Co Co Supervisors wimp out and vote against renaming Mount Diablo Mount Reagan

I know I was initially annoyed by this whole issue raised by an Oakley man who thought that the name “Diablo” was “derogatory and profane.” And I talked about how we needed to stop giving Art Mijares his 15 minutes of fame.

But, you know, over time, his wacky idea of renaming Mt. Diablo after our 33rd California governor and 40th U.S. president started to grow on me. This is especially after a couple I know began contemplating all the streets, schools, creeks, businesses, organizations, and regions that would have to undergo a total identity shift.

And, I thought, that’s right: We’d have to say good by to Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Diablo Valley College, and Diablo Country Club. Hello, Save Mt. Reagan, Mt. Reagan Unified School District, and the small but affluent unincorporated community of Reagan.

Sure, it would cost some money for the name changes: signs, stationery, uniforms, marketing materials, web sites, statues.

But sometimes, change can be exciting. It can shake things up, make you re-evaluate yourself and your place in the world. Similarly, if our region’s geographic centerpiece were to undergo a name change, think of how we would all get a whole new perspective on life.

So, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors' vote against the name change is not a final decision on the matter. The supervisors can only forward their suggestion to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names.

The Mayor of Claycord says, who first reported on this highly volatile controversy a few weeks ago, proclaimed today: “Ladies and Gentleman, the name’s not changing!”

Well, we'll see …

Do yourself and Marsh Creek a favor this weekend with a Save Mt. Diablo planting project

Remember, back in October, I wrote about how mentally and physically restorative it was to go to Yosemite and do a volunteer project in the great outdoors? Well, you can enjoy the opportunity to do something like that closer to home this weekend.

Save Mt. Diablo is looking for volunteers to help plant native plants along Marsh Creek on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And they provide lunch!

Here are details from Seth Adams, Save Mt. Diablo’s director of Land Programs:

Save Mount Diablo (SMD) has been acquiring properties along Marsh Creek, on Diablo's east side. On the weekend of December. 5 - 6, SMD seeks volunteers for a fun project planting native plants along Marsh Creek. This is a great opportunity to participate hands-on in the restoration of a creek corridor and to donate a few hours helping to enhance habitat for the diverse plants and animals living in the surrounding areas. We'll provide lunch.

What: Planting native trees and shrubs by hand, and doing a little weeding and watering. Bring shovels and hand trowels if you have them. Please dress accordingly - long pants, long sleeves, layers, boots and a rain shell if precipitation is in the forecast. Food provided. Heavy rain postpones, so call if it looks threatening. Bring your friends. Kids welcome. Please R.S.V.P. so that we know how much lunch to provide.

When: Saturday, December 5th 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. & Sunday, December 6th 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. You can participate on one day or both. Bring your friends, but R.S.V.P. so we can provide lunch.

Where: Meet at 3240 Aspara Drive, Clayton CA 94517 (Contra Costa County, East Bay).

RSVP and more information: George Phillips at gphillips@savemountdiablo.org or (925) 947-3535.

What was that circling the peak of Mt. Diablo Saturday?

Was it a case of an attack of the artist Christo?

No, it was a “necklace” of about 350 local high school students and others, holding up colored pieces of fabric in a chain to create a visual demonstration of concern about global warming.

The participants circled the peak of Mt. Diablo along the Mary Bowerman Trail. The event Saturday was just one of hundreds of such demonstrations taking place around the world, according to the folks at Save Mt. Diablo, who co-sponsored our local demonstration.

Cool photos, huh? They are by Scott Hein.

Three hundred fifty is the key number, and is the name given to this international day of action. According to Seth Adams of Save Mt. Diablo, the focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet. 
To tackle climate change we need to move quickly, and we need to act in unison--and 2009 will be an absolutely crucial year. This December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to draft a new global treaty on cutting emissions.

Thanks, Seth and Scott, for sharing these wonderful photos.