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August 21, 2020 Vol. 1, No. 5 No. 1, Vol. 2020 21, August Topanga’s Independent Voice Since 1976 Since Voice Independent Topanga’s COMPASS PRIVATE EXCLUSIVES Want to Sell Without the Stress or Worry? The Wright Way Team has highly qualified buyers for your home.

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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Market share based on available claw MLS data and any known off market listings. Thinking Out Loud Topanga’s Independent Voice Since 1976

“WE’RE CONFUSED!” Our community has given us feedback and, in the way it’s supposed to work, we’re listening. It seems readers can’t wrap their Publisher / Editor minds around Topanga as a two-newspaper town. As a result, we Flavia Potenza receive emails complaining that readers can’t find a particular article and the reason is we didn’t publish it. It was the “other paper.” Associate Editor We’ve experienced some confusion ourselves as we’ve struggled Kait Leonard to define The Canyon Chronicle and how it differs from the Topanga New Times. Thanks to your feedback, we finally decided on a tag Creative Director line: “Topanga’s Independent Voice Since1976.” Look at it. Savor it. Nira Lichten It carries a lineage and a legacy in that statement. To our point, we have one foot in our past and our sights set in Media Director the future. Admittedly, the Canyon Chronicle has only been around T.E. Zeri for two months, five editions. There’s certainly no legacy or lineage there. Creative Consultant I was the founding editor of the Topanga Messenger in 1976; that Eiffel Nazaryan is the through line to the now. It’s not about me and some egotistical out-of-control drive to keep creating newspapers. It’s about ensuring that the service a newspaper provides has a solid business foundation Contributors that anyone with an independent spirit, open mind, and the required skills can pick up and carry on. Linda Ballou She may hate me for saying this, but Mary Colvig was the rock who kept the Topanga Messenger going Joel Bellman for 40 years. By 2016, no one was in the line of succession and the paper was struggling. In a gallant Annemarie Donkin flourish, she closed the business 40 years to the day on which it was first published, December 1, 2016, Kathie Gibboney and left a legacy that was not about her alone, but a community. Paula LaBrot R.I.P. Topanga Messenger—1976-2016. The community was shocked, people were depressed at losing Amy Weisberg something so entwined with their lives. Fast forward now to The Canyon Chronicle. I have no idea what drove me so hard to continue a Social Media Intern newspaper in Topanga for a third time—the work is demanding, and I certainly have no aspirations to Miranda Anapol die at my desk—but it seemed essential to carry it forward. Thus, the Messenger Mountain News, which lived for three years, and is not yet gone but lurking in the shadows until its owners can come to an Copy Editor / Distribution agreement to exorcise it. Ellie Carroll But look what sprouted from the moldering bones of the Messenger Mountain News. Topanga has two publications! Contact US I won’t speak for the Topanga New Times, the “interim, not-a-newspaper,” as Bonnie Morgan proclaimed in its seminal editorial. Whatever it is, they seem to be having fun. [email protected] As for The Canyon Chronicle, we have our own path. Be assured we are not negating any prospect General inquiries: of fun. We are building on a lineage that began with the Topanga Journal* in 1946. That gives rise now [email protected] to the understanding of what it means to have a community working with you. It also testifies to the Advertising inquiries: integrity and dedication to journalistic standards inherent in the responsibility of such an endeavor. [email protected] Here’s a thought: We have two coffee shops in Topanga, why not two papers? Wrap your mind around P.O. Box 1101 that one. Topanga, CA 90290 Meanwhile, we hope The Canyon Chronicle will live up to the values set before us: “Topanga’s (310) 460-9786 Independent Voice.” n

The Canyon Chronicle is an *The Topanga Journal was published by Hugh Harlan from 1946-1952. It’s available as a Microfilm independent community newspaper Master at the University of California, Riverside, CA. published bi-weekly by Canyon Media, Inc.©2020. All rights reserved. thecanyonchronicle.com In the Begginning... Topanga’s Independent Voice Since 1976 August 21, 2020 Vol. 1, No. 5 Publisher/Editor Flavia Potenza and Media Director T.E. Zeri, hold up the cover of the first edition of The Canyon Chronicle in the bedroom “office” of Potenza’s home. This was a moment of uncontrollable exuberance upon seeing the 24 pages laid out on the floor. So much for high tech when you’re a lowly start-up business but nice to know low-tech is still there in a pinch. Photo by neighbor and inspirational muse Jane

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Photo by Richard Lee Smith, Jr. Local Artist. Follow on Instagram @woodenship email: [email protected]. Taken at Trippet Ranch Visitor Center in Topanga State Park. Cover Design by Nira Lichten Election 2020 is officially on track to November 3. Follow directions here.

4 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 news

New App for Early Warning Earthquake Alerts California’s QuakeAlertUSA, a new early-warning come even before the countdown hits zero. Don’t app for smartphones, has a “countdown” feature have a false sense of security; earthquakes are very that shows the seconds before the shaking arrives. complex,” he said. People can tailor the alert for a magnitude that Based on the direction, speed, and magnitude triggers for weak, light, and moderate shaking. of the first “P” wave, QuakeAlertUSA is able to Other apps that have been around longer, are the U.S. quickly determine where ground shaking will Geological Survey’s (USGS) ShakeAlert system, occur, how intense the shaking will be, and when powered by hundreds of sensors throughout the shaking will start in different areas. The app California, LA City’s ShakeAlertLA, and UC then sends out alerts to app users based on their Berkeley’s MyShake app that offers statewide current location, providing early warning up to 60 coverage. Created by Santa Monica-based Early seconds ahead of the damaging second “S” wave. Warning Labs, the app uses the same data source The notification you receive from Quake Alert as the other. Alerts via text message are also USA tells you: available through the Amber Alert-style Wireless • Expected arrival time of ground shaking Emergency System and don’t require downloading • Expected intensity or a smartphone. • Your distance from the epicenter According to the LA Times report, “The • The magnitude of the earthquake at the countdown feature should be used with caution. epicenter People shouldn’t wait around for the seconds to • Suggested safety measures tick down before they Drop, Cover and Hold on; For every earthquake, there is a region near they should do it right away,” said USGS ShakeAlert the epicenter where alerts will not arrive before scientist Robert de Groot. “Decent shaking can shaking begins. n

Topanga Creek Watershed Committee

August 13, 2020 UC Davis, the California Academy of Sciences, and others show that 70 percent of Northern spotted owls have been contaminated with anticoagulant Dear California Senate Appropriations rodenticides. A separate 2018 study by UCLA and Committee: others found that these poisons are affecting genes The Topanga Creek Watershed Committee that regulate bobcat immune systems. is writing in support of AB 1788, introduced In addition to harming wildlife, anticoagulant by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa rodenticides pose an unreasonable risk to children Monica) and co-authored by Senator Henry Stern. who may accidentally ingest these highly toxic In fact, we wish the bill went even further and poisons. Between 1999 and 2009, the American banned the use of first-generation rodenticides Association of Poison Control Centers received as well in order to more fully protect humans, reports of an average of 17,000 human exposures domestic pets and wildlife from harm. to rodenticides each year, with 85% of these Why AB 1788 is needed exposures, (i.e., approximately 15,000 per year), We support the language in this bill that would occurring to children less than 6 years of age. completely ban second-generation anticoagulant no decrease in the rate of wildlife poisoning from In Sum, AB 1788 is a much needed step rodenticides (SGARs) in California. These these products. The continued use of rodenticides in the right direction toward sustainable pest products are having widespread impacts on our by licensed pest control applicators perpetuates the management in the state. n state’s wildlife as well as creating unnecessary risk circle of poison, exposing non-target wildlife (and to the health and safety of our state’s residents and even pets) who consume the rodents to the lethal Regards, household pets. effects of these bio-accumulative toxicants. Social Carrie Carrier, Chair, Topanga Creek Since the California Department of Pesticide media is rife with examples of neighbors who have Watershed Committee Regulation pulled second generation anticoagulants lost pets to rodenticides. President, Topanga Town Council from consumer shelves in July 2014, there has been Recent scientific studies published in 2018 by Email: [email protected]

The Hero in You! In 2014, when Bunni and Rick Benaron decided for teachers to accompany their activity books they wanted to do something to give back to and short videos to add to the curriculum content. the community, they decided to create the Prior to COVID, The Hero in You Foundation foundation, The Hero in You, a California 501 was working to engage with the community and (c)3 non-profit. created a new series, The Sense of Safety, focusing According to their website, the Foundation on teaching children to use their five senses to stay began by honoring first responders, dedicating safe and their sixth sense to stay in touch with their six-foot-tall Dalmatian puppy sculptures to cities, feelings in order to assess danger. fire stations, parks, museums and libraries. The The Foundation has added pages to address mascot, Rocket the dog, delivers the instructions, COVID safety with coloring pages about Rocket Rules, designed to provide an early wearing masks, and social distancing and pages education program that teaches safety and addressing healthy habits. They continue to work The Hero in You foundation mascot, Rocket, the dog, takes a photo op with some new friends at the California emergency preparedness. This engaging, age- on curriculum development and are creating a FOUNDATION

Science Center. appropriate program helps kids learn life-saving partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School and split-second decision-making skills. District to assess community needs and to align YOU

IN

Bunni grew up locally in the Valley attending curriculum. Sunnybrae Elementary School in Canoga Park As Rocket plants the seeds of safety in the HERO and Canoga Park High School. She had been a minds of young children, grown-ups are jumping THE teacher early in her career and though they do not on board with Superintendent Austin Beutner and OF have children of their own, Bunni and Rick value Dodger Justin Turner making short videos with education. Rocket! Realizing statues alone couldn’t teach children, Topanga Elementary Charter School students COURTESY they worked together with the Los Angeles will be the lucky recipients of Rocket’s Wildfire Emergency Management to create the program. Safety Activity books, with teachers being able to

PHOTOS The Foundation is in partnership with CAL FIRE provide curriculum to help teach our youngest Holmes Elementary students hold up their copies of and Aspen Fire and have valued partnerships with students how they can help develop fire safety Rocket’s Wildfire Safety Activity Book. With the help of first responders, Officer Rodriguez and his partner, they’ll the LAPD and Los Angeles Unified School District plans-just in time for fire season. n become one of Rocket’s “Wildfire Safety Experts.” School Police. Their website offers a curriculum Amy Weisberg, M.Ed.

