End of an era - Sierra Club - Ventana Chapter

M A G A Z I N E O F T H E V E N T A N A C H A P T E R O F T H E S I E R R A C L U B

Volume 44, Number 4, 2005

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet

End of an erap. 4

www.ventana.sierraclub.org

AUG, SEPT, OCT

OUTINGS

Jerr

y Le

beck

Volunteers finally get permission tohang a sign at the Chapter book-store in 1987, 15 years after itopened. From l to r: Joyce Stevens,Bob DeYoe, Richard Tette, MartyGlasser, and Charlotte Anderson.

Editor: Debbie Bulger � 457-1036e-mail: [email protected](no change of address calls, please!)

Production:Debbie Bulger, Dale Nutley,Vivian Larkins

Writers:Rita Dalessio, Debbie Bulger,Mary Gale, Karin GrobeKevin Collins, David Tanza,Bill Magavern

Photographers:Jerry Lebeck, Chad King,Peter Figen, Lois Robin,Debbie Bulger

Proofreaders:Jeff Alford, Richard Stover,Charles Koester, David Kibrick

Distribution:Debbie Bulger, Meryl EverettSheila Dunniway, Wendy Peddicord

Advertising Sales:Debbie Bulger

Late Night Food Delivery & Software:Richard Stover

Chapter website:http://ventana.sierraclub.org

Please send all Letters-to-the-Editor to:Editor, c/o Sierra Club � 1603 King St.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060Send e-mail to: [email protected]

F R O M T H E E D I T O R

Printed on Recycled Paper2

While it is the intent of The Ventana toprint articles that reflect the positionof the Ventana Chapter, ideas

expressed in The Ventana are those of theauthors, and do not necessarily reflect theposition of the Sierra Club. Articles, graphicsand photographs are copyrighted by theauthors and artists and may be reprinted onlywith their permission.DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONSAll materials for publication must be received bythe deadlines listed in The Ventana publicationschedule (see below). No exceptions.SUBMISSIONS FORMATPlease limit articles to 800 words; letters to300. All submissions may be edited for clarityand length. Submissions are preferred via e-mail or on a high density 3-1/2 inch diskette.Save files as �text� or �ascii.� Mail hard copy toeditor, address below.WHERE TO SEND SUBMISSIONS Send submissions to: Debbie Bulger, Editor1603 King Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060e-mail: [email protected] OF ADDRESSDo not call editor! Send address changes toSierra Club, The Ventana, P. O. Box 52968,Boulder, CO 80322-2968.POSTAL NOTICEThe Ventana (015057) is published 6 times ayear, (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec.) paid bysubscription included in membership fee, byThe Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, 1001Center St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Periodicalpostage paid Santa Cruz, California, and atadditional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to SierraClub, The Ventana, P. O. Box 604, Santa Cruz,CA 95061-0604.

2005VENTANA PUBLICATION SCHEDULE:

Issue Deadline Mailing Date#5 Sep. 26 Oct. 12#6 Nov. 28 Dec. 14

Articles received after deadline maynot be published.

The Sierra Club / Ventana Chapter Volume 44 Number 4, 2005

C H A P T E R C H A I R

Bookstore volunteers appreciated

This summer, the Ventana ChapterSierra Club bookstore closed afternearly 30 years in the City of

Carmel-by-the-Sea. It began as a group offriends with a mutual interest in hikingand natural history who had a vision toshare their experiences with otherChapter members. They came togetherto create a comfortable �EnvironmentalCenter� in which to meet, exchangeideas and information, and plan outings.Volunteer managers and sales personnelput together an inventory of some of thefinest books on nature, hiking andwilderness available to the public.

The cornerstone of the bookstorebecame the Los Padres Trail Guide, now

in its seventh edition. To produce thisbook, volunteer hikers explored thehills, valleys, streams and rivers of thisvast forest to describe to the reader themagnificence and uniqueness of our ownbackyard (and how not to get lost!).Editors included Nancy Hopkins, JoyceStevens and Steve Chambers. The con-stant updating of this valuable guide-book remains one of the finest accom-plishments of the Ventana Chapter.

For nearly three decades, the book-store attracted talented volunteers whocommitted to spending their afternoonssupporting the Chapter by reinforcingour conservation message and sellingnature books. Members with this level ofdedication to the goals of conservationare rare and deeply valued.

The Chapter Membership Luncheon

on August 27 at Moss Landing MarineLab will include a salute to the mostrecent hardworking staff of the book-store: Charlotte Anderson, GilGilbreath, Mary Gale, Rita Summersand Bruce Rauch. Please join us in hon-oring these incredible volunteers! Theprogram will also include a talk aboutthe oceans by Mike Sutton, Director ofthe Center for the Future of the Oceansand a screening of Lois Robin�s excellentfilm about the Pajaro River entitledStuck in the Mud: The Pajaro River inPeril. Please attend, meet other membersand learn more about the naturalresources we are working so hard toprotect.

�Rita Dalessio

Seeing connections

On my recent backpack inSequoia/Kings Canyon NationalPark up Cloud Canyon and

eventually to the summit of 13,666�Midway Mountain, the wildflowerswere spectacular. There were entiremeadows of shooting stars, masses oftiny blue-eyed Mary, four kinds of mon-key flowers, cinquefoil, coyote mint,buttercups, phlox, columbine, delphini-um, and all the other usual suspects.Streamside I spied the regal Sierra Craneorchid and Leopard lilies. On the moun-tain top I was greeted by glorious cobalt-colored sky pilot and show-stoppingSierra gold.

I saw so many different kinds of flow-ers, I started thinking of them as movieOscar winners. The blossom, of course,is the star, but to look her best, she needsthe rest of the crew. The stem would bethe best supporting actor and the leavescatering.

And then there are the unseen andunderappreciated crew-members that dotheir work quietly and dependablybehind the scenes: The fungi that knitthe forest together and the bacteria thatbreak down waste. Maybe it was the heator the 60+ miles of trail, but I was seeingconnections.

I was reminded of the life and work ofAldo Leopold, widely acknowledged asthe father of wildlife ecology. Leopolddidn�t start out understanding the con-nections of the natural world, but hiskeen powers of observation and willing-ness to admit and learn from his mis-takes set him apart.

As a young graduate with a Master�s

degree from the newly-formed YaleForest School, Leopold subscribed toGilford Pinchot�s philosophy that themain purpose of the nation�s forests wasto produce lumber. As he gained experi-ence and maturity, he conducted experi-ments to reveal that forests and otherhabitats consisted of complex relation-ships.

He came to understand� That killing predators caused

weaker deer herds that would starvebecause of insufficient forage,

� That many devastating naturalphenomena are not acts of God but theresult of human decisions,

� That fire is an essential ingredientin a healthy ecosystem,

� That there should be some placeswithout roads to be set aside as wilder-ness,

� That species survival depends onsufficient habitat.

He came to understand, as he stated,that �Land ecology at the outset discardsthe fallacious notion that the wild com-munity is one thing, the human commu-nity another.�

Leopold died in 1948. His book ofpersonal essays, A Sand CountyAlmanac, published in 1949, is regardedas one of the 10 top environmental clas-sics. If you haven�t read this delightfulbook, I suggest you hustle down to thelibrary, bookstore or online book sellerand get connected.

�Debbie Bulger

My Name ______________________________

Address ______________________________

City __________________________________

State __________________Zip ____________email__________________________________q Please do not share my contact informationwith other organizations.q Check enclosed, made payable to Sierra ClubPlease charge my q Mastercard q Visa

Exp. Date_____/______Cardholder Name________________________Card Number __________________________MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES INDIVIDUAL JOINTINTRODUCTORY q $25REGULAR q $39 q $47

Join today andreceive a FREESierra ClubWeekender Bag!

Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club arenot tax deductible; they support our effective, citi-zen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts. Your duesinclude $7.50 for a subscription to Sierra magazineand $1.00 for your Chapter newsletter.

F94Q W 1500- 1Enclose check and mail to:Sierra ClubP.0. Box 52968Boulder, CO 80322-2968

Come hike with us!

LETTERS

Please Recycle This Paper Again The Sierra Club / Ventana Chapter Volume 44 Number 4, 2005 3

President George W. BushThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NWWashington, D.C. 20500Comment line: (202) 456-1111FAX: (202) [email protected]

Vice President Dick Cheney(202) [email protected]

Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerState Capitol BuildingSacramento, CA 95814(916) 445-2841FAX: (916) 445-4633www.governor.ca.gov

Senator Dianne Feinstein331 Hart Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510(202) 224-3841; (415) 393-07071 Post Street, Suite 2450San Francisco, CA [email protected]

Senator Barbara Boxer112 Hart Office BuildingWashington, D. C. 20510(202) 224-3553(415) 403-0100 (Voice)1700 Montgomery StreetSan Francisco, CA [email protected]

U. S. Representative Sam Farr100 W. Alisal Street Salinas, CA 93901(831) 429-1976 (Santa Cruz)

Contact Your Representatives(831) 424-2229 (Salinas)(202) 225-6791 (FAX, Washington, D.C.)[email protected]. Representative Anna Eshoo698 Emerson StreetPalo Alto, CA 94301(408) 245-2339FAX (650) [email protected] Senator Abel Maldonado100 Paseo De San Antonio, Suite 206San Jose, CA 95113(408) [email protected]

State Senator Joe SimitianState Capitol, Room 4062Sacramento, CA 95814(916) 445-6747 FAX (916) [email protected]

State Senator Jeff Denham369 Main Street, #208Salinas, CA 93901(831) [email protected] Representative Simon Salinas100 W. Alisal Street, Rm. 134Salinas, CA 93901(831) 759-8676 FAX (831) [email protected] Representative John Laird701 Ocean Street, Room 318-BSanta Cruz, CA 95060; (831) 425-150399 Pacific Street, Suite 555DMonterey, CA 93940(831) 649-2832 FAX (831) [email protected]

The Ventana welcomes letters. Send to:LETTERS TO THE EDITORThe Ventana, 1603 King StreetSanta Cruz, CA 95060

or email to [email protected] include a phone number withyour letter. Anonymous letters arenot accepted. Letters may be editedfor length.

Moving?Please fill out and mail the change

of address form on page 15The post office charges us 70 cents each if

they handle the address change. Pleasehelp the Club by using the coupon on

page 15.

Thank you

The Santa Cruz Group is launchinga new speaker series on September19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Simpkins

Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz.Rachael Sauders, Community and PublicRelations Coordinator for the MontereyBay National Marine Sanctuary, willgive an illustrated talk on �TheMonterey Bay National MarineSanctuary: History, Overview, andManagement Issues.�

The Monterey Bay Sanctuary, stretch-ing along 276 miles of Central Coastshoreline, is a federally-protected marinearea that supports one of the world�smost diverse marine ecosystems.Presentation attendees will learn aboutthe history of the sanctuary as well asgain insider perspectives on the manage-ment issues. With public hearings for theupdated Management Plan scheduled forthis fall, this presentation will providegreat background information to com-munity members.

These talks, which are free, will bepresented quarterly to provide the com-munity with insights on local and globalconservation and ecology topics.Refreshments will be served.

My car’s a gemI am 83 and unfortunately live 2 1/2 miles

from the nearest bus stop. I�m too old andlazy for biking. But I recently bought a Gemcar which is entirely electric, max 25 mph,legal on streets with a speed of 30 mph orless. It has a range of 20 miles per charge andgets me around Pebble Beach, Pacific Groveand Carmel. My �ugly-bugly� plugs into a110v outlet so is usually �nursing� in mygarage.

