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HB to host the yearly convention for sister cities
by Robb Fulcher
California Sen. Debra Bowen, D-South Bay, will be the keynote speaker as the 37th national convention of the U.S./Mexico Sister Cities Association comes to Hermosa Beach Friday through Sunday.
Hermosa's maintains a sister city relationship with Loreto, Mexico.
The convention will focus upon ecological issues, and Bowen's remarks, 11 a.m. Saturday at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, will address "Protecting Environmental Quality in a Global Economy."
Bowen chairs the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. She has authored numerous pieces of environmental legislation, including a recent law giving the California Integrated Waste Management Board more power to clean up illegal tire dumps.
For the past two years, Bowen has pursued legislation that would require the state to construct buildings in a "green" or energy-efficient manner.
Following her keynote address will be a speech by U.S. Rep. Steve Kuykendall, R-South Bay, who recently secured $500,000 in federal funds to help preserve the Ballona Wetlands near Marina del Rey.
"With the large number of well-established sister city relationships, we can share knowledge, identify problems that must be confronted, and develop strategies that will work to solve those problems," said Richard H. McCurdy, president of the Hermosa Beach Sister Cities Association.
Other convention speakers will include SolarQuest President Ron Senson, Doretta Winkleman, education director of the San Diego Natural History Museum, and James Aldinger, a spokesman for the local environmental group VOICE.
Entertainment will be provided by the Ballet de Folkorica, the Hermosa Valley School Choir and the Mira Costa High School Jazz Band.
The convention will open with a Friday welcoming party at Ein Stein's, and will close Sunday with pancake breakfast held by Hermosa firefighters.
For more information call 374-2044. ER