good Time A Ghoulishly Good Time Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) held their annual Halloween Festival at the Topanga Community Center on Saturday, October 25, for the first t..Read more A Prayer For Turkey and Syria A Prayer For Turkey and Syria Our hearts are heavy as we send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Turkey and Syria, who have been affected by a devastating earthquake. The tr..Read more   Brags & Blessings Brags & Blessings October 13, 2023 While we are acutely aware of Global chaos—the surprise attack on Israel, now called the Israel-Hamas war; earthquakes in Afghan..Read more Brushfire at Topanga School Road Extinguished Quickly Brushfire at Topanga School Road Extinguished Quickly A small brush fire, named The School Fire, was reported at Topanga School Road and Old Topanga Canyon Road on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at about 12:30 p.m...Read more California Wildlife Center Turned 25 this Year California Wildlife Center Turned 25 this Year The CWC is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of native California species, who otherwise would be left to suffer from the effects of human en..Read more Cannabis Cultivation Culture Evolves Cannabis Cultivation Culture Evolves Long before it was sold openly in highly regulated stores, cannabis was used for thousands of years by cultures all over the world and has evolved dif..Read more   Dear Reader, Dear Reader, This is for you; in gratitude. May 1, 2021 It has been my longtime interest to understand algorithms. Strange that I find a comprehe..Read more Dia de los Muertos—A day to Celebrate the Lives of Departed Loved Ones Dia de los Muertos—A day to Celebrate the Lives of Departed Loved Ones skullpexels-thirdman-1918290 Face painting and decorated skulls are traditions honoring the departed as are favorite foods, drink, music, and dancing..Read more Events Events Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed! T..Read more Fire Updates Fire Updates A few more details came in from 69 Bravo for both the Tuna and Las Flores fires after The Canyon Chronicle went to press for the July 23 issue...Read more   FREE Theatricum Jazz Brunch FREE Theatricum Jazz Brunch Theatricum Jazz Brunch is coming up May 22, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. PST on Zoom. Bring your own brunch and enjoy an afternoon of improvisational jazz music fea..Read more Harris Beach Park is one of the few swimable sandy beaches with facilities in the area. Harris Beach Park is one of the few swimable sandy beaches with facilities in the area. On my first post-pandemic outing steaming temps in the inland valleys of Southern Oregon sent me to the coast to cool off. The Redwood Hwy (199) out o..Read more It’s Good to have you Back! It’s Good to have you Back! In addition to the daunting task of choosing the right celebratory outfit for Topanga Days 2023, there is another challenge: walking up that long hill..Read more Late Summer Orphans Late Summer Orphans There is a vehement outcry against squirrels this year that are razing local gardens from fruit trees to home-grown veggies. The California Wildlif..Read more   October 2022 Delivers the Treats and the Tricks October 2022 Delivers the Treats and the Tricks Spooky Season starts off more treat than trick with Venus and Jupiter bestowing blessings and Mercury turning direct. We’ll also get some relief fro..Read more On Homelessness, Will Crisis Bring Change? On Homelessness, Will Crisis Bring Change? President Kennedy famously claimed that the Chinese word weiji includes two characters meaning “crisisâ€� and “opportunity.â€� But linguists tell ..Read more One Liners One Liners The average person swallows eight spiders a year. Most people swallow 0 spiders, but Robert Green of North Carolina eats like 40 spiders a day so heâ..Read more Pioneering Luthier Rick Turner, 1943-2023 Pioneering Luthier Rick Turner, 1943-2023 Mark Thomas, a reader of The Canyon Chronicle, recently passed this along, with this tidbit of Topanga history: “Rick Turner had a shop on Fernwood ..Read more   Poet Millicent Borges-Accardi Nominated for 2022 PEN Award Poet Millicent Borges-Accardi Nominated for 2022 PEN Award Look for the latest collection, “Through a Grainy Landscape,â€� by one of Topanga’s own, acclaim Congratulations to Topanga poet Millicent Borges-Accardi, whose body of works has earned her a nomination for a 2022 PEN award. Her latest poetry ..Read more Saving Tongass National Forest Saving Tongass National Forest Environment California, reports that after years-long efforts, the Tongass National Forest finally has longstanding protections for 9 million acres of..Read more Selected Poems 2021, Topanga, California, Part 2, April 16 Selected Poems 2021, Topanga, California, Part 2, April 16 Under the Capsized Boat We Fly New & Selected Poems by Gail Wronsky | In conversation with Flavia Potenza Forty years is a milest..Read more   Superchunk find each other on Wild Loneliness Superchunk find each other on Wild Loneliness Twelve albums in, and the indie-rockers are still finding out what makes them tick. I’ve always resisted the concept of a “grown-upâ€� or “la..Read more TECS Students Spring Into Art Season TECS Students Spring Into Art Season The budding artists of Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) have an exciting Spring season ahead, with work from every student to be showcased in ..Read more The Dogs of Dog Days & Other Pets We Love The Dogs of Dog Days & Other Pets We Love Three Little Maids from School Persephone, Phoebe, and Princess It all started with Romulus, a burly handsome male, who strutted around campus wit..Read more The Dys-Engagement Party The Dys-Engagement Party October 27, 2023 There’s quite a life-changing event unfolding onstage at The Geffen Playhouse with “The Engagement Party,â€� by Samuel Baum. T..Read more   THE EXTRA TERRESTRIALS AMONG US THE EXTRA TERRESTRIALS AMONG US It was by chance that I came upon a book titled “UFOs Over Topanga Canyon,â€� which sent me down a rabbit hole that ultimately introduced me to the ..Read more The Extraordinary Ordinary The Extraordinary Ordinary During the lockdown, the Bonnell neighborhood and its delightful denizens have become a microcosmic view of the world as seen through a pandemic-prope..Read more The Fog of War Social Media Style The Fog of War Social Media Style October 27, 2023 It is so hard to know what information is true and what is not true in 2023. During a time of crisis, it is especially difficult. ..Read more The Longest Hatred The Longest Hatred We need to talk about Jew-hating. I know the preferred euphemism is “anti-Semitism,â€� but my father, who grew up in Texas during the Depressio..Read more   The Mystery of Artist Paul Dubosclard The Mystery of Artist Paul Dubosclard SAVE THE DATE and help solve this mystery! On May 18, at 7:30 p.m., I will give a Zoom presentation for the Topanga Historical Society (THS) about..Read more The Truck Bomb Election The Truck Bomb Election By Joel Bellman On February 26, 1993, shortly after noon, a Ryder rental truck pulled into the parking garage of the North Tower at New York’s World Trade Ce..Read more The Vernal Equinox The Vernal Equinox “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party!’â€� —Robin Williams Once again, on March 21st the length of the days and night..Read more Theatricum’s Third Offering, The Last, Best Small Town, Opens July 31 Theatricum’s Third Offering, The Last, Best Small Town, Opens July 31 In addition to Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a third production—the world premiere of The Last, Best Small TownRead more   Topanga Cares Meal Distribution Launch Topanga Cares Meal Distribution Launch On Monday, July 13, 2020, Topanga Cares successfully launched the new meal program to help Topanga neighbors facing food insecurities. The program ..Read more Topanga’s Annual Snow Night Warms the Holiday Season! Topanga’s Annual Snow Night Warms the Holiday Season! By Annemarie Donkin It was truly a “White Christmasâ€� when about 20 tons of snow was blown onto the parking lot at Pine Tree Circle for the Annual Snow Night and dinne..Read more Zev’s Los Angeles Zev’s Los Angeles Political memoirs generally fall into at least one of two categories, boasting or tattling—the first motivated by vanity, the second by revenge...Read more A Little bit of Sugar Goes a Long Way A Little bit of Sugar Goes a Long Way Dear Editor, I just read our paper... what a great issue! Kathy [Gibboney], your article resonated deeply. I was autumn-born on Oct. 3, and grew u..Read more   A Time of Elves A Time of Elves We may like to think that the world’s elves are busy at the North Pole making lots of toys for children to enjoy during holiday season. But there is..Read more Barbara Lee Campbell—1936-2022 Barbara Lee Campbell—1936-2022 Barbara Lee Campbell, born August 13th, 1936, passed away on October 3rd, 2022, at home with her family surrounding her in all their love. Barbara mov..Read more Cameras Capture Thriving Wildlife at TECS Cameras Capture Thriving Wildlife at TECS With the kids away, it was the wildlife’s turn to play at the Topanga Elementary campus during winter break. Science teacher Jeffrey Esparza and ..Read more Catalyst Muse Awarded $10,000 Grant to Make Documentary Film Catalyst Muse Awarded $10,000 Grant to Make Documentary Film Community Engagement of Orange County, CA, has awarded Topangan Kim Zanti of Catalyst Muse a $10,000 grant to make a short, documentary film about the..Read more   Chabad of Topanga Launches ‘Acts of Goodness Campaign’ for Brethren in Israel Chabad of Topanga Launches ‘Acts of Goodness Campaign’ for Brethren in Israel October 27, 2023 Topanga Shows Solidarity through Acts of Goodness and Kindness. Responding to the recent terror attack in Israel that saw more ..Read more Volunteers Organize Community Outreach During Pandemic Volunteers Organize Community Outreach During Pandemic In the true spirit of community, an extraordinary group founded the Topanga Covid Coalition to provide necessary assistance during the pandemic. P..Read more Dangerous Game Dangerous Game There was a time when I thought nothing of driving nearly 100 miles round-trip several nights a week to catch a double-bill at one of LA’s then-flou..Read more Dear Reader, Dear Reader, “On May 1 the Druids celebrated Beltane. It marked the beginning of summer when cattle were sent out to pasture from their winter confinement. Bonfi..Read more   Embrace Your Inner Earth Mother Embrace Your Inner Earth Mother Throughout most of September, six planets will be retrograding. What could go wrong? In spite of the possible retrograde-related delays, this month gi..Read more Events Events October 27, 2023 Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sund..Read more Healing with the Horse Retreat Healing with the Horse Retreat Healing with the Horse will hold an all-inclusive retreat on the weekend of May 15-16 at Rituel Nature Refuge in Topanga, an opportunity for you to pu..Read more Heartfelt Theater and Music Heartfelt Theater and Music October 13, 2023 THEATER Wikipedia describes “binocularsâ€� (or field glasses) as two refracting telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to ..Read more   It’s Biden, and It’s War It’s Biden, and It’s War “As the November election draws closer, progressives unhappy with Joe Biden and conservatives disappointed in Donald Trump may feel tempted to cast ..Read more Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Open Theatricum’s 2021 Season Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Open Theatricum’s 2021 Season Two beloved plays by William Shakespeareare are set to welcome audiences back to Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. The 2021 summer repertory season,..Read more Kathie Gibboney Kathie Gibboney My daughter has done me in. I’m gone, departed, shipped out, bit the dust, shuffled off this mortal coil, joined the heavenly choir (singing off key..Read more Money Honey Money Honey When departing from home, whether the Beleaguered Husband is on a quest for surf, groceries, cool shoes or heading to his gig as Guardian of The Malib..Read more   New face and familiar friends New face and familiar friends Fall is in full gear at Topanga Elementary. On campus, we have many returning students and teachers as well as some new faces. Welcome Ms. Garza! The..Read more Oh, Pioneers! Oh, Pioneers! October 13, 2023 On Sunday evening, Sept. 24, family members of the Topanga Elementary TK class set up some very fine telescopes on the ball field ..Read more Richard Sherman—A Man for All Septics Richard Sherman—A Man for All Septics Richard Newton Sherman, aka “Dick Shermanâ€� was a well-known contractor in Malibu and Topanga for more than 60 years, specializing in underground u..Read more Roz’s Christmas Wonderland or, Position Available: Discontented Matriarch Roz’s Christmas Wonderland or, Position Available: Discontented Matriarch A Los Angeles and California legend, Rosalind Wyman, died in October at the age of 92. Roz Wyman was the youngest person ever elected to Los Angeles C..Read more   Sotheby’s Reopening Included Fundraiser for TCEP Sotheby’s Reopening Included Fundraiser for TCEP It is one thing for the Topanga office of Sotheby’s International to hold a party to announce their reopening but another to turn it into a fundrais..Read more That Was the Year That Was…the Worst That Was the Year That Was…the Worst By Joel Bellman In 2020, Americans have reaped what they sowed in the 2016 presidential election. If 2020 was…â€� a Google search term, it already has more than ..Read more The Act of Gifting The Act of Gifting People like to give. It feels good. The Chronicle crew has come up with some interesting choices to start off the holiday season, not all store-bought..Read more The Flying Pig is Back! The Flying Pig is Back! In case you didn’t notice—but many people did—Topanga’s iconic flying pig overhanging Topanga Canyon Blvd. in the area of Robinson Road, disap..Read more   The P-22 Legacy Lives On The P-22 Legacy Lives On On Tuesday, February 28, L.A. County Supervisors proposed honoring the legacy of Mountain Lion P-22 by promoting wildlife corridors and banning anti-c..Read more Taggers Vandalize Pine Tree Circle Taggers Vandalize Pine Tree Circle The Topanga Women’s Circle storage bin and two other locations at Pine Tree Circle were vandalized between Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12. ..Read more Topanga Symphony Resumes Nov. 20 Topanga Symphony Resumes Nov. 20 Still feeling the warm embrace from the Topanga Symphony’s 40th Anniversary celebration sponsored by the Topanga Historical Society and a supportive..Read more TRANSITIONS TRANSITIONS I love my job but even more so when a heartwarming story like the one in the photo above and on the facing pa ge 3 surprises us. It really is our reas..Read more   Tu Bishvat, a New Year for Trees Tu Bishvat, a New Year for Trees Once there was a man who was traveling through the desert, hungry, thirsty, and tired. He had been walking for days, with no food or water in sight. J..Read more Watch Us Grow at TECS! Watch Us Grow at TECS! Children are a lot like gardens. When they are nourished, they grow and though the growth may be imperceptible and may seem slow, but when they are re..Read more Welcome Back! Welcome Back! After two years of quiet streets and an empty stage on Memorial Day Weekend, Topanga Days will return to the Topanga Community Center May 29th and 30t..Read more What Women Aren’t talking About... But Should What Women Aren’t talking About... But Should Longtime Topanga resident Jane Hammond, Physician Assistant (PA-C) recognized a need in women’s lives and created a solution. NOTE: Adult content re..Read more   Wildfire Resilience Australian Style Wildfire Resilience Australian Style A unique invitation to participate in a series of Australian webinars (Bushfire Resilience, Inc.) about wildfire resilience for households in rural ar..Read more Women’s Retreat into Self-Discovery and Healing Women’s Retreat into Self-Discovery and Healing Three “Ladies of the Canyon,â€� have created a one-day women’s retreat on Thursday, September 19, for a day of reflection, community, bonding, and..Read more All Eyes on Taurus All Eyes on Taurus August brings fiery love when Venus enters Leo, and some very good luck when the goddess of love and Jupiter join in conversation. But Taurus holds th..Read more Arson Watch Arson Watch Over the coming weeks, Arson Watch will be replacing its signs that are seen throughout Topanga and Malibu. The current signs are either sun damaged o..Read more   Ban, Baby, Ban Ban, Baby, Ban Today’s conservatives have done a masterful job creating a fake media narrative casting themselves as stalwart defenders of free speech against the ..Read more Contrasts in Style Contrasts in Style Monochrome Realism and Colorful Expressionism juxtapose at the Topanga Canyon Gallery when visitors have a unique opportunity to see two very differe..Read more COVID-19 Diary: ‘Everything is Possible’ COVID-19 Diary: ‘Everything is Possible’ By Jean Colonomos Dear Reader, I align with quantum physics and its vision of multi-universes operating simultaneously. The challenge is how to incorporate them all. ..Read more Dan Kirby, 1930-2022 Dan Kirby, 1930-2022 On August 8, 2022, Topanga lost a longtime local maverick. Samuel Danbourne Kirby, who went on his last big adventure and joined his wife Roberta on t..Read more   Dear Reader, Dear Reader, The Spring equinox arrived on March 20. The Druids, whose belief system is based on the four solstices and the four equinoxes, call this period, “Al..Read more Help Topanga’s Oak Woodlands Beat the Drought Help Topanga’s Oak Woodlands Beat the Drought Every year it seems the summers begin early and stretch into the fall. Record-breaking temperatures occur like clockwork as California’s drought con..Read more Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future October 27, 2023 It was a festive occasion in October as church members of Topanga Christian Fellowship celebrated the first project of a Beautific..Read more   Influencers Influencers You have, probably, heard the expression “monetized.