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Dear Reader,
Welcome to another edition of the
Conservancy
Update ONLINE, the second of our
Anniversary Series marking 2007, our 35th
year. In addition to stories about our
conservation and education efforts,
volunteering opportunities and more, each
issue features a look back
at some aspect of the Conservancy's
history. This month, we see how the
early Conservancy's staff observed first
hand the problems caused by non-native
plants. The Conservancy's efforts to
restore native plant communities have
resulted in vast out-plantings of natives
raised right here on the Island. What
plant has been used most often for this
purpose over the years? For the hands-
down winner, read on.
Note: Look for valuable coupons especially
for our
readers
following my signature at the end of this
newsletter.
Pictured in banner: Aerial view of
Middle Ranch
and Thompson Reservoir
(For best results, view with html enabled,
and to
forward, use the "Forward to Friends and
Family"
link bottom, left.)
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FILM AND DISCUSSION TO EXPLORE CLIMATE CHANGE
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'An Inconvenient Truth' comes to Catalina Island
The Academy Award® - nominated
documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" will
be shown at 7 p.m., Tuesday, February
13th
at the Casino Theater.
Hosted and narrated by former Vice
President Al Gore,"An Inconvenient Truth" explores the scientific
evidence surrounding the issues and
causes behind global warming.
After previewing "An Inconvenient Truth,"
which was released worldwide last year,
Avalon Mayor Bob Kennedy was prompted
to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement, becoming one of 369 mayors
across the country that are dedicated to
taking local action to reduce global
warming pollution.
The film investigates the links between
carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and global
warming trends. Says Aaron Morehouse,
Outreach Program Specialist with the
Conservancy and one of the organizers of
the event, "This is a great opportunity for
our community to come together and
discuss what we can do locally to reduce
our carbon footprint."
Following the
movie, a panel will talk about global
warming
from various perspectives. The event will
also highlight local businesses that are
taking the initiative to decrease their own
environmental impact, including zero-
emission golf carts and other resources for
the community. For more information
about this event and
the film, contact the Catalina Island
Conservancy Education Staff offices at
(310) 510-0954.
Learn more about this film
Photo: Poster: "An Inconvenient
Truth"
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THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR HIKING
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Kevin Ryan joins Conservancy as Trails Coordinator
Kevin Ryan has joined the staff of the
Conservancy's Facilities Department as
Trails Coordinator.
Kevin had worked on the Island for the
Institute for Wildlife Studies as the lead biologist for the
feral animal removal program. He has also worked on
the Catalina
fox and bald eagle restoration projects.
Kevin has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and is
experienced in mapping and
construction. With seven-years experience
on Catalina and with the knowledge he has
of the Interior, he will be a great asset to
the Department.
Welcome aboard, Kevin!
Discover
Catalina's Trails Photo: Kevin
Ryan, Trails
Coordinator
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"YOUNG EAGLES" TAKE FLIGHT
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Avalon School students take part in "pilot" program
On Saturday, January 20th, the
international
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
and the Catalina Island Conservancy
offered 13 students from Avalon Schools
an opportunity to take flight!
The youngsters were part of a pilot
program to bring the EAA's Young Eagles
program to Catalina. The EAA developed
the program to welcome young people
(ages 8 to 17) into the world of aviation.
One of of the students observed, "This is
the coolest day of my life. Awesome!" On
the bus ride back to Avalon, one student
said, "I can't think of a way to tell people
how great that was." Another held up his
(apparently full) camera and said,"I can!"
And now, this small group
of students will become ambassadors for
the future of the Young Eagles program on
Catalina.
Special thanks to volunteer pilot,
Mike Sheehan, a member of the Catalina
Pilots, one of the support groups for
the Catalina Island Conservancy.
Thanks also to the
representatives of the local EAA chapter
based in Riverside: Young
Eagles coordinator Wes Blasjo, Loretta
Lively, and high school-age ground crew
Austin Jones, and Friend Deming.