You can see them at www.gemcar.com.�Harriet Mitteldorf

Pebble Beach

Ocean speaker and video premier featured at Chapter membership luncheon

Marine Sanctuary representative to speakSeptember 19

Get ready for the Sierra ClubVentana Chapter�s 2005 member-ship luncheon on Saturday,

August 27, from noon to 3:30 p.m.Guest speaker Mike Sutton, the Directorof The Center for the Future of theOceans. Sutton will talk about �OceanConservation in California andBeyond.� He will be discussing bothCalifornia�s progressive ocean legislationand the significant challenges at the stateand Federal level.

Come enjoy this refreshing summerlunch at Moss Landing Marine Lab. Costis $10/person. Reserve your place bysending a check, before August 25, for $1to: Marilyn Beck, 528 Crocker Ave.,Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Space is limit-ed. Make checks out to �Sierra Club.�

Premiering at the luncheon will belocal member Lois Robin�s video aboutthe Pajaro River, entitled Stuck in theMud: The Pajaro River in Peril. This doc-umentary is a fascinating look at theplants and wildlife in this unique region,with expert commentary on currentefforts to preserve this threatened

Chapter and Group events to highlight marine sanctuary

ecosystem. We will also give recognitionto the staff of our bookstore for theirloyal work over the years.Driving Directions

From Monterey: Take Hwy. 1 north.Turn left onto Moss Landing Road.Moss Landing Marine Lab�s main build-ing is located at 8272 Moss Landing Roadon the left directly after the cemetery.

From Santa Cruz: Take Hwy. 1

The Humpback whale above is one of 27 species of cetaceans that frequent the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.

Cha

d K

ing/

MB

NM

S/N

OA

A

south. Turn right onto Moss LandingRoad (just past the power plant).Continue straight through town past theantique stores and post office. See detailsabove. Ample free parking.

Printed on Recycled Paper4 The Sierra Club / Ventana Chapter Volume 44 Number 4, 2005

by Mary Gale

The Chapter bookstore, long aninstitution in Carmel closed inearly July. For over 28 years the

bookstore was staffed entirely by volun-teers, an incredible achievement.

The Ventana Chapter Sierra Clubbookstore began life as an environmen-tal center where chapter members couldread in the library (stocked with donatedbooks on outdoorsy subjects), discussconservation issues, and write letters topoliticians and government agencies.Joyce Stevens, Dawn Cope, CorkyMatthews, and R. Merrill Jones headedup the effort to establish the bookstorewith carpentry help from Ed Cope.Long-time member and hike leader, BobDeYoe, agreed to charge a very low rentfor the upstairs space in his Las TiendasBuilding on the south side of Ocean

Avenue in Carmel.After much hard work, both planning

and building, the Chapter received a per-mit from the City of Carmel and openedon Groundhog Day of 1977. Thoughvery stingy with permits for signs, thecity eventually agreed to allow a sign forthe Sierra Club Environmental Centerin the arch above the stairs.

The committee recruited volunteersto work in the center and in ensuingyears welcomed Hulda Bonestell asrecruiter, trainer and supervisor of themany volunteers who gave their time soselflessly. Each year at Christmas, AliceGoulding opened her home on RandallWay for a party to acknowledge thegreat contribution made by the book-store volunteers.

To attract customers who might not

see the sign, thegroup created sillyads to draw atten-tion to the centerand its wares(Sierra Club cups,t-shirts, etc.). Inone, Joyce, Dawnand Merrill pose asthe monkeys whosee, hear and speakno evil�their eyes,ears, and mouthscovered by SierraClub cups.Another depictedDawn wearingSierra Club cups asearrings.

Many otherchapter memberscontributed to thecenter�s success.Ansel Adams, acharter member ofthe Ventana Chap-ter, presentedsome of his photo-graphs to enhance

the ambiance. Thisgift had been solicitedby Ken Wood, a

member who worked tirelessly onbehalf of the Coastal Act.

The lack of a prominent sign hadalways been a problem. It was remediedin 1986 when the City of Carmel adopt-ed a freer set of planning standards.Joyce Stevens seized the opportunity toget an overhead sign for the buildingfacade as well as permission to paint asign on the wall above the stairs. Fornearly 20 years the improved signage hasbeen guiding customers to the spaceknown as the Sierra Club Bookstore.

In recent years the management of thebookstore has been in the very capablehands of Charlotte Anderson and GilGilbreath. With help from buyers PaulJones and Mary Gale, the bookstore hadan up-to-date inventory of the most pop-ular books on natural history, photogra-phy, hiking and camping as well as a

Do you recognize these monkeys? From l to r: Dawn Cope, R. Merrill Jones, and Joyce Stevens do their best to findnew uses for Sierra Club cups in order to promote sales. The 1977 ad developed from this photo read: �Don�t mon-key around-Come on down to the Sierra Club Environmental Center for cups and t-shirts.�

Pet

er F

igen

www.ventanawild.org P.O. Box 506, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 831-423-3191

WITTWER & PARKIN, LLP

147 S. River St., Ste. 221Santa Cruz, CA 95060Phone (831) 429-4055

Fax (831) 429-4057

Practicing in the areas of Environmental and Land Use Law

End of an era: Ventana Chapter Bookstore closesdelightful selection of children�s titles.Bruce Rauch has worked tirelessly astreasurer, and Vi Fox and then RitaSummers recruited and scheduled thevolunteers who were thanked once ayear with a celebratory luncheon.

Joyce Stevens reflects, �It�s a sad thingto see the end of an era. This has beenthe Ventana Chapter�s presence in thecommunity, a place for positive interac-tions with members as well as folks whohave never even heard of the SierraClub.� The difficulty of finding anaffordable replacement space for the lit-tle rooms at Las Tiendas means that thebookstore will probably not be reestab-lished at another location.

Nominating Committee MembersVentana Chapter

Election Chair-Mary Gale 626-3565Gillian Taylor 659-0298Rod Mills 659-3745Paula Lope 659-2623

Santa Cruz Group: Shandra Dobrovolny 477-1981Jodi Frediani 426-1697Sandy Henn 662-2843

Are you, or do you know, anactivist who can make a difference byserving on the Chapter or GroupExecutive Committee? Candidatesmust have a proven record ofinterest/involvement in environmentalissues and have time to meet monthlyand work on issues.

Call a member of the nominatingcommittee. Don�t delay.

Activist

search

We�re looking for a few good activists


by Karin Grobe

Santa Cruz County has adopted a far-reaching ordinance requiring resi-dents and businesses to recycle. The

ordinance will have an impact on peoplewho haven�t been willing to recycleunder the current voluntary program.

Patrick Mathews, Santa Cruz CountyRecycling/Solid Waste DivisionManager, is hopeful that the diversionrate, which was 55% in 2003, willincrease to 70% as the ordinance takeseffect and new diversion programs areput in place. �The carrot we�ve beenoffering is the option of taking advan-tage of recycling opportunities to reducewaste hauling bills and help conserveresources,� he said. �Most residents andbusinesses have opted for the carrot, butnow we need the stick-in the form of thisordinance-to get those who are not cur-rently recycling on board.� The greatestimpact is expected fromconstruction/demolition and businessrecycling, where as much as 50% of thematerials currently landfilled could berecycled.

The ordinance mandates recycling of22 materials. Most are currently acceptedin Waste Management�s curbside pro-

gram, including paper, cardboard, glass,metal and plastic con-

tainers, batteries,aseptic packag-ing, milk and

juice cartons,yard and woodwaste and smallscrap metal.

Other items areaccepted at the

Buena Vista Landfilland the Ben Lomond Transfer Station�mattresses, gypsum board, concrete,asphalt, tile, porcelain and appliances.

An educational outreach programbegan July 1. Starting January 2006notice tags will be placed on garbage con-tainers with appreciable amounts ofrecyclable materials. The prohibitionswill go into effect January 2007, whenhaulers will refuse collection if recy-clables are mixed with refuse. Gate staffat the two County disposal facilities willturn back self-haul loads that includerecyclables. Haulers are prohibited fromcollecting recyclables mixed with wasteand containers for recycling must beprovided along with containers forrefuse.

Local Santa Cruz activists per-formed a remarkable achievementby rallying the public to protest

the appointment of Nancy Drinkard, ex-CDF forest practice officer to a seat rep-resenting the public on the Board ofForestry and Fire Protection. Membersof the Santa Cruz Group Forestry TaskForce knew from experience thatDrinkard was disrespectful to the publicand really represented the timber indus-try.

As a result of the many calls and let-ters protesting Drinkard�s appointment,it died for lack of a confirmation hear-ing. In her place, GovernorSchwarzenegger has appointed RonaldNehring of El Cajon. Unfortunately,Nehring is not qualified for the position.California Code states that members ofthe board should have knowledge ofwatershed management, forest manage-ment, fish and wildlife, or related areas.Nehring�s main qualifications appear tobe that he narrowly escaped having hishouse burn down in the recent El Cajonfire and that he is vice-chair of theCalifornia Republican Party.How to help

� Write Senator Don Perata, Chair,Senate Rules Committee, State Capitol,Room 205, Sacramento, CA 95814. LetSenator Perata know you think Nehringis not qualified for the position asrequired under Section 731 of the PublicResources Code of California.

� Call Jodi Frediani for more infor-mation, 426-1697.

by Kevin Collins

The Lompico Timber Harvest Plan(THP) which was stopped by anunprecedented decision of the CA

Board of Forestry on appeal by SantaCruz County in April 2004 has comeback as a �new� filing. Essentially thesame logging plan, it is newly numbered1-05-158 SCR. We could find no refer-ence whatsoever in this �new� THP tothe Board of Forestry�s ruling. This isprobably because the Timber Industryand California Department of Forestry(CDF) are terrified of having to deallegitimately with the issue of cumulativewatershed impacts. Perhaps they think ifthey ignore the issue, it will go away.

This is unlikely. The Sierra Club andits partner organizations such as theLompico Watershed Conservancy haveno intention of abandoning our riversand streams to continual decline fromwater pollution.

Lompico Creek is listed as impairedunder the Clean Water Act as is its par-ent watershed, the San Lorenzo River.The water from this creek for theCommunity of Lompico and the steel-head which spawn in Lompico Creekare critical public resources. We will

continue to defend our right to live inhealthy watersheds surrounded bywildlife. Wildlife can only survive instreams that we protect from abuse.About 40% of our steelhead and salmonruns are now extinct. We cannot affordto lose any more.

The Lompico WatershedConservancy and the Lompico CountyWater District both tried to resolve thisdispute by arranging a purchase of thisheadwaters land. In 2001 the landownerasked a price for these 425 acres far inexcess of its legal appraisal value.

There will be a public hearing at theZayante Fire House on this new THP.At press time the date of the hearing wasnot known. Please check theConservancy�s website for the hearingdate and additional information,www.lompicocreek.org or call 335-8136.How to help

� Attend the public hearing.� Write a letter to CDF opposing

this Timber Harvest Plan. The addressfor comment is Public Comment (Listthe THP # 1-05-158 SCR), CDF ForestPractice, 135 Ridgway Ave. Santa Rosa,CA 95401.

