If you find yourself selling during the New Year, you may feel overwhelmed and uncertain, however, a few simple suggestions can help you successfully LIST and LIVE heading into the New Year!
Although the holidays are typically not considered prime selling season, you can often capitalize on buyers who are feeling a bit more adventurous.
The best news for sellers, it will be a less competitive market since many sellers will be waiting until Spring to list. Another plus is the influx of out-of-town buyers, most of whom are typically more serious when they have limited time to make a decision and want the home to be ready in time for their next visit.
So how can you make sure you still enjoy the holidays while your home is on the market? Decorate
and celebrate, but keep it simple by using a neutral color scheme such as whites, golds, and silvers instead of bright red and green, or blue. Keeping the decorations neutral will complement your home decor without detracting or overwhelming potential buyers during showings.
Attempt to decorate in a way that makes the potential buyer feel at home in your festive environment, a place where they can picture themselves celebrating with their own families in the future. Outdoor holiday lights will help further set the festive mood while complementing your home’s beautiful exterior and landscaping. Again, keep it neutral with beautiful white lights adding a warm glow for the holiday ambiance.
Remember, buyers need to see the beauty of your home through the decor. It may be difficult to put
away some of the nostalgic decor Grandma is expecting to see displayed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it next year!
If you have young children or a tendency toward brighter decor, I suggest keeping a sizable, decorative basket with a lid in each room. This way, if you have a showing with short notice, you can have your agent place all the bright items from the rooms in the basket prior to their arrival and then easily put your items back on display after the showing.
Last but not least, make sure the house smells yummy! A vanilla candle, fresh baked cookies, cozy blankets, and soft white string lights will create an ambiance that will entice any buyer!
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As we head into a new year, it’s a good time to reflect on all that we have accomplished and to look forward to the possibilities of the year ahead. It is a time to set new goals, make new plans, and start fresh.
This new journey in a new year is an opportunity to cleanse, renew and refresh. Our annual rituals remind us that we are not alone. We are part of a larger community, a local and global family, and we have the support of countless others who are also striving for a better, brighter future.
As the great philosopher, Aristotle once said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
As we enter the new year, let us all to work together to achieve great things. Let us not lose the lessons we have learned, and the strength that we have gained. Let us be kind and compassionate, and strive for a better future. Let us inspire, and be inspired by one another. Let us draw strength from the achievements of those who have come before us, leave a legacy for those coming behind. Let us support and encourage one another as we pursue our dreams and goals.
Take time to enjoy the present moment and all that the new year has to offer. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for us all.
Cheers to 2023!
Thoughts? Story Ideas? Want to be involved? Editor@HiddenHillsMag.com
This community publication is created exclusively for you and all of our Hidden Hills neighbors and is made possible with the generous support of these local businesses.
THE SHEVINS (PG. 2)
DANIELLE PERETZ ( PG. 4)
MICHELLE GRACI (PG. 6)
THE IMPROTA TEAM (PG. 17)
LISA MORTIARTY (PG. 23)
MIKE BLOOM (PG. 19)
DAVID SALMONSON (PG. 15)
FRONTGATE REAL ESTATE (PG. 51)
ICON GOLF CARS (PG. 31)
LOVI’S DELI (PG. 37)
RIB RANCH BBQ (PG. 45)
ALLIE TASHNEK (PG. 29)
START RESCUE (PG. 41)
CONEJO HARDWOODS (PG. 52)
MURRE CLEANERS (PG. 10)
UNIVERSAL APPLIANCE AND KITCHEN CENTER (PG. 12)
EPOXY POWER (PG. 8)
DESIGN LIGHTING AND INSTALLATION (PG. 13)
DANCE DIMENSIONS (PG. 40)
SYNERGY ACADEMICS (PG. 40)
THE DAVIS GROUP (PG. 21)
HEALTH/WELLNESS/BEAUTY
DR. MILO (PG. 44)
COMPLETE HEALTH DENTISTRY (PG. 24)
COURTYARD PHARMACY (PG. 44)
The Annual Meeting of the Members and Election of Directors was held on December 14, via Zoom with Accurate Voting Services, Incorporated serving as the inspector of elections. There were 338 members present by secret ballot at the meeting and a quorum of at least 33 percent of the voting power was obtained. There were six
The Hidden Hills Timeball Tournament event brings a new way to play and compete on the tennis courts. It was a day of fun and competitive sport for residents looking to play with old friends and new people. The format included King of the Court style doubles games while being individually tracked and scored. Teams with varying levels of players were assigned to a group round-robin competition where individuals moved to the semifinals and finals respectively. This was another lively event for both players and spectators presented by Ransom Braaten. For more information: Ransom Braaten, (818) 860-1793 or racketnut@gmail.com.
candidates running for four seats on the HHCA Board of Directors. At the meeting, four Directors were elected and the final election results are Kenny Hawk with 246 votes, Howard Tenenbaum with 246 votes, Joe Bellissimo with 215 votes, John Heubusch with 214 votes, Lizabeth Moses with 164 votes, and Steve Bond with 119 votes.
