pdf of entire issue - Loma Prieta Chapter Archives

January/February - Issue 2009-01 Page 2

Updates Tuolumne River; SC Fairgrounds; saving the Bay

Thank God It’s Tuesday!

page 3

Gardening Green

page 8

“Bulk up” your garden this winter

page 5

Backpacking slide show, creeks conference, Chapter holiday party, and adventure travel

To Kill a Termite

page 7

Local wetlands; cooling the planet; Stanford in RWC

The Chapter’s successful Third Tuesday program

Mark Your Calendar

Focus on Land Use

Meandering

page 9

Outings and Activities

page 9

page 6

Bioblast, microwaves, and more

The Newsletter of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter

State Politics

San Benito, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

Landmark Law Goes Where No Law Has Gone Before by Irvin Dawid

Robert Campbell, Courtesy Army Corps of Engineers

The title of “Most Important Environmental Bill to be Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2008” may go to Senator Steinberg’s SB 375 — a bill that promises to do for land use policy what AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) is doing for climate. The significance of this law is highlighted in an October 6th New York Times editorial: “[SB 375 is] the nation’s first [law] intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by curbing urban sprawl and cutting back the time people have to spend in their automobiles,” and, as such, is the “latest example of California’s originality.” Governor Schwarzenegger seconded that theme when he signed the bill: “When it comes to reducing greenhouse gases, California is first in tackling car emissions, first to tackle low-carbon fuels, and now with this landmark legislation, we are the first in the nation to tackle land-use planning. What this will mean is more environmentally-friendly communities, more sustainable developments, less time people spend in their cars, more alternative transportation options and neighborhoods we can safely and

San Jose sprawls beyond the camera’s lens. The groundbreaking SB 375 is intended to curb sprawl.

proudly pass on to future generations.” Transportation accounts for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in California, and vehicle miles traveled in the state have increased 50% faster than population. Even with green building standards, renewable energy, and hybrid cars, the state stands little chance of tack-

SB 375 has a definitive means to relieve this problem: design communities with greenhouse gas emissions in mind, encouraging mixed-use development, walkable/bikeable communities, and public transit.

SB375 and “Sustainable Community Strategy” SB 375 is focused on regional transportation planning, managed in the Bay Area by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Under SB 375, each of the state’s 17 metropolitan regions would adopt a “sustainable community strategy” to encourage compact development. The strategy would have to ensure greenhouse gas reductions sufficient to achieve a regional target set by the California Air Resources Board

John Muir Recycled See SB375 Page 6

Essay

Endangered by Snack Foods

The Making of an Activist

Soaring demand for palm oil is killing orangutans and destroying their rainforest home. See Cooking Green, page 8.

by Karen Maki, Chapter Chair

Chapter archives

After eight years as chapter activist, including four as chapter Executive Committee chair, I want to tell you about how I got involved, what my time with the Chapter has meant to me, and what the Obama win means to us in the Chapter.

Be Part of History

My father gave me a Sierra Club membership when I was in my twenties. For years, I renewed my membership, made occasional donations, and hiked.

Do you have old photos, flyers, newsletters, conservation or political materials or other items related to Loma Prieta Chapter activities? As a continuation of our 75th anniversary celebration, we’re working on preserving the Chapter’s historical records. Perhaps you’ve saved something.

“My Whole World Changed” My whole world changed in 2000 when my father passed away, Al Gore was denied the presidency, and the stock market crashed. As I watched the recounts and courtroom battles on CSPAN and saw the market fall and fall with no end in sight, I became increasingly uneasy. The initial actions of the Bush administration did nothing to diminish my anger or calm my fears. My energy needed a direction. Chapter activist Rafael Reyes invited me to attend a Political Committee meeting. I went. They asked me for a short-term commitment, and I was soon helping interview candidates for city, assembly, and congressional races and recommending endorsements. I was very impressed with the Chapter’s endorsement process, which includes written statements and interviews with candidates, plus various levels of committee review. I was ready for the next commitment. Shortly after that, a Club organizer had me handing out postcards on Castro Street in Mountain View for people to sign and send to the governor. The cards asked him to stop the

Eloise Maki.

Courtesy Orangutan Conservancy

We are especially interested in items from the Chapter’s founding in 1933 through 1980s. The Bancroft Library in Berkeley has agreed to accept our historical materials. If you have items to add, please contact Ginny Laibl, [email protected], or 650-329-8363 by the end of February.

ling climate change if people have to get in their cars just to buy a quart of milk.

In an August 21 Los Angeles Times article, Senator Steinberg emphasized the importance of including land use decisions in climate policy: “One issue everyone has been afraid to touch is land use. Everyone understands about using alternative fuel. But land use has been the third rail. AB 32 changed the equation because now land use has to be part of the solution to global warming. You can’t meet our goal just with alternative fuels. You have to reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled.”

Karen Maki: “The Chapter is a great place to stretch your wings.”

clear-cutting of a million acres in the Sierra Nevada. The image of a million acres of clear-cut really disturbed me. Soon I co-founded the Forest Protection Committee. Prior to working with the Sierra Club, I’d never met a politician. The Committee met with local state legislators, showing them photos of the massive clear-cutting. Subsequent to our meetings, Assemblyman Joe Simitian wrote a bill, now law, to help prevent clear-cutting. Now I know a number of politicians and have even shaken hands with Al Gore. 30,000 Phone Calls When the Sierra Club announced a campaign to elect John Kerry, I really wanted our Chap-

See Making of an Activist Page 6

Updates

Page 2

loma prieta chapter information Chapter Office: Voice: (650) 390-8411 Fax: (650) 390-8497 3921 E. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 lomaprieta.sierraclub.org Chapter Coordinator: Kristen Ohiaeri (650) 390-8411 X332 [email protected]

newsletter information The Loma Prietan (USPS 976820) is published six times per year (1/1, 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, 9/1, 11/1) by the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, 3921 E. Bayshore Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303. Nonmember Subscriptions Send a check for $10.00 made out to Loma Prietan to the Chapter office. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, CA. Postmaster: Send address changes to Loma Prietan, Sierra Club, 85 Second St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco 94105. Please mark envelope “Address change.” For nonmember subscription changes, send changes to Loma Prietan, Sierra Club, 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303. To join the Sierra Club Contact the Chapter office. Annual dues are $39, of which $1 is for the Loma Prietan. Membership is not tax-deductible. Subscription/mail problems Please report to the Chapter office. Submissions The Loma Prietan encourages members to submit news, stories, reviews and letters. See the submission guidelines at lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/newsletter. html. You can contact the editorial board by e-mail at newsletter@ lomaprieta.sierraclub.org or by mail or fax to the Chapter office. Outings Listings Listings must be submitted to the Chapter one month prior to publication. Advertising Contact Ad Manager (see below). Deadline for ad space is due two months prior to publication. Volunteers The Loma Prietan welcomes volunteers and new writers. Please e-mail [email protected] for information. Loma Prietan Staff Editorial Board Nafeesa Ahmed, Diane Allen, Susan Barkan, Lynn Gordon, Trish Kaspar, Claudia Schweikert, David Simon, Coryne Tasca, and John Velcamp Designer Shannon Corey [email protected] Online Editor Paul Hsieh Ad Manager (650) 390-8411 X391 [email protected] ©2008 Sierra Club. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without written permission. Printed on recycled paper with soy ink.

www.lomaprieta.sierraclub.org

Updates The Tuolumne Runs Free by Peter Drekmeier and Trish Kaspar October 30th brought a well-earned wet success. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) agreed to cap water sales from the Tuolumne River at current levels until at least 2018. The SFPUC had previously proposed large increases in water withdrawals from the river. The agreement is part of the approval of the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), the approved Hetch Hetchy Water System’s $4.4 billion upgrade to withstand a major earthquake. Capping sales for 10 years allows SFPUC and its wholesale customers to reexamine water demand projections, increase conservation and recycling programs, and complete a biological study of the Tuolumne, benefiting downstream wildlife and vegetation. The majority of the overflow crowd at the October 30th SFPUC hearing at which the decision was made supported seismic upgrades and measures protecting the Tuolumne. The Phased WSIP still diverts an additional 2 million gallons of Tuolumne water daily to fill reservoirs after extended droughts. But Commissioners clearly want the Tuolumne protected and included strongly worded amendments minimizing additional diversions. “The Commission heard our message loud and clear…to protect the Tuolumne through aggressive water conservation and recycling,” said Clary. “[This is the] first time there’s been a cap on water sales,” said Jennifer Clary, Water Policy Analyst for Clean Water Action. “We’ve changed the way the SFPUC does business.”

To Learn More Contact Peter Drekmeier, Tuolumne River Trust, (650) 248-8025 or Jennifer Clary, Clean Water Action, (707) 483-6352 Peter Drekmeier is Bay Area Program Director for the Tuolumne River Trust and long-time Club member and vice mayor of Palo Alto. Trish Kaspar serves on the editorial board of the Loma Prietan newsletter.

New San Francisco Bay Authority Created by Cynthia Denny Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 2954 in October, establishing the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority. Now the Associa-

Deadline

Issue

Jan 26 for Mar/Apr 2009 Mar 30 for May/Jun 2009

tion of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will appoint seven board members to the new Authority, which will explore, promote and coordinate local and regional public fundraising mechanisms. The Authority could secure much-needed regional funding for Bay wetland restoration by proposing assessments, taxes or fees for local voter approval, or by receiving public and private grants. “This new Authority fills a large gap, by linking the supportive Bay Area population and the urgent priority for funds to restore Bay wetlands,” said Henry Gardner, Executive Director of ABAG. “It’s a creative solution to a regional need.” Today, only 5% of the Bay’s original wetlands remain. The Sierra Club looks forward to working with the Authority, Save The Bay and other partners to achieve the vision of 100,000 acres of healthy, thriving wetlands around the Bay that scientists recommend for a sustainable Bay ecosystem. The Authority will help provide the consistent funding needed for land purchases, project planning, construction, and operations and maintenance, including modifying levees and protecting electric transmission lines and other existing infrastructure. Cynthia Denny is the chair of the Chapter’s Wetlands Subcommittee.

Santa Clara Fairgrounds Plan Opposed by Gladwyn d’Souza Santa Clara County officials are considering an expansive development project on the 150acre Santa Clara Fairgrounds. The County recently selected a developer to explore options, which could include commercial, residential or public use areas. However, many residents are opposed to development which would change the character of the land. The Fairgrounds are the last open space located in the central core of San Jose, which desperately needs parks and open space. The Fairgrounds have a rich agricultural history and are currently home to many festivals, 4-H clubs, and a wide variety of outdoor activities. In addition, the Fairgrounds are between two major creek trails that would benefit from a trails connector across the present Fairgrounds. Development will also impact the water and air basins in the region. A new group called Friends of the Fairgrounds has formed to persuade the Board of Supervisors to slow down the current development process, work with the County to establish a task force to hear community-based input before making a decision regarding develop-

ment, and ensure that the plan for the Fairgrounds reflects the needs of future generations. Gladwyn d’Souza is secretary to the Chapter’s Sustainable Land Use Committee.

Make a Difference Weekly organizing meetings for Friends of the Fairgrounds are Fridays from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm at 5th St. and Keyes in San Jose. Contact Christopere Lepe www.friendsofsccfairgrounds.org (408) 425-4430 The Chapter Sustainable Land Use Committee would like a member in this area to watchdog the process for us. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected]

Endorsed Candidates Win in Pacifica by Bill Collins The Sierra Club endorsed incumbent Pete DeJarnatt and Mary Ann Nihart in Pacifica’s City Council November election. Both won seats in a five-person race for the two open seats. The five candidates debated how to best manage growth: whether the focus should be on enhancing revenue or preserving open space. Their commitment to preserving the environment varied widely. Incumbent Cal Hinton was more supportive of growth than fellow incumbent DeJarnatt, who listed environmental protection as the first of his objectives in his candidate statement. Challenger Jeff Simons called for increasing the tax base and facilitating the flow of auto traffic on Highway 1. He reportedly blamed “radical environmentalism” in Pacifica for rejecting commercial development. Nihart supported preserving open spaces and a ban on polystyrene. The Chapter’s Coastal Issues Committee invited the candidates to an interview. Three candidates came to the interview, and based on their responses to questions on sustainability, open space preservation and other issues, the interview team recommended the endorsement of DeJarnatt and Nihart. The Chapter widely publicized its endorsement. Thanks are due to the Coastal Issues Committee members who interviewed the candidates and publicized the endorsements. Bill Collins is a member of the Chapter’s Coastal Issues Committee and former chair of the Northern California Wildlife Committee.

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: With reference to the article, “Some like it HOT”, in the last Loma Prietan: At first blush, selling the unused capacity of carpool lanes looks like a great idea — until one looks into the history and ethics of their creation. Carpool lanes were created by taking a public asset and diverting it to manipulate the habits of the driving public. The shortcomings of this experiment are obvious. Carpool lanes are often underused while traffic in the remaining lanes is stop and go. The speed differential is so great that lane changes have become dangerous. Now this diverted public property is to be sold to the highest bidder. The only equitable move would be to return the carpool lanes to public use, so that our highways can again be safely used to capacity.

