The Canyon Chronicle- March 17, 2023 (Vol. 4, No. 5) -www.thecanyonchronicle.com

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The Greening of Topanga

Some folks are celebratin’ “the Wearin’ of the Green,” but here in Topanga, Irish or not, we’re all “Livin’ in the Green” with the rains turning Topanga into the green hills of Ireland. Spring is almost here, a time of hope and promise. Why not start with an Irish jig and dance straight through to Topanga Days. There is so much for us to celebrate now and the Chronicle has some to share.

Senior reporter Annemarie Donkin starts off this issue with coverage of an event sponsored by the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation who celebrated the first 100 days of our new Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. (Page 4)

Topanga Elementary students sprang into Garden Repair Day with dads lending a hand. (Page 6) The Topanga Sympony is back (Page 7) and Sarah Spitz reviews a sublime revival of the musical, The Secret Garden. (Page 10)

In his column, Soul & Coffee, Rabbi Mendy Piekarski describes “The Joy of Purim” celebration that was held on March 7 and sends an invitation to attend an evening of Song, Storytelling and Inspiration with “Judaism: The Soundtrack,” later this month (Page 13).

In the news, L.A. County is being sued over new wireless ordinances recently adopted by the LA County Board of Supervisors (Page 5); Paula LaBrot explains the dark underbelly of TikTok and the Info Wars (Page 11); and Joel Bellman tells his personal story about “cat theft,” stealing catalytic converters, where California is home to about 37% of cat thefts in the U.S. (Page 12)

Our cover and center spread on Pages 8-9, features a new writer and photographer, Chris Conway, who, over two years, documented the regrowth around Eagle Rock (or do I see an elephant there?) in Topanga State Park following the Palisades Fire in 2021. What do you know about Elephant Rock?

Wrapping things up on Page 14 are a number of events that will keep us occupied until the time arrives when it’s all Topanga Days all the time culminating in Memorial Day, a time of remembrance when we celebrate the lives of those who made the supreme sacrifice in times of war and pray for their souls. After that, we can take a deep breath and slip into the long, lazy days of summer.

—Flavia Potenza

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

Sarah Spitz

Paula LaBrot

Kait Leonard

Amy Weisberg

Kim Zanti

Copy Editor / Distribution

Ellie Carroll

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through Feb. 2023. On May 14, 2021, the Palisades Fire was first reported and would not be fully contained until May 26. It raged through Topanga State Park between the Community House and View Ridge Road and north of Entrada Road. About 1000 residents were evacuated and Topanga Canyon Blvd. was closed.The fire burned about 1,158 acres. (See Page 8 for Conway’s story)

Photo of Eagle Rock by Chris Conway, before the Palisades Fire in Jan. 2021. For two years, he documented the regrowth of the area

Flavia Potenza, Birdie, Tom Cat

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Honored by the LVHF

By Annemarie Donkin

On a gorgeous winter day, more than 150 residents of Santa Monica Mountains communities gathered at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas on Saturday, March 4, to honor Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath on her first 100 days in office.

After the recent storms, the mountains were emerald green underneath a cloudy sky as guests convened for a splendid luncheon highlighted by a champagne toast.

Kim Lamorie, President of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation (LVHF), along with the LVHF Event Committee hosted the gathering of folks committed to preserving the beauty and sanctity of the Santa Monica Mountains.

The LVHF gave special thanks to Joe Edmiston and the The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

Topanga resident Ken Mazur played outstanding jazz guitar to accompany the event throughout the afternoon.

After a convivial cocktail hour and a delicious meal provided by Chef Cordelia Catering (chefcordelia.com), guests settled in for the program.

Lamorie invited several people, longtime leaders dedicated to the preservation of the Santa Monica Mountains, to speak prior to Horvath.

Roger Pugliese, Vice President of the LVHF and chair of the Topanga Association for a Scenic Community (TASC) addressed Horvath directly, expressing the sentiments of the invited guests. “We are thrilled that you have become our supervisor,” he said acknowledging Horvath’s understanding of the importance of preserving the Santa Monica Mountains. “It takes all of us to do this, we all can take part.”

LETTERS

David Szymanski, Superintendent of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) spoke of L.A. County Measure H passed in 1992 to save nearly 20,000 acres of wildland and rolled out a huge map of the mountains showing what lands have been preserved and how much more land needs to be saved. (SMMNRA was established as the 295th unit of the National Park System as part of the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978.)

“This is the most special state park in the system,” Szymanski said about SMMNRA. “In 1978, we established 156,000 acres under the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and it is now an area of national interest—60

Kim Lamorie, president of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation (LVHF), forwarded this letter from David W. Pedersen, P.E., General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, to Friends of the Santa Monica Mountains and The Canyon Chronicle. While LVMWD is not Topanga’s water district (West Basin MWD is), this is good news regarding an important water update.

Dear Kim,

I am reaching out to give you and the LVHF an update on the latest water supply conditions and advance notice of a staff recommendation to our Board that, if approved, would involve a measured softening of LVMWD’s current drought restrictions.

Although the drought is not over and conservation remains a top priority for LVMWD, water supply conditions have materially improved for agencies like ours that receive a majority of their deliveries from the State Water Project.

On January 26, 2023, the California Department of Water Resources (CADWR) increased its State Water Project allocation from 5% to 30% of requested amounts due to the large amount of rain and snow in December/January.  Subsequently, on February 1, 2023, CADWR completed its second

percent of this land is public land and we need to protect it into perpetuity.”

Supervisor Horvath then stepped up to speak following an extended standing ovation.

“I am incredibly grateful, for this awesome opportunity and incredibly grateful for your trust in me,” Horvath said. “I am grateful for the gift of this district that I know you all so carefully steward… there is so much that is special about the Santa Monica Mountains; the biodiversity and all that makes this special. So, we will fight like hell to protect this region

for sure,” Horvath said. “I will say, many of you were on that journey with us, with banners, with the signs you put in your yards and driving us through the neighborhoods to help us understand the issues, so we could speak with understanding.”

Horvath also spoke of holding the telecommunications companies accountable.

“Telecommunications, the sighting of cell towers, we are continuing to fight the federal government and not let them have a blank check to write their own ticket as to where to put their facilities, but in getting more local control as to where those towers are placed to protect our communities from harmful impact.”

Horvath further spoke of her responsibility to the diverse neighborhoods and constituents in her district and especially the need for accountability while in office.

with the sanctity that it deserves.”

Horvath oversees the Third District, which includes much of the West Side, most of the San Fernando Valley, the Conejo Valley, Topanga and the Santa Monica Mountains all the way to the Ventura County line, with the northern border including Chatsworth and Porter Ranch.

Horvath previously served as a City Councilmember and is the longest consecutively serving Mayor for the City of West Hollywood. She is the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the first millennial and only renter to serve on the historic all-female Board.

“It was a wild journey to get here

manual snow survey for the year and reported that statewide snowpack is at 205% of average levels for this time of year. Together, these conditions improve LVMWD’s water supply conditions and warrant a re-look at our current drought restrictions.

With this in mind, staff is recommending that the LVMWD Board consider de-escalating its implementation of the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan by one “notch”—from Stage 3 (Water Shortage Emergency) to Stage 2 (Water Shortage Warning). If approved, this would mean that outdoor water budget reductions (50% reduction for potable water and 25% reduction for recycled water) would be eliminated (no drought reduction factors), and we would no longer be installing flow restriction devices. We would, however, still be encouraging customers to use water efficiently and stay within their water budgets.  We would also be encouraging customers to transform their landscapes to be drought-tolerant and climate-appropriate since 70% of water use within the service area is outdoors. Finally, the oneday-per-week watering restriction (potable water only) would remain in effect until lifted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which is expected to occur on March 14th.

“We were speaking of people who have my title or who are in similar positions who are afraid of accountability, which is a little shocking because we run [for office] saying we can do things, and if we can’t do them, why should we continue to hold this seat,” she said. “I think of accountability as a conversation; [you] tell us what we are doing well so we can keep doing that for you, tell us what you need so we can fill those gaps, tell us what didn’t really work out the way we intended so we can do it better.

“In partnership we will make this a region that continues to be so beautiful, so special and a space to be so incredibly proud of,” Horvath said. “I am honored and humbled to be your servant in this seat, and I look forward to the partnership we will have in the years to come. Thank you very, very much, I thank you all.”

For information: lacounty.gov/ government/board-of-supervisors/ lindsey-p-horvath.

Last but not least, I want to thank the LVHF and residents of the Santa Monica Mountains for such tremendous work thus far to conserve water.  Your efforts have been truly historic and collectively resulted in an average 37% Districtwide reduction in water demand from June 1 through December 31, 2022. This is among the highest levels in the entire state.  All of us at LVMWD are forever thankful for your partnership and support.  Thank you!

All the best, Dave

Pederson

Kim Lamorie responds: “Congratulations to you, responsive stakeholders that you always are, for your tremendous historic conservation efforts that are among the highest levels in the state!! This is why we like the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Responsive and community focused. They will be at our meeting this month to elaborate and answer questions too!

Congratulations, too, to Jeremy Wolf whom you all know from his years of conservation advocacy, from the Federation, or from working for State Senator, Henry Stern, or as an Agoura Hills Planning Commissioner, or now, as an Agoura Hills Councilmember, he is working for the LVMWD as their Legislative Program Manager. They are lucky to have him!

For information: lvhf.org.

PHOTO BY FLAVIA POTENZA

SMMNRA Superintendent David Szymanski rolled out a map showing nearly 20,000 acres of wildland saved since 1992, and how much more land needs to be preserved. Pictured are TASC president Roger Pugliese (left) and Alisa Pederson (right).

PHOTO BY ANNEMARIE DONKIN

LVHF president Kim Lamorie (left) and the LVHF Event Committee hosted the event honoring Supv. Horvath (right)

LA County Sued Over New Wireless Ordinances

Groups say recent changes eliminate community involvement, flout environmental laws, and ignore safety concerns.

By Brenda Martinez

A coalition of community non-profits and environmental groups staged a press event on March 8th at Resurrection Catholic Church in East Los Angeles to explain their recently-filed lawsuit against Los Angeles County. Led by the non-profit organization FiberFirstLA, the coalition includes Mothers of East LA, the Boyle Heights Community Partners, Children’s Health Defense (CHD), the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and other groups.

The groups contend that recent changes to the Los Angeles County Code adopted and approved by the LA County Board of Supervisors have taken away their right to be consulted about the placement of antennas in their communities, flagrantly violated important protections contained in California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and failed to include important safety measures designed to protect the life and property of Los Angelinos in a rapidly changing weather environment.

The groups have asked the court for a temporary stay and temporary injunction, pending resolution of the lawsuit.

“The right of citizens to have a voice in important decisions about their health, their safety, and their future is fundamental to American democracy,” said Brenda Martinez, a local community organizer in East L.A., and a founding member of FiberFirstLA. “The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has clearly put the interests of giant telecoms ahead of the interests of

the people they’re supposed to represent. There’s no other reason to take away the right of people in our community to be heard,” she said.

