I’ve been to this cute little neighborhood spot a handful of times after hearing raves about its gourmet vegetarian (and vegan) offerings. Avanti uses local organic produce from South Coast Farms. Maybe it’s the skeptical carnivore in me, but “gourmet” and “vegetarian” makes me think of prettified hippie food.

I haven’t been to Avanti in a long time - I’m sure the menu’s changed radically. At least one meat eater likes it, though, that’s saying something.

The sign is a result of a council vote in April to form a committee comprised of council members Joe Carchio, Cathy Green and Gil Coerper to design and display the motto.

“To me it has nothing to do with religion,” said Carchio. “It is the motto of our county … it is a patriotic thing.”

The sign will hang behind the dais and next to the state and national flags.

If it really was a “patriotic thing” and had “nothing to do with religion”, any other civic motto would have worked just as well, but it’s “In God We Trust” that’s going up all over the county. A question for the council, and you readers: If “god” has nothing to do with religion, what does it have to do with?

Last year, Harper and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Westminster recommended the literature program to district officials. Administrators rejected the plan, saying that none of the individual schools showed enough interest, and the state graduation requirements limited the number of elective courses in which students could enroll.

Classes like this are allowed as long as the “literature” aspect is central to class discussions - as usual, the school can’t promote a particular religion or belief system. The main concern seems to be that another elective in the English department would have to be dropped to make room for this one - a valid concern, regardless of your thoughts on the material in question.

Update: As expected, the HBUHSD trustees have voted down the class, 4-1. Read the whole story here.

The classified ad contains a phone number for owners of new purebred puppies to call to receive a “free gift bag”. There aren’t any toys or pet food samples to be had, however: the number offers callers a “body bag” to represent the shelter pet killed when people choose breeder or pet store animals. From the PETA press release on the issue:

The recorded message explains the hard facts to callers: Buying a puppy means that a dog in an animal shelter loses the chance for adoption, which means that one more dog will be needlessly destroyed. Callers are also told to practice their ABCs—animal birth control—by getting their new dog “fixed” to avoid adding further to the canine overpopulation crisis. Callers are encouraged to adopt, not buy, their next canine companion. The ad is the latest salvo in PETA’s national ABC campaign.

Dog Fancy editor Susan Chaney posted a response on the magazine’s message boards, saying “DOG FANCY does not knowingly accept advertising from PETA and does not agree with its extremist views.” Folks I spoke with at the magazine didn’t have any further comments on the issue, saying they didn’t want to get into a dialogue with PETA.

The LAV’s take: While I’m sure the magazine doesn’t appreciate getting shown up like this, you’ve got to wonder why they didn’t (or don’t, as policy) call every number/visit every website that advertises in their magazine, to stop this or other inappropriate content. Regardless of your thoughts about PETA and their tactics, it’s a sad fact that thousands of animals die each year in shelters, usually because of massive overcrowding. Spending hundreds or thousands of dollars for a breeder or pet store animal doesn’t help this situation at all.

More: For more recent news on what happens to shelter animals in Orange County, check out Teri Sforza’s Watchdog series, parts 1 and 2.

The Register’s new Watchdog Blog has an amazing story about Orange County’s shelter kills winding up back in the food chain. Gelatin is one of those things people have heard rumors about, but few really know where it comes from. But even this vegetarian didn’t know shelter animals ended up in the mix.

Total Buzz is reporting that Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will both be appearing at Lake Forest’s Saddleback Church in August. While they won’t be debating (or doing anything except exchanging pleasantries), they will share the stage — something that hasn’t happened since campaigning began. The original New York Times story is here.

I drove by the new Sprouts location in Tustin yesterday and found out the store will have its debut this Friday, July 25 at 8am, with a “grand opening” scheduled for July 30. Sprouts currently has a location in Irvine, and the chain is very reminiscent of Henry’s Farmers Market - natural and organic foods, bulk items, and a “down home” feel. The store is in the spot once occupied by Whole Foods. The Fast Food Maven has the whole story here.

Finally, following up on last week’s news, the Fountain Valley city council has taken a fresh step toward displaying “In God We Trust”, instructing city staff to study price and display options for the motto. The board will likely take further action in August or September.

Local activist Stuart Bechman will be representing the atheist community on the panel, and members of the Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Christian communities will also be represented.

The event takes place at the Irvine Ranch Water District on Sand Canyon in Irvine. Admission is free and light snacks will be served.

Even though the council reviewed and did not pass a proposal to display “In God We Trust” during its June 2 meeting, Mayor John Collins broached the subject again at their June 17 meeting.

Councilman Gus Ayer and Councilwoman Cheryl Brothers expressed their opposition to Collins’ proposal on the grounds that voting on the item again would be a breach of council procedure.

This time, the council will discuss whether city staff should be directed to review options for displaying the motto that would include cost, payment, location, aesthetics, additional city or state mottos, and whether to bring back a report on a future agenda.

Regardless of “donations” of motto displays and offers from the community to pay for them, city staff time is still be used further discuss the issue, and now possibly to review options, all with a very recent “no” vote on the same topic. How about this, Mayor Collins: If you trust God so much, let Him put the motto up. I’m sure He can do it without your help.

Although advocates of the California decision say it will have no effect on religious liberties, the panelists—the majority of whom oppose it —say that’s not true. Tony Perkins, the Council’s president, said he thinks same-sex marriage and protecting religious liberties “can’t coexist.”

“Churches are being forced, intimidated and threatened (if they don’t perform same-sex ceremonies) even though it violates their religious beliefs,” said Benjamin Bull, chief counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious freedom organization founded by ministers.

That’s nice, except it’s not true. As the story explains, a church in New Jersey lost its tax-exempt status for not allowing a same-sex civil union on their boardwalk pavilion, but that church was allowing the public to use its facilities, not just members. No churches are being forced to perform gay marriages, here or anywhere else.

I wonder if church leaders against interracial marriage complained this loudly back in 1967 when the Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia. Every argument being used today was used then to justify keeping people of different races apart. Somehow, I don’t think most of these church leaders support segregation, no matter what their holy book says.

The event features a buffet lunch for $10 and the group’s usual chat about politics and religion. No RSVP is needed.

If you’re just in it for the beer but don’t want to make the trek to Santa Ana, Drinking Liberally also meets every Thursday in Rancho Santa Margarita at the Canyon Fireside Grille (hosted by Gary Kephart, candidate for Santa Margarita Water District board of directors and all around good guy).