August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 5 news Topanga Emergency Task Force—Preparing for the Next Crisis A well-attended Zoom meeting brought together members of the Topanga Emergency Management Task Force and Topanga residents to work through ideas and concerns in preparation for the next fire, flood or earthquake.

By Annemarie Donkin

Seeking solutions, solving issues, and working to protect the Canyon, the Topanga Emergency

Management Task Force (TEMTF) met online on PHOTO BY ELISA FERRARI August 12 to determine how to keep Topanga safe during an emergency. Co-chaired by Jeanne O’Donnell, CEO-Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and James Grasso of the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (T-CEP) the meeting was joined by members of the public and representatives of the SCE’s Community Crew Vehicles are often deployed during a Public Safety Power Shutoff. L.A. County Board of Supervisors; Los Angeles County Fire; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s (CRCs) to support customers during a PSPS event. cell reception, and needs to have two egress routes. Department; CHP, Southern California Edison At a CRC, customers will receive resiliency With a brick-and-mortar facility, we would have (SCE) and Spectrum. kits that include a pre-charged solar-powered bathrooms and shelter from the weather. To the New Evacuation Terminology: During the charger, flashlight/LED lightbulb, personalextent there is a PSPS event, with no evacuation, we start of the meeting, Grasso announced that official protective equipment, ice, bulk water, snacks and could place a mobile CRC in town to charge devices. evacuation terminology has changed. “What used PSPS pamphlets. During an evacuation, mobile vans can be set up in to be “Voluntary Evacuations” and “Mandatory When there is an active wildfire and SCE crews a park or an open space that everyone can go to.” Evacuations,” are now “Evacuation Warning” and are deployed, the utility may also send its Mobile “Evacuation Order,” he said. Command Center, which is a fully functioning About the Office of Emergency Management Representatives of the Los Angeles Fire support center, including satellite, Wi-Fi, computer (OEM): Regarding Topanga and the aftermath of Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s stations, and rest area for its staff. fires and disasters, the OEM has the responsibility Departments during the meeting emphasized that “The purpose of the Community Crew Vehicles of comprehensively planning for, responding “if you see smoke, evacuate.” and the CRCs is to provide customers with to, and recovering from large-scale emergencies information and resources to manage the event and to and disasters that impact Los Angeles County. Powering Off for Wildfire Safety :When there are reduce the impact of PSPS,” said Senior Advisor Janice OEM’s work is accomplished in partnership and potentially dangerous weather conditions in fire- Wang, who helps oversee SCE’s resource centers. collaboration with first-response agencies, as well as prone areas, such as a “Red Flag” alerts, SCE may “When they see us, they can ask their questions.” non-profit, private sector, and government partners. need to call a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). More information is available on sce.com/psps. Los Angeles County has established various disaster For the Topanga residents at the meeting, this preparedness programs to assist individuals and became the subject of overriding concern. Will there be a CRC in Topanga? Some Topanga businesses to prepare for emergencies. According to SCE’s website, “During these residents called into the Task Force Zoom meeting For more information: lacounty.gov/emergency. events, we will proactively turn off power in high- and asked whether there will be a CRC center in For inquires specific to County education programs, fire risk areas to reduce the threat of wildfires. Topanga during a power shutoff event. Currently, e-mail Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office, Turning off our customers’ power is not something SCE’s website said it has identified about 40 centers Office of Emergency Management: Communications@ we take lightly, but PSPS events are one of the ways that could be activated during a PSPS in areas ceooem.lacounty.gov. we can better ensure the safety of the public, our including Inyo, Kern, Tulare, Los Angeles, Orange, customers, and our employees.” Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Santa TEMTF Mission Statement: The mission of the all- Edison is required to notify its customers days Barbara counties. volunteer Topanga Emergency Management Task ahead of time a for a pending PSPS event. According to Wang, some criteria to operate as a Force, a partnership of designated public agencies, “Since the PSPS activation program, there have brick-and-mortar Community Resource Center in non-governmental organizations, and community been no events in Topanga, this year or last; most Topanga would be to determine an open area with organizations, is to ensure the sustainability of will get notifications for the L.A. County area,” sufficient parking that can support at least 50 people emergency management efforts and strategies for said David Ford, Senior Government Relations while socially distancing, that has power and is able the Los Angeles County unincorporated area of Manager at Southern California Edison. There are to be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Topanga. The Task Force oversees the coordination many valuable online resources at www.sce.com, “Regarding opening a CRC in Topanga, there and communication among governmental including the role the weather plays in the PSPS are several [electrical] circuits that run through agencies, non-governmental organizations, decision-making. the Canyon,” Wang said. “In the event of a PSPS, and the community to improve preparedness, it presents a safety issue. Evacuation is the most prevention, response, and recovery. It will develop, Community Resource Centers During a PSPS: primary and important factor. We will not set up a review, and monitor community-based emergency During a PSPS, SCE will deploy Community Crew CRC in the event of a fire if our teams go to a site plans, facilitate emergency planning exercises, Vehicles in an area where the power has been and it has to be changed or relocated, and/or is not ensure community involvement and educational deactivated. Additionally, they will staff “brick-and- safe for our crews. Also, it would have to be ADA- outreach, evaluate and update emergency plans mortar” or mobile Community Resource Centers compliant, accommodate up to 50 people, strong after a disaster.n Another Threat to Wildlife Thousands of animals die yearly in netting through the holes, animals can get tangled. Mesh installed to prevent them from stealing fruit from size should be less than 5mm, or approximately trees. These animals tend to die horrific deaths, 0.2 inches. sustaining multiple injuries and then dying The second option is to cover individual fruit slowly. In addition, when tree nets are disposed of by using fruit protection bags instead of whole improperly, they continue to kill animals. Animals tree bags. In either case, make sure to use white find their way into discarded nets, get tangled, and netting, as it is the color most easily seen by die. These tragedies can be avoided by following wildlife. some simple guidelines. Some wildlife rescue groups also suggest The first and most important way to ensure planting more than needed so some fruit can be that animals don’t get tangled is to buy netting that shared with the animals who come to visit. n —Kait Leonard

PHOTO CREDIT SANDY GARBER SANDY CREDIT PHOTO passes the finger test. If you can put your finger

6 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 Fire Alerts on Nextdoor Not Always Accurate The “Shirley Fire” in Chatsworth set off do the same. I did not have my phone or would Stewart wrote that the LAFD, under the a firestorm of postings and comments have sent it from my Nextdoor app and not my leadership of Assistant Chief Surgey Tomlinson, wife’s. Sorry we said something over two hours ago established a Unified Command with Angeles on Nextdoor after hikers in Topanga in real time.” National Forest, simultaneously deploying assets reported sightings of smoke in the San Experienced Topangans offered sage advice. to structural defense and fire attack. Additional Fernando Valley. Bottom Line: If you “FYI, if you think there is a fire that is in the resources from Los Angeles County Fire see smoke, evacuate to safety, call 9-1-1 vicinity, please also consider not continuing your Department assisted in the battle. and when in doubt, go on T-CEP.org hike but instead get yourself to safety,” Kathleen H. “Within two hours, the fire was 40 percent wrote in response to Sean E. “Fires often appear contained and all forward progress was halted. By for real-time updates. closer than they are but wind and humidity factors early evening, firefighters had transitioned into a By Annemarie Donkin can move a fire fast. A good indication that the mop-up and fire-watch mode,” Stewart continued. fire is headed your way or is near, is the ability to “The fire was held at 20 acres and destroyed one On Friday July 31, the posting on Nextdoor was smell smoke. Also, FYI, when there is a brush fire, shed. No homes or businesses were damaged. One stark. fire units will move up to other stations as well as LAFD firefighter was treated for a minor, lower “Fire past Santa Maria?” posted Bianca B. “This respond to a fire from stations farther away so it is leg injury. LAPD and the LAFD Arson Section is looking toward the Valley from the ridge above common to hear sirens and see lots of fire trucks arrested an adult male in connection with the fire. Callon [Drive].” on the road responding. Pulse Point for both This remains an ongoing investigation.” The temperature was already around 100 LAFD–V (LA City) and LACoFD District 7 (L.A. degrees with a light breeze, so the posting caused County) are for our area and the San Fernando WHAT TO DO DURING alarm among longtime Topangans who are Valley.” A RED FLAG WARNING? especially vigilant at the start of fire season. Michael C. of Topanga Canyon wrote in real Had there been an actual fire in Topanga, it is “It is so scary to see a message like this,” wrote time: “My source tells me the fire is in Chatsworth recommended that people initiate evacuation Kirsten B. in response. “This fire is nowhere near 10 acres, L.A. City, Ventura, and L.A. County on procedures immediately and follow directions Topanga!” it. Be safe.” from emergency first responders instead of Still, others panicked and posted comments Indeed, as the fire in Chatsworth was being posting on Nextdoor. According to L.A. County because they heard fire trucks in the Canyon. contained by L.A. City, L.A. County, and Ventura Fire, generally Red Flag weather conditions exist Because of the original posting and others County Fire departments, Topangans went to when winds are blowing in excess of 25 m.p.h. and like it, the Nextdoor app lit up with more than T-CEP (www.t-cep.org) and read the incident the humidity is below 15 percent. 50 comments, often criticizing the folks who saw report. T-CEP issued its Emergency Status Reports On these days there are precautions you can smoke and posted instead of checking with online regarding the “Shirley Fire” all day in real time. take: Park your car heading out, windows closed. sources linked to Los Angeles County Fire (fire. Disconnect garage door openers and use manual lacounty.gov). LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT mode; have a “Go” bag packed and place your “In the future, check out T-CEP (the Topanga “SHIRLEY FIRE” REPORT important items in your car—papers, etc. Keep Coalition for Emergency Preparedness) and Fortunately, as more people checked out T-CEP pet carriers handy. Before you go—open drapes download Pulse Point,” posted Karine T. “It’s very and the L.A. City and County Fire Departments, or window coverings, keep windows closed, close helpful to know about these resources living in word went out that the fire was in the Chatsworth interior doors; turn on all the lights. Topanga.” The Topanga Coalition for Emergency Hills, closer to Simi Valley and about 12 miles Preparedness (T-CEP) is a nonprofit, all-volunteer north of Topanga, and the posts became more THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO? organization based in Topanga, California. informative than panicky. According to L.A. County Fire officials and the L.A. “For more than 23 years, we’ve provided “Despite outside temperatures exceeding 100 County Sheriff’s Department, a potential fire that emergency preparedness education and real-time degrees and a fire initially encroaching on several starts at Santa Maria Road and dirt Mulholland is disaster status updates to residents of Topanga, homes, firefighters waged an aggressive battle and the “Worst-case fire scenario in the Santa Monica Malibu, and surrounding areas,” says its website. defended a hillside neighborhood,” wrote LAFD Mountains.” Sean E. reposted from earlier comments while spokesperson Margaret Stewart on their website Retired Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Winn, who has referring to T-CEP: “We were on a five-mile-hike (http://www.LAFD.org). “At 1:09 p.m. on July worked with Topanga for decades, described what and not watching TV or cruising the internet. We 31, 2020, the Los Angeles City Fire Department that would look like. “A fire at Santa Maria Road had enough bars to call Fire and let our neighbors responded to a reported brush fire in the 8100 and Mulholland with a Santa Ana wind would know what we were seeing in real time. It’s very block of W. Ellenbogen Street. The first arriving burn south to PCH within 1.5 to two hours,” easy to Monday-morning-quarterback two hours fire company reported approximately two acres he said. “It takes five to seven hours to evacuate after it happened. burning at a moderate speed. Fire attack was the Canyon—the math does not work. It’s not a In real time, we opted to let people know. We immediately initiated while the water dropping matter of whether many people may die, it’s only are not sorry we let people know what we saw. I helicopters redirected from a separate brush fire to a matter of how many and it could be into the definitely would do it again and hope others would provide an aerial attack.” triple digits.” n