For more information about the Young
Eagles program on Catalina, please call
the Conservancy Education office at (310)
510-0954.
EAA's Young Eagles
program Photo: Alex Morand,
7th
grade, and Volunteer Pilot Mike
Sheehan.
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JOIN US ON THE BACKSIDE!
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Monthly Windward Beach clean-ups are scheduled
Up for a free ride from Avalon out to
Catalina's beautiful Windward Beaches for
an invigorating half-day in the sand?
Simply give LeeAnn Human in our
Volunteer Department a call. She is
putting together a schedule of Windward
Beach clean-up parties for the second
Saturday of each month.
On Saturday, January 13th, Conservancy
volunteers removed 92 pounds of trash
from
Cottonwood Beach, and 77 pounds of
trash from Shark Harbor Beach in just over
two hours!
The next beach clean-up is February 10th!
See what
our Island volunteers are up to
Photo: Simon Cotter of International
Student Volunteers, picks up giant reed
(Arundo donax)
that's washed
ashore
at Shark Harbor. This hard-working
group also helped Michael Herrera,
Director of the James H. Ackerman Native
Plant Nursery, with outplanting native
foliage near Little Harbor as part of the
Catalina Habitat Improvement and
Restoration
Program (CHIRP).
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WIN THE INN AT MT. ADA
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Drawing is Valentine's Day, February 14, 2007
The winner of a Valentine's Day promotion
for the Catalina Island Museum will enjoy
the entire Inn on Mt. Ada for one night --
including meals and golf carts.
Originally the home of Mr. & Mrs. William
Wrigley Jr., the Inn on Mt. Ada overlooks
the town of Avalon and stunning Avalon
Harbor. Added to the National Register of
Historic Places in 1985, the home is now a
four-star rated bed & breakfast.
The Inn is an elegant example of 1920's
and 1930's design. "It is a
further example of the generosity of the
Wrigley family," notes
Conservancy President Ann Muscat. "The
Wrigley and Offield families
entrusted 88 percent of the Island to the
Conservancy to protect in
perpetuity. The Wrigley family also
entrusted the Mt. Ada residence
to the University of Southern California and
the Conservancy to make
available for public use, which has been
carried out so effectively
by our lessees. "We are proud to
forward
this promotion to our friends
to support the Museum's efforts to
preserve and share the cultural
heritage of Catalina Island."
Only 250 raffle tickets are being issued,
at a cost each of $100. To purchase
tickets, contact the
Catalina Island Museum at (310) 510-
2414, ext. 1#.
The winning
ticket will be drawn February 14th, and
the winner need not be present.
Find out more
Photo: Postcard of the Wrigley Mansion
on Mt. Ada, circa 1921
Image courtesy of the Catalina Island
Museum
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35 YEARS OF THE CONSERVANCY
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Emerald Anniversary Remembrances
From the 1978 Catalina Conservancy
Annual Report: "21.37 inches
of
rainfall were recorded at Middle Ranch
from January 1 to April 16 causing
considerable damage. It is interesting
to note that most of the trees which blew
down were exotic or introduced trees, with
Aleppo pine leading the list. We can
point this out as a good reason for using
native species for tree planting programs
in the future. Since that report,
the
Conservancy has made significant inroads
to restoring native plant life to Catalina. In
fact, since the year 2000 alone, more than
18,000 plants have been returned to the
landscape, many of them grown at the
James H.
Ackerman Native Plant Nursery.
"The Nursery has a growing capacity of
22,000 plants, and is currently developing
a long-term strategy—an island-wide
planting plan for the next five years or so,"
said Mike Hererra, Manager of the Native
Plant Nursery.
According to Mike, the plant most returned
to the Catalina Island landscape,
or "outplanted," has been California
Sagebrush (Artemisia californica),
closely followed by Island Scrub Oak
(Quercus pacifica).
Photo:
Aleppo
pine
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