The Canyon Chronicle-OCTOBER 14, 2022 (Volume 3, No. 20) - www.thecanyonchronicle.com

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TOPANGA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1976 October 14, 2022 • Vol. 3, No. 20 PRESORTEDSTD USPOSTAGE PAID GARDENACA PERMITNO.40 ECRWSSEDDM POSTALCUSTOMER

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under trees, in the peaceful Cheney neighborhood, you will find a welcoming country home. The simple life. We all crave it. Here, you’ll find it. An easy drive up Cheney to a cedar clad A-frame. Sunlight streams across hardwood floors in the 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath main house. Beamed ceilings shelter. A stone fireplace warms on cold winter days. A granite, stainless steel, and wood kitchen is open to the great room. Large windows and French doors are flooded with sunlight throughout the day. A newly landscaped, mostly flat yard, is perfect for gardening, lounging, playing. Wide decks, front and back, bring your life outside, to bask in the sun and gather with friends, a perfect perch for toasting the setting sun. Upstairs, a romantic main suite with angled ceilings, a soulful travertine en suite, with jetted tub, and views that enchant, is your retreat. Another large bedroom wrapped in windows, a second bath, and a charming small bedroom, all with the classic, angled beamed ceilings of a mountain home, complete the scene. The home shows the hand of craftsmen and is surrounded by patios, fruit trees, a bougainvillea draped stair, all with views of the wild mountain chaparral. Below the main house, a spacious 2 bedroom apartment with its own patio, welcomes guests, or provides income. A garden arch, covered with passionfruit vines, leads through a gate to the big, private, back garden. Roses and jasmine scent the air. A seasonal creek is crossed by a simple wood bridge. The garage has been converted into an oversized studio, with a large storeroom attached, and is the perfect work from home space. Take a dreamy siesta in the shade of the trees.

are close to all Topanga has to offer, the shops and cafes, the beach, and nearby secret trails into Topanga State Park. Horses and Peacocks are some of your neighbors. You are nurtured here. Inspired. Peace is in the air. Breathe it in.

2 October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20 Topanga Mountain Lodge with large guest apartment, and studio! Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. #1 Topanga agents status based on total closed transaction sides. All measurements and square footage are approximate. Adrian Wright 818.939.6415 adrian.wright@compass.com DRE 00935559 Jordan Wright 818.746.6987 jordanwright@compass.com DRE 01952694 Ready to see how different the curated white glove Compass approach is to selling real estate? Utilizing the Wright Way Team and our access to Compass Private Exclusives, Compass Concierge, and many other amazing services, will change how you have ever experienced the real estate process. There is a reason why Compass has been the #1 Brokerage in Topanga 3 years running and why the Wright Way Team is the #1 team in Topanga. We are a local family team powered by a forward thinking, fast moving, high touch and high technology company, changing the industry for the better, leading from the heart, and delivering exceptional results for our clients!
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Thinking Out Loud

Publisher / Editor

Flavia Potenza

Creative Director

Nira Lichten

Senior Reporter

Annemarie Donkin

Advertising Manager

Jenise Blanc-Chance

Creative Consultant

Eiffel Nazaryan

Contributors

Linda Ballou

Joel Bellman

Pablo Capra

Kathie Gibboney

Paula LaBrot

Kait Leonard

Amy Weisberg

Kim Zanti

Copy Editor / Distribution

Ellie Carroll

Jamie Clark-Mazur

When deemed appropriate, this space welcomes comment from the community.

What’s Happening with Our Post Office?

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 office and I am finding the office closed frequently. I have been told they have hiring problems since Lucy retired and Lupe went on family leave. They have one clerk, Daniel, and he closes when he cannot be at the front counter due to lunch, or meeting the delivery truck in the back. This has been going on over a month and this Friday they were closed because Daniel had the day off. The Post Master doesn’t seem to be able to do anything about this problem. I hope this is not a sign of our local post office closing entirely. Any help or information you may have is most appreciated.

Sincerely,

The Oaks are My Friends

Your cover and article regarding the LAUSD and the oaks broke my heart (“Protected Oaks Cut Down at Topanga Elementary,” Sept. 16, 2022, The Canyon Chronicle, Vol 3, No 18). I used to walk behind the school up to Henry Ridge for years and years. This was before school shootings when the school was open and you could walk right in and go hike. Things changed...but for your article I had no idea that this occurred because it [hasn’t been] easy to go up there for some time now. It is horrible that the rules don’t apply to all and terribly sad about these beautiful old oaks. They are all my friends these oaks and they make life worth living.

Editor’s Note: Kent Hill and his wife, Alisa Land are parents who pursued this incident for two years and continue even now when their children are no longer students at Topanga Elementary. Mark Hovatter, Procurement Executive, LAUSD, addressed the Topanga Canyon Town Council at its monthly meeting (via Zoom) on September 14. Hill had to leave the meeting early and followed up with Mr. Hovatter regarding the damage that LAUSD has not yet rectified “... after 2 1/2 years and three graduating classes have moved on,” Hill noted. Hovatter responded with the following email:

Mr. Hill

Thank you for your comments, your questions, your background information, and most importantly your advice. All very well taken. The most important element that I read was, and forgive my paraphrasing: words are fine but actions are better. You will see actions! It will be open, transparent, collaborated with all of the interested parties who have the best interest of the students and the community at large.

Communications between LAUSD and concerned parents continue in hopes of a satisfactory conclusion to the matter.

Please

Contact US editor@thecanyonchronicle.com

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The Canyon Chronicle is an independent community newspaper published bi-weekly by Canyon Media, Inc.©2020. All rights reserved. thecanyonchronicle.com

Valerie Walsh’s painting, “Home Spun,” uses many elements of the Halloween holiday.

love Halloween and this suits a Topanga theme.”

3October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20
Proofreader
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check page 7 for Lindsey Horvath’s upcoming Topanga events.

5G Free California Urges Residents to Petition Against 5G Roll-Out

Supervisors to vote on countywide rollout of 5G towers vs. less costly, safer Fiber Optic already in place.

A petition is being circulated by 5G Free California to stop the roll-out of 5G towers across L.A. County and support a Fiber Optic Infrastructure for LA County. On Tuesday, November 15, the issue is coming up for a vote by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. (For related story, See “Preventing the Next Digital Divide,” The Canyon

Chronicle, Sept. 16, 2022.)

“This is a critical moment for us in LA County,” the organization states in its appeal, and asks those in opposition to 5G to sign the petition, call or email your supervisor (with bcc to 5GFreeCalifornia@ gmail.com), and donate, if you are able: for legal fees: fiberfirstla.org/take-action; and for education and advocacy: 5gfreecalifornia.org/donate

The 5G Free California quarterly meeting, live and on ZOOM, will be held on Monday, October 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Inn of the Seventh Ray. A presentation by Fiber First will

SAGES Diners Enjoy BBQ Feast

The First-Friday SAGES Dinners return to the Topanga Community Center.

The first-of-the-season SAGES Dinner on Oct. 7 featured grilled sausages, hamburgers, plant-based burgers and veggies expertly grilled by Randy Just. The meat selections were accompanied by condiments, homemade salads, notably a magnificent potato salad. The convivial meal enjoyed by about 50 seniors was followed by Karen Dannenbaum’s apple cake with a touch of whipped cream.

