The governor has cut funding for the program that monitors water quality in San Mateo County’s creeks and beaches, report the County Times.

County officials learned of the $35,000 budget cut this week as part of a million-dollar line-item veto the governor exacted on the state’s entire ocean water-quality monitoring program, funded on a year-to-year basis through an appropriation facilitated by the Department of Public Health.[...]

State nonprofit group Heal the Bay won’t be able to collect crucial beach closure data for its annual “Beach Bummer” report, which this spring listed Half Moon Bay’s Venice Beach as one of the most polluted beaches in the state for the second year in a row.

Venice Beach is one of the locations that will lose its county monitors under the new regime. Other locations north of Half Moon Bay, such as Pillar Point Harbor and the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, will still receive testing thanks to the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District, an independent agency that recently obtained a one-year grant to coordinate a posse of “citizen scientists” who will perform water-quality tests throughout the midcoast area.

The cuts were retroactive to July 1, and the county must find $105,000 to cover the testing it has already been done.

Caffe Lucca presents an art show Sunday, October 12, 2008 From noon to 5pm. The show will feature oil paintings by Rudy Milante ; Claire Ellis, Eclarity Arts one-of-a-kind jewelry from silver, natural stones and beads; Nancy Wilder wraps, scarves and clothing. and live acoustic music.

Hwy.1 at 8th Street
Montara, CA. 94037
650.728.5229

Reece Computers is offering free computer classes in October and November. The classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Reece’s retail office in Shoreline Station.  The classes cover introduction to computer skills, Office, Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

Click below for details.

With banks being propped up, the Dow plunging, and even the Russian market down 40% in spite of careful observation of Alaskan residents a mere three miles away, where can one get a good return on his or her investment? Blue Blanket Improv Bank, Inc. (BBIBI, “bibby-bee") offers these suggestions for October:

• Invest in LAUGHS! A mere $10 investment provides an evening of merriment at Enso (131 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay) on October 11th, at 8PM.Better still, bring 3 friends, take advantage of our “Buy 3, get 1 Free” promotion, for an immediate 33%return (a startling 3,063% APY) . Buy at the door, or online at: http://www.blueblanketimprov.com *

Invest in rising comic talent! BBIBI puts its money where our mouth is! (Which makes brushing our teeth hard, but our dentists love us...) After combing the Coast for the funniest, most talented applicant for our Internship program, we are pleased to announce that Jarred Gibbs is the winner of our $500 college scholarship. Jarred will join the Blue Blanket Improv troupe and be recognized at Saturday’s performance. This prospect us does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities. Before redeeming or purchasing shares, we urge you to consult your investment and tax professionals, find out what they’re doing on October 11th, and if they want to come see BBI. Remember, if your CPA, attorney, and broker buy tickets, you’re in free!

The serious version:

Blue Blanket Improv, the Coast’s premier non-profit improvisational comedy troupe, announces the selection of the 2008 Scholarship winner. Jarred Gibbs, of Half Moon Bay, will be recognized for her completion of the Blue Blanket Internship program. In addition to joining the performance troupe, Jarred will receive a $500 scholarship for college expenses. The October 11th Blue Blanket Show (held at Enso Studio, 131 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, 8 - 10 pm) will feature a short presentation of the scholarship award. Our shows feature more than a dozen “short form” improvisational comedy scenes: audience suggestions give our players the inspiration for scenes that incorporate characters, genres, and dialogue all made-up on the spot. Tickets are $10, buy 3, get 1 free, and may be purchased at the door or online at: http://www.blueblanketimprov.com/

Caffe Lucca in Montara features the wit, wisdom & wily words with Singer/songwriter and “award-winning performance poet” Crysse Morrison on Saturday, October 11 from 7 to 9pm.

The Visionary Edge screen Julian Lennon’s documentary Whaledreamers at the Johnson House Depot in Half Moon Bay, on Saturday October 11.  Whaledreamers has won more than 10 Best Film awards on the film festival circuit.

Whaledreamers - the title alone evokes hypnotic visions of these most magnificent and ancient creatures. This visually stunning film offers an incredible glimpse into a rarely seen and scarcely understood tribal culture whose entire story of creation revolves around whales and has endured for centuries. The film passionately explores the connection between the subtle elegance of these “mothers of the sea” and ancient civilizations around the world whose culture and very existence is based on whales.

In 1998, eighty-five tribal leaders from around the world came together at Whale Rock on the Great Australian Bight in South Australia to share their traditions, stories and spirituality over a seven-day celebration of cultures and nature.

The Railroad Right of Way is owned by the city of Half Moon Bay, but the Coastside Land Trust holds an easement on the property to keep it from being developed. Last Saturday, the CLT took about 60 Coastsiders on a tour of the property and its wildlife.

You can download a copy of the guide to local plants that was created by Toni Correlli for the tour.

Come celebrate the pumpkin season at Coastal Repertory Theater’s Fall Ball on Saturday, October 25th at 7pm.  This celebration is an adult costume ball for the entire Coastside.  There will be live music from the Coastside’s own Wall of Blues band along with dancing.  Delicious treats from our some of our amazing local restaurants including Pasta Moon, It’s Italia and more will be served.  Wine and other spirits will be available to sip.  There will be a silent auction to bid on generously donated items.  And there will even be a costume contest!

Tickets are $50 per person and are available at Coastal Repertory Theater’s website, www.coastalrep.com, by emailing your request to , or by phone at (650) 569-3266.

The Fall Ball will be held at the Mel Mello Center for the Arts, at 1167 Main Street in Half Moon Bay.

Please join us for this marvelous and memorable evening.  All proceeds benefit live theater on the coast.  See you at the ball!

Longtime Montara resident Nancy Maule passed away on September 16, 2008. She was an accomplished artist, a wife and mother, and active member of he community. But she is best known as a pioneering advocate for controlled growth and open space preservation, most importantly in stopping of the massive subdivision of Montara’s rural lands and in the prevention of the construction of the Devils Slide Freeway Bypass over Montara Mountain.

Whether you agreed with her or not, one had to respect her integrity and dedication to the preservation of her community and its surrounding natural environment. Nancy Maule embodied the independence, creativity, and tenacity of the Midcoast communities. She will be missed.

There is an obituary in this week’s Half Moon Bay Review and a profile on June Morrall’s Half Moon Bay Memories site.