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Eco-Bulletin ~ May 15, 2007

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1. Public Meeting: Los Osos Sewer Design Alternatives

2. Eat Locally: Farmer-to-Chef Reception

3. Action Alert: Re-Appointment of Sara Wan to the Coastal Commission

4. Wildflower Walk in the Elfin Forest

5. Dana Adobe Open House and Celebration

6. Bishop Peak Ranger-Led Hike

7. Hike the Nipomo Creekside Preserve

8. ‘Make Green By Building Green’ Workshop

9. Attend Morro Bay/Cayucos Wastewater Treatment Facility Meeting

10. Hike at Oso Flaco Lake

11. Islay Hill Trail-Work Party

12. Hike the Callender Dunes

13. Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream Symposium

14. 6th Annual San Luis Obispo County ECO Summit

15. Take a Step: Cut the Plastic Bottle Habit

16. Cradle to Cradle Design: Natural Surf Wax

Tonight, May 15

Public Meeting: Los Osos Sewer Design Alternatives

The public is invited to offer input for alternatives for design and construction of a sewer in Los Osos tonight from 7 to 9:30pm at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos. San Luis Obispo County Staff will be evaluating pros and cons of various projects before creating a final list that will be available for public review and will be presenting a preview of that final draft at tonight's meeting. Written comments from the community may be submitted at the meeting or via e-mail at lowwp@co.slo.ca.us.

Wednesday, May 16

Eat Locally: Farmer-to-Chef Reception

Central Coast Grown and the Central Coast Chef’s Association present “Pallet to Palate” on Wednesday, May 16, from 6-8pm, at the Inn at Morro Bay. This farmer-to-chef reception features food that is centrally grown and locally prepared. Tickets are $10 per person and reservations are required. RSVP to rroot@innatmorrobay.com or call 772-2238 x 1710. (Return to top of bulletin.) Supporting local farmers offers you exceptional taste and freshness, strengthens your local economy, supports endangered family farms, helps preserve open space, promotes healthy choices and protects the environment. All proceeds go to a student scholarship fund for the Paso Robles Cooking School. To locate farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies, visit www.localharvest.org.

Action Alert (Deadline: Saturday, May 19)

Re-Appointment of Sara Wan to the Coastal Commission

The term of office for Sara Wan on the Coastal Commission will be ending in a few weeks. Sara has always been a strong voice for the environment and in particular for coastal protection. Please write to Senator Don Perata, Chair, Senate Rules Committee urging him to appoint Sara Wan to serve another term. Show your support for her and say thank you for her efforts over the years.

Sara Wan has served with distinction on the Coastal Commission since 1996, including as the chairperson for several years. She was last re-appointed by Senator John Burton and the term expires on May 19, 2007. It is essential that Senator Perata re-appoint her to serve another term. Ms. Wan bring professional expertise to the Commission, as she has degrees in Zoology and Biology. Moreover, her ten years of experience on the Commission is a priceless resource for Californians that must be retained. Sara is an expert on how the Commission does its business and is superb at assimilating the massive amounts of documentation for the projects and plans that come before the Commission.

Suggested talking points:

- Strongly supported by the environmental community who feel it is necessary she continue on the commission

- The Coastal Commission is very important to the environmental community and to the public in general

- The Senate Rules seat she occupies is one that has traditionally been considered to be the environmental seat

- Is extremely ethical in the way she behaves and casts her vote

- Bases her decisions on the law and sound science

- Attends virtually all commission meetings

- Has the longest institutional memory on the commission

- Is the most knowledgeable on the commission of its practices, polices and procedures.

- Reads and analyzes all documents on each issue very thoroughly

- Strong supporter of public access- LA Times article and editorial from 2003 said "thank goodness Wan's around to show what's right"

- Has worked tirelessly on behalf of candidates who are "coastal friendly"

- Has achieved national recognition for her work, including appointment to the Federal Advisory Committee to the Marine Mammal Commission and the Orville T. Magoon Service Award awarded at Coastal Zone '99.

Send letters to:

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata

Room 205

Sacramento, CA 95814

Attn: Nettie Sablehaus

Fax: 916-327-1997

Email: Nettie Sablehaus Nettie.Sabelhaus@sen.ca.gov

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata Perata@sen.ca.gov

Re-appointment of Sara is critical. If you care about protecting and restoring the coast, you could not have a better representative than Sara Wan on this most important of state agencies. Please take action before May 19, 2007.

