The Canyon Chronicle- April 28, 2023 (Vol. 4, No. 8) -www.thecanyonchronicle.com

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Can’t Help but Smile

This may be one of the happiest issues of The Canyon Chronicle with events popping up like popcorn in a pot, the pot being, of course, Topanga.

We gave a lot of colorful ink to the upcoming Butterfly Day (Pages 8-9) and our homage to Poetry month (Pages 10-11), that have more of David Anson Russo’s illustrations embellishing our local poets’ contributions.

This time of year, a multitude of events are vying for attention (Page 14). Photos of last weekend’s Swap Meet and Cake Walk, gladden our hearts, as do intimations of Topanga Days Festival and parade that will outshine all other events on Memorial Day weekend.

The activity just won’t be contained; we are breaking the pall of the pandemic, subdued but still present. Speaking of which, read the news item offering free medicine for those who contract COVID (Page 4). On the same page, the Town Council, that band of feisty volunteers, continues to track vexing issues of the day: internet and cell service, the status of water and drought, fire activity and brush clearing. This essential organization by and for the community is clearly an essential volunteer opportunity for all.

One other thing to be happy about is that Sen. Ben Allen is our state senator and made an appearance on Earth Day at the library as the guest speaker for the Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains Earth Day meeting (Page 5). Among the many concerns that he handles, he is especially fluent in matters of the environment, in particular, the Santa Monica Mountains and the effects of climate warming.

As I scroll through the pages in a final proof before sending this one off to the printer, I can’t help but smile at the happiness these events bring. On the other hand, I marvel at the hard work and organizational skills behind the scenes that make them manifest, make us smile and make sweet memories.

Volunteers Rule! In the end, it’s about giving so others can receive, isn’t it.

—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

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

is the largest butterfly in North America with a wing span of five to six inches. Originally native to the south and eastern U.S., this species has inch-wormed and flown its way west over the past 50 years attracted to citrus plants, both commercial and domestic, as a caterpillar food-source and is now well-established in Southern California.

The

giant swallowtail

Photo by Bill Buerge

PHOTO BY JENISE BLANC

“Kid in Mask with Ukulele.” You wouldn’t know it from this photo but this is Dashiel Buehner on the main stage of Theatricum Botanicum in his solo performance of “The Grass is Greener” at the recent Topanga Youth Services Variety Show. Proud grandma, Jenise Blanc, couldn’t help herself and sent the photo to us. Bravo, Dashiel, and all the children who turned in amazing performances. We’re all proud of you and the TYS volunteers, who make it happen.

Town Council Talks Internet & Cell Service

There was much on the line when President Carrie Carrier and Vice President Alisa Land Hill moderated the April 12 Zoom meeting of the Topanga Canyon Town Council (TCTC).

By Annemarie Donkin Telecoms

A really hot issue is the Internet and cell phone service.

“This month we are looking to tackle several vexing issues, including cell service in the Canyon,” Carrier wrote in the meeting agenda. “We will get an update from the CPUC on the potential changes that are currently being considered by regulators through the formal hearing process to require cell phone companies to provide higher quality and more reliable service across the state. This is a hot-button issue affecting people across California. If we and our legislators do not speak up (loudly), nothing will change.”

Carrier wrote that “input from the public is still being sought on various aspects of this issue to ensure that any changes made will truly address the shortcomings that so many of us are experiencing in the canyon and beyond.”

There is an upcoming Public Participation Hearing being held by the CPUC to gather additional feedback from the public on May 3. Topangans are strongly encouraged to attend and submit comments on “Service Quality and Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs).”

For more information or to submit comments, go to: cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/internetand-phone/service-quality-and-etc

CPUC Comments

Asia Powell of the California Public Utilities Commission spoke about the current cell phone situation.

“Comments made at public participation hearings are logged and discussed; we encourage you to make your comments on the record with a docket card for the meeting with the case number,” Powell said. “We already have 1,300 comments; we want to hear from all of you as well.”

Powell said the CPUC is intending to take a look at cell and internet service, VOIP services and extend the same service quality to broadband.

“It’s challenging,” she said. “Changes will be met with resistance by the carriers about the FCC requirements. Our legal team expects that the Telecoms will fight the challenge.”

Topangans and Cell Service

Topangans weighed in on the subject of cell phone coverage in the Canyon.

Jaspreet Katrib, who is on the board of the TCTC, said they have lived in Topanga for three years. She told a harrowing story about her friend

who was in a serious car accident on Old Canyon and was unable to call 911 for help.

“In the case of an accident, local residents called 911, and she got help from people who knew her and they called for help from Old Canyon,” Katrib said. “It goes to show you that this is such an important issue. We can’t make a cell phone call within 50 feet of my house, especially since we are entering fire season. It is frustrating that we have cell service in the canyon and we can’t even make a Wi-Fi call. It is more and more difficult to be in love with Topanga and continue to live here.”

Create a “Hot Spot”

James Grasso of TCEP suggested that everyone in the Canyon should take charge and create a hot spot at their house. “If you don’t have service at your house, you can install a microcell or hot spot around your property,” Grasso said. “All the big providers can install one; plug it in and you will have a microcell at your home.”

Others remembered Topanga before cell phones.

“I moved to the Canyon in 1972, before cell phones,” said Dorothy Reik, President of the Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains. “Living in this canyon, you give up certain things. I treasure the few minutes I’m not available. Make up your mind; do you want to live in Topanga or have 24/7 cell service? There are hills, places where a cell phone will not go through. I wouldn’t even think about using my phone at my house. Get a generator, be more chill and enjoy the beauty of living in Topanga.” Reik’s comments were met with a positive response.

“We forget the time we didn’t have cell service,” Carrier said. “Interesting perspective.” Still others were sanguine about the lack of cell phone service.

“When I first moved to the Canyon, we were happy to get a dial tone,” Neil Shaw quipped.

Water Restrictions & Drought Status Update

“The rains were a relief but our water challenges are far from over,” said William Johnson of the L.A. Public Water Works, District 29. “While California is out of extreme drought conditions and surface water is healthy, one good season of rain does not relieve the years of drought and

the groundwater resources are still unfilled. The Colorado River is essential to provide for the district. Residential users have done a great job with conservation. Watering restrictions have been relaxed, conservation is a way of life.

“In Topanga, we are getting ready to kick off the Owen Tank Site Project to provide a bigger tank at the site,” Johnson said. “We just finished the Malibu Branch Feeder project with water coming from PCH and pumped up to Topanga.”

For more information, go to Public Works Los Angeles County at dpw.lacounty.gov

Fire Department Briefing

Chief Drew Smith provided an update on fire.