Santa Cruz County to require recycling

Redwood Empire again tries tolog Lompico headwaters

Avid recyclers are enthusiastic aboutthe ordinance, which they hope willforce their neighbors and businesses tostart recycling, thus saving space in thecounty landfill. Although there was lit-tle opposition to the ordinance,Mathews says haulers have grumbled,unhappy with their role as middlemenwho will need to provide recycling con-tainers and be involved at some levelwith enforcement.

Unless you were on vacation, youprobably have heard that Feltonvoters approved Measure W with

room to spare even though passage ofthe measure required a two-thirds yesvote to pass. The measure approves $11million in bonds to acquire Felton�swater system for the public.

At press time, the German-ownedCalifornia American Water Company(Cal Am) was saying the water systemwas not for sale.

We can expect Cal Am to fight vigor-ously to retain ownership of the watersystem, not because the 1350 Feltonhookups provide a lot of revenue for thismulti-national company, but becauseCal Am is worried about other commu-nities and other voters followingFelton�s example.

In June, the Monterey PeninsulaWater Management District approved aballot measure asking voters if a publicentity should replace Cal Am as the localwater distributor. Unlike the Feltonmeasure, the Monterey measure is advi-sory only. If approved, supporters of themeasure would then move for anappraisal of Cal Am�s local assets, andprobably seek adverse condemnation ofits system.

Drinkard not confirmed toBoard of Forestry; Governorsubstitutes unqualified can-didate

Felton voters approvebonds to buy watersystem

C A L E N D A R

Sierra Club Events

Printed on Recycled Paper6 The Sierra Club / Ventana Chapter Volume 44 Number 4, 2005

Wednesday, August 24

Sustainable CommunitiesSlideshowFREE slideshow about creating ecologi-cally and economically sound communi-ties. Sponsored by the city of Capitola.7:00 p.m. Capitola City Hall CouncilChambers, 420 Capitola Avenue (nearthe village). For more info call 475-7300.

Wednesday, August 31

Landfill TourLearn about new efforts to recycle moreconstruction waste at the Santa CruzCounty Buena Vista Landfill. For moreinformation and carpooling, call Karin,427-3452.

Friday, September 23

Streetcar ConferenceCase studies on how streetcars are an eco-nomic boost to cities. All day FREE con-ference. Sponsored by SacramentoRegional Transit District. Register onlineat www.sacrt.com/cass.stm. Breakfastand lunch included.

Second and fourth Saturdays

Habitat restoration —WatsonvilleSecond and fourth Saturdays each month.Sponsored by Watsonville WetlandsWatch. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Meet inOrchard Supply parking lot at GreenValley Rd. and Main St. in Watsonville.Gloves, tools and lunch provided. CallLaura Kummerer, 728-4106 for moreinformation. No experience needed.

Free Wormshops (dates following)

Learn how worms can eat your foodscraps and make beautiful compost for

your garden. FREE workshop for SantaCruz County residents. 1:00-3:00 p.m.Optional worm bin, $15. Call to reserveworm bin. Sponsored by Santa CruzCounty Board of Supervisors. Call KarinGrobe, 427-3452.

Sat., Aug. 27, Grey Bears RecyclingFacility, 2710 Chanticleer, Santa Cruz.

Sun., Sept. 25, Loma Prieta CommunityCtr., 23800 Summit Rd., Los Gatos.

Sat., Oct. 15, Scarborough Gardens, 33 ElPueblo Rd., Scotts Valley.

Saturdays

Garland Ranch hikesThe Monterey Peninsula Regional ParkDistrict docents lead hikes at GarlandRanch Park every Saturday and inviteSierra Club members to join them. Anupdated list of all hikes may be found ontheir website: www.mprpd.org.

Saturdays (see dates below)

Habitat restoration —California Native Plant SocietyVolunteer to restore native habitat inState Parks in Santa Cruz Co. Wear lay-ered work clothing. Bring water &gloves. Tools provided. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m. We work rain or shine, but if thingsget particularly unpleasant, we call it aday. Contact Linda Brodman, 462-4041,[email protected]. website:www.cruzcnps.org.

August 13, Sunset Beach State Park

August 27, Henry Cowell State Park 10a.m. to noon only, attend appreciationcelebration lunch after working. Call byAug. 13 if you can come.

Non-Sierra Club events of interestThe following activities are not sponsored or administered by the Sierra Club. TheClub makes no representations or warranties about the safety, supervision or manage-ment of such activities. They are published only as a reader service.

Friday, August 12

Potluck & Slides: SicilyTonight�s slide show on Sicily will be byVilma Siebers. The potluck begins at 6:30p.m. Bring food to share and your ownplate, cup, utensils, and serving utensils.We love home-cooked food, but store-bought items (minimum value $4) makegreat contributions too. For directionscall George, 335-7748.

Sunday, August 21

Singles Breakfast at Dharma’sLet�s take advantage of the 2 for 1 break-fast coupon that Dharma�s always has inthe Ventana. This will be in lieu of ourmonthly potluck. Meet at Dharma�s at9:30 a.m. sharp and bring a coupon. Seecoupon for address. Leader: GeorgeJammal, 335-7748.

Saturday, August 27

Chapter LuncheonMike Sutton, Director of The Center forthe Future of the Oceans, will speak on�Ocean Conservation in California andBeyond: Challenges and Opportunities in2005-06.� In addition, see the WorldPremier of Lois Robin�s documentary onthe Pajaro River. Lunch and programonly $10/person. All members welcome.Call Heather Allen, 224-0134 to reserve aplace. Space is limited. Moss LandingMarine Laboratory, noon to 3:30 p.m.

Friday, September 9

Potluck & Slides: Desert/RedRock CountryThis slide show by Kim Vester will coversome of his trips to several areas of thewest, including Death Valley andCanyonlands. The potluck begins at 6:30p.m. Bring food to share and your ownplate, cup, utensils, and serving utensils.We love home-cooked food, but store-bought items (minimum value $4) makegreat contributions too. For directionscall George, 335-7748.

Monday, September 19

Marine Sanctuary TalkRachel Saunders, Community and PublicRelations Coordinator for the MontereyBay National Marine Sanctuary, willspeak on this amazing marine ecosystemright in our backyard. See incredibleimages of marine life and learn about themanagement issues facing us. FREE. 7:00p.m., Simpkins Center, 979 17th Ave.,Santa Cruz. Refreshments will be served.

Sunday, September 25

Singles Breakfast at Dharma’sSee August 21 for details.

Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 2

Environmental Film FestivalOpening night for the gala EarthVisionInternational Environmental Film

Festival will be at the historic Del MarTheater in downtown Santa Cruz. Filmswill be shown at the Rio Theater in SantaCruz on Saturday and Sunday. Check theEarthVision website for specific screeningtimes, www.earthvisionfest.org. Ticketsare a $5 donation. No one will be turnedaway for lack of funds.

Sunday, October 2

Vegetarian Potluck & Fireworks:Seabright BeachCelebrate Santa Cruz�s214th Birthday. Pleasebring your plate, cup,serving utensils, beachchair or blanket, warmclothes, lantern or flash-light and musical instruments for a sing-a-long after the fireworks. For more infor-mation call 335-3342 after 11:00 a.m.Leader: Karen Kaplan.

Friday, October 14

Potluck & Slides: New MexicoThis slide show will be by Lynora fromher recent trip to New Mexico. Thepotluck begins at 6:30 p.m. Bring food toshare and your own plate, cup, utensils,

and serving utensils. We love home-cooked food, but store-bought items(minimum value $4) make great contribu-

tions too. This eventwill be hosted by Diane& Irvin at 150 LionsField Dr. off GraniteCreek Rd. For direc-tions call Diane &Irvin, 423-5925, orGeorge, 335-7748.

Saturday-Sunday, October 29-30

Watershed ConferenceThe �Healthy Rivers, Happy Fish� water-shed conference will consider fish barriersand removal projects, stream turbidity,and stream bio-assessment among othertopics. Field trips on Oct. 30. For moreinformation contact Jodi Frediani,JodiFredi@aolcom.

Scene from �Oasis of the Pacific,� one ofthe films showing at the EarthVisionInternational Environmental Festival

You ottercome !

MMoonnddaayy,, SSeepptteemmbbeerr 119977::0000 pp..mm..

Simpkins Center979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz

Rachael Sauders, Communityand Public RelationsCoordinator for the Monterey

Bay National Marine Sanctuary, will

give an illustrated talk on �TheMonterey Bay National MarineSanctuary: History, Overview, andManagement Issues.� Refreshments.

Club speaker SeriesFREE

Wednesday - Thursday, August 24 - 25BACKPACKER�S DELIGHTThe first morning we�ll hike the 4-mile loopthrough the 37-acre old-growth redwoodHeritage Grove in Sam McDonald CountyPark. After lunch we�ll drive 7 miles toPortola Redwoods State Park where we�llbackpack 2-1/2 miles to the Slate Creek TrailCamp for our overnight stay. The followingday we�ll backpack a 6-1/2 mile loop over aridge, into a canyon, through the PetersCreek Grove, back to the trail camp then 2-1/2 miles to our cars. The Heritage and PetersCreek Groves include many of the most spec-tacular old-growth redwoods in the SantaCruz Mountains. The total elevation changeis about 1000'. Call hike leader at least oneweek in advance to reserve a space. Bringplenty of water, food, overnight gear and $for carpool and entrance fees. Leader: EdGilbert, 685-8389.

Friday, August 26BIKE RIDE: PACIFIC GROVE TO MARINAExplore the new �links in the trail� throughMonterey and Sand City and see how theMonterey Bay Coastal Trail connects withthe Pacific Grove Rec Trail and the old FortOrd bike path. Meet at Lovers Point in PG at10:00 a.m. at the start of the rec. trail. Ourroute will be almost all on paved bike trails,

A U G U S T

Saturday, August 13HIKE: BIG BASIN TO THE SEAWe�ll take advantage of the special Big BasinBus to get us to the starting point. Meet at theSanta Cruz Metro Center to catch the #35 busat 8:30 a.m. for Big Basin (The bus will NOTwait for stragglers). We�ll end the hike at themouth of Waddell Creek in time to catch theNo. 40 bus, arriving back in Santa Cruz at6:55 p.m. 13 miles, almost all downhill. Bringlunch, water, two $1 bills and four quartersfor bus fare. Wear hiking boots. Leader:George Jammal, 335-7748.

Saturday, August 13HIKE: PALO CORONAWe�ll start at the mouth of Carmel Valley,hike up dirt roads to the old ranch site forlunch, and return the same way. 12 miles and2,500' elevation gain. Maybe a history talkalso. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Call forreservation. Leader: Larry Parrish, 622-7455.

Tuesday, August 16SENIOR SAUNTER: NEW BRIGHTON/POTBELLY BEACHIt�s a great time for a beach walk. We�ll takethe back way down to the beach. We may getas far as the cement ship. Meet before 9:30a.m. at Sears 41st Ave. If you go direct, meetat 9:50 a.m. and park on Kennedy at Park St.Bring lunch, water, sunscreen and $1 carpool.Leader: Grace Hansen, 476-7254.

Friday, August 19MOONLIGHT HIKE: PINNACLESHiking the Pinnacles by moonlight is athrilling and unique experience. We�ll start inthe late afternoon and have 1200' elevationgain. Camping overnight optional. Bringwater, food, and wear good hiking shoes. Callfor a space and more information. Leader:Esperanza Hernandez, 678-1968.

