All Community Announcements
CalTrans Connector Meeting Follow-Up
Monday, May 19th, 2008To: Supporters of the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
The May 14th public meeting went wonderfully well. So many of you attended. Many of you spoke.
As a result, helped by several members of the public I had never met or heard from, overwhelming support was expressed against alternatives 2 and 3.
Only one sole speaker expressed support for Alternative 3.
If we can get out lots of e-mails and letters to Caltrans opposing alternatives 2 and 3, I believe we have a good likelihood of Alternative 1 or No Build being selected.
Thanks to all who attended. I’m sure we made a real impact.
Speakers and question-askers were SFVAS members Kris Ohlenkamp, Seth Shteir, Mark Osokow, Joyce Batten, Sharon Ford, Mathew Tekulsky, Chris Van Beveren and I, as well as birder Walter Lamb from Culver City, SMBAS leader Chuck Almdale, fiery orator Brentwood School teacher Teri Redman and 3 of her students, CNPS president Snowdy Dodson, Canada Goose Project President Rosemarie White, RCD Education Coordinator Stephen Vodantis.
Also attending were SFVAS members Carolyn Oppenheimer, Donna Timlin, Joyce MacKinnon, Rose Leibowitz and Fleury Hershman, as well as Lillian Almdale and Mercene Carlson.
Thanks all and, whether you were at the meeting or not, let’s get out lots of letters!
—Muriel Kotin, President, SFVAS
[Note: For background information on this item, including where to send your letters, refer to this article. A sample letter from past president Kris Ohlenkamp is here. A list of elected officials is here.]
Annual Birdathon Fundraiser Nears Its Close
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
The bird-watching part of the SFVAS Birdathon is almost over. Sadly, only one team made the estimated target so far. I believe bad weather affected a few of our more adventurous teams who drove inland. However, if you are curious about how your team did, look here!
Team Barth……………….. 56 species (70 was the estimate)
Team Hardesty…………. 115 species (135 were hoped for)
Team Kotin……………….. 108 (115 was the estimate)
Team Langton…………… 51 (near the hoped for 60)
Team Moore……………… 127 (our high achiever; he had estimated 115)
Team Oppenheimer….. 40 estimated and 40 seen; right on target
Team Willis……………….. hoped for 100 but saw 89
These reports just in (14 May):
Team Ohlenkamp……….60
Team Herron-Knode……54
Mean Team………………..78
If you made a pledge you will be receiving an e-mail or letter very soon. Thank you to all who have pledged and are planning to contribute! Just a reminder… Send contributions to San Fernando Valley Audubon Society,
—Rose Leibowitz, Birdathon Chair
Hansen Dam Use - An Open Letter
Monday, April 28th, 2008To Whom It May Concern:
The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society and Los Angeles Audubon Society are
Hansen Dam has been identified as an Audubon California Important Bird Area (IBA), a national designation which acknowledges its biodiversity. Its unique mix of habitat for birds include coastal sage scrub and alluvial scrub, a very rare habitat limited to southwestern California with bird community similar to that of coastal sage scrub. The area (including adjacent gravel pits) supports Lesser Nighthawk, Greater Roadrunner, Costa’s Hummingbird, Cactus Wren, Loggerhead Shrike, as well as several other sensitive vertebrates nearly gone from the Los Angeles Area, including San Diego Black-tailed Jackrabbit and probably also San Diego Horned Lizard. Hansen Dam also supports a wide diversity of wintering passerines with Christmas Bird Counts typically finding over 100 species. Recent developments such as the construction of a large golf course have already reduced the amount of native vegetation and habitat considerably. Large public events at Hansen Dam like the Fourth of July celebration have also put stress on local wildlife.
We strongly oppose the first choice of siting for the multiple use equestrian park (as indicated in the Warhorse and Militaria Foundation Project Description) because the area east of the
On April 19, Kimball Garrett, Ornithology Curator of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History led a Los Angeles Audubon and San Fernando Valley Audubon Hansen Dam Task Force to tour the multiple use equestrian park project site as defined in the War Horse and Militaria Foundation’s own project description. The team also included the Executive Director of Los Angeles Audubon, Garry George and San Fernando Valley Audubon Co- Conservation Chair Kris Ohlenkamp. This survey found that the area to the East of the
In conclusion, we find that the first choice of the project area is improper, as it would impair and degrade unique and irreplaceable habitat, while jeopardizing endangered species. We urge you to require that an Environmental Impact Report be required for this project and to support the War Horse and Militaria’s second choice of project area, across from the Hansen Dam Sports Area.
Sincerely,
Seth Shteir, Vice President
San Fernando Valley Audubon
Garry George, Executive Director
Los Angeles Audubon
SFVAS to Have Information Tables at Community Events
Thursday, April 17th, 2008
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Santa Clarita Arbor Day |
Saturday, 4/12 |
Kris Ohlenkamp |
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Whole Foods Northridge |
Saturday, 4/19 |
Dave Weeshoff & |
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Saturday, 4/19 and Sunday, 4/20 |
Bob & Bonnie Weatherman |
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CSUN Earth Day |
Tuesday, 4/22 |
Carolyn Oppenheimer |
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Arts for Earth Event at |
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Walk(s): Kris Ohlenkamp, |
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Saturday, 4/26 |
Alan Pollack & |
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Springtime in the |
Sunday, 4/27, |
Linda Jones |
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Mayor’s Resource/ Environmental Fair at Chatsworth Train Depot |
Saturday, 5/3 |
Alan Pollack & |
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Saturday, 5/17 |
Mark Osokow & |
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BioBlitz Table with LAAS |
Friday, 5/30 and |
Muriel Kotin & others |
If you would like to volunteer to assist at any of these events, please contact Muriel Kotin.
THANKS all who have volunteered!