“In March, we had one fire, at the 1200 block of Colina, when a man set fire to a patio cover,” he said. “Law and fire worked together and we cooperated with West Valley CHP.”

Additionally, Smith reported that in March there were 20 medical calls; one hazardous call at Robinson Road where a tree pulled down wires; one service call ;and 10 good intention calls.

“We will get an increase in snake calls,” he said.

Chief Smith also talked about cell phone coverage in the Canyon.

“It is highly important to fire that we have good cell phone coverage,” he said. “It significantly enhances information relay and response. We have a vested interest with cell service, not having emergency response…generally, reporting is 7-15 minutes depending on the infrastructure and in how fast fires get reported.”

Announcements:

Please log in your brush clearance efforts and other wildfire risk-reduction activities and submit them to the Firewise Activity Reporting page to ensure that our community remains “Firewise” and that residents continue to be eligible for the annual insurance discount. For a list of Firewise activities: please visit www.defensiblespace.org, and www.ntcfsc.org

Contacts:

• Supervisor Lindsey Horvath—Contact Tessa Charnofsky, Acting District Director at TCharnofsky@bos.lacounty.gov

• Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin—Contact Nancy Frawley, Deputy District Director at Nancy.Frawley@asm.ca.gov

• State Senator Ben Allen—Contact Davis Han, District Representative at Davis.Han@sen.ca.gov

• Congressman Brad Sherman—Contact Taleen Keuroghlian, Field Representative at Taleen. Keuroghlianca@mail.house.gov

Topanga Canyon Town Council—Formed in 1977 in response to needs unique to the mountain community, residents created the TCTC to serve as a liaison with Topanga’s official governing body, the Los Angeles County Supervisor’s Office. topangatowncouncil.org; email: contact@ topangatowncouncil.org or call (310) 455-3001.

Free Medicine is Available for COVID-19

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has important information for people at risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

If you test positive for COVID-19, there is free medicine that can significantly reduce your chance of severe sickness/hospitalization if you are at high risk. Medication must be started within 5 days of getting symptoms. This is important information to know and share with family and friends. Both at-home or lab tests are accepted as proof that you’re positive.

To learn more and get the free COVID-19 medicine:

• Call the free Los Angeles County Public Health Call Center at (833) 540-0473 to see if you’re eligible. You do not need health insurance to get this free medicine through the call center. Medication can be delivered the next day to you or picked up at a local pharmacy. The call center is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-8:30 p,m.

• For information on getting COVID-19 medications visit: ph.lacounty.gov/covidmedicines. Resources are available in many languages.

Progressive Democrats Celebrate Earth Day

A dedicated environmentalist, Sen. Ben Allen spoke on climate, recycling, Diablo Canyon and the homeless to a group of Topangans and Progressive Democrats.

By Annemarie Donkin

Dorothy Reik, President, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains (PDSMM), hosted an Earth Day event at the Topanga Library on April 22 and urged everyone to take-action on the environment.

“We need solar, wind and geothermal power,” Reik said. “It will work if we do it right. We need to put solar on top of reservoirs and roofs and install microgrids to connect neighborhoods.”

The guest of honor for the event was State Sen. Ben Allen, who listened, took notes and fielded environmental and social justice questions.

Allen was first elected to the State Senate in 2014 and has authored crucial legislation in the aeas of environmental protection, climate change, green transit, education funding, government transparency, electoral reform, economic development and access to housing.

Coming off his recent win for the state’s redrawn 24th Senate District for the California State Legislature, which includes Topanga, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Calabasas, Sen. Benjamin J. “Ben” Allen (D-Santa Monica) is the author of a new law imposing first-in-the-nation restrictions on single-use plastics and packaging.

“I think we are proud of what we are doing with the major climate package passed last year,” Sen Allen said. “The big plastics bill passed and I am really happy that it will put California at the front of the world by creating this whole system.”

Signed by Gov. Newsom on June 30, 2022, Allen’s SB 54 sets a statewide mandate of reducing the waste generated by single-use disposable packaging and food service ware by 65 percent by 2032 through source reduction, recycling, and composting.

“The producers have all the control,” Allen said. “We didn’t need so many plastics; we were happy 25 years ago; they pushed this product on us and of course the producers are largely run by the oil industry…we need to expand that to EV batteries and all sorts of household products. For plastics, it’s only the numbers 1, 2 and 5 that are recyclable and they are going to have to stop using the recyclable symbol if the product is not reusable. The 5s, by the way, there is barely a market for that and it doesn’t end up with a good end-user product. Aluminum is highly recyclable; it’s much better to use aluminum.”

Myla Reson, who serves on SoCal ADA’s Endorsement Committee and Environment Committee, is a longtime activist and community organizer fighting for peace, health care, food safety, environmental, racial, and social justice. She implored Sen. Allen to look into the issue of the Diablo Canyon nuclear site.

“We have reactors sitting on a nest of major earthquake faults,” Reson said. “California is required to take the energy from Diablo before renewables…before offshore wind turbines. Nuclear is not clean, it is carbon intensive and what about the radioactive waste…? Diablo stands as an impediment to the development of off-shore wind turbines and solar energy.”

Susie Shannon, Executive Board member of the California Democratic Party, brought up the homeless issue and urged the senator to support the Assembly Bill that will fast-track adaptive reuse and rehabbing units for low-income housing.

“To build new housing is $500,000 to $700,000 per unit,” Shannon said. “You could literally buy someone a Condo in the Valley and give them

spending money for what it costs to build affordable housing. It costs about $100,000 per unit to rehab older buildings and bring them online, so there is a bill to fast-track this.”

Tam Taylor of the SAGES asked about fire vulnerability among the senior citizens in Topanga.

“There are several issues that are really critical to Topanga, and we rely on our State Representatives,” she said. “One of them is fire and the issue of Telecoms providing us with reliable cell phone service...and, affordable fire insurance. As we move forward, are we going to be able to have those issues represented?”

Allen enthusiastically agreed with Taylor’s concerns.

“We will work together, of course,” he said. “I am the author of this fire resiliency bond; Telecom issues are very real. There are people who want to have access to Telecoms, to folks who are concerned about radiation with the towers. Insurance is a big one.”

PDSMM member David Troy brought up the issue of the NOAA emergency alert radios and urged everyone to get one free from County Fire. (For more information contact megan.currier@ fire.lacounty.gov.)

Nonie Shore of the Topanga Community Center brought up the issue of cell phone service in the Canyon. “Now it’s all internet based,” she said. “Verizon, when they brought in FIOS, ripped out all the copper wiring, so now we don’t have our landlines in an emergency.”

Susan Nissman, former Senior Field Deputy for Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, urged Sen. Allen to send a representative to the Topanga Emergency Management Task (TEMTF) meetings to stay apprised of what is happening in the Canyon.