RESOURCES TO CALL IF YOU SEE SMOKE Experienced Topangans know what to do at the start of fire season; they start with their local organizations, TCEP and Arson Watch. If it’s an emergency, first respnders will probably be busy responding, but keep their numbers in your pocket anyway. T-CEP – (310) 455-3000 (t-cep.org) Arson Watch – (310) 455-4244 (arsonwatch.com) Emergency – 911 Fire Prevention – (818) 880-0341 or (800) 339-6993 Sheriff – (818) 878-1808 California Highway Patrol – (323) 906-3405 OTHER HELPFUL CONTACTS: Caltrans – (213) 897-0383 Verizon – (800) 483-2000 Edison – (800) 655-4555 Red Cross – (800) 540-2000 L.A. County Dept. of Animal Care and Control – (818) 991-0071

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEXTDOOR OF TOPANGA COURTESY PHOTO Public Works (Bldg.& Safety-Flood-Road-Water) View of the “Shirley Fire” in Chatsworth as seen View of the heavy bulldozer used on the “Shirley Fire” in Chatsworth – (800) 675-4357 (HELP) from Topanga. (In this photo, one can judge on Friday, July 31, 2020. Photo courtesy of LAFD L.A. Unified School District – (213) 241-4500 whether it looked close to Topanga….or not.)

August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 7 Feature PHOTOS BY JACKIE FIRMAN FIRMAN JACKIE BY PHOTOS Chaya Milchtein Teens: Empower Your Power Behind the Wheel

Automotive educator, plus-size model, classes sell out. This course is offered on a sliding Milchtein. She will cover topics like an overview and social media influencer, Chaya scale from $39 to $159, and spaces are limited. Ten of the owner’s manual; knowing when to call for a Milchtein, launches her new Automotive percent of the gross revenue will be donated to tow rather than drive; and how to know when to Fundamentals program for teen and Kids Matter, an organization that supports abused say “No” to a mechanic, among other important young adult drivers. and neglected children. The funds raised from this topics. This is not a driver’s education course, nor is course will be directed toward the purchase of a it a class on becoming a DIY mechanic. Milchtein By Kait Leonard car for a young person coming out of foster care, a designed this program to empower young people, special interest of Milchtein. so they feel confident in their cars. Think back to getting your first car. How did you She gained her knowledge of cars from years As a “fat, queer person who wears fabulous learn to navigate the world of car ownership? Did working in the auto service industry. She started clothes and educates people about cars,” owning you know what to do when the engine light came in a Sears Auto Center and moved on to other her power means everything to Milchtein and she on? If a mechanic recommended a service, did you major automotive repair chains and dealerships. strives to help others feel as confident as she does. feel comfortable declining it? Working in customer service, she always viewed Besides providing auto education, she is a plus- Upon getting that first car, most drivers just her job as deciphering mechanic-speak for the car size model, writer, and speaker. jumped in and hit the road. If something went owner. Her insider position also made her privy to When asked what brings cars and clothes wrong, they asked a friend, a parent, or some guy ways customers can be taken advantage of. She has together, she says “Empowerment.” She uses her at the gas station what to do. Milchtein wants to acquired a “well rounded understanding of cars, teaching platform and her influencer status to empower today’s young drivers with the knowledge inside and out,” she says. help LGBTQ+ people, plus-size women, and car they need to own a car responsibly. Though the upcoming teen class is new for owners who sometimes get taken advantage of, to “Before your first car: A virtual car ownership Milchtein, working with kids isn’t. The oldest of 15 feel confident and in control. class for teens and young adults” will be held live siblings in an orthodox Jewish family, Milchtein For anyone who has an adolescent getting ready in a private Facebook group on October 24-25, has literally spent her life caring for children and to take to the road, why not arm them with some where Milchtein will teach content and answer teens. This, at least partially, explains why she is of the real-world knowledge that many driver’s student questions for one hour each day. The site so passionate to support them as they take that education programs don’t provide? will remain available for one month, so students important step into first-time car ownership, a Learning the hard way, the way most people do, will have the opportunity to review the videos. significant rite of passage for many young people. isn’t only unnecessary, it isn’t safe. n The course is geared toward students ages 15 to 24 The upcoming course “is intended to educate years old. young people at an early age, before they’re too To register: https://mechanicshopfemme.com/ Milchtein has been conducting online far into the car ownership journey, so they don’t product/virtual-car-ownership-class-for-teens-and- automotive education for three years, and her make mistakes that can easily be prevented,” says young-adults/

8 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 Politics As the Presidential Election Looms, Young Voters Look Local By Anabelle Doliner Rather, it’s “important to recognize injustice in like Black Lives Matter, have been working on [her] own community.” these same local issues for decades. However, Twenty-one-year-old Polly Pierone was born Furthermore, “[Biden’s] campaign right now the number of young people who are joining in LA—but until a few months ago, she hadn’t isn’t aligned” with the issues she is most invested in. in, often for the first time, is notable, especially paid much attention to her city’s local politics. Another young LA activist and recent with such a high-stakes, high-profile Growing up, she told me she preferred to focus on college graduate who asked to remain presidential election looming. One political issues at the national level. Now, however, anonymous, feels similarly. “My longtime activist I spoke to cited she attends protests, phone banks, and works sentiment is that I will vote for a specific example where they with grassroots organizations to work toward Biden, but I don’t support a lot of found this recent surge in progressive change at the city and county levels. his policies/ideology,” she says. participation most notable. “I’m passionate about decarceration and She and her friends hoped that Weekly Black Lives Matter defunding the police [in LA], and have been his VP pick would lean further protests against California participating in virtual actions three times a week.” left with a candidate like Stacey District Attorney Jackie What changed? Abrams or Elizabeth Warren. Lacey, have been ongoing for Pierone is just one example of the many Pierone also speaks to the two years. Prior to these past young people who, in the wake of Covid-19 and growing frustration she feels with few months, a good turnout at the national uprisings for Black Lives Matter, electoral politics, and senses that many one of these protests might have been have become increasingly politically mobile. In of her peers share the sentiment. Simply put, she 50 people, but a video from June 2020 shows the Los Angeles’ youth population, specifically, says, “The state of national politics...has made me thousands of protestors, most of them young, many are engaging with politics and activism pretty cynical.” gathered in Downtown LA, expressing their in a way that emphasizes and advocates for Another young activist I spoke to, Beeta anger and demanding change. policy changes within their own communities, Golshani, echoes Pierone’s feelings. She points The young people I spoke to all agreed that, at neighborhoods, and districts. out that “this election along with the pandemic this moment, turning to local issues feels like the Some members of older generations, however, has radicalized more people in the past few most tangible, concrete, and effective method of fear that this focus on the local level means months than the past four years.” She continues: achieving political change. that young people aren’t invested in issues at “I think all young progressives can agree that As Golshani put it, “Young people are seeing the national scale—the November presidential no one wants another four years of Trump and that putting hope in a national campaign that election, most obviously. Fears abound that that almost anyone would be better, but that works from the top down rather than bottom up... apathy and a lack of enthusiasm for Biden shouldn’t mean settling for a candidate because of leads to monumental disappointment. Optimism among young voters might contribute to Trump’s party affiliation. It’s time people start criticizing lies in grassroots and local organizing.” reelection. Pierone, however, is quick to call that politicians on policy, not party.” For many, No one is ignoring the election, most of all categorization a “misconception.” participating in local, grassroots movements, feels not young people. Rather, we are reacting to the “I’m definitely going to vote for Joe Biden,” like an antidote to the inefficiencies, corruptions, failures of electoral politics. And, if we can push she says, “[and] I will be mad if any of my peers and frustrations of electoral politics. for progressive change at the local level, maybe don’t vote in the election, because the stakes are It’s important to note that this local activism our efforts will be recognized by the political very high.” She points out, though, that living in is not new: grassroots movements in Los establishment. a blue district, in a blue city, in a blue state, makes Angeles, led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, “I hope this local work can help shape the campaigning for Biden feel like less of a priority. People Of Color) activists and organizations national platform,” says Pierone. n