Saturday, August 20INTERGENERATIONAL OUTING: MOSSLANDINGChildren to seniors. Hike, frisbee, rest, chat,explore and hike some more (2 to 4 milesdepending on group�s desire). Potluck lunchat 12:30 p.m. at Moss Landing Marine Labs.Meet at 9:15 a.m. at Bittersweet Cafe or MossLanding Marine Labs at 10:00 a.m. Leader

Gary Harrold, 662-0102.

Sunday, August 21HIKE: TERRACE CREEKWe�ll hike up the Pine Ridge Trail from BigSur State Park, then up Terrace Creek to theOld Coast Road. Lunch at the top with greatviews of the coast. Then down via theVentana Inn. 10 miles with 2,000' elevationgain. Meet at Albertson�s at 9:00 a.m. Bringlunch, water and wear good shoes. Leader:Steve Legnard, 402-1422.

Tuesday, August 23SENIOR HIKE: WADDELL BEACH/CREEKHike the last leg of the Big Basin to Sea Trail.5 miles. Some uphill, some shade/sun, lots oftrees & poison oak. Bathroom at trailhead.Meet before 9:30 a.m. at Sears 41st Ave. or at9:50 a.m. at Shen�s, Mission & King. Bringlunch, water, tick repellant and $4 carpool.Sturdy shoes recommended. Trails will bedusty. Leaders: Pat Herzog, 458-9841 andJoan Brohmer, 462-3803.


O U T I N G S

R A T I N G S

GENERAL INFORMATION:All outings begin and end at the trailhead.

Carpooling to and from the trailhead is strict-ly a private arrangement between the driverand his/her guests. Carpool drivers are notagents or employees of the Sierra Club.

GLS = Gay & Lesbian Sierrans. All arewelcome on GLS outings.EXPLANATION OF RATINGS:

The outings described vary in difficultyfrom leisurely walks to strenuous hikes. Thefollowing explanation are general guidelines.(For more information about the difficulty ofa particular hike, call the leader):

Walk: Between 2-5 miles, leisurely pace.Easy: No more than 5 miles; slight eleva-

tion gain; easy pace.Moderate: 5-10 miles; up to 2,000' gain;

boots; better than average fitness required.Strenuous: May involve off-trail hiking;

demanding pace; for experienced hikers ingood condition only.

M E E T I N G P L A C E S

DIRECTIONS:

Park and Ride/Big Bear Diner: Thisparing lot is on Rio Road in Carmel.

Albertson�s/Bagel Bakery: Heading southon Hwy. 1, pass through Monterey. One milepast the Ocean Ave. intersection, turn left onCarmel Valley Rd. Almost immediately, turnright at the light toward the stores.Albertson�s and Bagel Bakery are on the right.

Santa Cruz County Govt. Center: Thelarge grey building at the corner of Ocean andWater in Santa Cruz. We meet at the corner ofthe parking lot nearest to the gas station.

Felton Faire: From Santa Cruz takeGraham Hill Rd. toward Felton. Just afteryou pass Roaring Camp (on the left), make aright into Felton Faire shopping center. Wemeet at the edge of the Safeway parking lotnearest Graham Hill Rd.

41st Avenue Sears: From Hwy. 1 inCapitola, take the 41st Avenue exit and con-tinue toward the ocean on 41st Avenuetoward the Mall. Pass the main Mall entranceand turn right into the next entrance headingtoward Sears. We meet behind the bank locat-ed at 41st and Capitola Road. Senior Sauntermeets in Sears parking lot close to 41st Ave.

MPC Parking Lot: Monterey PeninsulaCollege Parking Lot. From Hwy. 1 take theFisherman�s Wharf exit, go straight one block,turn left and left again into the first parkinglot, parking lot A. This is the site of theThursday Farmers Market. Plenty of parkingwithout a fee on weekends.

In the interests of facilitating the logistics of some outings, it is customary thatparticipants make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not haveinsurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them.Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangementamong the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

Club events such as potlucks, slideshows and other

get-togethers are on page 6 in theCalendar listings.

Notice

Meet before 9:30 a.m. at Sears 41st Ave., or godirect to Jade St. Park. Bring lunch or eat atone of the many restaurants on theEsplanade. Leader: Marilyn Selby, 479-3809.

S E P T E M B E R

Sunday, September 4HIKE: GARRAPATA STATE PARKWe�ll hike the 4.5 mile, 2000' elevation gainstrenuous Rocky Ridge Trail on the northridge of Soberanes Canyon, followed by asteep decent to the Soberanes Canyon Trailthrough the redwoods. Wear sturdy boots,bring plenty of water and some high energyfood, and trekking poles, if you use them.Meet at the Bagel Bakery, 8:30 a.m. Leader:Kathryn Hannay, 633-3826.

Saturday, September 10HIKE: WADDELL CREEKLet�s visit the series of beautiful and spectacu-lar waterfalls along Berry Creek (GoldenFalls, Silver Falls, and Berry Creek Falls) onthis moderately strenuous hike above SantaCruz. 13 miles with 1000' elevation gain.Bring lunch, plenty of water and wear com-fortable shoes. Call for more information.Leader: Esperanza Hernandez, 678-1968.

Sunday, September 11WALK: SOBERANES POINT & CREEKShall we mosey around a bluff or saunter upa creek? Or both? Let�s let the weather andour whim direct our footsteps. Either way,Garrapata Beach and Soberanes Point andCreek are gorgeous in all conditions. We�llenjoy an easy pace with limited changes inelevation. Wear layers, carry water andlunch, bring binoculars in case of fauna toobserve. Expect to be back in town by 2:00p.m. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Park and Ridein front of Black Bear Diner on River Rd. inCarmel. Leader: Mary Gale, 626-3565.

The Sierra Club / Ventana Chapter Volume 44 Number 4, 2005 Printed on Recycled Paper8

O U T I N G S

Sunday, August 28HIKE: POGONIP TO RIVERJoin Friends of the Pogonip for a tourthrough the Pogonip to the San LorenzoRiver. Meet at 9:00 am at the FriendshipGarden near the Pogonip Trailhead inHarvey West Park for an 8-mile hike. Bringlunch. A dip in the river may be possible. Forinformation, call leaders Celia and PeterScott, 423-0796.

Sunday, August 28HIKE: PINE RIDGE TO TERRACE CREEKStrenuous 10-mile hike with 2200' elevationgain through redwood canyons and ferns.Great ocean views at lunch, weather permit-ting. Short car shuttle ending at the VentanaInn. Expect both shade and sun. Wear sturdyboots and bring lots of water, lunch, and ahat. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Bagel Bakery.Leader: Suzanne Arnold, 626-4042, suzan-necarml@ aol.com.

Tuesday, August 30SENIOR SAUNTER: CAPITOLA/DEPOTHILLWe�ll walk the streets of Capitola from JadeSt. Park, up Wharf Rd. to Rispin Mansionarea and Soquel Creek. The hardy can walkup the 87 step grand staircase and do theDepot Hill Loop. For those who don�t wantto walk the steps, an easier path is available.

with a little on streets. Relatively flat ridewith a few short hills. Be prepared for head-winds and some congestion on the trail,around the Fisherman�s Wharf area. 30 milesat a leisurely pace. Helmets mandatory. Bringwater and lunch, which we�ll eat at LockPaddon Park in Marina. Leaders: CathFarrant and Mary Dainton, 372-7427.

Saturday, August 27HIKE: LONG RIDGE (MIDPEN)This may be old hat for some, but this is KirkSmith�s traditional walk that I took over. Helikes to recall the couple that met on one andreturned the next year married. Hi Kirk. 9miles with 1200' elevation gain. Views overBig Basin to the coast. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at theSanta Cruz County Government Center tocarpool. Call Nick for additional informa-tion. Leader: Nick Wyckoff, 462-3101.

Saturday, August 27WALK: POINT LOBOS4-mile walk, starting from Hwy. 1, out andback to the Ichxenta Point grind holes, thenpast Whaler�s Cove, to the top of Whaler�sKnoll and back via southern trails. Some wild-flowers and wildlife. Bring water, snack.Binoculars optional. Meet at Albertson�s at9:00 a.m. for a short carpool. Leader: MarthaSaylor, 372-9215.

ATTENTION:Potential

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more clout into your advertising dol-lars. Sierra Club members are one of themost valuable audiences in America.They are �opinion leaders� and �influ-entials;� by any name, they are some ofAmerica�s most sought-after advertisingtargets. Their own purchasing activity issubstantial. But, most importantly, theyinfluence others�in everything fromopinion and outlook to choice of prod-ucts. They are not only consumers, butalso doers and leaders.

Club Members are among the mostactive, affluent audiences of adventuretravelers and year-round outdoorsports enthusiasts your advertising dol-lars can buy. It�s an unduplicated audi-ence with the power to buy your prod-ucts and services.

Sierra Club Members are Great ProspectsMedian Age: 41Male/Female: 63% / 37%Median Household Income: $56,227Attended/Graduated College: 81%Professional/Technical/Managerial: 36%

Outdoor Sports EnthusiastsBackpacking/Hiking 4 times more active

than the average adultMountain Biking 5 times more activeCross-Country Skiing 5 times more activeWhitewater Rafting 5.5 times more activeSource: 1996 MRI Doublebase

For Rate Information, Contact:Debbie Bulger - 457-1036

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Everything for the wild bird enthusiastincluding bird feeders, houses, baths,

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WINTER CARETAKER NEEDED

Kit Carson Lodge, on Hwy. 88 atSilver Lake, has an opening for acaretaker (could be a couple) for allor even part of the coming winter.The Lodge is closed except for oneother cottage. Spectacular lake-side or backcountry skiing andsnowshoeing right outside the doorof your own cozy cottage. Fivemiles from Kirkwood�s groomedtracks and downhill slopes. Treatyourself to an incredible winter inthe High Sierra. (209) 258-8500.

Tuesday, September 13SENIOR HIKE: NISENE MARKSShady, easy to moderate 4-mile hike begin-ning at Porter Family Picnic area, going lefton Loma Prieta Grade. At Porter House site,we�ll head up the hill on the Bridge Creek Rd.to dry waterfall then return to Porter picnicarea for lunch. Meet before 9:30 a.m. at Sears41st Ave. or just before 10:00 a.m. at PorterFamily parking lot. Bring lunch, water, $2carpool and share of entrance fee. Leader: PatHerzog, 458-9841.

Saturday, September 17HIKE: HENRY COWELL STATE PARKI haven�t decided exactly where to go. We�llmatch the trails to the weather. About 10miles and 1500' elevation gain. Meet at 9:30a.m. at the Santa Cruz County GovernmentCenter to carpool. CallNick for additional info.Leader: Nick Wyckoff,462-3101.

Saturday, September 17HIKE: ANDREWMOLERAWe�ll hike up the RidgeTrail, down the PanoramaTrail and along the bluffs in a moderatelystrenuous 8-mile loop. Beautiful panoramicviews. Bring water, lunch, hat, and $ for 45-minute carpool. Meet at Albertson�s at 10:00a.m. Back to car around 5:00 p.m. Leader:Andrea Phelps, e-mail at [email protected].

Saturday - Sunday, September 17 - 18CAMPOUT: PINNACLESHigh Peaks hike in the moon light! Potluckdinner Saturday night. The cost is $8/personfor members, $10/non-members and $5/chil-dren 12 and under. For reservations call leaderby September 11. Leader: George Jammal,335-7748.