“The Task Force started in 2002,” Nissman said. “It is a coalition of every single agency—Fire, Sheriff, CHP, Caltrans, Topanga Town Council and TCEP.”

Celebrating

Earth Day!

To get the celebration started, Progressive Democrats of America’s (PDA) Executive Director Alan Minsky spoke briefly about “opposing the proliferation of nuclear energy.”

Dave Reeves rallied the group with his song “Save the Planet,” with the lyrics “We’ve got to do something before it’s too late.”

Russell Greene, a senior strategic adviser on climate at Progressive Democrats of America insisted that “the climate emergency is here, now,” and asked for a moment to reflect on the Chumash land upon which the library sits. He read two of his poems, “Epitaph,” and “Chasing the Future,” and sang an original song, “I’ll Meet

You at the End of the World.”

Greene said that when Bernie Sanders lost to Biden in 2020, that was the end of hope moving forward, because Sanders was “the most reasonable candidate for climate mobilization,” and “was the pathway who used California to demonstrate what was possible.”

Topanga and the Santa Monica Mountains

In a recent interview, The Canyon Chronicle asked Sen. Allen how he would govern within the new district.

“I grew up in the district just over the mountains, and my dad and I went hiking there. Literally every day we would explore new trails and canyons,” Allen said. “It’s in my blood and in my bones.”

He added that he would be working with Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to obtain additional parcels of land to “keep the Santa Monica Mountains out of developers’ hands,” and emphasized that the Santa Monica Mountains should be saved from over-development, especially because of the risk of wildfire.

“We should not incentivise new construction in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” he said. “The Santa Monica Mountains is very special, an incredible asset for our region. We owe it to future generations to preserve the land.”

To contact Sen. Allen’s office: District Office, 2512 Artesia Blvd., #320, Redondo Beach, CA 90278-3279. Phone: (310) 318-6994. Email: Senator.Allen@Senate.CA.gov or online at sd24. senate.ca.gov

Save The Date! On September 9, PDSMM’s summer fundraiser will feature Steven Donziger, the environmental attorney who won a billiondollar judgment against Chevron for fouling the waters in Ecuador that killed members of the indigenous tribe whose lives and livelihood depended on those waters. He was persecuted by the U.S. government and Chevron but has emerged as a hero of the environmental movement.

Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains is a chartered club of the Los Angeles Democratic Party. We strive to cultivate progressive ideals within our community by supporting reformist elected officials. We believe that awareness of current events and involvement with local officials aids in our commonly shared goal of Waging Peace. We uphold a revered reputation by jumping on pressing issues and advocating for moral justice. There is no compromise when it comes to the environment and equality among all.

To donate or become a member: pdsmm.org or contact Dorothy Reik at dorothyreik@pdsmm.org.

From left, Russell Greene of the PDA, Tam Taylor of the Topanga Canyon SAGES; Dorothy Reik, President of the PDSMM; State Sen. Ben Allen; Susan Nissman, Nonie Shore, Michael Goldman and Myla Reson.

PHOTO BY ANNEMARIE DONKIN

The Topanga Swap Meet Rides Again!

While there were still no bands, chili or pie contests, there was a fun Cake Walk and super cool music at the Topanga Community Center ballfield as vendors gathered to sell their wares.

By Annemarie Donkin

The sun broke through the clouds as nearly thirty vendors displayed clothing, jewelry, books, toys, Western saddles, electronics, records, bric-a-brac and knick-knacks of all kinds at the annual Topanga Community Center Swap Meet and Spring Cleaning on Saturday, April 15.

As one of the regular fundraisers for the Topanga Community Center, the annual Swap Meet has always been one of the coolest events in the Canyon!

Brothers Keith and John Franks drove up from the Valley to sell vintage stuff including an eclectic mix of Grateful Dead t-shirts, tools and miscellaneous Rock ‘n’ Roll items. Keith said that for years they loved selling at the Topanga Swap Meet and were thrilled that the event has returned after COVID.

Another exhibitor, Lauren Beth-Aubrey Richwine, known as the Dream Queen looked lovely crowned with a pretty sun hat while she displayed new and vintage clothing in a fluttery booth at the edge of the ballfield. A personal healer, Richwine offers dreamwork, customized jewelry and essential oils for healing and transformation. Find her at: dreamqueen@dreamqueen.love.

Other Topanga exhibitors who brought interesting items for sale were Dayna Miller, Dave and Donna Thompson, Christy Collins and Erle Eddy.

With a sign declaring “Support our Wedding Fund,” Sophie Zeiler and Guy Walker sold games, shoes and everything they could to fund their May 20 wedding at the Mountain Mermaid.

Highlighting the fun day was a Cake Walk, where parents and kids walked around a huge circle hoping to land on the correct number to win a delicious cake!

“We had many lovely cakes and some very happy participants walk away with a cake of their choice,” said Kelly Rockwell, president of the Topanga Community Club. She said some of the winners were Aya and Ben LaBrot, father and daughter pair who won a beautiful raspberry cake. Mother and son Niko and Molly Lynn won a peanut butter and chocolate cake and Nash Sallade selected a rainbow cake for his prize.

Spinning vintage tunes from the mainstage in the afternoon, DJ Jill Epstein played classic rock, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop that made folks really want to dance.

Isn’t that just the coolest thing you can do on a gorgeous day at the Swap Meet?

The Topanga Community Center (TCC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer organization, independently owned and maintained by the citizens of Topanga. Its major fundraiser, the annual Topanga Days festival, is coming up at the end of May. Founded in 1949, it has been the

only community center available to generations of Topanga Canyon residents. The TCC is funded, not through county or state taxes, but by membership dues, donations and fund-raising. The Center hosts monthly senior dinners through the efforts of the Canyon Sages, youth arts programming through Topanga Youth Services, and offers seasonal events for community members of all ages, as well as access and support for philanthropic, educational, and community activities and services. The adjacent ballfield is the home field of the Topanga Youth Baseball and Soccer League.

The Topanga Community Center is dedicated to protect, maintain, upgrade and enhance the Community House and the grounds entrusted to its care as part of its charter. It is the income from rentals for weddings and special events plus fundraising that keeps the doors open. Be a part of the Topanga Community Center!

For more information or to become a member: topangacommunitycenter.com.

Aya LaBrot won a scrumptious looking raspberry cake.

Nash Sallade proudly shows off the rainbow cake he won in the Cake Walk.

Welcome to the Swap Meet!

PHOTOS BY ANNEMARIE DONKIN

48th Annual Topanga Days, May 27-29

Topanga Days is the greatest volunteer opportunity of the year and the largest fundraiser for the Topanga Community Center (TCC).