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August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 9 2020 Presidential Election No ‘Third Way’ for this Presidential Election by Joel Bellman 1909, mounted another presidential run (before support for civil rights, it’s unclear how much the later imposition of presidential term limits) support Wallace siphoned off from Humphrey, as Why this year’s presidential election, but was narrowly defeated for the Republican opposed to Republican Richard Nixon, who was especially, is not the one for voters nomination by his one-time protégé, incumbent also running a law-and-order campaign. William Howard Taft. Teddy then quit the While Nixon narrowly won the popular to play around with third-party Republicans and established the new Progressive vote with 43.4% to Humphrey’s 42.7%, he took candidates. Party, reflecting his own increasingly leftward the Electoral College handily with 301 votes to progressive political evolution. Roosevelt’s Humphrey’s 191. Even by adding all of Wallace’s Once again, we are hearing the siren song of third third-party bid ultimately received 27.4% of 46 EC votes to Humphrey’s total wouldn’t have put parties. the vote to Taft’s 23.2%, but both were defeated him within striking distance of Nixon. Subtracting As the November election draws closer, by Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who carried 40 Wallace’s candidacy would have made no difference progressives unhappy with Joe Biden and states with 41.8% of the popular vote and racked in the eventual outcome of that election—but conservatives disappointed in Donald Trump may up 435 Electoral College (EC) votes to Teddy’s 88. he ultimately exerted a powerful effect on the feel tempted to cast about for alternatives. For Taft was crushed, carrying only two states and trajectory of Republican candidacies to come. some voters—a growing number of Californians, winning only eight EC votes. Socialist Eugene nearly 31%—it’s a lure they find difficult to resist. Debs’s bid was not a factor at all. THE FUTILE PROTEST VOTE We are a deep blue state, where Democratic Wilson’s two terms were no high-water mark The 1980 campaign was unusual in many ways registration enjoys more than a 21-point advantage of liberal or progressive policies, marred by the and posed a serious dilemma for members of over Republicans. The “Party of the Voting Dead” return of the KKK and lynchings, thanks to the both major parties. Democratic incumbent is so unpopular that more registered voters prefer 1915 film Birth of a Nation (whose director, D. W. Jimmy Carter was widely viewed as a failure no political party at all to any association with Griffith, was invited by Wilson to the White House undeserving of a second term—we had the Iranian Republicans. for a special screening); America’s involvement in revolution, the hostage crisis, the Soviet invasion It would be easy for Progressives to rationalize World War I (320,000 sick or wounded, 116,00 of Afghanistan, the cancellation of American such a protest vote in California as “not really dead in combat or from disease); the 1918-20 participation in the 1980 Olympics, an oil-supply hurting anything” since Biden is sure to win Spanish Flu pandemic, estimated to have killed crisis and recession, raging inflation, and the anyway. Which of course begs the question, “Then between 500,000 and 850,000 Americans, and as outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war. There was no way what’s the point of doing it at all?” many as 50 million worldwide, with a mortality Carter would get re-elected or deserved to be. But Unlucky Conservatives, however, have no rate of 10% among those infected. what were the alternatives? Carter managed to alternative they could plausibly claim that keeps Finally, of course, Prohibition, which touched fend off a stiff challenge from Sen. Ted Kennedy the faith with conservative principles. off a horrendous decade of bootlegging, police (inspiring one of the great concession speeches of Libertarian philosophy, with its hands-off corruption, and gangland crime before its eventual all time), so there was no chance of running a new orientation toward regulating personal behavior repeal. In 1920, Republican Warren Harding was Democratic nominee. Ronald Reagan had easily and opposition to any government intervention elected, notoriously incompetent and corrupt, defeated his only serious rival for the Republican in the “free market,” is completely at odds with followed by Republicans Calvin Coolidge and nomination, George H.W. Bush, and other minor both the culture-war Puritanism that republicans Herbert Hoover, the stock market crash, and the Republican opponents. profess, and their grotesque corporate welfare Great Depression. Personally, I never had a harder time figuring programs and economic bullying of ideologically In other words, Teddy’s 1912 Progressive out what to do. disfavored companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Party campaign was followed by two decades Assuming there was no chance Kennedy or other media entities. of increasingly retrograde, inequitable, and any other Democrat would successfully challenge The other “conservative” third party, the destructive anti-progressive policies. You might Carter’s re-nomination—and equally certain that American Independent Party, with its “God, argue things would have been even worse had Carter would go down to defeat in November guts and guns” philosophy, has always stood for Taft been re-elected 1912, but it was clear that no matter who the Republican nominee was— xenophobia, racism, fringe conspiracy theories, his progressive challenge and eight years in the my strategy was to try and nominate the least and reckless militarism. Hardly a standard wilderness had done nothing to temper reactionary objectionable Republican, so I re-registered as a bearer for the values that traditional, moderate Republican policies when they returned to power Republican to vote for George Bush over Reagan Republicans purportedly yearn to reclaim. from 1921-1933. in the primary. Of course, my strategy failed and not only did Reagan prevail, after he picked Bush THE FUTILITY OF THIRD-PARTY MATH for VP, Bush repudiated all his previous criticism THIRD-PARTY CAMPAIGNS In 1948 former FDR vice-president Henry Wallace of Reagan and became his biggest cheerleader. So Let’s review the roster of major 20th and hoisted the Progressive Party banner for the third much for “moderation.” So that fall, I cast the only early 21st century third party campaigns: Teddy time, challenging the incumbent Democratic third-party vote of my life purely as protest, for the Roosevelt (Progressive “Bull Moose” Party, 1912); president, Harry S Truman (who had succeeded independent candidacy of moderate Republican Henry Wallace (Progressive Party, 1948); George Wallace as FDR’s VP in 1945, and become president John Anderson. Wallace (American Independent Party, 1968); when FDR died in office in April 1945). That, too, was a futile gesture. As I had Dr. Benjamin Spock (People’s Party, 1972); and While Wallace was hitting Truman from the left, anticipated, Reagan won in a historic landslide, assorted Libertarian Party candidates: John South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond’s Dixiecrat garnering 50.7% of the popular vote, winning 44 Anderson (independent candidate, 1980), Barry Party was hitting Truman and the Democrats states and 489 Electoral College votes to Carter’s Commoner (Citizens Party, 1980), Ross Perot from the right over their support for civil rights. 49. Anderson won no states and no EC votes; (independent, 1992, and Reform Party, 1996), Heading into Election Day, it was looking dire adding his entire popular vote to Carter’s would Ralph Nader (Green Party, 2000), Jill Stein (Green for Truman—There are those who rememberthe have made no difference in the outcome. Party, 2016). famous Chicago Tribune early edition headline, The Citizens Party Barry Commoner, running Why do voters keep throwing away their ballots “Dewey Defeats Truman”—but Truman ultimately from the left on an environmental platform, received like this? For all the positive political impact it’s went on to defeat Republican Thomas Dewey only 0.27%, far less than irrelevant, and my hopes had, they might as well be flushing them down the 49.6%-45.1%, but if the Progressives and Dixiecrats for moderating the country’s swing to the far right toilet, except that it would clog the pipes. hadn’t siphoned off nearly 5%, Truman would have were dashed as we plunged into 12 years of Reagan We cannot point to a single third-party won not in a squeaker, but in a rout. Republicanism—in policy terms, a more genial, candidacy that has ever had a beneficial effect George Wallace’s third-party American competent and dignified but equally irresponsible of either moving one of the major parties in its Independent Party bid in 1968 was a different matter. precursor to today’s Trumpist extremism. direction or re-orienting the electorate at large to Though he had previously won and held office as a its direction. In virtually every case, all the third- Democrat, Wallace ran an overtly racist and right- THE SCRAMBLERS party run has accomplished is to siphon votes away wing law-and-order campaign and carried five In 1992, after that nightmare, another populist from the major party it most closely resembles. states in the Deep South with 13.5% of the vote and demagogue emerged to further scramble the In 1912, for example, Teddy Roosevelt, 46 Electoral College votes. However, given Hubert political picture: Texas billionaire Ross Perot. formerly a two-term Republican president 1901- Humphrey’s relative liberalism and long-standing Despite an autocratic personality somewhere

10 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 No ‘Third Way’ for this Presidential Election

“Dewey Defeats Truman” was an incorrect banner headline on the front page of the Chicago Daily Tribune (later Chicago Tribune) on November 3, 1948, the day after incumbent United States President, Harry S. Truman, won an upset victory over Republican challenger and Governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey, in the 1948 presidential election. It was famously held up by Truman at a public appearance following his successful election, smiling triumphantly at the error.