“We will continue to fight on behalf of the people of L.A., California, and the entire country,” said W. Scott McCollough, a former Texas assistant attorney general and telecom and administrative law attorney with CHD. “Policies implemented in California rarely stay there; they quickly spread to other states. We need to stop this free pass for telecom giants while we still can, so we are taking L.A. County to court.”

“When it comes to broadband access, our community is underserved. But that doesn’t mean we should give up important legal and

Designer Showpiece Home With Views!

environmental rights that protect the people,” said Monsignior John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Catholic Church in Boyle Heights. Rev. Moretta is a forceful environmental activist, who has led his community in fighting EXIDE lead pollution from the former battery recycling plant in Vernon. “We have worked hard to make sure the little guy who doesn’t always have a voice has certain protections. This legal action will help restore those protections,” he said.

The lawsuit was filed March 8th in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

For more information: FiberFirstLA.org; Brenda Martinez, Fiber First LA, (323) 347-1142.

PHOTO BY #JAROCHELO FiberFirstLA lawyer Armita Ariano (at podium) from the office of Mitchell M. Tsai announced the lawsuit against Los Angeles County from the steps of Resurrection Catholic Church in East Los Angeles on March 8. To the left of Ms. Ariano are Monsignior John Moretta, pastor of the church, and (center) Brenda Martinez of FiberFirst A.

TECS Students Spring Into Art Season SCHOOLHOUSE SCOOP

By TECS News Team

Thebudding artists of Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) have an exciting Spring season ahead, with work from every student to be showcased in our wider canyon community.

“The Topanga Elementary Student Art Show” is taking place at Topanga Library for three days from Wednesday, March 29 to Friday, March 31. Each young artist has been working on their individual creation for several weeks, supported by the school’s art teacher Randy Butler. It is hoped that every TECS student will display their artwork at the special gallery show.

On April 16, the Topanga Elementary Variety Show is taking place at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, with dozens of students participating in The Wizard of Ozthemed production, and perform on the magical outdoor stage. The event will be emceed by the musician and comedian Stacie Burrows, who performed her show, Bulletproof Unicorn, at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts and media festival. There will be musical performances, aerial silks, comedy, and much more in what promises to be a fun and uplifting occasion.

Both events are organized by Topanga Enrichment Programs (TEP) and the school’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) committee, and made extra special by taking place in the heart of the local community.

“The theme of this year’s Variety Show is going to be the journey through Oz,” said VAPA chair Stephanie Polansky. “It will be a lot of fun and very interactive for everybody. We’re delighted to have Stacie on board to emcee. She’s a great talent and will keep both the kids and the adults entertained. The Theatricum is such an iconic venue, and we’re incredibly grateful that they have donated it for our use. It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for the students to perform on that stage.

Tickets for the Variety Show are available now at bit.ly/41viFI1

“I’m also excited to see the student art gallery come to life at the library. Randy is doing a wonderful job helping to pull the students’ work together, and it’s great for the kids to be able to show off their talents in a public space. From what I’ve seen, they’re all enjoying expressing themselves, while also taking it very seriously,” Polansky said.

Visual and performing arts, along with science, are the pillars of the school’s charter, and Polansky is excited to share the students’ hard work with all Topanga residents, especially after the recent break from group gatherings due to the pandemic.

“These are great community events to bring everyone together,” she said. “It’s what Topanga is all about.”

The Art Show is being led by first-grade mom Belle Millar, the library staff, and a team of parent volunteers. The opening night will be for the young artists and their families, with the room open to the public on Thursday and Friday. Organizers are looking for artwork from parents and other community members to sell at the event.

Auction Items Wanted

Topanga Elementary’s specialist art teacher and science teacher Jeffrey Esparza, along with technology classes, physical education coaches, and classroom aides, are among the enrichment staff paid for by the donations of generous families, .

The Online Auction, which goes live in April, is an excellent opportunity for the community to contribute to the school so every child can continue to benefit from these staff and resources that LAUSD doesn’t pay for.

The auction committee is looking for donations for the fundraising sale, which could be a few nights in a vacation home, tickets to a sporting event, gift cards, or any other products that fellow Topanga residents would enjoy. Or perhaps you could use your skills and offer a class or service to bidders, like photography lessons or private yoga sessions. Those who would like to offer a donation should contact auction@ topangaelementary.org.

TECS Gardens

Continue to Bloom

Topanga Elementary parents and students braved the drizzle earlier this month to continue the excellent work going into rejuvenating the garden beds on campus. Several families showed up with their tools, skills, and community spirit for “Garden Repair Day” on Sunday, March 5. Andy Zuchero and Sam Jacober were the Science Committee leads for building the critter covers to protect the plants. Each TECS class has its own wooden raised bed and are enjoying biweekly gardening lessons as part of the science enrichment at the school.

TECS parent, Kelly Rockwell, who is among those spearheading the gardening initiative, said, “Topanga has a way of bringing people together for common goals. This project was a real team effort and I’m so grateful that the seeds we are planting in our classes will have a chance to fully bloom. The support from faculty, staff, parents, and students really shows there is a desire for outdoor education and environmental science, and it’s great to be part of that.”

PHOTOS BY KELLY ROCKWELL.

James Campbell-Collins and his daughter, first-grader Maggie, prepare the beds at the Garden Repair Day.

TECS students Ailbe Millar and Paige Rockwell place a critter cover over one of the garden beds at the Garden Repair Day.

Clint Rockwell and Eric DeLeon work on the critter cages at the Garden Repair Day.

Topanga Symphony Free Concert

By Jeanne Mitchell

The Topanga Symphony will be performing at the Topanga Community Center on Sunday April 2nd at 3 p.m., a free classical music concert featuring Music Director and Conductor Jerome Kessler on cello.

This concert represents the 41st season of free classical music concerts presented by the Topanga Symphony and is sponsored in part by a grant from the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Organizational Grant Program.

Jerome Kessler has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Topanga Symphony since it began in 1982. He has often been a soloist with the orchestra as a virtuoso cellist, most recently performing the premiere of his friend and fellow conductor Barry Brisk’s Cello Concerto on March 8, 2020.

Kessler will perform Laszlo Varga’s arrangement of the Cello Sonata in F Major by Richard Strauss, under the baton of guest conductor Michael Stanley.

Varga has often appeared as a soloist with the Topanga Symphony, most recently on July 8, 2001. As a renowned cello teacher, Varga has seen scores of his students accept positions with orchestras and universities throughout the

world. Prior to his retirement, he conducted master classes and performed in recitals, as well as

conducted worldwide groups of cello ensembles.

The other offering of the day is

ARTS

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony #3 in E flat, Op. 55 (“Eroica”).

Beethoven composed his third symphony from 1803 to 1804 when the world was transitioning from mostly rural country living into the industrial age. As a leading artist of the time, Beethoven and other artists were concerned that the embrace of nature would be obscured by the urban lifestyle. Musically it manifested into a change from classical to romantic music evoking and encouraging an emotional connection to nature and freedom. The impressive work is considered the first symphony written in the romantic style and brings both bold and lyrically expressive qualities to the audience.

Become a Friend

The Topanga Symphony donors are affectionately known as “Friends of the Topanga Symphony.” These individuals and community businesses keep the musicians playing this beautiful music free to the public.

Visit us at topangasymphony. com for more information about this amazing community orchestra and how to help support an iconic treasure of Topanga. Bring your neighbors and friends to the concert on April 2nd at 3 p.m. The Community Center is located at 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290.

PHOTO BY TOM MITCHELL

Jerome Kessler, often a soloist with the Topanga Symphony as a virtuoso cellist, has been the Music Director and Conductor since it began in 1982.

The Return of Elephant

By Chris Conway

Before the fire

The prominent cliffs were skirted with dry, shaggy chaparral so dense that new seeds had nowhere to sprout. The chaparral of Southern California is a fire-dependent ecosystem and the destructive forces of nature hadn’t cleared the land for regrowth in decades. As the drought lingered and fire season extended to all times of the year, it felt as though a fire would flare up at any moment. When it happened, the firefighters did a great job protecting the community, stopping the flames at the firebreak before it got too close to any houses.

After the fire

Returning to the park after the fire felt like a visit to a different planet. The remains of burned brush stood tall and ash covered the ground. In the months after the fire you could see regrowth beginning. Fresh sprouts started to grow from the base of tall burnt shrubs and along banks of the creek below.

After the rain

In the first winter after the fire (2022) we didn’t get much rain, but there was plenty of new growth in the valley. A year after the fire, the blackened ground had turned green again, the ash acting as a fertilizer and helping the new seedlings along. With all of the rain in the past few months, the hills are full of life. Lush green vegetation is everywhere and the fire zone is full of new plants. A rainbow of colored wildflowers can be seen on a hike through

The tall sandstone cliffs of Eagle Rock are one of a hike in Topanga, Eagle Rock is an excellent destination. surrounding mountains and the perfect place to few years the park around the rock has gone through

First year’s regrowth 2022: (top left) Spanish Bayonet or Chaparral Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei); (left) Sugar Bush or Sugar Sumac (Rhus ovata); (above) Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus), the first to bring life back to the scorched landscape.

Conway took the first photo (see cover) of the series in January 2021, a few months before the Palisades Fire swept through the state park. The second photo (above) was taken shortly after the fire. With the chaparral burned to ashes, the silhouette of an elephant’s head is barely revealed. (See inset)

Source: en.wikipedia.org eagle rock topanga

Trippet Ranch, Santa Monica Mountains via Wikipedia.org.

Elephant Rock*

of Topanga’s most popular hiking destinations.

you’re planning destination. The tall sandstone cliffs offer a great view of the to sit down for a snack before heading back down the trail. In the last through an incredible transformation and is in the process of regrowth.

the burn zone, some of which have returned with the help of the fire.

Elephant Rock

Before it was named Eagle Rock, it was known as Elephant Rock. Looking at it from just north of Eagle Rock, you can make out the large head of an elephant with caves making up the eyes. The trunk was made up of another rock below it. By 2021, with dense brush covering the ground, the elephant was hidden, and Eagle Rock was the only name of this iconic Topanga landform. Now that the dense brush is gone perhaps people will call it Elephant Rock again; or maybe Falcon Rock for the birds living in some of the caves. We can hope some day Eagles will return to Topanga and enjoy soaring through the Santa Monica mountains once again.

The forces of nature in Topanga can be incredibly strong, with extreme circumstances arising regularly. For decades the vegetation in Topanga State Park had turned from lush to brush, and with the extended drought, nature was eager to take back some of its power. After decades of growth it was only a matter of time for a fire to turn the brush to ash and the cycle to start over again.

*Author’s Note: Wikipedia mentions Elephant Rock as the original name, probably before it was renamed Eagle Rock. I lived off of Cheney in the ’80s, a freerange kid who was allowed to roam the park as long as I took my dog and didn’t go too far. There’s a large rock with caves on the way up the trail, which has a nest-like structure on top that may have been home to eagles; I found droppings with small bones in them back then.

If

2023: Regrowth in the fire zone shows the beauty rising from the tenacious forces of nature in the wake of extreme circumstances. (Inset) California buttercups (Ranunculus californicus); (above) Purple Lupine (Lupinus succulentus) is always a welcome harbinger of spring.

After winter rains the valley started to turn bright green. With this year’s massive rainfall totals only time will tell what new seeds will sprout. Once again the valley will fill with brush, and eventually a fire will sweep through starting the cycle over. (Photo: February 2023)

Good Theater but One is Sublime Out & About

By Sarah Spitz

Sublime is the only word I can use to describe the revival of the beloved musical, The Secret Garden onstage now through March 26 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Blessedly, the children in two leading roles are not saccharine sweet, precocious little musical stars. Their characters are stubborn, impetuous, imperious and convincingly delightful and these serious young actors allow the depth and profundity of this beautiful story to shine.

The Secret Garden is about damaged people who find redemption through reawakening themselves to life and love. The original Broadway darling and Tony winner for choreography, has been sensitively updated, telling the story of Mary Lennox (Emily Jewel Hoder), tragically orphaned by cholera in India, who’s sent to her only living relative in England, an emotionally stunted uncle who was married to her mother’s sister.

Archibald Craven (Derrick Davis) has been mourning the death of wife Lily (Sierra Boggess) for ten years, haunted by her spirit and overwhelming memories of their love. She died in childbirth, and their son, Colin (William Foon), who has been hidden in an out-of-the-way bedroom by Archibald’s brother, Dr. Trevor Craven (Aaron Lazar), who’s treating him for an unknown ailment—perhaps invented—from which Colin has been led to believe he will die. Trevor was secretly in love with Lily, and there may be an ulterior motive in keeping Colin out of sight.

Lily’s beloved garden has been locked up and neglected because it’s where she was caught in the storm that caused her death. Mary, a stubborn, self-possessed child ignores the rules of the house and seeks not only to find and enter the garden, but upon discovering Colin, to restore him to life. She engages with Dickon (John-Michael Lyles), the wild child brother of Martha (Julia Lester), the caring housemaid and her accomplice, to find the key to Lily’s garden gate.

The staging is so inventive, and the singing so brilliant that I teared up more than once. When Archibald sings “Lily’s Eyes,” (Mary has Lily’s hazel-colored eyes), I wept openly. These are not merely actors playing characters on a stage. I felt their pain, I understood their heartbreak.

It’s an impressionistic staging,

with a massive vine or wooden stem spiraling from floor to ceiling takes center stage and changes with the lighting to become a staircase, a twisted overgrown rose bush, or a bolt of lightning; Lily’s flowing chiffon gown wafts ghostlike around her (her voice is ethereally crystalline); there’s sultry choreography of the cholera figure (Kelly Dorney) in a henna-patterned body suit who wraps her red scarf around the necks of those whom she afflicts; drop-down backgrounds cleverly create the interior of the house… all of it combines for a flawless production. I hope it’s bound for Broadway with this very cast.

I’m giving the other two plays I saw this week an A for effort, but less enthusiasm for the results.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile Comedian / actor / intellectual and art collector Steve Martin wrote Picasso at the Lapin Agile, an absurdist comedy about an imaginary meeting between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein, just before Picasso breaks the art world open with cubism and Einstein upends physics with

his theory of relativity. It’s onstage at thatthe small but mighty Ruskin Group Theatre at Santa Monica Airport, making the most of its space with a terrific stage set.

I didn’t know Santa Monica restaurateur and philanthropist Fred Deni (Back on Broadway, Back at the Beach) had been a professional actor on and off Broadway. Here he plays Gaston, a habitué of The Lapin Agile, the (actual) renowned cabaret in Montmartre where the action takes place.

Einstein (Ryan Stiffelman) is waiting for his date and Suzanne (Ashley Barrett in multiple roles) is hoping to reconnect with passionate Picasso (Isaac Cruz). Sadly, I don’t think the uneven ensemble cast holds together sufficiently to put across the “wild and crazy ideas” at work in the play.

Cardenio

Lastly, Cardenio at the alwaysadmirable City Garage (at Santa Monica’s Bergamot Art Station) is a play within a play, about an (actual) lost play of Shakespeare’s whose authenticity has been argued over by scholars since the 1600s.

The story starts with a similar plot as the play, a wedding at which the husband wishes to test the fidelity of his bride by asking his best friend to seduce her. Mayhem ensues.

In this version, by Charles Mee and Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt, the plot twists turn slapstick, with high-speed soliloquys, jealousy, mismatched couples and an interfering actress mom who complicates things by planning to present the lost play as a wedding gift to her son.

Does it succeed? I had a hard time focusing on the play due to one very loud laugher in the audience, whose braying (often at inappropriate moments) and distracted me from the action on the stage. The energy is high, the creative—if slightly unbalanced script—and hardworking cast give it their all to create, once again, a unique City Garage theatrical experience.

Sarah A. Spitz is an award-winning public radio producer, retired from KCRW, where she also produced arts stories for NPR. She writes features and reviews for various print and online publications.

TheCanyonChronicle.com

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY OF MURPHYMADE

The cast of “The Secret Garden” in the revival production of The Secret Garden at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre through March 26, 2023.

TikTok and the Info Wars

By Paula LaBrot

TikTok, like its Chinese counterpart Douyin, is a short-form video hosting service owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which can range in duration from three seconds to 10 minutes. TikTok is the fastest growing platform in the world, available in more than 150 markets and more than 35 languages. The app has seen more than 3.5 billion downloads worldwide, making it one of the most popular apps ever, according to Deborah D’Souza for Investopedia.com

Why So Popular?

According to Neuroscience News , “Social networking sites grab us because they involve self-relevant information and bear on our social status and reputation. The greater your need to belong and be popular, and the stronger your brain’s reward centers respond to your reputation being enhanced, the more irresistible is the site’s siren song.”

