From: OC To: Afghanistan

Here's a chance to make your compassion echo on the other side of the world. And you only need to drive to Huntington Beach on Saturday, Feb. 23 (or deliver items before then to a local bank)!

The details:
It's been a devastatingly cold winter in Afghanistan, according to Mary Urashima, who's heading up the Airlift for Afghan Children humanitarian effort. Warm clothing is desperately needed. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Huntington Beach, the Airlift is an effort to get blankets, children’s clothes, children’s shoes, infant care items, school supplies (crayons, coloring books, pencils) and stuffed animals (no hard toys) into the hands of people in great need. Items should be new or gently used - and clean, of course. Organizers ask that items are appropriate for Afghanistan -- no political or religious symbols or slogans. please. The Kiwanis will airlift collected items via U.S. military transport by February 29.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers please arrive to help with packing by 10 a.m.
YMCA – Huntington Beach
19891 Beach Blvd. Suite 17, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Questions: Volunteer Coordinator Sonali Fiske (949) 254-3538, Sonali.fiske@gmail.com

You can also drop items off during business hours at Independence Bank, 18101 Magnolia Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 before Feb. 23.
Questions about your donation? Contact Kiwanis liaison Mary Urashima, (714) 374-8360, Urashima@earthlink.net

DIRECTIONS to YMCA from the 405 Freeway:
Take the Ellis / Euclid exit and head west (toward ocean)
Left on Beach Boulevard
The YMCA warehouse (19891 Beach Blvd., Suite 17) is located on the west side of Beach Boulevard, between Adams Avenue and Yorktown Avenue

David routs Goliath, 8-2

The California Coastal Commission voted 8-2 to reject the planned 241 Toll Road and to protect Trestles and San Onofre State Beach. Nearly four thousand people turned out for a historic meeting in Del Mar on Wednesday, making it clear to the commissioners that the destruction of state parks and coastal resources is unacceptable.

The record-breaking crowd was comprised of a diverse cross-section of beach users including surfers, students, families, seniors, fishermen as well as a large number of Native American tribal representatives. Also on hand was a massive contingent from the surf industry, including various manufacturers, shapers, media representatives and pro athletes. The Sierra Club, California State Parks Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Endangered Habitats League, Sea and Sage Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, WildCoast and countless others joined in the effort. While this decision is likely not the death knell for the toll road we would like, there will be a major uphill battle for the TCA to overcome.

What does it mean? For now, good news, but, as my friend Janine points out, those who would preserve our open space must begin to look at activism as a lifestyle.

Janine writes:
Orange County’s pro-development-at-any-expense machine was there in full force: City officials from almost every city in Orange County, as well as local and state representatives Tom Harman, Pat Bates, Mimi Walters, and Joe Campbell, all spewed support for the toll road. Laguna's council members Toni Iseman and Jane Egly were there to fight to preserve the park. It was clear that only the efforts to reach outside the OC border and make this a statewide issue spared the park from the toll road, which would open thousands of acres of wilderness up to massive development.

This was a huge victory for Trestles and the State Park. However, it may never be over. We need to make protecting and defending our coastal resources a lifestyle, especially since we live in Orange County, where most of our elected officials support development and roads over open space and clean beaches. Support (join and finance!) the groups that fight for our parks and beaches: the Sierra Club, Surfrider and the Laguna Canyon Conservancy!!

The TCA will be back. They have no choice—they only know how to build toll roads. They are expected to make some type of appeal to the federal commerce secretary…

A huge lesson: Right after the vote at about 11:30 p.m. I spoke with several of the rejoicing Coastal Commission staff members, who spent years putting together an exhaustive report that proved the toll road would be environmentally devastating on many levels and violated the Coastal Act on almost every front. They thanked all of us who attended, and said it was most likely the pressure from the huge numbers of people who showed up that helped the CCC do the right thing. Grass roots activism can work!!

Currently, our state parks and special places we believed were protected for posterity are under assault. We need to work to beef up our laws to protect these resources! Get involved!