between eccentric and nuts, Perot nonetheless in 2000, where the contest between Republican Independent both before and after the presidential put together a competent enough organization to George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore was so election; Russian interference; nonstop media qualify his independent candidacy for the ballot in close nationally that the entire outcome literally hammering over the nonsensical email server all 50 states, with a platform that held some appeal hinged on either New Hampshire or Florida. issue, and the impact of the Comey investigation for both liberals and conservatives. Bill Clinton After much confusion and legal wrangling letters; Republican vote suppression efforts. cinched the Democratic nomination with a over the extent of a Florida recount and the The fact remains that the third party closest in disciplined and effective campaign, and incumbent appropriate standards to apply, the U.S. Supreme philosophy to the losing candidate and her party George Bush turned back his own internal right- Court on December 12, in a case brought by the siphoned off far more than enough votes to have wing populist challenge from Pat Buchanan, but Bush campaign, overrode the Florida Supreme reversed the outcome. Perot nevertheless garnered a surprisingly high Court and effectively halted the state recount. In conclusion, then, I would argue that third and consistent level of support for a third-party The final tally gave Bush the edge over Gore parties historically have never successfully elected bid. Aftera weird, increasingly paranoid stop-start by a mere 537 votes out of nearly six million national candidates on their own, have never campaign, by election day Perot still garnered 19% ballots cast; Nader had garnered 97,488, so if successfully influenced a major party in their of the popular vote. even 1% of the Nader voter had gone to Gore, direction, and have at best only bled off support Because much of Perot’s program focused he would have won Florida. In New Hampshire, from the candidates and parties most allied with on fiscal conservatism, economic nationalism, Gore lost by roughly 7200 votes—a margin far them, either narrowing their victory or quite nativism, populist anti-elitism and conspiracy less than Nader’s 22,198 votes. possibly sinking them altogether. theories, and his support was overwhelmingly Despite winning the overall popular vote Voting is not therapy, and the goal should White, it’s natural to assume that he drew more by more than half a million, Gore lost to Bush not be to “send a message” or make you “feel Republican than Democratic votes, but it’s a in the Electoral College by only two votes, an good.” Casting an irrelevant ballot only ensures myth that he siphoned off Bush’s support and outcome that would have been reversed had that politicians will regard your constituency as threw the election to Clinton. The data are quite Gore won either state. While Nader’s impact irrelevant, since your tiny, marginal vote falls clear that Perot drew support equally from both is still a matter of some dispute, his reputation outside the parameters of meaningful participation parties; moreover, that 24% of Perot voters would never fully recovered among liberals and or influence. otherwise have stayed home. Analysts have also progressives who blame him for throwing The only goal that matters is electing the pointed out that Perot’s support was strongest in the election to Bush and paving the way for best candidate among the choices who can states that strongly favored either Bush or Clinton, disastrous environmental policies and a military win. In our system, for better or worse, it is so his voters could not have been a factor in catastrophe in the Middle East. impossible for third parties to win, unless they swinging even a single state. In 2016, the Green Party once again, and its manage to supersede one of the major parties. Net result: despite his popular vote, his $69 candidate Jill Stein, may have been the spoiler that That has rarely happened historically, but could million campaign failed to win a single state or tipped the election from Hillary Clinton to Donald conceivably happen again, as the Republicans Electoral College vote, and his subsequent 1996 Trump. Despite winning the national popular in my opinion richly deserve. presidential bid, under his new “Reform Party” vote by more than three million, Clinton lost in It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, banner, retained only 40% of his original voters Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania by a total that the paramount objective this November is and captured less than half his 1992 popular tally. of some 79,000 votes. In Michigan, Trump beat defeating Donald Trump and roundly repudiating By 2000, the Reform Party was so irrelevant even Clinton by about 11,000 votes, while the Green Trumpism and all its enablers Donald Trump, who’d flirted with their nomination, Party took more than 51,000 votes; in Wisconsin, That requires not just racking up state victories had walked away: nominee Pat Buchanan eked out Trump’s margin was about 44,000 votes while the and prevailing in the Electoral College, but racking only 0.43% of the November vote, and the party Green Party took 49,000; and in Wisconsin, Trump up such an overwhelming popular vote margin that has all but ceased operation. won by 23,000 votes while the Green Party claimed there can be no ambiguity about the outcome, or 31,000 votes. about the popular mandate for a dramatic change THE SPOILERS Now, many other factors were at play—a stiff in direction. And for that, there is not a single vote As most of us know, it was a different story primary challenge from de facto third-party to waste. entirely for Ralph Nader’s Green Party candidacy internal candidate Bernie Sanders, a registered Especially a third-party vote. n

August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 11 Culture 21st Century Pioneers in America

By Nikhil Misra-Bhambri Once their families arrived, many of listens to Ahmad Zahir, he is reminded to frequently visit their war-ravaged them relocated to the San Fernando of his childhood days playing soccer home country. ”The longing for our Afghans in the San Fernando Valley, mostly Reseda, West Hills, and flying kites with his friends in country exists. Once you have lived Valley continue sharing their and Thousand Oaks. Compared to Afghanistan.” in Afghanistan, it is hard to cut that Hollywood, the Valley was more family Afghanistan’s mouthwatering tie,” says Nasir. Even before the onset vibrant culture with the oriented and had a lower cost of living. cuisine, “unites the Afghan of COVID-19, the unpredictability larger community. Eventually, the hard work and community,” according to Nasir. and lack of security in Afghanistan, diligence of Afghan immigrants Family friends and extended families with its frequent terrorist bombings The San Fernando Valley is home paid off and they slowly achieved the often host potluck dinners at one in urban areas, made travel too risky to many international communities. American dream of a middle-class another’s homes and picnics at nearby for most families. “I’m still optimistic Among these is a sizable group of lifestyle. At this point, they also began parks. Indian, Middle Eastern and that I will be able to visit one day,” Afghan immigrants who fled the to establish a noticeable business Turkic flavors are combined to form says 21-year-old Lodin. snow-capped Himalayan mountains presence in San Fernando Valley. Today, modern-day Afghan cuisine. Favorite Since their abrupt dislocation following a Soviet invasion in 1979. there is a concentration of Afghan- culinary delights consist of kabob, and migration from Afghanistan Forced to rebuild their lives far owned grocery stores, restaurants, Kabuli Palao (named after Kabul, nearly 40 years ago, Afghans have away from home, approximately five and security companies within the the capital of Afghanistan), Mantu successfully rebuilt their family thousand Afghans have recreated their West Valley. Some of the businesses (Afghan meat dumplings), aashak lives in the San Fernando Valley. unique life and culture in Western include Northridge’s Halal Kitchen (Afghan vegetarian dumplings), The preservation of their language, San Fernando Valley. Through the Café, Reseda’s Melad Bakery and Deli, Bolani (a quesadilla with meat), and cuisine, and vibrant culture has years, they have established a growing Family Meat Market in Northridge, Naan bread (similar to the clay oven recreated a life which resembles commercial, religious, and social Skewers Halal in Chatsworth, and Nan bread of India and Pakistan). what they enjoyed during Kabul’s presence which they strive to preserve Dagh Kabob Dagh in Reseda. Since Most Afghan immigrants remain pre-Soviet days. Even during the and share despite the social isolation serving only traditional Afghan cuisine devout Muslims, and have, thus, pandemic, Afghans strive to keep enforced by the onset of COVID. did not attract a broad enough market, raised their children to be steadfast their long-lasting traditions alive by Beginning in 1979, the Soviet Afghan restaurants and stores became adherents of their faith. Following adapting to the new normal. Zoom Union’s ten-year occupation of pioneers of Mediterranean cuisine in the communist invasion of their and online streaming have allowed Afghanistan forced millions of the Valley. home country, religion became an them to continue participation in Afghan refugees to flee across the even stronger part of the Afghan’s social and religious activities though eastern border into Pakistan. Abdul A Vibrant Culture Adapts identity, as they fought to resist the in severely restricted ways. In these Nasir, who now calls the San Fernando to America and COVID-19 Soviet’s imposition of atheism. In difficult times, restaurants and Valley his home, left Afghanistan in The effects of the pandemic have 1997, Afghans founded the Islamic grocery stores fight to stay afloat 1981 at age 17.” As soon as I crossed taken a toll on the local Afghan Center of Reseda, which has despite tight budgets, so they can the border, I thought I left my body restaurants. Omar Tahouri, owner of become a popular gathering place someday return to their pre-COVID and spirit on the other side. Two of Family Meat Market, reports reduced for local Muslims from all different role as community gathering spots. my brothers were arrested and died store hours and lower budgets which walks of life. “Life has become much easier here in prison because they opposed the have resulted in less inventory. Once Since the onset of Covid, religious during the past thirty years. America Soviet government. At this point, my a popular shopping destination gatherings have assumed a completely has become another home for me. mother couldn’t take it anymore and for the local Afghan community, different flavor. This year’s Eid Al-Fitr I know more people here than in begged me to leave,” he recalls. there has been a sharp decline in and Eid Al-Adha were the most isolated Afghanistan,” says Nasir. Arriving in the U.S. during the customers. Tahouri added, “a lot and socially distanced that the Afghan The greater San Fernando 1980s, the new and adventurous of things are uncertain. It may take community has ever celebrated. community, in turn, has also Afghan immigrants resided initially three to five years before things get Traditionally, on these holiest of days, experienced the hospitality and in Hollywood. Due to the language back to normal.” Afghans pray at the mosque, and spend colorful traditions which have made barrier and the need to immediately The older generation of Afghans the rest of the day visiting relatives Afghans proud of their distinct heritage begin supporting their families, most strive to keep their culture alive and and elders. This year, Afghan families all around the world. Together, they took up minimum wage jobs. Many instill a core of strong family values were confined to the four walls of their hope to continue to share their heritage became taxi drivers, store clerks, in their community. Their homes homes. Following a virtual morning with their community neighbors as security guards, and whatever other are filled with the sounds of Pashto prayer hosted by the local mosque, COVID-19 gradually recedes. n jobs were available to them. and Dari, Afghanistan’s two official they had quiet celebrations with their Nasir remembers working at a languages. As a result, most of the immediate family. Nikhil Misra-Bhambri is a freelance clothing company earning an hourly younger generation is bilingual, “Not being able to pray at the journalist who resides in Pasadena, wage of $3.75, while he also pursued with spoken fluency in both Pashto/ masjid during Ramadan, Jummah California. He is a graduate from his bachelor’s and master’s degrees Dari and English. Fond of music, the (Friday prayers), and Eid takes away USC, class of 2019, with a bachelor’s in engineering at California State melodious voice of Ahmad Zahir, the joy and bond that is developed degree in history. His areas of interest University in Los Angeles. commonly referred to as the Afghan when meeting one another,” said include history, ethnic communities, Over time, Los Angeles’ Afghan Elvis Presley, can be heard in most Nasir. travel, religion, languages, Urdu community became larger as the homes. Mustafa Lodin, a resident of Before the onset of the pandemic poetry, and restaurants. He loves to immigrants began to sponsor their Thousand Oaks and an undergraduate and despite ongoing political read and is always looking for new extended families to join them. student at USC, says “when my father instability, many Afghan families tried stories to share with society.

