Topanga Messenger

 The beetles have arrived; native trees are threatened. Around September 3, two new problems for our oaks, sycamores and willows were confirmed in Topanga: the polyphagus shot hole borer (PSHB) that infests many species of native and non-native trees, and the foamy bark canker disease caused by the western oak bark beetle (WOBB) that prefers oaks only. While each has a unique life history, they both involve a beetle infecting the tree with a fu… [Read More...]

 For Topanga Canyon from south of Cezanne Place to the two-mile bridge, the CHP responded to three collisions. Of those, one was an injury and two were property-damage only collisions for the reporting period. The “primary collisions factors” of the collisions were unsafe turning (22107 vc) and unsafe speed (22350 vc). For Topanga Canyon, from the two-mile bridge to PCH, the CHP responded to three collisions: one was an injury collision and 2 we… [Read More...]

 Our apologies to James Chressanthis for spelling his name wrong—in the headline, no less—in the last issue (See “Cinematographer’s Showcase with James Cressanthis…,” Topanga Messenger, Vol. 40, No. 18, September 8, 2016). In the same issue, the web address in Sarah Priest’s article (See “Spirit Theater…,” Topanga Messenger, Vol. 40, No. 18, September 8, 2016), was incorrect. It should be … [Read More...]

 Topanga Ukesters & Sing-along—Mondays, 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. Beginners; 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. for Intermediate and up. Make some joyful noise with our ukulele group! Beginners may come at 11 a.m. for the basics and stick around for our Intermediate group. Loaner ukes available. Ages 5 and up. Toddler Storytime—Wednesdays, except September 28, 11 a.m. Stories, rhymes, fingerplays and more! An interactive and fun way to encourage language and lit… [Read More...]

 As they celebrated their eleventh birthday on September 10, the Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains (PDSMM) honored three recipients with the Tim Carpenter Courage Award—Congressman Ted W. Lieu with the “Inside Party” award; single-payer health care advocate, Dr. Paul Y. Song, received the “Outside Party” award; and Leah Herzberg, 93, was presented with the “Lifetime Achievement” award by Eric Bauman, Chair of … [Read More...]

 The Canyon Sages, Topanga’s organization for seniors of all ages, honored the creators and leaders of the Sages Suppers, Lisa Villaseñor, Karla Morrison and Karen Dannenbaum, by presenting them with Outstanding Service Awards at the first dinner of the season on September 2. Lisa Villaseñor, once president of the Topanga Community Club (TCC), was the original founder of the senior dinners years ago, when they were run by th… [Read More...]

 The festival of Rosh Hashanah—the name means “Head of the Year”—is observed for two days beginning on 1 Tishrei (October 3-4) the first day of the Jewish year. It is the anniversary of the creation ofAdam and Eve, the first man and woman, and their first actions toward the realization ofmankind’s role in G-d’s world. Rosh Hashanah thus emphasizes the special relationship between G-d and humanity: our dependence upon G… [Read More...]

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with federal, state and local government and private sector partners, is kicking off its fourth annual SepticSmart Week to encourage American homeowners and communities to properly maintain their septic systems. More than 26 million homes in the United States (one in five households) depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. If not maintained, failing septic systems can contaminate grou… [Read More...]

 A documentary, “The Cat That Changed America,” about Griffith Park mountain lion, P-22, has been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. It features several local activists like Beth Pratt Bergstrom, California Director of the National Wildlife Federation, National Park Service researcher, Jeff Sikich, who have done so much to care for our mountain lions, and Poison Free Malibu (PoisonFreeMalibu.… [Read More...]

 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin applying steel fiber-reinforced sprayed concrete (shotcrete) to an ocean-side slope near Big Rock Road along Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) to prevent additional erosion to the slope supporting the highway and to help protect utility lines. Work on the project started on September 14, and is expected to finish in late October. The work will require a shoulder closure on southbound SR-1. … [Read More...]