Final Results: (First and last name players are residents)
1st Place Greg 0:13:38
2nd Place Connor 0:10:39
3rd Place Alasdair 0:07:54
4th Place Kenny Hawk 0:04:49
5th Place Randy 0:03:30
6th Place Zach Lewis 0:01:46
7th Place Michael Bloom 0:01:38
8th Place Spencer 0:00:00
The Queens were energetic and engaging at the HHCA Parks and Recreation Committee hosted Adults Only Drag Queen Bingo. Numbers were cheerfully announced by a fabulous drag queen for a number of rounds as Bingo Boy hilariously commented on the ways to play. There
were seven bingo games, including horizontal hokey pokey, four in the corners, diagonal lines, ten in one box, and a blackout round. The event was a fun mix of friends merging the art of drag with the traditional game for a colorful time had by all.
The festivities at the weekly farmers market provided a great opportunity to get into the holiday spirit while supporting our community. Kids reviewed their lists with Santa Claus and his friendly assistant Frosty the Snowman. Carolers sang holiday songs as revelers shopped for a variety of holiday decorations, clothing, handmade gifts, and festive treats. Not only are there unique gifts for your loved ones, but shopping at the farmers market is a great place to enjoy a jovial atmosphere with your neighbors. Be sure to stop by the weekly Tuesday Farmers Market and support your local farmers and small businesses.
The holiday season was in full swing this December, and many homes were decked out in extravagant lights that brought cheer to any passerby. The feeling of celebration was in the air as we admired the many sparkly homes where treetops glistened, snowflakes twinkled, and bells jingled. This season was not the time to get our tinsel in a tangle; we loved all the gorgeous Christmas and Chanukah decorations that reminded us to illuminate goodness to others all season.
Disease can be hiding in your mouth which can find its way into your blood stream to create inflammation contributing to diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, kidney disease or even a stroke!
At Complete Health Dentistry of Woodland Hills, our entire team is working hard to educate and change public behaviors and address the importance of oral health as it relates and links to a patient's overall health. We believe in offering a complete range of dental services under one roof to make it convenient for our patients and their families. We also know that by making good oral health a priority, you can reduce many risk factors for developing other general health problems.
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This article was edited from the original version
For over 35 years, more than 5,000 kids memorized lines, learned song lyrics, mastered dance steps, and overcame opening night jitters so they could step into the spotlight on the Hidden Hills Children’s Theatre stage to shine like the stars that they are. They all shared one common connection: Gloria Watts. Her name is synonymous with children’s theater in the valley, and her dedication and encouragement for more than three decades has culminated in an unparalleled program in the Hidden Hills community.
Gloria inherited her love of theater from her mother, who performed in vaudeville before spotting her strict Italian aunt and grandmother in the audience when her troupe toured in St. Louis. Gloria recalled, “My mom taught us all to sing! My first song was Judy Garland’s ‘You Made Me Love You’.” Gloria continued performing until she had children
of her own, at which time she returned to college, earned a degree in education, and launched her own children’s theater program. Her three grown daughters, Katie, Sara, and Mary, always participated in the arts.
Many of our children grew up alongside Gloria’s, reaping the benefits of her passion for theater and teaching. Gloria’s productions graced the stages of several schools, including Cleveland, Round Meadow, Welby Way, Bay Laurel, Oak Hills, Yerba Buena, St. Mel’s, St. Francis Xavier, and Medea Creek Schools, as well as in communities like Bell Canyon and Hidden Hills, where the first Junior Players show, “Rhythm in our Nursery Rhymes” which Gloria wrote herself was performed by 12 children in an old shed. The early program was limited to summers, but as interest grew it became year round, with as many as seven shows each year.