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12 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 Culture

Optimism & Joy Mark Festival Despite Pandemic Reimagining the Indian Festival of the On July 30, 2020, everyone on the temple’s cool in the midday sun. Hare Krishnas believe the Chariots required protective masks, mailing list received an announcement that Ratha divine is alive and present in statues or any other drive-through worship, and to-go boxes Yatra would go on, sort of. The main chariot would representation of the deity. be parked in the lot of the Culver City temple, and By 3 p.m., more than 900 plates of food had been as the Hare Krishnas honored the Lord the deities would be carried by devotees from the provided to attendees using the drive-through line, of the Universe. temple to the chariot. Darshan, the opportunity to according to a spokesperson for the International view the deities, would be conducted on a drive- Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) By Kait Leonard through basis. Each car would get one minute in spokesperson. This number does not reflect front of the chariot, and then it would be ushered the total for the festival, as it does not consider The Ratha Yatra, or Indian Festival of the Chariots, forward to receive free prasad, food offered first to the people from within the temple community. should have overtaken a large portion of Venice the deities and then served, on this occasion, in to- Still, the final number did not even approach Beach on July 2, as it has every year. This year the go boxes. the expected tens of thousands who would have pandemic made a gathering of such proportions Unfortunately, people not on the mailing list gathered in Venice, if not for the pandemic. impossible. were unlikely to hear about the plans to hold the Even in India, where more than one million Prior to social distancing, the celebration, modified festival. people attend yearly, COVID-19 stole the show conducted by the International Society of Krishna Drive-through worship began at noon, but by and forced the scaling back of the Ratha Yatra. The Consciousness (ISKCON), has involved three 11 a.m., festivities were well under way. Women request to hold the festival went all the way to the four-story chariots bedecked in flowers being wearing saris the colors of jewels and men in Supreme Court which finally granted permission pulled by festival goers from the Santa Monica traditional Indian attire gathered in front of the for a significantly modified version to be held in Civic Auditorium to the Ocean Front Walk Plaza. temple. They wore masks, and except for those Puri, Odisha, a city on the eastern coast of India. The chariots carry a trinity of deities and their who live in the ashram, maintained social distance. The court restricted the gathering to only 500 attendants. At the final Venice Beach destination, Everyone participated in lively kirtan, a form of call- devotees per each of the three chariots, and all approximately 40,000 celebrants gather to spend and-response chanting. Some of the young men participants were required to provide a negative the day honoring Lord Jaganath, the Lord of the beat on drums, while a few older women played COVID test before being cleared to attend. Universe, his older brother, Baladev, and his finger cymbals. Most men jumped up and down and As the Culver City festival began drawing to younger sister, Subhadra. Obviously, this could not women danced. Everyone from kids barely talking a close, Lord Jaganath, Baladev, and Subhadra happen in 2020 to older people leaning on canes chanted the Hare continued to smile down at the masked worshippers The Ratha Yatra was brought to the United States Krishna mantra, the one made famous by George who fingered prayer beads and repeated their in 1967 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Harrison in his song “My Sweet Lord.” mantra. Children had begun sweeping rose petals Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the As the deities were paraded from the temple, from the front of the temple, and the last of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, followers threw handfuls of rose petals and cars filed past to receive blessings and prasad. better known to most as the Hare Krishnas. It has stood with arms raised indicating their complete Though the coronavirus dimmed the grandeur been held in Los Angeles every year since 1977, surrender to the divine. The deities were seated of the celebration, Lord Jaganath must have been but because of COVID-19, it had to be completely on the chariot where attendants made them pleased by the incredible resilience and optimism reimagined. comfortable and then fanned them to keep them of the human spirit. n

Left: Devotees make the final adjustments to ensure the comfort of the deities Top: Participants from within the ISKCON community Above: Lord Baladev being paraded from the temple by devotees

August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 13 14 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 ARTS A Gift from the Pandemic By Kait Leonard (Jerry Brown denied it the first two times.) Waters “hopes the Governor An evening with John Waters has the courage” to approve her and Jim Jarmusch release. During the conversation, Amidst all the bad right now, there Jarmusch and Waters discussed the are a few good things that have absence of art events because of the come out of the pandemic. One pandemic. Ever the optimist and was watching Jim Jarmusch engage with his usual flair, Waters suggested John Waters in a dialogue about we hold “art drive-ins where we can his new book, Mr. Know-it-All: have champagne.” The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth At points throughout the Elder. The event was presented by evening, Jarmusch sounded a bit Murmrr Lit and the Community down because of the state the art Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY, and took world is in. He seemed especially place in a live Zoom meeting on discouraged about the possibility August 4, 2020. of getting new films funded. But John Waters is quoted in the through it all, Waters’ optimistic event’s promotional material Jim Jarmusch JOHN WATERS responses were like a tall drink of as saying “Whatever you might COLLECTION / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM something fizzy. have heard, there is absolutely no Attending this event via Zoom downside to being famous. None and compared himself to the Greek why.”). Though they didn’t get the certainly did not match the thrill at all.” One interesting thing about soldiers who entered Troy by parts, Waters described them as of sitting in an auditorium with this statement is how beautifully it climbing into the belly of the Trojan lovely. He has remained on good these two giants of indie film. But, captures the positivity of this rule- horse. He plans on “screwing things terms with each of them. if not for the pandemic and the breaker, rebel, and master of the up from the inside.” He also talked about former creative use of online platforms, outlandish. His joie di vivre shines At a couple of points in the Manson family member, Leslie anyone outside of New York would through everything he says. conversation, the two big guns of the Van Houton, whom he has written have missed the event entirely. Jarmusch opened the dialogue by alt art world discussed the state of about in detail. His fascination (Perhaps even Waters himself asking how Waters balances “being the arts since the pandemic. “Right with the Manson followers, less since he zoomed in from San anti-social on a certain level but now, show business is over,” Waters with Manson, stemmed from his Francisco.) So, drawing on Waters’ always being uplifted.” said. “But my life is the same. I get identification with them. Especially positivity, the current situation “I make fun of things I love,” said up every morning and write.” He’s in Leslie, he saw a girl who could made it possible for many people Waters. “If you make fun of things currently working on a novel but have fit in with his group of outsider to participate in this wonderful you hate, it’s funny for a short time, declined to give details. artists. He thinks that if things had evening. but not for 50 years.” John Waters seems to know been just slightly different, she might When asked by an audience Jarmusch pointed out that everyone, and he spoke in glowing have trashed the establishment by member if he had a fantasy project, Waters’ work “uplifts outsiders.” terms about the parade of stars he making subversive films rather than Waters said “I’m still pitching a “Big girls aren’t sad anymore. I has interacted and worked with, committing mass murder. children’s Christmas movie called think Ricky Lake and Divine helped from Brad Pitt who auditioned to Van Houton has been Fruitcake.” that,” said Waters. Then he laughed. be Johnny Depp’s sidekick in Cry recommended for parole for the While it might be hard to even “I was in a Nike ad this year. How Baby (“You can’t have a sidekick that fourth time by the California Board imagine what that might look like, ludicrous is that? I’m not even an handsome!”), to Carol Channing, of Parole. The recommendation will after listening to his beautiful, outsider anymore.” But he explained who wanted to play an American now go to Governor Newsom who offbeat optimism, one can’t help but that he’s okay moving to the inside Indian in Cry Baby (“I have no idea has already blocked her release once. think, Lucky kids! n Let’s Go to Drive-In Movies in the Mountains! Enjoy classic movies at King Gillette Ranch as you sit comfy and cozy in your car. Street Food Cinema has partnered with the Malibu Foundation for a special Mulholland Drive-in film series. Spend two wonderful September weekends at the movies while enjoying delicious street food and listening to live music. When you arrive, tune in on your AM radio. Patrons must wear masks outside the car, no dogs. Food: Food trucks TBA; more PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT information at streetfoodcinema. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are drawn together by their common desire to do what they love. Street Food Cinema will present “La La Land” at King Gillette Ranch on Sept. 20. com. Most trucks have vegetarian options. Trucks with vegan options No tickets will be sold at the door. Dates and Movies: public use. Guests must remain in are marked (V). Attendees outside of a car will not Sept. 4 – Bridesmaids vehicles at all times* unless going Time: Doors open for live music at be permitted to enter. If Car Entry Sept. 6 – Purple Rain to restrooms or collecting food from 6:30 p.m.; movies play at 8:30 p.m. tickets are sold out, the event is Sept. 7 – Jurassic Park food trucks. Location: King Gillette Ranch, 26800 sold out. You may add a General Sept. 18 – Coco • Dogs are not recommended due to Mulholland Hwy., Malibu, CA 91302 Admission ticket to your car by Sept. 19 – Get Out government restrictions. at the corner of Las Virgenes Road. contacting [email protected]. Sept. 20 – La La Land • SFC staff are required to wear Tickets: Tickets available in Street Food Cinema was Important Notes: masks to ensure your safety. advance, for Drive-In Street Food launched in 2012 as an outdoor • All attendees must wear masks • Food trucks are available. Outside Cinema only, for $20 per car for movie experience that includes when interacting with staff. food and beverages are permitted. n a movie, live music, and gourmet entry plus $8 general admission • Cars must park six feet apart from each *Always check for updates food trucks. More information at per individual. Admission free for other; parking attendants will assist. before the event as County health streetfoodcinema.com. children ages three and under. • Restrooms* are available for guidelines may change.

August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 15 ALL THINGS CONNECTED Contract for the Web