James Grasso, president of the SAGES, announced that he was still giving out the NOAA weather alert radios to members. If you are interested in obtaining one: visit James@tcep.org.

Lola Babalon announced that she is resuming her chair yoga exercise classes on Thursdays from 11a.m. to noon at the TCC.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The next SAGES Senior Dinner will take place on Friday, Nov. 4, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

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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 mornings, 11 a.m. to noon. $10 each, or $50, prepaid for all six. Meets in the Sages room at the Topanga Community Center, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga CA 90290. Lola Babalon is a longtime yogini, nurse, psychic and herbalist. She provides care, counsel and mentoring. For more information: (310) 455-0103 (landline), or lolababalon.com

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October 14-23, “When Pigs Fly.” Topanga Canyon Gallery presents the second annual all media group exhibition “When Pigs Fly,” a whimsical re-imagining of the axiom that turns the concept of the impossible on its head. Come celebrate the bohemian joie de vivre that exemplifies Topanga Canyon that has long nurtured creative expression and attracted artists and art enthusiasts alike to this “place above.” Topanga

feature guest speakers Susan Foster, fire expert and honorary firefighter, and Doug Wood from the Fiber First Team and Executive Director of Americans for Responsible Technology. Foster will present information regarding the ongoing fire risks associated with telecom equipment and the damage they have already done. Wood will present important information on drafted model legislation and updates on actions being taken in L.A. County.

For more information: 5gfreecalifornia@gmail. com; or visit 5gfreecalifornia.org

OCTOBER EVENTS

Los Angeles, CA 90038; and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. at the NAMBA Performing Arts Space, 47 S. Oak St., Ventura, CA 93001. Hart is a luminous and energetic woman who chooses to heal her own pain through the instrument of theater to demonstrate how she confronts “Shame” and embraces “Resilience” to heal herself, and then others. For more information and tickets: kamakshihart.com/ resilient-AF.

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Canyon Gallery, 137 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290.

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Oct. 19 at 8 p.m., Nov. 13 at 5 p.m., Resilient (AF) —Kamakshi Hart’s second one-woman show, Resilient (AF), opened to a full and receptive audience at Corazón Performing Arts Center in Topanga on Sunday, Oct. 2, and continues with two more performances: Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. at The Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd.,

Sunday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., The Lion, the Witch and the Walk-In Closet —Directed by Kamakshi Hart, Kristy Beauvais’ first onewoman show opens at Corazón Performing Arts, 125 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290. For more information on this and other shows at Corazón Performing Arts, go to corazontopanga.com

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Saturday, October 22, Topanga Elementary Halloween Carnival will be at its spooktacular best at the Topanga Community Center, from 4 to 8 p.m. One of the

school’s essential fundraisers, they know how to throw a party. There will be carnival games, a haunted house, a costume contest, food trucks, beer and wine, and local rock band, Kummerspeck, who will play a Halloween-inspired live show. Some post-COVID restrictions continue. Tickets are pre-sale only ($20 per person or $60 for a family ticket, includes up to five people). Available at bit.ly/ topangahalloween . Look for some frightfully good fun for the whole family, while benefitting Topanga Elementary Charter School.

Correction & Clarification

Topanga Girl Scout Troop 2626 consists of Daisies and Brownies, ages K–second grade (not third). The clarification about hiking safety includes learning to be safe around traffic on their way to and from school. Thank you, Stephanie Polansky. We look forward to hearing more about Troop 2626.

4 October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20 News
PHOTO BY ANNEMARIE DONKIN Gathered in the kitchen of the Topanga Community Center (TCC) are the dedicated SAGES volunteers who make the monthly first-Friday dinners happen. From left, Pat Nolan, Joe Grassi, Wendy Forester, Susanne Henning, Tam Taylor, Karen Dannenbaum, Richard Bowers, Kat High, Sally Riggs, Emma Farkas and James Grasso.

NEW &

to the two wonderfully appointed fireplaces and rich textured wood floors that walk out to gorgeous shaded covered decks, this home was created to completely embrace all that Topanga has to offer. Deep sprawling views of multiple Topanga mountain ranges, yards, mature gardens, and lovely patio areas, including a superior hillside setting that allows for privacy and space. The kitchen is well positioned, allowing for an easy flow to the dining area, the living space, the front and back porches, and the outside to the front yard. Two upstairs bedrooms capture beautiful views, with good-sized closets and lots of natural wood. A full bathroom with a walk-in shower and a separate laundry room are all on the main floor. The primary bedroom is its own suite downstairs with a fireplace, private entrance, full bath and outside patio welcoming in the extensive stunning views and sunsets. Oversized two-car garage with a generous window that looks out to the gardened yard. Plenty of off-street parking, and a delightful southern-style front entrance with a sprawling charming sitting deck.

is an elegant mindfulness to this home. From the high open

near two entrances to the state park, with multiple hiking/riding trails. Close to town, the beach, Malibu, Santa Monica, and

winds”.

5October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20 Catherine Campbell DRE: 01164030 | 310.663.9039 catherine@lovetopanga.com lovetopanga.com Voted: Best of the Best - America’s Best Real Estate Professionals REALTRENDS TOM FERRY (3 Years Consecutively) © 2022 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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Lindsey Horvath

Endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood, and the Los Angeles Times, Third District Candidate Lindsey Horvath says she’s ready to lead the county into the future.

“I’m running to be the next Los Angeles County Supervisor from the Third District because I have the determination and experience to make a difference for the people who need it most,” Horvath wrote on her website. “I’m ready to use my experience leading the region on issues like homelessness, public safety, and economic development to put Los Angeles County back to work for the people.”

Horvath’s position on issues are standard fare regarding crime, homelessness and standing up for worker’s rights.

“Right now, working families are struggling to keep up with a crush of compounding crises,” she wrote. “We need L.A. County to step up and protect workers’ rights while creating a thriving local economy. We need sustainable housing and services for the people living on our streets and communityfocused public safety services that keep us all safe. We need our government to work for us.”

Political Background

Lindsey P. Horvath, 40, was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 3, 2015, having previously served as a Councilmember from 20092011. She also led the City to become the first in the nation to impose financial sanctions on Arizona for its discriminatory, anti-immigration SB-1070 law and created the first-ever West Hollywood Community Response Team to Domestic Violence.

In addition, Horvath works as an entertainment advertising executive and has created award-winning campaigns for movies and television. Horvath graduated

Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Horvath v. Hertzberg

Horvath’s campaign recently turned dark, however, as she began referring to her rival as “Big Oil Bob.” During the campaign, she began citing media reports that Hertzberg took $250,000 in contributions from the fossil fuel industry during his career, according to The Los Angeles Daily News on Oct. 6.

Hertzberg voted against AB 345 in 2020, that would have established buffer zones between oil wells and schools and homes. This year, Hertzberg voted for SB 1137, which establishes oil well buffer zones and was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“I recognize the seriousness of the climate crisis, and unlike my opponent, I have not taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from fossil fuel companies that have gotten us into this mess,” Horvath wrote. “I am proud to be endorsed by the Sierra Club and Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, as well as strong leaders like former State Sen. Fran Pavley. I will fight every day to implement the County’s award-winning sustainability plan to reduce our carbon footprint and promote clean energy throughout L.A. County.”