Deadline for submissions

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

I think timing lights are very useful, and should remain the mainstay of congestion management, perhaps together with some preferential access for buses and carpools. Dietrich Fellenz Loma Prieta Chapter member San Jose

Chapter Transportation Committee chair Gladwyn d’Souza replies: Public property, capacity, and safety are highly contested terms. The air basin is public property, and polluting it affects the safety and capacity of my lungs. Roads, like most public commons, are overgrazed, and building more lanes is the worst possible solution in terms of pollution and resource consumption, The Club has taken a position against capacity building and freeway expansion. We focus on management to increase capacity, reduce pollution and resource usage, and decrease the need for expansion. Tiered pricing leveled off electricity demand in California; road pricing works the same way. Equitably the whole road would be priced. HOT allows for the most efficient use of the roadway, increasing capacity without laying more asphalt. And let’s not forget that toll-paying motorists—and that could be any of us on a hectic day—will be supporting public transit with our toll dollars. Dear Editor: I recently finished reading one of the books recommended in the Book Review column of your November/December issue, Cradle to Cra-

Write to Us Share your views with fellow Chapter members. The Loma Prietan welcomes letters to the editor of 150 words or less. E-mail [email protected] or write to 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

dle: Remaking the Way we Make Things. I want to say that this is an extraordinary book. It is one of the most hopeful and inspiring books I have ever read, and a real paradigm shifter. I believe it holds the seeds for how we could actually resolve the crisis our planet is facing. I never thought I would be able to say that about any book. Thank you so much for recommending this book. It has been in print since 2002, but I hadn’t heard about it before. It deserves to be much more widely read. Ruth Sheldon Loma Prieta Chapter Member Brisbane

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

Chapter news

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Clair Tappaan Lodge Reports Surplus by Olivia Diaz

When the Sierra Club Board of Directors challenged Clair Tappaan Lodge to “break even or be sold,” many who love the rustic, ramshackle lodge perched atop Donner Summit despaired of ever reaching that goal. Thanks to a successful fundraiser and the new Outdoor Education Programs begun in 2007, the CTL Committee has not only met the challenge but ended the summer with a $64,000 surplus. Bookings for the fall, traditionally the slow season before skiing can begin, were up, and the overall outlook is bright.

Supplementing the income from rentals, the

Encouraging as it is to have brought the lodge out of the red, this is just the beginning. We must keep telling schools about the advantages of taking students there on field trips--and not forget to stop in ourselves. A soon-to-becompleted driveway to the right of the main entrance will mean that visitors no longer need to drag their luggage up the steep hill. Ski season is almost here, so take advantage of the best deal around!

Faisal Zakaria Siddiqi

In 2007-08 more than 1000 students and their chaperones spent the night at the venerable lodge, hopefully creating a new pool of fans of outdoor education at a reasonable price--not to mention the opportunity to experience life at a slower pace and a retreat from electronic gadgets.

fourth annual Fundraiser, held on a weekend last August, brought in $21,000. That weekend featured a full moon, and general manager Peter Lemkuhl led hikes on Friday and Saturday night to see Donner Peak by moonlight. Hikers were amazed that the reflection of moonlight on granite made the night almost as bright as day.

Olivia Diaz is co-chair of the Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee.

On the Trail of the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” by Nafeesa Ahmed

“The past and the present could not be more closely joined than in China,” reminisces Katie Dunlap. Mary McVey Gill mirrors Katie’s thoughts, calling China “a country of contrasts.” The women, both active Sierra Club members and volunteers for the Chapter’s Citizens Action Network, were part of an exciting tour to China this fall. The tour was organized by the Chapter, in association with the Angeles Chapter. The group of 40 travelers flew from Los Angeles to Beijing for a 10-day itinerary of five major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Suzhou and Hangzhou.

The group had a few days to discover Beijing and its rich cultural history. From luxurious hotels to ancient temples, from gourmet

“If civilization has risen from the Stone Age, it can rise again from the Wastepaper Age.”

—Jacques Barzun, The House of Intellect, 1959

was a fantasy come true. According to these two travelers, the weather was perfect, the local people welcoming, the hotels comfortable, the travel well-arranged and the food, needless to say, ranged from the familiar to the adventurous.

The next destination on the group’s tour was Shanghai, which Katie describes as a “futuristic city with a distinguishing European flavor.” According to Katie, the city is bustling with construction projects, luxurious shopping malls and the sparkle of the Bund. Mary was especially encouraged to see the city taking steps to become green as it gears up for World Expo 2010. Projects being undertaken include solar heating, water recycling, urban waste management and mass transportation programs. The group spent the rest of the tour visiting the beautiful temples, lush gardens and serene lakes of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Suzhou, marked by waterways, is referred to as the “Venice of the East.” The trip included ventures for every taste: Katie found traveling on the canals to be particularly exhilarating, while Mary enjoyed shopping at the local pearl-producing factory.

Chapter trips for 2009 to Alaska and to Tibet/China are described on page 5. Each year, the Chapter organizes group trips to select overseas destinations. For the traveler, these trips are a great way to explore new places at reasonable prices, and, for the Chapter, the trips help raise needed funds. Katie Dunlap

The first thing that struck Mary in Beijing was the number of bicycles. The city, she recalls, was filled with people riding bicycles and rickshaws to work. For Katie, it was the 30-story skyscrapers that awed her — particularly because she had grown up on a ranch.

cuisine at chic restaurants to savory fare sold by street vendors, from the grandiose Palace Museum to Tiananmen Square and the thrilling Great Wall, Beijing was filled with adventures.

Katie and Mary enjoy a rickshaw trip in China.

Mary summarizes the trip as “one of the best and most memorable” for her, and both women agreed that many on the trip felt it

Readers Talk Back by Nafeesa Ahmed

The Loma Prietan is overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response to our reader survey. Thank you for participating and sharing your thoughts with us. Although it’s not statistically valid, the survey gave us some insight into the reading habits of our members. Articles on environmental reporting and political endorsements are the most popular pick of our 203 respondents. The columns are also widely read. The cartoon on the back page is a favorite, with 80% of respon-

Club book and has selected Walking Softly in the Wilderness: The Sierra Club Guide to Backpacking as her prize.

The survey respondents offered a cornucopia of fascinating ideas and suggestions. There were calls for articles on green jobs, mountain medicine, and hikes with dogs. Some folks asked for more illustrations, and quite a few said they’d like to receive the newsletter via email.

Thanks again to all who participated. Your volunteer editorial committee will be working to implement your ideas in future issues of the Loma Prietan.

As promised, we entered responses into a raffle. Mary Fran Miller of Los Altos has won a Sierra

The Chapter’s Membership Committee is delighted with the enthusiastic response to this relatively new program. The agenda usually includes a socializing session followed by a presentation highlighting an area of the great outdoors or preservation efforts. The monthly meetings are held 6:30 - 8:30 PM in the charming old Adobe Building (157 Moffett Blvd., at Central Expressway) in Mountain View. On warm evenings you can socialize while enjoying appetizers and beverages in the garden, and

Attend an upcoming Third Tuesday event! Jan 20 — Industrial Logging: The Threat to California’s Forests, presented by Joshua Buswell-Charkow. Feb 17 — Jim Liskovec: Polar Bears of Churchill Mar17 — Judy Irving, a documentary filmmaker best known for her Parrots of Telegraph Hill

on cooler evenings, warm up the conversation with hot drinks and munchies. The first Third Tuesday season saw some very engaging presentations about mountaineering in the Sierras, the Farallon Islands, and local conservation efforts in wetlands and habitat restoration. As one member commented, it was “extremely interesting and thought-provoking.” The second season is now underway. So far, speakers have given in-depth presentations on global warming, Ohlone land management, and the Valdez oil spill tragedy. The most recent meeting was attended by an eclectic mix of people — from distinguished scientists who have worked on clean-up efforts following the oil spill to high school sophomores working on environmental projects. So what are you waiting for? Just sign up for an upcoming meeting and be prepared to spend a delightful evening with like-minded

Nafeesa Ahmed is a Chapter member and serves on the editorial board of the Loma Prietan newsletter.

Get Involved

See the ad on page 5 for more information. Dieter Fellenz

“This is one of the best programs that Loma Prieta or, for that matter, the Sierra Club has put on in a long time,” gushed Dick Oliver, an attendee of a recent “Third Tuesday” event. The Third Tuesday events are social and informative get-togethers offered to Sierra Club members and the general public to give them a chance to interact on environmental issues and come together as a community.

Nafeesa Ahmed is a Chapter member and serves on the editorial board of the Loma Prietan newsletter.

dents replying that they sometimes or always make it a point to check it out! The newsletter redesign has also been much appreciated.

Thank God it’s Tuesday! by Suzanne Lowd

So, readers: What have you got to lose? Book your next vacation with the Chapter and embark on one of the most fascinating vacations ever!

Hye Jeong Kim, an environmentalist visiting from Korea, contributes a comment at Dr. Riki Ott’s presentation.

individuals, strike new friendships and learn about conservation efforts. Suzanne Lowd has recently chaired the Membership Committee and enjoys helping people find their niche within the Chapter.

If you would like to go that extra mile, participate behind the scenes. You can volunteer to help with event planning and management. Financial support — perhaps sponsoring a single evening — would be most appreciated and would ensure that these programs continue. Please contact Barbra Millin at Third.Tuesdays@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org for more information. If you want to help with publicity or are interested in the broader topic of membership, Ajay Kachwaha ([email protected] ) would love to hear from you.

CHAPTER Events

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Classifieds

Beginning Backpacking (April 14 - May 3, 2009)

Services

If you’re interested in backpacking but don’t know how to get started, the Backpack Section’s Beginning Backpacking Course is for you. The course includes three two-hour evening classes in Los Altos plus a weekend backpack trip to a local park. Volunteer instructors will help you get set up with the right equipment, plus basic skills such as keeping warm and dry, “staying found”, and cooking in the backcountry. $35.

Intermediate Backpacking (May 12 - June 9, 2009)

For those of you who have done a little backpacking and want to refine your skills, or beginners who want more after the beginning class, the Section offers the Intermediate Backpacking Course. This course includes 5 evening sessions and two trips; a weekender at a local park and a 3-day trip in the Sierra. Volunteer instructors will cover a host of skills including map & compass, backcountry hazards and emergencies, minimum impact, and techniques to minimize your pack weight. $50. Proceeds from both courses, after expenses, are donated to conservation and trail maintenance groups. For more information, including trip dates and how to sign up, see http:// lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/BPS/bbcourse.html.

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

Garden Escapes by Chris Bring natural California beauty to your garden habitat with ecologically sustainable, low maintenance garden design and consulting call Chris 408/530-0122 Spend the night at the Magical Historic Hikers’ Hut in Sam McDonald’s Park! Mountain Retreat in our backyard! Special Rates for Sierra Club members.

(650) 390-8411 x393

SQUARE DANCE LESSONS! Mondays 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. starting January 19 at Loyola School, 770 Berry Ave., Los Altos Register in class on January 19 or 26. Adult Singles & Couples Dance FREE in January! Bows & Beaus www.bowsandbeaus.org Instructor: Keith Ferguson (408) 867-7715

Real Estate FOR SALE – National Wildlife Federation certified habitat in Santa Clara, CA. Lovely, quiet cul-de-sac 4 B, 2 B home in urban “Silicon Valley”. Mature trees, walk or bike to many conveniences, including the S.C. train station. Liz Berry 408-241-8146 For Sale – 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath Condo in Oak Creek Commons Co-Housing Community located in beautiful wine country Paso Robles. Granite and stainless kitchen, hardwood floors, new carpet, paint and more. See www.oakcreekcommons.org or call agent: Liz at 805-464-1007 or Mark at 805-674-0297.

Vacation Rentals Trinity Alps Charming, Updated Miner’s Cabin at the foot of the Trinity Alps in Beautiful Weaverville. Pictures and Information www.AvenEstate.com 888.279.9228

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Mark Your Calendar Calendar Submissions If you know of events that should be listed here, please inquire at newsletter@lomaprieta .sierraclub.org or see the submission guidelines for calendar listings at lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/ newsletter ✜ indicates that more information about this event can be found elsewhere on pages 4-5. January Get out of the house and join the Wetlands Subcommittee for fun, education, and environmental activism. Our 2009 planning includes continued protection of the Cargill salt marsh, speakers on wetland ecology, helping at the Redwood Shores Library Wetland Interpretive Center, participating in the General Plan process in Redwood City, and outings to places of interest like the tide pools. Contact Cynthia Denny at 650-520-7954, cynthia.denny@ lomaprieta.sierraclub.org for meeting dates and location.

Program: Industrial Logging: The Threat To California’s Forests 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Historic Adobe Building, 157 Moffett Blvd, Mountain View. ✜ January 24 Guadalupe Regional Group New Member Hike, Almaden Quicksilver County Park. See historic buildings, old mines and rolling hills. Moderate hike, easy pace. See Outings listings for details or call Linda Barbosa 408-778-7122 and Shawn Britton 408-5510722. January 24 Bair Island Canoe and Restoration Trip with Save The Bay (Redwood City) 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Cost: $35 non-members Register at www.savesfbay.org, outings. This trip combines the best of both worlds-canoeing and restoration! Includes canoe trips into areas generally closed to the public and planting native species to revitalize critical San Francisco Bay wetlands.

January 8 Sustainable Land Use Committee 11:45am, La Boulanger, 2226 Broadway, Redwood City, lunch and discussion of proposed Stanford Redwood City Satellite Campus. Contact Bonnie McClure (650) 591-5057 or [email protected]

January 24 and January 31-February 1 Snow Camping Seminar and field trip. $40. Contact Chris MacIntosh at 650/3257841, [email protected], or Steve Sergeant at 408/937-8116, steve.sergeant@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org . ✜

January 13 Chapter Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting: 6:30pm Peninsula Conservation Center. Agenda available on our website the week before the meeting.

January 26 Chapter Conservation Committee (ConsCom) meeting: 7:00pm Peninsula Conservation Center. For information: [email protected]

January 15 Guadalupe Regional Group General Meeting 7:30pm Saratoga Library Program: Klamath Mountain Adventure with Bob Groff. For information, contact David Dalton 408.257.6712, [email protected]

February 3 Chapter Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting: 6:30pm Peninsula Conservation Center. Agenda available on our website the week before the meeting.

January 20 Third Tuesday Member Social.

For more information, see lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/wilderness_first_aid_Feb2009.asp ✜ February 12 Sustainable Land Use Committee 11:45am La Boulanger, 2226 Broadway, Redwood City, lunch and discussion of possible project endorsements. Contact Bonnie McClure (650) 591-5057 or bonniemcclure@ comcast.net February 17 Third Tuesday Member Social Program: The Polar Bears of Churchill, Manitoba 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Historic Adobe Building, 157 Moffett Blvd, Mountain View. ✜ February 23 Chapter Conservation Committee (ConsCom) meeting: 7:00pm Peninsula Conservation Center. For information: [email protected] February 26 Guadalupe Regional Group General Meeting 7:30pm Saratoga Library. Monumental: A documentary film about David Brower and early years of the Sierra Club. For information, contact David Dalton 408.257.6712 [email protected] April 4-5 Lightweight Backpacking. Intensive weekend class in advanced skills and gear for low-impact, long-distance wilderness travel.

