
The Environmental Committee works to protect the watershed and to educate the public on forestry issues, erosion control, hazardous waste, recycling, and other issues. We also monitor government policies and procedures.
PG&E is a high priority for the Environmental Committee due to its massive and destructive felling of trees to prevent wildfires when unsafe, unreliable, antiquated equipment is the fundamental cause of the fires. From working on legislation and a new Franchise Agreement for PG&E in the County to in-depth research and analysis to support work with agencies affecting PG&E and helping folks protect their trees from PG&E’s contractors, this keeps the group busy. We work with a State-wide Utility Wildfire Prevention Taskforce on these issues.
Your help is needed.
Visit https://endpowerlinefires.com for more information.
River & Road Clean Up
with Save Our Shores
Annual Environmental Town Hall
Felton Community Hall
First Saturday of the month
Second Saturday if the first Saturday is a holiday weekend.
10:30 am at VWC Office at Highlands Park Senior Center
On Zoom and in-person. Email for Zoom info.
Meetings are open to the public.
Call 338-6578 or email for information.
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Monterey Bay Air Resources District and Valley Women’s Club
An excited crowd of parents and children turned out at the San Lorenzo Valley School Board meeting on Wednesday, November 15th to hear the announcement of the winners of the Second Annual Art Contest sponsored by the Monterey Bay Air Resources District and Valley Women’s Club. The artwork of all the winners was on display along with their winning ribbons. The creativity and talent of the children was amazing!
The Art Contest provided San Lorenzo Valley children the chance to be “creative” while helping bring awareness to the serious San Lorenzo Valley air quality issues created largely by wood burning smoke from wood stoves used for heating during the winter.
San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Laurie Bruton stated, “We are always happy to show off the talents of our students, particularly when it serves our community of San Lorenzo Valley.” “All of our schools stress community services,” said Dr. Bruton. “Joining students’ artistic ability and their desire to improve conditions in the community is a perfect match for the art contest.”
The art contest is an idea that was born from citizen input which was solicited and organized by Supervisor Bruce McPherson to help solve the critical air quality issues our community faces. “The air quality issue in San Lorenzo Valley can be addressed – and solved – by our local community. That solution will require an educational process and having our creative students show us how to do that through their artwork will be an important part of our success,” McPherson said.
The Valley Women’s Club Environmental Committee is also supporting the art contest. “We are excited to support this effort to help reduce dangerous air pollution levels in the SLV through this contest that also encourages creative expression of ideas,” stated Chairperson Nancy Macy.
The awards were presented in front of the School Board and in an excited audience by:
The Grand Prize winner was: Hana Goulart, 5th Grade at SLV Elementary School
The other prize winners were:
Grades 9-12:
First: Erin Johnson, 9th Grade;
Second: Lilith Romig, 9th Grade
Third: Sarah Jane Murphy, 10th Grade
Grades 7-8:
First: Lila Arrasjid, 7th Grade
Second: Kyla Jubinville, 8th Grade
Third: Haven Wallace Menge, 8th Grade
Grades 4-6:
First: Maddie Beprestis, 4th Grade, Boulder Creek Elementary;
Second: Justice Armstrong, 4th Grade, Fall Creek Charter;
Third: Natalee Thomas, 5th Grade, Fall Creek Home School
Grades K-3:
First: Ivan Cruz, 3rd Grade, Fall Creek Charter;
Second: Hayes Nielsen, Kindergarten, Boulder Creek Elementary;
Third: Aydria Cruz, 1st Grade, Fall Creek Charter
The winning artwork will be displayed after Thanksgiving through December 24th on the Community Wall on the bottom floor of the County Building, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz.
The message of this wonderful artwork is a reminder to all residents that wood-burning stoves contribute to serious health and air pollution issues in the San Lorenzo Valley. This is especially severe on our upcoming winter days when the San Lorenzo Valley experiences low clouds and low winds creating an “inversion” that traps smoke in our air. During these days residents protect their health and the environment by avoiding the use of wood stoves and using other sources of clean heat.