Lunch with Lindsey

On Sept. 11, The Las Virgenes Homeowner’s Federation, with the Communities of the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westhills, hosted a “meet and greet” with Horvath, who met with about 100 local residents of the Santa Monica Mountains (SMMs)in the picturesque community of Malibou Lake.

“I am dedicated to local control, making sure that people have a say in what happens in their communities and making sure they have the resources you need in order to thrive in your community,” Horvath said.

“That is why I am running for this office.”

Horvath outlined her ideas on preserving the mountains.

“First and foremost, I will lead as I always have: by listening, learning, and governing together,” Horvath wrote. “I know that the issues of the Santa Monica Mountains are different than those of Beverly Hills, Pacoima, or Santa Monica, and there is no onesize-fits-all approach to governing, especially in a district as large as the Third District. I will serve all communities equally, and that includes the unincorporated areas of our district, many of which are in the Santa Monica Mountains.”

Horvath was warmly received and, after giving a short speech, took time to meet with constituents individually and in small groups.

Kim Lamorie, the president of the Las Virgenes Homeowner’s Federation, liked what she heard from the candidate.

SANTA MONICA

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Our three-acre campus—SMC’s first in Malibu— includes a two-story educational building with dedicated science and computer labs, a 100-seat lecture hall with sloped seating for music and film, an art studio, open floor spaces for dance and yoga, general classrooms, a conference room, a community room, outdoor study spaces, and an interpretive center to tie into the rich and varied coastal features nearby. SMC will offer courses in Art, Biology, Creative Writing, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, and more!

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Faculty Spotlight

Tim Conley

Emeritus Professor, Film 1

Timothy Conley, better known as “Professor T,” is the Executive Producer and Owner of 67 Entertainment, a television, film, and new media entertainment company currently producing a documentary about Grandmaster Lonzo, Godfather of West Coast Hip Hop. A retired professional football player formerly with the Seattle Seahawks, Conley is currently Department Chair of Cinema and Film at Columbia College Hollywood, and also teaches at Santa Monica College and California State University, Northridge. He has a passion for grassroots community organizing, serving with the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council and the Urban Scholars Academy of Inglewood, California. In addition to filmmaking, Conley hosts the podcast “The Politics of Hip-Hop Culture” with Professor Marq DJ Cli-N-Tel Hawkins.

6 October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20 elections
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Monica College: Making Higher Education Affordable SMC will offer four types of classes at the Malibu Campus: Credit – Classes for credit that can be used toward
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Lindsey Horvath at Sept. 11 Lunch with Lindsey event.

“Lindsey Horvath was real—responsive, smart, and pro-environmental,” Lamorie wrote. “She is not beholden to pro-development attorneys or expediters or those who seek to exploit and benefit from what has been saved as opposed to saving more of what is left. It was evident that environmental sustainability is a priority. She gets the value of preserving resources and protecting open space for the benefit of the entire county and for the future. She is solution-oriented, that was clear. She is hands-on and accessible—that was also clear, and she understands the challenges our unincorporated communities face—pledging as she did to apply her local government experience and responsiveness as a Mayor directly, and to serve. [That] experience is a significant benefit. It is also what former Superisor Zev [Yaroslavsky] brought so successfully to the mountains for two decades.”

Lamorie said that the Federation has been focused on preserving and protecting the Santa Monica Mountains and the mountain/coastal communities for more than 50 years.

“There is no one who is more important to us than the Supervisor,” Lamorie wrote. “The entire North Area Plan, and the Local Coastal Program comprise the unincorporated Santa Monica Mountains— which are fully encompassed in the National Recreation Area. This is parkland, not development land. We have designated rural village communities, not urban subdivision skyscrapers.”

Bob Hertzberg

“Los Angeles County’s canyon communities and the Santa Monica Mountains are national treasures that must be protected,” retiring State Sen. Robert (“Bob”) Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) told The Canyon Chronicle

The veteran Democratic legislator is running against Lindsey Horvath for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in the Third District.

“The San Fernando Valley in my judgment is too big to not have a voice on the Board of Supervisors,” Hertzberg told the Los Angeles Times, noting that if it were a city, it would be the seventh largest in the nation. “I’m the only elected leader who would be in this race as of now who has an 818-area code. We in the Valley know what that means.”

Political History

According to his website, Hertzberg, 67, was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1996 where he established himself and moved up the ranks, eventually serving as the 64th Speaker of the California State Assembly after being unanimously elected by both parties in 2000 and 2001.

Following his tenure as Speaker, Hertzberg set out to the private sector as a clean energy entrepreneur. In 2014, he returned to state government when he was again elected to the California State Senate to represent nearly a million people in the San Fernando Valley.

The website further states, “Throughout his time in the Legislature, Bob Hertzberg has always been a champion for the communities he’s represented, delivering over $1 billion in investments to the San Fernando Valley,” for projects such as the MTA Orange Line, which provides transportation for working people, to sound walls along the freeways, to CSUN Performing Arts Center and transportation to CSUN, as well as modernization of 38 new local, union-built schools (most in predominately Latino communities),the Skirball Cultural Center, and a myriad of local organizations, like $5.7 million for Jewish Family Services to provide services to the homeless.

The Los Angeles Daily News described Hertzberg

Regarding The Santa Monica Mountains

The Canyon Chronicle asked Horvath what will she do to protect and preserve the Santa Monica Mountains.

“I understand the challenges this region faces, and our entire county faces many of the same challenges: homelessness and housing affordability, public safety, transportation, and climate change among them. As a local leader, I have seen where the County has fallen short in providing resources to cities and the unincorporated areas. My experience as a local leader gives me the tools and knowledge necessary to fill those gaps, to best serve all of our communities.”

“In the Santa Monica Mountains, two important issues for which law enforcement needs our support are speed racing and reckless driving. Making sure we sufficiently invest in fighting violent crime to keep people safe is also a top priority.

“I will fight to make sure that the Santa Monica Mountains remain the magnificent, beautiful nature preserve they are today. Millions of Angelenos visit the mountains for recreation, for leisure, and for the serene beauty that they offer. Our mountains must be preserved and protected for future generations but we can only do so through collaborative, innovative governing. I will bring that to this seat.

I am the only candidate with experience serving as a Mayor and leading at the local level; that experience is what the unincorporated areas need and deserve in a leader.”

Protecting the Santa Monica Mountains from Fires and Developers

“Protecting the Santa Monica Mountains from fires and overdevelopment is one of my top priorities for the region,” Horvath wrote. “It’s no secret that Los Angeles County needs to build more affordable housing, but we can do it responsibly, and in the regions that make the most sense; that is not the Santa Monica Mountains. We must not build in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and must also take proactive measures to ensure that a devastating fire never occurs in the region. This means investing in home hardening, fully funding our aerial arsenal for the L.A. County Fire Department, and improving lines of communication.

Above all, I will listen to communities to make sure that the policies we develop are informed by your experience, rooted in local control, rather than implementing top-down rules and regulations.”

