Ocean Friendly Gardens Jan. 19th – General Meeting Presentation

Where:  Don the Beachcombers, Sunset Beach
When:  6:30 pm on Thursday, January, 19th

What does a garden and hard surfaces like driveways have to do with the ocean?
LEARN WHAT YOU COULD DO. . .
Urban runoff from them is often the primary source of ocean pollution, and it can contribute to flooding. But where do the pollutants come from?

• pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and sediment (soil)
• oil, engine exhaust and brake pad dust
• dog poo…etc.

It can run off the property during rain storms and during dry periods, with sprinklers overwatering and overshooting the landscape. The use of gas-powered equipment to mow lawns, prune and haul away over-planted and improperly spaced vegetation generates air pollutants, eventually settling onto roofs and streets and gets washed into waterways. Every 8 months, 10.9 million gallons of oil runs off streets and driveways and into our nation’s waters – equivalent to the amount lost in the Exxon Valdez spill.
But gardens can be beautiful, resourceful, wildlife-friendly and prevent runoff. Vegetable and fruit gardens can do this, too.

Here’s how: The Ocean Friendly Gardens TM (OFG) Program educates and assists people in “applying CPR – Conservation, Permeability and Retention – to their gardens to revive their watersheds and oceans:”

Conservation of water, energy and habitat through a native plants (add allow some climate adapted plants , spaced for mature growth.

Permeability through healthy, biologically active soil, and utilizing materials for – or making a cut in – driveways, walkways and patios that allow water to percolate into the soil.

Retention devices like rain chains, rain barrels and rain gardens retain water in the soil for

A Surfrider Halloween Story

By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

“Whose bright idea was it to hold this meeting on Halloween?” Seth demanded to know, checking the time on his Rip Curl watch. “I’ve got trick-or-treat candy at home to give out.”

“Don’t look at me,” said Jeff. “Paul Uchon from the Beach Cities Disposal Committee said it was tonight or nothing. And Surfrider needs his vote on the plastics initiative.”
“He can be a real pain,” Tony added, looking out at the waves breaking in front of the River’s End Café.

Watching the waves churn, he knew that more trash would be washing up on the beach. The stingrays in the river jetty were probably getting stirred up, too, he thought, knowing how big they got because of the warm water dumped in from the power plants along the San Gabriel River.

Tony took a sip of his Primo beer, then turned to Sunny and said, “Make sure you get everything in the minutes.”
Sunny nodded her head and, pushing up the sleeves on her Volcom jacket, dutifully wrote in her notebook: Surfrider Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter Special Meeting – Rise Above Plastics Initiative – October 31, 2011. Members Present: Mike, Jeff, Seth, Tony, Casey, Corey, Mitch, Gilbert, Merle, Don, Gene, Sunny, Patti.

Just then Paul Uchon poked his pale, bespectacled face into the doorway of the café. “So, everyone made it,” he said, looking around. “I trust that you’re ready to get down to business.”

Jeff started. “It’s all there in the proposal I sent you. This initiative will help get rid of the plastic that’s littering our beaches – all the bags, cups, straws, tooth brushes, and other junk.”

“We picked up 100 pounds of trash at the last beach cleanup – the one sponsored by Kohl’s,” said Gilbert. “I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be surfing or drinking Java Jaws coffee. Let’s ditch the plastics!”

“Not so fast,” Uchon said, raising a fleshy hand that looked like the most work it had ever done was to turn on a TV remote control. “There are bigger issues here. Take away plastic straws and the fast food places will complain. Besides, if people don’t like plastic cups, why do all the cars have so many cup holders? What’s a little plastic, anyway?”

“It’s more than a ‘little,’” said Patti, giving him a look. “Haven’t you heard of the Bag Monster?”
“That’s right,” Sunny chimed in. “Beware the Bag Monster! Researchers found that all the plastic waste each person throws away is enough to make a giant monster.”

“That’s not my problem,” Uchon retorted, rolling his eyes.

“It’s everyone’s problem,” Patti told him. “At our last chapter meeting they showed pictures of how plastics are injuring the sea life. Some of the fish and birds even changed their behaviors and physical characteristics… evolving into these strange mutations.”

