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1. Dec. 15 PUTIIDHEM: LATimes letter by Damien Shilo
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/orange/la-ed-oclettersa15.2dec15.story
"...we wish to thank you for your insightful editorial on our efforts to preserve the remaining 29 acres of the Putiidhem sacred site..."The Putiidhem site is the location proposed by a developer, the Pueblo Serra LLC/JSerra Initiative, to build a Catholic high school, ironically to be named after Junipero Serra..."We need more people to recognize the contributions made by Native Americans and their tribal governments and the respect that should be given to the original people of California. We also need more people to recognize that tribal sovereignty is not all about gaming, but about the protection of fundamental human rights and dignity..."Ironically, the Catholic Church early on was confronted with a similar dilemma of disturbing the dead buried on the hills rising from the river Tiber in Rome at the present site of St. Peter's Basilica...To this day, Catholics are taught that the 'bodies of the dead must be treated with respect..." "Basic common sense dictates that cemeteries are not playgrounds."
More about Putiidhem:
http://Juaneno.com (Juaneno Band of Mission Indians)
http://Putiidhem.org (info about Putiidhem)
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2. Dec. 17 BALLONA: Join BEEP and Grassroots Coalition
11924 W. Washington Boulevard · Los Angeles, CA 90066
310 636-3518 or jeanette@saveballona.org
Call for exact time and other info
"...Over 110 people attended our ?Save Ballona.Org? light supper and panel discussion on December 3rd. Several thousand dollars were raised and the much-needed money continues to come in...important financial support of our [CEQA] lawsuit..."...Phase II Playa Vista Hearing at the Furama Hotel...brought out a record number (over 200) informed citizens. And, over 40 people ...signed up and spoke about...concerns that ranged from lack of proof the mitigation systems at Phase I are working, to danger of explosion from the methane under Playa Vista, to opposition to more traffic overflowing onto residential streets...a spate of reasons Playa Vista Phase II should not proceed. "Steve Soboroff, President of Playa Vista, stated very clearly they had given up all plans for building west of Lincoln and on the area east of Lincoln and north of Ballona Creek. Take pride in the realization that Playa Vista would not have voluntarily given up on these parcels if you had not participated on a grassroots level. Everyday more people, with your help, realize the ?folly of Playa Vista? from ecological, health and safety and/or traffic gridlock points of view..."

CONGRATS TO BALLONA FOLKS. GET READY FOR MASSIVE SHOWING AT
COASTAL COMMISSION MEETING JAN. 7, 8, 9 10, Radisson-LAX 6225 West Century Blvd. ISSUES: LINCOLN BLVD. EXPANSION, WHICH IS A CALTRANS SOP TO PLAYA CAPITAL AND THE FAILED PROJECT.

"...plan to attend our December 17, 2002 meeting at our offices at 11948 W. Washington Boulevard at the south east corner of Inglewood Boulevard to become informed about our suggestions for Lincoln Boulevard. Then, if you can, come with us to the Coastal Commission Meeting in January..."
MORE INFO ABOUT BALLONA: http://SaveBallona.org
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3. Dec. 18 1:30 PM TRABUCO CANYON:
OC Planning Commission vote on trashing wild plan
http://apps.oc.ca.gov/ViewFile?fileOID=EDC71AC2-3CE0-4186-BD7C-A4CB9267E97E
10 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA, CA Pat Searballs 714-834-6105

"AGENDA ITEM 3: PUBLIC HEARING- ZONE CHANGE...FOR RUTTER
DEVELOPMENT CO., DRAFT EIR 578- DISTRICT 3.
"The Saddle Creek / Saddle Crest project is comprised of eight properties totaling 598 acres..."
As usual, the OCPC is "...expected to approve two controversial housing tracts, Saddle Crest and Saddle Creek, totaling 162 houses [DEC 18]... despite a negative vote on the project last month by the Foothill Trabuco Specific Plan Review Board..."Foothill Trabuco Specific Plan (FTSP)...to protect the area's rural character and scenic natural resources, prohibits the destruction of oak trees over 5 inches in diameter, and limits grading cuts and fills to 10 vertical feet. But the applicant, Dave Eadie, is asking county supervisors to make 14 pages of sweeping amendments to the FTSP....large oaks and sycamores could be cut down...Eadie's amendment...allows 'remedial grading' and other disturbances within this open space..." "Eadie needs the FTSP amendments...for the destruction of hundreds of mature oak and sycamore trees, some exceeding five feet in trunk diameter, and thousands of smaller trees. Over 3 million cubic yards of grading would cut down ridgelines by up to 80 feet and fill canyons over 50 feet deep in order to create large flat building pads and access roads. "The 162 units would line the east side of Santiago Canyon Road, and both sides of Live Oak Canyon Road between Cook's Corner and Hamilton Trail...some of Trabuco Canyon's most scenic oak and scrub oak woodlands. The complete 600-acre site...contains streambeds, coastal sage scrub habitat, a mountain lion corridor, and forms a link between two regional wildlife preserves..."

FOR PICS AND MORE INFO, http://www.geocities.com/ruralcyn
CONTACT: ruralcyn@yahoo.com
Please show up to let them know that they will not get away with this. Call Jae Chung, of the Army Corps. of Engineers, to find out how to protest their 404 permit: 213-452-3292 or yong.j.chung@usace.army.mil
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4. Jan. 4 9:00 A.M. to Noon Friends of the Shipley Nature Center

"...Friends of Shipley Nature Center (FSNC) will be organizing Restoration Work Days in 2003 on the first Saturday of every month. Our next Restoration Days are January 4th, February 1st and March 1st, from 9 to noon. FSNC incorporated in 2002 with the purposes of:
-Restoring and maintaining the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach Central Park
-Educating the public about ecological matters
-Improving the habitat for birds and wildlife
MORE INFO: 714-963-1658
http://FSNC.org
stephpac@socal.rr.com
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5. Jan. 4 9:00 A.M. Friends of Coyote Hills first 2003 nature walk Jan. 13
"Hovering on the skyline on the December hike was a wintering northern harrier. Many small birds come to the Coyote Hills from as far away as Alaska, or as near as the local mountains, soon to be covered with snow. Local rains will bring new surprises. Welcome in the New Year with a NATURE HIKE Saturday, January 4, 9-11 a.m Meet on Lakeview just east of Euclid at the equestrian gate to Laguna Lake Park.

At the Community Meeting, the successful campaign to protect Arroyo Pescadero, a former Chevron oil field, will be addressed by Whittier Planning Commissioner Helen Rahder. Arroyo Pescadero was recently dedicated as park land.
COMMUNITY MEETING Mon., Jan 13, Laguna Road School
300 Laguna Road Fullerton,CA 92835, Media Center
MORE INFO http://coyotehills.org/

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