The Coastside Land Trust is holding our monthly restoration event at our Francis Beach properties this coming Saturday, August 30th, 12:30 to 3pm.  We’re making good progress re-establishing native vegetation on these beautiful bluff top properties. The invasive species are now dry and our dry-summer adapted native species are coming into their own with blooms, seed setting and dispersal.

Lizard Tail, Purple Aster, Bee Flower, Yellow Lupine and Coyote Bushes are all finishing blooming, setting seed or starting to bloom. Once their seeds mature and dry, these natives have various methods of seed dispersal. For example the Yellow Lupine has seed pods that when dry, pop open, and the seeds are literally thrown out into the air to fall to the ground away from the parent plant. Others like the Purple Aster rely on the wind and birds for seed disbursal. We will spend the day discussing these seed disbursal methods and others, identifying native and invasive plants, and removing invasive plants.

Please join us. Check in at the Francis State Beach kiosk at Kelly and the Pacific Ocean, proceed north on the maintenance road to the maintenance sheds. Our properties are on the east side of the maintenance road. Refreshments, good humor and appreciation are provided for all ages and abilities.

Jo Chamberlain

Saving the city of Half Moon Bay from itself is a dirty, thankless job.

You’re likely to be slammed for “public relations” by the Review’s editor and for being “morally bankrupt” by the anonymous wingnuts on its website when you propose a decent, practical plan for helping the city.

Senator Leland Yee’s SB863 will allocate $10 million to help the city buy as parkland Beachwood and the 22 acres on Pilarcitos Creek financed by the Peninsula Open Space Trust.

The city will still be out a few million in the Beachwood lawsuit. That sounds about right. The city’s strategy for getting out its obligations by gutting decades of environmental law was appallingly cynical.  That the Review’s editor calls it “wise” says a lot about his notion of wisdom.

Yee’s bill will buy the land, but not build the parks for the city. But there’s no reason it should. It does leave Half Moon Bay with the ability to finance its new park development—if it has the will. It’s time for the city to commit to building decent parks for its residents, rather than dithering over who gets the credit.

The parks money the city is receiving was intended to complement and encourage affordable housing. That seems fair. Half Moon Bay already has one of the highest affordable housing rates in the county, but it has little real parkland.

Yee did more than right by Half Moon Bay, when you consider their behavior in the last six months. The city misled Yee about its threat of bankruptcy, blindsided him with a toxic bill designed to enrich a single individual at the expense of the law, slandered the Coastal Commission staff, and secretly shared the expenses for its Sacramento disinformation campaign with another interested party.

There are cities all over California that are needier than Half Moon Bay. If their Sacramento delegation can get SB863 passed, AB1991’s supporters should stop whining and say thank you.

The great music from the classic Big Band Era, 1935-1945: Jim Rothermel (saxophones & clarinet/leader) Noel Jewkes (saxophones & clarinet), Steve Campos (trumpet & flugelhorn), Larry Vuckovich (piano) Al Obidinski (bass), Tony Johnson (drums), Trombone player to be named.
 
Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society
307 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA  94019
$30.  Tickets at the door. Reservations for members.
Doors Open at 3 PM, Music from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, with intermission.

Supervisor Rich Gordon’s office is holding office hours in Moss Beach on Thursday from 10am to Noon at the Sheriff’s Substation in Moss Beach. 

The next two months, September and October, the office hours’ date will be moved from fourth Thursday to fourth Friday of the month.  The new dates are Friday September 26 at 10am and Friday, October 24 at 10am.

Len Erickson, Secretary of Midcoast Park Lands, will make a presentation on Quarry Park to the Midcoast Community Council tonight, Wednesday, at 7:45pm. MPL is in the process of turning over the park to the county.

MCC meets at Seton Medical Center Coastside, Marine Blvd & Etheldore, Moss Beach. Take Highway 1 to Marine Blvd and follow the signs uphill. Please park in the upper parking lot.

Who says there’s no nightlife in Montara? The will be an open mike at Caffe Lucca, in the heart of Montara’s entertainment district, this Friday night from 7 to 9:30pm.  In August, there will be Friday open mikes at Caffe Lucca on August 1, 15, and 29

Caffe Lucca
Hwy 1 @ 8th St.
Montara
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You may have noticed that Coastsider has been down since Thursday. Naturally, this happened while I was traveling, so it took longer than usual to diagnose the problem and come up with a plan of attack.

Coastsider now on a faster and more reliable server. I’m still ironing out problems and migrating some of Coastsider’s other services to the new server. Coastsider’s Gallery will be down for the time being and you may encounter a few other bugs in the meantime.

Once I’ve confirmed that the site is stable, I’ll email members to let them know we’re back. If you see anything that looks broken, please add a comment to this story.

Barry Parr

Blue Blanket Improv will be hosting a “Beginning Improvisational Comedy Class” Starting Monday, September 22 @ 7-9pm

An introduction to the world of improv comedy.  Discover the power of “Yes, and...” Explore your inner Characters, Relationships, & Objectives.  Let go of planning, and enjoy living “in the moment”.  This 6 week class will give you the guidelines to unleash your inner creativity. Improv develops listening, risk-taking, and the ability to support your partner, great skills for offstage as well as on. The class will culminate in a “showcase”.  If that sounds intimidating, this class is for you! We support each other each step of the way, celebrating growth. There are no mistakes in improv! 

Prerequisites: A willingness to let go of your “inner critic”. An ability to accept the uncertainty that comes when you don’t have control of the situation (as if we ever do!) A recognition that trying to “be funny” is one of the big obstacles to enjoyable scenes. Unconditional respect for your fellow players and the audience.

For additional information on “Blue Blanket Improv” and the instructors please visit us at http://www.BlueBlanketImprov.com

Fee: Resident: $65.00. Non-resident: $70.00*
Ages: 14 and up
Location: Train Depot (Half Moon Bay)
Dates:  Mon, 9/22 - 10/27
Times: 7 - 9 pm
Class Code:  713319.01*

* Register on-line at:  http://www.HMBcity.com

The Montara Water and Sanitary District invites residents of Montara and Moss Beach to celebrate fifty years of success overcoming environmental challenges, together with five years of progress meeting local water needs, at a community party on Sunday, August 24, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel.

“The Montara / Moss Beach community has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to meet local needs through effective local government. This community party lets us thank the residents who are responsible for the continued success of our District,” according to Paul Perkovic, president of the MWSD board of directors.

A barbeque lunch featuring food and beverages donated by local businesses begins at 1 p.m., followed by an opportunity to tour District facilities and read about the history of the Montara Water and Sanitary District, the Point Montara Naval Anti-Aircraft Training Center (which formerly occupied the MWSD site), and the Point Montara Lighthouse and Hostel (most recently featured in news stories across the country for its traveling lighthouse).

Former State Senator Quentin Kopp will briefly address the community about 2:30 p.m., followed by presentation of proclamations honoring the Montara / Moss Beach community and MWSD for their accomplishments over the past 50 years, cleaning and disposing of wastewater and solid waste for the community, and over the past 5 years operating and improving the local water system while keeping water rates as low as possible.

Shortly after it was formed, the District constructed the most advanced wastewater treatment facility on the Midcoast to eliminate polluting the Pacific Ocean with the community’s untreated sewage. Five years ago, the District acquired the local water system, which had been neglected during decades of private ownership. More recently, MWSD installed the first solar power system to serve a Midcoast agency.

Please RSVP using the link on the MWSD web site, http://MWSD.Montara.org/ to assist in planning adequate food and beverages. All community members are welcome to attend, whether or not you RSVP.

Click for background on the district’s history and anniversary.