Saturday, May 19

Wildflower Walk in the Elfin Forest

Dr. Dirk Walters, retired Cal Poly botanist and author of a botany text, will lead a wildflower walk in the Elfin Forest at 9:30am on Saturday, May 19. Come along and enjoy the bright yellows of Fiddleneck and Rush Rose, the blue of Silver Dune Lupine, the whites of Popcorn flower and Pearly Everlasting, and many more. As one of the Central Coast's best plant raconteurs, Dirk will share a choice piece of information about each plant. He writes columns on native plants for SWAP's Oakleaves as well as the California Native Plant Society newsletter.

Small Wilderness Area Preservation (S.W.A.P.) walks in the Elfin Forest meet at 9:30 a.m. at the north end of 15th St.off of Santa Ysabel in Los Osos (unless otherwise noted). Proceed up the path to the boardwalk, where the walk will begin. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants to avoid poison oak. Please park carefully, avoiding driveways and mailboxes; do not bring dogs or other pets. The easy paced walks last 1-1/2 to 2 hours. For more information, call (805) 528-0392.

Saturday, May 19

Dana Adobe Open House and Celebration

There will be an Open House at the Dana Adobe on Saturday, May 19 from 9am-5pm. This big celebration will feature music, talks, booths, horses, and Bill Denneen, with about 300 people expected to attend.

Sunday, May 20

Bishop Peak Ranger-Led Hike

SLO City Parks & Recreation holds free ranger-led events Sundays starting at 1pm. On Sunday, May 20, explore Bishop Peak. Please meet at the Patricia Drive trailhead. To reach the trailhead, take Foothill Blvd. west and make a right turn at Patricia Drive. Continue north on Patricia Drive and the trailhead will be on the left just past Patricia Court. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring water to drink. For more information, please call 781-7302.

Sunday, May 20

Hike the Nipomo Creekside Preserve

Discuss the importance of riparian habitat and native plants during a hike with Bill Denneen in the Nipomo Creekside Preserve on Sunday, May 20. See a new trail, riparian habitat, and native plants on this easy hike. Visit Dana Adobe, if time permits and there is interest. Dogs OK. Meet behind Adobe Plaza in Ole Town Nipomo at 9:30am.

Wednesday, May 23

‘Make Green By Building Green’ Workshop

The eighth event in the SLO Green Build Educational series entitled LEARN BUILD SAVE will be held on Wednesday, May 23, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Ludwick Community Center in San Luis Obispo. While geared towards building professionals, all interested members of the general public are welcome to this event.

“Making Green by Building Green” is the theme of the evening’s presentation, which reveals how thinking green, planning green and building green can be good for your bottom line. Turko Semmes, General Contractor and CEO of Semmes & Co. in Atascadero, will discuss how builders can make green building an effective part of their business plan, give their clients a wider range of choices, and further the twin goals of energy efficiency and sustainable building practices in all aspects of their projects. Find out why it’s important to get up to speed in this rapidly expanding field. Kevin Hauber, a banker with The Mortgage House in San Luis Obispo, will discuss new approaches to valuation & financing of energy efficient green homes & remodels that go beyond the traditional lending models, providing further incentives to builders and homeowners who are committed to long-term green solutions. This event is free and open to the public. For more info, visit www.SLOGreenBuild.org or email info@slogreenbuild.org.

Thursday, May 24

Attend Morro Bay/Cayucos Wastewater Treatment Facility Meeting

Show your support for an upgrade (tertiary level) of the Morro Bay/Cayucos wastewater treatment plant at the next meeting of the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) on Thursday, May 24 at the Morro Bay Community Center (1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, CA, 93442). Meet prior to the meeting at 4:30pm for free pizza. We need as many people as possible to attend and urge the officials of Morro Bay and Cayucos to upgrade their outdated sewage plant to tertiary treatment in less than five years.

Although the necessary construction time is less than two and a half years, the plant proposes to complete the project and improve water quality by March 31, 2014. However, the plant's own documents show that a faster, more efficient upgrade is not only possible, but would be less expensive as well. To request an upgrade to tertiary (rather than secondary) level treatment, attend the meeting on May 24 and sign a petition letter at ECOSLO’s office at 1204 Nipomo in San Luis Obispo or download and print the letter located online at www.ecoslo.org/letters.