“That are getting into the food chain,” Casey pointed out.
“Like I care,” Uchon snorted. “I don’t eat fish.”
“Well, you drink water, don’t you?” Merle asked. “I can assure you that the PVCs in the plastics aren’t doing that any good.”
“That’s for sure,” Jeff agreed. “My company Clean Green Technology has been working overtime to get rid of plastics in the ocean.”
“Cigarette butts are bad enough,” Don said, “but plastics are even worse.”

“On the way over here I stopped and loaded up my truck with plastic that was littering the beach,” added Mitch, brushing some dirt off his Ocean Friendly Gardens T-shirt that had “Solena Landscape Co.” imprinted on the sleeve. “If we don’t do something soon the beaches will be one big plastics’ dumping ground.”

‘Yeah,” said Corey. “There’s a beach in Hawaii that’s gotten so bad they call it the ‘Plastic Beach.’”
“So, there’s even trouble in paradise,” Paul Uchon interjected. “Then why should it be any different here? Have you ever thought that maybe some plastic on the beach is the price we pay for progress?”

“No way!” everyone in the café said in unison, looking at him like he was crazy.
“After all,” said Uchon in a snide tone of voice, “in the real world everyone has to work for a living and can’t just spend their entire day surfing.”     Tony could see that this wasn’t going anywhere. Getting to the point, he asked, “So, what’s your recommendation to the Beach Cities Disposal Committee going to be?”

“Yeah,” Gene said. “If we’re going to get out a news release, we need to do it fast. And call Matson Graphics and Surf City Art Company for posters.”

“What’s my recommendation going to be?” Paul Uchon repeated, drawing out the suspense. He was really enjoying putting these surfers in their place. No one was going to kick sand in his face at the beach anymore like they did in high school.
Now he was the man, Uchon thought. Eager to see the looks on their faces, he answered with a sarcastic laugh, “Let’s just say you’re getting a trick tonight, no treats.”

“Well, that’s it then,” said Mike. “I move to adjourn the meeting.”
Without waiting for the motion to be seconded, Paul Uchon reached for the door and started across the dark parking lot to his car.

The wind was picking up and he could hear the waves pounding. He heard something else, too…a sort of rustling, squishy sound…coming from behind him.

Turning around, Uchon peered into the darkness…and saw a huge shadowy form hurtling toward him beneath an eery full moon.

Before he could identify what he was seeing, it was already towering over him – a translucent, squid-like abomination more frightening than his worst nightmares.  The gigantic writhing mass was a tangle of plastic bags, cups, bottles, straws, syringes, and God knows what else.

Staring down at him with soulless eyes, the creature gave off a horrible foul smell like something sorely rotten that had been dragged in from the sea.

The odor alone almost overwhelmed Uchon as he fumbled with the car door handle and tried to get inside. But, the oozing horror in front of him was pressing against him, pulling him close.

Mesmerized by the black and orange eyes staring down at him, Uchon could feel himself being drawn toward his captor’s gaping, red slash of a mouth.

Struggling to make sense out of what was happening, Uchon suddenly remembered Sunny’s warning to “Beware the Bag Monster.”

Then, just before the gaping mouth closed around him and sucked him inside the swirling darkness, Paul Uchon heard a rasping voice in his ear: “You’ve been recycled.”

Happy Halloween!!!
SurfWriter Girls Sunny & Patti
http://www.surfwritergirls.blogspot.com

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to the following copyrighted material. For permission to reprint or excerpt it and/or link it to another website, contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com

“The gods were with us,” said Tony Soriano, Chairman of the Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter. By the Thursday, October 6th tee-off of the Chapter’s “Hacktoberfest” 2nd Annual Golf Classic at Meadowlark Golf Club the skies were clear after two days of heavy rain. This was a fundraiser for the Huntington Beach Coastal Preservation.

Setting their surf boards aside, Surfrider members got out their golf clubs and welcomed guests to a day of golf, contests, a barbecue dinner, and prizes. There were prizes for the top three golfing teams, longest drive, and closest to the pin.