Gloria’s efforts were supported by the theater committee chairs and many parent volunteers, including Mary Barnhill, Clare Weber, Kitty Ogilvy, Nina Gaberial, Maria Rubel, Pamela Boothe, Nathalie Blossom and Ralph Lake. Gloria recalled Ralph took all of the old lights from the old theater during construction of the current theater on Long Valley, and managed to utilize the one plug at a temporary outdoor venue near the Spring Valley Arena Park. “It was beautiful, we had picnic tables and families brought their dinner and wine. We did Peter Pan, Sound of Music, Once Upon a Mattress, Carousel, and a circus show—all outside! When we did South Pacific, Ralph was amazed at how the sun went down in the middle of ‘Bali Ha’i’.” When asked about other memorable Hidden Hills shows, Gloria admits it’s a very hard question, but her favorites would have to include Les Miserable and Cabaret.
Gloria became a Prestigious Women in Theater Award winner in
2009, but she humbly described the most rewarding part of what she does as follows: “Knowing that each child is happy and changed by his or her experience in theater. They make friends, gain confidence, have fun, and learn so many valuable life lessons.” Gloria’s teaching produced several great creative talents, many who have successful working careers in the entertainment industry, including Tony Award winners, studios executives, actors, film makers, comedians, and singers.
In her last days when words were hard to communicate, Gloria was still able to impart a lasting lesson when she said “Time is time. You don’t waste it.” On August 7, 2022, the daughters held their mother’s hand and sang “Never Never Land” as she took her last breaths. Katie wants everyone to know that their family is “proud of the legacy she left behind, the thousands of lives she changed, and what she instilled in every child that she taught, directed, and loved. She gave people what they needed to see themselves as worthy, talented, and special.”
There was standing room only indoors and outside at the Hidden Hills Community Theater and Multipurpose Room to say a final farewell to Gloriajean Watts. The memorial began with the reading “All the World’s A Stage” by grandson Soul Whitaker delivered by his mother Katie when he was overcome with tears. A short video followed, loaded with vintage scenes of her performances spanning many decades with family, friends, and students backed by a sentimental soundtrack.
Emotions flowed as the presentation opened on the familiar stage overflowing with scores who gathered to sing and appear in honor of their cherished mentor. Gloria instructed at numerous local theaters and the outpouring of talent returned to remember her remarkable personality. Theater enthusiasts and committee members Mary Barnhill and Nathalie Blossom nostalgically recollected the hundreds of children’s lives Gloria encouraged. Clare Weber remembered “In Gloria’s plays, nothing bad happened. Gloria spun fairy tales and sprinkled magic.”
Gloria believed in the healing powers of performance and would hold out her hand for nervous children to place their stage fright in before they went onstage. Friends laughed as they remembered the craziness of the productions, which included parents sometimes frantically building sets and sewing costumes. Yet all were brought to tears knowing how
transformational the experiences were for the parents and children who made lifelong friends and became professional entertainers.
Screenwriter, showrunner, and producer Kerry Ehrin described Gloria as a wild kaleidoscope of a person whose life force she greatly admired: “I have done theater in so many different places. Your theater was unique because you were unique. As a person who trades in characters, you were a character up there with the greatest. Funny, passionate, irreverent, outspoken, defender of the underdog, wounded, fearless, even when you were actually fearful. You were brave, you held in your heart an idea that theater transforms people.… You understood those imperfections were what made it so human and endearing and honestly so fun and funny. The embracing of imperfection was part of your beauty. You understood the secret. That the experience was the goal, not perfection.”
The speakers reiterated that Gloria was a friend, mother, and educator to be celebrated. After the tributes, the family thanked the guests and welcomed everyone to join them at the Sagebrush Cantina for another reception. Gloria was hopeful that the Hidden Hills Junior Players would continue for years to come and that new families would experience the joy of drama. The local community agrees and would like to again thank the Glorious Gloriajean Watts for her devotion to the Hidden Hills Children’s Theater.
The Shamash Family live in a beautiful Los Angeles neighborhood where parents Juli and Charles run a nonprofit foundation, daughter Alex attends UCLA Law School and son Griffin is studying at University of Texas at Austin. Tyler is their third extremely bright son, identified more as a computer genius and hacker who built his own mainframe with a bitcoin miner as one of the first investors. A sweet, funny and thoughtful kid who loves playing video games and is known to be able to fix anything around the house. He started smoking pot around 14 years old to alleviate social anxieties and ADHD symptoms. Going to a Wilderness program and Therapeutic Boarding School at 16 helped him find sobriety until he was injured at work and prescribed pain medication which precipitated a relapse. Tyler successfully detoxed, recovering at a residential treatment center and moving into a sober living home near his full time job in Westwood.
On October 21, 2018, Juli received a call from Tyler’s sober living home saying he fell and hit his head. By the time they arrived at his side, they were informed by the paramedics that Tyler “didn’t make it.” Learning he died was devastating to Juli and Charles as they had never known anyone who had overdosed, let alone ever imagined it could be one of their children. The
hardest conversation they ever experienced was having to tell Alex and Griffin that their brother died. Tyler had addiction issues, but Juli wants to emphasize that his overdose was a surprise and “had we known Tyler had fentanyl in his system, we would have sent him to a detox.”
of Americans under the age of fifty, which translates to more than 150 deaths every day. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defines Fentanyl as a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine making it a top contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S. There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is highly regulated, made by chemists and prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain,
especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.
Fentanyl is abused because of its powerful opioid properties and heroin-like effect. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is available on the market in different forms, including liquid and powder. It is added to drugs to increase their potency, increasing the risk for dependence and making them cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. The powder looks just like many other drugs and is commonly mixed with heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Its liquid form can be found in nasal sprays, eye drops, and dropped onto paper or small candies. Fentanyl laced products are extremely dangerous, and many people are unaware they are purchasing them, often resulting in death.
Educating on overdose awareness and fentanyl poisoned drugs is a mission of the Shamash Family’s Drug Awareness Foundation. Juli was inspired to destigmatize shame related to drug issues “after going through everything with my son. I do not claim to be an expert on addiction. I always say you cannot love away addiction. I do not focus on that, I focus on what I feel like I can change, help or educate, and that is to notify kids that there is fentanyl in everything.”
Their foundation has recently started working on making Narcan available on all domestic airlines, and in the administration buildings and dorms at UCLA. Juli needs “a purpose to get up every day. Maybe I am saving lives in Tyler’s memory. My biggest achievement is getting Tyler’s Law passed.”
With the help of California Senator Melissa Melendez, they successfully passed Tyler’s Law (SB 864) which states if a provider chooses to do a five panel urine drug screen test, fentanyl will be automatically included in that test. This
bill ensures hospitals provide testing access and capability.
Illicitly produced fentanyl chemicals are primarily made in China and manufactured in Mexico. They cause respiratory distress and death when incorrect doses are taken or combined with other substances, especially alcohol or other drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Most recently, local cases of fentanylrelated overdoses have been linked to online illegal markets. Teenagers are accessing drug
dealers through social media outlets like SnapChat, Instagram or TikTok where they are able to use money apps like Venmo, Apple or Zelle to pay for drugs to be delivered to their homes. The drugs are not manufactured by chemists rather they are counterfeited with fillers by dealers who are not checking for potency or consistency leading to the reality that “one pill can kill.”
It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose, since symptoms are very quiet. Users look like they are nodding off into a deep sleep, snoring, and small constricted “pinpoint pupils” are a giveaway. The first thing one should do is call 911 immediately, followed by administering naloxone if available. Naloxone, more widely known as Narcan, is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives. It is available in all 50 states and can be purchased from local pharmacies without a prescription. Narcan nasal spray is easy to carry, and when used it binds with the opioid receptors in the brain to reverse an overdose and give time to call 911 or bring the patient to an Emergency Room.
Hidden Hills resident Mali Malka is raising awareness and creating a safe space for conversation about the real dangers of Fentanyl by moderating the speakers for the recent Teen Fentanyl Crisis Educational Event. The panel told personal stories including Tyler Shamash’s loving legacy, answering questions about their first-hand experiences while an expert was on hand to educate how to administer Narcan in an emergency. In response to the local crisis, the Hidden Hills Homeowners Association placed Narcan at the gates showing a community acknowledging fentanyl-related overdose deaths and poisonings.
Fentanyl can be found in large metropolitan areas to rural America, and no community is safe from this poison. Not my child are the three most dangerous words a parent can utter. Mali was motivated to begin the difficult conversation about the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered for local parents and teens “so kids will think of their families. This is so much bigger than we realize and I hope one person can be saved from this poison. We need to do something now, we don’t have time for a cup of coffee about it because while you are having coffee, someone can take a pill.”
Examples of counterfeit Xanax, Oxycodone and Percocet. Can you tell the difference?
Beyond the sepia-stained photographs, a piece of living Southern California history stands along the streets of Calabasas. Adjacent to the 101 freeway, the 19th-century home called the Leonis Adobe is nestled in one of the most developed areas in the country. The Leonis Adobe holds the title as Los Angeles’ First Historical Landmark and is now celebrating 60 years of said achievement.