â€� Specifically, it means using something as a source of profit. A modern example of monetizati..Read more It Takes a Village to Create the Beauty of Butterfly Day It Takes a Village to Create the Beauty of Butterfly Day On Sunday August 28th, Topanga and surrounding communities joined in celebration and support of the butterflies. This, the Third Annual Butterfly Day ..Read more ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ IS Brilliant ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ IS Brilliant There have been hundreds of staged iterations of Duncan McMillan and Jonny Donahoe’s play, Every Brilliant Thing, which began life as a short story ..Read more ‘When Pigs Fly’ Introduces New Gallery Space, New Artists ‘When Pigs Fly’ Introduces New Gallery Space, New Artists Artists from Topanga and neighboring communities have come together to create a new venue for art in Topanga. The new location of Topanga Canyon Galle..Read more   OCTOBER 13 Events OCTOBER 13 Events October 13, 2023 Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sund..Read more Of Topanga Of Topanga There was a magical place, a meadow, lush and otherworldly. I didn’t understand exactly where it was located but it certainly wasn’t the Valley. I..Read more Performing Arts Conservatory Celebrates 25 Years Performing Arts Conservatory Celebrates 25 Years The Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory (LAPAC) and Promenade Playhouse have served thousands of international students who come to L.A. to pu..Read more Register Now For Free ‘Water Lab’ Register Now For Free ‘Water Lab’ What West Basin is doing to meet future water needs, and how residents can get involved. West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) announc..Read more   Selected Poems 2021, Topanga, California Part 1, April 2 Selected Poems 2021, Topanga, California Part 1, April 2 Sponsored by an Act of Love You could say National Poetry Month is just an excuse to___fill in the blank___and you’d be right. Official..Read more Sen. Henry Stern to Chair Holocaust & Genocide Education Council Sen. Henry Stern to Chair Holocaust & Genocide Education Council On October 6, Governor Newsom announced a historic $40 million investment to combat rising anti-Semitism and other acts of hate, with a particular emp..Read more TECS Gives the Gift of Gratitude TECS Gives the Gift of Gratitude The season of gratitude is in full swing at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS), with parents, students and teachers all being acknowledged for t..Read more The Stone House, Part 8: ‘Ingrid Lindquist and Dede Potvin’ The Stone House, Part 8: ‘Ingrid Lindquist and Dede Potvin’ The Stone House, Part 8: ‘Ingrid Lindquist and Dede Potvin’ By Pablo Capra In the early 1970s, Marvin and Judy Zeidler rented the stone house ..Read more   Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour APRIL 16-18, 2021) A Journey Through Place and Time The Theodore Payne Foundation presents its annual Native Plant Garden Tour, a virtual, ..Read more There’s No Place Like Home: The Big Blue There’s No Place Like Home: The Big Blue Whether it is the deep swells of azure blue in Hawai’i, the teasing turquoise of a tropical lagoon, or the curling blue waves that crash in foamy wh..Read more Three Queens, a King & Valentines Day Three Queens, a King & Valentines Day After Chef/restaurateur Kim Vu shuttered her West LA Vietnamese restaurant Khong Ten, a diner called to say it had been her favorite, and why was she ..Read more Topanga Elementary’s Halloween Play: ‘SAW 3: Sawsical the Musical’ Topanga Elementary’s Halloween Play: ‘SAW 3: Sawsical the Musical’ The Canyon Chronicle and Topanga Elementary would like to invite you to come spend a spooky evening, enjoying Topanga Elementary’s new play, SAW 3, ..Read more   Topanga HAMS Participate in Radio Field Day Topanga HAMS Participate in Radio Field Day Natural disasters can disrupt the internet and cell phone service, making it nearly impossible to communicate using conventional methods. If the “Ba..Read more Town Council July Zoom Meeting Town Council July Zoom Meeting Topanga Canyon Town Council members and Topanga residents discussed many issues, including a new County financial relief program; fire safety and ..Read more Who’s a Journalist? Who Says? Who’s a Journalist? Who Says? Author’s Note: As this issue was going to press, Sen. Mike McGuire and Sen. Anthony Portantino, the bill’s sponsor and co-sponsor respectively,..Read more Why Only 8 Pages? Why Only 8 Pages? Does this print edition of The Canyon Chronicle feel a little light in your hands? Seem a bit skimpy on content online? That’s because it is..Read more   Will ‘The Snake’ Ride Again? Will ‘The Snake’ Ride Again? A section of Mulholland Highway near Seminole Springs Mobile Home Park in Agoura Hills has been closed to motorists since the Woolsey Fire and subsequ..Read more A Prayer from the Heart A Prayer from the Heart October 13, 2023 As we just concluded the Jewish High Holidays, a remarkable story comes to mind, which I would like to share with you: In the vil..Read more AI and the Writers’ Strike AI and the Writers’ Strike AI and the Writers’ Strike It’s unlikely that the writers who penned those sci-fi scripts, or the actors giving soul to a machine, ever thought t..Read more Brush Clearing Follow-up Brush Clearing Follow-up A miracle has happened today!! The State Park brought in a crew to clear the 92 Trail from Entrada Road to Trippet Ranch. They are doing a really good..Read more   Calling All Young Filmmakers Calling All Young Filmmakers The Topanga Film Institute & Festival Young Filmmakers Showcase wants to hear what youth from around the world have to say and elevate their voices. ..Read more COVID Cover-ups for the Holidays COVID Cover-ups for the Holidays By Kait Leonard Ho Ho Ho! ‘Tis the season to find those stocking stuffers—pandemic style. As the holiday season revs up, it’s time to start searching for tho..Read more Etiquette for Wildfire Posts Etiquette for Wildfire Posts Nextdoor and other social networking platforms can be valuable tools for maintaining situational awareness during the wildfire emergencies that have b..Read more Events Events Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed! T..Read more   Fernwood Rain Report 2021-2022 Season Fernwood Rain Report 2021-2022 Season Rain has returned to Topanga and the southland in a big way this last December. Over 10 inches of rain pelted the Canyon, including one storm that dro..Read more Finding ‘Health’ in Mental Illness Finding ‘Health’ in Mental Illness Last year during Covid, a project came across my desk that I decided to take on because the issue touched my life personally, and I am pretty well con..Read more Ghouls for School Ghouls for School Hundreds of canyon residents devoured the chance to eat, drink and be scary at this year’s annual Topanga Halloween Carnival. Attendees were treated..Read more Heirloom Purity Heirloom Purity Four companies control 60% of global proprietary seed sales. “Heirloom seeds with a story, rooted in a place and time,â€� belong to the people.â€� ..Read more   In My Defense In My Defense Alleysun Jones In response to the article, “Topanga Peace Alliance Vigil Turns Uglyâ€� (The Canyon Chronicle, November 13, 2020, No. 11), Alleysun Jones felt she w..Read more Insufficient Reason Insufficient Reason When we consider the crippling infirmities of American politics, let us start with the legendary cynic and social commentator H. L. Mencken, who wrote..Read more July Delivers Fireworks July Delivers Fireworks July opens with fiery Mars squaring off to power hungry Pluto. At the end of the month Mercury squares Mars, Uranus and the North Node. What fun? At l..Read more Kinfolk (Dedicated to Uncle Bud) Kinfolk (Dedicated to Uncle Bud) “I’ve already got six grandchildren and y’all don’t have any? What’s wrong with you California people?â€� asks my Cousin Sandy from Texas. ..Read more   Loose Lips Presents April Poets: Anita S. Pulier and Frank Mundo Loose Lips Presents April Poets: Anita S. Pulier and Frank Mundo On Tuesday, April 13, at 6 p.m., the Loose Lips Poetry Series will reconvene virtually for its quarterly poetry reading featuring poets Anita S. Pulie..Read more Mom’s Meadow Mom’s Meadow After eleven years, I decided it was time to deliver the fruitcake my mother had sent me in 2009 just before she passed away. I would take it to the m..Read more Peter Alsop’s Kids Koncert, First & Last of the Year Peter Alsop’s Kids Koncert, First & Last of the Year Save the Date! November 7, 10-11 a.m. Peter Alsop says, “Hi! to all you formerly house-bound Topangans and families with children and grandpare..Read more   Planning Ahead… Or Not Planning Ahead… Or Not When you read the newspaper, do you ever wonder why that photo or that article is on that page? Of course not! You read it for the real estate ads an..Read more Richard Newton Sherman, 1937-2021 Richard Newton Sherman, 1937-2021 Richard Newton Sherman, aka “Dick Shermanâ€� died peacefully on December 30, 2021, in Canoga Park with his wife and her bloodhound by his side. He i..Read more Sacred Sites Audio Theater Launch Party! Sacred Sites Audio Theater Launch Party! Susan Suntree, author of “Sacred Sites: The Secret History of Southern California,â€� is inviting the public to the launch of Sacred Sites Audio The..Read more Surprise! It’s the Bard’s Birthday Party Surprise! It’s the Bard’s Birthday Party Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Queen Elizabeth I is hosting a surprise party for her favorite playwright, William Shakespeare. Join us on Zoom to celebrate ..Read more   The Bong Wizard, Part II The Bong Wizard, Part II In the previous issue, I left off in the middle of a party off Fernwood. We now pick up about four hours later, late into the night as everyone is hea..Read more The End of the Affair The End of the Affair Our first cars, like our first serious romance, sometimes just seem destined to break our hearts. We lavish money and attention on them, depend on the..Read more The Sheriffs report for Topanga The Sheriffs report for Topanga The Sheriffs report for Topanga shows a 50% increase in crimes, especially burglaries, and cautions residents to lock their cars, homes and businesses..Read more Tracing the Path of Isabella Bird Tracing the Path of Isabella Bird BBC chose Travel writer Linda Ballou as the Isabella Bird expert for a documentary on the Victorian Age adventurer to air this fall. By Linda Ballou ..Read more   Waste Management's Fee Hike Waste Management's Fee Hike When customers in Topanga received their Waste Management bills on July 1, many were surprised to find their trash collection fees had increased drama..Read more What Is Transitional Kindergarten? What Is Transitional Kindergarten? California’s Universal TK is Set to Roll Out! We are in the second month of school and my class is settling into a comfortable routine and friendships are forming. I am learning the personalities ..Read more Women Athletes Beat the Bain of Urinary Incontinence Women Athletes Beat the Bain of Urinary Incontinence Kim Pierpoint, is a retired healthcare administrator and avid sprint triathlete. She did her first sprint at age 54 and was immediately hooked but out..Read more A Fire for All Seasons A Fire for All Seasons It’s a spring afternoon, gentle and lithe. After a long year of pandemic, there’s a feeling of things finally opening up: flowers, schools, librar..Read more   Back to School! Back to School! By TECS News Team Kids, parents, and teachers were geared up and ready for the start of the school year at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) when the front gates..Read more Cory Taylor (1965-2022) Cory Taylor (1965-2022) Cory Taylor passed away from complications of cancer on March 4th at the age of 56. An award-winning documentary filmmaker & author, Cory had been a ..Read more Dearest Friends, Dearest Friends, It’s been an extremely difficult year for all of us, and we are so pleased that, despite all the complications and setbacks, we were still able to d..Read more Def Con Def Con There are world conferences, and there are world conferences. And then, there is Def Con! Forty thousand attendees gathered in Las Vegas this month at..Read more   Events - September 15, 2023 Events - September 15, 2023 Sunday Bible Study. New Balance for Seniors. Learn Argentine Tango. Song Circle. Introduction to Ukulele. The Lifespan of a Fact....Read more Fire Prevention, Home Protection Fire Prevention, Home Protection Fire season began early this year with the Palisades Fire that burned more than a thousand acres from May 14–May 26, through Topanga State Park befo..Read more Forward, Into the Past? Forward, Into the Past? Of all the unlikely new trends, I would not have expected to see the digital native generation—especially the younger Gen Z end of it—proudly embr..Read more Haunt Season at Zombie Joe’s Haunt Season at Zombie Joe’s Why are zombies, ghouls, and general psycho-monsters at Zombie Joe’s Underground (ZJU) Theater quaking in their grave-dirt covered boots? Because Ha..Read more   Hemp for Health Hemp for Health When American Farmers learned they could plant hemp thanks to changes in the 2018 farm bill, many of them were just discovering the nature of the plan..Read more June – A Mixed Bag of Big Energy June – A Mixed Bag of Big Energy Mercury retrograde winds down, Venus and Jupiter bring a bounty of blessings, and a Super Full Moon guarantees dramatic culminations. June’s got a l..Read more Kaleidoscopic Music Kaleidoscopic Music A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument with a number of mirrors that reflect what’s being viewed in a multiplicity of ever-shifting planes, shapes ..Read more Keeping the Good Going Keeping the Good Going Take care what you read and watch. Bit by bit, a horror film (Get Out!), the New York Times Magazine, The Canyon Chronicle, and ..Read more   New Program Rewards Topanga Students New Program Rewards Topanga Students The first winners of a new program to encourage good citizenship and respectful behavior have been celebrated at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TE..Read more Poems of COVID-19: Stuck In Lockdown: The First Three Months Poems of COVID-19: Stuck In Lockdown: The First Three Months Reviewed by Flavia Potenza Everyone should have a collection of poetry books to randomly pick up and intend to read for 15 minutes that becomes an afternoon. If you have to ..Read more Put Down the Worm, Put Down the Gun... Put Down the Worm, Put Down the Gun... I once pulled a gun on a man. He followed me home from the second grade in that awful Bakersfield heat of 1960, where my parents had moved us from Ohi..Read more Remembering & Preparing for the High Holidays Remembering & Preparing for the High Holidays In the waning days of summer during the early 1940s, a tale of courage and determination unfolded in the midst of dire circumstances. Meir Halberstam,..Read more   State Parks is Remiss on Brush Clearing State Parks is Remiss on Brush Clearing Dear Editor, I’ve been raising hell for the last several months about Entrada Road and the State Park. I realize the State Park is understaffed. ..Read more TCC Fundraiser Success! TCC Fundraiser Success! The Topanga Community Center (TCC) raised 52% of its $65,000 shortfall in the 2020 Giving December fundraising campaign. With big and small donatio..Read more Thais Rust Sykes—1925-2021 Thais Rust Sykes—1925-2021 by Pablo Capra With the passing of Thais Rust Sykes, 96, on December 30, 2021, Topanga lost possibly its last living connection to the 1920s. Thais’s father, Cl..Read more The Bong Wizard, Part I The Bong Wizard, Part I It was the summer of 2016. My friend, Spenser, and I had just been let out of school, a Friday night but still about a week or two off from summer bre..Read more   The Owl You Probably Never Heard Of The Owl You Probably Never Heard Of Around this time each year, the California Wildlife Center (CWC) begins to get calls from the public about orphaned baby owls. It is not the season fo..Read more Spirits and Spirituality on Stage Spirits and Spirituality on Stage The Lifespan of a Fact. The Topanga Actors Company (TAC) opens the 2023 fall season of three plays with a staged reading of the Broadway hit, The Life..Read more Topanga Canyon Gallery Moves Across the Street Topanga Canyon Gallery Moves Across the Street Sari Scheer Things are about to change for art lovers in Topanga and neighboring communities. Topanga Canyon Gallery (TCG), which has resided at Pine Tree Circle ..Read more   Topanga Peace Alliance Vigil Turns Ugly Topanga Peace Alliance Vigil Turns Ugly By Chronicle Staff The Topanga Peace Alliance (TPA) has held a Friday Evening vigil at Pine Tree Circle in the heart of town for 15 years. The Vigils have become a Topan..Read more Topanga Post Office Welcomes a New Postmaster Topanga Post Office Welcomes a New Postmaster In the long and storied history of the Topanga Post Office, with delivery over miles of twisty roads and narrow trails, it is wonderful to know that t..Read more Topanga Town Council November Meeting Topanga Town Council November Meeting By Annemarie Donkin The health and safety of the Topanga Community was the top issue when Council President Carrie Carrier and Vice President Alisa Land Hill co-hosted th..Read more After the Rain After the Rain By Kathie Gibboney After the rain there is a sparkle in the Topanga air. Water droplets hang like tiny diamonds on the trees. The sun glints and shimmers off the yellow ..Read more   Anthony Marrone Named FD Acting Chief Anthony Marrone Named FD Acting Chief Following the retirement of Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby, the LA Board of Supervisors has appointed Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone to serve as Acting Fire ..Read more August EVENTS August EVENTS Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed. T..Read more Celebrating Chanukah 2020 with the Menorah Mobile! Celebrating Chanukah 2020 with the Menorah Mobile! By Rabbi Dovid Weiss This year Chanukah celebrates the holiday December 10 - December 18. While it’s usually celebraed with family, friends, and community, this year it ..Read more Chinooks Rev Up for SoCal Fire Season Chinooks Rev Up for SoCal Fire Season Look, up in the sky—the Chinooks are here! The world’s largest firefighting choppers, two Boeing CH-47 Chinook tandem rotor, heavy lift ..Read more   A COVID Diary (Part 5) A COVID Diary (Part 5) Dear Reader, Let’s talk about the children, their summer, their entry back to school. Moments when “normal lifeâ€� miraculously a..Read more Equine Leadership Program Equine Leadership Program “When a human and a horse enter a journey together, two inner worlds unite and both hearts awaken.â€� —Sabine Niederberghaus, Founder S..Read more FedNow and CBDC: The Realm of Instant Payments FedNow and CBDC: The Realm of Instant Payments FedNow is an ambitious project undertaken by the Federal Reserve, aimed at creating a nationwide, instant payment network that operates 24/7, 365 days..Read more Fixing A Hole Fixing A Hole It’s not that I expected a lot from the new year. After all, I didn’t even stay up until midnight to usher her in but so far, 2023 has given me a ..Read more   From the Sublime to the Downright Cranky From the Sublime to the Downright Cranky SCE’s Undergrounding project that came to a halt in 2015, just as the crossover was about to complete it, is now scheduled to begin in the Topanga T..Read more Greg Humphries, 1947-2023 — ‘His Heart Belonged to Everyone’ Greg Humphries, 1947-2023 — ‘His Heart Belonged to Everyone’ Judge Kathryn Solorzano “I just learned of his departure…Absolutely loved everything about this lawyer and man… I will be thinking about him ev..Read more International ShakeOut Day, Oct. 21 International ShakeOut Day, Oct. 21 International ShakeOut Day is always the third Thursday of October (this year: October 21). While COVID-19 has brought many uncertainties and challe..Read more Theatricum-Holiday23   ‘I’m Not Single, I Have a Dog’ ‘I’m Not Single, I Have a Dog’ ‘I’m Not Single, I Have a Dog’ By Susan Hartzler Commentary by Flavia Potenza Once, marriage was the norm for adults. But ..Read more ‘Sing Out! for LGBTQ+ Rights’ at the Theatricum on Aug. 23 ‘Sing Out! for LGBTQ+ Rights’ at the Theatricum on Aug. 23 Tret Fure, Peter Alsop, and Emma’s Revolution will perform a benefit concert for the Human Rights Campaign to battle anti-LGBTQ+ legislation! The..Read more May’s Cosmic Fire May’s Cosmic Fire Aries energy dominates May, as Venus, Jupiter, and Mars join Chiron in the fiery sign of the ram. Mid-month brings a total lunar eclipse, and May clos..Read more Nothing Like the Sun Nothing Like the Sun It has come to my mind to converse with a crow. Suddenly I am desirous of some interspecies communication. Yes, to some, crows and their corvus co..Read more   Old Wisdom For a New Year Old Wisdom For a New Year Since my Christmastime column was a bit less than festive, I want to try and begin 2023 on a positive and upbeat note. Most of us are by nature eterna..Read more Overlapping Puzzles Overlapping Puzzles As summer ends and fall begins, mid-August puts us on multi-tracks when summer activities and late-summer vacations wind down and school revs up. Heat..Read more Science Committee Evolves at TECS Science Committee Evolves at TECS The new co-chairs of the Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) Science Committee have pledged to uphold the school’s position as the “Beacon on..Read more Taylor Hawkins Was There Taylor Hawkins Was There I remember asking my dad when I first started hunting albums at record stores, “What’s YOUR favorite band?â€� And before I could even finish askin..Read more   THE PHANTASMAGORIL FURY OF HALLOWEEN CONTINUES TO RISE THE PHANTASMAGORIL FURY OF HALLOWEEN CONTINUES TO RISE Halloween season is off to a phantasmagoric fury, and it’s not over yet. Though ghosts, goblins, and quite a few pumpkins have already claimed da..Read more Topanga Actors Company Is Blooming Topanga Actors Company Is Blooming Topanga Actors Company is the Canyon’s very own repertory Reader’s Theater group. Founded in the Fall of 2015 by Judith Hendra and Paula LaBrot, t..Read more Topanga Made Music All Day Topanga Made Music All Day Summer officially arrived with the solstice on Monday, June 21 and music was played and heard at many venues throughout Topanga Canyon—from The Nava..Read more What Barfing Dogs Have To Do With a Playlist What Barfing Dogs Have To Do With a Playlist This past month I was dog sitting for a friend. I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m not really an animal person and this experience pretty much so..Read more   What Your Topanga Town Council Does for You What Your Topanga Town Council Does for You The Topanga Town Council (TTC) has been actively engaged on behalf of our community since 1977, offering a range of essential services from safety and..Read more April Isn’t Foolin’ Around April Isn’t Foolin’ Around This month is no joke. Jupiter meets Neptune, Mars and Saturn duke it out, Pluto stands still, and eclipse season begins. April begins with a bang..Read more Embrace of the Wild by Linda Ballou Embrace of the Wild by Linda Ballou Reviewed by Flavia Potenza Thank you, Linda Ballou, for “Embrace of the Wild,â€� and introducing us to the extraordinary equestrian explor..Read more 2023 EVENTS 2023 EVENTS Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed. T..Read more   It Doesn’t Take a Genius… It Doesn’t Take a Genius… My family constantly clowns on me for the time I called my mom crying asking to be picked up from summer camp. I was 11 and the video, Halo 3, had jus..Read more James William McCutchen, Jr.—1945-2022 James William McCutchen, Jr.—1945-2022 Bill, my dear dad, passed away on January 28th, 2022, at 3 p.m. PST, at the VA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He was much loved and cheris..Read more Jewish Wisdom in a Vibrant Learning Community Jewish Wisdom in a Vibrant Learning Community Chabad of Topanga announces the launch of its Fall 2023, Winter 2024, and Spring 2024 courses! Aspiring learners are invited to join the Topanga commu..Read more ‘We Have a Lot Going On’ ‘We Have a Lot Going On’ The May Town Council meeting was held two days prior to the Palisades Fire incident, a shocking reminder that fire season has its own season: any t..Read more   Native Americans: First to Settle, Last to Vote Native Americans: First to Settle, Last to Vote By Joel Bellman When we think of vote suppression, we tend to think of the familiar, the obvious, the visible, aimed primarily at African-Americans in the Deep South:..Read more Out of the Past Out of the Past The following column contains graphic descriptions of a disturbing nature. It was about half an hour before sunset when two boys, out for an evenin..Read more Photographic Beauty Photographic Beauty If it hadn’t been for an offer of a jar of “Quarantinaraâ€� (a tomato marinara sauce he canned during the pandemic) in exchange for a donation to ..Read more Rebirth of the Topanga Elementary Garden! Rebirth of the Topanga Elementary Garden! By J.B. Whittenburg When my wife and I first decided to move to Topanga, one of the main draws for us was Topanga Elementary, as we wanted our children to attend a public..Read more   Senior Dinners Return to the TCC Senior Dinners Return to the TCC First Friday Dinners are back! After a long 18 months during the pandemic, First Friday Senior Dinners have resumed at the Topanga Community Center ..Read more TAC Short-Play Festival 2023, Part 2 TAC Short-Play Festival 2023, Part 2 Those of you who joined Topanga Actors Company (TAC) for the first weekend of the Short-Play Festival (November 4 & 5) have already sampled the result..Read more TECS Sets an Exciting Lineup for School Year TECS Sets an Exciting Lineup for School Year Students, staff, and parents have returned to Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) filled with excitement and optimism as they begin the new schoo..Read more TECS Teacher Kelly Welch Receives Grant TECS Teacher Kelly Welch Receives Grant Kelly Welch, a fourth-grade teacher at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS), was recently awarded a grant by Donors Choose to support the social a..Read more   The Commonality of Fourth of July The Commonality of Fourth of July If nothing else, Independence Day should bring our nation’s people together. One of the perks of visiting India was being caught up in the ubiqui..Read more The Dog Days of Summer The Dog Days of Summer Dog Days bright and clear Indicate a happy year; But when accompanied by rain, For better times, our hopes are vain. Topangans love their dogs!..Read more The First Amendment’s Fair-Weather Friends The First Amendment’s Fair-Weather Friends Despite what we’d all like to believe, free speech and free expression have never been broadly popular with the general public. “What a ..Read more The Legacy Families of TECS* The Legacy Families of TECS* Our last school year has been completed and we sit in the middle of summer. Soon it will be time to gear up for another year filled with learning, gro..Read more   The Magic of Make Music Day Topanga The Magic of Make Music Day Topanga Free Outdoor Music-Making Events to be held Monday, June 21, the longest day of the year, across Topanga Canyon as part of annual global celebratio..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today ‘Record Steam Heat Peak Produced at Nearby Reactor’ July 2, 1959, Topanga Journal—In nearby Santa Susana record steam heat was produced by the Atomics International Sodium Reactor Experiment station a..Read more What About Us? What About Us? Dear Editor, Looks like Nate [Daneshgar], who owns Pine Tree Circle, just bought the John Sowden House, “a dazzling neo-Mayan gem built by archit..Read more A ‘Ho-Ho Humbug’ Christmas Carol 2022 A ‘Ho-Ho Humbug’ Christmas Carol 2022 Last year at this time, the Beleaguered Husband, knowing my deep and abiding love for Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,â€� purchased tickets for us to ..Read more   Arthur H. Nissman—May 11, 1938-November 28, 2021 Arthur H. Nissman—May 11, 1938-November 28, 2021 Arthur Nissman, longtime Topanga resident, passed away peacefully on November 28, at age 83. An only child, Arthur was born was born to Max L. and Mi..Read more Bernardo Cubria’s Latest Play: ‘Crabs in a Bucket’ Bernardo Cubria’s Latest Play: ‘Crabs in a Bucket’ Topanga playwright Bernardo Cubria jokes that he’s part of the One Percent… but it’s not the one you’re thinking. This Mexican-born, U.S.-..Read more Bob Dylan’s Jukebox Bob Dylan’s Jukebox “The Philosophy of Modern Song,â€� the title of Bob Dylan’s new book, may sound like a tendentious academic tract or undercooked master’s thesis..Read more Celebrating the Magic Celebrating the Magic “Good times, bum times, we’ve seen them all, but we’re here!â€� Anyone who lives in Topanga for any period of time finds it a mysteriously magi..Read more   Comedy is a Divine Power Comedy is a Divine Power I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the price of comedy. By Miles Erickson There’s a somewhat obnoxious platitude that says, “comedy is..Read more Ditchschool in the Canyon Ditchschool in the Canyon While many local high school juniors were finishing up their AP exams and readying to apply for college, there is a group of local Topanga teens who a..Read more Don’t Give Me No Bad News! Don’t Give Me No Bad News! Humans have a cognitive bias known as the negativity bias, which means that negative or threatening information tends to have a stronger impact on our..Read more Good to Go in March Good to Go in March With all planets direct, two New Moons, the next chapter in the Mars/Venus relationship, and the astrological New Year, this is a big month of forward..Read more   Mitigating Safety Concerns on Mulholland Highway Mitigating Safety Concerns on Mulholland Highway County efforts to enhance traffic safety on Mulholland Highway may benefit Topangan’s concerns about road racing and other traffic safety measures h..Read more On A Clear Day On A Clear Day As I drove to the optometry appointment I envisioned (get it?) new glasses. It’s been years since I’d had an eye exam and the old glasses were pre..Read more Outliers Versus the Bigs Outliers Versus the Bigs By Paula LaBrot I have always had a soft spot for outliers. I have lived my life closely with people who think and act outside of the Bell Curve. As challenging as th..Read more Palisades Fire Incident—’Crews Mopping Up’ Palisades Fire Incident—’Crews Mopping Up’ As of Saturday, May 22, with 84 percent containment and acreage holding at 1,202, firefighters transitioned to Patrol Status, assuring there are no..Read more   Summer EVENTS Summer EVENTS Live Virtual Events Wednesday, July 19 2023, 3:00 PM Social Media Marketing Curious about using social media to grow your business? Join the Depa..Read more The Verdi Chorus Presents Italian Opera and Art Songs The Verdi Chorus Presents Italian Opera and Art Songs Classical music lovers rejoice! In the second of three musical offerings, The Verdi Chorus founder and artistic director Anne Marie Ketchum has dr..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today As Archivist for the Topanga Historical Society, Pablo Capra saw an opportunity to compile historical vignettes lifted from bygone newspapers that ..Read more Topanga Elementary Spring Musical! Topanga Elementary Spring Musical! The TECS production of Frozen Jr. captivated audiences for two shows in May, held in the TECS auditorium. Topanga Elementary has long been known for i..Read more   Unexpected Opportunities Unexpected Opportunities The other day, while walking outside, I came across a tiny hatchling on the ground. It couldn’t fly or move yet and appeared hungry. Upon closer ins..Read more Welcome 2023 with ‘DAYLIGHT’ Welcome 2023 with ‘DAYLIGHT’ Kiss your partner and toast the New Year with Jules’ & Disco Fuchsia’s new single & music video, “Daylight,â€� when it debuts on YouTube January..Read more Western Pond Turtles Western Pond Turtles A California State Park employee brought a female adult Western Pond Turtle to the California Wildlife Center in late June of this year. Her top and b..Read more What I Did on the Day We Lost Roe vs. Wade What I Did on the Day We Lost Roe vs. Wade On June 24, I was going to go to the Westwood Federal building but going down Topanga Canyon Blvd., there where hundreds of cars inching Northbound on..Read more   Zoom to MOROCCO for a ‘Comedy of Menace’ Zoom to MOROCCO for a ‘Comedy of Menace’ Topanga Actors Company (TAC) presents MOROCCO, by Allan Havis, on Zoom, Saturday, January 23 and Sunday January 24, 7 p.m. Part psychologica..Read more A Special Visit A Special Visit On Wednesday, June 2nd, Topanga Elementary Charter School had a special visitor, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner! Having met him a few times, I ex..Read more Glamour Glamour There is a tree that grows aslant the creek over on Valley Drive just off Old Canyon. I frequently park beside it, yet never truly saw it until a frie..Read more John V. Starcevich—1936-2021 John V. Starcevich—1936-2021 Final Curtain for Stark’s “One-Man Showâ€� John Starcevich, also known as John Stark, was a Canadian actor, director, and film producer, who star..Read more   July 2023 EVENTS July 2023 EVENTS Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed. T..Read more ‘Read it in Hebrew’ ‘Read it in Hebrew’ ‘Read it in Hebrew’ There is no way I can learn Hebrew in 5 weeks.â€� “It takes 5 years to learn Hebrew, not 5 weeks.â€� “I tried lear..Read more ‘The Cat That Changed America’ by Tony Lee Moral ‘The Cat That Changed America’ by Tony Lee Moral Reviewed by Flavia Potenza The young mountain lion, P22, became a media sensation when he showed up in Griffith Park, an oasis in the middle of urban Los Angeles. As if that wer..Read more Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling Begins Oct. 1 Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling Begins Oct. 1 California Senate Bill 1383 mandates that businesses must begin to receive organic waste recycling service by October 1, while residents will begin pa..Read more   More Flexibility in Mandated Water Restrictions More Flexibility in Mandated Water Restrictions Howdy! I’m hoping that in the next edition of The Canyon Chronicle, you can update the erroneous drought conservation guidelines that were publish..Read more Nurturing Nature Nurturing Nature The question of ground squirrels came up the other day talking to my neighbor, Allison, who huffed, rolled her eyes and glanced at her house. The crit..Read more Old Canyon Shooter Remains in Custody Old Canyon Shooter Remains in Custody By Chronicle Staff Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call at the 2100 block of Old Topanga Canyon Rd., Topanga, on Saturday, Jan. 16. ..Read more Report Homeless Encampment Activities Report Homeless Encampment Activities As a follow-up to the L.A. Board of Supervisors’ recent ban of homeless encampments in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ), the Las Virgen..Read more   Scam Slime Scam Slime June 15 was Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In the spirit of that day, I dedicate this article to my beloved sister, Mari, one of the purest souls on this ..Read more Spring is in the Air at Topanga Elementary Spring is in the Air at Topanga Elementary The Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) community engages with students not only during school but also after the afternoon school bell rings! TE..Read more Subscribe to One Topanga Subscribe to One Topanga Learn about the many essential services offered year-round by the TTC but especially during the upcoming holidays. Since Topanga is not its own city, ..Read more The Chants: Merging through Ceremony, Dance, Intention, and Music The Chants: Merging through Ceremony, Dance, Intention, and Music On January 15, 2021, The Chants band came alive in Topanga Canyon with their worldwide debut video and song, “Hey-Ya,â€� featuring international sin..Read more   The State and County Ballot Propositions The State and County Ballot Propositions California’s general election ballot is one of the shortest in recent history, and that’s a relief. In 1914, only three years after voters approve..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today As digital archivist for the Topanga Historical Society, Pablo Capra saw an opportunity to compile historical vignettes lifted from bygone newspape..Read more Two LA Firsts: A Transparent Musical and ‘Keith Haring: Art is for Everyone’ Two LA Firsts: A Transparent Musical and ‘Keith Haring: Art is for Everyone’ When a musical is as culturally ground-breaking as A Transparent Musical (onstage at the Mark Taper Forum until June 25), it’s hard to be overly cri..Read more Whack as Heck! Whack as Heck! There’s a common cliche that says every song is either about love or death. I think the worst thing about love is that it inspires people to want to..Read more   With the Lovers Conjoined in the Sky, Valentine’s Day Sizzles With the Lovers Conjoined in the Sky, Valentine’s Day Sizzles On a personal level, February is a month of fated unions and karmic progress. Whether you’ve been hoping to take the next step in your romance or tu..Read more Army of Love’s Song and Video Address Divide in Our Nation Army of Love’s Song and Video Address Divide in Our Nation “One More Goneâ€� was written by Billy Joseph after witnessing the video of George Floyd being killed in broad daylight in front of three pol..Read more Aurora Behrman, Junior Lifeguard Aurora Behrman, Junior Lifeguard Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Junior Lifeguard Program, open to children ages 9 through 17, was founded in 1963, to teach children the basic ..Read more Bad Days, Good Days, Mostly Good Bad Days, Good Days, Mostly Good Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea). What a way to start the summer. Who knew or even remembers this old-fashioned, actually ancient flower? It’s thought to ha..Read more   Beyond The Pumpkin Patch Beyond The Pumpkin Patch Ah, the October Country. If you’re lucky you discover it when you’re young. Maybe you’re living in the wilds of Illinois as did Ray Bradbur..Read more Dear Editor, Dear Editor, I so appreciated JP Spence’s ode to rock and roll (“Taylor Hawkins Was There,â€� April 15, 2022), which was also a touching tribute to the Foo Fig..Read more Donate to the Town Council Donate to the Town Council If you want to offer your time, there are many things to do as a TTC volunteer! Post events on OneTopanga’s Community Calendar (2-3 hours / month..Read more Happy New Year! We’re Off to a Good Start…Honest! Happy New Year! We’re Off to a Good Start…Honest! By Kait Leonard Get ready to sing Auld Lang Syne and stick noise-makers in our mouths because January 2022 welcomes in a truly new energy. It’s been a heavy coupl..Read more   Lessons in Leadership Lessons in Leadership Additional reporting by Phoenix Rodan School’s out for Summer! As all alumni of Topanga Elementary know, the last year is always bitterswe..Read more ‘1776: The Musical’ and ‘Secret Conversations’ ‘1776: The Musical’ and ‘Secret Conversations’ ‘1776: The Musical’ and ‘Secret Conversations’ 1776: The Musical, now onstage at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center through May 7, ..Read more Marvin A. Gluck—October 14, 1933-February 27, 2021 Marvin A. Gluck—October 14, 1933-February 27, 2021 rascible, irreverent, witty, compassionate—my good friend and mentor. MY FRIEND, MARVIN Marvin and I met when he helped us with the narration for ..Read more MAY-June EVENTS MAY-June EVENTS Ongoing every Sunday, Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m. Topanga Christian Fellowship. Service with Pastor John Klein follows at 11 a.m. info@to..Read more   Meet HALEY Meet HALEY Recently my friend with a gluten intolerance introduced me to gluten-free pop tarts. They were pretty good, but my friend with the intolerance said th..Read more Plant Walks with Lola Babalon Plant Walks with Lola Babalon More than a dozen people showed up at Pine Tree Circle on Jan. 24 for the first session of this new weekly event led by Lola Babalon (right). “We e..Read more Single-Car Accident on TCB Causes Two-Acre Brush Fire and 36-Hour Power Outage Single-Car Accident on TCB Causes Two-Acre Brush Fire and 36-Hour Power Outage By Annemarie Donkin A single-car accident crashed into a power pole on Monday, Nov. 30 at about 9:14 p.m. on Topanga Canyon Blvd. at Grandview, according to the Malibu-Lo..Read more Situation Normal? Situation Normal? Now that many of us “oldsâ€� have gotten our second dose of the coronavirus vaccine (Moderna in our case, my wife and I experiencing only minimal si..Read more   TECS Variety Show Returns TECS Variety Show Returns Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) held its third Variety Show on April 3, at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. It is a glorious celebration o..Read more The Dogs of Dog Days & Other Pets We Love The Dogs of Dog Days & Other Pets We Love In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by t..Read more The Great Topanga Scavenger Hunt! The Great Topanga Scavenger Hunt! By Amy Weisberg, M.Ed., NBCT Are you missing the wonderful sense of community that Topanga is known for? Are you ready to get outside and away from screens in a safe and fu..Read more The Loneliness Epidemic The Loneliness Epidemic A major curiosity of our times is the co-existence of the world’s greatest-of-all-times connectivity on one hand and the deep isolation manifesting ..Read more   This Is the Democratic Moment This Is the Democratic Moment In less than six weeks, Americans will be casting ballots in one of the most momentous mid-term elections in my lifetime. The conventional (and histor..