First Place Team Winners were the surf celebrity team consisting of Jeff Deffenbaugh, Sam August, Byron August and Robb Havassy. The Second Place Team Winners were Robert Montenegro, Jay Reed, Davey Obade, and Marc Belmonte. The Third Place Team Winners were Huntington Beach City Councilman Keith Bohr, Greg Kishel, Gary Sahagen and Bob Barry. The renowned surf artist Robb Havassy won both the longest drive and closest to the pin contests.

Volunteer Associates from Title Sponsor Kohl’s specialty stores were on hand and did an outstanding job. You could see them helping with registration and the event’s activities around the golf course in bright green “Hacktoberfest” Kohl’s T-Shirts.

Lifestyle apparel sponsor Volcom gave out hats, DVDs and stickers to everyone who brought a pair of used denim jeans to donate to its “Give Jeans a Chance” program to help the homeless. Primo beer had a tent on the course and supplied the golfers with its own Hawaii’s Original Beer and soft drinks.

Other sponsors provided gifts and prizes. RipCurl donated a precision “Tide” watch. The Wyland Foundation gave a personally signed, lithograph print titled “Hawaii in Paradise.” Surf City Art Co. contributed the Sean Davey Collection. Matson Graphics donated a $700 Gift Certificate for a custom logo and Rob Havassy Art donated artwork. Orange County Clothing Company also donated some cool Hats and Tshirts.

Whole Foods put together an amazing gift bag filled with coffee, olive oil and pasta, cookies, chocolates and more. Fred’s Mexican Café donated “Burrito Bucks” and The River’s End Café gave gift certificates. The Huntington Beach Waterfront Hilton contributed a night for two at their beautiful hotel, and Huntington Beach Hyatt Regency – a dinner for two at their Signature restaurant.

Superior Communications donated a Jawbone Bluetooth headsets and smart phone support systems. Vans, Dixon Golf, Shorebreak Hotel, Farmers and Merchants Bank, and Rainbow Disposal also showed their support.

Jeff Deffenbaugh, the Surfrider HB/SB Chapter’s Surf Ambassador, added the “Hacktoberfest” First Place Golf Trophy to his many surfing awards. He mentioned that he appreciates the opportunity his role as Ambassador gives him to help the Chapter “spread the word about cleaning up the ocean…especially to the younger surfers.”

Huntington Beach City Councilman Bohr said he had just come from a council meeting that approved an Environmental Impact Report on banning plastic bags. A supporter of the ban, he emphasized “In the long run we’ll be glad to get rid of the plastic that’s littering our ocean.” He was happy to be invited to participate in the golf tournament.

Gary Sahagen, the Director of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, was pleased to be at the “Hacktoberfest.” A longtime supporter of the Surfrider Foundation, he joked that “It’s a way for me to give back after stealing all those waves.”

Event/MPA Outreach Coordinator Gene Rascon said, “The HB/SB Surfrider ‘Hacktobertfest’ Golf Classic was a success because of the involvement of both the surfing and non-surfing community and their strong interest in maintaining and protecting our exceptional coastline. Additionally, the bridge between the two was built by the hard work of the HB/SB Surfrider Executive & Core Volunteer Committee.” He was confident all along that the weather would be perfect for a day of golf and that he was excited to see everyone show up and have such a good time.

We must also thank Ricky Blake & Matson Graphics for donating their time to design our Hacktoberfest Poster and tshirts.

Story written by: SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
http://www.surfwritergirls.blogspot.com

There was a tribal gathering of surfers just off the shores of Surfer’s Point in Ventura this weekend when over 100 California Surfrider Foundation Chapter members met at the Crowne Plaza Beach Resort Hotel for their annual conference. Surfers from San Diego to Crescent City came together to learn and share ideas about protecting, and preserving the oceans and beaches.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti were ready to cover the conference… Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members Gene Rascon, Seth Matson and Tony Soriano were there, too, along with Jeff Coffman and his family and Gilbert Castillon. So were Darrel and Deborah Ferguson from the Newport Beach Chapter.