By Nonie Shore

The Topanga Days Memorial Day Parade rolls out the morning of May 29, Memorial Day, and now is the time to reserve your space for a parade float and for local businesses to continue a tradition created last year to support the parade.

Costs for Topanga Days have almost doubled this year as have CHP and permit costs for the parade. The TCC is on private property and entrusted to a volunteer board to manage and enhance the income to maintain this 11-acre property. Much of the income depends on support from the community through memberships and events, but also from rentals and outside events such as weddings.

Volunteer and Support Opportunities

• For tickets (ONLINE ONLY, 50% discount for TCC members), find band schedules, sign up for a Parade float, become a Parade Donor, a Topanga Days Sponsor, or simply to volunteer, visit topangadays.com.

• Become a TCC Member and reap

the benefits now and year-round. topangacommunitycenter.org/membership.

• To help support the cost of Topanga Days overall, anyone, family or business, can sponsor the event. To join current business sponsors to “Maintain the Parade” as do the Wright Way Team at Compass, William Preston Bowling from Pritchett Rapf, Suncoast Mortgage, Endless Color, Topanga Lumber and Exposition Studios, please contact events@topangacommunitycenter.org

The Topanga Community Center is excited to be able to host this three-day bohemian music

festival with tasty food, drinks, craft vendors, a fun zone for the kids and more!

About the Topanga Community Center. The TCC is a 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer organization, independently owned and maintained by the citizens of Topanga and is not supported by any county or state taxes. Its mission is to serve the community of Topanga by providing access and support for philanthropic, educational, and community activities and services while protecting, maintaining, upgrading and enhancing the Community House and the grounds entrusted to its care.

The Giant Swallowtail

By Bill Buerge

My first encounter with this spectacular animal was in the fall some years ago when a neighbor spotted a bizarre mottled worm-like organism on his orange tree. We sequestered it into a small butterfly rearing enclosure for observation, with citrus leaves for food. It soon pupated into a chrysalis, but strangely enough didn’t emerge as this gorgeous creature—a giant swallowtail—until spring. We were reminded of a survival phenomenon called diapause where, like a bear hibernating through winter, butterflies can go into a period of suspended development to wait for more favorable weather.

The giant swallowtail is the largest butterfly in North America with a wing span of five to six inches. Originally native to the south and eastern U.S., this species has inch-wormed and flown its way west over the past 50 years attracted to citrus plants, both commercial and domestic, as a caterpillar food source and is now well-established in Southern California, much to the dismay of citrus farmers who call them “orange dogs.” They remarkably resemble fresh bird droppings as a clever disguise to deter poop-adverse predators. Who would have suspected that such a spectacular gold-spangled beauty could come from fake bird crap? Such is the endlessly fascinating and beguiling world of butterflies.

4th Annual Topanga

BY ALISA LAND HILL

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun And find your shoulder to light on, To bring you luck & happiness

Today, tomorrow and beyond.”

—Irish blessing

fter months of historic rain, Topanga celebrates a vibrant spring with rolling verdant hills ablaze with glorious wildflowers, a fitting stage for the Fourth Annual Topanga Butterfly Day event on Sunday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the historic Mountain Mermaid, a butterfly oasis with a rich history.

Butterfly Day continues to grow as an event celebrating the beauty and importance of pollinators to our natural world. Most importantly, this is an exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and engage in supporting butterflies, bees, birds and other vital pollinators.

From its modest start in 2018, Butterfly Day has become a communitywide celebration, a day-long event featuring regional environmental partners, live music, food and drink, and the ever-popular live butterfly house and beehive. Booths cluster around the swimming pool with pollinator-themed tiles by Topanga Art Tile, jewelry, and clothing for sale, face painting and activities for children.

In this time of climate change, it is critical that we come together as communities to steward the creatures that sustain and enrich the environment and our lives. Pollinators enable the growth of much of our food supply and their native habitat plants stabilize our hillsides, cleanse our water, and even purify the air we breathe. The impact, beauty, and diversity of pollinators—butterflies and bees, yes, but also moths, wasps, hummingbirds, bats and even lizards—continue to amaze children and adults alike as we learn more about the critical roles they play.

Mermaid resident and butterfly whisperer, Sergio Jimenez, eyes a giant swallowtail caterpillar on a sprig of rue, another one of its food plants in addition to citrus. It’s an accomplished “bird poop” imposter. Notice how the grey, black and white patterning act like military camouflage to effectively break up its profile and blend into the light dappled background.

The Swallowtail caterpillar disguises itself as fresh bird droppings and a snakelike head.

Topanga Butterfly Day

PHOTOS BY BILL BUERGE

To engage the community in learning and activism on behalf of pollinators, we have invited key regional environmental groups. Local agencies include Greener Empowerment Foundation and Sassafras Shoppe & Nursery that collaborate on the Topanga Pollinator Stewardship program that has established pollinator gardens in Topanga and neighboring Santa Monica Mountain and valley communities, at schools, businesses and public and private properties with funding from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and former Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

We also welcome Tree People, California Native Plant Society, Topanga State Park Docents, and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, agencies committed to the conservation of native lands, native plants and essential habitat areas.

The Mermaid’s Native Plant Nursery, organized by Sergio Jimenez and his family, will be selling native pollinator plants so event participants can start their own gardens.

Malibu Monarch Project and Baby Rhino Rescue will share about the endangered monarch butterfly and rhino conservation efforts; Topanga Animal Rescue staff will talk about their wildlife rescue work in the region; Poison Free Malibu has advocated for years the importance of eliminating pesticides; and Full Circle Compost will demonstrate how to make a home composting system that can reduce your carbon footprint while enriching the soil.

As government liaisons, the Topanga Town Council and Topanga Creek Watershed Committee will demonstrate their year-round advocacy on behalf of environmental conservation in Topanga and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Schools have been a vital participant in this event. This year, meet students from Topanga Mountain School (TMS ) and Topanga Elementary Charter School (TECS) who have engaged in the Topanga Pollinator Stewardship program developing habitat areas on their campuses. TMS includes a focus on outdoor learning and environmental education and its students have planted several pollinator areas, an extensive edible garden, have developed rain harvesting systems, worm farms, and plan to bring composting and a flock of chickens to their permaculture-influenced curriculum. TECS includes science and the visual and performing arts as two pillars of its charter and has a longstanding commitment to environmental education, conservation, and gardening.

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum has long-established gardens filled with plants from William Shakespeare’s time and repertory cast members will discuss the ongoing restoration of creekside habitat around the theater. They will also perform vignettes from this year’s repertory season that begins in June.

A full day of live music, activities for children, and delicious food complete the event. Children will enjoy face painting, the wonderful live butterfly exhibit, a live beehive and honey from Eli’s Bees, and arts and crafts.

