The Grunion Ran!

In what may become an annual event on LC Beach, more than a few families ventured out late Saturday night for what turned out to be a great run of the grunion!  Here are a couple of pictures (thank you Stephanie!)...

Family Fun in Carpinteria

Wednesday evenings through August there will be outdoor movie screenings at Linden Field in Carpinteria. A few families made it to the first screening last night and reported back "a great outing for the entire family." In true LC style, many wore flip flops, which will most likely be switched out for warmer shoes next week (along with more blankets and some comfy chairs). Next Wednesday's movie will be The Sandlot. The show starts at dark (8:30 - 9-ish) with music beforehand. Refreshments are available to purchase at the show, with all proceeds going to Girls Inc. in Carpinteria. The movie is free.

One of LC's Youngest Shredders

At four years old, and the youngest of the C-Boy clan, Calvin is on his way to being a world-class surfer. Here he is in action on his fish...

One Way To Green Your Pet...and Clean Up The Ground

What do you think about a community dog poop composter?
(Thank you, Heidi, for the idea.)

Illustration by Thomas Fuchs

American dogs and cats creat 10 million tons of waste a year, and no one knows where it's going, according to Will Brinton, a scientist in Mount Vernon, Maine, and one of the world's leading authorities on waste reduction and composting.

Most of our pets' poop either winds up in a landfill purgatory, where it's embalmed practically forever in plastic bags, or sits on the ground until the next rainstorm washes it into the sewer where it can drift on down to rivers and beaches. You can compost the poop--just don't use it with your vegetable garden, because the compost doesn't heat up enough to kill pathogens such as E. Coli., which could contaminate your homegrown produce and land up in your (very unhappy) belly.

If you have room in your backyard, you can bury an old garbage bin (note: far away from your vegetable garden) to use as a pet-waste composter. Or check out the Doggie Dooley. The makers of the Doggy Dooley also sell an enzymatic "Super Digester Concentrate" for your backyard pet septic system.

Traffic Jam In The Tunnel!

The Difference Between Girls & Boys

What The Boys Do After Surfing All Day

They call themselves "The Loaded Diapers" and enjoy band practice after surfing all day.



"The Loaded Diapers" take a break from Rock Band and enjoy some rootbeer floats...

Classic LC

Trees = Cleaner Air

Why take the existing landscaping out? Not only is it nice to look at, but it helps to cut down on air pollution from the 101. Here are some interesting papers I came across while researching trees and air quality...

Fine Particle Pollution Fact Sheet

Effects of Trees on Air Quality

Suggestions From Supervisor Flynn's Office

Here is part of an email that I received from Supervisor Flynn's office regarding our issues with the railroad...

Re: railroad vs. trees numbers and summary to date

Date: July 07, 2008 08:25:33 AM PDT

As a suggestion get to know the local coastal plans Ventura County, Carpinteria if they have one. As a general rule anything near the coastline comes under the authority of the calif coastal commission...some projects must go for their review automatically if they are west of the nearest road, if they are east of that road they go to the commission if a person asks them through a certain administrative process if you indicate the action or project is violating the coastal plan. The coastal commission also has their rules that the aforementioned projects must comply with, which would include other items and are as a rule more stringent. Also CEQA could apply to some of the issues.

Jim Estomo

Office of Supervisor
John K. Flynn
5th District

It should be pretty hard for Union Pacific to take away our beach access (read section below from the Ventura County Coastal Plan)...

§ 30212
(a) "Public access from the nearest public roadway to the shoreline and along the coast shall be provided in new development projects except where (1) it is inconsistent with public safety, military security needs, or the protection of fragile coastal resources, (2) adequate access exists nearby, or (3) agriculture would be adversely affected. Dedicated accessway shall not be required to be opened to public use until a public agency or private association agrees to accept responsibility for maintenance and liability of the accessway."

Click on the links below to view Ventura County's Coastal Plan in its entirety and to visit the CEQA site.

Coastal Area Plan of Ventura County

CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act)

Thank you Mr. Estomo!

The "Day After" Beach Cleanup

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the July 5th LC Beach Cleanup (and to those who organize each and every one of them). Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of this cleanup, but here are some from the April beach cleanup.

July Issue of the LC Reader Is Out

Great job on putting together the local rag, Rob! For those of you that wish to share it with family or friends, just send them a link.

Click on each page to enlarge.

Trees Along The Train Tracks

I find it interesting that the trees along the tracks in LC pose some sort of risk to the railroad, but the trees in the photos below do not. Hmmmm....


Harbor Blvd. & California Street in Ventura (Eucalyptus)


Harbor Blvd. & Figueroa Street in Ventura (Palm)


North end of Holly Avenue in Carpinteria (Palm)

Union Pacific vs. La Conchita

Union Pacific doesn't think La Conchita is ugly enough with the new fence. They now want to take out the existing landscaping (not the weeds--just the grass, trees, and flowers). Oh, and they want to take away our beach access. Here's the official letter from them...

Click on letter to enlarge.

Children's Art

Here are some of the children's art projects that were on display during the Rods+Roses Festival in Carpinteria. Some fun ideas for the palm fronds in town...