The Leonis Adobe’s Museum curator and historian, Dinna Rivera-Pitt, says that the Leonis Adobe is “surrounded by historical inaccuracies” and that it is “an uphill battle correcting the narrative about Miguel Leonis and the Leonis Adobe.” Standing six-footfour with piercing blue eyes and being known as one of the wealthiest land barons of his time (though he was illiterate and knew little speaking English) Miguel Leonis surely did have many larger-than-life qualities. But as time passed and due to a couple imaginative raconteurs, Miguel’s life soon hit the looms of storytelling and got spun into fantastical yarns. Most publications about Miguel Leonis that are not from Leonis Adobe Museum research likely have historical inaccuracies ranging from wrong dates to plain fabrications such as Miguel Leonis winning his wife in a poker game.
Despite the historical inaccuracies that surround Miguel’s life, Dinna Rivera-Pitt remarked that the mythology surrounding him and the Leonis Adobe benefitted the preservation of the establishment as it kept Miguel’s name and image in popular circulation. If not for the notorious tall tales, the name of Miguel Leonis may have fallen into obscurity.
According to historical records and paper trials, it is known that Miguel Leonis was born in 1822 in Cambo Les Bains, a Basque region of Southwest France. Miguel Leonis arrived in the San Fernando Valley in 1854 and he most likely immigrated with his brother, Jean, through South America. His means of travel can be theorized by the fact that it was a popular route for young Basque males to travel to the United States through South America.
The California gold rush forever changed the demographic of this area with dreamers and adventurers from all around the world wanting to change their luck. Miguel traveled to the San Fernando Valley at a time when Spanish speaking Californios reigned supreme.
Though there were a number of French Basques in Los Angeles. In order to gain a higher social status, many of them opted to present themselves as having a Spanish lineage, striving to adopt the Spanish title “Don” which denoted Californian nobility. This contributes to the reason Los Angeles isn’t especially renowned for its French influence, many of its French Basques were in disguise. So, despite not knowing how to read and write in English, often signing his legal documents with just an “X”, “Don” Miguel Leonis was known to have an immense memory and a fierce business sense that transformed him into one of the most successful land barons.
Before the wealth and land accumulation, Miguel was a shepherd, and contradictory to the cultural customs, he married a Native American Chumash woman named Espiritu Chijulla. Whether for romance, business gains, or a little bit of both, their reason for the marriage cannot be concluded. But it is known that Espiritu’s father, Odon, owned an 1854 Mexican land grant of the name Rancho El Escorpion which is modern day Woodland Hills and West Hills. Through his union with Espiritu, Miguel eventually obtained Rancho El Escorpion and this
land acquisition began his momentum to become one of the most successful land barons of his time. By 1859 Miguel Leonis had become one of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles, and through research of land deeds and property records, it can be concluded that he owned up to around 18,788 acres of land. This is how he became known as the “King of Calabasas.”
Miguel was not the only person within the history of the Leonis Adobe who succeeded despite insurmountable odds. After Miguel’s death, Espiritu was snubbed out of her legal right as his wife to the Leonis Adobe property because she was listed as a “faithful housekeeper” in his will, which was likely orchestrated by Miguel’s attorneys. She had to legally battle the declaration for a long 16 years, but she never surrendered and finally achieved an extraordinary victory. Being a Spanish speaking Chumash woman in the mid-1800s California, Espiritu defied insurmountable odds and succeeded.
After Miguel and Espiritu’s death, the Leonis Adobe passed through many different ownerships, in which most of them did not place a high priority on the historical preservation of the property. Lester Agoure (related to Don Pierre Agoure who is the namesake of the city of Agoura) and his silent film actress wife Frances Lea bought the Leonis Adobe from Espiritu’s son, Juan Menedez in 1922. The couple lived there until 1929 and were known to throw extravagant, Gatsby-esque parties on the property during their time there. Then the Leonis Adobe then had some odd incarnations, such as being a casual chicken dinner restaurant for a short stint. During the 1950s, Hidden Hill’s developers A.E and Archie Hanson purchased the property and controversially remodeled the historical home adding a casual carpeted 1950s living room along with a modernized kitchen. From 1955-1960, actor John Carradine and his family were the Hanson’s tenants living at the Leonis Adobe. After its phase of homeowners, the Leonis Adobe was abandoned and vandalized, disintegrating into a mere apparition of what it used to be.