Author and illustrator Lisa Desimini will share her children’s books about butterflies. Food vendors include local beloved eateries: La Chingona Tacos, The Canyon Bakery, Rocco’s Cucina, Jummee’s Bliss Kitchen, and Little Lamb Coffee & Clay. Art vendors will include local pollinator-themed tiles from Topanga Art Tile, jewelry by Isabel B Jewelry, and T-shirts from the S’Envoler Studio.

In keeping with Topanga’s rich musical history, we are honored to have many nationally-renowned artists who live in Topanga performing throughout the day.

Order tickets now at ButterflyDay.org. Space is limited.

Music Festival at Butterfly Day

An exciting day of musical and theatrical performances for all ages is sure to delight Butterfly Day attendees.

By Stephen Powers

The music festival at Topanga’s Fourth Annual Butterfly Day will feature nationally renowned recording artists alongside showcases of local rising teen talents and young musicians of the Camp Cabaret All-Stars. The festival starts when doors open at 10 a.m. and continues all day until 6 p.m., closing with a groovin’ jam by Promised Land, in a tribute to the Grateful Dead.

Meet the Musicians

Michael Whitehorse Aviles, a San Fernando native and elder of the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, will begin the day with a Tongva ceremony to honor the sacred lands of Topanga and Tongva tribal territory. He is a descendant of the Southern Paiute and Western Shoshoni People of the Mojave River in the Mohave Desert near what is now Victorville, California, and regularly performs sacred Tongva ceremonies and land blessings on indigenous sites. traditional flute player and, with percussionist Kentyah, will honor the sacred lands of Topanga and Tongva tribal territory. He plays a traditional, indigenous flute and will be joined by percussionist Kentyah for an intimate improvised performance.

Donna De Lory is a singer, songwriter, producer and multiinstrumentalist whose radiant voice and expansive musical vision encompasses pop, world music, electronica and devotional mantras. She is also a Topanga mom who, with her husband Rob, was instrumental in developing the idea of the first Butterfly Day. In that inaugural event, Donna performed with the third-grade class of Topanga Elementary, with whom she wrote and recorded a song entitled “Butterfly Day,” sure to be reprised at this year’s festival! While Donna is well known for her work with Madonna as a singer and dancer—seen in the documentary film, Truth or Dare, and on Madonna’s world tours, her voice is heard on landmark albums and her own music has topped the Billboard Dance Chart. Simultaneously with her storied pop career, De Lory is one of the world’s foremost singers of devotional mantras and songs of spiritual inspiration.

Antonia Bath hails from Hastings, East Sussex, England, and has worked as an actor, singer and voiceover artist since graduation from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. She is Director of Camp Cabaret, a musical theatre camp located in Topanga and also sings in the band Kummerspeck, a Topanga Days local favorite for classic rock. She has performed nationally in the renowned Cirque Bezerk and has played venues nationwide from the Howlin’ Wolf to CBGBs.

Peter Alsop, Ph.D., is a beloved longtime Topanga resident, loving husband of Theatricum Artistic DirectorEllen Geer, Dad, Grandfather, video producer, feature film director, actor, and a Certified Experiential Therapist with an open mind and a sense of humor. He is a nationally known singersongwriter, kids performer, educator and humorist whose 22 albums and seven DVDs have received eight Best Children’s Album awards. Peter is a board member of, and directs the “Kids Koncerts” at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, which is a community sponsor of Butterfly Day. This year the theater is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and will also celebrate butterflies at the event with a performance by its company of actors of vignettes from the upcoming repertory season!

Antonia Bath’s Camp Cabaret Allstars is in its 23rd year of providing an extraordinary outdoor musical theater experience for children. Founded by the “Queen of the Fairies of Goodness,” Antonia has a knack for pulling performances out of the shyest little members of the company and encouraging the fiery light within her stage-loving, performance-loving rising stars. Among other youth and teen performers, Camp Cabaret will showcase performances by teen campers Aurora Finetti, Allegra Frost, Iset Powers, Rebecca Land Hill, and Quinlynn Scheppner

Aurora Finetti and Allegra Frost. These talented local teens are both alumni of Topanga Elementary Charter School and have performe in school musicals, Topanga Youth Services Talent Shows, and Camp Cabaret. Aurora Finetti recently sang the National Anthem at Topanga Days. Allegra Frost was the youngest entrant ever at the Santa Barbara Old Time Fiddle Festival and ended up winning third placein the mandolin competition.

Josephine makes melodies in her Canyon studio nestled above the Theatricum Botanicum. As a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, she recently released her debut EP, “Paradise,” and will soon follow with a counterpoint collection entitled “Lost?” set to be released in May. On the wild side, Josephine surfs whenever the waves are good and then pairs a relaxed musical soundscape with lyrics that reflect the paradox of our time. At Butterfly Day, Jospehine will be joined by her rockstar band: Max Shashoua on guitar, Pink Skies on bass, and Amanda Erwin on drums.

Promised Land Spread your wings and fly at Butterfly Day! Shake your bones, move your body and let your spirit ride on waves of sound, rhythm and tone through the spiritual wellspring that is the music of the Grateful Dead with this Dead-inspired jam band featuring Mike Russeck, Ashton Slater, Dan Stein, Jeff Hiller, Clinton Clark, and Kentyah, plus surprise special guests! Like a migrating monarch, ride The Golden Road past the Dark Star in search of the eternal Promised Land!

Reared in the Mountain Mermaid’s butterfly habitat, this Monarch alights on a colorcoordinated flower.

PETITION

Taj Mahal surrounded, cameras and lights. Throngs screaming, Give us our rights!

Mindless chanting for change, today, for respect and freedom long since given away.

Oh, Holy Government! Only you can save. Care for us from cradle to grave.

Please do for us what we can’t.

Security and equality only you can grant.

Practical Love Poem #33

Summer in the backyard is sitting on the Sears Porch swing, with a fringe On top and you can move By touching the ground and Pushing off

Summer is called Margo after a street near The college. It’s Margo Wearing rolled down suntan Stockings with garters At the knees, a beige scarf on Her head.

Summer is half-cut cantaloupes Filled with coffee ice cream That freezes the fruit into Popsicles

Summer is threading dried Seeds together to make A necklace.

It was just like Margo said It’s Fry-day and then it’s nice To be nice. But mostly summer was The story about a little girl With a little curl right in the middle Of her forehead who, when she held Yellow daffodils near her face, The color of butter reflected on her chin.

