(October 28, 2004) -- Three prominent LB area activists and a veteran LB television producer have received the "Everybody is Good at Heart (Golden Retriever)" Awards.

LB ECO-link founder Diana Mann, LB writer and community activist Bry Myown, CA Earth Corps president Don May and Charter Cable Television Production Manager Ron Petke were honored for their work in bringing to public attention issues surrounding an 80+ million gallon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal that a private firm hopes to build and operate in the Port of Long Beach.

The awards, launched by LB resident Geoffrey Millar, were bestowed at an October 26 banquet ceremony at Kings Fish House in downtown Long Beach.

Mr. Millar created the Good at Heart awards ("golden retriever" to indicate a good hearted, good friend) after he learned of the LNG proposal. "I think it's bad for business, I think it's bad for health, I think it's bad for tourism," Mr. Millar told attendees at the awards ceremony, adding:

Ms. Myown, a former City Council office aide, writes frequently on LB history and city policies and has spearheaded local opposition to the proposed LB LNG facility. Ms. Myown's unflinching positions on issues ranging from development practices to open government have earned her a reputation as "relentless when provoked."

Mr. May, in the forefront of efforts to restore LB area wetlands, has for years urged less-polluting techniques for ships, trucks and trains accessing the Ports of LB and Los Angeles. The issue is now receiving widespread public and port attention.

Ms. Mann, a tornado of energy on environmental issues, created LB ECO-link to network with local activists. She also hosts "In Your Backyard" on LB Charter Cable TV to reach a mainstream audience.

Ms. Mann helped alert the public to AQMD's historic Multiple Airborne Toxic Emissions Study (MATES-2) which concluded that diesel emissions and other airborne toxins have produced an increased cancer risk in southeastern Los Angeles County roughly paralleling areas to and from Port areas. The MATES-2 cancer risk map is now routinely cited by local officials (and LBReport.com maintains a permanent link to it on our front page).

In November 2002, Mr. May and Ms. Mann held a mock funeral at the Port of LB to put a human face on statistical deaths attributed to diesel pollution...an event that drew widespread media coverage.

Mr. Petke, Charter Cable Television's Production Manager, was honored for producing the "In Your Backyard" programs hosted by Ms. Mann. Mr. Petke is widely credited with using his considerable television talents to fairly convey significant issues to local residents. "It's great to work for a company like Charter that lets us produce programs that inform the public," Mr. Petke said.

He gave the first award to Ms. Mann...

...whose reaction speaks for itself.

Mr. Millar invited Ms. Mann to present the awards to the other recipients...and the next went to CA Earth Corps President Don May, "my favorite environmentalist on the planet," she said.

"What's going to win this [the LNG issue] is whether or not there's a hew and cry out there," Mr. May said.

Mr. Petke, who momentarily quipped about working with Ms. Mann, thanked her and Charter Cable Television for the opportunity.

Mr. Petke said he was

Ms. Myown, scheduled to address a major conference on "Headwaters to Ocean (H20)" in LB on Friday (Oct. 29), described how she became involved in the LB LNG issue...and now finds herself at the heart of a national test case on homeland security and energy policies, her biggest challenge ever:

Mr. Millar also unveiled video announcements he's created on the LNG issue...and indicated he hopes to distribute them on DVD to decisionmakers and local residents. He's also launched a web site (www.nolnginlb.com) on the LNG issue.

Ms. Myown told LBReport.com that she also plans to launch a web site on LNG soon.

Among those attending he ceremony were newlyweds Coby Skye and Gabrielle Weeks (both LB Greens), Jessie Marquez (Wilmington anti-pollution activist), Alice Wank (LB activist, turned actress in the video) and Tom Politeo (with the Sierra Club).