OPEN SPACES Volume 17, Number 1 Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy First Quarter, 2005 Jim Scharffenberger and Wayne Sharp lead fundraising efforts to preserve Portuguese Bend. PVE Councilman Jim Goodhart, Mike Gin representing LA County Supervisor Don Knabe, RHE Councilman Frank Zerunyan, RPV Mayor Larry Clark, Assemblywoman Betty Karnette, RPV Councilman Doug Stern, RPV Councilman Tom Long, Manhattan Beach Councilman Jim Aldinger, RH Mayor Tom Heinsheimer, RH Councilman Allen Lay, and PVE Mayor Dwight Abbott. Portuguese Bend Pony Club was one of 70 groups who cut ribbons at Del Conservancy Launches Cerro Park. Fundraising Campaign to Fulfill the Dream On Sunday, March 20th the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes gathered with residents and elected officials to launch a $6 million community fundraising campaign to “Fulfill the Dream” of purchasing land that will complete the 1500-acre Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by Bill Ailor and RPV Mayor Larry Clark, was held at the top of Del Cerro Park, overlook- ing the magnificent slopes of Portuguese Bend with Catalina Island in the distance. This location is especially meaningful because a donor recognition site for the preserve will be created on this spectacular overlook. An estimated 500 Peninsula residents and over 70 community groups cut ribbons and showed their support for the Preserve. As part of the campaign, the Land Conservancy announced a Legacy Stakeholder program that would allow people to contribute by purchasing an honorary deed representing a portion of the preserve. Patrons who donate $37,000 or more for an honorary deed for a full acre, will be honored with permanent recognition at the Del Cerro site as a lasting tribute and legacy. Also, there will be limited naming opportunities for trails, scenic overlooks, and wilderness areas of the preserve for donors whose gifts exceed $100,000. However, smaller donations are also encouraged and honorary deeds are available for less than one acre. To learn more about Sara Ruth and Elmer Grimes cut ribbons for their homeowners the Community Campaign to Preserve Portuguese Bend, call Executive Director association. Barbara Dye at 310/541-7613 X 205. Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Page 2 President’s Remarks Now’s The Time Those of you who have been with the Conservancy for years know that we have never made a real push for large donations. Our philosophy has been that we will make that push when we have a real, defined, specific need. Well, now’s the time. For the past 15 years, we have been working at a slow but deliberate pace to build the credibility of Palos Verdes as a place where open space should be preserved, to build local support for the preservation of open space, and to show that we could actually manage these areas if they were preserved. We’ve done all three. PALOS VERDES PENINSULA Some at the State level didn’t believe that there was LAND CONSERVANCY Mariposa Circle members demonstrated actually any significant open space remaining in this part Board of Directors their support at the Capital Campaign Bill Ailor, President of Los Angeles County. The State is now a partner in Henry Jurgens, Executive Vice launch on March 20. preserving these lands. President Mike Kilroy, Vice President Some at the local level thought preserving large blocks of Peninsula open space was a fantasy Bruce Biesman-Simons, Secretary Bob Bothamley, Treasurer —we’d never be able to raise the funds. We’ve done it. We’ve brought over $13 million to the Marc Crawford Peninsula and acquired nearly 300 acres of developable land to date. It’s not a fantasy. It can be Don Crocker Robert Ford done. Allen Franz Leah Marinkovich Some said managing open space would be too expensive—we couldn’t afford it if we did Gina McLeod preserve it. We’ve shown that our community is committed to responsible management. Volun- Ellen Perkins Anke Raue teers have donated thousands of hours and donors have contributed thousands of dollars to make Wayne Sharp it happen. Jack Smith Bill Swank The Land Conservancy has been instrumental in all of these advances. We have focused Warren Sweetnam Charmaine Williams community efforts to make our significant open space areas known to County and State officials, Executive Director to bring funds here for acquisition and management, and to organize an effective land steward- Barbara Dye Associate Director ship program. Andrea Vona Office Manager As a result, our community is poised to make its last, but most significant preservation Mary Ellen Richardson action—the acquisition of 700 acres and the creation of the Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve. Land Stewardship Dan Ryan, Director Funding has been identified, we have willing sellers, local and political support is strong. But we Arthur Bonner need one last thing—we need to raise $6 million locally, a trigger for an acquisition