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today As digital archivist for the Topanga Historical Society, Pablo Capra saw an opportunity to compile historical vignettes lifted from bygone newspape..Read more Celebrating School Traditions Celebrating School Traditions With children being back in their classrooms, it was a wonderful time to celebrate the staff at TECS. Teacher Appreciation Day is a national event..Read more Cultural Arts Passport Program Benefits Students Cultural Arts Passport Program Benefits Students October 27, 2023 The Cultural Arts Passport (CAP) program promoted by LAUSD during the last school year, was by all measures, a success. Schools we..Read more   Exploring LA’s Cultural Landscape Exploring LA’s Cultural Landscape I like to think that culturally speaking, LA and I grew up together. I moved to California at the age of 12 as the Music Center was nearing completion..Read more Fundraising Gala for 5G Free California Fundraising Gala for 5G Free California electricity moves through them unmonitored. A fire in them can only be extinguished by Edison cutting the power. The Board of Supervisors has a miscon..Read more Happy Hummies Happy Hummies Dear Editor, Thank you for publishing the lovely and so important note from Laura McWhirter regarding what can happen when hummingbirds are fed the w..Read more Has Anything Changed? Has Anything Changed? I never thought that a solo act by one of the most extraordinary theatrical documentarian/performers of our time, Anna Deavere Smith, could be success..Read more   ‘WeHo Sounds’ Virtual Concert Series 2020-2021 ‘WeHo Sounds’ Virtual Concert Series 2020-2021 Topanga-based Americana / Roots / Bluegrass band, Murphy’s Flaw, will lead off the “WeHo Soundsâ€� Free Virtual Concert series beginning Friday, N..Read more Patricia Colvig—1949-2021 Patricia Colvig—1949-2021 By Flavia Potenza Patricia Colvig, talented researcher for films and movies, was a big-hearted, fiercely independent, rambunctious, and witty woman with an eye for beau..Read more Put Your Hands Together... Put Your Hands Together... I’m calling this our “Comic Bookâ€� edition because it’s loaded with picww tures telling the stories of Topanga Days 2023. We are also celebrati..Read more Remember, Revisit, Reexamine. Happy December! Remember, Revisit, Reexamine. Happy December! The last month of the year comes in at unrelenting warp speed with a series of major cosmic ev The last eclipse in a series, Venus moving backwards, the final showdown between Saturn and Uranus, Jupiter moving into Pisces. Grab your birth chart ..Read more   SUMMER EVENTS SUMMER EVENTS Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. Come to church this Sunday and be renewed! â..Read more The Beat Goes On The Beat Goes On Where were you in ’62? And what were you listening to? It’s one of those Boomer clichés that set Millennial teeth on edge, but for anyone born b..Read more The Computer Electronic Show 2021 The Computer Electronic Show 2021 With all the craziness going on in politics, life still goes on. Politics is always decades behind the cutting edge of life anyway, and life is really..Read more The Hammer, Sickle, and the Heart The Hammer, Sickle, and the Heart Reviewed by Paula LaBrot Topanga is a community that, historically, includes a plethora of creative, productive artists, musicians, and writers in residence. Among our present..Read more   The Hugelkultur Workshop Follow-up The Hugelkultur Workshop Follow-up Kat High started to plant the beginnings of the gathering garden—yarrow and monkey flower, apricot mallow, ceanothus, and a small holly leaf cherryâ..Read more The Present The Present There are occasions when time stands still, or at least slows because the moment is of such glorious importance it begs one to stop and recognize it. ..Read more To AI or Not to AI To AI or Not to AI Not even their creators, can understand, predict, or reliably control Artificial Intelligence (AI). On March 29, while I was teaching the brighte..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today Confederacy Daughters April 4, 1912, Los Angeles Times—Mrs. Anna Eckenberger, at the Peeler ranch in Topanga Canyon, will entertain t..Read more   Vaccinate! Its Not Too Late! Vaccinate! Its Not Too Late! On Wednesday, July 28, 1-3 p.m., Topanga library is hosting a pop-up vaccine clinic for the general public hosted by the LA County Department of Publi..Read more What is Truly Important in Life? What is Truly Important in Life? “I was supposed to be on the submersible Titanâ€� I want to share some thoughts on the recent incident involving the submersible Titanâ€�and its ..Read more APRIL-MAY Events APRIL-MAY Events Sunday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. ongoing Bible Study. Every Sunday with Michelle Klein at Topanga Christian Fellowship, 269 Old Topanga Canyon Road. Ser..Read more Dog Days and August Heat Dog Days and August Heat To mark my upcoming birthday in a few weeks—it’s not a milestone, just another step on the long march to inevitable fogeyhood—let’s take a bre..Read more   Fundraising Gala for 5G Free California Fundraising Gala for 5G Free California continued from page 4 electricity moves through them unmonitored. A fire in them can only be extinguished by Edison cutting the power. The Board of Supervisors has a miscon..Read more Hugelkultur: Learning to Love Carbon Hugelkultur: Learning to Love Carbon By Flavia Potenza Carbon sequestration in the most sustainable sense of the word. A pile of native soil with four shovels standing like sentinels, flattened cardbo..Read more India is Leaping into the Future India is Leaping into the Future Dear Neighbors, I was asked to teach a media literacy class at IIT Mandi in India. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a group of autonomo..Read more L.A. County Health Department Warns of Delta COVID-19 Variants L.A. County Health Department Warns of Delta COVID-19 Variants L.A. County is in a much better place than last Independence Day yet Public Health Department recommends caution and masks in public places. ..Read more   On Behalf of Hummingbirds On Behalf of Hummingbirds Please be careful how you prepare Hummingbird Nectar. We noticed a hummingbird that was unable to retract her tongue due to fungal spores that had ger..Read more Roslyn ‘Roz’ Harris—1944-2021 Roslyn ‘Roz’ Harris—1944-2021 With a heavy heart and an overwhelming appreciation for the joy of knowing our beloved friend, devoted mother, loving wife, and trusted sister, we inf..Read more Shame On Us! Shame On Us! Joel Bellman holds forth on the value of shame. Joel Bellman holds forth on the value of shame. As long I can remember, it’s been an article of faith among the cognoscenti that “shameâ..Read more So Big! That’s what November is! So Big! That’s what November is! Big, big, big, so get a copy of your birth chart (available free online), and let’s get into it. First, we start the month with a powerful New Moon..Read more   TECS Alumnus, Zennon Ulyate-Crow TECS Alumnus, Zennon Ulyate-Crow Zennon Ulyate-Crow had a great start to his education at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) and has many paths to choose from as he starts co..Read more THE BRAID: No Jewish Story Untold THE BRAID: No Jewish Story Untold Female, male, gay, non-binary, trans, black, Latino, Chinese, Persian: what do they have in common? At The Braid (formerly Jewish Women’s Theatre—..Read more The Dog I Needed The Dog I Needed I hadn’t thought I needed a dog. Especially some half-grown, crazy, large-eared, black animal that slunk away the first time I saw it. “Thereâ..Read more The Many Gifts of… The Many Gifts of… Sometimes production week comes easily and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t and the Muse has gone on vacation and nothing springs to mind ..Read more   The Story of a Magic Garden The Story of a Magic Garden July 29, 2022 | Reprinted with permission of the Stratford Crier By Andrea Byrne, Editor There is such a place, you know, and it’s here in Str..Read more Tonga Tsunami Space Image Tonga Tsunami Space Image This satellite image, taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today Actors read Ziff’s Magazine at the Topanga Post Office Cowboy actors pose in an apparent advertisement for Ziff’s Magazine (March 1..Read more Town Council Addresses Short-Term Rental Ordinance Town Council Addresses Short-Term Rental Ordinance October 27, 2023 On Friday, September 29, 2023, during an online information session for Topanga residents, the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Ta..Read more   Zoom with The Water Babies, December 19-20 Zoom with The Water Babies, December 19-20 Topanga Actors Company (TAC) will present a holiday production of Charles Kingsley’s beloved tale, The Water Babies, on Dec. 19, repeated on Dec. 20..Read more The Night Sky Belongs to You The Night Sky Belongs to You By Ruskin Hartley (rhartley@darksky.org) There is something magical about seeing the International Space Station (ISS) fly overhead. For a moment, it is among the brightest objects in the sky..Read more A Lot of Existential ‘Whys’A Lot of Existential ‘Whys’ A Lot of Existential ‘Whys’A Lot of Existential ‘Whys’ Americans killing Americans? Mass murder in our streets? Children gunned down in schools? Unbridled hate spewing forth on every line of communication ..Read more Beware the Threat of Attention Engineering Beware the Threat of Attention Engineering Columnist LaBrot is hot on the trail of a design renaissance to replace, or at least compete with today’s social media dominance that hacks us wh..Read more   Constitutionally Infirm Constitutionally Infirm When I was growing up, school taught me t wo principal things about the U.S. Constitution. It was primarily a conservative document, in the sense tha..Read more Dear editor, Dear editor, Dear editor, I’ve enjoyed Kathie Gibboney’s writing in your paper (and all the iterations of it) for a whole bunch of years. I always find her vo..Read more Good Theater but One is Sublime Good Theater but One is Sublime Sublime is the only word I can use to describe the revival of the beloved musical, The Secret Garden onstage now through March 26 at the Ahmanson Thea..Read more Joseph Haney (Josh) Cochran III—1958-2021 Joseph Haney (Josh) Cochran III—1958-2021 Joseph Haney (Josh) Cochran III was born February 26, 1958, in Little Rock, Arkansas and died June 23, 2021 in Topanga, CA. He was 63, the first-born ..Read more   June EVENTS June EVENTS Ongoing: Sunday Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m., Worship Service with Pastor John Klein, 11 a.m. The canyon is amazingly green, full of bloom..Read more Lifetime Learning Curves Lifetime Learning Curves Being an adult is like an endless parade, except instead of floats it’s things I don’t wanna do. When I was a kid I did things solely because the..Read more October 2021—Get Ready for the Ride October 2021—Get Ready for the Ride By Kait Leonard Think of October as a rollercoaster. During the first half of the month we’ll be inching up that steep incline, eager to get to the good part. Aroun..Read more Peaceable Planet Peaceable Planet It happens this time of year. An inner craving awakes. Some primal longing draws me like a Siren’s song and helpless I am to resist the, Call of The..Read more   Road Racing Plagues Canyons Road Racing Plagues Canyons October 13, 2023 I’m writing on behalf of a group of more than 50 Topanga Canyon/Malibu residents concerned about the daily racing, noise and fir..Read more Speeding and Fires Fuel Frustration in Topanga Speeding and Fires Fuel Frustration in Topanga By Annemarie Donkin When the Topanga Canyon Town Council met via Zoom on December 9, Council President Carrie Carrier invited representatives from the West Valley CHP, L...Read more Stuttering In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation establishing the second week in May as National Stuttering Awareness Week. Today, the National ..Read more The Will Geer Memorial The Will Geer Memorial Theatricum Botanicum’s gardens around the theater this year are exceptionally lush and beautiful following the winter rains. But we were there to se..Read more   TikTok and the Info Wars TikTok and the Info Wars TikTok, like its Chinese counterpart Douyin, is a short-form video hosting service owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted vid..Read more Topanga Before Today Topanga Before Today Compiled by Pablo Capra, Topanga Historical Society Archivist Historical accounts abound and stay hidden for decades or centuries. In his ro..Read more Topanga Canyon Gallery Holiday Show Topanga Canyon Gallery Holiday Show “The Art of Givingâ€� holiday art show at Topanga Canyon Gallery is in full swing with an array of one-of-a-kind fine art and gifts for your family ..Read more Treasure Treasure Teachers look for treasure. Not the typical chests filled with gold, but the gems found within their students. Children enter kindergarten as diamonds..Read more   Bing Unhinged! Bing Unhinged! People holding secrets, personal or state, have been manipulated or tortured to reveal information since the beginning of the human experience. Many h..Read more Can’t Help but Smile Can’t Help but Smile This may be one of the happiest issues of The Canyon Chronicle with events popping up like popcorn in a pot, the pot being, of course, Topanga. We ..Read more County Hosts STR Meeting for Topanga County Hosts STR Meeting for Topanga October 13, 2023 The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector hosted a virtual information session for Topanga residents on Friday, September..Read more COVID-19: It’s Not Over Until It’s Over COVID-19: It’s Not Over Until It’s Over According to an April 8 report from AARP health and medicine writer, Rachel Nania, “After weeks of steady decline, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizatio..Read more   COVID-19 Diary COVID-19 Diary By Jean Colonomos Dear Reader, This column is dedicated to the intrepid, creative staff of The Canyon Chronicle. I thank Publisher/Editor, Flavia Potenza; Creative D..Read more FREE Wildfire & Disaster NOAA Weather Alert Radios FREE Wildfire & Disaster NOAA Weather Alert Radios SAVE THE DATES! August 13 and 16. Free NOAA Weather Alert Radios will be given out on Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and on Tuesday, August 16..Read more Getting Hip Getting Hip It isn’t light at 5:30 a.m. I see no sign of Aurora’s rosy fingers drawing back night’s curtain and painting her magic oranges and pinks across ..Read more House Fire on Saddle Peak Sparks Concern House Fire on Saddle Peak Sparks Concern By Annemarie Donkin The explosion of a large appliance in the laundry room is the suspected cause of a destructive house fire at the top of Saddle Peak Road on Tuesday..Read more   Joanne Martinez—1929-2021 Joanne Martinez—1929-2021 A life well lived is a life worth living and that is what she did. She loved life even unto the end. Joanne Cinelli was born on December 11,..Read more ‘Queen Margaret’s Version of Shakespeare’s War of the Roses’ Shines at Theatricum ‘Queen Margaret’s Version of Shakespeare’s War of the Roses’ Shines at Theatricum Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum continues its 50th Anniversary Summer Season with a production of “Queen Margaret’s Version of Shakespeare’s War ..Read more MARCH Events MARCH Events March 4-May 21 (Spring Sports BBQ), Sundays, 5-7:30 p.m., Adult Sports. Another season of fun is on tap at the TCC ballfield Sunday afternoons. Choos..Read more One Thing Leads to a Rabbit Hole One Thing Leads to a Rabbit Hole This week I was tasked with writing a story about Topanga Days, the yearly music and arts festival that takes place over Memorial Day weekend. My dire..Read more   Senator Stern and Governor Newsom Administration Award $20M Grant to Build World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing Senator Stern and Governor Newsom Administration Award $20M Grant to Build World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing National Wildlife Federation, leading the effort with Annenberg Foundation, kicks off “Nature Based Infrastructureâ€� tour to raise awareness and..Read more So Much Art to See, So Little Time, So Good! So Much Art to See, So Little Time, So Good! Sometimes I will report on events after they’ve happened, due to production schedules, but they’re worth knowing about for the next time around. ..Read more The Nature of Politics The Nature of Politics By Joel Bellman “When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at..Read more   The Way of the Bear Henry Smith, Jr., 1932-2022 The Way of the Bear Henry Smith, Jr., 1932-2022 Henry Smith Jr., of Topanga, CA, age 90, beloved elder of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe, passed away July 21, 2022, in Tarzana, CA. Henry ..Read more Topanga Elementary Charter School Now Enrolling! Topanga Elementary Charter School Now Enrolling! Parents are invited to tour Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS), a small, high-performing community school, on April 6th from 9 to 11 a.m. Adults..Read more Topanga’s First $1.5 Million Property Topanga’s First $1.5 Million Property September 27, 1979, Topanga Messenger—Mimi Morton was leaning on the hood of her flamboyant red Excalibur, which matched her jacket, worrying as usu..Read more Welcome Back to Campus! Welcome Back to Campus! It has been a long wait for the Return to Campus. In-person instruction ended over a year ago but on April 20 and 21, there was a staggered re-opening..Read more   2022-2023 Year-End Rain Report 2022-2023 Year-End Rain Report October 13, 2023 Our 2022-2023 rain year ended on September 30th and it was a juicy one. 41.27 inches of precipitation ranks number three in the 27..Read more April 2021—What Could Possibly Go Wrong? April 2021—What Could Possibly Go Wrong? April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain —T.S..Read more Curtains Rising: Theatre Roundup Curtains Rising: Theatre Roundup Live theatre is back, big time, on stages large and small. Here’s a roundup of just a few of the many productions taking place this month and beyond..Read more Education Evolving Education Evolving My magical grand-daughter Sidney comes to my house when she is too sick to go to school and her folks have to be at work. I can’t lie... I love thos..Read more   Facing Consequences Facing Consequences Apologies for the short opener this week. I used up all of my allotted words ranting about Steven Tyler. When I was a kid, I had nightmares about D..Read more Honey—2007-2021 Honey—2007-2021 This week, Mike Cheney helped me dig a grave for my mom’s 14-year-old dog, Honey, her most loving dog who slept on her bed every night for 14 years..Read more Lack of Coverage of 5G Wireless Hearing Lack of Coverage of 5G Wireless Hearing Dear Editor, On March 9th, the subject of theTopanga Canyon Town Council’s (TCTC) monthly meeting was a presentation by 5G Free California regardin..Read more MAY EVENTS MAY EVENTS Ongoing every Sunday, Bible Study with Michelle Klein, 10 a.m. Topanga Christian Fellowship. Service with Pastor John Klein follows at 11 a.m. infor..Read more   Modern Monsters Modern Monsters I knew this year was going to be tough because of the election. But it is a horror show to actually see communities, friendships and families