Soon the neglected Leonis Adobe fell into the hands of Milton Katz, who intended to tear it down completely and build a vast parking lot and shopping center. But during the 1960s a miracle happened. Though assumed to have been forgotten, grassroots protestors and
teenage picketers began to flood the formerly forsaken edifice of the Adobe. During this post-war, consumer era, the Los Angeles area began to modernize and remnants of the old world were beginning to be blotted out. But the Calabasas locals did not want to see the Leonis Adobe go.
In order to save the Leonis Adobe, the Calabasas grassroots activists were going to have to buy the property, but Katz was purposely making this no easy monetary feat. This is when Iowa native Kay Beachy hit the scene. With no children of her own, she poured her resources and nurturing essence into saving and restoring the Adobe. Dinna Rivera-Pitt remarks that the Leonis Adobe became “the core of her existence” and she even sold some of her real estate properties to finance the purchase and renovation of the Leonis Adobe.
In 1962, Kay Beachy founded the non-profit Leonis Adobe Association with a passionate historical preservationist Ray Philips serving as President. Later that year the Los Angeles Cultural Board was founded and designated the Leonis Adobe as its first historical monument. Ray Philips played an integral role in restoring the Leonis Adobe to its original appearance in the 19th century. A revitalized Old Town Calabasas was constructed around it to be a natural setting to the official historical landmark.
The Leonis Adobe not only represents but is a product of many people’s perseverance that led them to defy their circumstantial odds. From Miguel Leonis, to Espiritu Chijulla Leonis, to Kay Beachy and Ray Philips, and now to historian Dinna Rivera-Pitt and the many more people working to preserve the Leonis Adobe show the uncanny pattern of distinct, unrelenting spirits that touch this land. All those formerly and currently affiliated with the Leonis Adobe should be recognized for their dedication to creating a beautiful physical space and maintaining a space of historical accuracy for the Leonis Adobe to forever remain.
Editor’s Note: All historical information within this piece is credited to the Leonis Adobe’s historian and museum curator: Dinna Rivera-Pitt. All photographs are credited to the Leonis Adobe Museum Archives.
Every Tuesday the Community Center grounds transform into a lively Farmers Market. There are vendors of all types selling prepared food items, produce, meats, clothing, jewelry and skincare. If you are looking for natural wellness products with skin loving and environmentally friendly ingredients, then look no further than Terra Derma & Company found here weekly.
Patricia Ortega was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. She is a firm believer that beautiful skin starts from within, and that nature is our best ally. Her passion for organic products pushes many of her lifestyle decisions and after researching the market, she realized that the beauty industry is filled with toxic detergents that make false claims to clean and hydrate our skin. Always obsessed with skincare, she was inspired to create her own natural line when she became pregnant and wanted to keep her baby safe from the chemical ingredients in beauty products.
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and everything we apply to it is absorbed and eventually navigates into our bloodstream so every Terra Derma & Company ingredient has been chosen to nourish one’s skin. Patricia diligently works to develop formulations guided by nature and uses her own hands to create amazing non-toxic artisan soap and natural skincare products. Her mission is to empower natural beauty and to give customers the confidence to wear their skin free of heavy makeup after taking care of it on a daily basis with her creations. Terra Derma & Company products can be found online or at the weekly Farmer’s Markets in Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, La Canada, & Melrose Market.
Liquid Gold Shimmering Body Oil
Sugar Daddy Body Polish
John Fremont Road is revealed as one rounds the northwest loop of Jed Smith Road. Its small size does not compare to the grand historical legacy of John Charles Frémont, the American mapmaker, explorer, military officer, and politician for which it is named. He was an influential figure in the conquest and development of California, in addition to being a U.S. Senator, founder of the California Republican Party, and the first Republican nominee for president of the United States.