with a total Balthazar Gonzalez Jose Gonzalez price of nearly $30 million. Nely Gonzalez Development So if you’re looking for that unique opportunity to leave a legacy in the community where you Debbie DiBiase, Director live—now’s the time. Susanna Klein, Volunteer Coordinator If you want to make a contribution that will define the future of this spectacular area—now’s Education Program Director John Nieto the time. George F Canyon Naturalist If you want to preserve a quality of life unique in the South Bay—now’s the time. Loretta Rose If you want to assure the preservation of an area where adults and children can enjoy the Open Spaces natural environment and celebrate our creator’s wonders—now’s the time. A Newsletter Published by the So, if you’ve been holding back, waiting for us to bring a deal to the table: we’ve done it. It’s Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy on the table, and now’s the time to make that larger donation. We need your help. Now. PO Box 3427 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 Office Telephone: (310) 541-7613 Office Fax: (310) 541-7623 E-mail: [email protected] Bill Ailor Home Page: www.pvplc.org First Quarter 2005 Page 3 Capital Campaign News Fulfill the Dream… Spread the Word… We are so fortunate in the South Bay to enjoy so many We need your help to make this Capital Campaign a outstanding assets like our schools, hospitals, shops and of success. We’re creating a community-wide team to take the course our wonderful people. But in particular we have a very message of this window of opportunity to the entire Peninsula. valuable and unique asset and that is our open space. An asset Please fill out the form below to let us know how you can help, that many communities do not have to enjoy. or call the office to volunteer. As stewards of our community, we Thanks to the work of our dedicated must be diligent about preserving this volunteers, we have produced an assort- asset, for once it is gone, it is gone ment of Capital Campaign materials. forever and cannot be brought back. These include a 7-minute DVD that has The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land been very well received, a case statement, Conservancy is working very hard to a questions and answers document, t- acquire, preserve and maintain peninsula shirts, removable window decals, and open space with the dream of creating a more. If you’d like to help spread the 1,500 acre nature preserve in Portuguese news about the campaign, please stop by Bend. We are honored to chair the the office to pick up a decal and DVD to Capital Campaign to raise the six million show the community that you support dollars needed from the community, to the campaign. make this dream a reality. The state agencies that have commit- We invite the communities of the South Bay to join us in ted to provide funds appreciate receiving letters of support. If this effort, and to embrace our goal to preserve the scenic you’d like to let them know how you feel about preserving this beauty of our coastal open space So we can enjoy it ourselves, open space, address your letter “To Whom It May Concern,” as will our children and many generations to come. ask them to preserve Portuguese Bend, and add a sentence about why you think it’s important. Sign your name and address and send it to us for delivery. We appreciate all your help! Jim Scharffenberger, Co-Chair Wayne Sharp, Co-Chair You Can Help Fulfill the Dream To volunteer to help with our exciting Capital Campaign, please return this form to our office or fax to (310)541-7623. Name:________________________________________________________________________ E-mail:_______________________________________ Phone: __________________________ I know a group that might be interested in a speaker about Portuguese Bend: __________________________________________________________________________ I know someone you should talk to about donating to the Capital Campaign: ___________________________________________________________________________ Community Outreach (helping staff our booth at street fairs, etc.) Special events (planning, silent auction items, decorating, etc.) Office help (envelope stuffing, labeling, etc.) Other (please specify) ________________________________________________________ Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Page 4 Progress Updates Linden H. Chandler Preserve Interpretive signs have been installed near the Rolling Hills Little League field. The tri-panel display features information on Linden H. Chandler, the Palos Verdes blue butterfly, and the preserve’s trail system. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps has volunteered a work crew to repair and maintain a number of trails damaged by this winter’s heavy rain. The community-led advisory board has met two times this year supporting the Land Conservancy’s commitment to involve the local community in the management of its preserves.