O U T I N G S

Saturday, September 24HIKE: NISENE MARKS9-mile loop hike up the West Ridge Trail, pastHoffman�s logging camp site, and outthrough Bridge Creek canyon, with a ruggedone-mile in and out side trip to Maple Falls.800' elevation gain. Meet at Sears 41st Ave. at9:30 a.m. or at the parking lot behind AptosStation at 9:50 a.m. Bring plenty of water and$ for carpool and park entry. Short car-shut-tle required. Leader: Ed Gilbert, 685-8389.

Saturday, September 24HIKE: SOQUEL DEMO FORESTThis forest near Nisene Marks invites stronghikers for an 11-mile loop up and down onnarrow trails under madrone trees, pines, andoaks. Hikers looking for a new challengeshould not miss this strenuous outing. Meet atK-Mart in Seaside at 8:00 a.m. for the onehour drive. Hikers from Santa Cruz maymeet us at the entrance gate to the forest onEureka Canyon Road. Bring lots of water anda good lunch; hiking boots recommended.Leader: Anneliese Suter, 624-1467.

Sunday, September 25HIKE: PINE VALLEYWe�ll hike from China Camp to Pine Valleyin the heart of the Ventana Wilderness. 11miles with 2000' elevation gain. Meet atAlbertson�s at 8:00 a.m. Bring lunch, water,and wear good hiking boots. Leader: SteveLegnard, 402-1422.

Tuesday, September 27SENIOR HIKE: BUTANOA favorite hike in a favorite park inland fromPescadero or Gazos Trail. We�ll park by thepicnic tables and walk the road and creektrail. A shorter hike is available or you can gofurther. Meet before 9:30 a.m. at Sears 41stAve. or at 9:50 a.m. at Shen�s at Mission &King Sts. Bring lunch, water, repellant, $4 car-pool and share of entrance fee. Leader: JanetSchwind, 425-3845.

O C T O B E R

Saturday, October 1WALK: ASILOMAR/PEBBLE BEACH4-mile walk along city streets in Pacific Groveand Pebble Beach, then via a trail betweenfairways to the beach and out to Point Joe andback with ocean views finishing at Asilomarvia boardwalks. Bring water and a snack.Done about noon. Meet across from the

Sunday, September 18SINGLES VEGETARIAN POTLUCK:GARDEN OF EDENMeet at 11:00 a.m. at Felton Faire to carpool.Return at 4:00 p.m. From the trailhead, it�s aneasy 20-minute walk to the river picnic site.Bring your plate, cup, serving utensils, water& a potluck dish to share. Wear bathing suit.Bring a towel & sun protection. For moreinformation call after 10:00 a.m. 335-3342.Leader: Karen Kaplan.

Sunday, September 18WALK: CARMEL STATE BEACHHow about a Sunday morning saunter fromCarmel River Beach to Monastery Beach,returning via the bluff trail? Enjoy the breath-taking views of Point Lobos, and listen to thesong of the surf. 3 miles. Wear comfortable

shoes and dress for theweather; wind breakerrecommended. Bringwater and a snack.Meet at 10:00 a.m. atthe parking lot atCarmel River Beach atthe lagoon (south endof Carmelo Street inCarmel, Hwy. 1 toOcean Ave, west on

Ocean Ave, left on Carmelo). Leader: JoyceStevens, 624-3149.

Tuesday, September 20SENIOR HIKE: MT. MADONNAThis Santa Cruz County park is located highabove Watsonville on Hwy. 152. Moderate2.5 mile hike in lovely forest and meadows.For those who like an afternoon treat, we�llreturn home via Gizdich Farms for pie. Meetbefore 9:30 a.m. at Sears 41st Ave. or justbeyond the park�s kiosk entrance about 10:00a.m. near restrooms. Bring lunch, water, tickrepellant, $4 carpool and �pie� money.Leader: Joan Brohmer, 462-3803.

Sierra Club encourages outingsparticipants to walk, bicycle, andtake the bus to outings meetingplaces.

b

Getting to outings

XX

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carpool newsMeet 1 hour before formal meetingtime in order to save gas and protectthe environment when participatingin out-of-county outings. Informal (noleader) carpool meeting spots:

Santa Cruz: County. Gov’t Bldg.Monterey: K-Mart Seaside


Fishwife Restaurant on Sunset Drive inPacific Grove, at 9:00 a.m. Leader: MarthaSaylor, 372-9215.

Sunday, October 2WALK: CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACHThis beautiful beach at the Carmel Rivermouth offers spectacular views of PointLobos and Carmel Bay and good birding fromthe hill overlooking the lagoon. Mostly level,with just one short but steep climb. 2 miles.Bring water, optional binoculars, and a snack.Wear good shoes and dress in layers-we couldhave sun, fog, or maybe a very early winterstorm, a miracle which would cancel thewalk! Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Park and Ridein front of Black Bear Diner on River Road inCarmel. Leader: Mary Gale, 626-3565.

Tuesday, October 4SENIOR SAUNTER: PG/ASILOMARWe�ll walk north along the coast to PointPinos watching waves and tidal pools. Fairlyflat 3 miles. Meet before 9:30 a.m. at Sears 41stAve. or at 10:30 a.m. by the FishwifeRestaurant in Pacific Grove. Bring jacket, situpon, lunch and $5 carpool. Optional lunchat the Fishwife. Leader: Brooke Ewoldsen,649-1714.

O U T I N G S

sights. 6 miles. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the SantaCruz County Government Center. Leader:Sheila Dunniway, 336-2325.

Sunday, October 9HIKE: MOUNT MANUELThis is a great hike out of Big Sur State Parkwith 3000' elevation gain over 10 miles. Thetrail climbs with a steady grade, and we havedone significant maintenance on the uppersection. Meet at Albertson�s at 9:00 a.m. Bringlunch, water, and wear good hiking boots.Leader: Steve Legnard, 402-1422.

Tuesday, October 11SENIOR HIKE: GARLAND RANCHThe gentle to steep oak covered slopes take uson a 3-mile hike to a fern pond and the Indiangrinding rocks. Return through CooperRanch with its historic barn and nature cen-ter. Some uphill. Meet before 9:30 a.m. atSears 41st Ave. To go direct, Garland Ranchis on Carmel Valley Road 8.6 miles fromHwy. 1. Meet at the Visitor�s Center. Bringlunch, water, $5 carpool. Leader: BeverlyMeschi, 475-4185.

Wednesday, October 12HIKE: WUNDERLICH COUNTY PARKThis is a San Mateo County Park inWoodside off Interstate 280 east of SkylineBlvd. The 942 acres were part of the FolgerRanch with stables, open meadows, and beau-tiful canyons with running streams, numer-ous springs, and dense second-growth red-woods. Exceptional vistas in all directions. In1769 Portola camped in this valley, andFolger developed the county�s first hydroelec-tric system on his property. Bring lunch andwater for this moderate 8-mile hike. Meet atSears 41st Ave. at 9:00 a.m. or in the parkinglot at the park entrance on Woodside Road.Leader: Diane Cornell, 423-5925.

Saturday, October 15HIKE: SIERRA AZUL (MID PEN)Last time we did a pretty difficult walk to thetop over Lexington Reservoir. This one willbe easier. 8 miles and 1600' elevation gain.Carpool over Hwy. 17. We�ll walk on theasphalt road which the Air Force built foraccess to Almaden AFB (Mt. Umunhum).Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Santa Cruz CountyGovernment Center to carpool. Call Nick foradditional information. Leader: NickWyckoff, 462-3101.

Saturday, October 8HIKE: NISENE MARKSA 13-mile loop-hike from the Porter gate, upthe Loma Prieta Grade trail, over HinkleyRidge and China Ridge, and down and outthough Aptos Creek canyon, with a side-tripto gorgeous Five-Finger Falls. Lunch at SandPoint Overlook with its panoramic view ofMonterey Bay. 1400' elevation gain and mul-tiple creek crossings. Meet at Sears 41st Ave.at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot behindAptos Station at 9:20 a.m. Bring plenty ofwater and $ for carpool and park entry.Leader: Ed Gilbert, 685-8389.

Saturday, October 8HIKE: VICENTE FLATSWe�ll drive down breathtaking Big Sur, shut-tle up to Nacimiento Road, to Pine ConeRoad, where we�ll start our descent to VicenteFlats, all the way to Kirk Creek Camp. It�snot a strenuous hike because we will bedescending most of the 9 1/2 miles. Bringlunch, plenty of water and wear good hikingshoes. Call for more information. Leader:Esperanza Hernandez, 678-1968.

Sunday, October 9HIKE: POGONIPBring lunch and water. We�ll see the hauntedmeadow, sacred oak, kilns, and other thrilling

D E S E R T O U T I N G S

Sponsored by the Sierra Club�s Cal/NevadaRegional Conservation Committee

Saturday-Sunday, September 10-11DESERT PROTECTION ANDRESTORATIONWe will participate with an off-road vehiclegroup in a National Public Lands Day projectsponsored by the BLM. Projects will includegeneral trash pickup, installing limited usearea signs, building vehicle barriers to prevententry to the wilderness area, and camouflag-ing and restoring illegal vehicle trespassroutes. Saturday will be a work day followedby a potluck dinner. On Sunday there will beoptions for a hike and/or a trail ride. Leader:Craig Deutsche, 310-477-6670, [email protected].

Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18CAR CAMP OWENS VALLEYWe�ll remove tamarisk, and then take shorthikes to view wildlife and special areas. If theweather is hot, we can retreat to the highermountain meadows. Camp at Diaz LakeCounty Park just south of Lone Pine; fee.Meet Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. in thecampground. Potluck Sat. night. Bring allyour food and camping gear, gloves, loppersand hand saws and clothes for all kinds ofweather. Mike Prather, Owens RiverCommittee activist and outstanding birder,will be our resource specialist. For moreinformation, contact leaders: Cal and LettyFrench, 805-239-7338. Prefer e-mail:[email protected].

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Tuesday, October 18SENIOR HIKE: WILDER RANCHWe�ll climb up the Baldwin Loop Trail withbeautiful ocean vistas. This is a 3.5 mile hikewith some moderate uphill (we�ll take it atyour pace). Meet before 9:30 a.m. at Sears 41stAve. or just before 9:50 a.m. at Shen�s atMission & King Sts. Bring lunch, sit-upon,water and $3 carpool. Leader: Beverly Meschi,475-4185.

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by David Tanza and Debbie Bulger

There has been considerable discus-sion at recent Santa Cruz CityCouncil meetings about requiring

some new building projects to be LEEDcertified. Just what is a LEED-certifiedbuilding? LEED stands for Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design.

The LEED Green Building RatingSystem, developed by the U.S. GreenBuilding Council, is a voluntary, con-sensus-based national standard for devel-oping high-performance, sustainablebuildings. LEED provide a scorecard forevaluating the sustainability of a build-ing. Based on well-founded scientificstandards, LEED examines sustainablesite development, water savings, energyefficiency, materials selection andindoor environmental quality, amongother criteria.

Building �green� does not mean thatenergy-efficiency features are simplyadded to the developed design, butrather the LEED process integrates ener-gy-efficient design, resource-efficientconstruction methods, and energy andwater efficiency and more. It is a whole-building approach.

Specific design and building practicesearn points toward four levels of certifi-cation: certified, silver, gold and plat-inum.