For details and registration, contact Steve Sergeant, [email protected]. org. See ad on page 11 for details. April 22 Earth Day May 1-4 Explore the wild, windswept islands of Channel Island National Park. Cruise from Santa Barbara; naturalist led hikes and programs. Fundraising for Sierra Club California Political programs. July, August and September cruises also. For information Joan Jones Holtz, 626-443-0706; [email protected]. May 1-16 Adventure Travel: Chapter (cosponsored with Angeles Chapter) trip to Tibet and Southern China. For information, email [email protected] with subject line of “Tibet 09.” For complete trip details and applications www.lomaprieta.sierraclub.org ✜ May 23-30 Adventure Travel: Chapter Alaska inside passage cruise, www.montrosetravel. com/sierraclub-alaska-loma-prieta ✜ May 30 - June 7 Adventure Travel: Chapter scenic rail adventure to Talkeetna, Denali Park, and Fairbanks, Alaska. More information in future Loma Prietans. ✜

February 7-8 16 hour Wilderness First Aid Class taught by Bobbie Foster of Foster Calm.

See Alaska Cruise May 23 - 30, 2009, Denali and more May 30 - June 7, 2009

Wetlands Subcommittee 2009 Kickoff

See Tibet and Southern China May 1-16, 2009

In collaboration with the Angeles Chapter we are offering the only Sierra Club trip to see Tibet and Southern China. We will see Potola Palace, a massive, awe-inspiring structure, once the center of Tibetan government and the winter home of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s holiest shrines, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor, Tibetan Plateau, the “Roof of the World”, home to some of the tallest mountain ranges in the world. For more information see page 3 of this issue of the LP or visit www.lomaprieta.sierraclub. org/China_Tibet_tour_2009.asp Send questions to [email protected].

Get out of the house this winter and join the Wetlands Subcommittee for fun, education and environmental activism. Our 2009 planning includes continued protection of the Cargill Saltmarsh, speakers on wetland ecology, helping at the Redwood Shores Library Wetland Interpretive Center, participating in the General Plan process in Redwood City and outings to places of interest like the tidepools. We meet the second week of the month. Please call Cynthia Denny at 650-520-7954 or email cynthia.denny@ People: Annette Giron, lomaprieta.sierraclub.org for meeting dates and location.

Vidyut Lingamneni, Cynthia Denny, Pat Walker and Ramona Ambrozic

Basic Wilderness First Aid Classes Saturday & Sunday, February 7-8, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm both days Peninsula Conservation Center in Palo Alto The Sierra Club requires that outing leaders be trained in first aid. For simple outings, 6-8 hours of training every three years is considered sufficient. For more challenging outings, a 16 hour Wilderness First Aid class or 80 hour Wilderness First Responder class is either recommended or required. Our Chapter is offering a 16 hour WFA class taught by Bobbie Foster. For more information, see lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/wilderness_first_ aid_Feb2009.asp Saturday, March 7, 2009, 8:30 AM to 5 PM Peninsula Conservation Center in Palo Alto This class meets first aid requirements for most outings leaders. (This class is not sufficient for leaders who are required to have 16-hour Wilderness First Aid.) Packed full of interactive handson skills and scenario practice, it is designed to prepare leaders to recognize and avoid wilderness hazards and do first aid outdoors with whatever equipment is available or can be improvised. For further information, or to register, send a $52 check payable to Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, along with your telephone number and email address, to Bruce Rienzo, 10225 Danube Dr., Cupertino, CA 95014. Space is limited and registration should be completed before February 27.

Camping? In the Snow? Yes!

Jim Liskovec

Snow camping allows you to backpack in all seasons. By snowshoeing or skiing far into the wilderness, you can visit the Sierras with its thick layer of snow and enjoy the scenery far from the crowds; no competition for the “best” campsites! The skills obtained from the Loma Prieta’s Snow Camping Seminar prepare you for camping in the snow, and give tips for day skiers or snowshoers caught out overnight. Participants must be experienced summer backpackers. One full day on Saturday, January 24, 2009, in the Palo Alto area and one weekend field trip on Jan 31-Feb 1, 2009. Limited to 40 participants for the classroom session, and 25 participants on the outing. To sign up, send $40 check, payable to BSCS, to P.O. Box 802, Menlo Park, CA 94026. Include name of each person, phone #, email, postal address, Sierra Club member number (if oversubscribed, preference will be given to members). Upon receipt, we will acknowledge and send info and directions. Questions? Contact Chris MacIntosh at 650/325-7841, [email protected], or Steve Sergeant at 408/937-8116, [email protected]

Photo by Rick Raybin.

Photo courtesy Gary Bailey

Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club will be sailing the Alaska Inside Passage on the beautiful Diamond Princess. See immense glaciers, wildlife, and spectacular scenery. There will be adventures ashore in picturesque Ketchikan, fascinating Juneau, and gold rush Skagway. And check out the optional special 8 day/7 night post cruise excursion to Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks. See www. montrosetravel.com/sierraclub-alaska-loma-prieta, Send questions to [email protected].

Chapter news

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There’s More than One Way to Kill a Termite

Election Scorecard: Green Winners by Diane Allen

by Ruth Troetschler

Have you been thinking about termites lately? Perhaps you noticed a flight of subterranean termites on the first sunny day after the October soaking rain, or heard the persistent radio ads pushing Orange Oil as the new safe way to eliminate termites, and wondered if that claim could be true.

I frequently get calls from people looking for the “best way to eliminate termites.” Most callers want to avoid tenting and fumigation with Vikane. Fortunately we can avoid that unfavorite method, but termite control is never easy. Whole-House Techniques According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs only two methods are effective for whole-house termite eradication: fumigation and heat. Heat can kill termites. The ThermaPureHeat® process (http://tinyurl. com/Therma) uses big heaters to heat the wood to lethal temperatures. (This method also controls mold, bedbugs, and fungal rot.) I checked http://www.thermapure.com/ and located a Santa Clara company, Alliance Environmental Group (www.alliance-enviro.com) offering this service. Spot Treatment Methods Spot treatment methods affect termites that are accessible and localized. Infested wood can be replaced. Orange oil (with low-toxic active ingredient d-limonene) is injected into termite galleries to kill only in targeted areas. Injection of B.I.O. BLAST 650 (Bioblast) into the galleries, will allow Verticillium lecanii fungus to penetrate and eventually eradicate the colony. The electro-gun® requires drilling to reach termite galleries and kill via electric current. The microwave method kills termites in the walls using microwaves. According to an excellent article by Karen Lindell in the Los Angeles Times (http://tinyurl.com/ treat-termites), this method is best used for small spot treatments. Subterranean termites can be controlled in six or more weeks by baits available to pest

ter to join the fight even though California is not a battleground state. Others did, too. The Chapter hired me to organize the campaign. We all have erroneous ideas about who we are and what we can do. The Kerry campaign pushed me past my personal limitations. I spoke in front of 200 members at the campaign launch rally. After my talk, folks signed up to call and write Sierra Club members in battleground states. Volunteers on phones filled every room in the chapter office and the lunch room downstairs. Others wrote postcards in a large conference room while listening to Mozart. Members hosted house parties where people phoned or wrote postcards. In all, 300 chapter volunteers — with help from the San Francisco Bay Chapter — made 30,000 phone calls and wrote 8,000 post cards. We lost the race, but I leaned something: in the Beat Bush campaign I found out I was an organizer. Working with the Chapter has been extremely powerful for me. It’s engaged who I am more than anything I’ve done in my life. It’s used right brain and left brain. It’s been for something I care about. I’ve learned a great deal about environmental issues, state laws, and processes that effect change. I learned we can inspire legislation and make 30,000 phone calls. Taking concrete actions that garnered results has been immensely satisfying.

Winged subterranean termite reproductives emerging from the soil.

control operators, and the process is environmentally safer than other methods. One toxicant is hydramethylnon a moderately toxic slow-acting pesticide. Other baits containing the fungal disease, V. lecanii, are used in a bait station containing Bioblast. Soil pesticide barriers are designed to prevent subterranean termite access to the structure, but they do allow movement of toxics into the water supply and household air. Termite Prevention The following tips will help prevent termites and expensive repairs or fumigation. • Paint exposed wood, especially the ends of rafters, porches, and decks; • Keep soil away from the foundation; • Remove scrap-wood from under the house; • Ensure that sprinklers do not splash the siding; and • Remove limbs which overhang the roof so dead branches containing dry-wood cannot reach the roof will prevent termites from flourishing. If you maintain wood-free dry soil beneath your house, keep garden soil at least six inches away from wood siding, and check the foundation annually to detect and destroy transport tubes, most subterranean termites will be unable to colonize your home. If you have a problem with a pest control company, visit http://www.pestboard.ca.gov/ Ruth Troetschler chairs the Chapter’s Pesticide Committee. Be sure to share your Loma Prietan —Reuse then Recycle

Most important, I met people who care deeply about nature and our world and work hard to protect them. Working so closely with other Club activists helped me survive the discouraging Bush years. Big Strides Forward Some might think that, in light of the recent election, we can relax now, but this is a most important time to stay engaged. Now is the time to collect the rewards of the work we have been doing for the last eight years. In hindsight, I know I should have been active a long time ago; I shouldn’t have waited for the Bush administration to cause a crisis. The new president-elect and many national legislators are more than ready to lead. They will need us to counterbalance the inevitable efforts to slow and derail our country’s progress. At state and local levels, our help is still needed to push governments to act. I invite you to join us. You can join one of our Chapter’s many environmental campaigns. You can start something new. We also have work for those who want to help by building community, fundraising, or improving our communications. Or you can support Chapter work through donations. The Chapter is a great place to stretch your wings. I promise it will be a great and fulfilling adventure. After four years as Chapter chair, Karen Maki is stepping down. She continues on the Forest Protection Committee and is a member of the Sierra Club California Executive Committee.

Thirty-two Chapter-endorsed, local green candidates won in November. Additionally, the Sierra Club’s positions on several state ballot propositions were supported by the voters. Over 30 chapter volunteers, coordinated by Political Committee Tri-Chair Rob Rennie, interviewed candidates and evaluated their answers to questions about their environmental experience and goals. The endorsement process also serves as a dialog between our chapter and these local candidates: they understand our priorities and expect to hear from us on a regular basis. Diane Allen serves on the editorial board of the Loma Prietan newsletter. Congressional Districts District 11 Jerry McNerney District 12 Jackie Speier District 14 Anna Eshoo District 15 Mike Honda District 16 Zoe Lofgren District 17 Sam Farr State Senate District 11 Joe Simitian State Assembly District 19 Jerry Hill District 21 Ira Ruskin District 22 Paul Fong District 23 Joe Coto District 24 Jim Beall, Jr. Santa Clara County Campbell City Council Michael F. Kotowski, Jason Baker Los Altos Hills Town Council Rich Larsen, Jean H. “John” Mordo, Ginger Summit Los Gatos Town Council Barbara Spector Milpitas Mayor Bob Livengood

Morgan Hill City Council Larry Carr Mountain View City Council

Mike Kasperzak, John Inks San Jose City Council District 2 Ash Kalra San Jose City Council District 8 Rose Herrera Santa Clara City Council Seat 6

Jamie L. Matthews

Santa Clara City Council Seat 7 Jamie McLeod Open Space Authority Directors District 1:

Alex Kennett, District 7 Kalvin Gill

San Mateo County Menlo Park City Council

Kelly Fergusson, Andy Cohen

Pacifica City Council Mary Ann Nihart, Pete

DeJarnatt

State Propositions

Proposition 1A High Speed Rail: passed Proposition 2 Prevention of Farm Animal

Cruelty: passed

Proposition 4 Parental Notification of Abortion:

failed

Propositions 7 and 10, Alternative Energy Plans:

failed

Make a Difference The Political Committee needs volunteers to attend city council, planning commission, and county board meetings as well as volunteers to meet with state representatives and senators. Political Committee meetings are held monthly at the Peninsula Conservation Center in Palo Alto. For information contact: John Cordes, Political@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org; Ann Schneider, [email protected]; or Rob Rennie, [email protected]

SB 375 Continued from Page 1 (ARB). ARB is also the agency charged under AB 32 with reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. SB 375 represents the first time a regional transportation plan in the US has been subjected to such standards, which explains why the bill has received national attention. SB 375 aims to accomplish reductions through high-density upgrades in already urbanized areas and through future planning that discourages sprawling, auto-dependent development. Communities that favor sprawl over denser growth along transit corridors and near commercial services will risk the loss of transportation infrastructure funding, so regional transportation agencies will need to work with city leaders and planning boards to develop smart growth policies. The Chapter’s Sustainable Land Use Committee is hopeful that SB 375 can accomplish its goals. If it does, expect to see fewer projects like the sprawling, 6,800-unit San Benito development and more like the compact 280-unit San Carlos transit-oriented village (both projects were discussed in the Nov/Dec Loma Prietan). Still, it will take many infill developments to replace the massive greenfield projects historically seen in California. As recently editorialized in the San Francisco Chronicle, “[SB 375] may take years to show its effects. As new homes and apartments go up, there could be a break from California-style sprawl as construction fills in city lots.” Irvin Dawid is a member of the Chapter’s Sustainable Land Use committee and Co-chair of the Bay Area Transportation Committee.

To Learn More Combined editorial positions of The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Sacramento Bee: “Three Perspectives on CA’s ‘Smart Growth’ Bill,” http://planetizen.com/ node/35474 Governor Schwarzenegger’s press release: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/10697 Sierra Club’s “Stop Sprawl” information site: www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/overview/

State of California

Making an Activist Continued from Page 1

Ruth Troetschler

Most of us shudder when we discover that our home is termite infested. We may even have visions of the building collapsing! And no wonder. Termites and their protozoa allies are major recyclers of dead wood. Obviously since we use wood to build our houses, termites are a threat. Do not panic, however. It takes many years for termites to threaten a structure.

