Topanga New Times contributor Claire Fordham writes that Carolyn Day’s story has it all: triumph over adversity, true grit, deathdefying danger, romance, and a twist in the tale, and that’s not an exaggeration. Join us for the amazing life story of this remarkable Topanga resident. Photo by Mud Baron Cover design by Urs Baur
Covid numbers are up. Way up. It’s estimated that as many as one in every sixty people in California has the virus, and the potential to spread it. As Topanga families head back to school and work the risk of exposure remains high.
The current variant—“Nimbus”—has also been given the name “razor-throat” for the appallingly painful sore throat that often accompanies this strain. Other new and unpleasant symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, and intense dizziness. Avoiding contagion would be a really good idea.
Late summer also brings an alarming increase in fire risk this year, as we head into peak wildfire season. Brush clearance and home hardening remain key ways to prepare. Making sure gutters and roofs are clear of dead leaves, that vents and chimneys are adequately screened and that old screening hasn’t rusted or been displaced. Now is also a good time to make or update evacuation plans, and also to digitize important documents and family papers and photographs. Copies might not be as good as the real thing, but they are far better than having nothing but memories.
Preparing for peak fire season is critically important, but residents of the Palisades burn scar also need to get ready for the potential for flooding this winter. Debate is underway on whether this fall will continue to be “ENSO neutral” or if another La Niña year is brewing. Right now the odds still favor conditions remaining neutral, but at least some models suggest the return of La Niña—a condition that often results in weather extremes that include drought in the west and bitterly cold weather in the east. The Santa Monica Mountains badly need a “normal” winter, without the drought vs flood extremes of La Niña and El Niño. What we will actually get remains anyone’s guess, but flood risk will remain high in the Palisades burn scar until the vegetation begins to recover.
Winter may seem a lifetime away, especially as temperatures rise this week. The so-called “dog days” of summer are here, marking the return of Sirius, the “dog star.” Sirius is not visible in the night sky during most of the summer. It begins to put in an appearance just before dawn, its “heliacal rising,” beginning in late July.
For the Greeks and Romans, Sirius heralded the diēs caniculārēs—dog days—a time marked by heat and drought. For the Egyptians, it was a positive omen, one that marked the beginning of flood season, the inundation of the Nile, when the new year began and new crops were planted. Either way, this celestial hound still heralds the arrival of the hottest part of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. On the coast-facing side of the Santa Monica Mountains the fog will continue to keep things relatively cool, but expect temperatures to soar in the Valley.
Topanga’s bear family appears to be successfully weathering life in the Topanga area, despite challenges that include dogs and cars. We can all expect more encounters with wildlife as temperatures increase and water and food supplies dry up. Checking for the presence of animals in the garden before going outside, making sure pets and children are supervised outside, cleaning up outdoor cooking and eating areas, securing trash, and making sure orchards are well-tended and that there isn’t ripe fruit on the ground, are practical ways to prevent problems.
A mountain lion in Malibu recently had to be euthanized after it bit an eleven-year-old girl. Keeping people and pets apart from wildlife helps everyone. Having abundant wildlife in our neighborhood is one of the amazing blessings of life in Topanga, but it’s also a major responsibility, one that Topangans have historically embraced.
Summer really is beginning to wind down. While we endure the August heat, the poison oak—that earliest harbinger of fall—is already turning vivid red—making it easier than usual to spot and avoid. The pomegranates are ripening, and the pink lady amaryllis flowers, planted in old gardens all over the Santa Monica Mountains, have appeared as if by magic, scenting the air with their bittersweet perfume—half sultry summer, half melancholy autumn.
Here at TNT we are already looking towards the final quarter of the year and are beginning to assemble our annual local author and local interest book lists for 2025. We are always happy to consider new books for this feature. If you are an author or know of a book that would interest our readers please email us at hello@topanganewtimes.com
Stay safe, be well. Keep cool!