For example, projects receive pointsfor using a sustainable site rather thanprime farmland, being located 100 feetor more from creeks or other water,being near public transit, including fea-

tures which reduce automobile depend-ency, and minimizing impervious sur-faces so rainwater will not run off, butwill return to the water table.

Other features which earn creditsinclude using captured rain water orrecycled water for landscape irrigation,installing waterless urinals and water-efficient fixtures, installing a renewableenergy system such as solar or windpower for part of the energy needs of thebuilding, using recycled building materi-als, and diverting construction wastefrom the landfill.

Although some features of a greenbuilding may cost more than standardfeatures (e.g. energy-efficient windows),

New Sierra Club filmtouts benefits oflocally-grown food

Sierra Club has produced a 15-minuteanimated video to inform the gener-al public about the benefits of buy-

ing organic and locally-grown food. Thelighthearted animation, called �The TrueCost of Food,� is beingused by the Club�sNational SustainableConsumption Com-mittee to introduce dis-cussions of the environmental costs ofagribusiness and factory farming.

In the video, a shopper gets transport-ed from a magical supermarket check-stand staffed with a straight-talkingchecker to the dark side of the foodindustry where she sees how factoryfarms pollute the air and water.

Readers can download the humorousvideo at www.truecostoffood.org.Check it out. And let us know if it influ-ences you to buy more organic and local-ly-grown foods.

LEED-certified means a green building

The Gault Street SeniorApartments in Santa Cruz areone of the buildings featured

on the 9th annual Solar Homes Tour,Sunday, October 1. Homes in bothMonterey and Santa Cruz Countieswill be shown. Watch for local list-ings for tickets availability.

This building�s green featuresinclude: 12 kilowatt solar electric sys-

Mik

e A

rens

on

Solar Homes Tour

their use may reduce the entire buildingcost because other elements such as theheating/cooling system can be down-sized or eliminated. Other changesmight cost more up front but reduceoperating costs during the life of thebuilding.

According to researchers at TheWorldwatch Institute, an independent,non-profit environmental researchorganization based in Washington, D.C.,it is estimated that worldwide buildingconstruction and operations account forover 40 percent of the world�s total ener-gy consumption. How we choose tobuild has enormous effects on our envi-ronment, health, economy, and sense ofcommunity. Green building addressesproblems such as �sick� buildings, trafficcongestion and global warming.

For more info visit www.buildinggreen.com or www.usgbc.org.

David J. Tanza, AIA, CCM, is aPrincipal at Strategic ConstructionManagement. He is a LEED-Accreditedprofessional.

Debbie Bulger is the editor of TheVentana.

SHOP GREEN!Support your local certifiedGreen Businesses.

Look for this seal.All Green Businesses display

this seal in their shops

For more information about the Monterey Bay AreaGreen Business Program, contact your local

Santa Cruz County CoordinatorJo Fleming at (831) 465-7439

or your local Monterey County CoordinatorMontrey County, Environmental Health Division (831) 755-4579

or visit our website at

www.ambag.org/greenbiz

CERTIFIED GREENAUTO REPAIR BUSINESSESSANTA CRUZCar Care Center2852A Soquel Avenue,831/479-4777 DMV Clinic2335 SoquelDrive, Suite G,831/462-4436Gino's Carco Santa Cruz Auto Recycling3315 Portola Drive, 831/475-4113Henderson Automotive Repair982 17th Avenue, 831/464-8667Nate Smith's Optimal Auto Care2335 Soquel Drive, 831/476-1332Rick's Auto Shop1050 B 17th Avenue, 831/475-2470Water Star Motors318A River Street, 831/457-0996

WATSONVILLEL&M Auto Repair27 1st Street, 831/724-4118

MONTEREY/PACIFIC GROVEForest Hill Auto Service1123 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, 831/372-6575Pacifc Motor Service550 E. Franklin Street., Monterey, 831/375-9571

CERTIFIED GREEN RESTAURANTSCAPITOLADharmas4250 Capitola Rd., 831/462-1717Shadowbrook Restaurant1750 Wharf Rd., 831/475-1511

SANTA CRUZAloha Island Grille1700 Portola Drive, 831/479-3299Crow’s Nest Restaurant2218 E. Cliff Drive, 831/476-4560Lava Rock Café541 Seabright Avenue, 831/427-5282Nuevo Southwest Grill2-1490 East Cliff Dr., 831/475-2233UltraMat Cafe501 Laurel Street, 831/426-9274Wired Wash135 Laurel Street, 831/429-9473SOQUELCafe Cruz2621 41st Ave., 831/476-3801Michael’s on Main2591 Main Street, 831/479-9773

APTOSBittersweet Bistro787 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, 831/662-9799Café Rio131 Esplanade, 831/688-8917

tem, daylighting in rooms and apart-ments, carpeting made of recycledmaterials, low VOC paint, water con-serving landscaping, recirculation sys-tem on domestic hot water, naturalventilation, strategic location of thebuilding to promote resource efficien-cy, in-fill building site, located on pub-lic transit route, and within walkingdistance of shopping, post office andlibrary.


The Ventana Chapter has hired theSan Francisco law firm of Tom N.Lippe to handle its appeal to the

Coastal Commission of the environmen-tally-destructive Pebble Beach develop-ment. Besides the Ventana Chapter, 21additional organizations and individuals,including two Coastal Commissioners,have filed appeals over MontereyCounty�s approval of the Pebble BeachCompany�s massive proposed develop-ment plan.

This harmful project would destroyover 17,000 trees, threaten habitat for 19species of special concern, and result inincreased water usage in an area alreadysuffering from a severe water shortageand over drafting of the Carmel River.

Our 11-page appeal focuses on viola-tions in the Monterey Local CoastalPlan. We believe that that existing LocalCoastal Plan, instead of Measure A, mustbe used to govern the environmentalrequirements of the project, as MeasureA has not been certified by the CoastalCommission.

The Pebble Beach Company plan is a

sprawling, harmful project in an area ofunique and sensitive forest, dunes andcoastline. Nestled in the largest existingremnant of rare Monterey pine forest,this subdivision of luxury houses andcommercial real estate is alreadyencroaching on plant and animal speciesof concern.

When the Spanish Bay housing devel-opment and golf course was approved bythe Coastal Commission 21 years ago, thecommunity was promised that it wouldbe the �last golf course� in Pebble Beach.At that time, several critical conservationeasements were attached to parcels to pro-tect them from development. Promiseswere made to restore coastal dunes, toreplant the Sawmill Borrow site withMonterey pines, and to institute an inva-sive plant removal system. These pledgeswere later described by the Pebble BeachCompany as �unworkable� and fell apartwhile lavish sums were spent instead onthe construction of ornate buildings andthe design and maintenance of a world-class golf course.

The Club�s appeal covers these con-cerns and challenges several other aspectsof this project. We are concerned aboutthe massive amounts of proposed grad-ing, the devastation of EnvironmentallySensitive Habitat Areas by the removalof 17,000 trees and 36,000 individual fed-erally-listed Yadon piperia plants, andthe encroachment and displacement ofexisting trail routes.

Some of the other groups that havefiled appeals are California CoastkeeperAlliance; California Native PlantSociety, Monterey Bay Chapter;Concerned Residents of Pebble Beach;Friends of the Sea Otter; League ofWomen Voters of the MontereyPeninsula; Helping Our Peninsula�sEnvironment (HOPE) and The OceanConservancy.

Ajudge has ordered MontereyCounty to release records aboutthe controversial September

Ranch subdivision in Carmel Valley�information county officials maintainedwasn�t public because it was held by acounty consultant.

Local open government advocates,The Open Monterey Project (TOMP)and Patricia Bernardi, filed the suit,which resulted in this welcome ruling.Ventana Chapter Conservation cochairGillian Taylor, who is also a member ofTOMP, reported the lawsuit was filedafter many attempts were made toobtain the information through PublicRecords Act provisions. The Act ismeant to provide governmental account-ability through public access to docu-ments covering the conduct of the peo-ple�s business.

The Chapter is actively engaged in theenvironmental review of the hugeSeptember Ranch project itself, whichcalls for the removal of 3,582 trees (890coast live oaks and 2,692 Monterey

Chapter hires law firm to handle Pebble Beach appeal

Deborah A. MalkinA T T O R N E Y A T L A W

Specializing in Wills, Living Trusts, Tax-saving Trusts,

and other forms of Estate Planning.Also offering assistance with Conservatorships and Probate.

Free initial consultationDiscount offered to Sierra Club members.

The Creekside Offices at 2425 Porter St., Suite 15 � Soquel, CA 95073 � 831-462-9100

Pines), involves steep slope alterationand has many unanswered questionsabout water and traffic impacts. Thecounty approved a slightly different ver-sion of the Ranch project in 1998, butafter the Chapter and others filed suit,the courts said the project�s environmen-tal impact report failed to properlyaddress the all-important water issue.That litigation also led to revelationsthat the developer�s Salinas law firm,Lombardo & Gilles, �ghostwrote� proj-ect documents supposedly created bycounty staff. Monterey attorney MichaelStamp represented the Chapter and thecitizen groups in both successful suits.

The water, traffic, and biologicalimpact issues raised by the firstSeptember Ranch project haven�t goneaway. The Carmel Valley Land UseAdvisory Committee voted against theproject, but formal hearings before theCounty Planning Commission andBoard of Supervisors haven�t yet beenscheduled.

Judge rules Monterey County must releasedevelopment documents

Reserve your place at the

Membership LuncheonSSaattuurrddaayy,, AAuugguusstt 2277

nnoooonn ttoo 33::3300 pp..mm..

The Chapter membership lunch-eon will be held at MossLanding Marine Lab. Guest

speaker Mike Sutton, Director of TheCenter for the Future of the Oceans,will speak on �Ocean Conservation in

California and Beyond: Challenges andOpportunities in 2005-2006.�

Premiering at the luncheon will belocal member Lois Robin�s video aboutthe Pajaro River entitled Stuck in theMud: The Pajaro River in Peril.

To order tickets, send check for$10/person to Marilyn Beck, 528 Crocker

Ave., Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

R

�The last word in ignorance is the manwho says of an animal or plant, �whatgood is it?� If the land mechanism as awhole is good, then every part is good,whether we understand it or not. If thebiota, in the course of eons, has builtsomething we like but do not understand,then who but a fool would discard seem-ingly useless parts? To keep every cogand wheel is the first precaution of intel-ligent tinkering.��Aldo Leopold, A SAND COUNTY ALMANAC

To view our entire appeal, pleasecheck our website: www.ventanasierraclub.org.

Watershed festival to cele-brate Carmel River

The second annual WatershedFestival of Life will gush forth onSaturday, October 8, from 10:30

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The festival will cele-brate the Carmel River and other water-sheds through the arts and sciences.

The celebration will begin with a�Gathering of the Waters� ceremony ledby a large steelhead puppet. StephanieMills, author of Epicurean Simplicity andIn Service of the Wild, is the keynotespeaker. There will be live harp music,organic food, fun watershed activities forfamilies, and more.

The Watershed Festival of Life is host-ed by the Community Church of theMonterey Peninsula on Carmel ValleyRd. approx. 1.5 miles east of Hwy. 1.