—Millicent Borges-Accardi

Practical Love Poem #46

On a land line from the UK Joshua enquires, does he have one Eye? Or a television for a face? What color hat? Is he round like Humpty-Dumpty, or does his head come to a point in the back? Is it the one with the webbed skull Face or the orange ghost with a star On his chest? Does he have a horn? Are his arms in fists? Or does he Look like he is wiping his mouth? The special ones have dents

In eternal delusion we forever abide.

—Greg Mamishian

In the bottom, he adds. Are there swords across his stomach? Does he have pointy ears like a pig or square ears like a box? Does he have feet? I think it’s Powi or it could be Welu. In frustration, he shouts, What number’s on the back? Is It seven? If it is orange, it might be Mindok or Moor he says carefully As if talking to a smaller child. I have three Horos he exclaims proudly, But only one Terin. I’m looking for a Beli And a Dosk. Thomas Charles lost Okimo in the backyard. What color was the packet? Was it gold or red? He is furtherly frustrated when I have to explain my eyes are too old to see The microchip in the circle on the back of each toy figure. Josh says, continuing On from our dialogue of a few minutes Ago, I have one of those you mentioned Before, in turquoise but it’s a twin. I’ll send you the double Gogo in purple. It’s a sort of pink purple with two white eyes, one of them is larger than the other but they are connected by a dark line under the nose, like a mask. He’s a villain, Josh proclaims, A very bad man but, With special powers, he says, I think You’ll like him a lot.

—Millicent Borges-Accardi

Every Day’s A Season

There’s a strong clean feeling of a successful day turning the earth and turning with it.

Planting the seeds to raise our daily crop.

Watching over seedlings and harvest.

The better-off afterwards of it all.

The now-to-sleep of having given it your best to wake and seed the crop of light given by god to do his work and yours by that same light.

It’s all we can do.

All we know to do since there’s no instruction sheet—

Or rather there’s too many instructions of every kind from every source for what to do and what to believe.

But what do we believe?

And what do we do?

What comes to us directly, unprompted by other forces?

What is our Nature?

We wake. We eat. We forage. We sleep. We Love. Laugh. Cry.

We sleep and we wake to another day, another chance to earn and spend the heart’s currency of being alive.

To buy freedom for ourselves and the ones we love.

To sleep and start over the next day.

We do what we can.

Bat the balls as they come across the plate.

Answer the calls.

Put ourselves out there.

Calm our nerves and strengthen our resolves.

As a child of nature, every day’s a season.

Every hour a story.

Every minute a flight.

Every second a second chance.

No matter the day, it’s gone with sleep and the dance of the divine.

We always rise to bigger things.

Is there a better game than life

To begin and end, wind playing us like a song?

We give our best.

At night, we rest.

To begin again, anew.

Modern Day Testimonial

Susan Clark, my creative healer, my fierce nurse. Persevering as fire, patient as a sacrificing mother. When I was broken, you carried the vision of my recovery. And insisted on three mile walks along the bluffs.

You taught me the meaning of advocate.

Squaring your shoulders in turquoise scrubs, Using medical-speak, rendering primary doctors pale  And ready to grant authorizations.

You combed out my rat sookens* hair. And kicked our home into a higher gear. I will be forever enriched by your stories, your wit, And the queen sized breakfasts!

Though I squawked and howled, and clawed At the air, your hands remained calm.

Topanga Animal Rescue is God’s work, and I am The luckiest animal you’ve ever saved.

—Megan Rice 2019

—Alan J. Adler

BY DAVID ANSON RUSSO

The Musical’ and ‘Secret Conversations’

1776: The Musical, now onstage at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center through May 7, is a revolutionary re-staging of the all-male saga of our founding fathers creating the Declaration of Independence.

By Sarah Spitz

Thisrevival is performed by a multiracial, allfemale, and non-binary or trans cast. Watching a cast of diverse actors makes us reconsider our origin myth and the principles of an idealized nation that have yet to be fully realized.

The cast opens dancing in contemporary clothes, then trading clothes for long coats and pulling up high white stockings, they step out of their footwear and into Colonial-era buckled shoes for their roles. There’s a tasty twist watching women play men sometimes behaving badly, but I had absolutely no problem accepting them in their male roles. And OMG, what singing voices!

The scene is the Continental Congress as its members convene in Philadelphia on an impossibly hot day with even hotter tempers flaring. As they begin arguing whether or not to separate from King George, Pennsylvania’s John Dickinson (Joanna Glushak) leads the loyalists who stand against breaking with England.

Pity poor John Adams (Gisela Adisa) of Massachusetts who is “obnoxious and disliked,” desperately missing his wife Abigail (Tieisha Thomas in a dual role as Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon) who waits at home, coming to him in visions as he struggles to put up with the less-serious minds in the room. He chairs the committee that will write up the colonies’ grievances, which includes his intellectual equals Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson (Nancy Anderson) and Pennyslvania’s Benjamin Franklin (Liz Mikel).

The issue of slavery, which Thomas Jefferson vilified in the document (despite owning slaves), nearly derailed the Declaration and the eventual revolution.

South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge (Kassandra Haddock) refuses to sign unless the paragraph about slavery is removed, because it puts the South’s “peculiar institution” at a disadvantage. Rutledge turns the tables on their hypocrisy not

by chastising the New Englanders as slaveholders (many were) but rather as benefitting from the work of slaves, in the lyrics of “Molasses and Rum”:

Who sail(s) the ships out of Boston?

Laden with bibles and rum

Who drinks a toast

To the Ivory Coast?

“Hail Africa, the slavers have come!” New England with bibles and rum

The compromise was to lose the paragraph on slavery—and the rest is, as they say, history. Our history. All white men were created equal; we’re still struggling with that today.

look at, and is based on a real book of the same title by Peter Evans.

McGovern gives us a post-stroke diva in 1998 whose career has come to an end and is worried about paying her mortgage. “I either write the book or sell the jewels, and I’m kinda sentimental about the jewels,” she says. She hires Evans as her autobiography ghostwriter.

The staging is clever: author and journalist Peter Evans (played by Aaron Costa Ganis) stands before a dark curtain to explain to the audience how the book the play is about did not come to pass in his lifetime. Next it’s 3 a.m. and we hear the dusky voiced Ava talking to Peter, who’s been startled awake by her call. She’s been drinking.

We see Evans in telephone conversation with his agent Ed Victor (voiced offstage by Ryan W. Garcia), persuading him to take the gig and write about the marriages, the scandals, the size of Frank Sinatra’s member, and all the juicy bits that he’d really rather not engage in as a serious writer. He wants to finish his novel.

