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Joe Bahar, President of the West Valley Community Coalition, spoke at last month's SCOPE meeeting, discussing strategies and issues surrounding the tremendous victory over the Ahmanson Ranch project in the western San Fernando Valley. There are parallels to our local fight against Newhall Ranch, but on an even larger scale: water, traffic, watershed destruction, smog, open space, schools, taxes, sprawl... Many thanks to Joe for sharing his knowledge, enthusiasm, suggestions, and "never-say-die" attitude. Come to the next SCOPE meeting and share the knowledge!
| Michael Kotch was an M.I.T. graduate in aerospace engineering who worked for Unisys Corporation for almost 25 years. He was also active in Santa Clarita as a member of the City Formation Committee that helped found the City of Santa Clarita in 1987, an elected member of Newhall County Water District and the President of SCOPE from 1992 to 2000. He is remembered on the Water District for his careful scrutiny of engineering projects and fiscal matters as well as for donating all his meeting stipends to various non-profit organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley. | ![]() |
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During his term on SCOPE, he was instrumental in organizing and chairing many educational events on planning issues such as the Livable Cities Conference and presentations on the Santa Clarita Valley's Significant Ecological Areas and the Development Monitoring System. Under his watch, SCOPE won public interest litigation that increased school fees and established library fees throughout Los Angeles County. He also fought for accurate water supply reporting, protection of the Santa Clara River and of our native oaks. |
| "We will be planting a Valley Oak (Quercus Lobata) in memory of Mike", said Cynthia Neil-Harris, Board member of the Santa Clarita Valley Oaks Conservancy, before the plating. "This is the largest and most regal of the California oaks. Many of these oaks were cut down in Significant Ecological are 64, the Valley Oaks Savannah, for the Westridge Project. Mike's efforts helped to reduce the number that were destroyed by over 100 oaks. It is also the same kind of tree as the Pico Canyon "Old Glory" Oak. "It will be a fitting epitaph for a man whose fortitude and perseverance helped safeguard the natural beauty of Santa Clarita for all of us." said Oak Conservancy President, Ken Buchan. | ![]() |
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Michael Kotch
died on August 11th which is celebrated by Catholics as the Feast Day of
St. Claire. "It is especially appropriate that this tree be dedicated
to Mike on St Claire's Day, said Lynne Plambeck. "St. Claire is the
namesake of the Santa Clara River that Mike worked so hard to save.
She was also a follower of Saint Frnacis of Assisi, known for his care
of birds and animals as well as humankind."
This Valley Oak is one of the many trees that are being planted by the Santa Clarita Oak Conservancy in its efforts to re-forest the Santa Clarita Valley with native oaks. |
Update as of Feb 12, 2004: The tree, though scarred by the flames, nonetheless survived the "Val Verde/Simi" wildfire of 2003, and will be budding out shortly with the coming rains.
This year's River Rally, held September 20th,
was larger than in any previous year. Crowds gathered at Lost Canyon
and Soledad Canyon Roads in the morning to remove trash from the Santa
Clara River.
Inside the booth tent SCOPE, Friends of the Santa Clara River, and the
local Sierra Club chapter set up their displays.
Many signed up for newsletters, talked to environmental representatives,
asked questions, and learned a bit about our precious river.
Thanks to all who helped in our booths, inspired and educated those in the community who gace of themselves to help clean up our river!
Over the Santa Susanna hills the Ahmanson Ranch project was approved 10 years ago. The opponents of this project were told it was a done deal. The community didn't agree and rallied together and never gave up. Today the State of California has negotated with the landowner to work out a purchase agreement so that this land will be left as open space forever. For more info, see the Stop Ahmanson Ranch website.
This tree has been here since the time of Columbus. It shaded the local Tatavium hundreds of years before white men came to the SCV. Should it be thoughtlessly destroyed just to make room for all the traffic to be generated by the giant Newhall Ranch project? It has been moved 1/4 mile down Pico Canyon Road by the developer. Will it survive? WIll it ever return to it's pre-move health? Much has been pruned off before the move. Is this really "saving" the tree?Additional information and updates are available at saveoldglory.com
Upload and copyright© May 2004 by SCOPE