The Ventura Chapter, which was celebrating its 20th Anniversary, was proud to host everyone. Conference Coordinators Sarah Damron and Nancy Hastings wasted no time in starting off the proceedings.

Media guru Seth Godin (via video) talked about “the stories we tell.” He advised everyone to find ways to tell stories that make the group’s conservation message come alive for people. “To make change happen, you have to connect,” he said. “Find people and lead them. Make them part of your tribe.”

Tribes are groups that feel passionate about something. Each of us is in a tribe – sometimes multiple tribes – or longs to be. For those of us who are passionate about preserving and enjoying the beach, we need to find others who feel this passion, too.

Jim Moriarty, Surfrider CEO, welcomed everyone by saying, “Our job is to make things happen.”

Moriarty emphasized the importance of Surfrider’s conservation message and added that members around the world are helping to spread it.

“In Rio samba bands play drums and people dance along behind them and clean up the beach. In Jamaica people are selling high-end bags to tourists and then using the money to buy cheap recyclable bags to give out.”

In the workshops that followed speakers shared their strategies on Core Advocacy Issues: Rise Above Plastics, Coastal Preservation, and Know Your H20.

Rise Above Plastics (RAP):

Bill Hickman’s focus is on education and research. “We need to get more cities on board with bag bans,” he said. One way to reach people is with the RAP Activist ToolKit, which is linked to the Surfrider site.

Amy Bloom gets the word out with monsters and puppets. Children make them out of trash. She pointed out that “Three year-olds can be pretty bossy with their parents about not using plastic.”

Ximena, from Monterey, got a $54,000 NOAA grant to hire 50 “Marine Debris Technicians” to speak at community meetings about ways people could reduce their plastics footprints. The technicians spoke to close to 3000 people.

Michael Stewart shared a novel idea – turning “Waste into Waves.” He’s working with Marko Foam to convert discarded Styrofoam into recycled “Eco-Surfboards.” The boards are light weight and have a 50 – 70% reduced bio-footprint.

Coastal Preservation:

Mark Rauscher said “Seawalls kill beaches.” He explained that buildings and structures need to be placed in a way that results in “beach nourishment.” Some may need to be moved, he added. For more on this go to beachapedia.org

Nancy Hastings talked about the restoration of the Malibu Lagoon. People’s intentions were good, she said, but it ended up damaging the wave break. When a project like this is underway it’s important to make sure that all the issues are considered.

The San Francisco chapter has been trying to save Sloat Beach. After the highway collapsed a 600-foot-long rock revetment was installed and the beach became a dumping ground.

Know Your H20:

Joe Geever summed up our water goal: “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” He showed a 3-minute clip of the animated film “Cycle of Insanity” to dramatize how waste permeates our water system.

Brad Snook (SLO) and Paul Jenkin (Ventura) told about projects in their areas – the Morro Bay region treatment facility and Green Streets Project. Jenkin and Cynthia Hartley developed a computer map to show low-impact ways to reduce water run-off.

Paul Herzog focused on Ocean Friendly Gardens – using plants, hardscape, drainage and fertilizers in ways that don’t impact water runoff and pollute the beaches. Anyone can do an OFG. It’s not just surfers or people who live near the beach. An OFG manual is on beachapedia.org

Luncheon speaker Brian Brennan, a California Coastal Commissioner and former Ventura Chapter Chair, said we need to “build coalitions of ‘stakeholders’ in the environment…not just surfers.” His advice to the group was: “Look at it, get on it:…and get it done.”

The afternoon workshops resulted in spirited discussions on: Media, Policy and Legislation, and Youth Outreach.

Scientist and filmmaker Randy Olson focused on ways to improve public service announcements (PSAs). His advice: Don’t get bogged down in the details – tell individual stories. Provide: “Facts wrapped in an emotion.” We need to make people feel and care.

For example, the Center for Disease Control couldn’t get people interested in a “dull” topic like Disaster Preparedness. So, it created a Disaster Preparedness Guide for a Zombie Invasion. That did the trick. The next day it got 30,000 online views…and crashed the Fox News server.