P PAALLLL WWEELLCCOOMMEE

We are overspending ourenvironmental wealth

The Millennium EcosystemAssessment, a recent study by1360 scientists from 95 countries

concluded that the health of the envi-ronment is directly linked to reducingpoverty, providing clean water for peo-ple and fighting disease. The study foundhumans have depleted 60% of theworld�s natural resources. It also foundthat 12% of birds, 23% of mammals, 25%of conifers and 32% of amphibians arethreatened with extinction, and that theworld�s fish stocks have been reduced by90% since the start of industrial fishing.

�The environment is not a luxury, nota Gucci accessory bag or a fancy silk tieaffordable only when all other issueshave been resolved, it is the oxygenbreathing life into all the goals. It is thered ribbon running around our commonaspirations for a healthier, more stableand just world,� said Klaus Toepfer,head of the UN Environment Program.


Join Sierra ClubCalifornia’s

Legislative ActionNetwork

Make a difference

http://cal-legalert.sierraclubaction.org

N E W S C L I P S

El solSierra reports that Spain has mandated

that any new or renovated buildings inthe country must include solar panels.Way to go, Spain.

Clair Tappaan FunA special weekend of

hiking, birding, gamesand more is planned atthe Sierra Club�s rusticlodge near Lake Tahoeon the weekend of Aug.19-21. Call for reservations to be part ofthe fun, 1-800-679-6775 or [email protected].

Wilderness closerIlysia Shattuck, from the California

Wild Heritage Campaign, reports thatthe U.S. Senate unanimously passed theNorthern California Coastal WildHeritage Wilderness Act in a bi-partisanvote. The bill now moves to the House.Send a big thank you to Senators Boxerand Feinstein for their support. Let�s getit through the House now!

New Coastal CommissionersMark Massara, Director of the Club�s

Coastal Program reports that the CoastalCommission is in better shape than itwas a few months ago. New commis-sioners include Chula Vista mayor StevePadilla to replace Scott Peters andManhattan Beach City CouncilmemberJim Aldinger to replace Orange CountyCoastal Commissioner Toni Iseman.Coastal champion Mary Shallenbergerwas reappointed. The Club is very disap-pointed that Monterey CounterSupervisor, Dave Potter was reappointeddespite his destructive voting record andhis endorsement of the Pebble Beachexpansion.

Cocktail flushedPublic outcry has forced the EPA to

abandon its plans to �blend� partially-treated sewage with treated wastewaterbefore releasing it directly into thenation�s waterways. It seems the EPAsubscribes to the adage, �The solution topollution is dilution.� Luckily the publichas higher standards when it comes toclean water.

Hair-raising studyThe Sierra Club is cosponsoring a

project to raise awareness of mercurypollution. For the non-profit rate of $25you can order a testing kit to find outhow much mercury you have in yourbody. The charge covers the testing fee.

The test involves snipping a sample ofyour hair and mailing it in. To order a

kit online visit www.sierraclub.org/mer-cury/get_tested/index.asp. The mercurytest kit may also be ordered by writingor calling Greenpeace at 702 H. StreetNW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001,(800) 326-0959.

The goal is to make this the largestsampling for mercury testing ever taken.If you eat a lot of fish or live downwindfrom a coal burning plant, you mightwish to be tested.

Patton to PCLGary Patton, Executive Director of

LandWatch Monterey County, willbecome the new Executive Director ofthe Planning and Conservation LeagueFoundation on September 1. A formerSanta Cruz County Supervisor, Pattonserved as the General Counsel of thePCL in the mid 90s.

by Bill Magavern, Senior Representative,Sierra Club California

Recent scientific findings indicatethat mercury contamination ofour air and water may be even

more hazardousthan previouslybelieved. InMarch, Texasresearchers founda possible linkbetween mercuryin the environ-ment and autism, asevere develop-mental disorder inwhich childrenseem isolated fromthe world aroundthem. Earlier this year, a pediatric studyconcluded that lower IQ levels linked tomercury exposure in the womb cost theU.S. $8.7 billion a year, as 630,000 chil-dren are born each year with unsafe lev-els of mercury in their blood.

Mercury released into the air andwater eventually can find its way to ourtables via contaminated fish. So thattunafish sandwich that you feed yourkids for lunch could actually be doingmore harm than good.

Given the severity of the mercuryproblem, we need to do everything wecan to reduce releases of mercury. SierraClub California has successfully advocat-ed for a number of mercury reductionsteps in recent years, including bans onthe sale of new mercury-containing ther-mostats, thermometers and novelties,and tighter restrictions on mercury-con-taining wastes going to landfills. Thisyear we are seeking four new measures:

1. AB 966, authored by AssemblyMember Lori Saldana (a former chair ofthe San Diego Chapter) would requiredentists to install devices that keep mer-cury out of the wastewater leaving theiroffices. The cities of San Francisco andPalo Alto, along with the states of Maineand Connecticut, already require theseamalgam separators to remove fromwater the mercury used in some dental

fillings. We expect the Assembly to voteon the bill in January. Opposition fromthe dental association is intense.

2. AB 1240, authored by AssemblyMember Lloyd Levine from Van Nuys,would require the removal of all mercu-ry switches from motor vehicles at theend of their lives, with the costs paid bythe auto manufacturers. Although thenewest vehicles no longer contain mer-cury switches, millions of cars on theroad now do include mercury capsulesthat need to be removed before the autois scrapped. Opposition from the automanufacturers has stalled the bill fornow.

3. AB 1415, authored by AssemblyMember Fran Pavley from Agoura Hills,would ban new sales of mercury-con-taining switches, relays and measuringdevices, the largest remaining source ofmercury in products. The Assembly hasapproved the bill, and the Senate will acton it soon. The State�s Department ofToxic Substances Control supports AB1415.

4. With the help of Senator LizFigueroa, from the East Bay Area, we arepushing the Department of ToxicSubstances Control to stiffen enforce-ment of its rules for recycling mercury-containing light bulbs. Currently, onlyabout 25% of these lamps are being recy-cled; the others go into the trash, withthe mercury escaping into the environ-ment sooner or later. If you have fluo-rescent bulbs (which we recommend fortheir energy efficiency), you should takethem to a hazardous waste collection sitewhen they burn out, so the mercury canbe recycled.

California has opportunities toreduce mercury poisoning

EarthVision Video Festivalstarts Sept. 29

More films will be shown this yearthan ever before at theEarthVision International

Environmental Video Festival withscreenings at the historic Del Mar andthe Rio Theaters in Santa Cruz.Opening the festival on ThursdaySeptember 29th at the Del Mar Theateris a collection of selected shorter featuresspanning the range of categories such asEnvironmental Activism, EndangeredSpecies/Habitats and AlternativeEnergy. A reception in the mezzanine ofthe theater will precede the openingnight feature film.

The range of creative excellence inthis year�s submissions is impressive forinnovation of expression and variety ofartistic styles. The voices speaking up forthe planet are numerous and talented.

The winner of the Forest category is�Silent Forest� by local videographer, EdSchehl. �Silent Forest� documents thethreat to trees of all kinds posed bygenetic engineering . Two films wereawarded first place in the EnvironmentalActivism and Social Justice category:�McLibel: the postman and the gardenerwho took on McDonalds� and�Homeland.� �McLibel� documents thelongest trial in English legal history inwhich two little people took onMcDonalds and won. �Homeland�chronicles the battles of NativeAmerican activists.

Tickets will be on sale in advance forsome features at Bookshop Santa Cruzand EcoGoods. All tickets are a $5 dona-tion, and no one will be turned away forlack of funds. For screening times checkwww.earthvisionfest.org.

!

EARTH WISE SINGLES. Where eco-pas-sionate, politically active adults meet othersof like mind and heart. Join the communitythat cares. Get 6 months free!www.EWSingles.com

VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO SELL TrailGuides from their home. Requires keepingstock at home, handling phone orders forboth individual sales and bulk orders forabout 10 main accounts at bookstores, thenfilling orders. Must be dependable. For moreinformation call Rita Dalessio, 659-7046.

HAVE YOU PURCHASED any organiccotton clothing lately? The editor wants tohear why. Send an email [email protected]. Include your phonenumber and where you live.

DISTRIBUTE THE VENTANA in Capitola.You are dependable, personable and able topick up copies of The Ventana in downtownSanta Cruz to deliver to Capitola businesses.Call 457-1036 to volunteer.

WORK AT SIERRA CLUB BOOTH at theCounty Fair. We are looking for volunteersto work in cooperation with other conserva-tion groups at the Santa Cruz County Fair inWatsonville, September 13-18. Day andevening shifts available. Get the word outabout conservation issues in Santa CruzCounty. Call 426-4453.

Rates: $4.00 per l ine for S ier ra Club members.Payment must accompany a l l ads. Make checkspayable to : S ier ra Club. Approx imate ly 35 char-acters per l ine. Spaces and punctuat ion countas characters . Typewr i t ten or computer gener-ated copy prefer red.

CLASSIFIEDS


UCSC Farm and Garden seeking apprentices

The Center for Agroecology andSustainable Food Systems at UCSanta Cruz is seeking apprentices

for its next 6-month training programwhich begins in April 2006. The dead-line for applications is November 1.

The apprenticeship blends experien-tial learning with classroom studies onsoil management, composting, pest con-trol, crop planning, irrigation, farmequipment, and direct marketing tech-niques. Each year 35-40 apprenticescome from all regions of the U.S. andabroad to study organic farming andsmall-scale sustainable farming.Graduates of the program have estab-lished their own commercial farms andmarket gardens, run community gardensfor inner city and prison populations,and worked on international develop-ment projects.

For further information contact 459-3695, [email protected]. Or visitwww.ucsc.edu/casfs.

Lois Robin, a member of the Club�sSanta Cruz Group ExecutiveCommittee has produced a video,

Stuck in the Mud: The Pajaro River inPeril which documents the challenges to

the Pajaro River watershed. ThePajaro River originates in the SantaCruz Mountains and the Gabilanand Diablo Ranges, passing throughcommunities in four counties beforeemptying into the Monterey BayNational Marine Sanctuary after itleaves Watsonville.

This immense watershed bringswith it a raft of problems associatedwith agriculture, construction andmining along its course. Nitrates andchemicals from agriculture moveinto the Monterey Bay contaminat-ing sea life as well as freshwater lifein the river. Mining and logging plugthe river with sediment, destroyinghabitat for fish and amphibians.Removal of trees along the levees hasdestroyed habitat and depleted theonce-dense bird life of the lowerPajaro. Towns built along the riverfloodplain have constricted the natu-ral movement of the river.

The video advocates authorizingthe Army Corps of Engineers todevelop a complete watershed-wideplan rather than dealing only with

the 12 downstream miles of the river. Itadvocates the Sierra Club position ofenvironmental restoration along with

Sierra Club huts have been a tradi-tion since the 1930�s. Established inCalifornia by early Club members

who had seen and used huts in Europe,they have provided shelter for genera-tions of skiers, snowshoers, and (now)snowboarders who find wonder inovernight exploration of areas nearDonner Summit and Lake Tahoe.

Each September and October, thefour huts are refurbished and resuppliedfor another winter season by work par-

Local member makes video on Plight of the Pajaroflood protection. And it advocates forpublic access to the river for recreation.

The video will be featured at theVentana Chapter luncheon on August27 and will be shown on public televi-sion in various communities throughoutthe watershed. Consult your local TVlistings for viewing times.

�Stuck in the Mud� is an independentproduction by Lois Robin who in addi-tion to serving on the Santa Cruz GroupExecutive Committee is co-chair of thePajaro River Watershed Committee.The documentary can be purchased inDVD or VHS formats for $10.00 fromLois Robin, [email protected] orfrom the Santa Cruz Sierra Club office,426-HIKE.