Media Shower, a marketing company, suggests that “One of the biggest reasons for TikTok’s runaway success is its focus on user-generated content. The app celebrates creativity and individuality, giving users a platform to share their unique perspectives and talents. This focus on self-expression is a huge draw for people of all ages. It allows them to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to their viewers.”

Creators on the platform are able to get extremely creative with their content, putting together funny sketches and informative videos. Cooking, music and dance continue to be the most popular types of videos on TikTok along with lots of cat and dog videos. You can also find plenty of educational content covering topics ranging from health to investing. Users over 18 can livestream content, sharing real-time life experiences or using the platform as a broadcasting base. Talk about an opportunity for your fifteen, I mean ten minutes of fame!

User Friendly Supportive Tools

The TikTok platform provides features that make video creation super easy. It comes with a bunch of easy-to-use filters, stickers, animated gifs, emojiis, effects, sound effects, and a vast library of music and songs that users can easily incorporate into their videos.

TikTok’s platform offers camera tools and effects like a green screen tool that allows creators to put themselves or their actors into any setting they want to be in. Tools like Duet and Stitch enable users to easily collaborate with each other or create content based off of other users’ videos.

TikTok actively promotes interaction among users, who can buy coins to “tip” content creators whose work they admire or give “credit.” Credit is important because a video can go viral and be viewed by millions of people

suppressing certain videos or promoting others.

TikTok is famous for starting trends. One is the TikTok challenges. They have harmed children physically and mentally, and your child imitating these

and teens. The prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that is responsible for analyzing, self-control and awareness, is not fully developed in children and teenagers. That’s why children are often easily influenced by external factors, according to Nahila Bonfiglio, geek culture reporter.

Trending

One trend that social media is leading is the cognitive warfare being relentlessly waged around the world. According to the NATO Alliance, in cognitive warfare, the human mind becomes the battlefield. The aim is to change not only what people think, but how they think and act. Waged successfully, it shapes and influences individual and group beliefs and behaviors to favor an aggressor’s tactical or strategic objectives. In its extreme form, it has the potential to fracture and fragment an entire society, so that it no longer has the collective will to resist an adversary’s intentions. An opponent could conceivably subdue a society without resorting to outright force or coercion.

online. When that happens, the creators responsible for trends can miss out on bragging rights, opportunities to grow their accounts, and even campaign and sponsorship opportunities if they haven’t been credited with creating the video.

In these ways, TikTok creates a sense of community and belonging for its users, and deeper, more detailed, accurate profiles of its users whose information is TikTok’s to do with as it wants to.

Downside of TikTok

The shrouded TikTok algorithm is a recommendation system that determines which videos will appear on your unique and highly personalized “For You” page. TikTok learns a user’s desires and attachments in as little as 40 minutes before beginning the process of bombarding the client with curated content designed to keep watchers fixated, according to a new investigation by the Wall Street Journal . It decides what you like based on view-time (length of video watched) and interaction (liking, comment, following) and other variables for each of the videos that it shows you.

As the app gets to know the user, it builds profiles. So much personal data is mined as the algorithm learns its targeted user. It is often said the algorithm knows you better than you know yourself.

A recent directive from the White House on Feb. 28, has given U.S. federal agencies 30 days to remove TikTok from governmentissued devices. They feel TikTok could use its vast global reach to shape public opinion by either

trends will risk injury or, worse, death. The Benadryl challenge had teenagers taking large doses to create hallucinations. Choking, burning yourself, and suicide challenges are aimed at children

If you or your children use TikTok, have fun, but be aware. As benign as TikTok may seem, remember, it has an underbelly. Make sure you are in control, not the app. Vamos a ver!

Photo by Miriam Geer.

The End of the Affair

By Joel Bellman

Our first cars, like our first serious romance, sometimes just seem destined to break our hearts. We lavish money and attention on them, depend on them, and trust them. They become part of our identity, and take us on adventures to unimaginable places. And then, one way or another, it all ends badly.

Sometimes it’s a slow, sad decline. On my 16th birthday, my parents gifted me with their twotone aqua 1955 Plymouth Savoy, which they’d bought shortly after I was born, on the condition that I assumed full financial responsibility for it. Insurance was still affordable for a kid with an after-school job, gas was 35¢ a gallon, and with no fancy on-board electronic stuff, I could do most of the work on its relatively simple electromechanical systems myself. Everything was great for about five years—and then nothing was. Unfixable problems sprung up everywhere, and that was the end of the affair. It was strictly new cars for me after that.

And then sometimes it’s a short, sharp shock. After our younger son graduated college, we found him a low-mileage pre-owned black Prius in cherry condition—and unlike my old Plymouth V-8, fully compliant with current environmental regulations and getting almost 50 mpg. I remember his delight and gratitude. It was love at first sight: He took care of that car, and it took care of him.

But, as Orson Welles wryly observed, “If you want a happy ending, that depends on where you stop your story.”

Last September, he contracted COVID; thanks to the vaccines and boosters, it was a relatively mild case. After recovering, he went out to start the car—and the meek little Prius unexpectedly roared like a ‘60s muscle car with its lake pipes uncapped. That’s what it sounds like when thieves cut a slice out of the exhaust system and make off with your catalytic converter. A neighbor’s security camera caught them in the act around 2:30 a.m.: coasting up to his car, they leaped out with a jack and battery-powered hand saw, and within two minutes had cut it loose and fled.

And so the nightmare began. Last October, California’s Bureau of Auto Repair reported that these things were getting ripped off at the rate of 1600 a month in 2021, and our particular model was a prime target. The “cats,” as they’re called, utilize platinum, palladium and rhodium in the process to reduce exhaust emissions. As these precious-metal prices have spiked (platinum $980/oz, palladium $1458/oz, rhodium $10,100/ oz), the risk for thieves is low and the reward is high, so on a cost/benefit basis, heisting the cats is a smart criminal proposition. For a few minutes’ work, a stolen cat can fetch a few hundred dollars, and unscrupulous scrap metal dealers can harvest the precious metals for several times that value.

Here’s the twist I hadn’t counted on: insurance companies have essentially escaped paying claims on this type of theft because the factory

replacement parts are back-ordered for as much as a year (we are now entering our sixth month) with no realistic future date for when a replacement may become available, if ever. My dealer’s service manager tells me that his customer’s insurance companies won’t pay claims until customers actually receive the parts—which are unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Japan, it seems, has enacted air pollution legislation similar to California’s, and Toyota’s manufacturing capacity is now directed toward meeting the needs of its domestic market. I called Toyota Motor North America and explained my problem to a “brand engagement specialist” who listened sympathetically and promised to have a “parts delay advocate” call me back. I’m still waiting.

The body shop my insurance company sent me to advised me to just call my insurer and tell them to total the car and apply the amount toward a replacement vehicle. The company, of course, refused, since a total loss would cost them more than the repair. When I pointed out that I would be delighted with a repair but couldn’t get the part, which functionally rendered the car both inoperable AND non-repairable, I got a harsh lesson about reading the fine print: the claims manager pointed me to a clause in my insurance contract - Part III, Physical Damage; Coverage D, Comprehensive; Limits of Liability, subsection (d): “The inability to obtain parts shall not constitute or be a basis of a total loss.”

If we can neither drive it nor fix it, what can we do in the meantime? The policy, like many, only covers 30 days’ rental during the repair period, which under ordinary circumstances would be more than adequate. But even stretching out that time in a series of short-term rentals, it’s long since expired. My son is effectively grounded: public transit takes three times as long to get anywhere, walking is impractical, ride-shares are expensive, and begging rides from friends

quickly wears out its welcome. Meanwhile, because the car has been sitting inoperable in my driveway since October, the battery has now died, another expense the insurance company is resisting paying for.

When the factory part becomes available, if it ever does, I will be queueing up with literally thousands of other Californians hoping to get my cat replacement. By then my open insurance claim will be a year old or more. This week, in desperation, I started looking for alternative parts sources, and found a Canadian company that promises Californian-compliant replacement cats. When I finally got them on the line after leaving several messages, they told me they, too, were back-ordered and were unable to guarantee a time-frame for delivery. My body shop cautioned me that the cats also require two special data sensors, which aren’t included. Should I buy them now, hoping I can get the cat later? Or wait until I get the cat, hoping I can find the sensors later?

I filed a police report and submitted the security video nearly six months ago; since then, crickets. My research tells me that California is home to some 37% of all cat thefts in the United States. Governor Newsom has announced legislation intended to crack down on cat theft rings, but the question is, what can the state Insurance Commissioner, the Legislature, and the manufacturer do to assist the thousands of car owners who have already been victimized? Maybe there are grounds for some kind of classaction suit—but against whom, and for what? My patient son has borne all this without complaint, something I never could have managed at his age. Call me a casualty of the Southern California car culture, but our wheels are our freedom, and those thieves have robbed him of much more than just an auto part. I don’t know whether there will be a happy ending, but for now, this is where I stop the story.

PHOTO OF CONFISCATED “CATS” COURTESY OF FREMONT POLICE DEPT.

California is home to some 37% of all catalytic converter thefts in the United States.

The Joy of Purim

By Rabbi Mendy Piekarski

Afew years ago I volunteered with friends to read the Megillah and celebrate Purim in the federal prison of North Carolina. It was an emotional experience to see how we brought joy to the lives of the prisoners as we went from the white-collar prison up to the medium-security prison. Although we were not allowed to bring in any food or hamentashen, we were able to sing songs, pray and chat with the prisoners. It was an experience I will never forget.

After reading the Megillah, I asked if anyone had any questions. One person asked if I knew of any stories about how Jews celebrated festivals during the Holocaust despite the Nazis. I felt where his question was coming from. Although we are not under Nazi rule anymore, there can always be instances in life when someone can feel deprived of the joy of Purim. I felt that his question was asking, “Is there really a way to celebrate Purim here in prison? Can I really feel the joy?”

I related the incredible story of Rav Yaakov Schwartz, a rabbi and Torah scholar who was imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II. Rav Schwartz felt a deep responsibility to maintain the Jewish tradition and keep the spirit of his fellow prisoners alive.

One of the customs of celebrating

MENDY PIEKATSKI

Families in Topanga gathered together at Chabad of Topanga to celebrate Purim the evening of March 7. They enjoyed a festive meal, heard the Megill ah read, ate hamentashen, and had face-painting for the children. Above, the children take turns hitting a pinata, which opened up to lots of Purim treats!

Purim is to read from a Megillah. A megillah is the story of Purim, how the Jews were saved despite Hamans’ evil decree to eradicate the Jews. It is written with ink on special parchment paper in the Hebrew language. Despite the danger, he decided to write a Megillah scroll by hand, using scraps of paper. But where would he find ink? One day a Nazi Soldier gave him a bottle of ink and instructed him to write

An Evening of Song, Storytelling, and Inspiration

Thiswinter, Rabbi Mendy Piekarski of Chabad of Topanga will offer ”Judaism: The Soundtrack,” for an evening of immersive musical experience, featuring Jewish Chasidic melodies, fascinating narratives, and motivational messages brought to Topanga by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI).