Born out of wedlock in 1813, John Fremont grew up a proud & rebellious loner, an early anti-slavery opponent despite being born in Savannah, Georgia. His family settled in Charleston, South Carolina after the premature death of his father. He joined the navy, retiring in 1833 after being appointed second lieutenant in the United States Topographical Corps. Surveying for the Charleston, Louisville, and Cincinnati Railroad in the Carolina mountains activated his desire to explore, which escalated as he reached Georgia around 1837. Fremont became a first rate topographer, trained in astronomy, geology, fauna, flora, soil, and water resources after assisting French explorer and scientist Joseph Nicollet in mapping the upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Fremont’s taste for exploration was influenced by the enthusiasm for expansionism by Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, who became his advisor, sponsor, and father in law in 1841. Senator Benton was the powerful chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs and a Democratic Party leader for more than 30 years who championed the ex-
pansionist movement, a political cause known as Manifest Destiny. This crusade was based on a cultural belief that American settlers were destined to expand across the entire North American continent. Benton pushed appropriations through Congress for national surveys of the Oregon Trail, the Oregon Country, the Great Basin, and Sierra Nevada Mountains to California.
the legendary Joseph Walker, with the colorful guide Kit Carson and mountain man Thomas Fitzpatrick. After thoroughly exploring much of the Northwest, he made the infamous difficult winter crossing of the Sierra Nevada to California, afterwhich suggesting the route be named Walker Pass.
For ten years, Fremont spent his time exploring the country between the Missouri River, the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacific Coast. War with Mexico over the annexation of Texas was imminent, and in the spring of 1845 he headed to California defying Mexican authorities and throwing his support behind a small group of dissidents near Sonoma who started an unofficial uprising and created the Bear Flag Republic.
Benton’s influence enabled Fremont to accomplish the mapping of much of the territory between the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Ocean within the next few years on five different expeditions. The first expedition began in 1842 after the War Department assigned him to the area west to Wyoming. In 1843, he completed a survey accompanied by
When news of war with Mexico reached California in May 1946, Commodore Robert F. Stockton appointed Fremont to Major and assembled his party into military service as the “Naval Battalion of Mounted Volunteer Riflemen.” General Stephen Watts Kearny entered California from the southeast with orders to establish a government, leading to a conflict of authority. The dispute between Stockton and Kearny was worked out and together they stopped the Los Angeles uprising when Fremont accepted General Andres Pico’s surrender in the Cahuenga Pass. Signing the Treaty of Cahuenga led indirectly to California’s independence from Mexico by ending rival hostilities and the Mexican American War.
On January 16, 1847, Commodore Stockton appointed Fremont military governor of California. He functioned for a short time without controversy, but was arrested and
court-martialed within one year by Kearny for disobedience. When he was sentenced to dismissal from the army, he resigned his commission in protest after gaining only a partial pardon from President James K. Polk.
Fremont became a multimillionaire after gold was discovered on Las Mariposas, the seventy square miles of land in the Sierra foothills near Yosemite that he purchased from Juan Bautista Alvarado, the former California governor, for $3,000. Popular among the public, Fremont pivoted into politics and in 1850 was elected one of the state’s first two senators running in firm opposition to slavery. Democratic pro-slavery opponents strongly opposed him and he was not re-elected.
In the fall of 1853, Fremont embarked on his fifth expedition to identify a course for a transcontinental railroad from Missouri arriving in San Francisco following a severe winter optimistic of viable passage through the Rocky Mountains. Seeking a united front and a fresh face, the first Republican National Convention nominated him for the presidency in 1856. Although defeated by the Democratic candidate James Buchanan in the election, he came closer to uniting the electorate of the North and West against the South than any previous candidate.
President Abraham Lincoln appointed Fremont Union Army Major General at the outbreak of the Civil War but dismissed him years later after reports of
misconduct as commander in Missouri. Still popular, he was considered for the presidential nomination again in 1864 but withdrew to avoid dividing the Republican Party into two factions: the anti-Lincoln Radical Republicans, who nominated him, and the pro-Lincoln Republicans.
Fremont retired from public life to devote himself to the railroad industry. After losing his fortune in the Panic of 1873, he was appointed governor of the Arizona Territory by President Rutherford B. Hayes. He spent little time in Arizona, and was asked to resume duties in person or resign; he chose resignation. Destitute until he was reappointed as a retired Army Major General, an action that gave him a pension. He spent his remaining days in Staten Island, New York, passing away on July 13, 1890.
John Charles Frémont was known as “the Pathfinder of the West” for his years of topographical service, for expanding settlement across the continent, and for his immense contributions to the creation of the 31st state of California. His publications gave many their first knowledge of the country and made settlement in the West accessible for many Americans. He coined the phrase “Golden Gate” for the strait between Marin County and San Francisco County and is remembered for planting the American flag on the Rocky Mountains during his first expedition, symbolically claiming the West and solidifying his belief in Unionism.
John Charles Frémont was known as “the Pathfinder of the West” for his years of topographical service, for expanding settlement across the continent, and for his immense contributions to the creation of the 31st state of California.