Much of the cost of the video was self-funded by Robin in addition to a smallgrant from Ken and Ethelyn Miller ofWatsonville. Some of the footage wasrecycled from video taken for the recentmulti-media art exhibit on the PajaroRiver.

Currently Robin is raising money fordistribution. Those wishing to make atax-deductible contribution may contactLois at the email address above or call464-1184 for information on how to con-tribute.

Fluvial geomorphologist, Dr. Robert Curry, unin-tentionally illustrates the sediment problem on thePajaro River by getting stuck in the mud belowthe Hilsdale sand and gravel operation near SanJuan Baptista.

Sempervirens Fund to buyPanorama Ridge

Sempervirens Fund is purchasingPanorama Ridge, a critically impor-tant 40-acre parcel adjoining Castle

Rock State Park. The Santa Cruz moun-tains land preservation group has securedthe purchase of the $700,000 parcel witha down payment of $200,000 from itsOpportunity Fund. The PanoramaRidge fundraising campaign aims tocomplete the purchase by year-end sothe property can be conveyed to CastleRock State Park.

Views from the ridge-top parcel arespectacular, encompassing a full sweep ofvistas from Monterey Bay to the south,the Big Basin parklands to the west,across the Pescadero watershed to thenorth, and all the way to the Pacifichorizon. In the creative purchase deal,Sempervirens Fund worked with theseller to create a life-tenancy agreementallowing the seller to continue living inthe existing house on a 5-acre portion ofthe property that will remain off-limitsto park visitors.

�Today we are a giant step closer toopening a hiking and riding trail to con-nect the Skyline entrance of Castle RockState Park with trails that will encirclethe entire 5,000-acre park.� observedBrian Steen, Sempervirens FundExecutive Director.

ties of volunteers who contribute aweekend to bringing in firewood, repair-ing broken windows, and generallycleaning up. There are plenty of thingsto do for just about everyone.

Volunteers need only simple back-pack gear, work clothes, and a healthyattitude toward manual labor. The Clubprovides tools and supplies (includingfood) as well as overnight accommoda-tions and breakfast at Clair TappaanLodge near Donner Summit at no costbefore the work party begins.

Enjoy the camaraderie of workingwith other volunteers in the crisp fall airof the mountains. No experience neces-sary. For more information or to signup, contact one of the leaders below.

Sep 10-11, Benson Hut: Jim Gannon,707-525-1052, jgannon99@ earthlink.net.

Sep 17-18, Peter Grubb Hut: ChrisMacIntosh, 650-325-7841, [email protected].

Sep 24-25, Peter Grubb Hut: DebbieBenham 650-964-0558. [email protected] or Herb Steierman. 408-773-7013. [email protected].

Oct 8-9, Ludlow Hut: Dick Simpson,650-494-9272, [email protected].

Oct 24-25, Bradley Hut: DickSimpson, 650-494-9272, [email protected].

Oct 22-23, TBD as needed: DickSimpson, 650-494-9272, [email protected].

Volunteers needed to prepare Sierra Club huts for winter

Richard Stover of Santa Cruz repairs theouthouse at Peter Grubb Hut in 2004.

Deb

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Ventana Chapter Mailing Address � The Ventana Chapter, P.O. Box 5667, Carmel, CA, 93921, e-mail:[email protected]

Phone � 624-8032 Fax - 624-3371 (Santa Cruz Group Phone: 426-4453) Website:www.ventana.sierraclub.org

Chapter Executive CommitteeChapter Chair Rita Dalessio 16 Via Las Encinas Carmel Valley, CA 93924 659-7046Vice Chair D�Anne Albers P.O. Box 2532 Carmel, CA 93921 375-1389Treasurer Joel Weinstein 140 Carmel Riviera Dr. Carmel, CA 93923 625-5586Other Members Larry Espinosa 19240 Reavis Way Salinas, CA 93907 663-2753

David Epel 25847 Carmel Knolls Dr. Carmel, CA 93923 625-3137Joel Weinstein 140 Carmel Riviera Dr. Carmel, CA 93923 625-5586Julie Engell 15040 Charter Oak Blvd. Prunedale, CA 93907 633-8709Marilyn Beck 528 Crocker Ave. Pacific Grove, CA 93950 372-6860Gudrun Beck 23765 Spectacular Bid Monterey, CA 93940 655-8586Heather Allen 3037 Vaughn Ave. Marina, 93933 224-0134

Admin Chair/Sec Mary Gale 25430 Telarana Way Carmel, CA 93923 626-3565Coastal Chair D�Anne Albers P.O. Box 2532 Carmel, CA 93921 375-1389Conservation CommitteeCo-Chairs Gudrun Beck 23765 Spectacular Bid Monterey, CA 93940 655-8586

Gillian Taylor 52 La Rancheria Carmel Valley, CA 93924 659-0298Local Wilderness CommitteeChair Steve Chambers 319 Caledonia St. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 425-1787Computer Database:

Stephanie Kearns 740 30th Ave. #67. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 475-1308NC/NRCC Reps. George Jammal 601 Manzanita Ave. Felton, CA 95018 335-7748

Patricia Matejcek P.O. Box 2067 Santa Cruz, CA 95063 423-8567Outings Chair Anneliese Suter 9500 Center St. #53 Carmel, CA 93923 624-1467Population CommitteeChair Harriet Mitteldorf 942 Coral Dr. Pebble Beach, CA 93953 373-3694Political Chair: Terry Hallock P.O. Box 22993 Carmel, CA 93922 915-0266Pot Luck CommitteeChair Marion Chilson 6060 Brookdale Dr. Carmel, CA 93923 624-3510Sierra Club CouncilDelegate David Epel 25847 Carmel Knolls Dr. Carmel, CA 93923 625-3137Alternate Rita Dalessio 16 Via Las Encinas Carmel Valley, CA 93924 659-7046Transportation CommitteeChair Neil Agron 26122 Carmel Knolls Dr. Carmel, CA 93923 624-3038Outings Chair Anneliese Suter 9500 Center St. #53 Carmel, CA 93923 624-1467Membership Chair Heather Allen 3037 Vaughn Ave. Marina, 93933 224-0134Ventana Editor Debbie Bulger 1603 King Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 457-1036Pajaro River CommitteeCo-Chairs Lois Robin 4701 Nova Dr. Santa Cruz, 95062 464-1184

JoAnn Baumgartner P.O. Box 1766. Watsonville, CA 95077 722-5556

Santa Cruz County Group of the Ventana ChapterGroup Office: 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz, near Actors� Theatre Website:www.ventana.sierraclub.org

Mailing Address: Sierra Club, Santa Cruz Group, P.O. Box 604, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0604 Phone: 831-426-HIKE (426-4453), Fax: (831) 426-LEAD (426-5323), e-mail: [email protected]

Executive CommitteeChair Aldo Giacchino 1005 Pelton Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 460-1538Other members Patricia Matejcek P.O. Box 2067 Santa Cruz, CA 95063 423-8567

Lois Robin 4701 Nova Dr. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 464-1184Richard Shull 110 Amber Lane Santa Cruz, CA 95062 425-5153Kristen Raugust 454 Swanton Road Davenport, CA 95017 423-8566Shandra Dobrovolny 147 S. River St., Ste 221 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 477-1981Kevin Collins P.O. Box 722 Felton, CA 95018 335-4196Bojana Morgenthaler 25401 Spanish Rnch Rd. Los Gatos 95033 408-353-5536Mike Guth 22905 East Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz, CA 95062 476-0295

Treasurer Nan Singh Bowman 12470 Lorenzo Ave. Boulder Creek, CA 95006 246-3591Growth Management CommitteeChair Charles McClain 420-1747Conservation CommitteeChair Patricia Matejcek P.O. Box 2067 Santa Cruz, CA 95063 423-8567Forestry Task ForceChair Jodi Frediani 1015 Smith Grade Santa Cruz, CA 95060 426-1697Membership CommitteeVacant Outings Chair George Jammal 601 Manzanita Ave. Felton, CA 95018 335-7748 Transportation CommitteeChair Jim Danaher 340 Soquel Ave. #205 Santa Cruz, CA 95062 427-2727Water Resources CommitteevacantPolitical Committeevacant

D I R E C T O R Y O F C L U B L E A D E R S

Santa Cruz Regional Group

Information: 426-HIKE (426-4453)Meeting place: Sierra Club Office 1001 Center St, Santa Cruz, Suite 11.

Executive Committee:Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7:00 p.m.Conservation Committee:Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 7:00 p.m.


Ventana Chapter (Monterey Co.)

Information: 624-8032Executive Committee:Last Thursday of the month; Call formeeting place & time.Conservation Committee:Alternate 3rd Saturdays, 2:00 p.m.Beck�s house: 23765 Spectacular Bid,Monterey. Take Hwy 68 to York Rd. toSpectacular Bid.September 17 at 2:00 p.m.

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On August 16 the MontereyCounty Board of Supervisorswill consider whether to circum-

vent the right of the people to vote onthe proposed Rancho SanJuan subdivision. Duringthe Christmas holiday sea-son last year opponents ofthe project submitted16,000 signatures of voterson a referendum requiringthe Board of Supervisors toeither reverse its approvalof the development orallow the public to vote.However, the will of thepeople could be ignored ifthe Board decides to rescindits approval then approvephase one of the project as astand-alone development.

A letter from the developer�s attorneyoutlines just such a scenario, explainingthat those who disagree with this slightof hand just �misunderstand the

p r o c e s s . �On August16, one daybefore thedeadline topull the ref-e r e n d u mfrom theb a l l o t ,Board mem-bers willclarify whothey repre-s e n t � t h ecitizens ofM o n t e r e yCounty or a

Marin County developer.It is critical that Sierra Club mem-

bers and other environmentalistsattend the public hearing, Tuesday,August 16 at the new Supervisors�Chambers, 168 W. Alisal Street, Salinas.This is the new County AdministrativeBuilding adjacent to the courthouse. Theexact time of the public hearing was notavailable at press time. It will be postedon the Monterey County website,www.co.monterey.ca.us, on August 11or can be obtained from the Clerk to theBoard, Darlene Drain, 755-5066.

If you cannot attend the meeting, youcan contact the Board and let themknow you expect them to honor the willof the people and respect democracy.

Rancho San Juan is the biggest projectin county history, wedged betweenSalinas and Prunedale east of Highway

101. When fully developed, it would cre-ate a new city one half the size of Marinaon what is now mostly 2500 acres of pro-ductive agricultural land. The proposeddevelopment would pump an additional700 acre-feet of water from an over-draft-ed aquifer, more than double the trafficon Highway 101, urbanize 1750 acres offarmland, and contain 4000 houses and agolf course resort.

Contact informationWrite: Monterey County Board of

Supervisors, P.O. Box 1728, Salinas, CA93902

Phone: 755-5066Fax: 755-5888Email: [email protected]

Vote on Rancho San Juan project will show true colors of Monterey County Supervisors

The County is currently processing twoother subdivision applications within theRancho San Juan Specific Plan Area:Blohm Ranch and San Miguel Ranch.

Blohm Ranch Sub.

San Miguel Ranch

Butterfly Village

101

End of an era - Sierra Club - Ventana Chapter

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Transcript of End of an era - Sierra Club - Ventana Chapter