For more information: lindseyhorvath.com

SAVE THE DATES! Sunday, Oct. 16, 1 p.m., Coffee with Lindsey—

Under the Oaks at Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga CA 90290. Sponsored by Topanga Association for a Scenic Community (TASC). R.S.V.P. to: undertheoakswithlindsey@gmail.com.

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m. Meet Lindsey Horvath For Supervisor.Event hosted by Topanga Town Council. For info: topangatowncouncil.org

• Combating climate change by making L.A. County a hub for clean energy innovation and green jobs. Hertzberg Opposes Overnight Camping in Malibu Hertzberg issued a statement to the press and to Malibu city officials saying he opposes overnight camping in the hills above Malibu. Malibu Mayor Paul Grisanti told The Malibu Times that he couldn’t ask for a better statement from a county supervisor candidate.

“It’s a rational response to reality,” Grisanti said.

In his statement, Hertzberg describes Malibu’s hills and beaches as “national treasures” that need to be protected for the continued enjoyment of many. He points out that the current conditions of extreme drought and higher temperatures, both caused by global warming, have resulted in dry fuel and a high risk of wildfire in forests and foothill communities, where conditions are only expected to get worse.

as having a “relentless dedication and indefatigable energy...he has a reputation for integrity and perseverance,” while the Los Angeles Times named him “One of the Most Influential People in Southern California” and said: “He is a high-velocity wonk; he loves big ideas and will flesh out every one of them if you give him a chance.”

The Guardian newspaper called Hertzberg “One of 50 People Who Could Save the Planet.”

Hertzberg’s Political Positions

Hertzberg said that while the state has shoveled money into L.A. County, the county has squandered the resources, and said he will take responsibility and work harder than anyone else to solve issues like:

• Addressing homelessness by urgently getting people off the streets, connecting them with services and into permanent housing.

• Reducing crime by investing in public safety and cracking down on illegal guns.

• Making housing more affordable by expanding opportunities for first-time homebuyers.

“With extreme fire weather conditions expected [during] hot summer months, public safety in Very High Fire hazard Severity Zones like Malibu, all the impacted communities in the Santa Monica Mountains must be a top priority.”

Hertzberg on Protecting the Santa Monica Mountains

“The critical issues for our canyon communities— conservation, recreation and safety—have long been important to me,” Hertzberg told The Canyon Chronicle “Prior to serving in the Legislature, I served as both the Director and the President of Mulholland Tomorrow, a group instrumental in protecting the Mulholland scenic corridor. This amazing area of urban/wildland interface that so many enjoy must be protected.”

Hertzberg prioritized safety for canyon communities and noted that Los Angeles has experienced some of the most devastating wildfires recorded in the last decade.

“I am proud to be endorsed by all the firefighting and public safety groups in Los Angeles because they know that my priority is to ensure people feel safe and secure in their homes and communities,” he wrote. “Under no circumstances can we risk another Woolsey Fire.”

For more information or to attend a live event: hertzbergforsupervisor.com

7October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20
Retiring State Sen. Bob Hertzberg says, “The Santa Monica Mountains are national treasures that must be protected.”

Organic Treasures Matter to Earth

Food insecurity is a “top concern for the majority of Americans,” according to a recent Harris Poll commissioned by Bayer.* Climate change, economic uncertainty, and a precarious global situation with the war in Ukraine, have fueled the concern over sustainable food production, especially for small, organic family farms that have declined by 12%, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology.

Fewer small farms is a big deal for consumers, as is the quality and diversity of food crops and the environment. For decades, when small, organic farmers proclaimed the importance of supporting community farming and organic practices, Kali Star listened.

Ten years ago, she started Earth Matterz, bringing her unique version of a subscription-based, farm-to-table delivery of organic food and pickup service to the community. Behind the business, however, is a passion to support small organic farmers.

“By supporting local, organic farmers, we can nourish our bodies and heal the planet,” she says.

Earth Matterz grew out of Star’s lifelong love of vegetables, her introduction to communitysupported agriculture (CSA) delivery boxes, and her basic love of people, farmers, the earth, and her son, Zane, who contributed the Z to the company name. She is now committed to spreading information about the importance of small organic farmers to “the whole world.”

To get a sense of Star’s passion for the earth’s bounty, simply visit the Earth Matterz website. So much more than a storefront for the delivery service, the site provides a feast for the senses and a whole lot of information. Of course, details about the delivery options are provided but don’t expect a boring list of box sizes and prices—although that information is there, too.

On this life-affirming page neon oranges, deep green spigarello leaves, purple carrots, and ruby tomatoes, among many more fruits and veggies, testify to the nurturing qualities of lovingly grown food. Star strives to do more than sell organic produce. She wants to be of service to the community by educating and supporting consumers and then connecting them with local, organic farmers.

The Farmers

Star first became interested in farmers by attending the Encino farmers market with her family, but everything shifted for her when she started visiting farms. “I didn’t even know how amazing the farmers were until I showed up,” she

Get a taste of Earth Matterz with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription. What comes in your box? That depends on what the farmers have harvested. Each season produces a different variety of fruits and vegetables. That’s part of what makes the subscription service fun! To explore CSA options, recipes, and the charming farm stories, Earth Matterz is at earthmatterz.com.

CSA Boxes include:

• Mixed Fruit and Veggies: Small, Full, Family, and Large, ranging in price from $22.50 to $48.

• All Veggies: Full and Large, from $28 to $48.

• Fruit Only: Small and Heavy, from $15 to $28.

Add-Ons

In addition to the CSAs, Earth Matterz offers special items that can be added on to the order. Choose from bakery items, farm-fresh eggs, honey, additional fresh fruit or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts, soups, condiments, medicinal teas, seeds, grains, lentils, and beans.

Looking for the perfect gift? Share the earth’s bounty by purchasing a gift certificate.

Introducing the Treasure Box

This little gem is packed with Kali Star’s picks of the week. She hopes this box will inspire customers to explore, expand, and create. It is designed for people who want a few of Kali’s favorite seasonal picks of the week. It works well for people who are busy or not cooking as often, and still want to support the best farms. You’ll enjoy some of the more rare varieties when available. It has some of the higher-priced produce and is manageable in size. It also works well for people who want just a little bit of produce along with their choice add-ons. It’s a delicious choice! The size of the Treasure Box will fluctuate, staying on the smaller side, perfect for sampling and adding a little novelty to the daily menu.($28)

says. Now she does everything possible to support these farmers who care deeply about their soil, preserving crops, and bringing the healthiest fruits and vegetables possible to the consumer.

Star speaks passionately about the produce available that never makes it to the supermarket shelves, usually due to a shorter shelf-life. For example, she can barely contain her enthusiasm at the mention of tatsoi, a relative of mustard greens and bok choy.

“If you know tatsoi, you love it!” Star promises. “People just don’t tend to buy it at the markets, and that’s tragic.”

If there’s no market for a crop, the farmers simply can’t afford to grow it. To prevent this tragedy, Star buys as much as she can and includes it in her boxes. In doing so, she introduces customers to her beloved greens, while helping to ensure farmers will continue to invest in the crop.