ripped a..Read more ODE TO AN AGAVE ODE TO AN AGAVE Rising majestically from the side of our hill, the Agave Americana stalk is in bloom. It stands impressively proud, colossal, defiant. Each day, in fa..Read more School Reopening Offers Options, Excitement Grows School Reopening Offers Options, Excitement Grows Envisioning the future as schools across the state plan their reopening, many of our young students cannot wait to be there: “I’m so excited to se..Read more Some Guidlines for a Consequential Mid-Term Election Year Some Guidlines for a Consequential Mid-Term Election Year This is the year to vote, to do your due diligence of down-ballot candidates and offices you may have never heard of. The warm-up act is the Calif..Read more   Sometimes We are Simply Asked to Endure and Persist Sometimes We are Simply Asked to Endure and Persist By Flavia Potenza As if a greater surge of the pandemic weren’t enough, our erstwhile president, who has abandoned the country for the golf course, is also wreaking h..Read more The Spirit of Christmas Present 2020 The Spirit of Christmas Present 2020 By Kathie Gibboney Each time I think of this holiday season, and what should be the celebratory nature of the time, I am hard pressed to find the star. I know it’s up ..Read more The Spirit that Drives Us The Spirit that Drives Us It’s not just a Topanga thing, but a human calling to step into the breach when times are hard or something is wrong. We, here, probably have more c..Read more Treatments Available for COVID-19 Patients Treatments Available for COVID-19 Patients This is hopeful news and worth knowing, but not a cure-all. Remember that people who have contracted the virus and survived may also suffer lingering ..Read more   Undergrounding in Town Center to Begins Undergrounding in Town Center to Begins Southern California Edison (SCE), has announced that undergrounding work to make improvements to the electrical grid in Topanga’s business center, i..Read more When is it appropriate to lie? When is it appropriate to lie? “Rabbi, my child goes to school, where there are various influences with beliefs that are different from my religion. When would it be appropriate f..Read more Art in Service of the Spiritual Art in Service of the Spiritual The rain closed down the gallery last weekend but you still have time to see works by local artists celebrating nature’s gifts at Topanga Canyon Gal..Read more Boyhood Memories Boyhood Memories Earth Day is upon us. Enjoy it. The earth’s natural resources have been almost completely depleted. We’ve got a solid five or six more Earth Days ..Read more   Calabasas Leads on Clean Power Calabasas Leads on Clean Power Calabasas, one of the original member cities of the Clean Power Alliance votes 100% Renewable Energy for Homes and Businesses The Calabasas City Co..Read more ChatGPT ChatGPT Brace yourself. I have to catch you up on some rapid changes (are there any other kind these days?). ChatGPT is important for you to understand. I..Read more Fan Mail Fan Mail Dear Editor, Miles Erickson is phenomenal. His column, Long Distance Listening Party, in The Canyon Chronicle is so damned funny. He’s got such a s..Read more February Events February Events Friday, February 24, 10 a.m. -4 p.m., TCC Blood Drive. The Topanga Community Center has become the biggest donation site in Los Angeles. TCC is loca..Read more   From Topanga to Mars From Topanga to Mars Additional reporting by Phoenix Rodan On February 18th, the teachers of Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) made space in their daily s..Read more ‘Trouble the Water’ Triumphs at the Theatricum ‘Trouble the Water’ Triumphs at the Theatricum By Annemarie Donkin Robert Henry Smalls—a name that should stand in history alongside Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman—was an American politician, publisher, bus..Read more March 2021 – A month of celebrating and achieving March 2021 – A month of celebrating and achieving Riding the astrology of the last year or so has been like being on one of those all-wood, vintage rollercoasters—you know you’re experiencing hist..Read more New Initiative for Wildfire Insurance New Initiative for Wildfire Insurance October 13, 2023 At the Topanga Town Council’s September 13th meeting, a presentation/Q&A session was given by the California Department of Insur..Read more   Sometime (for Lily Carey) Sometime (for Lily Carey) I’m talking to a Topanga child, about five years old. He is fleet of foot and fearless. He has amazing physical abilities; running, jumping, turning..Read more Spirit Abounds Spirit Abounds I’ve been exploring my religious roots of late. The Topanga Christian Fellowship Church is conveniently close, just two miles down the road, and the..Read more The Angel from Auschwitz The Angel from Auschwitz Here is a meaningful story that I recently heard about a man who was considered an angel for so many people. His name was Sol Teichman. He was a succe..Read more The Dawning The Dawning By Paula LaBrot On Dec. 21, the time of the winter solstice and the shortest daylight hours of the year when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal, you will ha..Read more   THE World’s Largest Helitanker THE World’s Largest Helitanker Demonstrates Firefighting Water Drops from 69 Bravo With the vision of Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and Fire Chief Daryl Osby in securing 69 Bravo in perpetuity, yet another firefight..Read more Wanted: A New Sheriff Wanted: A New Sheriff For unincorporated communities like Topanga, arguably no elected position is as important as the L.A. County Sheriff. As the top public safety officia..Read more A Cornucopia of Digital Wonders A Cornucopia of Digital Wonders The Computer Electronics Show (CES) was back, live, in full force in Las Vegas for 2023. This year, the event, which had been virtual during COVID..Read more Arts, Science, and Community Arts, Science, and Community By TECS News Team; Additional reporting by Phoenix Rodan As Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) teachers continue to find innovative wa..Read more   Burrowing Owls Burrowing Owls Most unusually, we currently have two Burrowing Owls in care. They are now migrating to Southern California for the winter and these two came in just ..Read more February Events February Events Saturday, February 4-26, Topanga Canyon Gallery. Topanga Canyon Gallery is pleased to present two new solo exhibitions from artists John Couch and Jun..Read more Hansel and Gretel By Coco Blignaut aka Coco Mary Hansel and Gretel By Coco Blignaut aka Coco Mary Reviewed by Flavia Potenza In case you haven’t noticed, much of the content in this issue verges on the whimsical. Coco Blignaut’s latest literary effort takes whimsy and f..Read more He Who Gets Slapped He Who Gets Slapped By Joel Bellman Stand-up comics learn early on how to shut down a heckler. But even a veteran like Chris Rock could never have prepared for an offended Will Smith str..Read more   Indigenous Peoples Day Indigenous Peoples Day October 13, 2023 While Columbus Day remains a federal holiday that was observed on Monday, Oct. 9, a movement has been growing for decades to repla..Read more Nix the Dryer Sheets. Reduce Chemical Exposure Nix the Dryer Sheets. Reduce Chemical Exposure By Jane Hammond Lilies and Linen,â€�â€� Outdoor Fresh,â€� “Super Fresh!â€� When I walk down my little street here in Topanga there are so many scents wafting out on..Read more Once In A Lifetime Once In A Lifetime The peace of a Topanga Saturday morning is disrupted as I hear the Beleaguered Husband swearing while battling the tangled, obstreperous garden hose o..Read more One for the Money, Two for the Show... One for the Money, Two for the Show... The tale goes that on a November night in 1970, the co-founder of one of the most successful vocal groups of all time, The Temptations, walked out aft..Read more   Revolution vs. the Status Quo – Sound Familiar? Revolution vs. the Status Quo – Sound Familiar? By Kait Leonard Given 2020 and what we’ve seen of January 2021, I really wish I could say something super positive about February. Here’s all I got—astro..Read more The Greening of Topanga The Greening of Topanga Some folks are celebratin’ “the Wearin’ of the Green,â€� but here in Topanga, Irish or not, we’re all “Livin’ in the Greenâ€� with the rai..Read more The Stuff of Personal Development The Stuff of Personal Development You may have noticed that the last issue of the paper contained a bit more of my work than usual. Because of this, I have been completely drained of i..Read more When Fire and Vulnerability Collide When Fire and Vulnerability Collide By Topanga Canyon Town Council opanga and Malibu for many years have experienced fires that were related to open fires in the area but recent statistics show that the risk is increa..Read more   Wonderful March 4 Issue! Wonderful March 4 Issue! DearEditor, So many informative and or heartwarming (or both) articles. The cover mural art is fascinating, and the accompanying article about Babin..Read more An Unexpected Reunion An Unexpected Reunion It was a surprise visit when this perky lady dropped by to say hello and reminisce about her years growing up in Topanga. Margot “Bayâ€� Barton ..Read more APRIL-MAY EVENTS APRIL-MAY EVENTS Ongoing Bible Study every Sunday with Michelle Klein, 10:00 a.m. Topanga Christian Fellowship, 269 Old Topanga Canyon Road. Service with Pastor John ..Read more Canyon Chameleon Canyon Chameleon In the last edition of this column I mentioned that I would be briefly moving back to Topanga, and, in the time since the last volume’s publication,..Read more   Dakota The Therapy Dog: Goes to the Airport By Lara Clear, Illustrated by Katie Watts Dakota The Therapy Dog: Goes to the Airport By Lara Clear, Illustrated by Katie Watts Reviewed by Flavia Potenza Actor, producer, and author, Lara Clear moved to Topanga in August. As she adapts to her new community, she has two stories to share, one is personal,..Read more Dear Cockroach, Dear Cockroach, you are amazing (not news) no one knows shit about covid (not news) We march on, resilient, flexible, returning like narcissus or mushrooms. ..Read more Happy Anniversary Children’s Corner! Happy Anniversary Children’s Corner! In spite of the challenges of the past eight months, local Topanga treasure, Children’s Corner Play Center is open for business and its business is ..Read more I Am Love’: A Collection of Virtues from our Children I Am Love’: A Collection of Virtues from our Children “I AM LOVEâ€� is a book for parents and children by Lynn Raynr and Aimee Porter that presents photo essays and the words of children speaking their ..Read more   Invisibility Invisibility One of the jobs I had when I started to make my way in L.A. was as an “assistantâ€� in one of Hollywood’s literary agencies. Occasionally, I was a..Read more Lessons from Miss Rumphius Lessons from Miss Rumphius Amy Weisberg, M.Ed., NBCT “Miss Rumphius,â€� story and pictures by Barbara Cooney, was one of my daughters’ favorite books. They never tired of the story of a little girl n..Read more Living with Wildlife Living with Wildlife Ayoung Botta’s Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) arrived at California Wildlife Center (CWC) late in January, its 40th patient of the new year, after ..Read more MRCA Wildland Firefighters Deserve a Hero’s Welcome MRCA Wildland Firefighters Deserve a Hero’s Welcome By Annemarie Donkin If anyone was destined to become one of the top wildland firefighters in Southern California, it is Topanga resident Jakub Slovacek, who lives ..Read more   Permanent Change Permanent Change We live in an Age of Disruption. People wake up every day to find old paradigms broken and replaced by new sets of assumptions, concepts, values, and ..Read more THE GREAT WINTER SOLSTICE OF 2020: Jupiter, Saturn and The Moon THE GREAT WINTER SOLSTICE OF 2020: Jupiter, Saturn and The Moon By Eric Fitzgerald The winter solstice on December 21st this year comes with an added attraction – a great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. “What is a conjunct..Read more Art Will Go On Art Will Go On Distance learning at Topanga Elementary Charter School is running smoothly. Of course, there are a few technology glitches, and we all realize this is..Read more Caveat Emptor! —Investigate Before Investing Caveat Emptor! —Investigate Before Investing As a documentary filmmaker I learned very quickly that real life is more fascinating than fiction. Nothing illustrates this more than the true tale of..Read more   Family Matters, Mediums & Psychics Family Matters, Mediums & Psychics This week I was talking to my cousin who made me aware of two facts regarding my family to which I had been previously ignorant. Fact number one: we h..Read more Gophers Be Gone Gophers Be Gone Roses were blooming in the garden when we moved to the house in an April of some 27 years ago. They must have been planted by the landlord’s grandmo..Read more It’s the Roaster Not the Roast It’s the Roaster Not the Roast By Kait Leonard Need a little afternoon pick-me-up? Well, put down that espresso and find a lively, lightly roasted bean. Approximately 64% of Americans drink cof..Read more Loving the “Listening Partyâ€� Loving the “Listening Partyâ€� —Jill Cotu hank you for publishing Miles Erickson! So refreshing. As an aging audiophile and one-time college radio DJ, I’m thrilled by his words, perspective,..Read more   NOVEMBER EVENTS NOVEMBER EVENTS October 28-November 20, “Color by Numbers.â€�Topanga Canyon Gallery. A solo exhibition by gallery member and Malibu artist Mark Estes, an engineer, ..Read more The Great Conjunction and the Dawning of a New Age The Great Conjunction and the Dawning of a New Age By Kait Leonard We’ve been singing about the dawning of the Age of Aquarius since the Sixties. Even though astrologers argue about when that’s actually happening,..Read more The West Side Waltz Plays the Right Notes The West Side Waltz Plays the Right Notes Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum presents a spirited revival of The West Side Waltz by Academy Award-winning writer Ernest Thompson (On Golden Pond)..Read more   Topanga Canyon Fire Safety Day Draws a Crowd Topanga Canyon Fire Safety Day Draws a Crowd “It’s better to evacuate five hours too soon than five seconds too late.â€� —Los Angeles County Fire Chief Drew Smith Topanga is a beautif..Read more Transitions Transitions My little guy, Tippy, a Parti Poodle, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Thursday, January 9, after a long bout of metastatic cancer with ugly tumors erupt..Read more A Chanukah Story from Long Ago A Chanukah Story from Long Ago How the ancient story of Chanukah is relevant through the centuries and to our lives today. It was 1944 in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and..Read more April Events April Events April 1-2 at 2 p.m., Third by Wendy Wasserstein. Topanga Actors Company (TAC) invites you to attend their next staged reading of Third, a drama-comedy..Read more   Beach fires, Evacuations and Fire Report Highlight October Town Council Meeting Beach fires, Evacuations and Fire Report Highlight October Town Council Meeting When the Topanga Canyon Town Council met via Zoom on Oct. 14, Council President Carrie Carrier and Vice-President Alisa Land Hill presented a full age..Read more CA Wildfire Resilience Act Signed into Law CA Wildfire Resilience Act Signed into Law By Chronicle Staff Topangans will now be required to harden their homes against wildfire. SB 63, the Wildfire Resilience through Community and Ecology Act, by Sen. Henr..Read more Catching Up with Café on 27 Catching Up with Café on 27 Café on 27 is a unique and delightful restaurant in the heart of Topanga where one can enjoy breakfast and lunch or simply relax with a Caffé Latte ..Read more Election Delays and Chaos Election Delays and Chaos The U.S. election is consuming almost everyone right now. It would make perfect sense to devote a whole astrological analysis to predicting the outcom..Read more   Electronic Records & the Lost Art of Medicine Electronic Records & the Lost Art of Medicine Dr. Paul Farmer, a pioneer in global medicine and champion of those for whom medical care is as remote a possibility as their locations, passed away i..Read more January 2023 Has Been a Kick in the Pants January 2023 Has Been a Kick in the Pants Has anyone else had problems easing into 2023? It better get better than this month was. Kathie Gibboney lets us know from her Corner of the Canyon..Read more October is Fire Prevention Month October is Fire Prevention Month The goal of Fire Prevention Month 2023 (and the week of October 8-14) is to raise fire safety awareness and help protect homes and families. The Natio..Read more The Devil’s Food Triangle The Devil’s Food Triangle By Paula LaBrot We have now sailed into the Bermuda Triangle for dieters: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Here, in the Devil’s Food Triangle, thousan..Read more   Congratulations, you have been accepted to Zoom university! Congratulations, you have been accepted to Zoom university! I don’t think I will ever forget the day I received an email from the University of California, Santa Cruz, informing me that Spring Quarter of 2020..Read more Fireproofing your home can reduce insurance bills Fireproofing your home can reduce insurance bills October 13, 2023 Residents of Topanga Canyon, California, have spent the past decade fireproofing their community, and it’s paying off. As the..Read more Kim Zanti is ‘On Set’ at Akumal Arts Festival Kim Zanti is ‘On Set’ at Akumal Arts Festival Hello Good People! Our cameras are on the ground today, January 25, 2022, in Akumal, prior to the opening of the Arts Festival January 28-30! Weâ€..Read more Starting Oct. 13, Canyon Sages Chair Yoga 2022. Lola Babalon will teach six weekly, one-hour classes, beginning Oct.13 to Nov. 17, on Thursday morning..Read more   Of Cookies and COVID Of Cookies and COVID The fortune cookie sits on the surfboard coffee table right in front of me. I moved it from the kitchen where it lay, ignored, left over from some lon..Read more Shelter In Place During a Wildfire Shelter In Place During a Wildfire Jane Terjung has some timely tips in her “Bathroom Bunker Editionâ€� of emergency preparedness. Now that we’ve been advised that shelter..Read more SUGGESTIONS FOR A CHILD’S HOME LIBRARY SUGGESTIONS FOR A CHILD’S HOME LIBRARY A Chocolate Moose for Dinner, written and illustrated by Red Gwynne Magic Little Words by Angèle Delaunois, art by Masnon Gauthier Max’s Words ..Read more Unto Us a Child is Born... Unto Us a Child is Born... Christmas is upon us and I look forward to this season. The Nativity scene, the trees and lights, getting together with family and neighbors and meeti..Read more   Welcome 2023! Welcome 2023! Months earlier, as we were building the lineup for the first issue of 2023, we had hope and some indication that we’d get rain this winter but not q..Read more Charter Pods to Enrich Learning Charter Pods to Enrich Learning We are going somewhere new and we are not going back to “normal.