Page 6 CANYON BEAT


By Janet Wilson By


Andrew Tonkovich Two-lane border line Our canyons suggest a territory


of modest remove from “flatland- er” culture and governance, yet are intensely engaged with both, necessarily, our territory of heart, mind and wilderness stretching roughly from the gorgeously ren- ovated Santiago Bridge (thanks, LindaMay!) rebuilt by the county, to specs of a feisty, self-regarding rustic aesthetic at Cook’s Corner, recreating Disney’s Frontierland mythology of pretend cowboys and Indians. Indeed, rural high- way CA-18 is the through-line, of both our giddily unincorporated zone and more plodding develop- ments. The iconic two-lane through-


way is a handy demarcator by way of abandoned efforts by three wise old local dudes to save or sell out (you choose) Santiago Can- yon Road via an “adopt-a-high- way” scheme. Road sponsorship


was meant, we were promised, to build relationships with resource managers and elected officials. Their failed campaign speaks to the difficult responsibility of liv- ing up to everybody’s (un)shared perceptions of our symbolic by- way. A hard sell, persuading lo- cals to accommodate multiple interests, proprietary claims and signage blocking, ironically, the scenic view! Not to mention unintentional mordancy of oth- erwise righteous civic or busi- ness groups desiring to “sponsor” cleanup of a road dedicated to murderizing cyclists by scofflaw drivers for whom scenic means “speedic.” Our provincial, if ambitious,


community hosts jolly interne- cine human warfare surrounding such decision-making, amidst generous acts of mutual aid, on- line gossip, lost dogs (tortoises,


Foothills Sentry


cats, you name it) found, pan- cake breakfasts and emergency help after flooding, mudding and fire, and now a large animal ref- uge (thanks, Connie Nelson and Joanne Hubble!), adjacent the now asbestos-free future “Library of the Canyons” site, its remodel- ing by OC PublicWorks still, yes, in the works. (Curiously, two lightning-rod


figures of local politics are now ex-canyonists, one a Tea Party candidate whose unshy trajectory led her to confrontation with our singular liberal disability rights advocate. Both protagonists in that weird micro-drama have re- located. We wish them well.)


Clear as mud Recent storms called atten-


tion to the essential, if tenuous, network of continued caring, both grassroots and governmen- tal, with the county responding to mud flow, some unavoidable, some exaggerated by grading on private property. Naturalist-for- you Joel Robinson identifies po- tential for overreaction to creating defensible space, further caus- ing forest desertification when ill-defined “scrub” is targeted by 'dozers, whether for practical or ideological reasons. A tough bal- ance. Yet contractors working to clear and improve the culvert at the tiny intersection of Modjeska and Shadowlands noted admir- ingly the stout berm constructed by landowners after our last big onslaught. Handy metaphor for public-private cooperation and preparedness, if you go in for that kind of thing. And we do, by way of infra-


structure support, environmental management, organized readiness in anticipation of El Nino rains


or, who knows, SantaAna-related wildfires. Still, Robinson laments the decision by Trabuco Ranger District to close hiker access at Maple Springs, a popular access point at the end of Silverado, for the summer and possibly longer. “According to the official burn report documentation,” he offers, “it is not a danger unless there is an intense rain event. Meanwhile, hikers continue to trespass, fac- ing the threat of heavy fines. So far, nobody has been injured due to the supposed dangers that the forest service is perpetuating. The closure affects the business of the Silverado Cafe and Canyon Market. It also takes away the most convenient, scenic access point for residents and visitors during peak outdoor recreation season, causing visitors to look for other access points, which in- creases trespassing in private can- yon neighborhoods.” Erosion, it seems, has led to a possible slip- pery slope in administering our highly impacted area. See bal- ance, above.


Ready or not Connie Nelson reports her own


pre-El Nino efforts, soliciting emergency permit authority from Senator Patricia Bates andAssem- blyman William Brough to clear trees and promiscuous arundo donax, the Giant Cane blamed for flooding. She recommends a so- ber look at historic 1969 and 1997 flood photos. And Canyon Watch leadership wants you to remem- ber “10:15 at 10/15,” and prep for community-wide participation in California’s Great ShakeOut, in which we practice dropping, covering and holding on when the pretend “Big One” arrives. Finally, here’s welcome non-di-


Tuesday, August 4, 2015


saster infrastructure improvement news, both high and low-tech, from Recreation and Parks Dis- trict, justifiably proud of its new- ly refurbished digs, brand-new stove in the community kitchen and, yes, Wi-Fi on the grounds. So, the next time you actually visit for games, meetings, con- certs or seniors’ lunch, you can virtually visit the also-refurbished SMRPD website for a summer schedule of themed hikes, bats to raptors to equestrian, cardio and stargazing. Show up August 15 for a summer concert featuring live performances from the win- ningly named Half a Six Pack, The Budrows, and cover band Throwing Stones. And pencil in, between flood, earthquake, fire and cooperative self-governance, the Saturday, September 26 Sil- verado Film Festival at Commu- nity Center. Live music, locally farm-sourced food and short films from area eco-loving auteurs.


New planning commissioner appointed


Ernest J. Glasgow has been ap-


pointed to the Orange Planning Commission by City Councilman FredWhitaker. Glasgow has lived and worked in Orange for more than 45 years, and has served the community in many capaci- ties, including as a member of the Facility Advisory Committee for OUSD, the board of directors of the Orange YMCA, the board of directors for Union Roofing Contractors Association, and the Union Roofers Trust Board. Glasgow and his wife Karen


have two sons, Timothy, 25, and Patrick, 17.


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