How about a quickie?

Whether you're going to the Coastal Commission hearing or not, why not take a minute and sound off via the the California State Parks Foundation e-activism campaign. It's takes little time, and they need to hear from as many people as possible. Go to the URL below and check out what's at stake, and send your own message directly to the relevant decision makers:

http://ga3.org/campaign/ccc_action_0108?rk=z73Hg0Yqrm-tW

Big Wednesday: Save Trestles 2/6

If building a for-profit private toll road through a state coastal park sticks in your craw, come out and let the California Coastal Commission know. This is THE most important hearing in regards to protecting Trestles and San Onofre State Park. Surfrider Foundation is organizing carpools and buses to bring an enormous crowd to the decision-makers for a hearing in Del Mar that will determine the future of allowable uses of open parkland, and a treasured surf break. Please help spread the word to all your family and friends in Southern California.

What: Crucial Vote to Save Trestles at California Coastal Commission

When: Wednesday, February 6th, 2008. Please arrive by 9 a.m.

Where: Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 - Just off the I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit., click here for directions. Please carpool or take one of our buses if you can.

The Surfrider Foundation and partners are renting buses and organizing carpools in San Clemente and San Diego. We are also providing lunch, t-shirts, and posters/signs for all supporters. Surfrider has it all organized -- you need only show up. If you have questions about the hearing, or are interested in organized transportation, email Stefanie Sekich at: SSekich@surfrider.org

In the meantime, please take some time to do two things. First, if you haven't already, click here send a quick letter to the Coastal Commission. Then, create a Youtube video telling the California Coastal Commission why you want to Save Trestles and San Onofre State Park and upload it to our site: www.youtube.com/group/savesanonofre .
For more details and all of the updates, check out the Save Trestles Blog

Worth a Thousand Words

US President George W. Bush leans over to talk with a girl after Bush participated in a lesson for young children on the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day during a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, 21 January 2008. By Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty.

You said it, little girl!

The Pigsty on Park Avenue

Rumor has it that the quad at the high school is a big, trash-strewn mess every day after lunchtime. Then the gulls swoop in, and the janitorial staff is left to deal with the aftermath. If this is true, what's gone wrong? Seems the administration needs to get this situation in hand and make sure students clean up after themselves, rather than furthering the undesirable (and probably mostly untrue) reputation as entitled brats who let the help pick up after them.

Trash at LBHS affects us all. From a physical standpoint, it all rolls down the hill; a mess at the high school means trash on Park Avenue, and garbage in the ocean. And as a society, if people on the verge of adulthood can't be bothered to put their lunch trash in a nearby receptacle, this can't bode well for any long-lasting environmental movement. Aren't there students at LBHS who care about this issue? Is there no idealism? Or.....even basic good manners? Can anyone set me straight on this? I welcome your comments.

Hike for LOCA!

From my pal Sean:

Get ready to walk off those holiday pounds! Laguna Outreach for Community Arts (LOCA) is holding a different kind of fundraiser and invites you to participate and to bring friends, family members, and neighbors to join in the fun.

The LOCA Hike/Walk begins at Alta Laguna Park on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 9:00 am. LOCA is asking for a tax-deductible $20 donation from each participant. The routes of hiking trails or residential streets are appropriate for beginning walkers to seasoned hikers. Water will be provided.

With your participation and those of your friends, you can personally raise $80 or $100 (or more) for LOCA. Friends and family not able to participate may wish to make a donation to our organization. LOCA puts art back into our community. The monies raised help provide art programs to all our schools, the Senior Center, the Youth Center, and the Even Start program, to mention just a few. Enjoy the outdoors and meet other members! In case of rain, the hike/walk will be rescheduled for January 26. Alta Laguna Park is located at the north end of Alta Laguna Blvd in Laguna Beach.

If you have any questions, please contact LOCA at locaarts@yahoo.com, or call Valerie Gorrell at 949.481.4065.