â€� The Covid19 pandemic of 2020 has created a sea change. It’s like we are in..Read more Clear as a Bell Clear as a Bell By Kathie Gibboney There are dreams I have, sometimes recurring, disturbing dreams from which I wake, shaken, spent and drained, as if I’ve had no sleep at all. Thereâ..Read more In Faith Hope Rises In Faith Hope Rises Throughout the world there are those who walk different paths of faith and call upon us to bring the message of “The peace that surpasses all unders..Read more   Making a List… Making a List… Last issue we observed, with reverence, the spirit of the holiday season. Production week rolled around and my list for the lineup was pretty skimpy...Read more Rides for Seniors Return to Topanga Rides for Seniors Return to Topanga At a recent meeting with Supervisor Lindsay Horvath’s aide, Sophia Soudani, leaders of the Canyon Sages expressed some frustration that Cityride, a ..Read more Scoundrels be Wary of The Merry Wives of Windsor Scoundrels be Wary of The Merry Wives of Windsor A rollicking good time was had by all at the opening night of The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum on June 11. The perform..Read more SPRING Events SPRING Events Sunday, March 19 through June 3, Kat High’s Kiddiwische Corner Spring-into-Summer Workshops. Mark your calendars to revive your connection with natu..Read more   Thanksgiving Outage Outrage Thanksgiving Outage Outrage Beth Davis Dear Editor, I have lived in Topanga for 26 years and have had multiple run-ins with SCE since I moved in. To summarize my general feelings, they are..Read more Words Words By Amy Weisberg, M.Ed. In my TK and Kindergarten classes, I introduce a new vocabulary word each day. We call it the “Word of the Day.â€� It is a way for me to help the ch..Read more A Hopeful Warrior on War & Covid-19 A Hopeful Warrior on War & Covid-19 By Fred Samia It may be a cliché to say that we are at war with a microscopic bug but the novel coronavirus does put all our lives in jeopardy, and in that sense, ..Read more Abstract in Portland Abstract in Portland I saw autumn! A true autumn alive, burnished and glowing. We planned a visit to Portland where our daughter, Miranda, has moved and who better than us..Read more   EVENTS EVENTS Thursday, November 17, 9:00 a.m to 4 p.m.—“Exploring Water Quality Impacts of Creek Restoration.â€� Part 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Watershed..Read more Historic Rain Report and Fernwood’s 2020-2021 Season Historic Rain Report and Fernwood’s 2020-2021 Season The water year, or rain year runs from October 1 to September 30 every year. This last rain year was the second driest that I have recorded in 25 year..Read more It’s Official! The Winter Holidays are Upon Us! It’s Official! The Winter Holidays are Upon Us! Nothing could have been more festive than this year’s Sages Holiday Dinner to officially begin the many ways for us to celebrate the season of light..Read more ‘Quarantine Highway’ by Millicent Borges Accardi ‘Quarantine Highway’ by Millicent Borges Accardi Quarantine Highway by local poet Millicent Borges Accardi, is a collection of poetry that strikes an important balance between rejection and criticism..Read more   Secrets to Sustainable Gardening Secrets to Sustainable Gardening The Canyon Sages invite you to attend the second in a series of presentations, and now the first meeting of the Canyon Sages Gardening Club, exploring..Read more The Little Free Library The Little Free Library Backup Batteries for Blackouts Backup Batteries for Blackouts Home batteries don’t need solar…but it helps! The recent winter storms in Texas brought home the serious problems created when the power..Read more Classes Begin at Community Center Classes Begin at Community Center Velvet Marshall Named Sages Activities Director In addition to being the instructor for the Sages art classes coming back to the Community Center a..Read more   Get vaccinated! Get vaccinated! A recent letter in The Canyon Chronicle News section protesting vaccine mandates (“Cali Free Protests Against Vaccine Mandates,â€� The Canyon Chroni..Read more Into The Mystic Into The Mystic Kathie Gibboney Ah, what to wear to an outdoor concert, a Van Morrison concert, at night, on my birthday (I’ll not mention which one)? I know there are larger quest..Read more Living in the Energy of Miracles Living in the Energy of Miracles During one of my recent client sessions with a woman who is going through an advanced stage cancer diagnosis, she was sharing how grateful she is for ..Read more Off-the-Wall Thanksgiving Off-the-Wall Thanksgiving National Day Calendar (NDC), where we often go for details about historic national days, surprised us this time with National Absurdity Day (November ..Read more   PDSMM Honors Jane Fonda with a Lifetime Achievement Award PDSMM Honors Jane Fonda with a Lifetime Achievement Award The Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains (PDSMM) will honor actor and activist Jane Fonda with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Activis..Read more The Canyon Chronicle The Canyon Chronicle Broken Chains Broken Chains Thanksgiving is my favorite, least materialistic holiday. Presence is required, presents are not. It is a time of connection, something we have dearly..Read more Cali Free Protests Against Vaccine Mandates Cali Free Protests Against Vaccine Mandates Dear Editor, On Wednesday, November, a strong group of like-minded concerned citizens stood united along PCH at the Malibu Pier, in a peaceful rally ..Read more   Cinder Finds A Home Cinder Finds A Home The adorable story of Cinder, the kitten whose arrival we published in our “Thinking Out Loudâ€� Halloween montage (“Halloween on Bonnell Drive,â€..Read more Equine Leadership Program Equine Leadership Program Hangin’ with the Herd Kayak Kayak was born 22 years ago in France as a pure black colt, his genes arising from an old Baroque Lusitano bloodline. ..Read more ‘We made the Nationals!’ ‘We made the Nationals!’ What an amazing 2023-2024 season the Santa Monica Girls Fastpitch (SMGF) 10U Gold softball team had. They defied the odds as they advanced from Distri..Read more Events Events Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 P.M., New Criteria for Parks Measure A—Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation (LVHF) general ZOOM meeting revisits new criteria to..Read more   Real Life Dr. Dolittles Real Life Dr. Dolittles Have you ever wished you could just ask your pet what’s going on? You can, according to animal communicators like Michele Novembre who claims she ca..Read more Acknowledging the Ancestors Acknowledging the Ancestors Dear Editor, I want to say how pleased I am that the beautiful art on this cover (by illustrator Lori Precious, The Canyon Chronicle, October 29,2021..Read more Court Rules FCC was ‘Arbitrary and Capricious’ Court Rules FCC was ‘Arbitrary and Capricious’ In the global battle against runaway technology, Children’s Health Defense (CHD) and the Environmental Health Trust (EHT) proclaimed victory in an A..Read more Halloween on Bonnell Drive Halloween on Bonnell Drive Kris Lilliedahl (left) never thought that he would be on call every two or four hours feeding a newborn kitten, but here he was on Halloween not handi..Read more   ‘The Runner’ Premieres on April 7 at Film Festival ‘The Runner’ Premieres on April 7 at Film Festival Local composer and now filmmaker, Matthew Ferraro is “pleased and humbled to announce my first venture as both a filmmaker and composer with the sho..Read more My Sign My Sign By Kathie Gibboney Mysterious white chalk markings appeared on the street in front of our house, cryptic and vexing. Viewed at a distance from our patio, the letters wer..Read more RCDSMM Expands to Larger Quarters RCDSMM Expands to Larger Quarters For the last eight years, the Resource Conservation District (RCD) occupied a quaint building located on Topanga Canyon Blvd. “This space has serv..Read more The Big Digital Coin Trick The Big Digital Coin Trick I am a firm believer that all students should study magic. Magic is especially effective in teaching students to recognize the technique of distractio..Read more   Day of the Undead Day of the Undead Do you remember in the movie “The Adams Familyâ€� when Fester takes the children outside to play “Raise the Dead?â€� Well, have I got a Halloween ..Read more Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 6, 2022 Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 6, 2022 Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months (the second Sunday of Ma..Read more Fire concerns from homeless encampments Fire concerns from homeless encampments Recently, when I was hiking the back trail to Café 27 from my house off Artique, I came across a homeless encampment underneath the big magic oak tre..Read more ‘The Drone Music Festival’ ‘The Drone Music Festival’ By Pablo Capra Artist James Mathers has been making Topanga ridiculously wonderful for decades. He was one of the ten “Idlers of the Bamboo Groveâ€� (2002) who pub..Read more   September Events September Events Artfully Autistic Molly Rose—Friday Friday night, September 9, was blessed with rain after a long pandemic drought when Lloyd Sax, founder of Artist..Read more Topanga Actors Company Is Back... Topanga Actors Company Is Back... Topanga Actors Company has set its 2023 fall season with three productions from now through Thanksgiving at both Topanga and Malibu libraries. All p..Read more ‘Art as a Visionary Practice,’ April 16th, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. ‘Art as a Visionary Practice,’ April 16th, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Kathie Gibboney in conversation with author Sarah Irani I once had a vision of the paradise realm The birdsong was louder, Everything glowed brig..Read more Quarterly Business Brochure “Serving Topangaâ€� Ceases Publication Quarterly Business Brochure “Serving Topangaâ€� Ceases Publication Jenise Blanc and Joanna Gunst are moving on with the times. Joanna and I have been serving local Topanga businesses with our brochure, “Serving T..Read more   TCC Square Dance TCC Square Dance The Topanga Community Center sees the return of square dancing on Friday, Sept. 8, 7:30-10 p.m., featuring caller Frannie Marr, live music by Echo ..Read more Turtle Emergency Water Delivery Turtle Emergency Water Delivery By Rosi Dagit, Sr. Conservation Biologist, RCDSMM The drought and extreme heat have been tough on many critters, but you can help save one of our last remaining reproducing populations of southwestern..Read more Understanding the LAUSD Ransomware Hack Understanding the LAUSD Ransomware Hack This year hackers have attacked at least 27 United States school districts and 28 colleges. The recent hack of the Los Angeles Unified School District..Read more When deemed appropriate, this space welcomes comment from the community. When deemed appropriate, this space welcomes comment from the community. What’s Happening with Our Post Office? I am a Topanga resident for 45 years and have a mail order business. I ship almost daily at our local post of..Read more   Aurora Behrman, ‘Most Valuable Junior Lifeguard’ Aurora Behrman, ‘Most Valuable Junior Lifeguard’ Eleven-year-old Aurora Behrman was awarded the “Most Valuable Junior Lifeguardâ€� medal in her second summer of Junior Lifeguard training at Will Ro..Read more Car Culture’s New Chapter Car Culture’s New Chapter Look to the future! EVs will not be the only solution to carbon-free vehicles. Choosing which future fuel will be the winner now is not a good idea. ..Read more Francis Villaseñor Sorentino, 31, culminated TECS in 2000 Francis Villaseñor Sorentino, 31, culminated TECS in 2000 It is always interesting to learn about our TECS alumni and the various paths they are taking, the careers they are pursuing and to learn how their..Read more Frogs in a Political Pot of Hot Water Frogs in a Political Pot of Hot Water Hey, Mama Frog, look here! This looks like a great place to raise our pollywogs.â€� “Yes, dear, but look over there. It looks like the neighbors ar..Read more   Open Letter to U.S. Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA 26th Cong.Dist.) Open Letter to U.S. Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA 26th Cong.Dist.) A local archaeologist pleads to save the remaining test stands at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory! My name is Dan Larson, and although I a..Read more September Events September Events Ballona Wetlands Fundraiser, “Moonlight on the Marsh 2022,â€� Saturday, September 10, 5:30-9 p.m. Celebrate 44 years of advocacy, restoration, and e..Read more Oak Tree Problems – Summer 2023 Oak Tree Problems – Summer 2023 Our coast live oaks were so happy to get almost 50 inches of rain in Topanga this winter, pushing out new shoots and leaves like crazy! While that lov..Read more   Olive aka Queen Olive & Royal Cohort Alfie Olive aka Queen Olive & Royal Cohort Alfie Hello! My name is Olive and I am a six-year-old Japanese Chin. Some readers might remember my brother, Alfie, who appeared in the Topanga Messenger ye..Read more Rides Rides Thanks so much for publishing my Covid-19 letter in the current issue of The Canyon Chronicle. I greatly appreciate the follow-up you and yo..Read more Student Apprenticeship Programs Student Apprenticeship Programs Baaaack to school, right? But some very good news about education! There is a movement afoot offering middle and high school students apprenticeship..Read more To Every Thing There is a Season To Every Thing There is a Season ...A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted… (Ecclesiastes 3, King James Version) In 2020, somebody thought it was time t..Read more   Biko’s Big Adventure Biko’s Big Adventure One day you’ll see how hard it all was... and how brave you really were... Local Topangan, now transplanted Oregonian Biko Wright was a semi-finalist of The History Channel’s Season 8 of the hit survivalist show, Alone. Aba..Read more Entrada Road Neighborhood Little Free Library is a Winner Entrada Road Neighborhood Little Free Library is a Winner Looking for a good summer read? Welcome to LFL #131956, Established November 13, 2021. You can find us on the LFL Foundation Map at littlefreelibrary...Read more Farm to Table—Past to Present Farm to Table—Past to Present Sometimes, in order to secure the future, we have to retrieve parts of the past. As we head into the emerging global food shortage already affecting l..Read more How to Tell a Gopher Snake from a Rattlesnake How to Tell a Gopher Snake from a Rattlesnake Thank you, Miles Sieling of Monte Nido for posting this on Nextdoor, April 6. It is Spring and that means a lot more animals and critters ro..Read more   JUNE 2022 EVENTS JUNE 2022 EVENTS 5G Free California Fundraising Gala, Monday, June 13, 7-10 p.m.—Are you sensitive to wireless radiation emanating from 5G cell towers? Do you know 5..Read more Of Life and Labor Of Life and Labor Our cover and center pages honor the passing of Henry Smith, Jr., Beloved Elder of the Lac Court Oreilles Band of Ojibwe, born into the Bear Clan at d..Read more Butterflies & Dogs. Life is Good! Butterflies & Dogs. Life is Good! That’s pretty much what this edition of The Canyon Chronicle is about, except for Tom Cat’s point of view (above). Butterflies because Butterfl..Read more Final Notes Final Notes As a global community, we must recognize our privilege, tap into our compassion and recognize that refugees coming into our countries need our support..Read more   LACOFD’S CANINE TEAMS DEPLOYED TO MAUI LACOFD’S CANINE TEAMS DEPLOYED TO MAUI On Sunday, August 12, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD’s) California T..Read more Lithium and The New ‘White-Gold’ Rush Lithium and The New ‘White-Gold’ Rush Most of us barely remember the element Lithium from the Periodic Table. It is the third lightest element, coming in with an atomic weight of 3 after H..Read more Treatment vs. Prevention for COVID-19 Treatment vs. Prevention for COVID-19 Dear Topanga Neighbors, In January 2021, my 72-year-old cousin and I tested positive for COVID–19. I lived. He died. Why did I survive? Beca..Read more 5Journeys Opens New Forest Immersion Pre-school Option 5Journeys Opens New Forest Immersion Pre-school Option The Topanga-based non-profit, 5Journeys, will hold an open house on August 28, 4 p.m., to introduce Better World Learning Pod for ages two-and-a-half-..Read more   A Happy Memorial Full of Laughter A Happy Memorial Full of Laughter Dick Sherman’s memorial on Sunday July 24, was carefully planned, a labor of love especially for Serena Wiley, who went to work for him when she was..Read more Brush Fire Burns 12 Acres in Topanga Brush Fire Burns 12 Acres in Topanga Brush Fire Burns 12 Acres in Topanga “Topanga, we dodged a bullet today. If the winds were stronger this would have been a completely different eve..Read more Disappointed Disappointed Dear Editor, In the March 19 issue of The Canyon Chronicle (Lifestyle, “Real Life Dr. Dolittlesâ€�), you ran an article about Michele Nove..Read more Dog Days in L.A. Dog Days in L.A. ‘Los Angeles is now the largest no-kill city in the United States’ L.A. Animal Services increased its partnerships with animal agencies ..Read more   FIRE! FIRE! THIS IS A MANDATORY EVACUATION! FIRE! FIRE! THIS IS A MANDATORY EVACUATION! What would you do if you had five minutes to pack up and get out of the canyon? Every year around this time, The Canyon Chronicle publishes the voi..Read more From Our Hearts From Our Hearts Dear Topanga, We Sages have always been thankful to live in this caring village of Topanga. Now, in this Pandemic, words seem inadequate to express..Read more LA County Updates Emergency Evacuation Zones LA County Updates Emergency Evacuation Zones LA County developed the following FAQs to answer questions about the Santa Monica Mountains’ new zones and Zonehaven, an interactive zone map that w..Read more The Hospitalists The Hospitalists Today’s medical care system is severely broken. When the bad thing happens, as patients, we need support and advocates to guide us. Millennials..Read more   The Topanga Surf Rats: Remembering Tim Regan The Topanga Surf Rats: Remembering Tim Regan January 28, 2021 There is a cold wind blowing through the silent night, as the owl hoots in the dark skies. It is snowing in Topanga and the Corona..Read more Canyon Oak Financial Canyon Oak Financial Art or Vandalism Art or Vandalism We recently found damage on the trail at Tuna Canyon. It occurred February 3, when my children were hiking and saw adults with young children, perhaps..Read more Eclectic Topanga Eclectic Topanga It’s true. The reason we can have a newspaper at all (let alone two) is because there is so much going on in our mountain hamlet and the community i..Read more   Greenly Art Space Receives ACTA, Living Cultures Grant Greenly Art Space Receives ACTA, Living Cultures Grant Sunday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m.