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The Palisades Fire Revisited 
January 9, 2026 0 18  
The Palisades Fire: One Year Later 
Suzanne Guldimann, January 9, 2026 0  
Life changed for everyone in Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu on January 7 2025. A year after the Palisades Fire those who live or work in its shadow still aren’t used to the endless roadwork, the delays, the road...
Retrospective: Pacific Palisades-Paradise Lost 
Suzanne Guldimann, December 26, 2025 0  
Originally published in the February 21, 2025 issue of Topanga New Times The Palisades fire is named for the Palisades Highlands, where the blaze erupted on the morning of January 7, 2025. The conflagration rapidly spread throughout Pacific Palisades...
Retrospective: Malibu Reeling 
Suzanne Guldimann, December 26, 2025 0  
Originally published in the March 7, 2025 issue of Topanga New Times The Malibu stretch of Pacific Coast Highway turns 100 next year. It’s strange to know its centennial will begin with a third of the houses, businesses, landmarks...
Christmas Carols 
Suzanne Guldimann, December 12, 2025 0  
Villagers all, this frosty tide, Let your doors swing open wide, Though wind may follow, and snow beside, Yet draw us in by your fire to bide; Joy shall be yours in the morning! —Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in...
23 Jan 2026
Books & Such

Dollar Mania 

Jimmy P. Morgan, June 3, 2022 0 6 min read  
The Good-Enough Life by Avram Alpert appears at first glance to be another self-help book; albeit one whose title suggests rather low aspirations. Good-enough equates with mediocrity and who among us wants to live a mediocre life? Closer examination...
Books & Such

Dam II 

Jimmy P. Morgan, May 20, 2022 2 9 min read  
There are over 91,000 dams impeding the waterways of the United States. During much of the twentieth century, dams were built in just about every location where a dam could be built. The question, should a dam be built?...
Books & Such

Dam I 

Jimmy P. Morgan, May 6, 2022 0 10 min read  
In response to three years of record drought, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has declared a “water shortage emergency” and Governor Gavin Newsom has called upon businesses and residents to reduce water usage by 20-30%. In a...
Books & Such

1619 

Jimmy P. Morgan, February 25, 2022 0 6 min read  
Black History Month is tricky. One month a year dedicated to recognizing the contributions and struggles of black Americans seems harmless enough. However, as a set-aside to the larger epoch of America, singling out an ethnic group in this...