But the money and the opportunity to work with Ava ultimately change his mind. Upon meeting, they immediately confront one another about the direction the book will take and Ava, drinking heavily and still moving and thinking slowly because of the stroke, reveals more about herself than either of them ever anticipated. As they discuss her marriages and divorces—to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra, as well as her relationship with Howard Hughes—and about her love of sex, Evans seamlessly morphs into the exes, reenacting critical scenes in Ava’s life. Projected montages of her movies and of Rooney, Shaw and Sinatra, whose own career suffered because of their relationship, flesh out the story line.

AVA: The Secret Conversations

In AVA: The Secret Conversations, Elizabeth McGovern as actress Ava Gardner, once called the most beautiful woman in the world, plays the complete opposite of her cherished role as proper, soft-spoken Lady Cora in Downton Abbey. But she’s not just the star of this play: she’s also the playwright. Onstage at The Geffen Playhouse in Westwood till May 14.

It’s a terrific piece of theatre and beautiful to

Evans begins to fall for Ava himself and it’s his undoing. Abruptly she shuts off contact, refusing to allow him to publish the secrets she’s been spilling out until after she dies. It wasn’t until he persuaded his publisher to let him tell his own story about how their relationship unfolded that the book came out. Sadly, it was published after he died in 2012.

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.

PHOTO BY JEFF LORCH

Elizabeth McGovern in Ava: The Secret Conversations at Geffen Playhouse.

MY CORNER OF THE CANYON

Kinfolk (Dedicated to Uncle Bud)

By Kathie Gibboney

“I’ve already got six grandchildren and y’all don’t have any? What’s wrong with you California people?” asks my Cousin Sandy from Texas. “And your son’s 30 and not even fixin’ to marry his girlfriend? How long they”ve been together, seven years?”

I try to explain that many young people, Millennials and Generation Zs are not having children, at least not for now, and that a wedding doesn’t hold the milestone caché it once did.

This difference in the matter of prodigious procreation is one of the divides between us, although I must admit to a slight pang when I see cute baby clothes. Another of our disconnect is, of course, POLITICS. A subject we agree not to touch upon. Cousin Sandy is coming to attend the memorial of our Swingin’ Uncle Bud. I’m picking her up at the airport. Being, shall we say, challenged behind the wheel, I announce, “This is something I would only do for you.” I don’t warn her of impending calamity.

Cousin Sandy is a big-hearted, friendly, opinionated pistol of a Texas gal who has been married four times and might not be averse to number five, God help him. And I can’t help but love her as I did her mother. Sandy and her lovely, successful daughter and family have visited before and all went well enough, including the requisite visits to Universal Studios, Hollywood Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Venice Boardwalk, Malibu, and even a spin past Hef’s Playboy Mansion. The Beleaguered Husband and I are nothing if not gracious hosts.

Naturally the airport is a disaster, the sun blinds my eyes so I can’t read any of the signage. I have to negotiate the crowded loop over and over again like a bad dream, trying to connect on cell phone and muttering aloud things like, “Now what?” “Please, bus, let me over.” and “Dear God where is she???” Finally, as if a

miracle, I see her; bright red, long hair, gleaming like a spitfire angel.

I’m about to congratulate myself. Mission Accomplished. But upon exiting the airport I take a wrong turn and we’re lost in a sketchy part of town. Sandy’s GPS guides us home but by the time we finally get to Topanga I feel as if we’ve passed through some great trial together.

Uncle Bud received a fine send-off. We had a chance to get reacquainted with his children and their families. Sandy wore cowboy boots. A moving playing of “Taps” was followed appropriately by Sinatra’s, “I Did It My Way.” We all went to lunch after and judging by the cars driven by our cousins, identified by my envious and Beleaguered Husband as a Lamborghini Urus and an Audi R8 racing car, it was obvious as my brother and I concurred, some Gibboneys have done better than others.

Over the week of Sandy’s visit, in addition to her long rainbowcolored nails, a fondness for frozen margaritas and a tendency to become queasy on our winding Topanga roads, I note something else. It might be a Texas “thang” but she will talk to anyone, especially if they have a dog. She shares that she’s from Texas and proudly speaks of her daughter and announces how many grandchildren she has, even listing their ages and months they were born. She explains that we’re cousins and that her mother was my father’s youngest sister from Pennsylvania. I wonder if this might be more information then needs to be shared but I see people seem intrigued. Sandy and a stranger at the mall stand talking for a good twenty minutes about their love lives then exchange cell phone numbers and the young lady thanks my cousin for talking to her just when she needed someone. The woman she sat next to on the plane has become a dear friend.

Also, Cousin Sandy has no compulsion about walking right into

the Gucci store, a place I’ve never even entered, and asking the bemused salesman, “Well what’s the least expensive item y’all sell?” I admire her candor, gumption, and trust in humanity. Wish I had filmed it.

We take Sandy to Ventura to join our son and his charming, artistic girlfriend for lunch. Cousin Sandy is delighted with Riley and Karen and graciously invites them to visit Texas to which they favorably reply, “We”d love to!” being far from the answer she got when inviting us. I believe Michael’s response to her kind invitation to come to Texas was, “Ain”t gonna happen.”

Toward the end of the lunch, my son nonchalantly hands me a large envelope that evidently comes from a photo shop. I assume it’s a cute picture of their dachshund, whom I consider as close as I’ll get to a grandchild. As I open the packet and begin to pull up the photo I am taken by surprise.

I am stunned and overwhelmed. I am elated and excited. I sit frozen in a euphoric state, just staring at what I am holding. There in my hands is an ultra-scan of a baby in utero. I can only say, “Really???” My son is proudly beaming across the table at me and Sandy seeing the photo, asks,

“Are y”all pregnant?”

I pull out the complete photo in wonder and then see printed across the bottom,

‘April Fools!”

A dozen different feelings baffle and bombard me at once, yet as the great joy of thinking a little one was coming dissipates, I start to laugh. Once, I told a young Riley and little Miranda that they were going to have a baby brother or sister. My daughter seemed to think it fine, but Riley scowled and pronounced, “No! We don’t want that! We’re the children!”

Soon Miranda also said, “We don”t want that.” Then began to cry.

“April Fools!” I told them.

I guess my son has gotten even with me but I’m glad Cousin Sandy was there to share my almost Grandmotherhood. Maybe someday.

In the meantime, our house seems a bit empty without Sandy’s presence. One can appreciate a blood connection shared by relatives, something that bridges divides and effects an open smile. I’ve heard Sandy has tamed the length of her rainbow nails and even has a new hairdo, as per my suggestions.

Now I’ll have to work on her politics.

Ongoing Bible Study every Sunday with Michelle Klein , 10:00 a.m. Topanga Christian Fellowship, 269 Old Topanga Canyon Road. Service with Pastor John Klein follows at 11 a.m.