On Thursday, March 23rd, at 7:30 pm, participants will discover the enthralling world of Chasidic melody and the deep spiritual meaning behind its tunes. Inspiring visuals, captivating stories, and rousing songs will work in harmony with Chasidic wisdom to create a spectacular production that will touch the heartstrings and elevate the spirit.

“These Chasidic melodies are like no other,” Rabbi Mendy Piekarski of Chabad of Topanga, told The Canyon Chronicle. “They tell a soul-stirring story about life’s purpose and what truly matters in this world. There is so much that can be learned from these moving tunes and I look forward to sharing these transformative teachings with residents of Topanga.”

Contact Rabbi Mendy Piekarski at: 310-455-1597; ChabadofTopanga.com for registration and other event-related information.

—Rabbi Mendy Piekarski

numbers on the barracks where the Jews stayed at night. He now had the remaining ink to write a Megillah.

A friend had brought a small siddur into the camp as well, from which he was able to copy down the megillah word for word. He worked on the scroll for a few months, despite the harsh conditions and near-constant threat of discovery. Finally, the Megillah was completed, just in time for Purim. Rav Schwartz organized

a small gathering of fellow Jews and led them in a reading of the Megillah. It took place late at night, huddled in the corner of one of the barracks. It was a moment of profound joy and celebration, as the prisoners found strength and inspiration in the ancient story of Esther and the survival of the Jewish people.

After the war, Rav Schwartz was one of the few survivors of Buchenwald. He brought the Megillah with him to Israel, where it became a cherished relic of Jewish history and a testament to the strength and resilience of the Jewish people in the face of unimaginable adversity.

So, can one celebrate Purim even in the hard times of life? Yes. Even in prison? Yes. Does it take courage, commitment, and determination? Also, yes. Sometimes circumstances in life aren’t joyous or happy, yet we can still react and control our feelings to celebrate the joy of Purim. Let us remember the story of Rav Schwartz and the prisoners of Buchenwald as an example of how the human and Jewish spirit can overcome even the darkest of times. Let’s celebrate this Purim together with even more joy, despite many hardships that may be going on in the world.

Let the joy of Purim usher in the time, when the world will be a truly happy place for all mankind.

Wishing you a meaningful and joyous Purim.

SPRING Events

Sunday, March 19 through June 3, Kat High’s Kiddiwische Corner Spring-into-Summer Workshops. Mark your calendars to revive your connection with nature and spark your creativity with Kat High’s outdoor workshops: Sunday, March 19, Spirit Vessel Gourds; Sunday, March 26, Visual Journaling in the Garden with Sarah Irani; and Sunday, April 2, Beginning Round Reed Baskets; Sunday, April 23, Flintknapping with Chumash artist Steven Saffold; Sunday, May 7, Mother’s Day, Coiled Yarn Baskets with Kat High; and Saturday, June 3, Pueblo Pottery with Rowan Harrison. For information: contact Kat at KatCalls@aol.com.

Monday, March 20, 11:30 a.m. “Introduction to Ukulele” with Melanie Kareem. For adults who have never played an instrument before. You’ll be playing a song before the hour is up! The ukuleles are provided. Call Melanie to reserve your seat: (310) 403-3159. This same class will be offered again at 11:30 a.m. on various Sundays & Mondays through April 30th (3/27, 4/3, 4/9, 4/10, 4/23, 4/24, 4/30). Classes are free and held in the Senior room of the Topanga Community Center, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga CA 90290. melanie@GetStartedPlayingUkulele.com.

Zoom Beginner Ukulele Classes with Melanie Kareem. Students may be anywhere on the planet, as long as they can click a link and attend this live, virtual daily class at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Great for adults who might be home-bound and would enjoy a warm community of cheerful folks all keeping their brains sharp by learning to play an instrument. Free 7-Day Trial. For information: melanie@GetStartedPlayingUkulele.com.

March 21- May 11, 11:15 a.m.,Santa Monica College (SMC). Free Live Virtual Literary Talks & Readings. The 2023 spring series continues with noteworthy writers reading from and discussing their works. All presentations are free and will be held online as live virtual events. A Zoom link to each talk will be posted with the listing on the SMC Events calendar at smc.edu calendar shortly before the event. (zoom.com).

Staged reading by Topanga Actors Company of Third by Wendy Wasserstein.

March 25-26, 2 p.m., at Malibu Library.

April 1-2, 2 p.m., at Topanga Library.

Free Library Parking. Topanga actors company presents Third in another innovatively staged reading from the company that’s brought free theater to Topanga Canyon since 2015.

His name is Woodson Bull III but you can call him “Third.” To Professor Laurie Jameson he is another member of the “walking red state.” Worse, he is clearly a plagiarist and a liar.

But is she right, or is she casting Third as the

villain in her own struggle to come to terms with life, personal and political? Set in 2002-3, Third is a dramatic, affecting, and humorous look at what divides and unites Americans today. For details: topangaactorscompany@ theatercompany.org.

Sponsored by LA County Library.

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March 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; March 26 at 2 p.m. Topanga Youth Services, The Addams Family Musical. Topanga Community Center, 1440 N. Topanga Cyn. Blvd. For information: TYS@topangayouthservices.org.

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Sunday, April 2, 3 p.m., 41st Season of Topanga Symphony Free Concerts. Music Director and Conductor Jerome Kessler will perform Laszlo Varga’s arrangement of the Cello Sonata in F Major by Richard Strauss, with guest conductor Michael Stanley. Beethoven’s Symphony #3 in E flat, Op. 55 (“Eroica”) is also on the program. Topanga Community Center, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga CA 90290.

COURTESY OF MELANIE KAREEM

Melanie Kareem (right in pink) taught a fun 30-minute Ukulele lesson for Westchester Elks Lodge members in Playa Del Ray.

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