There are several local events that you can join in on to help participate in Earth Day festivities. Earth Day 2010 is officially on Thursday, April 22 but many activities occur on the following weekend.

WHAT: White Point Nature Preserve weeding and habitat restoration event
WHEN: Saturday, April 24th, 9am-12pm
WHERE: White Point Nature Preserve,
DETAILS: Closed toes shoes required. Bottled water is provided but in an effort to reduce plastic waste, we encourage you to bring your own water. Day cancelled in event of rain.
CONTACT: Visit www.pvplc.org for more information. Reservations appreciated. Please call Jill Wittman (310) 541-7613 x201

WHAT: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Beach Cleanup
WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010, Cleanup from 8–10am
WHERE: Point Fermin State Marine Park and Cabrillo Beach
DETAILS: Start early with our coastal cleanup. Clear litter from Point Fermin State Marine Park and Cabrillo inner and outer beaches. Bring old tennis shoes to recycle. Learn how to compost. Parking is $1/hour.
CONTACT: For more information, call 310-548-7562 or go to www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org.

WHAT: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Earth Day Fair
WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010, 10am–4pm
WHERE: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr.
DETAILS: The fair will include games, interactive displays and booths with information on the environment and conservation. There also will be music, food and a gift shop. Get tips on making your home eco-friendly. Admission is free; parking is $1/hour.
CONTACT: For more information, call 310-548-7562 or go to www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org.

WHAT: Free Shade Trees
WHEN: Now!
DETAILS: Complete an online workshop (about 20 minutes), submit your completed tree order and site plan and LADWP will deliver the trees to your home; you then plant and care for them. Available to residential, apartment owners and non-residential electric customer of LADWP only.
CONTACT: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

There are several new items on the SRHS#15 (South Regional High School #15) at Angels Gate front.

There is a new “unofficial” SRHS#15blog at http://www.srhs15.blogspot.com/ This online newsletter provides information regarding the construction and also includes project updates, artist renderings of the project, site maps, and information on how to contact the LAUSD to report feedback or concerns. In the next few weeks, the new school’s official website should be ready and we’ll let you know about it then.

LAUSD has released a Construction Activity Update outlining their timeline and plans for SRHS#15 in the coming years. Construction is scheduled to begin in five months and should be completed by the school opening in September, 2012. Click here to download the Update.

LAUSD will be holding a community meeting regarding construction activities at SRHS#15 in two weeks. They will introduce the construction team, give an overview of the construction activities, and address any questions or concerns. Download a copy of the flyer here.
WHEN: Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 pm
WHERE: White Point Elementary School Auditorium, 1410 Silvius Ave

Related Articles:
SRHS#15 Dust Meeting
DTSC at Coastal Meeting
Angels Gate Clean-up Meeting
SRHS#15 Pre-Demolition Community Meeting
More

The Palisades neighborhood has been in the news lately but not necessarily in a good light.

“Dog Droppings Spoil the View” is Anita Mannila’s Letter to the Daily Breeze Editor this past Sunday.

“One of the most beautiful places to walk in San Pedro is along Paseo del Mar from Western Avenue to Point Fermin. A walk along this path is good for the body but not always for the “sole.” One has to be fleet-footed to dodge the landmines left by dogs whose owners don’t clean up after them. Dog walkers: Cleaning up after your pets is a matter of common sense and common courtesy.

Please don’t, don’t, leave the doo-doo.”

And then there is Diana Chapman’s article on page 17 of the August Issue of San Pedro Today where she talks about trash blowing from Point Fermin Park.

“The area becomes a piece of trash – or should I say hundreds of pieces of trash – that stream down from the park into the ocean.”

What can we do about this, neighbors? Schedule a litter pick-up volunteer day? Talk to Parks and Rec about trash cans with lids or more frequent trash pick-ups? Install dog waste bag dispensers? Let the Palisades Residents’ Association know your thoughts in the comments below.

Related Posts:
Parks Feedback
Keys Found on Weymouth
The Future of San Pedro Parks

Two neighbors local to the construction site of South Region High School #15 (SRHS#15) have contacted LAUSD about the amount of dust landing on their property. LAUSD has called a last minute meeting with these residents to address their concerns. Others who have questions or concerns about dust are welcome to attend the meeting. Please note that meeting space is tight. Representatives from LAUSD New Construction and Dr. Vladovic’s office will be attending.

WHEN: Thursday, August 20, 2009, 5:00 pm
WHERE: Angels Gate Continuation High School, 3200 S. Alma Street (enter from Alma Street), Room 3

Related Articles:
DTSC at Coastal Meeting
Angels Gate Clean-up Meeting
SRHS#15 Pre-Demolition Community Meeting
More

At the next Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting there will be a 10-minute presentation by a Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) representative regarding developments for the South Region High School #15 (SRHS#15) at Angels Gate. There will be time alloted for questions from the public.