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

Our choices about land use affect many of the slices of this pie.

A Landmark Law, but not without Compromise While there are truly landmark aspects of SB 375, the final version contains a number of compromises that were necessary to gain support from affordable housing advocates, the building industry, and local governments. These compromises exempted certain residential and mixed use development projects from the environmental review process. The final bill also changed state housing law in ways that could require local governments to zone more open land for development. After extensive review of these amendments and weighing the impacts on existing environmental law, the Sierra Club’s California Legislative Committee concluded that Sierra Club California could not support the final version of the bill. The Committee intends to continue working with legislative leaders to tighten the compromise language in upcoming sessions. Sponsors of the bill are the California League of Conservation Voters and Natural Resources Defense Council.

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

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Land use

Closing in on Open Space by Cynthia Denny

The Loma Prietan Wetlands Subcommittee — Marsha Cohen, Cynthia Denny, Gita Dev, Marianna Raymond, and Pat Walker — worked diligently, campaigning to raise money and inform the public. Literature drops at thousands of doors, endless meetings, eternal emails, constant phone calls to Redwood City residents, reams of research and billions of blogs were just a part of the everyday life of these stead-

Scientists say we must establish 100,000 acres of healthy wetlands around the Bay to protect water quality, combat global warming, prevent floods, and provide natural habitat for Bay wildlife. Measure W’s results don’t mean Redwood City residents support Cargill’s massive development scheme. Even many opponents of the measure publicly stated they are opposed to development on these salt ponds. They know a healthy Bay is essential to our quality of life and economy, and they want to see it protected and restored. Save The Bay, Sierra Club, Friends of Redwood City, and thousands of supporters continue

John Gibson

The results of Redwood City’s open space vote registered “Dismal” at the polls. Measure W — the Charter Amendment that would have guaranteed Redwood City voters the final say on development of Cargill’s 1,433 acres of retired salt ponds and other open space — didn’t pass in the November election. Because Cargill’s DMB Associates, an Arizona-based resort and housing developer, spent nearly $2 million to mislead and scare Redwood City voters, Measure W’s failure is disappointing but not surprising.

fast activists, as well as other members of the Open Space Vote Coalition. Unfortunately, Redwood City Mayor Roseanne Foust and the City Council joined the corporate powers-thatbe to squash the measure. Even Chapter Director Melissa Hippard’s pressure on the mayor didn’t turn the tide.

The fate of 1433 acres of salt ponds is still in the balance.

to fight against any development on Cargill’s salt ponds along Redwood City’s shores. These ponds were once thriving wetlands, and they can — and should — be again. If you’re excited about supporting the preserva-

tion of 1400 acres of Bay wetlands, jump in and contribute your time and energy. Contact Cynthia Denny, [email protected] Cynthia Denny is Chair of the Chapter Wetlands Committee.

Will Stanford Be an Icon for Sustainability in Redwood City? by Gita Dev Stanford’s prospective campus in Redwood City presents a unique opportunity for the University to demonstrate intensified land use with a more sustainable footprint. Stanford University has purchased 35 acres of existing office park, and Stanford Hospital purchased the 11-acre Excite@Home building along Interstate 101 near Woodside Road. The office park is slated for phased demolition as Stanford builds 1.5 million square feet over the next decade using several multi-storied buildings. Stanford Hospital is remodeling the Excite buildings into outpatient clinics. The goal is to keep all student functions at the main Stanford campus by moving some administrative, lab and medical offices off-site. Stanford could accommodate more than 5,000 university employees at full build-out over the next decade. It seems counterintuitive that such a major development could be made a model of sustainable land use, but several key features could make this achievable: • Intensified land use within existing urban area: Targeting an underutilized site for redevelopment

• Economic sustainability: Increase in employees can bring additional business to downtown establishments, particularly those within walking, biking or shuttle bus range. • Improved water quality: Using parking structures rather than lots will remove acres of pavement and allow natural site drainage. • Air quality and open space: Enhancing the site with trees and native plants will improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect and increase urban green space. • Sustainable expansion: A satellite campus on an infill site will allow Stanford to grow without encroaching on open spaces adjacent to the main campus. • Sustainable identity: Given the location’s high freeway visibility, Stanford can create an iconic and educational image for passersby. One potential idea could be a display of working solar or wind collectors, with an electronic graphic demonstrating harvesting of clean energy. However, there are serious challenges that need to be addressed. These include: Social concerns: The development borders on a lower-income residential neighborhood. In order to create a positive relationship with the

community and become an asset to the neighborhood, Stanford might consider: • Funding and sharing such amenities as open space, recreational facilities, and daycare. • Buffering the campus from the residences, possibly by widening Spinas Park, which lies between the two. • Providing new, affordable housing on the campus site. Traffic: Woodside Road exits and the Dumbarton Bridge access road are both congested and will require modifications to expand capacity, but the neighborhood needs protection from increased traffic flows. Stanford’s Traffic Demand Management program will need to be intensified to reduce singleoccupant auto commutes through parking fees, transit passes, shuttles, bike and pedestrian conveniences, local housing incentives and other creative approaches. Reducing traffic will also help reduce the air and groundwater pollution associated with auto commutes.

Make a Difference If you are interested in encouraging smart growth on the Peninsula, contact the Sustainable Land Use Committee Chair, Bonnie McClure: [email protected] or attend the next monthly meeting January 8, 11:45 am-1:15 pm at Le Boulanger, 2226 Broadway, Redwood City (one block from the train station).

ance, so Stanford should consider promoting or financing affordable housing, either on the campus or in downtown. City Water Shortage: Stanford is considering the use of City-recycled wastewater for landscaping and flushing.

Parking: Multi-storied parking structures are planned to accommodate increased commuter traffic. These should be surrounded by other structures, preferably with affordable housing.

Height: The 75-foot height limit allows for five-story buildings. These will be more appropriate closer to the freeway than where it merges with single-story buildings on adjacent properties.

Job-Housing Imbalance: The development exacerbates Redwood City’s existing imbal-

Gita Dev is an architect and a member of the Chapter Sustainable Land Use Committee.

Workshop Focuses on Land Use to Cool the Planet by Coryne Tasca

Land use issues were front and center at “Building Climate-Friendly Communities,” a public workshop hosted by the Chapter’s Cool Cities Campaign in conjunction with the Greenbelt Alliance and the Planning and Conservation League. The workshop was designed to provide residents with tools to fight global warming in local communities, particularly by working with officials on land use and planning decisions.

The “built environment” has significant effect on GHG emissions. A city’s design affects the number of miles residents commute and the energy use of buildings; factors that, together, comprise at least 70% of GHG emissions in California. Without abundant, affordable housing and well-designed urban centers, residents travel greater distances for jobs and services. Smart Urban Design is a Priority Stephanie Reyes, Senior Policy Advocate with Greenbelt Alliance, pointed out that although people often think of technology, such as hy-

• Support smart development. By allowing well-designed plans to move forward, the community will encourage similar, emissionsfocused projects.

Coryne Tasca

Julio Magalhaes, Chapter Global Warming Program Coordinator, opened with an overview of Cool Cities, a national Sierra Club campaign to address climate change through local action. Cool Cities Teams identify goals for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions locally and work with officials to meet those goals. The Chapter has 19 Cool Cities teams.

brid vehicles, first, smart urban design is as important, since living closer to one’s work reduces emissions more than does driving a fuel efficient vehicle. Walkable neighborhoods reduce driving by 30%, and public transit use increases tenfold when transit is located near jobs Julio Magalhaes tells attendees that how and and homes.

where we build is as important as what we drive.

Reyes identified several ways planning can reduce emissions:

• Encourage density in the right places • Encourage mixed-use development. Reyes stressed that this doesn’t mean skyscrapers; clusters of three- and four-story “downtown” style buildings can accomplish the objectives without “over-urbanizing” a city. • Require less land for parking • Offer easy access to green space, which reduces the need for private, resource-intensive yards and provides recreation options residents can access without traveling • Ensure affordable housing near urban centers

Matt Vander Sluis, Global Warming Program Manager of the Planning and Conservation League, stressed that tools are available for conservation in planning, but they rely on civic engagement to be successful. He noted that denser development not only reduces GHG emissions, it can also benefit the economy by creating green jobs and by reducing costs associated with sprawl-supportive infrastructure. Residents can work with officials to promote smarter community growth through environmental review processes, such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act, and through mandatory building standards.

an overview of the 2009 goals of the Chapter’s Cool Cities Team. These goals include green building initiatives for new and existing structures, adding climate metrics to General Plan updates, encouraging cities to revise CEQA guidelines to include GHG impacts in new development, and continuing to build Climate Action Plans throughout the region. Suozzo is co-chair of the Chapter Cool Cities Core Team. The program ended with a breakout exercise, during which residents from each city teamed up to identify an immediate, specific action they could take to encourage smart growth in their communities. Most identified General Plans as the area in which they hoped to have the most impact. Coryne Tasca is a Chapter member, Cool Cities San Jose Team Member, and serves on the editorial board of the Loma Prietan newsletter.

SB 375 will have an Effect

To Learn More

Residents can also influence General Plans, Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) and Regional Blueprints. General Plans and RTPs that focus on well-designed urban centers can help reduce emissions. SB 375 (see article on page 1) is expected to motivate the inclusion of emissions-minded RTPs in General Plans. Regional Blueprints are not legally binding, but they are another tool for merging emissions reductions into planning.

To get more information about the Chapter’s Cool Cities campaign and find a team in your city, visit: http://lomaprietaglobalwarming. sierraclub.org/coolcities.php or contact Margaret Suozzo, Loma Prieta Cool Cities co-chair, at 650-815-5479 or [email protected] For information about Greenbelt Alliance and a copy of the Smart Growth Scorecard, visit: www.greenbelt.org For information about the Planning and Conservation League and its work on environmental legislation in California, visit: www.pcl.org

Margaret Suozzo capped the presentations with

Green living

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The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

Cooking Green story and photo by Kay Bushnell

Macaroni and “Cheese”

Is That a Rainforest in Your Cookie? Most of us are consumers of palm oil. In China and India it is used as a cooking oil. In Europe and the US it is found in cookies, crackers, spreads, pie crusts, energy bars, candies, trail mix, margarine, cosmetics, and biofuels.

In 2006 the US government required food labels to list transfat, typically found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and a causative factor in heart disease. The law spurred many food manufacturers to use palm oil instead of hydrogenated oils in processed food. Palm oil is a dubious improvement because it still promotes heart disease to a greater extent than olive, soy, and canola oils. We should be even more concerned about the way palm oil is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia. The areas covered with native lowland forests in Malaysia and Indonesia provide perfect growing conditions for oil palms. In these forests a tragedy has been unfolding for the last 30 years. Rainforests Logged One third of Borneo’s lush forests that were standing in 1985 were cut down by 2005. Malaysia and Indonesia now produce 86% of the world’s supply of palm oil. As demand for palm oil soars, lowland forest is fast being replaced with oil palm monoculture. Global production of palm oil is expected to climb to 89.1 billion pounds by 2020, up almost 100% since 2001, according to Oil World, a trade publication. Typically, rainforest rather than disused agricultural land is selected for new palm oil plantations. Once the forest is logged, oil palms move in because “...agricultural crops [such as oil palm] are short-term investments that increase cash flow quickly,” say Ellie Brown and Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in their report, Cruel Oil

(cspinet.org/palm). Palm oil production in Malaysia and Indonesia and the logging and fires that usually precede it cause release of carbon into the atmosphere, destruction of wildlife and wildlife habitat, and pollution of soil, air, and water. A peat swamp forest with up to 60 feet of peat below it covers 11% of Borneo and stores vast amounts of carbon. When its forest covering is removed the peat decays and releases carbon. Peat also becomes highly susceptible to burning that releases even more carbon.

The Orangutan Connection Numerous wild species that inhabit the fastdwindling lowland rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia are at risk of extinction. Brown and Jacobson mention the Sumatran tiger (only 250 left), orangutans of Sumatra and Borneo (nearing extinction in the wild), Asian elephant and Sumatran rhinoceros as examples of the “devastation to come.” Orangutans are locked in a desperate struggle to survive. They face death and extinction not only from illegal poaching and hunting but also from loss of food-bearing trees. Now viewed as agricultural pests, many are killed by oil palm plantation workers when they attempt to eat oil palm fruit and when they flee forest fires. In 1997 alone, almost 8,000 orangutans perished due to devastating fires. Factors in the palm oil drama appear to be similar to those found in other developing nations that have highly marketable natural resources: lack of environmental safeguards, embedded corruption and bribery, opportunistic foreign investors and financial institutions, and displaced indigenous peoples. An excellent article, “Borneo’s Moment of Truth,” in National Geographic (November 2008) emphasizes that

You’ll enjoy familiar texture and comforting flavor with this plant-based mac and “cheese.” The nuts enrich flavor and nutrient content. For a special treat sprinkle some chopped Tofurky Sweet Italian Sausage over each serving. Serves 10. 3c. elbow macaroni

Lightly oil a 3-quart round or oval ovenproof casserole dish. Prepare the topping and set aside.

Topping: In a blender chop bread, 1 slice at a time, and empty crumbs into a mixing bowl; stir in the olive oil and set aside. 3 slices whole-grain bread 3T. olive oil

Fill a large cooking pot 3/4 full of water and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and lower heat. Simmer for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Rinse with cold water, drain, and return to pot. Stir in 2 t. olive oil to prevent sticking.

