Tuesday, September 9, 2014


CANYON BEAT By


Janet Wilson By Michelle Manville


Razed and Confused Projects abound in the canyons.


The county is moving forward with its plans to uproot the Sil- verado Library from its existing location in downtown Silverado, where is has been since 1964, to the site of the former Silverado Elementary School. The Abbey project continues amidst unhappi- ness from some Canyonites. The IRWD pipeline project seems to be moving at a snail’s pace, and county workers are haphazardly patching up Modjeska Canyon Road and placing shiny new road studs and reflectors over chipped and pot-holed lines in the middle of Silverado Canyon Road. A public meeting was held Aug.


27 to review the transformation of the Silverado School site into a new county library. About 65 people attended the presentation, given in the former first grade


Foothills Sentry


land surrounding the buildings. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for sometime in the spring. To provide your opinions and input, go to FSES@ocparks. com.


Residents continue to be con-


classroom by media relations expert Mary McCormick. The presentation remained consistent with the plans presented at the SMRPD meeting in April, with the exception of a change in the completion date from fall 2014 to winter 2016. The former upper grade building will house the new library, which will be about three times its current size. The old lower grade building will be used as a multipurpose room. The old teachers’ lounge and office area will contain the library and OC Parks offices. Site uses for the remaining grounds have yet to be decided. Residents posted their ideas, which included a horse area and a farmer’s market. The plans will be on display at the current Silverado Library. Public input is encouraged on a possible new name as well as site usage for the


29322 Modjeska Canyon Road, Silverado, plans its 6th annual Bat Night, Saturday, Oct. 18 from 4-8 p.m.


Admission to the sanctuary for


the evening is $5 for adults, $3 for children age five and over. The en- try fee includes a bat interpretive program, crafts and games. A bar- becue dinner will be offered for $5-7; pumpkin carving $6; face painting $3; and wagon rides $3. A post-event program for ages 18


Business briefs


•Sullivan Solar Power will


host an educational lunch-and- learn for residents in the Villa Park area on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Villa Park City Hall, 17855 San- tiago Blvd. from 11 a.m.-noon. Call (949) 379-0775 for more in- formation. •incrediBOWLZ is opening


in the Villa Park Town Center, bringing delicious, healthy alter- natives, such as gluten-free, dairy- free acai and pitaya smoothie bowls, smoothies and gelato. The eatery will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the grand opening planned for Saturday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. •Curves and Jenny Craig have


joined forces. A dedicated Jenny Craig consultant will help with healthy menu selections and of- fer techniques for successfully surviving social situations, and a Curves coach will lead 30-min- ute workouts - all under one roof at the revamped Orange-North Curves location, 1840 N. Tus- tin. For more information, go to curves.com, click on Orange- North.


BRIDGE LESSONS Duplicate


for Beginners and Refresher courses


Call for more information Renata Blocker


714-975-3139


Last Chance Qualifier


Catfish Derby September 13th


$20 Buy-In in Angler Chronicles Catfish Extravaganza - 9/20 Big Fish Contest, Tagged Fish, Huge Raffle and more.


SUMMER HOURS:


Sun., Mon., Wed.: 6 am - 4 pm Tues.: Closed Thurs.: 6 am - 11 pm Fri. & Sat.: 6 am - midnight


4621 Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado, Ca 92676 714 649-9111


Irvine Lake website: www.irvinelake.net


and up will follow at 8:15 p.m. For more information call (714) 649-2760 or visit tuckerwildlife. org. Tucker is open to visitors Tuesdays-Sundays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.


fused by the delayed start as well as the conflicting statements given by IRWD regarding the six-month excavation of two-lane Silverado Canyon Road to replace an aging eight-inch line with a new 12- inch pipe. At the June meeting of the Inter Canyon League, IRWD representatives adamantly stated that the pipeline was in no way related to the St. Michael’s Ab- bey project. According to them, “the project was voted on prior to the Abbey plans.” However, the Nov. 7, 2013 IRWD agenda states, “The Fathers approached the district in October 2010 to discuss connection fees for their project,“ and, in “fall 2014, Saint Michael’s Abbey will start new construction of a new campus in Silverado Canyon. The Sil- verado Road Domestic Water Pipeline Improvement Project will upsize approximately 8,200- feet of pipeline.” According to IRWD, “the upsizing is required to provide required fire flow to the proposed Saint Michael’s


Inner Coastal Clean-Up Day


Abbey and to enhance fire flow to the rest of Silverado Canyon.” (Though it ends at the Abbey site.) The estimated cost of the project is $1,057,500, of which 27 percent is to be paid for by the Abbey. The remainder will be covered by rate increases. Ironically, the 327.9-acre property (formerly called Holtz Ranch) was listed as a desired acquisition for OCTA mitigation and resource protection as recent- ly as March 2012. The vision of a wildlife corridor on preserved mitigated land ended when the land was gifted to the Norber- tines. Letters written by the Ab- bey to “Canyon Neighbors” tell how the project will be an asset to the community, and we hope this proves to be the case. Interestingly, St. Michael’s


Abbey, IRWD, the County of Orange, the Catholic Diocese of Orange, and The Irvine Com- pany are all listed as clients of the same public relations firm called Government Solutions. A description from that company’s website describes the business as one that “manages project appli- cations, EIR’s, zoning changes, media relations,” and “turn- ing the challenges of complex real-estate land use changes and


will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will meet at the county lot at Modjeska Canyon Road and San- tiago Canyon Road to help collect


trash and debris in and around the canyons. Pitch in and help keep these canyons beautiful. Bring your own trash bags (for reuse), buck- et, gloves and water to make this a zero-waste event. A tally of col- lected trash will be forwarded to


Page 7


developments into project victo- ries,” and it seems that they have done just that with the Abbey.


Not in my best interests, y’all! According to the Urban Dic-


tionary, “A popular tactical tool, the word NIMBY is often used by property developers, support- ers of same and pro-develop- ment government decision mak- ers to label those who oppose new developments within their own residential locality as self- ish and subculture.” Those who think residents trying to preserve historic Silverado are NIMBYs might take a moment to self-re- flect. Wouldn’t that title also ring true for people who opposed a high-density housing project on the Holtz Ranch in the past? For the folks with offspring desiring to move back into this area, the high-density housing would have been perfect. But then, perhaps, historic Silverado with its “en- chanting hills” might be just like the rest of OC with its hilltops shaved down to accommodate view housing. Silverado contin- ues to be unique, due to the ef- forts of all who have opposed ill- fitting projects, and will remain so only if people can see beyond their own special interests.


Bat Night coming to Tucker Volunteers sought for clean-up day Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary,


the county and the state. This can be a family outing – kids 10 and up are welcome, but must be ac- companied by an adult. Please confirm your attendance


with the site captain Phil McWil- liams (949) 954-2089 or email phil.osophy@cox.net.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24