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, disappeared, presumed stolen, in late August. “Where is it? Where is our flying pig?� The question, the alarm, sounded throughout the canyon in emails, text messages, phone calls, and every means of communication possible. The owners, Lisa and Dan Ward, were bombarded with the question. They wanted to replace it but the artist, Chris Budzin, was out of town. No artist, no pig. A friend wanted to start a GoFundMe campaign, but…no artist, no pig. Finally, Budzin returned and said he would replace it and make it harder to remove. The weekend of October 3, the new pig arrived at the site and Budzin, with the help of friends, secured the pole, released the pig to fly once again where it placidly surveys Highway 27’s comings and goings from above and brings a smile to all who pass by. “Our property goes down to the Boulevard,� Lisa said. “We decided to hang it there because the community helped us so much when our son Teddy was injured years ago. It already belonged to the community, not us, and we knew how important it is to the neighborhood. Sharing the pig is part of the pleasure.� Who’s Your Hero? Another heartfelt story came from our cover artist, Valerie Walsh, who waxed rhapsodic about Abigail “Gidget� Zapata, owner of Flower Power, who Valerie describes as “muse to many.� Through the quarantine, she wrote, “Gidget not only kept her flower business alive, but came up with new ideas and an online shop for vintage clothes with Madeline and so much more. She is one of my local heroes. Where she goes flowers grow…and pumpkins too.� The cover image, she says, “is for all the little kids and big kids of Topanga.� County Foodbank Boxes. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., when the county will conduct another Food Box distribution at Pine Tree Circle. Enter on the Bistro side, pop your trunk for volunteers, and then exit at the traffic light. No Limit: if you need more than 1 box, just ask. No Requirements: all are welcome. No Registration: just show up. Boxes have four each of non-perishable items like canned goods, rice, pasta, soup, cereal, protein bars and such. Please wear a mask for everyone’s safety. Medical Needs. Our neighbor, Jane Terjung, shared this information from her own research to fill her and husband Bill’s medical needs. Flu Shots at Home and Drive-Thru. Our Calabasas Pharmacy inside Gelson’s will come to your home and give flu shots (regular or the turbo-charged senior version) for $10 per person and bill your Insurance. Calabasas Pharmacy: (818) 223-8656. This link, lacountylibrary.org/free-flu-shots/, lists locations for free flu shots. The closest location is the Malibu library Malibu in late October. Blood Draws at Home. With Medicare, you may be able to get blood draws at home through MS Laboratories. Ask your doctor to send your blood test orders to them or call the lab: (626) 357-0090.