SERVING CATALINA & ITS MAINLAND FRIENDS
every week - since 1914
FRIDAY April 25, 2014
VOLUME 100, ISSUE 17
Www.THECATALINAISLANDER.COM
BRi[FS. ............ ; .....................
Reservoir water level
decreases by 6 acre feet
As of Thursday, April 17, the
Thompson Reservoir water level
measured 379 acre feet. On April
10, the water level measured 385
acre feet. When the level reaches
300 acre feet, Avalon will have
to go into Stage 2 water ration-
ing, which will require everyone to
reduce water usage 25 percent.
Conductor Kaufman to
direct at Silent Film Benefit
Grammy Award-winning conduc-
tor Richard Kaufman will work
his magic at the Catalina Island
Museum's Silent Film Benefit. See
story, page 7
What's Happening
There are many activities and
events on Catalina through the
year. Find out what is coming up.
See story, page 2
Flying Fish Return
The magical creatures known as
flying fish are starting to school
around Catalina. Capt. John King
talks about them.
See story, page 4
Fourth of July plans
This summer, the city of Avalon
will pay tribute to military veter-
ans and honor their contributions
to the USA. See story, page 4
Lions lend hands
The Avalon Lions Club has been
busy lately maintaining the equip-
ment at the park at Haypress.
See story, page 6
The Running Man
It's time to hear the second half
of Todd Ha[lenbeck's tale of the
joys of running along HorsePoop
Trail. See story, page 6
Responsible serving
Catalina CHOICES and the
Chamber of Commerce come
together to present education on
alcohol beverage serving for local
businesses. See story, page 8
Find bargains at the
Humane Society's Yard Sale
It's time once again for the
Catalina Island Humane Society's
big yard sale fundraiser. It will
take place this Saturday at 385
E. Whittley Ave. See story, page 6
Community Yard Sale
The City of Avalon will hold its
free Community Yard Sale from
9 a.m; to 2 p.m., Saturday, April
26, in People's Park. Registration
required. Call (310) 510-0220,
ext. 230.
Kids At Play perform their first show of 21st season
The cast of Kids at Play, seen above, in a recent production of "As Seen on TV, The Animal Planet Edition," an original script written by sean Brannock, founder and director of the Avalon pro-
gram with performances over three days in the Avalon Schools Auditorium. The Avalon acting and theater group is now in its 21st year. Photo by Justus Ramming
New City Council discusses its priorities
Water, the budget
and housing are
among concerns
BY CHARLES M. KELLY
Balancing the budget, expand-
ing drinking water resources and
cleaning Avalon Bay were among
the goals council members said
they would like to achieve in two
years at the special Wednesday,
April 23, City Council meeting.
The purpose of the meeting
was to hold a workshop to discuss
and prioritize the goals of the
council.
City Manager Ben Harvey
moderated the discussion.
He said the new council mem-
bers would be working together
for at least the next two years.
He asked council members to
imagine that it was 2016 and to
write down the goals that they
wanted to achieve.
Mayor Anni Marshall appar-
ently wanted to improve Avalon's
water supply. She said she didn't
want people bringing towels,
sheets and bottled water from the
mainlan& She said she wanted "to
figure this whole water mess out"
Harvey suggested the council
direct staff to aggressively pursue
more water resources.
Newly-elected Council Member
Joe Sampson said Avalon could
dredge the existing aquifers so
they work more efficiently and
hold more water. Sampson said
this was something you do when
there is little rain.
He said the expense was in dis-
posing of the dredged soil, which
is considered hazardous waste.
Sampson also said drilling new
aquifers below existing aquifers
scared him because there was a
possibility of losing the existing
. water supply.
Avalon Bay
Drinking water wasn't the only
issue on the council members'
minds. Council' Member Cinde
Cassidy said she would like to
meet the Cease and Desist Order.
Prorities, Page 3
MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
Catalina s facts, folklore and fibs
This Week: The Hunt For Turie's Treasure, Part 1
BY JIM WATSON He was, quite possibly, the only
, soul on Catalina Island at that par-
Editor s note: Jim Watson is ticular moment.
the author of 'Mysterious Island: The Island Tongva had by this
Catalina," available at time vanished for the most
Amazon, Kindle and in part from their ancestral Imm
stores in Avalon. homeland, "recruited" for
, jobs in mainland missions
On a Spring day in 1829, and ranchos, and most of
a New England-native the white miners and goat
named Samuel Prentiss, herders were still a few
carpenter by trade, found years away from establish-
himself sitting alone on a wind- ing their enterprises on Catalina.
swept beach on Catalina Island's In the preceding six months, It was
West End.
brig called the Danube, similar to the one in this painting by Fitz Henry Lane, that
brou ht Samuel Prentiss to California, thereby spawning one of Catalina's most enduring lost
IIVatlln, Page 5 treasure tales. (Artwork courtesy Oceanbridge)