—Neshkinukat and the Greenly Art Space will hold the first virtual (Zoom) panel discussion on pottery with Neshkinukat a..Read more ‘The Children’s Guide to Astral Projection’, 20th Anniversary ‘The Children’s Guide to Astral Projection’, 20th Anniversary ‘The Children’s Guide to Astral Projection’, 20th Anniversary “The Children’s Guide to Astral Projectionâ€� by J. A. Homes turns 20 this ye..Read more Word Power 101 Word Power 101 Folks throw a lot of bewildering words around these days, so here is a vocabulary lesson covering terms of cellular and internet technologies so you k..Read more Farmers Market in the News Farmers Market in the News Farmers Market in the News Following a survey that largely expressed enthusiasm and positive feedback, the Topanga Community Center is getting clos..Read more   Remembering Cloris Leachman Remembering Cloris Leachman Lori Precious I never thought Cloris would die because she was more alive than anyone I’ve ever known. Her daughter, Dinah, and I were/are chums and put together ..Read more The Art of Receiving The Art of Receiving Lunch, dinner, chicken soup, groceries, dog food, cat food, laundry, dog walking, errands, trips to the doctor, advocates who know how to work the med..Read more The Dog Days of August The Dog Days of August Want Your Dog’s picture in The Canyon Chronicle? The Chronicle’s August 5 issue begins our annual Dog Days celebration. Since we don’t want to m..Read more Virtual Workshops Virtual Workshops Los Angeles County provides numerous workshops and training opportunities to inform and educate residents about the challenges of living in L.A. Sp..Read more   Above & Beyond the Call Above & Beyond the Call The day of the Owen fire, Rebecca Goldfarb and her friend, Taryn, decided to go to the General Store in Topanga “to buy a bunch of stuff for the fi..Read more Free Speech on the Line Free Speech on the Line Greg Hilfman Paula LaBrot is a dear friend of mine whose column, “All Things Connected,â€� I’ve enjoyed reading over the past few years. I have a few thoughts ..Read more Real, not Virtual Connections at Camp Cabaret Real, not Virtual Connections at Camp Cabaret What a night it was at Camp Cabaret on June 24! Topanga’s soul shone through the performances of campers culminating their two-week musical theate..Read more Under the Oaks Salon Series Under the Oaks Salon Series Theatricum’s ‘Under the Oaks’ Salon Series presents four fridays of performance and song in September at 8 p.m. on Theatricum’s spectacular ou..Read more   Wishing that the week that was...wasn’t... but then again... Wishing that the week that was...wasn’t... but then again... A tree falls, a beloved friend dies, you total your car. Sadness, grief, and a body slam, all in a close time frame. The 300-year-old oak tree falling..Read more Calabasas Drills Its Emergency Response Plan Calabasas Drills Its Emergency Response Plan In response to the deadly 2018 Woolsey Fire, where there was little to no communication, Calabasas has developed a city-wide system to alert residents..Read more Could Topanga Become an Urban Night Sky Place? Could Topanga Become an Urban Night Sky Place? The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recognizes and promotes excellent stewardship of the night sky through its International Dark Sky Places...Read more Love thy Neighbor Love thy Neighbor As the pandemic continues and we face more stay-at-home orders, we find it difficult to just “get out.â€� Most of the time we order from Amazon or ..Read more   Reduce Light Pollution and Discover the Night Reduce Light Pollution and Discover the Night When LAX altered its flight path to a narrower route and lower altitude a few years ago, planes taking off and landing shook the ground and rattled th..Read more Topanga’s Rich History Topanga’s Rich History Art collector John Brewer’s Zoom presentation for the Topanga Historical Society (THS) on May 18, tapped into an obscure gem of Topanga’s history...Read more Beating the Heat Beating the Heat Extreme heat records are breaking all over the world. Now it’s the Southwest’s turn. Temperatures are heating up in the Southwestern U.S. Phoen..Read more Digital Children: Nightmare or Dream Come True? Digital Children: Nightmare or Dream Come True? Real-time, virtual babies are coming to a metaverse near you and they may even have souls. What??? That’s what Catriona Campbell is predicting. Sh..Read more   Dog Days in Topanga Dog Days in Topanga Leon, a first grader at Topanga Elementary, had just lost his beloved bunny. A suitable amount of time passed and his parents made The Big Decision an..Read more Fun, Frolic and Intimations of 2022 Political Season Fun, Frolic and Intimations of 2022 Political Season Mothers Day has come and gone but we can’t help but mention the annual spectacle that is Lexi Pearl’s MOMentum Place. To watch her warm up the aud..Read more They Will Live On in the Fabric of Topanga They Will Live On in the Fabric of Topanga Michele Johnson I have sad news to pass on. Mary Colvig, long-time business manager of the Topanga Messenger and long-time volunteer for many causes in Topanga, pass..Read more A Time to Gather A Time to Gather Spring seems to have come early to Topanga, 2021. It’s time to gather, rather than have Amazon deliver. Go with a song in your heart, don’t gather..Read more   Cloris Leachman. A Topanga gem of late. Cloris Leachman. A Topanga gem of late. Steve Maples Rest in Peace and thank you. Condolences to her family. —Steve Maples..Read more Help Make Fire Insurance Affordable in Topanga Help Make Fire Insurance Affordable in Topanga This is a community service message from the Topanga Town Council who asks you to please submit your brush clearance and other fire prevention efforts..Read more It Happens Every Day It Happens Every Day “It is not for us to know those times, when people are wide open, and the lightest touch may wither or heal.â€� —F. Scott Fitzgerald By Pa..Read more The Merry Month of May The Merry Month of May Remember the May Day tradition of leaving baskets of flowers on neighbors’ porches? I propose reviving the May Basket and maybe celebrating some of ..Read more   A Sweet and Sacred Sound A Sweet and Sacred Sound Just up the road from the center of town and Old Topanga Canyon Road, people can hear the Topanga Christian Fellowship church bell ring. Since the pan..Read more APRIL FOOL LETTERS! APRIL FOOL LETTERS! Starbucks and the Topanga Library! What fool endorsed this one? Who is getting paid off? I hope we Topangans get to vote on this crap!!! –Joe F..Read more Santa and His Missus made the Cover of the Palisadian-Post Santa and His Missus made the Cover of the Palisadian-Post On the job!  Ho, Ho, Ho!  It was a lot of work! The Beleaguered Santa’s beard kept falling off, it got cold and we hadn’t brought a thermos. No ..Read more TCEP is The Best Emergency Information in Topanga! TCEP is The Best Emergency Information in Topanga! For wildfire, earthquakes and emergency prep, the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (TCEP) is the most reliable source of information in th..Read more   Under the Influence Under the Influence When I was a kid, I do not recall anyone ever saying, “When I grow up, I want to be an Influencer.â€� That entrepreneurial niche did not yet exist. ..Read more Arts Arts Local Poet Wins First Prize Poet Jean Colonomos won first prize in the Ventura County Poetry contest for her poem, “Dear Martha.â€� The cont..Read more Better to Light a Candle Better to Light a Candle The last time The Canyon Chronicle referred to the adage, “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,â€� was during the dark days of the C..Read more Food Scarcity Food Scarcity Spring planting! Ooops! Big problem, folks. There is a commercial fertilizer shortage in the world. According to Bloomberg, “For the first time e..Read more   ‘A Perfect Ganesh’ is a Magical Mystery Tour of India ‘A Perfect Ganesh’ is a Magical Mystery Tour of India In A Perfect Ganesh by Terrence McNally, two wealthy middle-aged women and long-time friends from Connecticut embark on a two-week journey to India to..Read more ‘If Common Sense were so common, more people would use it’ ‘If Common Sense were so common, more people would use it’ I have lived in Topanga for 51 years. I grew up here in a family of six kids. We all went to Topanga Elementary School and my three children have also..Read more A Personal View Of The Ssfl Cleanup, Part 2 A Personal View Of The Ssfl Cleanup, Part 2 We left Part 1 of this story at 1983, when the research and monitoring of ancient astronomical signs by intrepid graduate students, Dan Larson, Joh..Read more Faith in the Metaverse Faith in the Metaverse By Paula LaBrot Religion is in the process of appearing in a Metaverse near you! COVID-19 catapulted digital worship to the status of “new normal,â€� and there..Read more   ‘When Will They Ever Learn…?’ ‘When Will They Ever Learn…?’ War is not the answer. Tonight as I write this, the sixth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine dawns and promises to worsen before it gets better (..Read more OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! In the Spirit of Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum & his Descendants, Your Attendance is Requested on August 5, 2023, for The..Read more Topanga Icon Bouboulina Closing Topanga Icon Bouboulina Closing To Our Dearest Topanga, My Mom, Kathy Miller, and I created and ran Bouboulina, which became an iconic boutique in the heart of Topanga Canyon..Read more Caught in the Web of the Unpredictable COVID Caught in the Web of the Unpredictable COVID Ugh! Despite two vaxxes and a booster, I think a tribe of variants has found its personal petri dish in my body. I say a tribe because it feels like ..Read more   Digital Slang Digital Slang It’s spring, 2022. All around us a whole new language is blooming. This column is dedicated to bringing folks up to speed on the symbols of this new..Read more Springtime Orphans at California Wildlife Center Springtime Orphans at California Wildlife Center As of May 6, the California Wildlife Center (CWC) had 352 patients in its care, and 62 new patients, orphaned baby crows among them. The “Patient..Read more Topanga Town Council’s October Meeting Topanga Town Council’s October Meeting It was a spirited gathering when Council President Carrie Carrier and Vice President Alisa Land Hill co-hosted the Oct. 13 Zoom meeting of the Topanga..Read more Facing Down the Drought Facing Down the Drought UCLA historian Norris Hundl once noted, “It is a mistake…to think of California in terms of averages and regular cycles of precipitation.â€�  ..Read more   Let’s Create Sweet Memories for 2022 Let’s Create Sweet Memories for 2022 Let’s Create Sweet Memories for 2022 What sort of year do you think we’ll be looking at this time next year? It’s bound to be a rowdy year w..Read more Shaun Landry Shaun Landry The prolific actor looks to launch a new theater in a city starving for change. Looking at the sheer volume alone, it’s easy to equate Sha..Read more TCC Seeks Interim Board Members TCC Seeks Interim Board Members After a decade of serving the community, Franka Diehnelt and Kelly Rockwell have handed in their notice of resignation. Kelly Rockwell’s resignation..Read more Right as Rain Right as Rain Our stalwart Fernwood Rain reporter, Eric Fitzgerald is happy to be back in the game again with this photo he captured in Dix Canyon. “You should ha..Read more   Rose Wiley: A Brief History Rose Wiley: A Brief History (Reprinted from the June 12, 2018 issue of the Messenger Mountain News) “Rose Wiley has lived in Topanga her whole life and is our eldest native...Read more Tech and The Fog of War Tech and The Fog of War In the present conflict between Ukraine and Russia, modern warfare has split into what is termed kinetic battles and digital battles. Kinetic battles ..Read more The Promise of Spring on the Farm The Promise of Spring on the Farm Antony Bartlett, who lived in Topanga for 17 years, and is known for creating Topanga’s Littlest Theatre, moved to an 86-acre farm in Oregon last..Read more Happy Christmas and Good Tidings to All for 2022! Happy Christmas and Good Tidings to All for 2022! The Canyon Chronicle sends a heartfelt thank you to the Topanga community for seeing it through its infancy and wherever we are on the growth scale a ..Read more   Help! There’s a Rattlesnake in the Woodpile! Help! There’s a Rattlesnake in the Woodpile! Amanda Michaels posted this comprehensive information and a list of local snake wranglers on Nextdoor in May and gave us permission to print it in The..Read more Love in the Age of AI Love in the Age of AI Want to find your perfect valentine? It is a quest as old as humanity. Most people want love more than anything. But how to find it? How to meet t..Read more World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing Will Save Mountain Lions World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing Will Save Mountain Lions The proposed Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing—a wide, vegetated bridge spanning the Ventura (101) freeway in Agoura Hills—will allow wildlife s..Read more Arthur Nissman—1939-2021 Arthur Nissman—1939-2021 Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the d..Read more   Earth Day Activities at TECS Earth Day Activities at TECS Earth Day is a celebrated day in Topanga and continues to be celebrated at Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS), even with Covid restrictions. As ..Read more Rose Wiley Celebrates 90 Years! Rose Wiley Celebrates 90 Years! More than 150 guests gathered at Ed O’Neill’s historic house on Old Canyon that was once a stop for the pony express mail drop, to celebrate the c..Read more Who Wants to Live Forever? Who Wants to Live Forever? There is no doubt that modern medicine has made stunning progress in the treatment of previously hopeless medical conditions. It is predicted that any..Read more Clean Up Your Apps! Clean Up Your Apps! Happy New Year, Dear Readers! Finally, 2022 has arrived. What better to do than clear out the clutter of the past? Start cleaning up your phones and..Read more   Fragile Links Exhibit Opens at Topanga Canyon Gallery Fragile Links Exhibit Opens at Topanga Canyon Gallery In this exhibit, three artists explore the Fragile Links between ourselves and the people, places, animals, and environment of the world we share. Itâ..Read more The Sacrifice of Thankfulness The Sacrifice of Thankfulness Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances... —Thessalonians 5:16-18 It's nice having a little country church just a couple of miles down the road. It's also nice that the Chabad of Topanga is just up the street and I c..Read more Traffic Advisory: Brush Clearance on SR-27 Traffic Advisory: Brush Clearance on SR-27 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) may already be clearing weeds and brush (by hand) as a fire prevention measure on State Route 2..Read more Advancing Hebrew Literacy in the Canyon Advancing Hebrew Literacy in the Canyon There is no way I can learn Hebrew in 5 weeks.â€� “It takes 5 years to learn Hebrew, not 5 weeks.â€�  “I tried learning Hebrew when I was a ki..Read more   Now, Therefore Be It Resolved… Now, Therefore Be It Resolved… by Joel Bellman Columnist Joel Bellman, who defines himself as a “short-term pessimist but long-term optimist,â€� declares Rescuing Democracy as his New Year’s..Read more The Literary Dogs of Silvia Park The Literary Dogs of Silvia Park I’ve lived in Topanga for 33 years but I’ve only recently (in the days of COVID-19) started to walk twice a day. This has enabled me to meet a lot..Read more Veterans’ Day—A Time to Honor the Warriors, Not War Veterans’ Day—A Time to Honor the Warriors, Not War Flavia Potenza Yesterday was Veterans Day, a day to honor those who went to war because their country called. On page 5, we have a heartwarming report on the commu..Read more Christmas—The More Things Change… Christmas—The More Things Change… By Paula LaBrot Christmas 2021 is here! This wonderful holiday has been celebrated around the world for hundreds and hundreds of years. Throughout those years, Christ..Read more   Finding Home Finding Home It’s been almost three months since the U.S. withdrew troops from Afghanistan amidst chaos and criticism. It has fallen out of the 24-hour news cycl..Read more Help Track Impacts of Climate Change Help Track Impacts of Climate Change Trained volunteers are helping to monitor more than 1,000 species through a program called Nature’s Notebook. By YCC Team, March 17, 2023 As ..Read more Next Best Opportunity: The Perseids Next Best Opportunity: The Perseids The Perseid meteor shower is perhaps the most beloved meteor shower of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a rich meteor shower, and it’s s..Read more Entertainment Trends Entertainment Trends By Paula LaBrot Over the last couple of COVID-19 years, quarantined populations have relied heavily on home-accessed sources of entertainment to fill in their days an..Read more   International Women’s Day—#Choose To Challenge International Women’s Day—#Choose To Challenge #ChooseToChallenge— On March 8, the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD) theme joins the ranks of sister hashtag campaigns—#MeToo, #IAmJada, ..Read more Responsibility Responsibility After days of observing and reliving the horrors of 9-11 20 years later, I vividly recall seeing the smoke billowing out of the north side of the Nort..Read more SHERIFF’S REPORT SHERIFF’S REPORT Noteworthy Incidents An assault occurred on South Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The victim told the suspect that he had to leave the premises due to smo..Read more Coyote Coexistence Guidelines Coyote Coexistence Guidelines Food, water and shelter for wildlife are abundant in urban areas. Wildlife can travel with relative ease utilizing manmade structures (roads, canal..Read more   French Summer Program French Summer Program Hello Summer Children, Bonjour! Madame Coco is starting a summer French language program for children, ages 8-12, beginning on Wednesday, July 5, thr..Read more Reconnecting Reconnecting Many of us will have spent the beautiful Thanksgiving holiday connected, once again, with loved ones. It has been two years since COVID-19 shattered o..Read more Remembering Mary Remembering Mary The day seemed full of itself, a fiesta of California sunshine and gentle breezes that set the scene for Mary Colvig’s memorial on Saturday, Septemb..Read more A Personal View of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Cleanup A Personal View of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Cleanup Part 1: Burro Flats Painted Cave Longtime Topanga resident, Dan Larson, recalls, as a graduate student at CSUN, the adventure in field research that confirmed the astronomical impo..Read more   Investing in Loss Investing in Loss Topanga has lost so many good souls this year. So has the country with more than half a million deaths from COVID-19. To be precise, as of this writin..Read more The Digital Art Scene The Digital Art Scene Paula LaBrot You probably don’t remember, but in the early days of computers for the masses, around the early nineties, artists were the ones out in front using ..Read more Theatricum Botanicum at 50 Theatricum Botanicum at 50 The Curse of the Scottish Play By The Royal Shakespeare Company The Scottish Play. The Bard’s Play. Macbeth is surrounded by superstition and fe..Read more Stars to the Stars Stars to the Stars William Shatner may have been the oldest person to travel to space, but he is not the first actor. On October 5, in an historic first, a Soyuz space c..Read more   Topanga’s Last Trace of Diane di Prima Topanga’s Last Trace of Diane di Prima For many lovers of the Beats, known as the last great generation of American writers, Diane di Prima is a household name. She, a prolific writer of po..Read more Topanga’s Memorial Day Parade Marches On! Topanga’s Memorial Day Parade Marches On! With bubbles, balloons, mermaids, aliens, kids on bikes, music and more dogs than we could count, Topangans celebrated Memorial Day with their 48th An..Read more Ups & Downs Ups & Downs Since our last issue, we’ve had some excitement, some good, some not so much. For those who follow those things, space flight took off—Sir Rich..Read more Fire Storm at Berry Creek Fire Storm at Berry Creek Two former Topangans survived the Bear Fire but lost their home. They also “lost a lifetime of stuff,â€� but not their lives. They are gr..Read more   Hypervigilance Hypervigilance Hypervigilance. A state where you are constantly scanning your environment for any signs of danger. The pit bull running in and out of traff..Read more In the Name of Love In the Name of Love There are so many articles to write for you. I just want to send a more personal message this time. I was thinking this morning that, all over the wor..Read more Thank You Everyone Who Made Topanga Days A Success! Thank You Everyone Who Made Topanga Days A Success! The Topanga Community Center Board members want to take a moment and send our sincerest THANK YOU to everyone who came out and celebrated Topanga Days..Read more Catch the Wind Catch the Wind by Joel Bellman When candidate Joe Biden campaigned on green jobs and clean energy, it was easy to cheer. “Win-win,â€� right? The other guy, after all, had touted ..Read more   Gallery Opens with Cautious Optimism Gallery Opens with Cautious Optimism Following Don Holtz’ successful show, “Love Affair with a Tree,â€� mark your calendars for the Topanga Canyon Gallery’s limited exhibits now thr..Read more Helping Hearts of Topanga Goes Public Helping Hearts of Topanga Goes Public For the past five years and especially during COVID, Helping Hearts of Topanga has been assisting Canyon residents with food, living assistance and te..Read more https://vm.tiktok.com/ ZMdf8Pbs4/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ ZMdf8Pbs4/ Monday, June 21, was the solstice, the first day of summer, and Topanga opened its doors to 44 bands and musicians throughout the canyon from 11 a.m. ..Read more Digging our Geophytes Digging our Geophytes California Indians have been called, in a derogatory way, “Digger Indians,â€� due to the misconception that we were impoverished, digging with stick..Read more   Night Blooming Cereus and the Computer Night Blooming Cereus and the Computer The brilliant pink Night Blooming Cereus blossomed the day my computer crashed. This plant, has moved and lived with me for a long time and I nev..Read more Solar Farms Solar Farms By Paula LaBrot On our present road trip, we are seeing a new kind of farm—solar farms. Over the vast stretches of deserts and high plateaus, extensive acres of pho..Read more Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Celebrates Her First 100 Days! Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Celebrates Her First 100 Days! Young, bright and full of fresh ideas, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath was sworn in on Dec. 5, 2022, promising to fulfill her obligations to the constit..Read more Canyon Sages Seek Caregivers Canyon Sages Seek Caregivers Canyon Sages volunteers have been active as a group behind the scenes during the pandemic helping seniors with meals, vaccines, and information. As pa..Read more   T R E E: A 14-Year Love Affair at Topanga Gallery T R E E: A 14-Year Love Affair at Topanga Gallery The solo show of Don Holtz’s photography at Topanga Canyon Gallery has been fourteen years in the making. “ I have a love affair with th..Read more There Are Wars and There Are Wars There Are Wars and There Are Wars Welcome to Memorial Day weekend where, with full hearts we pause to honor and remember those who have fallen in the Great Wars, as well as those who f..Read more Topanga Days Logistics Topanga Days Logistics It’s good to know the perks as well as the rules while negotiating your way around Topanga Days, the largest annual fundraiser for the Topanga Commu..Read more Back to Work In A COVID World Back to Work In A COVID World COVID-19 has changed the world. The effects of this devastating virus have made a return to life-as-usual unlikely. Dr. Vinayak Kumar, a physician at ..Read more   Escape to the Farm Escape to the Farm As long as I’ve lived in Topanga (45 years) and as much as I love it and the community it inspires, once I was fully vaccinated and received an invi..Read more ‘Embrace of the Wild’ ‘Embrace of the Wild’ A dozen people showed up in the Canyon Sages Room at the Topanga Community Center on May 10 to hear local adventure travel writer Linda Ballou talk ab..Read more The Bad Beetles are Here The Bad Beetles are Here As the drought continues, many of our native trees are showing more signs of stress and are becoming more susceptible to a relatively new invasive bee..Read more Ceramic Artist Mervat Elias Ceramic Artist Mervat Elias It was a privilege to meet ceramicist Mervat Elias last month and view her exhibit in a modest gallery named Artist Matters in the Topanga Creek Cour..Read more   Families and Friends Families and Friends This is the last, but not least of our month-long poetry slam, to which we’ve dedicated three pages. The response from our local poets was so prolif..Read more Have I got a job offer for you! Have I got a job offer for you! Paula LaBrot NASA is now taking applications in a search for people to live for a year in a Martian habitat called Mars Dune Alpha. To prepare for sending astro..Read more The Topanga Historical Society Presents ‘1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic: An Historical Perspective’ The Topanga Historical Society Presents ‘1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic: An Historical Perspective’ The Topanga Historical Society (THS) will present its annual picnic as a virtual Zoom presentation, “Pandemic in Alaska, 1918-1919,â€�..Read more Capturing Beauty: The Art and Photography of John Simmons Capturing Beauty: The Art and Photography of John Simmons Continuing the celebration of Black History in America, the Jean Deleage Art Gallery at Josefina López’s CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, presen..Read more   Earth Day Earth Day Topanga celebrates Earth Day year-round, don’t we! It is nice, and likely necessary that we get a jolt once a year to take stock of how we’re doin..Read more FOR THE RECORD FOR THE RECORD We apologize for misspelling eight-year-old Dashiel King Biehn’s last name when we spotlighted him as one of Topanga Elementary’s student performe..Read more Future Scouts—Forging A Preferred Future Future Scouts—Forging A Preferred Future Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouts Movement, said, “We must change boys from a ‘what can I get’ to a ‘what can I give’ attit..Read more $25 Million Challenge Grant for Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing $25 Million Challenge Grant for Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing Become part of history and join the challenge to make the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway a reality! A record $25 mil..Read more   Black Bear Found and Tagged Black Bear Found and Tagged The National Park Service announced that biologists captured and radio-collared a 210-pound black bear in a natural area of the western Santa Monica M..Read more Stating the Obvious and the Marvelous Mundane Stating the Obvious and the Marvelous Mundane Spring came in hot on the heels of autumn, stepping over winter as if it never happened, and teased us with early blooms and glorious days. Winter did..Read more Win Some, Lose Some Win Some, Lose Some After a year of publishing a print edition of The Canyon Chronicle, we’ve maintained a website but not to the scale we need. We have an opportunity ..Read more COVID-19 Diary COVID-19 Diary In Praise of… Sometimes, it feels right to give over this editorial space to community voices because someone said, better than I ever co..Read more   Farmers in Lab Coats Farmers in Lab Coats I am tired of all the dystopian, doomsday pundits. As a Futurist, I am reporting to you, dear Readers, there is a lot to look forward to. Good things ..Read more Meet Topanga’s New Assemblymember—Jacqui Irwin Meet Topanga’s New Assemblymember—Jacqui Irwin When Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) was re-elected to a district that included the Santa Monica Mountains, she and her husband, Jon, em..Read more Life Goes On Life Goes On Residents on Bonnell Drive are fortunate to have a little park with its own weather. Nature is a bit off kilter these days, like us. It drives the sea..Read more Progressive Democrats Celebrate Earth Day Progressive Democrats Celebrate Earth Day A dedicated environmentalist, Sen. Ben Allen spoke on climate, recycling, Diablo Canyon and the homeless to a group of Topangans and Progressive Democ..Read more   Space for All! Space for All! I will never, ever forget being in the desert at Edwards Air Force Base to welcome the Columbia Space Shuttle home in 1981. G and I took Mom, Dad, my ..Read more The Friendship Garden The Friendship Garden It all started on a 120-degree day last summer, when the juniper that divides our yards threw in the towel. Forty years was enough, apparently. I trie..Read more Mary Colvig 1949-2021 Mary Colvig 1949-2021 Flavia Potenza A leading light in Topanga has gone out. Mary Colvig passed on January 26, 2021, of cancer. Hers was a gentle but steadfast light that brought a hea..Read more Sneaky Sidewalk Sneaky Sidewalk Don’t worry. Amazon has opted you in. It’s up to you to opt out. On June 9, Amazon quietly activated technology embedded, as far back as..Read more   Town Council Talks Internet & Cell Service Town Council Talks Internet & Cell Service There was much on the line when President Carrie Carrier and Vice President Alisa Land Hill moderated the April 12 Zoom meeting of the Topanga Canyon ..Read more Whole Girl: Live vibrantly, love your entire self, and make friends with food Whole Girl: Live vibrantly, love your entire self, and make friends with food By Sadie Radinsky Reviewed by Flavia Potenza At 19, Sadie Radinsky is setting a standard for all women but especially for young women and ha..Read more Harbingers of Spring Harbingers of Spring When the daffodils along my neighbor’s fence popped out overnight, It suddenly changed everything that is changing anyway. It feels as if the COVID ..Read more Ransomware Ransomware We are not under threat of war. We are in a war already. It’s a different kind of war, fought with ones and zeros, not guns. It is a cyberspace inva..Read more   The Topanga Swap Meet Rides Again! The Topanga Swap Meet Rides Again! While there were still no bands, chili or pie contests, there was a fun Cake Walk and super cool music at the Topanga Community Center ballfield as ve..Read more 48th Annual Topanga Days, May 27-29 48th Annual Topanga Days, May 27-29 Topanga Days is the greatest volunteer opportunity of the year and the largest fundraiser for the Topanga Community Center (TCC). The Topanga Days ..Read more Amazon Oligarchy Amazon Oligarchy Convenience is the temptress of Big Tech. Amazon can get you anything you want to buy and deliver it the next day. By providing such convenience, ..Read more Hate and Hope Hate and Hope It seems that the best and worst of America, is right here, in our face, so close we can’t turn away from staring at the carnage. If your e..Read more   Topanga’s Trash Warriors as Adjunct Mail Carriers Topanga’s Trash Warriors as Adjunct Mail Carriers "It’s Raining Men!â€� Remember that ’80s disco song from days of yore? No? Well, probably not a huge cultural or musical loss to you. Look it up t..Read more Hate and Hope Hate and Hope It seems that the best and worst of America, is right here, in our face, so close we can’t turn away from staring at the carnage. If your equilibriu..Read more High-Tech Firefighting High-Tech Firefighting Fire spotting and firefighting have gone high tech in keeping with the cyber-times we live in. Given our latest episode with Santa Monica Mountain wil..Read more Peter Alsop, Verb Nerd Peter Alsop, Verb Nerd With all the roles that this multi-talented renaissance man plays—and Peter Alsop knows the importance of play—he says, “Words Matter, especi..Read more   The Giant Swallowtail The Giant Swallowtail My first encounter with this spectacular animal was in the fall some years ago when a neighbor spotted a bizarre mottled worm-like organism on his ora..Read more 4th Annual Topanga Butterfly Day 4th Annual Topanga Butterfly Day May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun And find your shoulder to light on, To bring you luck & happiness Today, tomorrow and beyond.â€� a..Read more HugelKultur Workshop HugelKultur Workshop Landfill to Landscape in Topanga, CA, Hands-On Hugelkultur Workshop Join Regenerative Garden Designers Leigh Adams and Shawn Maestretti on Saturda..Read more Human Barcode Human Barcode “IBM and the Holocaustâ€� by Edwin Black is a stunning, shattering warning to the modern world of the dangers involved in data collection and a bitt..Read more   Year-End Giving TWC Year-End Giving TWC By Wendy Skolfield Topanga Women’s Circle’s (TWC) current Challenge Grant 2020 campaign is more important than ever and they are counting on the generosity of those ..Read more EMR—Electronic Medical Records EMR—Electronic Medical Records Remember when the wall behind the doctor’s office receptionist was lined with paper charts? Yours was filed there with everyone else’s medical rec..Read more Joy in the Shadow of the Virus Joy in the Shadow of the Virus Flavia Potenza Days before Governor Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order in response to the dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases in California, I admit I ventured out of ..Read more Music Festival at Butterfly Day Music Festival at Butterfly Day An exciting day of musical and theatrical performances for all ages is sure to delight Butterfly Day attendees. The music festival at Topanga’s ..Read more   My Body My Body It’s hard to believe that in 2021, the world is still fighting to prevent sexual abuse. One of Peter Alsop’s songs, updated to fit the times, stan..Read more A Distributed Web A Distributed Web By Paula LaBrot There is so much craziness going on in the oligarchic tech world right now…so many politically entwined, power hungry, greedy scary, dark behaviors ..Read more Building a House Building a House By Amy Weisberg, M.Ed. Topanga Elementary Charter School became part of the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1962, when it made some changes to conform with the larger..Read more ‘On Location… ‘On Location… Exhibit and Sale, February 6-28 By Russell Hunziker Join Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore, and the Topanga Canyon Art Gallery in presenting “On Location in the Santa Monica Mo..Read more   Public Health Launches Gun Violence Prevention Public Health Launches Gun Violence Prevention A multi-point plan developed with community partners to reduce gun violence in L.A. County including a federal ban on assault weapons. On April 7,..Read more Eyes on Israel Eyes on Israel Haifa, population 272,180, Israel’s third largest city. When 60,000 people show up to protest, it is a display of power. Every Saturday there is a m..Read more Going ‘Full Circle’ with Community Composting Going ‘Full Circle’ with Community Composting By Annemarie Donkin Cecilie Stuart, founder of Move the World, founded Full Circle Compost where she hopes to inspire Topangans to create beautiful microbe-rich “black ..Read more Catching up with RCDSMM Catching up with RCDSMM We haven’t heard much lately from our local Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM), but Angelica “Jellyâ€� Kahler, ..Read more   Theatricum Receives Taper Foundation Grant Theatricum Receives Taper Foundation Grant The S. Mark Taper Foundation has granted Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum $125,000 to help produce its 2021 and 2022 repertory seasons. “[The t..Read more New Faces at Topanga’s Local RCD New Faces at Topanga’s Local RCD New Faces at Topanga’s Local RCD As our sphere of influence grows, so too does the list of services we are able to provide our community, thus invi..Read more Re-Imagining Lower Topanga Re-Imagining Lower Topanga SAVE THE DATE! California State Parks and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM) are seeking public input an..Read more ‘From the Heart of a Horsewoman’ by Lynnea Paxton-Honn ‘From the Heart of a Horsewoman’ by Lynnea Paxton-Honn Reviewed by Pablo Capra In the 1960s, a group of girls in Lower Topanga roamed the land on horseback, riding in the creek, on the beach, and all over Sunset Mesa before house..Read more   The Challenge Space The Challenge Space Awakened by the Challenge Space – To assess the dreams of life. The space between art and audience. Between art and self. The last gap between t..Read more The Gift of Silver Linings The Gift of Silver Linings By Amy Weisberg, M. Ed. “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.â€� —John Wooden..Read more Land Swap Voted Down Land Swap Voted Down The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) voted 5-0-1 to deny a hugely controversial deal between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) an..Read more Oak Woodland Restoration to Begin at Topanga Elementary Oak Woodland Restoration to Begin at Topanga Elementary In the spring of 2020, five acres of mature protected oaks and native pollinator plants were cut down by the LAUSD without permits. After three years ..Read more   Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Honored by the LVHF Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Honored by the LVHF On a gorgeous winter day, more than 150 residents of Santa Monica Mountains communities gathered at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas on Saturday, Marc..Read more The Hugelkultur Workshop Follow-up The Hugelkultur Workshop Follow-up Kat High started to plant the beginnings of the gathering garden—yarrow and monkey flower, apricot mallow, ceanothus, and a small holly leaf cherryâ..Read more The Promise of the Resurrection of Jesus The Promise of the Resurrection of Jesus By Michelle Klein This coming Easter I am reflecting on the words of Jesus as He spoke to Martha when she ran to meet him in sorrow, saying that h..Read more Zoroastrianism is Part of L.A’s Cultural Mosaic Zoroastrianism is Part of L.A’s Cultural Mosaic By Nikhil Misra-Bhambri Amongst the San Fernando Valley’s religious and cultural mosaic lies a house of worship, the California Zoroastrian Center in Canoga Park, home to Z..Read more   Rain, Drought and the Omens: Fernwood Rain Report Rain, Drought and the Omens: Fernwood Rain Report By Eric Fitzgerald “Red sky at night is a sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning is a sailor’s fair warning.â€� —Old Seafarer’s Saying “When in evening, ..Read more The Secret Message Behind the Bitter Herb The Secret Message Behind the Bitter Herb The holiday of Passover is approaching. It is a time of remembrance and reflection, a time to celebrate freedom from slavery and the right to practice..Read more Industrial Hemp is Rapidly Expanding in America Industrial Hemp is Rapidly Expanding in America Industrial Hemp is Rapidly Expanding in America In a time long forgotten, somewhere in a valley surrounded by mountains a seed sprouted. From the s..Read more Trash! There’s Plenty for Everyone! Trash! There’s Plenty for Everyone! By Beth Goode Welcome, Nature Lovers! The scenic vistas and shaded gullies await you in Topanga. The creek pools into ponds that are graced with giant boulders and ..Read more   LA County Sued Over New Wireless Ordinances LA County Sued Over New Wireless Ordinances Groups say recent changes eliminate community involvement, flout environmental laws, and ignore safety concerns. A coalition of community non-prof..Read more Women’s Fire Prep Academy Opening Day Women’s Fire Prep Academy Opening Day A rain check for the upcoming County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD) Women’s Fire Prep Academy (WFPA), scheduled to begin on Saturday, ..Read more Local Firestations Receive a Valentine’s Day Gift Local Firestations Receive a Valentine’s Day Gift The First-in Fire Foundation shared its “Love at a Grassroots Levelâ€� with six Los Angeles County fire stations that included Topanga FS69. As a..Read more Canyon Sages Seeks Volunteers Canyon Sages Seeks Volunteers One of Topanga’s best kept secrets is the Canyon Sages shouldn’t be a secret and now it’s time for residents to rally to its noble cause. T..Read more   Female Solar Workers Can Face Prejudice Female Solar Workers Can Face Prejudice Most solar installers and service technicians are men. So women in the industry often know what it’s like to be the only woman at a job site and to ..Read more Topanga Canyon Gallery Closes its Doors Topanga Canyon Gallery Closes its Doors Just as it was gaining momentum as a contemporary art gallery worthy of note, Topanga Canyon Gallery (TCG) will close out its all-too-brief run at 137..Read more Meet Ben Allen—Topanga’s New State Senator Meet Ben Allen—Topanga’s New State Senator Coming off his win for the state’s redrawn 24th Senate District, which includes Topanga, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Calabasas, Ben Allen is ..Read more