Ericka Canales explained the ins and outs of the regulatory world. Knowing who makes the decisions and how it happens is critical.

Denise Erkeneff explained how to connect with students and get the next generation involved. Talking their language is the key and building relationships.

…After spending the whole day inside just steps from the ocean, Surfer’s Point beckoned. And the Surfrider tribe headed out to catch the last waves of the day.

Coleman, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, is a Surfrider Foundation member and on the board of Five Gyres. She’s also the sister of Stuart Coleman, Surfrider’s Hawaii Coordinator.

Coleman emphasized that, as volunteers, “It’s important for us to know that we’re doing the best we can.” Sometimes we get too hard on ourselves and engage in “negative self-talk,” rather than thinking about all the things we can do and are accomplishing.

We also need to make time to be “present in the moment,” Coleman advised, focusing on ourselves and our surroundings in a relaxed and “mindful” way that filters out stress and distractions. To show us what this would feel like, Coleman led the group in a meditation exercise.

Anyone can do it…Just close your eyes, breathe deeply, envision a tranquil beach with breaking waves, palm trees highlighted against the sun…and let your thoughts drift…

Another factor that will reduce volunteer stress, said Coleman, is “good leadership.” Leaders in each chapter need to inspire volunteers and be able to empathize with them. It’s critical for volunteers to know that their work is valued and that their concerns are heard.

In the “Meetings Matter” group Tony Soriano said, “It’s the Chair’s job to cover everything. Look at your agenda. Make sure you allocate time for each point. Everybody’s got passion… and their own story to tell. Make time to talk to Core Volunteers.”

Jeff Coffman and Sarah Damron got together in the “RAP” group and talked strategy. “You need to know your audience – whether it’s a child or a city councilman,” said Coffman, noting that a 7-year-old girl got involved in the beach cleanups.

We touched base with Alan Hopper, Surfrider’s Director of IT, to find out more about effective blogging techniques. His advice: “Cultivate loyal readership, not just numbers.” We definitely agree.

An Open Forum followed, focusing on the resources, tools and services available to get Surfrider’s message out to the public. This was the perfect opportunity for us to tell everyone about our blog SurfWriter Girls.

http://www.surfwritergirls.blogspot.com/

“This hearing is an important opportunity for Surfrider Foundation and it’s members to voice our opinion on important issues — not the least of which is the regulation of ocean desalination.”

From: Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter

Desal Update: We will be appealing the San Diego Superior Court’s decision to side with the Regional Water Quality Control Board who decided to allow Poseidon to use an “open ocean intake” for the Carlsbad desalination plant. You can help us by attending a meeting in Costa Mesa on Monday. If you would like to go, email Belinda@surfridersd.org for details, and talking points. It will likely take a few hours out of your day, but the marine life in Carlsbad will be grateful, as will we!

Meeting Location:
Southern California — Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Facility, Main Conference Room
3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA  92626

From HB/SB Surfrider Chapter:

THE OCEAN IS NOT A PUBLIC DUMP

Facts:
1. The AES once through cooling power generator kills virtually ALL marine life sucked into the intake pipes connected to the power plant, fish, larvae, crustaceans,  EVERYTHING.

2. The AES Plant in Huntington Beach is the 36th largest source of air pollution in California and the largest in Orange County.

3. This plant spews 1,739,937 pounds of pollutants into the air every year, from 177 sources.  It contains 40 different pollutants.

4. 5 TONS of concentrated salt brine along with cleaning solvents and other desalination by-products would be poured back into the ocean every minute of every DAY, 365 days a year, for 30 years!

5. The AES outfall is located in the same area of our ocean in Huntington Beach that is already closed 14% of the year due to ocean pollution.

6. The AES power generator and a proposed desalination plant, straddle the Newport-Inglewood Fault line and are in a Tsunami zone.  This doesn’t make sense.

Once through cooling is archaic, out-dated technology that is being banned.  It needs to stay that way.  We also believe that every site under consideration for a desalination project is unique and needs to be scrutinized on an individual basis.  We support the position of the SWRCB Resolution to phase out once through cooling technology.

Edison Plant HB

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