She works with a select group of local farmers who are listed by farm name on the Earth Matterz website. She also profiles the farmers through delightful stories about their histories, pet projects, and philosophies. Personal accounts of Star’s trips to the farms can be found in her blog under the “Farm Stories” heading. These aren’t the usual marketing pages. Like everything she does, Star makes the stories personal, bringing them to life by introducing real characters and letting them speak. In the story about the McGrath Family Farm, we meet Edgar, who works on the farm, owner Phil McGrath, and even Phil’s favorite tractor. Through their stories, Star brings us with her to explore the farms, places so essential to all of us.

The Customers

Farmers and organic produce aren’t all Kali Star cares about. Developing personal relationships with her customers is also high on her list of priorities.

“I get calls from customers all the time,” she says. “Spigarello can change someone’s life, and they can’t wait to tell me about it.” She feels that here in the big city with the traffic and hectic schedules, people long to connect to simple things. She firmly believes that her produce boxes go far beyond fruits and vegetables. They’re about a community of consumers connecting to health, the earth, and the future.

For people who might feel intimidated by an alien vegetable showing up in their kitchen, the Earth Matterz website provides recipes with gorgeous pictures. If you don’t know what to do with a Tokyo turnip, you can try kohlrabi and turnip salad. Spigarello got you scratching your head? Start with the roasted spigarello pesto for a nice twist on a classic. And for customers still not sure, there’s the option of adding prepared soups to the order. Each soup is made from items from that week’s harvest.

Confused about kohlrabi?

Kali Star recommends this unexpected but simple salad. It even changes colors when mixed! What could be more fun?

Kohlrabi & Purple Carrot Salad

1 Bunch Kohlrabi

1 Big Purple Carrot 2 tbs. Olive Oil

1 Lime

1 Jalapeno Fresh Basil Leaves

• Shave the kohlrabi and carrot skins.

• Julienne the kohlrabi and the carrot separately.

• Dice the jalapeno in little pieces. Fry it in oil until it’s charred.

• Juice the time in a bowl and pour the jalapeno in the lime juice.

• Mix the carrot with the kohlrabi. Then pour the lime juice w/ jalapeno in the mix, and add salt. Use tongs to mix the ingredients and watch the colors change!

• Drizzle olive oil, adding more if you like.

• Mix in some fresh basil leaves. Enjoy within 1-2 days

For additional inspiring recipes, visit the Earth Matterz

8 October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20
website at earthmatterz.com.
Never heard of Spigarello or tatsoi? Kali Star’s farm-totable organic fruits and vegetables add excitement to your plate while supporting local, organic farmers and ultimately the earth.
PHOTOS BY LAURA MENZ PHOTO BY KALI STAR, EARTH MATTERZ

Earth Matterz

Star’s Vision

In this time of growing uncertainty about the future of our planet, Kali Star brings a twinkling of hope. Through Earth Matterz, she provides evidence that a single, dedicated person can bring about a whole lot of positive change. Her company serves as a model for how we can shift our thinking about food, community connection, and farming practices. Her website offers a wealth of information to support consumers in making simple shifts in their purchasing practices that can support the land, dedicated farmers, and the crops that might easily become extinct without them.

Kali Star, through her business, Earth Matterz, works every day to literally save the world and invites us all to join her.

For more information and to order: earthmatterz.com

*Bayer commissioned The Harris Poll to conduct an online poll about the important topic of Food Security in America. The research was conducted online in the USA by The Harris Poll among 2,010 adults in June 2022.

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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,” a three-part BBC documentary about the Victorian Age adventurer who endured tremendous hardships in her explorations of the Rockies in 1873, and became the best-loved travel writer of her time.

Evergreen, a bustling mountain town just 34 miles outside of Denver was the first stop on my Majestic Mountain Tour following in the hoof prints of Isabella Bird. It boasts miles of hiking trails in easy striking distance for weekenders in need of fresh pine-scented air. I was joined by fellow historical fiction authors Pat Jurgens and M.J, Evans for the “Strong Women in the West” author panel at the Hearth Fire Bookstore.

Just ten miles south lies Conifer, a sleepy mountain community with a network of lesstraveled trails donated to the public by the owners of the Flying J Ranch. I enjoyed quiet time there before my talk about Isabella Bird, the woman who inspired my novel, “Embrace of the Wild,” at the Conifer Historical Society. From there I traced Isabella’s hoof prints through the Front Range where she rode 600-miles solo though the high country in the winter of 1873.

The day broke clear when I headed up Hwy .285, which was the Denver Stage Road in Isabella’s day. It is a sweeping highway that curls through forests of Ponderosa Pine with splotches of orange willows and lemon-colored aspen on the left and

the energetic North Fork of the South Platte River on the right. If you are looking for an adventurous hike with staggering views take the Colorado Trail at the summit of Kenosha Pass. Just around the bend is 75-mile-wide South Park, once the summer hunting grounds of the Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne.

In need of company in this lonely expanse, Isabella followed a stranger who turned out to be Comanche Bill, a notorious Indian killer. She shared the trail with him through Tarryall Valley where gold was discovered in 1859. I followed

their tracks through this rust-colored valley watered by a stealthy stream. Weathered cabins likely built in her day spoke of the hard times of miners who rushed the valley in search of treasure. Bill directed her to Fairplay, my next stop.

Isabella rode an average of 25 miles a day stopping when she saw a light in the window of a cabin. Knocking on the doors of strangers to get out of the weather, she often slept with the children. I settled into my cozy room at the Hand Hotel, built in 1879 wondering how she could have managed that rough life. Isabella spoke of ruffians and vigilante law in this stop in time. Today there is an outdoor western museum where you can wander among 43 structures built in the 1800s relocated here at great expense. For ten bucks you may survey this South Park Museum for as long as you like.

On the way to trendy Breckenridge, I saw swaths of lemon-colored aspen carving a path through the deep green of the pine-sheathed peaks. This stretch on Hwy. 9 is a bit of a nail-biter with dizzying descents and tricky hairpin turns, but worth the butterflies. I stopped for a leg stretcher on the charming river walk in Breckenridge. When rain drops started falling on my head I pressed on toward Hwy. 119, the glorious Peak-to-Peak Highway.

A stop at Georgetown, home to the most restored Victorian homes in the state, garnered a BBQ lunch to fortify me for the rest of the drive. The popular Georgetown Loop’s narrow-gauged train that puffs its way through aspen, spruce trees and Ponderosa pines is an adventure anyone can enjoy. Isabella came through here on her way to Green Lake. She was warned off making the climb but was undaunted. When she arrived at her ultimate destination after an arduous slog through

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA BALLOU Linda Ballou enjoyed some quiet time in the mountain community of Conifer before giving her talk about Isabella
Bird
to the historical society.

lake

It is a short hop from Georgetown through Central City to the Peak-to-Peak Highway (aka Hwy 119 that turns into Hwy 7) that delivers you to Estes Park where Isabella began and ended her mountain tour. It is a spectacular cruise through some of Colorado’s most glorious scenery. Isabella averaged 25 miles a day on Birdie, her steadfast mare, to do her mountain tour in about a month. On especially horrible days she would have to ride fifty miles to reach a cabin with a light in the window where she could stay the night. After seeing the vast expanses through some of our country’s most daunting landscapes, my admiration for this indomitable woman has only deepened along the way.

I agree with Isabella that the Front Range with its dramatic descents, charging rivers, and austere granite peaks, is not to be missed, but that Estes Park remains the fairest. It is the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) with miles of well-groomed trails to lakes and waterfalls for all to enjoy. I was wellreceived at the YMCA Library where I shared a PowerPoint presentation about my mountain tour. Brett Wilson, host of the Rocky Mountain Channel podcast, attended and offered to take me on a private ride in the park. It was a fitting finale to my Majestic Mountain Tour.

Steaming away in the spa at my lodge watching the aspen shimmy in wild wind, I felt gratified to know I was welcome here in Estes Park and thought of all the new friends I made on my journey. Isabella Bird is considered to be the Mother of the RMNP because her powerful descriptions brought throngs of tourists and writers like me to know what she described so lovingly in letters to her sister Henrietta in 1873 that became “A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains.”

Above left: The popular Georgetown Loop’s narrowgauged train puffs its way through aspen, spruce trees and Ponderosa pines for all to enjoy.

Above: Swaths of lemon-colored aspen carve a path through the deep green of the pine-sheathed peaks.

Left: Ballou stopped for a “leg stretcher” on the charming river walk in Breckenridge.

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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 involved LAUSD receiving a ransom demand after a Labor Day security breech causing a shutdown of the district’s computer systems. In a ransomware attack, cyber criminals break into a network to encrypt or to steal files which then may be held for ransom hidden on the dark web. Let’s get a couple of terms under our belts.

The Surface Web. This is the part of the World Wide Web also known as the visible web, indexable web, or Clearnet. It is content on the World Wide Web that is indexed by popular search engines like Google. Search engines create a database of pages on the internet through programs called web spiders, also called web crawlers or search engine bots. These automated programs roam the internet, compiling information about web pages and indexing them by keywords or other appropriate information for easy retrieval by search engines. So, you can type in a subject and find all kinds of sites giving you the information you are looking for.

The Deep Web . This refers

to parts of the internet you can’t access with standard search engines (browsers) like Google, Bing or Yahoo. Sites on the Deep Web are not indexed by these common search engines. Imagine a card catalogue in a library that has every book in the library ‘indexed’ or recorded by title, author and location on the library shelves. Now imagine an infinite library with no card catalogue system of indexing. There would be no help locating a specific book you are seeking.

Actually, you use the deep web all the time. You need authentication

to reach them like a user ID and password. All your personal email, your banking, your medical records, your educational records, etc., are located in the Deep Web. They are on the World Wide Web but are not public.

The Dark Web. This is part of the non-indexed Deep Web. Sites on the Dark Web are not indexed, and are not accessible to most browsers.

You need a special, anonymous browser like Tor to get to the Dark Web. An anonymous browser provides anonymity by keeping all communication private. This happens due to encryption and the routing of content through multiple web servers to keep its true origin hidden.

After my first trip to the DarkWeb, I closed down my computer wanting to dunk it into a bucket of bleach and then do the same thing to myself. It was horrible…murder for hire, drugs, sex trafficking…. Ugh! But I have come to appreciate the positive side of the Dark Web as a place whistle blowers and dissidents or others wanting to share sensitive information can get their messages out to the world and still remain anonymous.

What Happened at LAUSD?

Over Labor Day Weekend, when

cyber security was not as heavily manned as usual at LAUSD, hackers broke into the district’s information and management systems. The intent of the hackers was a double ransom proposition. They wanted to lock LAUSD out of the school management systems and gain access to sensitive student and employee data. The target then would have to pay a ransom to get their systems opened up again and have the data returned, which, even after payment is made, is no guarantee of truly returning the stolen data. A group called Vice Society took credit for the attack.

So, how did this happen? Imagine all the student login/passwords and employee login/passwords that might have been shared and the thousands of people using the system. Some of those thousands might not be so careful, some may deliberately inject malware into their target. and some might sign onto personal, unprotected sites during breaks. Add in all the months and months of COVID-19 home instruction on computers, tablets and phones plugged into who knows what. What a security nightmare!

Luckily for LAUSD, the hackers didn’t have time to complete their plan or the whole system would have been shut down and taken months to recover. The district intercepted the attack and deactivated all its systems in the middle of the attack, avoiding a catastrophic breach. As it is, we are not sure yet exactly what information was taken but we do know that after Superintendent Alberto Carvalho refused to pay any ransom, some information was leaked to the Dark Web. That information made some students and employees vulnerable to identity theft.

While things have quieted down, it doesn’t mean the hackers won’t retry hitting LAUSD by bypassing the security products installed on the network. Hackers do their work for fun and profit, and like a challenge.

Now What?

WEST

Vote by Nov 8,

Vote by Nov 8,

A joint cybersecurity advisory from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) warned that federal agencies have “observed... actors disproportionately targeting the education sector with ransomware attacks.” The LAUSD systems have been turned back on slowly to avoid any “tripwire” that may have been left by the hackers to trigger system failures. There is a hotline established to answer questions and provide support: (855) 926-1129. Impacted individuals will be provided with credit-monitoring services. Students and staff must reset their passwords, an enormous project. Of course, many committees are being formed to study and address this problem. My advice: spend the money on cyber experts, not administrators.

12 October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20
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MY CORNER OF THE CANYON

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 Bradbury; or the enchanted Sleepy Hollow on the Hudson, Washington Irving’s hallowed ground; or even as a young girl in North Canton, Ohio, when you fall under the spell. A surge flows through your youthful blood, a quickening that awakens a love of autumn deep within the heart where it ever remains.

Perhaps this autumnal ardor is carried on the wind as a whisper half heard, or through the smell of wood fires, or the taste of a candy apple you once ate at a carnival. Maybe the love of October is rooted in the riotous color of foliage, bolder than it has any right to be, as your eight-yearold self rides a bike past those wild, painted trees in a late fall afternoon, excited at being alive and freer than you’ll ever be again.

In Southern California we don’t have real Autumn. We have Santa Ana winds, fire danger and Trader Joe’s, which actually does a good job of presenting fall fare in the middle of a tropical theme. Then there’s the plethora of pumpkinflavored beverages from Starbucks. Personally, I’m holding out for a good pumpkin champagne.

As our autumn begins, it remains ruthlessly, insultingly hot with brown hills, parched earth, and the Southern California citizenry still sporting shorts and flipflops as if trapped in an endless summer. Even pumpkin seeds planted in early summer by hopeful children at Children’s Corner came to naught.

Oh, sometimes there’s a moon, a full fall moon, big, round and orange like a great pumpkin hanging in the sky. I consult “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” to find the date of what’s termed the Hunter’s moon (Oct. 9). The almanac is a historical publication founded in 1792, known for forecasting the weather, offering planting and fishing advise, recipes, astronomical tables, folklore and advertisements from stump grinders to a male intimacy restorative device called the Vacu-rect. You get the picture.

The “Almanac’s” cover claims the contents within will be “Useful, with a pleasant degree of humor.” Aside from the Vacu-rect, a sample of said degree of humor can be found in the title of a nature article, “Rough Times for Ruffed Grouse,” and another concerning a report on oral hygiene called, “The Tooth, The Whole Tooth, And Nothing But The Tooth.” Somehow, I find neither title coming anywhere close to what could be construed as a “pleasant

degree of humor.” In fact, I tend to label them “unpleasant,” as such clichéd punning is certainly not to be encouraged. But then, who am I to question a periodical that has been around for over two-hundred years?

I must admit to enjoying an informative article about pumpkins, “Beyond The Pumpkin Patch,” and learning the best choice of pumpkin for a pie, Winter Luxury, and an essay contest that pays cash prizes. Alas, I missed the deadline to enter this year’s theme, “My Most Memorable Wildlife Experience.” I could have written about the tarantula in the bed, the rattlesnake in the kitchen, or tug on the judges’ hearts with the story of the little chipmunk rescued from the cat’s mouth in the way-back times of childhood in Ohio. That was the first living thing I ever saw die and I cried over the small, still warm body in my hand. I’d call my opus, “So This Is Death.” Ah, what could have been? Honorable Mention at the least, but the glory, oh the glory. I ponder a question regarding the title, “The Old Farmer’s Almanac.” Is it the Farmer who is old or the Almanac itself? To which does the adjective “old” apply?

I await the cooling of the days, the magic of the season, the glow of that moon, the falling of an oak leaf dancing down in a Topanga breeze. But there is no breeze. To expedite the season, I persuade the Beleaguered Husband to

fetch down from the web-covered garage shelves numerous boxes of Halloween and Autumn treasures

collected over these many years. Such an undertaking, especially on a hot afternoon, produces a vitriolic spewing forth of expletives from the now mightily beleaguered man precariously balanced up on the ladder.

I harangue from beneath, hoping to avoid crawly things. “No, not that one, that’s Thanksgiving. I don’t want that. Isn’t there one labeled Autumn? Oh, how about the other box? No, I mean the green one.”

Suddenly, a container falls heavily scraping the skin across my arm. There Will Be Blood! But then, sacrifice is needed to lure the Autumn Goddess in and I do not begrudge her my crimson offering.

Even if it still feels like summer, it’s autumn! I know it is. I know it because I am walking along Old Canyon on a hot afternoon on my birthday wearing a homemade crown the children at school gave me. An old Stone Poneys’ song runs through my mind as I’m looking down, watching my steps on the uneven ground, by myself. That’s kind of the best way to be on your autumn birthday—by yourself. If not on a bicycle, at least you’re walking along thinking your own thoughts about being young and old in this world. Then I see autumn right under my feet. Acorns, hundreds of them, like autumn’s confetti, pinecones, too.

I think I’ll get myself a Winter Luxury pumpkin and make a pie.

13October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20 TheCanyonChronicle.com

passages

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 the other side. There is an old saying among pilots: “To fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check.”

Dan was born on Sept. 28, 1930 in Santa Monica. His dad was a traveling salesman and died early of alcoholism. His mom went to work for Douglas Aircraft, then a big industry in Santa Monica. One of Dan’s uncles was a pilot who took him flying at an early age, which later became a longtime passion.

At 18 he joined the Navy and served in the East Pacific. Dan was a patriot and felt military service was useful to teach young folks about life. And discipline!

After his release from the army Dan considered becoming a firefighter. But then he reconsidered, started to work as a lineman for DWP and did that job for 30 years. When he wasn’t climbing on poles to fix things, he spent much of his time at the beach. Swimming, surfing and diving for abalone. He’d ride his bike, and later motorcycle up the coast to his buddies at Nicholas Canyon beach. By then, his mom had remarried and moved to Old Canyon.

At first Dan didn’t have much luck with the ladies, until he met Roberta, a match made in heaven. She was from the mid-west and a charming, adventuresome traveler.

After WWII, she had spent time in post-war Europe and later worked at Yosemite State Park. One thing led to another and the two of them settled in Topanga for the rest of their lives.

Roberta was a teacher at Topanga Elementary. Whole generations of local kids adored her. She’d wear colorful outfits with matching hats, loved freebies, and had an uncanny ability to find them. Her husband also had a pronounced fashion sense, favoring Carhartt’s western wear and aviator caps.

Roberta encouraged him to follow his dream to get a pilot license, and then a 1957 Cessna 182 two-seater propeller plane, which he kept at Santa Monica airport and later in Camarillo. After his retirement from DWP the

Above, Roberta and Dan, who seems to have had two loves in his life: his 1957 Cessna 182 two-seater propeller plane (below), and his wife, Roberta, who encouraged him to follow his dream. They flew all over the country and sometimes slept under the pane. Quite a love affair.

propeller, radio, seats, and padding. The complete renovation took over a decade and thousands of hours to accomplish. His partner, Jeff Easom, did the lion’s share, while Dan would shoot the breeze and add his input and expert opinions. These trips included regular stops at Nicholas Canyon Beach, where he remembered times past, chatted with his longtime friend, Sandy, the lifeguard, and we’d watch the sunset.

Dan was a moderate drinker. He’d have Miller Lite and V-8 over ice in summer, and sweet, red wine in winter, buying gallon jugs at the historic San Antonio Winery.

He also loved to eat and buy people lunch, coffee, and ice cream.

two of them would take off and fly all over the states, and even into Mexico.

Life was good. They’d sometimes sleep under the plane, or take the “jittney” into town to meet the locals. Roberta was frugal, friendly and could sniff out a senior center for bargain lunches. They chose not to have kids, but Roberta loved the children at school, along with her flock of chickens and Mr. Macho, the rooster. The Kirby’s owned various houses in the canyon, and lived on Colina for many years.

Dan and Roberta were on the board of the Historical Society and had an active social life. She was seven years his senior and died in 2012 at home. In 2007, Dan had a knee operation that went awry and made him dependent on an elbow cane, a.k.a. the “gimpy stick.” This impaired his movements but he never complained about pain. “Nobody likes a whiner,” he’d say.

In 2014 he had a minor accident with his van and decided to give up driving. I was Dan Kirby’s driver from 2014 to 2020. Dan loved going up and down the coast, and say, “Let’s go to Santa Barbara for a beer”.

He loved jazz, oldies, and going places. We went to the Newport Beach Jazzfest, museums, air shows, the LA car show, the Nethercott collection, and Casey’s Tavern.

But first and foremost, we drove to Camarillo airport, where we spent countless hours in a dusty hangar, right next to the landing strip. His beloved Cessna was being overhauled. It got a new engine,

But his favorite thing was hatching plans for the next big adventure. In June of 2014 we went on a one-week California tour. Camping up the coast all the way past Napa, then into the mountains and down the 395. Jerry Simer drove Dan’s big Ford pickup with a camper shell on top, while towing his van. I did all the cooking in the camper, slept in my tent and fed them three square meals a day. We had so much fun! I also joined him and Cristy Collins, his full-time caregiver on a trip to Bear Valley to visit his favorite niece. That time we took the van and stayed in motels.

Dan was quite the talker and could chew your ear off, given half a chance. He was apt at starting conversations with strangers by asking a question. And then hijacking their attention to lecture at length on one of his many favorite topics. In later years, he developed dementia, so his stories became more repetitious and circular.

Dan lived to get his plane flying again, which finally happened on Dec. 2, 2020. Getting him into and out of the Cessna was a chore, but it happened. It made him so happy. This triumph gave him a profound feeling of accomplishment and completion. He wished to have his ashes spread from his plane, along the coast.

Two wisdoms I learned about life from him and Roberta. She would hand things over to spirit. “It’s all in the hands of the Lord,” while Dan believed in doing the best you can: “Give it your best shot!”

14 October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20
—Lola Babalon Dan Kirby, 1930-2022 KIRSTEN BOHMAN (310) 403-4818 KirstenBohman@gmail.com IG: vacayeveryday4life CalDRE# 02023958 SOLD Old Topanga Cyn Rd., Topanga - Rep. Seller & Buyer - $1,250,000SOLD Saddle Peak Rd., Topanga - Represented Seller $3,050,000 SOLD Summit Trail - $1,100,000 Topanga - Represented Buyer SOLD Old Topanga Cyn Rd. - $1,312,500 Topanga - Represented Buyer VACATION RENTAL A-73 Surfside Colony On the Sand $9,000/month, Call for More Info SOLD Blue Spruce Circle - $800,000 Thousand Oaks - Represented Buyer SOLD Mariah Lane - $710,000 Paso Robles - Represented Buyer SOLD Canyon Trail - $2,406,000 Topanga, Represented Buyer Thinking About Buying or Selling a Home? EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT Responsiveness. Attention to Detail. Results. 137 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd. DRE# 00528707
PHOTO BY KATIE DALSEMER. PHOTO BY LOLA BABALON
15October 14 • Vol. 3 No. 20 Serving Your Business through Ours THE MARKETPLACE • Small Ads for Big Ideas • Affordable $60/month • We will design for you THE MARKETPLACE Serving Your Business through Ours Contact us: ads@thecanyonchronicle.com | 310.460.9786 The Canyon Chronicle P.O. Box 1101, Topanga CA 90290 Feel safe to heal and inspired to grow Jean Wolfe Powers, LMFT Expert on Trauma, Grief, Loss and Transition (434) 996-5387 jean.wlf@gmail.com jeanwolfepowers.com Sandy Sonderling Soloist / Chamber Music Private Instruction in Your Home 818.951.4033 sscellist@yahoo.com sandysonderlingcello.com R.W. ROLDAN HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING You Can Control Your Environment Lic. 585114 Locally Owned SERVICE & INSTALLATION Ray Roldan Travis Roldan 818.477.7932 818.288.7078 Creek side dining for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Sunday Brunch. A perfect place for that special moment Weddings, Events & Private Parties (310) 455-1311 128 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga, CA 90290 innoftheseventhray.com of the Seventh Ray Holistic Wellness & Healing Dianne Porchia, MA, DMBM 310.455.2851 porchiaswish.com LIFE IN BALANCE BODY • MIND • HEART • SOUL Featured in HEAL Documentary Complete Eyecare for All Ages BOUTIQUE OPTICAL Call or Schedule Online 747.232.2202 lunaoptometry.com Located Within Gelson’s Village 22247 Mulholland Hwy, CalabasasDr. Emily James | Optometrist cphelps@searchlightinsurance.com www.searchlightinsurance.com Searchlight Insurance Services Craig Phelps T: 888-257-8200 C: 626-437-7900 F: 877-777-5199 SMS: 310-455-8205 CA License # 6000548 SUV WANTED ** 1999-2001 Toyota 4-Runner or Nissan Pathfinder ** 2002-2006 Nissan X-Terra TEXT TO: (310) 924-5984 TEXT TOPANGA TANYA WHEN YOU ARE READY TO BUY SELL OR INVEST TANYA STARCEVICH REALTOR® Ranked Top 10% Keller Williams Pacific Palisades | Malibu | Topanga T: 310.774.3824 | C: 310.739.4216 tanyastarcevich@gmail.com www.tanyashouses.com Broker #01499010 | BRE Lic #01864259 It’sNot Really Magic!Barbara Allen E.A. 310-455-2375 riklin@barbaraalleneataxservices.com Tax Preparation & Audit Representation For Individuals, Small Businesses, Estates, Trusts and Tax-Exempt Entities www.barbaraalleneataxservices.com Vote by Nov 8, 2022! (early voting starts 10/10) Gaurforwaterboard2022.com Paid for by Gaur for Water Board 2022 TAKING WATER SERIOUSLY SANJAY GAUR FOR WEST BASIN WATER BOARD FPCC 1453473
Callado Way William Preston Bowling (310) 428-5085 $162,000 MOUNTAIN VIEW LOT OUTSIDE COASTAL 0.42 acre Pritchett-Rapf Realtors TOPANGA (310) 455-4363 • PRTopanga.com Call for more information! Offices in Malibu & Topanga LOCAL & GLOBAL CalDRE 00528707Pritchett-Rapf Realtors LAND Hillside Drive William Preston Bowling (310) 428-5085 $979,000 3.498 acre PANORAMIC VIEWS ACROSS FROM STATE PARK LAND Saddle Peak Road William Preston Bowling (310) 428-5085 $525,000 0.857 acre PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEW LOT ON PRIVATE STREET LAND Chryssa Lightheart - (310) 663-3696 Perfect combo of country living and business opportunity. Topanga’s original gem, this was one of the original homes in this corner of the canyon. Since 2005, it has hosted a successful private facility offering dog training, boarding, and daycare. Old Topanga Canyon Blvd. 3 Bed | 2 Bath $4,600,000 The double door entry opens to living room with fireplace, hardwood floors and formal dining area. Enjoy the 3 bed + 3 bath home with open kitchen, breakfast area, center island & office (or 4th bdrm), vegetable garden, fruit trees, 5 beehives, and chickens. The property is surrounded by lots of walking, cycling and riding trails. An ATV goes with the house to travel the land and tend to the grounds. 3-car garage, solar panels, large crawl space with high ceilings. Offered at $1,900,000 Chryssa Lightheart (310) 663-3696 DRE# 01093433 Mountaintop Forever Views on 5.2 acres with Awe Inspiring Views! SOLD Chryssa Lightheart - (310) 663-3696 This mountain view home boasts floor to ceiling windows and captures Topanga State Park. Located at the end of the quiet cul-de-sac. The open floor plan has sliding glass doors from the living and dining room to the entertainer size decks to drink in nature. Horseshoe Drive 4 Bed | 3 Bath $1,875,000 SOLD Chryssa Lightheart - (310) 663-3696 California Dreaming where Palm Springs meets Topanga. An elegant one story midcentury home in the Viewridge Estates with resort-like grounds. Close to shopping and dining and steps from the trails. Amazing views to the south and west. Voltaire Drive 6 Bed | 3 Bath $1,970,000 Gayle Pritchett & Lacey Rose Gorden - (310) 748-1580 California Dreaming where Palm Springs meets Topanga. An elegant one story midcentury home in the Viewridge Estates with resort-like grounds. Close to shopping and dining and steps from the trails. Amazing views to the south and west. Old Topanga Canyon Rd. 3 Bed | 3.5 Bath $3,790,000 IN ESCROW

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