By Paula Labrot wanted to be nice. It was a new avenue for them to make money. Once upon a time, porn websites were I have been thinking about the internet a lot lately. the only places that asked you to pay for content The early inventors and users had such high ideals through a fee-based subscription. With that, they about its use. Tim Berners-Lee, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, also implemented internet-based billing systems and the inventor of the world wide web (thus “www”), online credit card verification systems. This, then, said, “I wanted the web to serve humanity.” paved the way for the likes of eBay, Amazon, iTunes, In his own words, Sir Tim says, “…the reality and online shopping in general.” So, that’s how come Sir Tim Berners-Lee, British inventor of the world wide web. is much more complex. Communities are being you can buy diapers and groceries online these to do this?) ripped apart as prejudice, hate, and disinformation days. And, by the way, it was an equal opportunity Principles for Citizens: are peddled online. Scammers use the web to steal money-making strategy. Some of the most successful 1. Adopting best practices on civil discourse identities, stalkers use it to harass and intimidate early porn purveyors were women. Wired magazine online and educating the next generation on their victims, and bad actors subvert democracy reported that stripper Dani Ashe read a book on these matters. using clever digital tactics. The use of targeted HTML programming on a beach holiday. She started 2. Be active by opposing the Web’s weaponization political ads in the United States’ 2020 presidential a fan site and charged a monthly fee, one of the first by nation states or any other entity campaign and in elections elsewhere threatens, subscription sites on the internet. In 1995, she made 3. Fight for the Web to remain an open and a once again, to undermine voters’ understanding $2.5 million and used more bandwidth than all of global public resource for people everywhere, and choices. We’re at a tipping point. How we Central America. Send a little thought of thanks to now and in the future. respond to this abuse will determine whether the her next time you order from Amazon or Ebay. web lives up to its potential as a global force for RIGHT NEXT DOOR good or leads us into a digital dystopia.” CONTRACT FOR THE WEB The internet is useful on a global, as well as Covid 19 has confined people in their homes, So, here comes Sir Tim—soon to be Saint Sir Tim as on a local level. Our own NextDoor Topanga but Sir Tim’s world wide web has allowed them to far as many of us who deplore the way the beautiful, social media site can be so helpful for finding lost communicate with others, even face-to-face, and to pristine internet has been sullied—and a bunch of dogs, locating a good local electrician or dentist, shop the world for whatever they need or fancy. It has other Galahads who are trying to get the internet providing crucial information during emergencies, allowed people to continue their educations or learn back to its original intent to serve humanity. connecting neighbors with each other. It’s terrific, how to grow a better tomato or fix a broken dishwasher The Contract for the Web is a plan to make our but, you’ve seen the dark side of it too: Character or discover a solution that will keep wasps off your online world safe and empowering for everyone. assassination, mean, busy-body controlling posts, outdoor dining table or how to sew a face mask. Now, Governments, companies, and citizens all have a revenge posts. Ugh! that is what I call “living up to its potential!” role in safeguarding the future of the web. It’s always No one who goes on the web should be afraid to The shopping aspects of the internet are worth visiting their website: contractfortheweb.org. be attacked, lose a job, get their car smashed up for fabulous. No more need to traipse around to a Principles for Governments: asking a genuine question, or expressing an opinion. million stores to find your size. Can’t find toilet 1. Connectivity for all If someone is mean or sarcastic or indecent, just paper in the stores? Order off the internet and it 2. An open internet where no one is denied access hide or delete their post. Don’t become a censor. comes in a day. Usually, free delivery these days, and service is not halted by any government Don’t feed the bad actors by being reactive. Instead, but, how did such easy shopping get started on 3. Respect and protection of people’s online we should encourage diversity of ideas. Remember, the internet? Where did Amazon get its marketing privacy and data rights it’s not always how you act, it’s how you react. models? It’s weird, folks. Principles for Companies: Take a look at the Contract for the Web. It 1. Make the internet affordable and accessible would be a wonderful project for family discussions A LITTLE HISTORY 2. Give people control over their privacy and data and for our young folks who cannot attend school According to Harry Tucker, technology reporter rights now, trapped on…guess what? writing for news.com, “When porn first popped up 3. Make companies accountable The internet! on the internet, it wasn’t just because the studios 4. Develop open web standards (now, who is going Vamos a ver! n HEALTH Adrenal Fatigue—Stress in the 21st Century By Jane Hammond, PA-C, shift work) Hormone Specialist 2. Emotional stressors (chronic pain, overwork, illness, unresolved A 48-year-old woman came into my emotional trauma, PTSD) office and said, “I’ve been the CEO of 3. Inflammation (from food this company for years, but now I’m allergies, environmental toxins, crying at board meetings. I’m tired, I infections, and inflammatory can’t sleep, I feel anxious all the time, conditions such as rheumatoid and I feel like I’m losing my mind.” arthritis) She was also raising three children, 4. Blood sugar extremes (from was recently divorced, and caring eating sweets and junk food, for an aging mother. Too much for skipping meals) one person to handle. She was not People who may be considered at high only in perimenopause; she was also risk for adrenal fatigue include busy suffering from “adrenal fatigue.” new parents and working parents, students in college or grad school, Is Adrenal Fatigue Real or ILLUSTRATIO N BY EMI LY ROBERTS VERYWE LL caregivers of aging family members, Just My Imagination? Symptoms of Adrenal fatigue (partial list) chronic pain sufferers, and those Adrenal fatigue is a common term and many others—are so general, they at hand but quickly returns to normal experiencing ongoing emotional for a condition (officially called HPA could be caused by many conditions when the stressor is gone. However, trauma such as PTSD or abuse. Axis Dysfunction) that refers to the or simply stem from everyday life. Yet, with prolonged stress, cortisol may response of the adrenal glands to naturopaths and holistic practitioners remain too high for too long and the Menopause and adrenal fatigue chronic stress. have successfully treated adrenal adrenal glands lose their capacity to Women entering menopause, depleted The Endocrine Society, thefatigue for years, in fact, for centuries. respond to stress. from years of stress, are at especially world’s largest organization of high risk for adrenal fatigue. Endocrinologists, states that adrenal What Happens? The Four main causes of Adrenal The adrenal and sex hormones fatigue is not a real disease, that Initially, when the adrenals respond Fatigue: work together to keep the body in the symptoms—depression, sleep to stress, the level of the hormone 1. Insufficient sleep (too few hours, balance. If the body is under an apnea, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, cortisol rises to adapt to the problem irregular sleep patterns, or night Continued on page 18

16 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 TOPANGA lifestyle A COVID Diary

By Jean Colonomos glued/as news rolled by and the rooms/misled us into doing the nonsense/we knew we shouldn’t:/ July 28 over-drinking, board games,/chanting curses at each Bless cousin, Andy, who suggests I check out the other./It was raining for three days/as I recall and the Stendhal syndrome.* Andy’s an Assistant Professor at boxes delivered/on the porch got wet. I went/out there USC in the Art and Design department who’s steeped wrapped in bandanas,/ with sanitizer and hope./ in his passion for art. This quote is from the French It was all there was and all we had/to stockpile author, Stendhal from his 1817 visit to Florence: “I with kale and bok choy/just in case. Of what?/The was in a sort of ecstasy, from the idea of being in unseen war criminal that spreads/its over-washed Florence, close to the great men whose tombs I had hands wide across countries./We want to leave, lose/ seen. Absorbed in the contemplation of sublime lend, lie. We are shook and shaken/and looking for Jean Colonomos and Daughter beauty ... I reached the point where one encounters fever. For signs./and it is all entirely unmanageable. list for the Booker Prize, the British Pulitzer celestial sensations ... Everything spoke so vividly to *Bread first appeared in Another Chicago Magazine. Prize came out on 7/28. Of the twelve nominees, my soul. Ah, if I could only forget. I had palpitations nine are women.” Among the Americans cited, of the heart, what in Berlin they call ‘nerves’. Life was August 1 Kiley Reid’s “Such a Fun Age,” Sheila thinks drained from me. I walked with the fear of falling.” From the creative solutions department: Star’s at is one of the best books on white privilege. *Wikipedia home on her cell all day with investment clients. Diesel bookstore: Their best seller is Colson From Andy’s Filipino partner, Jay: “Hey Jean, Every moment she needs the phone available for Whiteheads, “The Nickel Boys.” I’ve got my allergies mostly under control, so I’m calls. During in-between phone silences, she used not generally afraid to grocery shop, but on bad to put her phone in her bra. But she worried August 8 days I have stayed home rather than risk getting about cancer and it being too close to her breast. Double eight sounds like a lucky day to me. a dirty look from someone. For me, it’s less about Visiting her mother when her hair and nail salon was USC just announced all classes will physical or even verbal assault, and more about still open, Star saw her mom wearing a cross body be online. Also, on fraternity row, there are forty- this question: If I sneeze and get a dirty look from bag. She asked her about the bag. “My cell’s in there five cases of covid-19, the largest outbreak in any someone, is it because they think it’s inconsiderate so when anyone calls, I don’t have to find the damn American college. Their football team has eight to be out of the house with obvious respiratory thing.” Star now keeps her phone in a cross body bag. cases of the coronavirus. It’s unclear if they’ll play symptoms, or because they think Chinese/ their first game in two weeks. Asians are responsible for the virus?” The former #SayHerName: is understandable, but the latter makes me Alesia Thomas—Killed by police on August 9, 2012 August 9 depressed just thinking about it. Plenty of reasons Shantel Davis—Killed by police on June 14, 2012 My daughter writes about my granddaugh- to be sad—I don’t need to add more.” Sharmel Edwards—Killed by police, March 21, ter, Izzy, who’s eleven: “My daughter is a star. From Millicent Borges-Accardi: Bread.* For 2012 Her being is universal as she tries to live on this those of us who know, knew/know, known, it was a planet. She is so far and deep, to walk beside her bet that we made,/hoping for a last breaking of luck/ Thank you, Maria, owner of Water Lily, our local is to find your own depth.” before the world ran out. It was betting and binding café. During the pandemic, your delivery service About William at eight: “My son is a dream. and—/I tell you—we were bleeding/as we went out has been a blessed gift to our Topanga community. The twinkle in his eyes captures my being. He to get cardboard/boxes in the rain and washed/over And your food—I love your salads—they’re always holds so tight, I never want him to let go.” our souls with Clorox. /It was flinging a flung/while we fresh and full of flavor. And thanks to Tony, Ariel, About Madeleine at four: “Her light shines tried to fly again./To break bread, crusty and warm./ Nico, and others who tirelessly serve us. so bright as she moves so freely. She wants all And, then life was forbidden and/everyone was an she sees and knows everything is possible. My enemy./The air was poison and spit was/evaporating August 2 daughter’s spirit can penetrate any crevice with into a daily forecast./We were television- From Sheila, Bloomsbury Books: “The long the longest of lights.” n