WHAT: Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting
WHEN: Monday, July 20, 2009, 6:30 pm
WHERE: Cabrillo Marina Community Building, Cabrillo Plaza, Berth 28

Related Articles:
Angels Gate Clean-up Meeting
SRHS#15 Pre-Demolition Community Meeting
LAUSD Updates the PRA on Angels Gate H.S.
More

A draft plan to remove soil contaminated with lead-based paint, arsenic, total petroleum hydrocarbons, semi-volatile organic compounds, dioxins, and organochlorine pesticides including dieldrin and chlordane at the proposed South Region High School #15 is open for public review and comment.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will hold a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Public Meeting for South Region High School #15 to answer neighbors questions and concerns:
 
DTSC RAP Public Meeting
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
6:30 pm <---UPDATED
Dana Middle School Auditorium
1501 South Cabrillo Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731

The draft Remedial Action Plan and other related project documents for this site are available for review and public comment. Send written comments by June 12 (UPDATED), 2009 or by e-mail before the deadline date no later than 5 p.m. to: Yvette LaDuke, Public Participation Specialist, yladuke@dtsc.ca.gov2.

Download the 4-page flyer for more details: SRHS#15 Fact Sheet, May 2009

Related Articles:
SRHS#15 Pre-Demolition Community Meeting
LAUSD Updates the PRA on Angels Gate H.S.
More

Proposed changes to the waterfront. Click image to enlarge.

The Port of Los Angeles has released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on their plans for the San Pedro waterfront which affects all Palisades residents. To view the DEIR please visit the Port of L.A. website. The Port would not include the Community Coalition’s Sustainability Plan (published in Random Lengths) as an alternative project. Instead, there are three Alternative Projects with the cruise ship terminal at Kaiser Point (across from inner Cabrillo Beach) and two Alternative Projects that are effectively no project.

The Port and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a public meeting to receive public comment on the Draft EIS/EIR for this project on October 27, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 601 S. Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro CA 90731. The deadline for written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR is December 8, 2008.

Related Posts:
Harbor Air Pollution Study Results

November is fast approaching and the political signs are already appearing. One local politician was caught in the act installing signs for herself in front of White Point Nature Preserve late this past Friday night. These same signs were also posted in several places in front of Joan Milke Flores Park.

Signs are a quick way to show our neighbors how we feel about the upcoming election, local issues, notification of a lost cat or if we are going to be holding a yard sale the next weekend. Los Angeles Municipal Code 28.04 lets us know where it is not OK to post these signs. Parks, telephone poles, street lamps, and parking strips (including everything from the inside of the sidewalk on one side of the street to the inside of the sidewalk on the other side) are public places where signs and hand-bills are not allowed. These signs are allowed on private property only with the permission of the owner. If this municipal code was not in place our neighborhood would be littered with signs.

Illegal signs can be reported to the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services Investigation and Enforcement. An investigator will come out and confiscate the sign(s) and send a bill for $194.20 for the first sign and $6.02 for each additional sign per visit to the responsible party. The responsible party is presumed to be the candidate running for office, the realtor whose name and phone number are on the sign, the sponsor for an event, or the owner of the land behind which the yard sale sign is posted.

To read the full details of the municipal code visit http://www.amlegal.com/los_angeles_ca/

“The results of the human health risk assessment conducted for the Site
utilizing a conservative, hypothetical residential use scenario indicated that
several chemicals detected in several OUs at the Site, pose an unacceptable
cancer or non-cancer health risk. The chemicals contributing the majority to
risk were localized in nature and include arsenic, PAHs, chlordane, dieldrin,
and dioxin.” Page 10-2, PEA report for SRHS#15

LAUSD has released the Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) report for the proposed South Region High School #15 at Fort MacArthur’s Upper Reservation. Sampling and analyzing of soil over several areas of the Angels Gate location were performed. The results are outlined in the PEA report available online at LAUSD, electronically by sending an e-mail to Christer Loftenius at christer.loftenius@lausd.net, or to view in person at the San Pedro High School or San Pedro Library.

The public review period begins on August 5, 2008, and ends on September 5, 2008. During this period the LAUSD will receive written comments on the PEA document. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will review the PEA document concurrently and must either approve or disapprove the PEA document within 30 days after the close of the public review period. Written comments must be received no later than September 5, 2008, at the following address:

Attention: Christer Loftenius, Environmental Assessment Coordinator
LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Safety
1055 West 7th Street, 9th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone (213) 893-7045, Fax (213) 893-7412

A Public Hearing on the findings of the PEA will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, at Barton Hill Elementary School, 423 N. Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731.

**UPDATE** The anticipated “release” date of the Draft EIR for the Proposed SRHS #15 Project has been delayed from the original estimate. Currently, the tentative release date is August 22, 2008. We will keep you informed of any additional changes should they arise.

Would you like to participate more with decisions that affect our local environment? An upcoming workshop to better help residents, organizations and businesses understand and participate in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process will be held Saturday, August 16. The workshop is sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League Foundation and N.O.I.S.E.

WHERE: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

WHEN: Saturday, August 16, 2008, 9 am – 4 pm

DETAILS: Pre-event registration is required. Registration is first-come, first-served. The cost is $35 for community members, $45 for non-profit staff, and $60 for agencies or businesses.

Related Links/s:
Planning and Conservation League Foundation
August 16 Event Registration & Details
California Environmental Quality Act