At AutoCamp Joshua Tree, 38 miles outside of Palm Springs and a three-hour drive from L.A., the great outdoors is cooler and more inclusive than ever. The interior design and layout puts travelers front and center in the midst of the Coachella Valley’s natural wonders while providing creature comforts associated with better hotels. While the premises taps into the glamping phenomenon, it’s also an inclusive affair where newborns, kids, teens, grandparents, and family dogs are welcome as trendsetting young adults.
Lodgings at AutoCamp Joshua Tree for two are neatly arranged in gleaming Airstream trailers that feel much larger when one steps inside. The same holds true for a handful of “Vista X Suites,” slightly scaled up to accommodate three adults or a family of four. A lot of style and function are packed into each Airstream. Playful design elements include 1970s-inspired wall accents, contemporary dark hardwood plank flooring in the main room, and geometric tiles in the bathroom. The shower in each unit is surprisingly roomy, and outfitted with unisex Ursa Major skincare amenities and brushed black metal hardware. The compact bedroom is airy and cozy, and elevated with earthy, soft bed linens. Streamlined storage areas hold such essentials as towels, two plush bathrobes, and other useful supplies, but also easily accommodate clothing and small sports gear brought from the outside.
This bold, modern structure is the hub of this ultimate base camp for campters of all ages, physical abilities, tastes and interests.
The kitchenette adjoining the living area is immaculately appointed with a small refrigerator, microwave oven and cabinets with plates, glasses, cookware and barbecue supplies as well as a barbecue grill and mini-patio immediately outside their trailer door. French press coffee, artisanal teas from local producers are available for an additional fee. There’s also complementary wifi available, though the views and the attentive and knowledgeable staff will remind you that it’s probably best to unplug to take full advantage of the surroundings.
Inside the main “tree clubhouse,” which resembles an airport hangar, one can easily access the check-in and concierge desks, lounge seating, and a large retail space. In addition to necessities for hikes and other outdoor pursuits, the shop offers an eclectic selection of goods ranging from AutoCamp Joshua Tree souvenir tees and hoodies for the whole family to educational toys, books, sunglasses, and bottle shop provisions from regional wineries, breweries, and soft-drink makers. Fresh coffee, tea, and granola is set out every morning free of charge to all guests, and there’s a hearty menu of baked goods and full-sized meals as well as lunch and dinner fare offered later in the day from a local caterer. There are also outdoor seating areas, a bar area and lounge areas that can be specially outfitted for special family gatherings or corporate retreats.
On-property activities include a fire pit sitting area (perfect for s’mores, with kits available for sale in the shop), pool, complimentary bikes, and a cornhole court. There are also free yoga classes staged on some mornings, as well as live music nights from time to time. The concierge service offers special activities and custom tours for guests to discover the larger area protected by The Mojave Desert Land Trust, an accredited non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of 100,000 acres of prime desert habitat that weave through national parks, national monuments, wilderness areas, and wildlife linkage corridors.
You can sit down and make yourself comfortable inside the clubhouse’s living room
In addition to a panoramic view of AutoCamp’s fleet of Airstream trailers, there are different outdoor seating arrangements along its clubhouse patio where one can enjoy simple and hearty meals provided by local kitchens.
Other specialty activities at this base camp and nearby include a Sunset Wine Tasting with the Joshua Tree Bottle Shop, a Herbal Medicine Making & Desert Ecology Hike, Live Music Nights with local performers, half-day adventure hikes, and rock climbing excursions coordinated by AutoCamp and MojaveGuides at Joshua Tree National Park. Through the concierge, one can put together a customized expedition or sign up for the daily highlights expedition led by Bernard Leibov, Director of BoxoPROJECTS, who openly shares his insider’s view of the local culture.
If you’re planning a more ambitious road trip in California, AutoCamp has similarly equipped outposts in the Sequoia Forest, Yosemite National Park, and the Russian River Valley. There are also two East Coast locales in the Catskills (New York) and Cape Cod, with AutoCamp sites in Texas Hill Country, Utah’s Zion area, and Asheville, NC near the Blue Ridge Mountains set to open in 2023. Each AutoCamp is designed to reflect the natural geology and geography of each location.
AutoCamp Joshua Tree’s rates begin at $229/night for Airstream accommodations and $379 for the Vista X Suites. For more information about availability, resort events, and AutoCamp locations across the U.S., visit autocamp.com.
AutoCamp Joshua Tree 62209 Verbena Road Joshua Tree, CA (844) 366-9715