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August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 17 ASTROLOGY Welcome to September 2020! By Kait Leonard up creative projects that have been in the works. And if you’ve been trying to get pregnant, you This has been a doozy of a year and according might see that dream come true. to the planets we won’t be out of the tunnel until December, so hang on! Mars, the planet of Sagittarius—The sun is bright in your sector courage and combat, has been bouncing around of career and life purpose. This is a good time impulsive Aries and will continue to do so for a to put everything you’ve got into your career. while. The advice to every sign is slow down and You’re good at the big picture, but this month, consider your words and actions. On a lighter you’ll make more progress by attending to the note, Mercury is direct all month long, so Mars details. The full moon brings emotion to your may have you shooting your mouth off, but at house of family and early childhood. If there least you’ll be understood. are issues between you and family members or It’s best if you read your rising sign and then anything dealing with childhood trauma, you your Sun and Moon signs. If you don’t have your might be able to find resolution and move on. rising sign, you can get it free at astro.com. Capricorn—The sun is in your area of higher THE SIGNS Leo—The Sun, your ruler, is transiting your education and anything foreign. That’s where Aries—The sun in your house of work is in house of money and self-worth. This is a good you should focus your energy right now, and positive aspect to your house of career goals. time for anything having to do with finances and knowing you, that probably means finishing You might find that you’re able to expand increasing your sense of personal value. Have you your Ph.D., or something. Go for it! The full your business. Mars is your ruling planet, so it been considering asking for a raise? This could be moon is nudging you to talk about your feelings, shouldn’t hit you so hard. Still, at least at work, a good time especially because the full moon is but being a Cappy, you’ll probably decide to count to 10 before you speak. The Pisces full in the area of transformation and other people’s bury yourself in work instead. moon on the first is happening in your house of money. You may be able to change the terms of secrets. Is there something that needs to come to your contract, pay off debt, or receive money Aquarius—The sun is highlighting the area of light and be released? from insurance or inheritance. transformation and other people’s money. This is a great time to pay off debt, and if you’ve been Taurus—The sun is in your sector of creativity. Virgo—The Sun is in your sign for most of expecting to receive money from insurance, It’s a good time for creative projects, higher September, making it your month to shine. Your a court case, your partner, etc., you might see education, or foreign travel, maybe virtual? If birthday is a day when the Sun gives you an extra it coming in. The full moon is in the sector of you’ve been thinking of getting pregnant, go for boost and makes wishes come true. Just make possessions. Around September 1, you might it this month. The full moon could make you sure you blow out all the candles on that birthday want to go through those closets and do some emotional in social situations around the first, so cake! It’s also a good time for creative projects as downsizing. that might be a good time to work those creative well as for getting pregnant. The full moon is in projects on your own…well, except for the your sector of relationships. If you’ve outgrown a Pisces—The full moon is in your sign. You’re an pregnancy one. relationship, it could be time to let it go. emotional sign anyway, and around the first of the month you might find yourself even more intense Gemini—The sun is shining on home and family. Libra—The sun is shining in the area of the than usual. You may be ready to let go of outworn It’s a good month to connect with parents and subconscious and hidden things. You might feel ideas you’ve held about yourself. This is a good parental figures, revisit your hometown, have the need to communicate something that’s been thing! We all need to update our self-image. The a reunion with childhood pals. This could be buried. It could be time to talk to someone close sun is shining in your house of relationships, so a good time for you to buy or sell a home or to you about something you’ve had on your while you’re cleaning your internal house, lean on improve the one you have. The Pisces full moon is mind. The full moon may prompt you to rethink those you love for support. n in your career sector. Is it time to end a chapter? what you do with your days. Perhaps it’s time Releasing the old makes room for the new. to restructure your schedule or even change the Kait Leonard reads the stars, Tarot cards, and her kind of work you do. beloved crystal ball. She has worked in the world of Cancer—The sun is in your house of woo-woo since the early seventies. You can follow communication, siblings, and neighborhood. Scorpio—The Sun is shining in your house her on social media @StirtheCauldron where she It’s a good time to hang-out with people close of friendship and humanitarian activities. posts daily Tarot advice and will be announcing to you. The sun will also support writing if Find ways to interact with your social circle. the upcoming launch of her YouTube channel. that’s your thing. The full moon is impacting You might find yourself joining new groups, When not gazing into the future, Kait is a writer education and foreign travel. Full moons are especially those that aim to make the world and shares her home with five parrots and her about culmination. Time to finish that degree? better. The full moon will support you finishing American bulldog.

Adrenal Fatigue Continued from page 17 excess of stress, the adrenals need Normal cortisol is highest in requires a “whole person” approach. root that helps the body maintain more building blocks to make more the morning and lowest around By working with an experienced an appropriate level of cortisol. cortisol. They do this by “stealing” the midnight so the person can sleep. integrative practitioner, you can (everydayhealth.com) n sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, Many times, we see patients with discover the root causes of your testosterone, as well as pregnenolone cortisol that is high all day. These are symptoms, adjust your diet and RESOURCES and DHEA. In menopause, these the ones who are “tired and wired.” lifestyle and heal your body. You can • https://draxe.com/health/3-steps-to- levels are already dropping, and Other patients have low cortisol and get your energy back, relieve your heal-adrenal-fatigue/ the adrenals often cannot keep up may have trouble getting out of bed in symptoms and be back at the top of • Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century production of cortisol. This is when the morning but can’t sleep because your game if you give it time. Stress Syndrome by James L. many women experience extreme their cortisol is higher at night. The Wilson and Jonathan V. Wright symptoms and “burn out.” cortisol pattern will influence the *NOTE: Adaptogenic herbs • https://draxe.com/health/3-steps-to- recommended treatment. from non-toxic plants, roots, heal-adrenal-fatigue/ Treatment of Adrenal Fatigue Adrenal fatigue is treated with diet, and mushrooms are marketed as •health.harvard.edu/blog/is-adrenal- The state of the adrenal system lifestyle changes, sleep, adaptogenic helping the body resist stressors of fatigue-real-2018022813344 can be determined by a detailed herbs*, and supplements, as well all kinds. They have been used for • webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/adrenal- medical history and by measuring as bioidentical hormones. Severe centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic fatigue-is-it-real#1 cortisol. Cortisol is measured cases may require cortisone healing traditions and are having a • stress.org/daily-life most accurately with saliva testing, supplementation. It can take many renaissance today. There are many where four samples are collected in months to heal from adrenal fatigue. adaptogenic herbs, but the ever- Jane Hammond specializes in Bio- a day. The results can show how the Adrenal fatigue may be mis- popular turmeric is considered identical Hormone Replacement adrenals respond to daily stressors understood by the mainstream an adaptogenic due to the anti- Therapy (HRT). She has more than and may indicate causes of the medical community, but its inflammatory effects of curcumin, 20 years of experience in internal, patient’s fatigue. symptoms are real. Treating it the yellow pigment present in its tiny integrative, and functional medicine.

18 August 21, Vol. 1 No. 5 Pritchett-Rapf Realtors Offices in Malibu & Topanga TOPANGA (310) 455-4363 • PRTopanga.com

Medley Lane 3 Bed | 2 Bath Listed at $1,450,000 Welcome to an inspiring home. Think architectural meets New York loft. Extraordinary views sweeping through walls of glass in front, back and interior. Industrial modern flair creates an exciting living space, that accommodates many furniture styles. The innovative, flexible, open floor plan and abundant sunlight make this home a joy to be in. Combination of wood, glass, concrete and metal. Floating metal staircase accesses the master suite. Bathroom includes a claw tub and beautiful raindrop shower head, open to the mountain views. 2 car garage plus an office. Adjacent additional space is perfect for your wine cellar. Landscaped for drought tolerance. Furniture in photo is no longer there.

Co-Listed by Chryssa Lightheart and Devon Stiteler (310) 663-3696 (310) 455-4363

Entrada Road 2 Bed | 2 Bath $1,235,000 Hillside Drive 3 Bed | 2 Bath $1,099,000 Kirsten Bohman & Chryssa Lightheart - (310) 403-4818 Chryssa Lightheart - (310) 663-3696 Located directly across from State Park trailhead. Multiple A magical Topanga setting with stunning views on 1.3 acres. A outdoor living areas invite you to enjoy the natural surroundings private knoll top is perfect for picnics or meditations. Large flat as you move throughout your day. Commanding cross canyon garden area, 10 fruit bearing trees, Oaks and others. A 500sf brick view and lots of flat land give you opportunities for expansion. patio, perfect for entertaining. Enough flat land for potential addition. Vacant Land

PANORAMIC OCEAN AND CITY VIEW LOT AMAZING VIEWS OF SADDLE PEAK & RED ROCK PARK TOPANGA CANYON DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY Vista Del Mar Road $799,000 Portage Circle Drive $499,000 Callon Drive $439,999 William Preston Bowling 5.02 acres William Preston Bowling 5.64 acres W. P. Bowling & C. Lightheart 0.44 acres (310) 428-5085 (310) 428-5085 (310) 428-5085

PERFECT FERNWOOD CORNER LOT 2+ ACRES WITH BIG ROCK SUNSET VIEWS PEACEFUL SADDLE PEAK MOUNTAIN VIEW LOT Bainum Drive $214,000 Oak Drive $190,000 Vesey Road $85,000 W. P. Bowling & C. Lightheart 0.17 acres W. P. Bowling & C. Lightheart 2.05 acres Christine Kapetan 0.49 acres (310) 428-5085 (310) 428-5085 (310) 804-8336 LOCAL & GLOBAL Pritchett-Rapf Realtors CalBRE 00528707 YOUR FERNWOOD OASIS AWAITS.

The promise of Topanga living is kept, here. Inhale deeply, as the morning scents of rosemary, lavender and sage waft on coastal breezes, across the nearly ¾ acre usable lot. Dew sparkles along the lengthy deck. Sunlight floods the new, bright, white, kitchen, where French doors open to view decks, and a covered patio. Cement floors, cool underfoot, lead through the skylit beamed living room, and spacious view dining room. Flower filled Mediterranean gardens welcome the bees and hummingbirds to drink deeply of the nectar. Rugged Sandstone rock outcroppings frame the amazing views. You are close enough to walk to Mimosa cafe, for morning coffee and croissants. As the breeze hints, the beach is very close. Your dream life is even closer.

$1,699,000 5 Bed 4 Bath Nearly 3/4 Acre Lot

High in Fernwood, fog seeps through the hollows in the canyon below. Your 2 acres of privacy, with that rarity, a flat yard with a view. 3020 sq ft of comfort and elegance, soaring ceilings, views, a wet bar, and decks. Walk out into the peace and tranquility of the landscaped yard, vast patios for entertaining, sports, or raised garden beds. A hot tub beckons. Fragrant fruit trees are ripe for the picking. Make creative space in a finished 2 car garage. Country living, close in. Minutes to the village, the beach, the city. Exhale.

$1,799,000 4 Bed 3 Bath 2.2 Acres

INTERESTED IN LEARNING HOW COMPASS CAN DELIVER A BESPOKE, WHITE GLOVE, SMOOTH, SAFE, AND SUCCESSFUL TOP DOLLAR SALE OF YOUR HOME? CALL THE WRIGHT WAY TEAM TODAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OF SERVICE

@thewrightwayteam

2020 TOP SELLING COMPASS TOPANGA AGENTS. PASSIONATE LOCAL AGENTS. UNPARALLELED MARKETING REACH. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY. RESULTS DELIVERED. AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER.

Adrian Wright Jordan Wright 818.939.6415 818.746.6987 [email protected] [email protected] DRE 00935559 DRE 01952694

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Market share based on available claw MLS data and any known off market listings.