Vegetables for “Cheese” Sauce: 1 large carrot, grated 1 large Russet potato, peeled and cut into 1” chunks 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 medium onion, chopped

In a medium sauce pan place carrot, potato, garlic, and onion in about 3” of water. Cover, bring to a boil, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

“Cheese” Sauce: 3c. rice milk, soy milk, OR Eden soy/rice blend 1/3c. raw cashew nuts 4T. rolled oats 2T. EACH tahini and almond butter OR 4 T. tahini (sesame seed butter) 2t. soy sauce 1-1/2t. Dijon mustard 1t. garlic powder 1-1/2t. lemon juice 1/8t. 1/8t. 4t.

black pepper cayenne pepper salt, or to taste

Preheat oven to 375°. While macaroni and vegetables are cooking, place “cheese” sauce ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth. Add cooked vegetables and blend again until very smooth. Pour “cheese” sauce over cooked macaroni, blend well, and transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with the topping. Bake at 375° for 3040 minutes or until bubbly and the crumbs have browned. Copyright Kay Bushnell Recipes that have appeared in the Loma Prietan are now available at http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/ newsletter_collections.asp

plans for saving Borneo’s diversity must include ways for residents to improve their lives. An Indonesian official comments, “It is hard for hungry people to appreciate nature.”

To Learn More

As unwitting participants in deciding the future of the Malaysian and Indonesian lowland forest, we should be aware of the story behind the words “palm oil,” “palmitate,” and “palmitic acid” on ingredient labels. Palm oil-free alternatives are almost always available.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, www. rspo.org (An association created by players in the palm oil supply chain to promote sustainable palm oil production.)

Loma Prieta Chapter member Kay Bushnell has taught plant-based cooking and appeared as The Garden Gourmet in a community-access television cooking series.

The Orangutan Conservancy, www.orangutan.net

http://naturealert.blogspot.com (Startling images, reasons why there is currently no guaranteed “orangutan-friendly” palm oil)

Gardening Green Books on Native Plant Gardening:

story and photo by Arvind Kumar

“Bulk Up” Your Garden this Winter If you have lived in California for any length of time, you know how different it is from the East Coast or Midwest or northern Europe. California is warm and dry for the better part of the year, with not a drop of rain for eight months. All our water comes from the sky during the four short months of winter. Our environment is rooted in this winter-wet, summer-dry cycle. For our plants, winter is the time for rapid growth and regeneration; summer is the time for dormancy.

Those who ignore this fundamental reality do so at great cost to themselves and the environment. Those who recognize this reality and turn it to their advantage eventually succeed and thrive. Successful California gardens are designed to absorb the winter moisture, “bulking up” naturally and organically in order to survive the dry season ahead.

Compost: Spread compost to add organic matter and nutrition to the soil and to improve its capacity to absorb and hold moisture. Start a compost pile, if you don’t have one. Reduce run-off: Build a bioswale, a shallow, level depression in which rainwater can collect and slowly percolate through the soil to recharge aquifers. Plant it with water-tolerant plants such as rushes and sedges. In hardscape, use permeable materials such as decomposed granite and porous tiles, so water can seep through instead of running off.

Control pests: During winter, snails and slugs emerge from hibernation and devour tender seedlings at a mind-boggling rate. Control the pests by hand picking at night or early in the morning; persistent picking is extremely effective. Use copper tape barriers, or a nontoxic bait such as Sluggo or beer.

What can you do to help the garden bulk up this winter so it will be more vibrant and resilient the rest of the year? Here are some tips. Plant natives: Native plants are naturally adapted to our climate and soils, have unmatched habitat value, and are beautiful in their own right. This is the best time of year to plant them. Want ideas? Visit your local library or bookstore and get a copy of California Plants for the Garden, by Bornstein, Fross, and O’Brien. Mulch: Any organic matter spread over the ground helps control weeds, retain moisture, and enrich the soil over time. Instead of using toxic herbicides, incorporate a two- to four-inch layer of wood chips in plant beds. Ask for free chips from your local tree service company. Leave the litter: Allow leaf litter to decompose in place, an easy way to return nutrients to the soil and help rebuild top soil that was lost to bulldozing and grading.

• California Native Plants for the Garden, Bornstein, Fross, O’Brien • Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful, Ecological Gardens, Keator & Middlebrook • Gardener’s Guide to California Native Plants, Native Revival Nursery, Aptos • Native Treasures, M. Nevin Smith • Growing California Native Plants, Marjorie Schmidt • Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region, East Bay Municipal Utility District

Weed: Pull water-gulping weeds before they go to seed. Pay attention to the shape of leaves and flowers; with time you will be able to tell weed seedlings apart from the garden plants. With mulching and regular weeding, you can reduce the weed population in your garden.

This bioswale, planted with native sedges and rushes, collects water during rainstorms and filters out pollutants.

Plant wildflowers: Start wildflower patches in your garden for seasonal color and year-round habitat. Keep the patches small and clear of mulch; hand weed as necessary. Clarkias, poppies, and gilias will germinate and fill these spaces with color in spring. Birds will feast on the seeds all year long. Once established, a patch will regenerate on its own year after year.

Dig up invasives: Plants like pampas grass and ivy have outlived their welcome in California. Winter is a good time to dig these invasives up and dispose of them. They have done tremendous damage by invading California’s wildlands; do your part to control them and educate your neighbors. As you take these steps, one by one, your garden will become more resilient and sustainable, thriving during California winters and better able to survive the long summers. Sierra Club life member and California Native Plant Society director Arvind Kumar grows native plants in his Evergreen garden. He can be reached at [email protected].

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

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www.lomaprieta.sierraclub.org

outings and activities

Meandering by John Maybury

Obamanos!

We join the rest of the world in congratulating Barack Obama on his historic election victory. President-Elect Obama already has acquitted himself well in making smart cabinet appointments and proposing important environmental and economic reforms. On the environmental front, Obama will have allies such as Congressman Henry Waxman, the new chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Meanwhile, the Washington Post and other major newspapers report that the Bush administration is trying to weaken as many environmental and consumer protections as possible before Obama takes over. This shameless gutting of federal programs that exist to help endangered species (including humans) will be the final legacy of these crooks and liars who have ruled us for the past eight years. Good riddance to them.

Tuolumne Rescue

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has approved a $4.4 billion upgrade of the Hetch Hetchy Water System to enable it to withstand a major earthquake. SFPUC also will cap water sales at current levels until at least 2018. This is a major victory for the wild and scenic

Tuolumne River, says Peter Drekmeier, Bay Area Program Director for the Tuolumne River Trust. A year ago we faced a proposal to divert an additional 25 million gallons of water per day from the Tuolumne--enough to fill 1,000 swimming pools. We’ve come a long way. We’re pleased to see the SFPUC taking its role as a steward of the Tuolumne River seriously. (See the Brief Update on p. 2; also Tuolumne.org/bayarea)

fee waste and vegetable oil, and are packaged in recycled materials (about $26 for six logs); and Duraflame petroleum-free logs burn for three hours and use 80% fewer resources than regular firewood (about $23 for six logs). The US Department of Energy has online tips (energy. gov) for getting the most out of your fireplace. Avoid burning particle-board or treated wood, which release toxic chemicals. (IdealBite.com)

Protect Pets

Future Green

Veterinarians warn that cocoa bean mulch and avocadoes, both commonly found in homes and gardens, are dangerous for animals to eat. Visit the Animal Poison Control Center at aspca.org for info on protecting your pets from toxic substances found in everyday products.

Green Heat

Conventional fire logs contain petroleum byproducts, and store-bought firewood may not come from sustainably managed forests. Environmentally friendly logs and fireplaces keep you warm using sustainable materials. EcoGreen and EcoSmart Fire Logs are easy-to-setup fireplaces that use clean-burning ethanol, no chimney required ($500); Java-Log Fireplace Logs burn for three hours, are made from cof-

Environmental Futures: A Contest for Public Schools will hold a pilot contest for San Francisco public schools in 2009 to encourage and reward teachers and students who devise inclass environmental lessons and projects based on existing lesson plans and subject matter. Prizes up to $5,000 for a winning class, plus gifts, are offered. The contest will be judged by leading environmental educators. Info: Jim LeCuyer, [email protected].

Bees-Ness

Honeybees are in widespread decline due to colony collapse disorder (CCD), although organically farmed honeybees apparently are not affected. Other pollinators--including wasps, flies, beetles, birds, and bats--also have decreas-

ing populations. Honeybees are essential for more than 90 fruit and vegetable crops worldwide, and their economic worth is valued at more than $14.6 billion in the U.S. Cherries, blueberries, almonds, asparagus, macadamia nuts, and honey, and royal jelly all rely on pollination. Native pollinators depend on healthy native plant habitats, so if you don’t have a garden, you can grow native plants in pots on your balcony or porch. (Sources: Xerces.com, LasPilitas.com, but not the Sacramento Bee!)

Educators Needed

Save The Bay’s Watershed Education Program seeks energetic part-time field educators to lead on-the-water Canoes In Sloughs and Discover The Bay programs for middle school and high school students, community and corporate groups, and other Bay Area residents. Field educators co-lead educational programming on wetlands, watersheds, and San Francisco Bay while maintaining a fun and safe environment for groups in canoes. (savesfbay.org) Email: [email protected] Surf: PacificaRiptide.com

Outings & Activities All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the Liability Waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, please go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/, or contact the Outings Department at (415) 977-5528 for a printed version. CST number applied for #2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. California has established a Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) under the California Seller of Travel Act. The TCRF is not applicable to these Outings. The law requires us to advise you that you would not be eligible to make any claim from the TCRF in the unlikely event of default by the Sierra Club. California law also requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. The Sierra Club has such a trust account.

Backpacking Explore the California/Nevada wilderness! Members and nonmembers are invited to attend Section meetings. Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month except July and August. Our default location, unless posted otherwise in our newsletter or on our Web pages, is: Acterra Bldg, Peregrine Rm., 3921 E Bayshore Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303. A short review of trip reports and trip announcements is followed by a refreshment break, then a featured program, Section business, and conservation issues. Steve Sergeant, Chair, (408) 937-8116, mail to: Steve.Sergeant@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org. Trip details are available at http:// lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/bps/ and in our monthly newsletter, Living It Up! To subscribe, send a $12 check payable to Backpack Section, c/o Katherine Greene, P.O. Box 390578, Mountain View, CA 94039. Indicate your preference for a print or e-mail copy.

Black Mountain Group Hikes The Black Mountain Group of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter invites you to hike with us. Our activity schedule is sustained by volunteer leaders. If you want to lead a hike or other activity please contact our activities coordinator, Paul Worden, 650-857- 1623, pworden1@ sonic.net for information. To subscribe to our mail-list send a request to [email protected] with the message INFO LOMAP-BMG-NEWS and instructions will be sent to you. We prefer moderate hikes combining good exercise with good companions, appreciation of nature, and plenty of variety. If you are unsure about times, meeting places, or requirements for a hike, please check with the leader for details. Always bring plenty of water and lunch, unless indicated otherwise. Dress for the weather and be prepared for changes. We recommend boots for general hiking. Jan 3 Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve Saturday, 3C (11+ miles, 2600+ feet). Join us as we explore the steep, rugged terrain of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s largest, wildest preserve (located near Hwy. 17, south of Los Gatos). This is a strenuous loop hike in the Kennedy-Limekiln area, with expansive views of coastal mountains and the south bay. Carpool 8:30 AM at the Los Gatos Municipal Northside Parking Lot, located on Hwy. 9 (Los Gatos-Saratoga Road), between North Santa Cruz Ave. and University Ave. Parking is quite limited at the trailhead, so carpooling is necessary. Boots recommended. Bring lunch, snacks and 2 liters of water. There

is no water on the trail. Heavy rain cancels. For more information about the preserve, visit: www.openspace. org/preserves/pr_sierra_azul.asp Leaders: Bill Young and Jenny Maida-Young 408-353-9488. Jan 11 El Sereno Open Space Preserve Sun 2B (~9.5 miles, 1900 ft) Moderately paced out-and-back hike in this secluded South Bay preserve. It offers panoramic views of South Bay and Lexington Reservoir. On clear days, you can see San Francisco to Monterey peninsula. This fire road trail is mostly exposed but shaded in the beginning at the lower elevation. There is no map, no water, no facility in this preserve. Bring water, lunch, hiking boots, sun protection and rain gear, if in forecast. Meet at 9:15 AM at the Los Gatos Municipal Northside Parking Lot, located on Hwy. 9 (Los Gatos-Saratoga Road), between North Santa Cruz Ave. and University Ave. Take Highway 17 south toward Los Gatos. Exit at Hwy. 9-Los Gatos/Saratoga and continue west on Hwy. 9 (approx. 1/3-mile) to the parking lot, located on your right just before Santa Cruz Ave. No host carpool. 9 AM at Page Mill Road/280 Park& Ride. Heavy rain cancels. For information visit www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_ el_sereno.asp, www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/elsereno. html. Leader: Sharon Chuang 408-396-5484 Jan 17 Monument and Allison Peaks Sat 3C 12 miles, 2500 feet. Starting from Ed Levin County Park, we’ll follow the steep trail up Calera creek to Monument Peak at 2594, then drop down to a saddle and up to Allison Peak at 2658. Meet at Page Mill and 280 Park-and-Ride at 9:00, no-host car pool at the corner of 1st and Hedding in San Jose at 9:30, or in the parking of the Sandy Wool Lake area of Ed Levin County Park at 10:00. Bring lunch, liquids, and clothes for wind and weather. Trails may be muddy depending on recent weather. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Carol Drummond 650-814-2211 or [email protected] Jan 24 Natural Bridge State Park to Wilder Ranch State Park Sat 3B (11mi, 1000) We will state from Natural Bridge State Park to look at Natural Bridge and the Monarch Butterfly and we will walk along the coast to Wilder Ranch State Park. Carpool at Page Mill and I-280 at 9AM or meet at Natural Bridge State Park Parking at 10AM. Bring lunch, hat, at least 2 liter of water, and jacket (weather can be unpredictable). Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Robbie Chung 650-281-4803 Feb 1 Almaden Quicksilver Sun 2A (6.5mi 600 ft) This is a historic hike through an old mercury & cinnabar mine in South San Jose. We will hike at a moderately fast pace since there are not a lot of super steep hills. The hike route goes through the cemetery, Powder House, the Mill, Spanish Town and English Town. Bring your camera because there are sweeping views of San Jose and the surrounding mountains. Also, pack water, a snack, and wear sun protection. Bathrooms are located across the street from the Hicks Parking lot at the Sierra Azul parking lot. Meet at the trailhead in the Hicks/Wood Road Parking lot at 9:30 AM. Parking is free. Email me if you want to carpool from Campbell. Canceled if it is raining. Leader: Leila Dibble (408) 583-7861 email: [email protected] Feb 8 Foothill Dirca Sun 2B, 6 miles, 1300 feet. We’ll walk the familiar route from Arastradero to Foothill Park, then explore a piece of the Los Trancos trail in search of Western Leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis). Meet at Page Mill and 280 Park-and-Ride at 12:30 or no-host car pool at the corner of 1st and Hedding in San Jose at 12:00. Plan on a few minutes after the hike for a weather appropriate beverage; feel free to bring goodies to share. Rain does not cancel (ok, heavy rain cancels!). Leader: Carol

Drummond 650-814-2211 or [email protected] Feb.14 Montebello Ridge/Los Trancos New Member hike Sat, 2B (7 mi 1000 ft) Come find out what it’s all about! Regular members, come welcome our new members! Scenic figure eight through two local parks in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Carpool at 10:00 am at Page Mill and I-280 park-n-ride. Bring lunch and liquids; boots recommended; rain cancels. Leader: Paul Worden 650/857-1623 [email protected] Feb 28 Skyline Ridge/Russian Ridge Hike. Sat 3B (11-miles, 1500 ft.) This hike will follow the Bay Area Ridge Trail through the two preserves and then return on a different trail. Featured highlights include two ponds, spectacular vistas and the highest point in San Mateo County. No host carpool 9:45 am at Page Mill/280 P&R or meet at 10:15 am at the Skyline Ridge parking lot on Skyline Blvd. (approx. 1-mile south of Alpine Rd.). Bring layered-clothing and a hat, lunch, liquids and boots. Leader: Jerry Peters (650)947-9494. Mar 7 Point Reyes: Bear Valley to Mt. Wittenberg Sat 3B (14 miles, 2000 ft.). We’ll start at the Bear Valley Visitors Center and hike up the steep trail to the top of Mt. Wittenberg through forest. We will then descend to the Coastal Trail across meadows and wooded sections and hike along the ocean. Return will be by way of the rolling and shaded Bear Valley Trail. Dress in layers, weather may be foggy and cool or sunny and warm. Bring ample water and lunch. Meet for carpool at Edgewood/280 P&R at 8:00AM or at Bear Valley Visitors Center near main Bear Valley trailhead at 9:30 AM. Optional dinner. Note: this is a strenuous hike. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Cynthia Bollinger, 650-226-3958.

Day Hiking All hikes by the Day Hiking Section are open to the general public and Sierra Club membership is not required. DHS activities begin and end at the trailhead. All participants on Sierra Club Outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before participating on an outing, you can find a copy of it at www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/participantforms/liabilit.pdf or call the outings department at (415) 977-5630 for a printed version. The hike schedule is available on the DHS web page at www. sierraclub.org/chapters/lomaprieta/dayhiking/. Hikers new to the group are required to call the hike leader in advance. The hike rating system is as follows: Distance 2 = 5 to 10 miles 3 = 10 to 15 miles 4 = 15 to 20 miles 5 = 20 to 25 miles

Elevation B = 1,000 to 2,000 feet C = 2,000 to 3,000 D = 3,000 to 4,000 E = 4,000 to 5,000

sion exits). OR, meet at Mitchell Canyon Trailhead, north side of Mt Diablo, 9:00AM. Leaders: Landa Robillard and Kelly Maas, 408/378-5311, [email protected] Jan 17 Rose Peak, Sunol Park, Sat, 4D. Follow the famous Brogan Route for a complete loop to Rose Peak. Rain cancels; bring wind protection just in case. Carpool: 7:30AM, Mission Blvd and Hwy 680 Park & Ride, across from McDonalds; OR 8:00AM at far parking lot, Sunol Park. Leader: Charles Rankin, W: 650/691-1142, H: 650/368-1530; [email protected] Jan 24 Pacheco State Park, Sat, 3C. This park is on Hwy 152 at Dinosaur Point between Gilroy and Los Banos. No drinking water at the park; must bring your own. Heavy rain cancels. Carpool: No-Host 7:00AM, Cubberley Auditorium (Middlefield and Montrose), Palo Alto; OR, 7:30AM, Hwy 85 and Cottle Rd Park & Ride, San Jose. Leader: Ted Raczek, 408/532-7732; Co-Leader: Aki Niimura, [email protected]. Jan 31 Almaden Quicksilver Park, Sat, 3/4C. A leisurely hike through Quicksiler Park allowing time to see remnants of the mining days. Meet at the Mockingbird entrance to the park at 8:30AM. No-Host carpool at Page Mill and Hwy 280 Park & Ride, 8:00AM. Leader: Bonnie Ruesch, 408/391-8323, [email protected] Feb 7 Windy Hill and Skyline Area, Sat, 4C. We will start at the Windy Hill parking lot on Portola Rd and hike up to Skyline. We’ll do a loop before returning. Meeting time at Windy Hill: 8:30AM. If it rains, the hike will be shortened. Leader: Maia Pindar, H: 650/367-1256; W: 650/812-4019. Feb 14 Mt Tamalpais Odyssey, Sat, 4D. We’ll visit the three peaks of Mt Tam, drop off West Peak and hike out toward Bon Tempe Lake. Heavy rain cancels. Please contact the leader if you have not hiked with the DHS. Carpool: 7:30AM, Edgewood Rd and Hwy 280 Park & Ride OR meet at Mountain Home, 8:45AM. Leader: Dot Reilly, 415/585-1380. Feb 21 Arastradero to Black Mountain, Sat, 4D. Meet at the Arastradero parking lot, 8:00AM. We will hike in four parks: Arastradero, Foothills, Los Trancos and Montebello. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Francoise Mertz, 650/494-8578. Feb 28, Grant Ranch County Park, Sat, 4C. Enjoy earlyseason wildflowers during this hike through the grassy hills near Mt Hamilton. No-Host Carpool: 7:20AM at Cubberley Auditorium (Middlefield & Montrose), Palo Alto; OR, meet 8:00AM, Grant Ranch County Park, parking area near the visitor center ($6 parking fee). Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Joerg Lohse, 408/542-1406, joergDHS AT gmail.com; CoLeader: Chris Prendergast, 408/926-8067, [email protected].

Jan 3 Junipero Serra Peak, Sat, 3D. This is the 2nd highest peak in the Santa Lucia Range. On top, we’ll find exotic ponderosa pine, white fir, and other plants normally associated with the Sierra. Nine miles round trip, 3750’ gain. Carpool: In Gilroy, off Dunne Ave exit at Carl’s Jr, 7AM; 150 mi drive to the trailhead. Rain cancels. [Traditional Peak Climbing Section daytrip] Leader: Lisa Barboza, [email protected]

Family Outings

Jan 10 Mt Diablo, Sat, 4D. From Mitchell Canyon, hike up the north side of Diablo to the two main summits. Heavy rain cancels. Carpool: 8 AM, Park & Ride at Hwy 680 and Mission Blvd in Fremont, across from McDonald’s (NOTE: this is the NORTHERN of the two 680/Mis-

Family Hikes with or without Children - 3 mile hikes within 1/2 hour drive of Palo Alto. For info, contact

Family Outings sponsors some weekend activities that are not listed in this section. If you are interested in adding your e-mail address to a distribution list to receive messages regarding late-breaking weekend outings, please send your e-mail address to Jo Ann Cobb at [email protected] or call at (650) 631-9303.

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outings and activities leader Sonya Bradski, (650) 856-9366, sonyangary@ yahoo.com

Gay, Lesbian Sierrans We have a large variety of outings, day hikes and camping trips. Please visit our website for up to date listing of hikes and outings at www.lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/gls/ calendar.html. Jan 1, 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. MISSION PEAK NEW YEARS DAY HIKE. Rating: 2C2, Start the New Year off with a GLS tradition, Mission Peak on New Year’s Day. Mission Peak overlooks Fremont and the South Bay with great views on a clear day including Mount Hamilton to the south, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west, Mt. Tamalpais to the north, and Mt. Diablo and the Sierra Nevada to the northeast. Wildlife includes Turkey Vultures, Hawks, wild turkeys, deer and cows. It’s about 2.8 miles of mostly steep up. The peak is at 2517ft. Since we’re not starting at sea level, we’ll be hiking up a total of 2100 feet to get to the top. While hiking up, you’ll generate plenty of heat, so dress in layers. The top is almost always windy and cold, no matter how nice it is at the base. Bring layers to keep warm, especially a wind layer for the summit, a warm hat, plenty of water, sunscreen, sturdy boots, snacks and a lunch. Carpool: Tamien Park and Ride, San Jose at 9:45 a.m. It is well serviced by Light Rail, CalTrain and Santa Clara County bus connections. To get there by car, take Highway 87 going South, get off at the Alma exit. Turn left after you exit and the Parkand-Ride will be on your immediate left. Or meet at the Stanford Ave trailhead off of Mission Blvd. Carpooling is encouraged. LEADERS: Cathy Roberts, cdrdash@yahoo. com, Dave Ellison [email protected], Lynne Formigli, [email protected], Ron Levesque, ronlevesqu@aol. com

Guadalupe Regional Group Guadalupe Regional Group includes mid- and south Santa Clara County and all of San Benito County, but any Sierra Club members and visitors are welcome. For a free copy of our monthly newsletter, The Guadalupan ($6 per year subscription), or info, call Chapter office, (650) 3908411 and leave your name and address; or write to Sierra Club/Guadalupe Group, P.O. Box 541, Santa Clara, CA 95052-0541. Group meets monthly, usually 3rd Thursday, 7:30 p.m., in the Community Room of Saratoga Library, Saratoga Ave. at Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, for slide program, chit-chat; members and public are welcome at any meeting or hike. Refreshments served; bring your own cup. Meeting and trip schedule below. For added trips, see The Guadalupan, published 1st week each month; or call editor, Marj Ottenberg, (408) 867-4576. Jan 15 Thursday 7:30pm. GRG General Meeting at Saratoga Library. Program: Klamath Mountain Adventure w/Bob Groff Feb 26 Thursday 7:30pm. GRG General Meeting at Saratoga Library Program: MONUMENTAL A documentary film about David Brower and early years of the Sierra Club Jan 24 Saturday Almaden/Quicksilver Hike 2B 6 miles, 1000 ft elev gain. New Member Hike at Almaden Quicksilver County Park. See historic buildings, old mines and rolling hills. Moderate hike at an easy pace. Bring lunch, water, and hiking boots. Meet 10:30 AM at the park trailhead (call for location). Two car pool locations: 10 AM at Los Gatos Municipal Parking Lot (Highway 9 between University Ave & Santa Cruz Ave, behind Washington Mutual bank). For south county car pool call Linda Barbosa at 408-778-7122. Hike leaders: Linda Barbosa and Shawn Britton 408-551-0722.

Inner City Outings Inner City Outings is a community outreach program that provides opportunities for urban youth and young adults to explore, enjoy and protect the natural world. For more information or to join us on a trip, see http:// ico.sierraclub.org/sanjose/ or contact us at sanjose_ico@ yahoo.com Jan 6 Monthly Meeting: Peninsula Conservation Center, 7:30. All are welcome. Jan 10 Sequoia High School: It’s Elephant Seal season at Año Nuevo again. We will join a docent guided tour and witness this nature cinema take place right in front of us. We have a possibility of watching males duel out for the right to a female, couples procreate, pups being born. It will be a drama. Jan 24-25 Star House: It’s the snow season, time to start praying for the fluffy white powdery dusting of snow on the high sierra. We will spend a weekend up in cozy Hutchinson Lodge enjoying nothing but snow fun. For many of the youth, this will be the first time they see snow. Come teach them the art of making snow balls, snow forts, snow men or women, snow angels. With a bit of engineering skills, we can make a sleigh run too. Explore the trails around the cabin on cross country skis. Jan 30-Feb 1 7-Trees Elementary: Snow trip, description as above. Feb 3 Volunteer Orientation: Bill Wilson Center. 7:00pm. Come find out the rewarding work of a volunteer. Share, learn, and hone your outdoor skills. Feb 3 Monthly Meeting: Bill Wilson Center, 8:00. All are welcome. Feb 21-22 Outing Leadership Training: Learn what it takes to create, plan and lead a group of youth on an outing. It is a great way to inspire and influence a young generation of eager learners if given the chance. It is a great

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way to share and instill passion for the environment.

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Mar 13-15 Cesar Chavez Academy: Snow trip, description as January 24-25.

mained, like what often happens to weary travelers of the Taklamakan, a mirage in his altitude addled brain. Come and find out for yourself if all this is really true or a yarn worthy of Omar Khayyam, the Tentmaker! Please check the Peak Climbing website, www.peakclimbing.org/, for details on location.

Peak Climbing

Rock Climbing

Mar 3 Monthly Meeting: Peninsula Conservation Center, 7:30. All are welcome.

The Peak Climbing Section (PCS) is a group of mountain climbers who rally around the shared enjoyment of being in the mountains and the thrill of climbing. Climbs are usually in the Sierra and don’t require technical rock climbing. The PCS meets on the second Tuesday of each month. We have a newsletter, Scree, which contains reports of past trips, announcements of future trips, and articles of interest. Current and past Scree newsletters, meeting plans, trip plans, and other useful information about the PCS can be found on the web at lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/pcs. Notification of the posting of the current Scree on the website, the program for the upcoming meeting, as well as last-minute trip additions and changes may be obtained by subscribing to the Sierra Club listserve at http://lists.sierraclub.org/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?SUBED1=lomap-pcsannounce&A=1. More PCS trips can be found listed on our website: lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/pcs. Jan 3 Junipero Serra Peak. (Southern Coast Range). This is an annual January Loma Prieta Peak Climbing Section tradition. It’s a 12-mile round trip to the summit of the peak. We’ll be carpooling from San Jose for this trip as it is a 150-mile drive to the trailhead. This peak is the 2nd highest in the Santa Lucia range. On the summit, we’ll find exotic ponderosa pine, white fir, and other plants normally associated with the Sierra. We’ll start at the trailhead at 10 AM, summit by 2 PM and be back at the cars by 4 PM. This is a class 1 day-hike open to all. Leader: Lisa Barboza, [email protected] Jan 10 Mt. Diablo, 15 miles, 4000 ft. Too much food and too little exercise recently? The holidays are over, so now it’s time to get back into shape. From Mitchell Canyon we’ll hike up the north side of Diablo to at least the two main summits. Heavy rain cancels. For carpooling, meet at 8:00 AM at the Park & Ride at 680 and Mission Blvd in Fremont, across from McDonald’s -- note, this is the NORTHERN of the two 680/Mission intersections. Or, meet at the Mitchell Canyon Trailhead on the north side of Mt. Diablo at 9:00 AM. Leader: Kelly Maas, [email protected] (408) 378-5311. Jan 13 at 7:30 pm. Peak Climbing Section monthly meetings. “A Tale of Two Trips”. Emilie Cortes will compare and contrast two climbing expeditions to the high volcanoes of Ecuador. The first expedition in 2006 was guided by Alpine Ascents and the objectives were Cayambe (18.3k ft), Cotopaxi (19.3k ft), and Chimborazo (20.5k ft). After unsuccessful attempts on all three, Emilie returned in November 2008 with two friends to test a new acclimatization schedule and continue to explore Ecuador. Emilie will share spectacular photography of Ecuador’s highest mountains and countryside as well as her lessons learned. Check the Peak Climbing website, http://www.peakclimbing.org/, for details on location. Jan 24 and Jan 31-Feb 1 Snow Camping Training Course. The skills obtained from the Loma Prieta Snow Camping Seminar prepare you for camping happily in the snow. Participants must be experienced summer backpackers as this course will give you winter information and tips but doesn’t teach basic backpacking. One full day on Saturday, January 24, 2009, in the Palo Alto area and one weekend field trip on Jan 31-Feb 1, 2009. Limited to 40 participants for the classroom session, and 25 participants on the outing. $40 cost includes books, instruction, and some common equipment used on field trip. To sign up, send $40 check, payable to BSCS, to P.O. Box 802, Menlo Park, CA 94026. Include name of each person, phone #, email, postal address, Sierra Club member number (if oversubscribed, preference will be given to members). Questions? Contact Chris MacIntosh at 650/325-7841, [email protected], or Steve Sergeant at 408/937-8116, steve.sergeant@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org Jan 31 – Feb 1 Backcountry Skiing near Ostrander Lake. This will be an easy winter over-night - a good beginner trip. Sat. we will meet at Badger Pass ski area at 8:30 on Sat. morning. We will head out toward Ostrander Lake and go about five mile before setting camp. After setting up camp we will explore the area and look for good views. Sunday morning we will make an early start which in winter probably won’t be that early and go to Ostrander Lake, climb to a high point and return to camp and cars before 4:00. This trip can be done on snowshoes or skis. To our camping site will be easy skiing and after that intermediate but without a heavy pack. Leader: George Van Gorden [email protected] Feb 10 at 7:30 pm An attempt on Mustagh Ata (7546m / 24751 ft) in the Chinese Pamirs. Translating to ‘father of the ice mountains’ in the Uighur language, the native tongue of the original inhabitants of the Xingjiang, Mustagh Ata  is an enormous peak, 43rd in the world, that sits in the geological knot formed by the mountain ranges of the Pamir, the Tien-shan, the Kun Lun and the Krakoram-HinduKush-Himalaya groups. It is in an extremely romantic region of the world, steeped in history, conflict and intrigue, lying as it does just off the Karakoram Highway and near the junctions of China with Tajikistan, Kyrgyztan and Kazakhstan and is also very close to the Silk Road city of Kashgar where the Russians and the British played the ‘Great Game’. PCS member, Arun Mahajan, lured by the wiles of the hourie wandered into this region. He never really summitted but thinks that he came away with a great story. However, the hourie re-

Due to insurance changes, the RCS no longer has Sierra Club trips. Private trips are listed quarterly (or thereabouts) via e-mail. To get on the distribution list, please contact the current chair Hal Tompkins at (650) 3648603 or e-mail [email protected].

San Mateo Hiking Section New Hikers Welcome! The San Mateo Hiking Section offers moderate hikes two (always) and three (occasionally) times a week. Hikes start at 10:00 AM, unless otherwise specified. Bring water and lunch. Starred (**) hikes are over eight miles and/or strenuous. Write for our sixmonth, Wednesday/Thursday/sometimes Saturday hike schedule (schedule ends in June). Send a self -addressed/ stamped envelope and a $4.50 check, payable to San Mateo Hiking Section, Sierra Club, to HIKES, P.O. Box 651, San Carlos, CA 94070. For specific hikes, call hike leader at phone number given; for general information, call either Sandra Cooperman 650-369-2004 or Margaret Marshall 650-368-7385 Hike Co-Coordinators. Please call the hike leader in advance for any Saturday hikes Jan 1 Same hike as above. Restaurant lunch option. Leader: Julie Barney 650-494-2020 Jan 7 SAWYER CAMP TRAIL –Crystal Springs Reservoir. Meet: South end of trail at Crystal Springs Rd. and Skyline Blvd. Carpool: Edgewood Rd. 9:20 AM. Leader: Doris McGuire 650-341-5275 Jan 8 Same hike as above. Leader: Margaret Marshall 650-368-7385 Jan 10 Same hike as above. Call for reservation. Leader: Julia Bott 650-520-5673 Jan 14 ** FOOTHILL PARK –Palo Alto--Leader’s choice. MUST CALL leader before 8 PM the day prior to hike for reservation and carpool into park. Leader: Leif Schaumann 650-856-6130 Jan 15 Similar to hike above but not starred. Leader: Karen Sundback 650-494-0356 Jan 17 Similar to hike above but not starred. Call for reservation. Leader: Pat Saffer 650-326-2429 Jan 21 ALMADEN QUICKSILVER CO. PARK. Meet: Hicks/Wood Rd. entrance (Hwy. 85 south, exit Camden Ave. south 1¾ mi. to Hicks Rd. on right for 6 mi. to Wood Rd. Turn right on Wood Rd. to parking lot on right). Carpool: Page Mill Rd. 9:00 AM. Leader: Sue Swackhamer 408-227-5887 Jan 22 Same hike as above. Leader: Barry Swackhamer 408-227-5887 Jan 28 ** A. SAN FRANCISCO TELEGRAPH HILL-Leader’s choice. Meet: Fort Mason parking lot. Carpool: Edgewood Rd. 9:00 AM. Restaurant lunch option. Leader: Charles Ammann 650-322-9832 Jan 29 B. PACIFICA PIER TO STATE BEACH AT LINDA MAR. Meet: Pacifica Pier parking lot at 2212 Beach Blvd. Carpool: Edgewood Rd. 9:15 AM. Leader: Alex Dezfouli 650-355-0648 Feb 4 **ARASTRADERO PRESERVE--Leader’s choice. Meet: Preserve parking lot on Arastradero Rd. Carpool: Page Mill Rd. 9:45 AM. Leader: Leif Schaumann 650856-6130

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

650/366-4511 for more information. For a one year subscription send $12, and proof of membership in Sierra Club (label or copy of membership card) to the above address. Make checks payable to Sierra Singleaires. Jan 4 Sunol Regional Wilderness 12 Noon 1A- Join a friendly group on a leisurely 3.5 mile walk near the Alameda Creek to “Little Yosemite” on a service road. Bring lunch. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Lizette Kelleher 510/303-6880. Jan 4 Wunderlich County Park 10 AM 2B+ Come on a strenuous 10.5 mile hike with gradual 1900 foot elevation gain through mostly wooded areas. We will maintain a fairly brisk pace with short rest stops and lunch at the top. Wear layered clothing and boots. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Leader: Joe Dise 510/585-6289. Jan 11 Butano State Park 11:00 AM 1A Smell clean ocean air in the redwoods. See the sun beams exploding colors hard to imagine while climbing up and down along the beautiful Butano Creek. Sturdy footwear, parking fee, lunch at the campground, and water. Leader: Bob Segalla 650/962-1316. Jan 11 Lower Fall Creek Park 10:30 AM 2B The trails are forested with second-growth redwood, bay, and fir trees. Hike for approx. 5.5 miles on the Fall Creek Trail and visit the Lime Kiln area. Bring boots and water. Leader: Dieter Fellenz 408/379-8764. Jan 18 Santa Teresa County Park 10:00 AM 1 A+ Hike 7.5 miles over rolling hills with overall elevation gain of 1050 feet. Lunch at Pueblo Picnic Area.. Trail is rocky, boots necessary, bring lunch and water. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Merle Learned 408/264-0750. Jan 18 Teague Hill OSP 10:30 AM 2B This is a 6 mile hike through shady forest with 1600 feet elevation gain. Trail is not maintained, is narrow, steep in places, with brush, and has NO trail signs. You need boots, longsleeved shirts and long pants. Light rain OK. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Larry Stafford 650/ 493-7567. Jan 25 Palo Alto Baylands 2:00 PM (Mini-Hike) Approx. 3-4 miles. An easy, level, leisurely-paced hike thru the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the SF Bay. No shade, but often a cool breeze. Snowy egrets nest in the bird sanctuary. Rain cancels. Leader: Joy Warrick 650/969-2816. Jan 25 Sunol Regional Wilderness 11:00 AM 1 A- We will hike up to the old Barn, a 600 foot gentle rise. Heavy rain cancels, muddy trail changes it. Leader: Hedy Schwarzl 408/263-0642. Jan 25 Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton 10AM 2B Hike approximately 8+ miles with a quick pace through first growth redwoods and along the 8+ San Lorenzo River. There is lots of history in this area. Heavy rain around this event may cancel, check with leaders the week before the event. Leader: Ed Lange 650/2197381. Feb 1 Quarry Lakes Regional Park and Niles Garden Sculptures 10:45 AM 1A 4+miles. Visit the comfortable informal garden of artist, Ed-of-Niles, 4+and meet his whimsical Garden Saints. Join a level walk around the lakes. Bring lunch, umbrellas. Leader: Bobbie Burri 510/793-0876. Feb l Beautiful Pescadero Creek 10 AM 2B or 2A 7-9 miles depending on creek crossing. We’ll go on the Tarwater Loop and other trails west. No restrooms. Leader: Paula Velsey 408/ 275-0626. Feb 8 Black Mountain (Monte Bello) 11:00AM 1A+ It’s cool at the top! Find out how Mountain View got its name, and have lunch at our OSP campsite. This 5 mile hike has a scenic 500 foot climb from the Monte Bello Preserve parking lot. Leader: Bob Segalla 650/9621316.

Feb 7 Similar to hike above but not starred. Call for reservation. Leader: Nancy Welch 650-233-4348

Feb 8 Alum Rock Park 10:15 AM 2B This will be 7 to 9 miles depending on the weather and our inclinations. There’s a great view of the Santa Clara Valley from Eagle Rock. We can follow the old electric railroad bed into the Park. Leader: Joe Dise, 510/585-6289.

Feb 11 COYOTE HILLS--from SF Bay Nat’l Wildlife Refuge. Meet: SF Bay Nat’l Wildlife Refuge upper parking lot—south of east end of Dumbarton Bridge off Thornton Ave. Carpool: Burgess Park, Menlo Park 9:30 AM. Leader: John Hunt 650-589-0435

Feb 15 Pacifica Shoreline 11:30 AM 2 A 6+ miles. Enjoy the ocean from the fishing pier, hike over Mori and Rockaway Points to Linda Mar Beach and return. Bring water and lunch (fast food is available). Leader: Dan Power: 650/852-9614.

Feb 12 Same hike as above. Leader: Karen Sundback 650-494-0356

Feb 15 Montara Mountain 10:45 AM 2B 6+ miles. The highest mountain in San Mateo County. Some steep and rocky sections. We hike up from San Pedro Co. Park. Bring lunch, boots, and water. Light rain OK. Heavy rain cancels. Leader: Ed Lange 650/219-7381.

Feb 5 Similar to hike above but not starred. Leader: Bob Frost 650-493-8272

Feb 14 Same hike as above. Call for reservation. Leader: Pat Saffer 650-326-2429 Feb 18 GOLDEN GATES HEIGHTS –Stair Hike. Meet: Martin Luther King Jr. Drive immediately east of 19th Ave. in Golden Gate Park (park on right side across from restrooms and playground). Carpool: Edgewood Rd. 9:00 AM. Restaurant lunch option. Leader: Marsha Oxsen 650-344-5032 Feb 19 Same hike as above. Restaurant lunch option. Leader: Jan Simpson 650-368-1057 Feb 25 COALMINE RIDGE in Portola Valley--Leader’s choice. Meet: Parking area on Alpine Rd. at Willowbrook Dr. Carpool: None. Leader: Beth Beach 650-622-9193 Feb 26 Same hike as above. Leader: Marilyn Walter 650851-8181

Singleaires Singleaires are friendly, active, single people mostly over 50, who enjoy outdoor activities and conservation. Hikes are offered each Sunday (1A to 3 C) followed by a potluck. For a one time free schedule, send SASE, ($.59 stamp) to Singleaires, 4108 Thain Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306. See www.sierraclub.org/chapters/lomaprieta/SA or call

Feb 22 Stevens Creek County Park (Tony Look Trail) (Mini-Hike) 2:00 PM Mostly level, easy leisurely hike. 4 miles. Rain cancels. $5.00 parking fee. (Free with Senior sticker). Boots advised. Leader: Joy Warrick 650/969-2816. Feb 22 National Wildlife Refuge to Coyote Hills 1:00 PM 1A From one visitor center to another, and beyond! We’ll meet at the parking lot of the S.F. National Wildlife Refuge visitor center-explore- then walk to Coyote Hills Park for a rest/snack stop. Then loop back to the refuge center. Leader: Christine Potter 510/651- 8056. Feb 22 Presidio of San Francisco Historic Trail 10:00 AM 2B This is an 8 mile walk through one of America’s oldest land most beautiful Army Posts (a Registered National Historic Monument). Leader: Jan Yelland 650/328-1137.

Sierra Singles With over 800 members, Sierra Singles excels at offering energetic, single adults ( 30s, 40s, and 50s) lots of hiking, biking, volleyball, backpacking, skiing, danc-

The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009 ing, movies, rafting, dining, conversation, etc! We host numerous events every week, and always welcome new visitors and quests to try a few events. Membership is free for Sierra Club members, with free e-mail delivery of our monthly newsletters. Our website is lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/lpss (Snail mail: 3921 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303).

San Carlos /Belmont Regional Group We meet monthly (except July and August) usually on the 3rd Saturday. We emphasize hikes rated at 1A (less than 5 miles and less than 1000 feet change in elevation) that are usually on the peninsula. Our evening programs are usually on subjects relevant to our area. Our events are open to all. Carpool for hikes: We meet at the main entrance of the San Carlos Library, at the corner of Elm and Cherry, San Carlos, unless otherwise stated. You may park in the underground parking or on Chestnut Street. Bring water, day-hike items, and gas money for driver. Pot Luck Meetings: Call the host to make your reservation and for the meeting location. Please bring your own table service and food (main dish, salad, or dessert) to serve about six. We customarily contribute $2 per drink serving at the social time to defray costs. Usually social time starts after 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:00, business meeting and program at 7:00 until 9:00. Visitors are always welcome, but please call the host. Updates are posted on our web site: http://sierra.club.home.comcast.net/ Jan 1, New Year’s Day hike Mt. St. Helena, Sonoma/ Napa counties. Please call hike leader Gladwyn d’Sousa (508-8755) if you plan to do this hike. Carpool from the Library; we leave promptly at 7:15. Jan 17 Tour the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve with Philippe S. Cohen, Ph.D. No host lunch after. Leader: Eleanor Lewis (594-1615). Carpool from the Library; we leave promptly at 9:30. Feb 21 Tour and hike the Alviso salt pond with Jim Metropolis. No host lunch after. Carpool from the Library. Note: we leave promptly at 9:30.

Ski Touring Section The Ski Touring Section (STS) offers winter snow outings during a season which typically runs from November through May. Trips range from skinny ski or snowshoe tours on gently rolling terrain to fat backcountry ski or split board adventures on steep mountain slopes. Lodging options include backcountry huts, tents pitched on snow, private cabins, and commercial lodging. STS holds monthly meetings, generally on the first Monday Nov-May at the Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto. The monthly newsletter TRACK lists upcoming trips (rated by difficulty), reports

www.lomaprieta.sierraclub.org and pictures from past trips, and other news of interest to members. Our website is http://lomaprieta.sierraclub. org/sts/ Jan 5 Monthly Meeting 7:30-9:00 PM. See above for location. All are welcome. Guest Speaker Marcus Libkind. The evening will include two movies and a minislide show. Ski Memories and The Original Mugelhupf Movie, The Lost People of Mountain Village, A Few New Places – slideshow. See the STS website (address above) for more details. Feb 2 Monthly Meeting 7:30-9:00 PM. See above for location. All are welcome. Presentation – Backcountry Huts Throughout California. See the STS website (address above) for more details. Ski Trips - The following trips are open for sign up. Jan 31 - Feb 2, 2009 (Sat-Mon) Bradley Hut. Intermediate. Ski 5 miles and climb 1500 ft to Bradley Hut in upper Pole Creek near Squaw Valley .  The 3-day format helps avoid gridlock returning on Hwy 89 and I-80 and allows for a full day of skiing Sunday.  $50 covers hut fee, dinners Sat-Sun, and breakfasts Sun-Mon; you bring lunches and snacks.  For more information and application contact Leader: Dick Simpson. 3326 Kipling St., Palo Alto , CA 94306. 650-494-9272. rsimpson@ magellan.stanford.edu Feb 14 - 16 The Blessings of Benson Hut. Advanced Intermediate. Friday night we will be staying at Clair Tappaan Lodge; Saturday morning we’ll head to the hut. The ski in from Donner Pass is about six miles and includes over 2000 feet of cumulative climbing. Sunday we’ll do a day tour. We may split up into two groups that day depending on interests and abilities. On Monday we’ll do some skiing nearby before returning. Metal-edged skis and climbing skins are required. $106 advance payment includes Friday night lodging in a group room at Clair Tappaan, Saturday breakfast and one bag lunch from Clair Tappaan (and dinner on Friday if you get there early enough), and Saturday and Sunday dinner and lodging at Benson Hut. For more information and to check availability, please call or email: Leader: Roy Lambertson, 408737-7200 extension 116 (day), 650-559-5634 (eve) [email protected] Feb 21-22 (Sat-Sun) Peter Grubb Hut. Intermediate. Ski 2 miles and climb 800 ft from I-80 at Donner Summit to Castle Pass , then go another mile and down into Round Valley and Peter Grubb Hut.  The hut is 60+ years old, but has been equipped with solar electric lighting.  Enjoy good snow on the north side of Castle Peak or tours to Sand Ridge Lakes. $30 covers hut fee, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast; you bring lunches and snacks. Trip leaders are Dave Marancik and Dick Simpson. For more information and application contact Leader: Dave Marancik, 408-8873326, [email protected]

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outings and activities

Other Trips. The following trips are still in the planning stages at the time of the Loma Prietan publishing deadline. Check the STS webpage, subscribe to TRACK, or contact an STS officer for more information. Jan 10-11 Bradley Hut - Leader:  Steve Sergeant  Skill Level: Intermediate. Jan 24-25 Clair Tappaan Lodge - Leader: Alan Hobbs Skill Level: Advanced Beginner Feb 21-22 Lassen Lake Helen Snow Camp -Leader: Dave Erskine, Skill Level: Int.-Advanced Mar 7-8 Kings  Canyon Lodge Trip -Leader: Terri  Michel, Skill Level: Intermediate Mar 14-15 North Lake Tahoe Cabin Trip - Leader: John Cordes, Skill Level: Intermediate Mar 21-22 Sentinel Dome Snow Camping- Leader: Steve Sergeant, Skill Level: Intermediate Apr 2-5 Hut to Hut 10th Mountain Trail in ColoradoLeader: John Cordes, Skill Level: Advanced Apr 19-25 Sierra Crest Tour- Leader: Dave Erskine, Skill Level: Int.-Advanced

Loma Prieta Paddlers Loma Prieta Paddlers share paddling interests (mostly whitewater kayaking), trips, practice, conservation. Meetings at 7:30 p.m. 2nd Wednesday of each month (except December) at Sports Basement located at 1177 Kern Ave., Sunnyvale. Trip schedule is posted to our website and listserv. For more information contact Pam Putman, chairman of LPP, [email protected]

20s - 30s Activities Interested in hiking, nature, socializing, eating... come join a group of like minded people between the ages of 20 and 30. Our activities vary from casual city strolls to 15 mile hikes in the local wilderness to group dining experiences. For details please join our Yahoo Group at groups.yahoo.com/group/LPSierraClub20s30s

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The Loma Prietan - January/February 2009

Book Review

The King of California

by Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman by John Velcamp William Faulkner, in his acclaimed trilogy of the Snopes family, created in Flem Snopes the archetype for the exploiter of arcadia who assumes a bourgeois respectability. In their award-winning best seller, The King of California: JG Boswell and the Making of a Secret American Empire, Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman recount the story of the Faulkneresque Boswell clan and how they destroyed the environment of Tulare County. This Gothic tale focuses on the draining of Tulare Lake, once the largest body of fresh water west of the Mississippi, in order to plant cotton on the lake bottom. By means of shrewd land deals, and by circumventing federal and state laws, the Boswell Company took control of the Sierra snowmelt that flowed into the Kings, Tule, Kaweah and Kern Rivers, over an expanse of hundreds of miles. JG Boswell became the world’s largest farmer and the largest private landowner in California, with up to 200,000 acres under cultivation. His multinational company used the hamlet of Corcoran as its headquarters, boosting the town’s fortunes with its payroll, supporting local suppliers, and making some admirable civic improvements. The Boswell Company’s self-serving treatment of their workers over 50 years singlehandedly brought forth a caste

Member Close-Up

What is The Power of One Individual? story and photo by Cheryl Hylton

Kurt was the Chapter’s Clean Air Committee founding chair in 1987 and went to work addressing ozone depletion. The committee, together with other environmental groups, was very influential in eliminating chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), which damage the earth’s protective ozone layer. Kurt helped enact CFC recycling regulations for air conditioners in cars, homes, and commercial buildings, and helped to pass the U.S Clean Air Act of 1990 that phased out CFCs.

Warming and Energy Committee and he continues as a key volunteer in its work. The group has seen significant success in decreasing solar power installation fees following its 2005-2007 Bay Area solar permit fee study. Seventy-two newspaper articles were published to report on the Chapter’s solar permit fee campaign. Currently Kurt is working on removing barriers to solar power use; for example, standardizing solar permit applications.

A favorite memory for Kurt was a meeting of the Bureau of Auto Repair in 1989, where a PhD scientist presenter proclaimed that the earth heals itself and hence there was no urgent need for CFC regulation. Kurt spoke up against this assertion during the public comment period. His clear message changed the spirit and tone of the meeting completely, demonstrating to Kurt his power as a single, truth-telling individual.

So how does Kurt summarize in retrospect and going forward? Focus on areas that have solutions - like solar power. Stay mainstream and work cooperatively with folks of all stripes. Make friends with and use the media wisely. And what’s his life’s goal? “Be a part of the process to solve global warming once and for all.” You know, it seems possible when Kurt says it! Cheryl Hylton is a Sierra Club life member and a pro bono fundraising consultant for the Chapter.

Chapter Election Results Chapter Executive Committee Deepika Gajaria Catherine Cox Michael J. (Mike) Ferreira Ginny Laibl Megan Fluke Black Mountain Group Executive Committee Mark Quontamatteo

To help you heed Karen Maki’s call to help the Chapter, here is a list of the committees, a little about what they’re working on, and contact information. Political Committee interviews political candidates and makes endorsements. Contact Rob Rennie, 408-356-8534, [email protected]

Conservation Issues

In 2001 Kurt formed the Chapter’s Global

Guadalupe Group Executive Committee Joe Cernac Bob Groff Kerch Holt David Dalton San Carlos/Belmont Group Executive Committee Eleanor Lewis Cecily Harris Gladwyn d’Souza

From a conservation point of view, the Boswell saga shows how a corporate mega-farm can operate with impunity, curry favor from all levels of government and avoid making amends for their massive polluting. Ultimately, they were using 6,500 pounds of defoliants, insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers for every square mile under cultivation. As of 2003, JG Boswell was planning to build a super dairy with 56,000 cows in the lake bottom, but lost out to environmentalists. With 89 pages of footnotes and an extensive bibliography, Arax and Wartzman’s ambitious work presents enough material for two semesters of California Agrarian History. At times The King of California may bog down with a little too much about agronomy and petty local politics, but overall it’s a lively read and a tremendous reference for understanding agrarian water demands and the needs of other interests in our farm belt, and especially the restoration of the wildlife and vegetation of Tulare County. John Velcamp is a lifetime member of the Sierra Club and a member of the Mountain Lion Foundation.

Get Involved Kurt sports his favorite shirt--with Sierra Club logo, of course.

“How successful will I be if I don’t work on this?” Pondering this question, a suggestion from a respected friend, has spurred Kurt Newick on in good and challenging times during his two decades of volunteer effort in our Chapter. Kurt wisely realized that what matters is how he would feel remaining on the sidelines in a world that so needs our stewardship. He couldn’t abide that powerless feeling and his achievements as a result of revisiting this question regularly are remarkable.

system within California rural society and promulgated what became the standard operating procedures for Big Agriculture in the state.

Cool Cities Teams encourage cities to adopt green building standards. Contact Julio Magalhaes, 650-390-8441, [email protected]

Transportation promotes transportation solutions that are cost-effective, equitable, and aimed at reducing pollution and sprawl. Contact Gladwyn D’Souza 650/508-8755 [email protected] Water promotes water conservation, stream and river restoration, and protection of our water supply. Contact Mondy Lariz, [email protected] Wilderness promotes responsible management of designated wilderness areas and public wild lands. Contact John Wilkinson 408/947-0858, [email protected]

Climate Action Teams engage members and organizations they deal with regularly to reduce their green house gas emissions. Contact Julio as above.

Building Community and Strengthening our Chapter

Solar Energy Committee removes barriers to the proliferation of solar energy. Contact Julio as above.

Membership Committee hosts Third Tuesday talk/receptions, parties, and new member events. Contact Ajay Kachwaha, 415-948-4197, [email protected]

Sustainable Land Use works to create more livable communities near transit and public services. Contact Bonnie McClure, 650-591-5057, [email protected] Zero Waste advocates for policies to minimize waste that is not safely recycled. Contact Ann Schneider 650-697-6249, [email protected] Forest Protection educates the public about clear-cutting in the Sierra Nevada. Contact Karen Maki, 650-366-0577, [email protected] Wetlands protects wetlands on the midpeninsula. Contact Cynthia Denny, 650-520-7954, cynthia.denny@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org

Fundraising Committee raises funds through fundraising trips, major donor, grants, and other creative means. Contact Darren Ponce, 650-390-8494, [email protected] Loma Prietan (newsletter) Committee designs, edits, publishes the Chapter’s newsletter. Contact David Simon, 650-941-5672, newsletter@lomaprieta. sierraclub.org

Donations Send a check to the Loma Prieta Chapter, 3921 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

Coastal Issues protects the San Mateo County coast. Contact Merrill Bobele, 650-726-6429, [email protected] Pesticide educates the public about least toxic methods of pest control and laws regulating pesticide use. Contact Ruth Troetschler, 650/948-4142, rebugging@ batnet.com

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