Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Dump Opponents Will Hold Fund-Raiser

Opponents of a dump proposed in Elsmere Canyon hope to generate $100,000 this weekend with a fair and auction fund-raiser at Newhall Park.

About 750 items have been contributed for sale at the two-day auction--from Walt Disney Studios original movie art to a tour of Washington, D. C., and lunch with Rep. Howard (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) to “Star Trek” collectibles.

Sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Canyons Preservation Committee, the event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Organizers have been planning the fund-raiser for six months and have tried to draw upon the entire community in soliciting donations. Other auction items include a wedding package, computer consultation, dinner in Las Vegas and “The Phantom of the Opera” tickets.

“What’s been really neat about this is people have been calling us,” said Christine Connelly, event coordinator.

One activity expected to be popular with the public is a dunking booth with local officials Mayor Jan Heidt and City Councilman George Pederson, community activist Jack Curenton, athletic coaches from area high schools and others.

Bingo games are set to run both days, in an air-conditioned structure. There will be crafts and Western dancing for adults and puppet shows and games for children.

“Everybody always says there’s nothing to do for families and kids in the Santa Clarita Valley. This is a family event,” said Marsha McLean, president of the Santa Clarita Valley Canyons Preservation Committee.

Elsmere Canyon is southeast of where San Fernando Road intersects with the Antelope Valley Freeway.

Santa Clarita has gone on record opposing the dump proposal, which calls for a landfill accommodating 190 million tons of trash. Critics say the landfill will harm air quality, threaten the underground water supply, lower property values and cause trash trucks to steadily drive through the valley.

Environmental documents on the project are being prepared by the U. S. Forest Service and are expected to be completed before the end of the year.