Dear Friend:

Sustainable Food Festival Supports Orange County Conservation

Join Sierra Sage and South Coast Farms for our fabulous Sierra Club fall fundraiser at South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano.  Enjoy Orange County's rural heritage while dining al fresco at this picturesque 28-acre organic farm.  We will feast on a gourmet vegetarian meal prepared by chefs Mark Cleveland and Tanya Fuqua of Avanti Cafe.

Festivities include an heirloom tomato tasting, live music by the Saddleback Mountain Band, and a farm tour.  We will learn about the environmental benefits of organic farming and sustainable foods. 

Admission to the Food Festival is $30 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under.  Make your reservations by sending a check (payable to Sierra Sage) and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Kaye Clarence, 10 Via Berrendo, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92668.  At ticket with directions to the event will be mailed.  Contact Kaye at 949-709-2967 with questions. 

Proceeds will benefit Sierra Club's Orange County conservation campaigns, outings, and youth programs.  

Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Hopes San Onofre State Beach Goes Away Soon

When will toll road advocates finally abandon their lengthy, expensive, and failed effort to ruin a state park and build a toll road we don't need?

Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Gary Thompson recently put the Foothill-South on the city's agenda to see what the city council could do to press forward with the extension. 

Mayor Thompson took the curious position, as quoted in the Orange County Register, that "public sentiment is overwhelmingly supporting this road in the past" and "it was a couple of commissions that decided the opinions of the people didn't fit their agenda."

Setting aside the blatant untruth of "overwhelming support" for the road, if you define "people" as diehard toll road boosters and "their agenda" as state and federal law, then he may have a point. 

The mayor went on to say, reports one meeting attendee, that "there is a very high chance that park [San Onofre State Beach] will go away very soon."  Message to us--take nothing for granted and stay vigilant in defending our state park. 

Those of you who live in Rancho Santa Margarita might want to let your mayor know what you think about the council wasting time on this issue.  And those of you who don't should keep an eye on your city council's agenda for similar toll road items. 

Do yourself a favor and attend the Sustainable Food Event, make a toast to San Onofre State Beach, and help the Sierra Club continue its conservation work in South Orange County. 

Thanks,

Bill Corcoran