Ongoing. Little Free Library

“Spring Awakening” at Entrada Road Neighborhood. The Little Free Library Foundation is an International non-profit with a vision to “build community, inspire readers, and expand book access” and provide opportunities for reading to neighborhoods, underserved communities, and rural communities.

The books are free with a caveat: “Take a book, leave a book”, to encourage a sharing of ideas and love of books and dreams. There is a donation box under the LFL lounge bench to donate books or leave a not. For information and a map locating other LFLs in Topanga: littlefreelibrary.org; or katcalls@aol.com

Artist Matter Gallery presents “The Last Supper” and Topanga themes by ceramist Mervat Elias

An ongoing exhibition through April 30, especially for ceramics lovers! A portion of sales profits will be donated to your favorite school! The gallery is located at 139 Topanga Canyon Blvd. in the Topanga Creek Courtyard (next to Corazon Performing Arts).

Hours are: Daily 3-6 p.m. For more information or appointments, call or text (559) 586-1082. Follow on Instagram: #mervatelias

Sunday, April 30th, Adult & Pediatric First Aid / Cpr / Aed-Bl Training at Topanga Community Center . The 2021 Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course equips students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults children and infants.

Anyone 10+ is welcome to enroll and take the course. Certification lasts for two years. Two sessions are offered: 10 a.m.12 p.m., and 12:30-2:30 p.m. ( Topangacommunitycenter.org

Saturday & Sunday, sixth annual “Up the Drone” festival begins at 5 p.m on May 6 to 7 p.m. on May 7. This two-day festival is a 27-hour ongoing ambient sound bath featuring 27 different artists— poets, musicians, silk screenings and merchandise created by other creative spirits—performing at Corazon Performing Arts, in honor of Corazon’s Eighth Anniversary. Organized by artist and native Topangan James Mathers.

Tuesday, May 9, four-week “Jewpernatural” course with Rabbi Mendy Piekarski . Judaism’s answers regarding paranormal beliefs from the Jewish Learning Institute that unearths the Jewish perspective on dreams, astrology, spirits, demons, ghosts and other enduring

mysteries. Chabad of Topanga, 1459 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga, CA 90290. For information and times contact Rabbi Mendy Piekarski at (310) 455-1597 or RabbiMendyPiekarski@gmail.com

that you know and live in and write your own origin story through journal prompts and sharing. $40 includes the Paradise Realm journal; $25 if you bring your own journal. Event takes place outdoors at a private home in Topanga. To sign up: paradiserealm.org/shop ; or email Sarahsupernve@hotmail.com

Sunday, May 14, Annual MOMentum Place, Brunch 12-1:30 ($30), Performance, 2 p.m. Celebrate mothers and love for one another at the annual Mother’s Day extravaganza when Theatricum’s main stage hosts the circus and aerialists fly through the air, dancers embody music and jugglers, contortionists and special surprises create spectacles beyond imagination. Buy tickets now ($15-$40)! Theatricum.com/momentum-place.

May 10, 2-3 p.m., Embrace of the Wild. Meet Topanga author, Linda Ballou, who will share insights into her widely acclaimed historical novel inspired by the indomitable, Victorian Age explorer, Isabella Bird. Linda was honored to be selected as the “Isabella Bird Expert” in the BBC docuseries,Trailblazers, spotlighting women who have paved the way to female empowerment. In the Sage room at the Topanga Community Center, 1440 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290.

Friday, May 12, 7 p.m. Santa Monica Amateur Astronomy Club . Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View and Director of the Institute’s Center for SETI Research, will present “Science Searches for the Extraterrestrials.” For information: samoastronomy. org; samoastronomy@gmail.com ; (310) 890-9495. Founded in 1981, the club is open to all and holds monthly talks the second Friday of the month at the Wildwood School, 11811 Olympic Blvd. Attendance free. Membership $30/year.

Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., In-Person Journaling Workshop with Sarah Irani . For a creative boost, walk in the Paradise Realm

Saturday, May 14, Kidiwische Corner workshop . Mother’s Day coiled yarn baskets with Kat High. For information and location: KatCalls@aol.com

Sunday, May 21, Kidiwische Corner workshop. Spirit vessel gourds with Nadiya Littlewarrior. For information and location: KatCalls@ aol.com.

May 23, 7 p.m., Free Special Guest Lecture, “The Remarkable History & Uncertain Future of Abalone.” The Pacific Palisades Historical Society hosts Independent scholar and award-winning author Ann Vileisis Talks about California’s iconic shellfish. Theater Palisades, 941 Temescal Canyon Road, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. RSVP: info@ pacificpalisadeshistory.org

May 27-29, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., 48th Annual Topanga Days. Tickets available now online only. For information on sponsorships and volunteer opportunities: Topangacommunitycenter.org . For tickets: topangadays.com/tickets The Topanga Community Center is located at 1440 N.Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga. CA 90290.

Photo by Miriam Geer.

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.

Amazing 180 Degree Views Of Topanga Mountains

You can see forever with 180-degree views of the Topanga Mountains, State Park, and Eagle Rock. This warm, contemporary Craftsman features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms starts at the leaded glass front door. Rich walnut floors, beam ceilings, and a wood-burning stove for cool mountain nights, remodeled kitchen, complete the open floor plan. It is easy to move in and enjoy this home immediately. Every room has a view, including the kitchen with a breakfast bar, dining area, great room, bedrooms, and studio. The wood-cased windows and sliders open onto a stunning tiled deck and Trex stairs leading to 2 more spaces below the main house and into its gardens. The master has an ensuite bathroom with a separate shower enclosure, bathtub, double vanity, a large walk-in closet, and a romantic built-in window seat along a wall of glass. The long driveway ends at the garage, which is designed for work, play, or living. Flex your gardening muscles with an in-ground bed for veggies or flowers, close to a detached storage shed to house your tools or use for overflow storage. Mature fruiting plum, orange, almond, apple, and nectarine trees, plus grapevines, are included in the drought-friendly landscaping, creating a lovely space for sunbathing or relaxing.

Offered at $1,599,000

Chrissa Lightheart (310) 663-3696

DRE# 01093433

Voltaire Drive 6 Bed | 3 Bath $1,970,000

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.

Gayle Pritchett & Lacey Rose Gorden - (310) 748-1580

Exquisite custom Mediterranean oasis on approx. 11 acres overlooking the majestic boulders of Red Rock Park and offering complete gated and fenced privacy with lush landscaping, fruit trees, vegetable garden, and large outdoor usable spaces.

Valley View Drive 2 Bed | 2 Bath $1,389,000

Kirsten Bohman - (310) 403-4818

This little Fernwood charmer is the perfect place to escape from it all. Currently set up as a single family 2 bed 2 bath, the upstairs and down can easily be separated to create 2 separate units. The possibilities and the views are endless.