Flavia Potenza

Flavia Potenza is executive editor of the Messenger Mountain News. She is also a founding member of the 40-year old Topanga Messenger that closed its doors in 2016. She can be reached at editor@messengermountainnews.com

Get Plugged In at 2019 Emergency Fair, May 5

When Topanga was left unplugged last November 9, the first full day of the Woolsey Fire, many questions came up later: “What did we do before cell phones and the internet? How…

Auto Accident is a Near Miss

Around 8 p.m., on March 20, just as he did every night on his way home from work, Michael Dodds flipped on his right-turn signal and slowed down for the sharp turn…

Topanga Town Council: Speaking Freely

The March Town Council meeting agenda provoked animated discussions on numerous issues and even made some breaking news. SCE UTILITIES DISTRICT UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT REVIVED According to the Town Council, Southern California Edison’s…

Healing the Fire

Art heals. The February 23 Loose Lips poetry presentation was not so much a reading as it was a theater piece. That’s not surprising when the multi-talented Jean Colonomos, collaborating with co-founder…

Debriefing the Woolsey Fire and Next Steps

A long-awaited Woolsey Fire debrief, called by the Topanga Emergency Management Task Force (TEMTF) on January 30, brought together the first responders who were on the front lines fighting everyone’s worst nightmare:…

Road Closures Could Last up to 5 Months

When, Where, and How long, were questions discussed at a recent planning meeting with Caltrans representatives and community leaders regarding road closures during the upcoming emergency project to stabilize hillsides along the…

Barbara Edelston Yaroslavsky—1947-2018

Born in Los Angeles on Aug. 9, 1947, Barbara Yaroslavsky was a lifelong volunteer activist in the Jewish community and beyond. She supported various nonprofit and social service agencies involved in education…

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Snow Night at Pine Tree Circle

The air was brisk, its counterpart, the fire pit was blazing, a stream of pot luck dishes filled the table, while kids and parents were playing in the snow at Pine Tree…

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When the Power Died and the Fire Raged

The power went off at 6 a.m. on Friday, November 9. I remember because growling at my Alexa to wake up didn’t work. That woke me up. Thus the day, and those…

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A Veterans Day Tribute: Norm Karlin 1925 – 2018

November 11 is Veterans Day. For the Messenger Mountain News, it is an opportunity to honor and remember two Topanga veterans who passed this year, who after serving their country, served the…