Annemarie Donkin

Annemarie Donkin is a journalist who wrote for The Signal in Valencia, CA and was the Managing Editor for the Topanga Messenger from 2013 to 2016. She is thrilled to write for the Messenger Mountain News to continue the tradition of excellent community newspapers. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel throughout California, read, watch movies and keep bees.

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Townhall Meeting Seeks To Calm and Inform Wildfire Evacuees

WOOLSEY WILDFIRE EVACUEES LOOK FOR ANSWERS FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND THE VULNERABILITY AND ACCESS TO EMERGENCY INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT POWER. Amid a deadly wind-driven…

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Let’s Hear it for the Boys!

Since 1927, The Pacific Lodge Boys’ Home in Woodland Hills has provided a loving, supportive residence for boys who needed support from the local community. Renamed the Pacific Lodge Youth Services (PLYS) in…

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TCEP’s Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

More than fifty volunteers and friends gathered at the Mountain Mermaid on Sunday, Oct. 14, for the Annual Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (TCEP) Volunteer Appreciation Brunch. With their 24/7 Emergency Hotline,…

Topangans Stump for Katie Hill

MELANIE ROTHSCHILD IS NOT NORMALLY ONE TO STUMP FOR A CANDIDATE, MUCH LESS FOR THOSE OUTSIDE OF HER VOTING DISTRICT. BUT—THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES. To fight against the current administration, Melanie Rothschild was…

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Progressives Urge Action at the Annual PDSMM Birthday Party

U.S. REP. TED LIEU, SENATE CANDIDATE KEVIN DE LEÓN AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER JESSIE GABRIEL JOINED IN FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS BIRTHDAY PARTY The Progressive Democrats of America…

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Flower Power in Topanga

Tucked away under the shade of deodar cedars, at Pine Tree Circle, Abigail “Gidget” Zapata reigns over a colorful Gypsy wagon filled with wondrous flower blooms, fresh herbs, exotic teas, tea pots,…

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Peter Alsop’s Kid Koncerts and Reunion

Topanga’s Dr. Peter Alsop will regale friends, family and the community with a Kids Koncert performance at the Theatricum Botanicum, the magical outdoor amphitheater-in-the-woods on Sunday, Sept. 16. The concert for children and adults…

Data Mismatch Has Voters Seeing Pink

For 12,000 people who normally sign the Roster but instead had to fill out a pink provisional envelope during the last primary election—a database glitch may have been the reason. Don’t blame…

the crucible, photo by Ian Flanders

The Crucible Tells a Terrifying Tale

A spectacular new Theatricum production sends a harsh message to those who have not learned the lessons of history. A blustery wind blew cold during opening night of Arthur Miller’s timeless play,…

Deb Ryder Sings the Blues

Celebrating her newest CD, Enjoy the Ride Deb Ryder and the Bluesryders brought down the house at Vitello’s The legendary Upstairs at Vitello’s Jazz & Supper Club in Studio City was chock full…