Friday, May 25

Hike at Oso Flaco Lake

Hike to the Pacific & into the dunes in Nipomo with sixty 5th graders and Bill Denneen on Friday, May 25. Meet in the Lake parking lot at 9am.

Saturday, May 26

Islay Hill Trail-Work Party

SLO Stewards maintains trails, creeks, and open space. Work parties go out on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. On Saturday, May 26, trail work will be done on Islay Hill. To reach the trailhead and meeting place, take Tank Farm Road to Spanish Oaks Drive and continue to Sweet Bay Lane. Turn left onto Sweet Bay Lane; trailhead is at the end of Sweet Bay Lane. Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Water and snacks will be provided. For more information, please call the San Luis Obispo City Parks and Recreation Department at 781-7302.

FSunday, May 27

Hike the Callender Dunes

Celebrate Rachel Carson's 100th B-Day and see a remote area of the dunes on this 4-mile hike with Bill Denneen on Sunday, May 27. Bring water; dogs OK. Meet at the west end of Callender Rd. in Nipomo at 9:30am.

Saturday, June 2

Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream Symposium

Luis Obispo on Saturday, June 2, 2007 with a unique, four-hour symposium on the current challenges facing our planet and the interconnectedness of our personal well being, environmental, and social justice issues.

The Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream symposium will be held Saturday, June 2, from 1pm to 5pm at Unity of San Luis Obispo, located at 1490 Southwood Drive in San Luis Obispo. A donation of $10 is requested, to cover costs ($5.00 for students with ID). Snacks and drinks will be provided. A wine and cheese reception will continue after the symposium to extend the opportunity for community networking and follow up discussions. There is no additional charge to attend the reception.

This symposium was created by the Pachamama Alliance, www.pachamama.org., a non-profit organization working in partnership with indigenous peoples in the Amazon region to protect the rainforests and their way of life.

The Symposium has been created in collaboration with some of the finest indigenous, scientific, artist and activist minds in the world. It features multi-media and group participation as it addresses the illusions and delusions that drive the environmental, social justice, and spiritual crises of our times. This inspiring event will leave you committed and inspired to be part of “..bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet.” It has already been presented to over 4,000 people in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Holland, and Australia. For more information, visit the website at www.awakeningthedreamer.org/.

Reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve a place, contact Cindy Dixon at cindy.dixon@charter.net, or 805-237-1135, or Jim Cole, jim.cole@charter.net or 805-239-0147 (Email is preferred). Pre-payment is encouraged. Doors open at 12:30. Please arrive early to allow time for parking and sign-in. We request that attendees bring personal water bottles in order to limit the use of paper goods. Parking is available.

Take a Step: Cut the Plastic Bottle Habit

Plain water is the fastest-growing market in plastic bottled beverages. Plastic bottles for water are the least-recycled plastic beverage bottle. Plastic bottles from water and soda pile up in our landfills and take hundreds of years to break down.

Not only do all these bottles create huge waste problems, they also are produced from petroleum and require energy to manufacture. And there are transportation costs involved in the distribution of the bottles from where they are produced to where they are filled to where they are stored to where you ultimately purchase them.

Be sure to recycle all plastic bottles and, when you can, buy larger ones instead of many smaller ones. Take a step and cut the plastic bottle habit.

Senator Barbara Boxer’s “Take A Step” program offers tips to improve our environment and stop global warming. These tips are designed to allow everyone to take a step in their daily lives for a better world. A collection of these tips may be found at http://boxer.senate.gov/takeastep/index.cfm

Cradle to Cradle Design: Natural Surf Wax

There is now a natural option for surf wax. Wet Women Surf Wax http://www.wetwomensurfwax.com is certified as a biological nutrient under MBDC's Cradle to Cradle Design paradigm http://www.mbdc.com/certified.html , meaning that it can safely return to the ecosystem with no adverse effects or compromises. It is safe for humans and sea creatures, being nontoxic, biodegradable, and disposable. The wax is available in refillable, 30% recycled, American-made steel tins. Instead of designing products and systems based on the take-make-waste model of the last century ('cradle to grave'), MBDC's Cradle to Cradle Design paradigm is powering the Next Industrial Revolution, in which products and services are designed based on patterns found in nature, eliminating the concept of waste entirely and creating an abundance that is healthy and sustaining. Read more about this at http://mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm