Orange County is a wonderful place to be when you're in need of an expert in a particular field of study. With our cultural, social and educational diversity, it seems as if everyone has an experience or perspective to share, adding to the dialogue that constantly enriches each of our lives.
Where our environment and "green living" are concerned, Orange County is blessed to have Chris and Becky Prelitz, two Laguna Beach locals and dedicated advocates for sustainability.
If you "Google" search Chris Prelitz, you'll instantly come across www.prelitz.com, a simple site on Chris Prelitz's background, calendar of upcoming events, etc. You'll learn that he formed New Leaf America in 2008 (Visit New Leaf America, at http://newleafamerica.com - it's a site definitely worth checking out) - and that he's done a lot of amazing projects and home transformations, both here in Orange County and across the nation.
On the Meetup page for Going GREEN in Orange County, word has it that Chris Prelitz is scheduled to present his new book, Green Made Easy at Oasis Child on Friday, April 10 at 7 PM . (Click here to visit Oasis Child online.) However, Chris Prelitz's site, www.prelitz.com, gives the date of April 3. We will try to confirm the correct date as soon as possible... but no matter what day he presents his book in Laguna, check it out online and in the bookstores ASAP!
Showing posts with label Laguna Beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laguna Beach. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Village Laguna & No Plastic Bags in Laguna Beach!
Over the weekend, I met two wonderful individuals belonging to the non-profit organization "Village Laguna" in front of Whole Foods Market on Ocean Ave, in Laguna Beach. They were holding petitions in their arms for residents and non-residents of Laguna alike to sign, to eliminate plastic bags from all of Laguna Beach's stores. Of course, I immediately went over to add my name to the ever-growing list of names - for about three years, now, I have become accustomed to bringing my own bags (I've even got a favorite canvas one that has transported everything from cilantro and toothpaste to clothes, books, and appliances) and over time, I have noticed, with amazement, how many bags I have actually kept out of our landfills.
For those of you who are forgetful and have difficulty in breaking routine, I will grant you that it does initially take a bit of effort to remember to put those reusable bags in your car trunk or in a visible spot by your front door so that you'll use them on your next outing, but after a few weeks and with enough motivation, I guarantee that you'll find using a re-useable bag to be an easy and beneficial new habit in your life.
Anyhoo, back to this weekend's encounter with Village Laguna. As I was signing the petition, one of the members of Village Laguna also spoke to me about their project against the Aliso Creek Area Redevelopment Plan, which is explained, on their website, HERE. Of considerable concern (among many troublesome issues that this said "redevelopment plan" would bring about) is the degradation and destruction of Laguna's natural wilderness from the construction of yet another completely unnecessary golf facility. With plans for "massive grading, [...] the construction of a golf facility on a ridge, the creation of artificial landforms both in the canyon and on the Hobo-Aliso Ridge, and the import of dirt from one to supply the other," this Aliso Creek Project promises no happy future for our natural environment - and MUST BE STOPPED ASAP.
The folks at Village Laguna are doing a fantastic job in preserving Laguna's natural interests, but they are looking for more members and voices. Visit their website today, at http://www.villagelaguna.com to learn more about them, and ask yourself what YOU can do to make a positive difference in Laguna Beach.
For those of you who are forgetful and have difficulty in breaking routine, I will grant you that it does initially take a bit of effort to remember to put those reusable bags in your car trunk or in a visible spot by your front door so that you'll use them on your next outing, but after a few weeks and with enough motivation, I guarantee that you'll find using a re-useable bag to be an easy and beneficial new habit in your life.
Anyhoo, back to this weekend's encounter with Village Laguna. As I was signing the petition, one of the members of Village Laguna also spoke to me about their project against the Aliso Creek Area Redevelopment Plan, which is explained, on their website, HERE. Of considerable concern (among many troublesome issues that this said "redevelopment plan" would bring about) is the degradation and destruction of Laguna's natural wilderness from the construction of yet another completely unnecessary golf facility. With plans for "massive grading, [...] the construction of a golf facility on a ridge, the creation of artificial landforms both in the canyon and on the Hobo-Aliso Ridge, and the import of dirt from one to supply the other," this Aliso Creek Project promises no happy future for our natural environment - and MUST BE STOPPED ASAP.
The folks at Village Laguna are doing a fantastic job in preserving Laguna's natural interests, but they are looking for more members and voices. Visit their website today, at http://www.villagelaguna.com to learn more about them, and ask yourself what YOU can do to make a positive difference in Laguna Beach.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Beach Clean-Up March 21, 2009, 9 AM - Noon
We at NIOC are happy to see a March Beach Cleanup being organized here in Orange County. Time: March 21, 2009 from 9 AM till Noon (Although, you can always go to the beach, anytime, rain or shine, and clean it up for as long as you'd like!)Hope to see you all there.
For more info: Contact Roger Butow at Clean Water Now! http://www.cleanwaternow.com/
John Krill of LagunaBeat.com has posted this event on his Laguna Beach blog. Click HERE to see his posting.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Noteworthy Site (Pun Intended - You'll See Why!)
While I was mingling with the wonderful folks at Main Beach this morning for the California Coastal Cleanup, I met the founder of "Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders" - Check out her music and website here: Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders.
A permanent link has also been placed to the right, under "Other Important Links."
A permanent link has also been placed to the right, under "Other Important Links."
September 20, 2008 : CA Coastal Cleanup Day : The Results
This morning at 9 A.M. I went down to Main Beach in Laguna Beach to participate in the Coastal Cleanup (9 AM - noon). The first person to greet me at Main Beach was Roger Butow, founder of Clean Water Now! (check out the links on the right, his site is there too!) - it was great to finally meet him. While we were chatting, I asked him if he knew the creator of Laguna Beat (now my favorite Laguna Beach blog), and he said, "John! Yeah, he's right over there! Do you want to meet him?" adding a quick, "do you like him or not?" (and yet, even though I had never met him before, in reflecting on this matter, how could I not like John? ... His "You Suck at Parking" (or Driving, or Stopping) photos are hilarious, and it is so awesome to have daily shots of Laguna!) So I answered, "I like him!" and Roger took me over to meet John Krill. Awesome!
After socializing with two great individuals that I had already come to appreciate on the net, it was time for me to get to business - Cleaning up the beach! I picked Main as I always do, because it is the beach I always come to before/after work, or on my off days... I have a special relationship with it, and I always feel better when I take off my shoes, walk the shoreline barefoot, sing quietly to the sand and waves, and breathe in that salty air. With two distinctly colored and large trash bags and one clear plastic glove, a pencil and an Ocean Conservancy checklist of things I might find, I set on my way to pick up some trash!
Among the more consequential things I found: a pair of women's sunglasses, a leather belt, and a black shirt. Of course, there were the usual cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, straws, glass bottles, plastic bottles, bottle caps (and why aren't these recyclable, by the way?) - I was spared the used condoms this year, but perhaps someone else this morning wasn't so lucky. While there weren't great masses of people this morning, groups of friends, groups of children, and a couple moms with their kids were doing a good thing for the ocean.
Here's the "update" (results so far) on the Laguna cleanup from John's site "Laguna Beat" (Which you can also see HERE):
Anyhoo, at 5:30 PM I returned to the beach, being idealistic, and fooling myself into thinking that after such an extensive search by all the volunteers, I would find Main to be spic-and-span. Alas, by 5:30, the beach was newly littered by irresponsible beach-goers and the ebb and flow of the sea, spitting out new items that it was choking on for who knows how long. I think that the biggest problem is
parenting - we desperately need more good parents who will instill essential values in their children's minds (such as picking up your mess, leaving the places you visit better/cleaner than they were when you first got there, etc.). It always surprises me to see how many soda cups and burger wrappers are left behind, right there on the sand, and how many people just walk on by, as if all this trash was a natural part of the scenery.
Anyways, the next Coastal Cleanup Day is on December 6th, 2008 from 9 AM - noon (though you can always stay later, or come at any time, any day of the year!) :) I'm pretty much sure to be there, hope to see you too!
After socializing with two great individuals that I had already come to appreciate on the net, it was time for me to get to business - Cleaning up the beach! I picked Main as I always do, because it is the beach I always come to before/after work, or on my off days... I have a special relationship with it, and I always feel better when I take off my shoes, walk the shoreline barefoot, sing quietly to the sand and waves, and breathe in that salty air. With two distinctly colored and large trash bags and one clear plastic glove, a pencil and an Ocean Conservancy checklist of things I might find, I set on my way to pick up some trash!
Among the more consequential things I found: a pair of women's sunglasses, a leather belt, and a black shirt. Of course, there were the usual cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, straws, glass bottles, plastic bottles, bottle caps (and why aren't these recyclable, by the way?) - I was spared the used condoms this year, but perhaps someone else this morning wasn't so lucky. While there weren't great masses of people this morning, groups of friends, groups of children, and a couple moms with their kids were doing a good thing for the ocean.
Here's the "update" (results so far) on the Laguna cleanup from John's site "Laguna Beat" (Which you can also see HERE):
Update from Roger Butow, founder of Clean Water Now!:
Number of participants including staff: 320
Trash: 538 lbs.
Recycled: 396 lbs.
Miles of beach: 6 miles
Miles of Aliso Creek streambed: 1.5 miles
Total: 7.5 miles
Anyhoo, at 5:30 PM I returned to the beach, being idealistic, and fooling myself into thinking that after such an extensive search by all the volunteers, I would find Main to be spic-and-span. Alas, by 5:30, the beach was newly littered by irresponsible beach-goers and the ebb and flow of the sea, spitting out new items that it was choking on for who knows how long. I think that the biggest problem is
parenting - we desperately need more good parents who will instill essential values in their children's minds (such as picking up your mess, leaving the places you visit better/cleaner than they were when you first got there, etc.). It always surprises me to see how many soda cups and burger wrappers are left behind, right there on the sand, and how many people just walk on by, as if all this trash was a natural part of the scenery.Anyways, the next Coastal Cleanup Day is on December 6th, 2008 from 9 AM - noon (though you can always stay later, or come at any time, any day of the year!) :) I'm pretty much sure to be there, hope to see you too!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
New Blog for Laguna Canyon
Hello all ~
Since Orange County is a large area to cover, I have created a new, sister blog to deal specifically with Laguna Canyon, one of my favorite places to go hiking and connect with nature. Here is the address: http://lagunacanyon.blogspot.com. Please feel free to visit both blogs - sometimes my news will overlap onto both, when they involve issues or events happening in Laguna Canyon; otherwise, if it is about another natural area in Orange County, (such as the Bolsa Chica wetlands, or a Beach Cleanup, etc.) I will keep you all informed here!
Thanks again for visiting!
Since Orange County is a large area to cover, I have created a new, sister blog to deal specifically with Laguna Canyon, one of my favorite places to go hiking and connect with nature. Here is the address: http://lagunacanyon.blogspot.com. Please feel free to visit both blogs - sometimes my news will overlap onto both, when they involve issues or events happening in Laguna Canyon; otherwise, if it is about another natural area in Orange County, (such as the Bolsa Chica wetlands, or a Beach Cleanup, etc.) I will keep you all informed here!
Thanks again for visiting!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Coastal Cleanup Day September 20, 2008
A quick reminder that Coastal Cleanup Day is coming on SEPTEMBER 20th, 2008.
More information can be found here:
OC Parks' Coastal Cleanup Page
or here:
Ocean Conservancy's Coastal Cleanup Page
or here:
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