City shortchanges Gum Grove Park
The Seal Beach Sun Newspaper, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 edition, carried an article on problems associated with fishing on the pier, which were discussed during the Seal Beach Council meeting on Nov. 13. In this article, reference was made to Item H on the council agenda, where the council was asked to approve hiring a consultant to design a Parks and Community Master Plan for Seal Beach.
Also, there was discussion about including the local beaches and its facilities into the proposed Master Plan as a “specific item.” All well and good.
What about 10-acre Gum Grove Park? No mention. There are significant usage, educational and maintenance opportunities and responsibilities in this unique area behind “the Hill” that are not being adequately met. There are many reasons. They should be identified, prioritized, and included as a “specific item” similar to the suggested focus on our beaches and tennis courts.
Items that immediately come to mind:
• Repair of chain link fencing separating the park and the adjoining Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Hellman property. Many gaps and holes currently exist allowing for both human and animal (coyote) trespassing.
• Disking of grasses and weeds prior to Santa Ana winds needs to continue being done to prevent a Colorado-type fire spreading from the Hellman property and Gum Grove up to the homes on Crestview.
• Maintenance of the entry posts, and entry parking areas (where are the “marked stalls”?)
• What about the dogs? On leash, off leash, what impact do they have on the non-domesticated wildlife?
• Paint guns, bicycles and their trails continue to cut through the topsoil and eucalyptus rooting areas
• Graffiti, litter, and purposeful desecration of trees
A comprehensive and unbiased master plan should include the 10-acre Gum Grove Park and canvasing of the residents using and bordering it. Anything else is a travesty to the concept of “Master Plan.”
The proposed phone solicitation of 300 residents proposed by the consultant for all of Seal Beach parks is woefully lacking.
Ken Kropf
Seal Beach
Thanksgiving Dinner in Seal Beach succeeds
The Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving Dinner was a huge success. We served more than 110 guests who do not have family and friends to celebrate this special holiday. The planning begins months in advance as all of the food and supplies are donated by local businesses and individuals.
Donors this year, in no particular order, included: O’Malleys, Finbars, The Abbey, Creative Catering, Ladies of the Evening (LOTE), Beach Fitness, Clancys, Anytime Fitness, Bay Hardware, Bogart’s Coffee House, Crema Cafe, Whole Body Vibe, 320 Main, Walts, Drs. Alyson Zahn and Douglas Emery, Yucatan, Busters, California Seashells, CLS Financial, Coldstone Creamery, Dr. Oaxaca, Devynns Gardens, Hennesseys, Jim Klisanin, Bob Griffith, Levitt Law, Eric Lenehan, McDonalds, Rubys, Merle Norman Cosmetics and True II Form. We had turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet carrots, plenty to go around and the leftovers were donated to Interval House.
More than 50 volunteers, many of whom are Chamber members and Lions, came out to support the dinner. The most special addition this year were the beautiful young ladies in The Miss Seal Beach Court, who took pictures with the guests on their way in. The guests were given a picture frame (with funds from Run Seal Beach) and a goody bag (with donations collected at The Sun). The combination of these brought joyful tears to several eyes. We began BINGO at 11 a.m. and started serving dinner just before noon. The kitchen ran wonderfully and we had hot plates out in no time. We were blessed to have former chef and this year’s Parade Marshal Seth Eaker leading the kitchen. This event couldn’t be done without all the volunteer support, some who have volunteered at this event for several years. Many thanks to those who attended.
I am looking forward to attending again next year. It was a wonderful way to spend my Thanksgiving giving back to those in need.
Diana Brunjes, Thanksgiving Dinner chair
Bay Hardware, Seal Beach
What is the rush to develop Harmony Cove?
The Huntington Beach City Council recently unanimously approved development of the Harmony Cove project in spite of overwhelming requests from the community to slow down, so adequate review could be accomplished for the many community and safety issues being voiced. The proposed project will require rezoning from residential to recreational and many variances in a small area near Warner Aveenue and Pacific Coast Highway with a 23-slip marina, a restaurant with outdoor dining, kayak/paddle board rentals, and retail shops.
The biggest concern voiced was danger to kayakers and paddle boarders, especially inexperienced ones, near the bridge between the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and Huntington Harbor. All of the tidal flow between these two bodies of water funnel through this area, and this vortex creates a hazard the closer you get to the bridge where the rentals are proposed.
This is the fastest current anywhere in the harbor. This hazard was pointed out to the city council in most of the verbal opinions, and actual water flow testimony was even provided to emphasize the risk. Regardless, the project received approval, but they did raise one concern about assuring the adjacent yacht club would not have their view obstructed during future Christmas boat parades.
Oh well, I guess citizens and politicians have different priorities. It seems that the hearing was a waste of time and the council already had their minds made up before the meeting began. Apparently this high-density project was on the fast track because the next City Council was not expected to be as favorable.
I just hope the city can live with itself when some inexperienced person gets caught in this dangerous tidal flow.
Wayne Phillips
Huntington Beach
Destruction of Gum Grove habitat
Last Saturday on the El Dorado Audubon bird/nature walk in Gum Grove Park we noted some disturbing destruction of habitat on both sides of the fence between Gum Grove Park and Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority property. The location is an area not far from the Heron Point end of the park but still in the original area of Gum Grove Park. Pickleweed was trampled on both sides and there is an obvious hole in the fence. It looks like humans let their dogs run and chase rabbits (from tracks). About a month ago people were seen inside the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority Property and also on the property owned by Hellman. The police were called and when the officer came out the issue was not taken seriously. I have written down the telephone numbers listed on the fence for the Hellman property (weekday and emergency) so that I can give out these numbers whenever I am contacted about this. I think that there needs to be coordination between the Police Department and the people on the Hellman property.
Mary Parsell
El Dorado Audubon
Long Beach
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