It’s easy to endorse John Moseley for the board of the Cabrillo Unified School District.  He has shown dedication to the board, puts the education of our children ahead of all other priorities, is easy to work with, and has managed to remain a centrist in a polarized environment.

John proved his level-headedness this summer, when he alone among the school board’s members voted against a resolution of support for AB1991—Half Moon Bay’s bailout bill that enriched a single developer by exchanging decades of environmental protections for cash. John didn’t express an opinion one way or the other on the bill, but he did say that the vote would unnecessarily polarize the community.  This is a commonsense position that demonstrates that John’s sole priority is the district and its students.

The job of the board is to hire and supervise the district’s superintendent. The superintendent runs the district and sets the policies, which should serve one purpose: the education of the community’s children. The board member’s fiduciary duty is to make sure the superintendent spends the taxpayers’ education money wisely. The board should be made up of smart, hardworking, representative people who are not confused about their duty and who—whenever possible—avoid running amok.

I recommend you vote only for John Moseley although there is one other open position on the board and two other candidates.

In the 2006 CUSD board election I said you should only vote for Ken Johnson if you felt the need to vote for every open position on the ballot. I’m more certain of this in 2008 than in 2006.  Ken is a better gadfly than he would be a board member. Ken has always been more ready to offer criticisms than concrete proposals for improving the schools, and that is my principal reason for not endorsing him. This year, he also showed poor judgment this year in squatting on the expired “electmoseley.com” domain with a website that suggested he was running with John Moseley, but that’s merely a sideshow.

Incumbent Charlie Gardner is a self-described “infrastructure advocate” who is on the board of a pro-development advocacy organization on the Coastside, plumped for the controversial Big Wave development while other CUSD board members were fighting for a parcel tax, has been working tirelessly for a wrong-headed highway bypass to solve traffic problems created in part by the school district, vigorously defends the CUSD’s divisive vote to support AB1991, has worked behind the scenes on various other development projects.  I don’t believe Charlie understands the depth of the conflict of interest between his desire for more development on the Coastside and the needs of our school district.

Vote for John Moseley on Nov 4, and feel good about your decision. And then ask yourself why don’t more qualified moderates run for our school board?

The Coastside Land Trust will hold our monthly Francis Beach restoration event this coming Saturday, October 25, 12:30 to 3 pm. We’ll identify native and invasive plants, discuss the strategies for fall seed dispersal, and selectively remove invasive plants to help our natives thrive.

Look for coyote cotton on the Coastside

Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilulari) covers our coastal hillsides and terraces. This time of year—late fall—female coyote bushes release their seeds. Each seed is attached to a white, feathery ball of filament so light in weight that it is very easily blown by the wind. Large mats of these seeds can be seen around the base of the bushes or where the wind has blown them into drifts.

Late fall is the time of year when the majority of our native plant species release their seeds. The first rain has come, and with the next rain the seeds will begin their journey to sprouting and growing roots through the cool winter months in preparation for the warmer spring days, when we will see them emerge from the ground as seedlings.

Many of our native plants are annuals, which means they survive only one year; others are perennials and live for many years. Because of the one-year life cycle of the annuals they are more vulnerable to seasonal drought and predation. Some annuals have developed a strategy to keep their seeds from sprouting the first year, just in case that year is a bad year for success. This multi-year strategy creates what we call the “seed bank,” meaning that even if there are not seedlings of a species this year, they can emerge in subsequent years.

Please join us. Check in at the Francis State Beach kiosk at Kelly and the Pacific Ocean, and 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

Supervisor Rich Gordon is hosting Coastside office hours this Friday, October 24 from 10 am to noon at the Sheriff’s Substation in Moss Beach.

Monsters, fairies, goblins, witches, ghosts, pirates, mummies, and vampires are all about to descend on the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel for the Haunted Hostel Halloween Festival!

This annual event has evolved over the past six years to become a favorite of young children and their families. This year’s festival is also a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA.

There’ll be cauldrons of fun for kids of all ages, including:

• Live performance by Les Monstres (Sippy Mark, founding member of the Sippy Cups)


• Spooky Scavenger Hunt


• Grand Costume Parade


• Raffles and prizes


• Tricks and treats

This spirited spooktacular is a free, community event. Don’t miss it!

WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 2-5 p.m.

WHERE: Point Montara Light Station State Historic Park
16th Street & Highway 1, Montara

MORE INFO: http://www.montarahostel.org.

Ancient wisdom of the Celts will come to life in Half Moon Bay, Saturday, October 25th, in an event hosted by The Visionary Edge. “The building of the labyrinth with the Druid teachings of healing has been one of our most popular events the last two years.  We have had many requests do this again,” said Reba Vanderpool, co-founder of The Visionary Edge.  Participants will celebrate, create, and walk a dromenon, the sacred labyrinth of the druids. Today, the labyrinth is a potent symbol of healing and transformation throughout the world.

      The event will include “hands-on”  participation and instruction in using the labyrinth as a diagnostic and healing tool. They will also participate in building the dromenon, and at dusk will walk its sacred path. 

       “Return to the Labyrinth” will take place at The Johnson House Depot, 110 Higgins Purissima Road, Half Moon Bay. Doors open at 7:00, event at 7:30 pm, Saturday, October 25th. Advance tickets $20 for adults, $8 advance children, door $25 adults, children $12.  Call 650-560-0200.

Representatives from the Department of Public Works will attend the MCC meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss road mainenance.  They will address road mitigation fees and road repair policy, starting with a brief policy report on each and then take questions.

The community is encouraged to attend with their questions and concerns.

Details can be found on the MCC website at http://mcc.sanmateo.org/agendas.php

NOTE: The DPW is also holding a meeting on Ocean Ave at 343 Cypress Ave in Moss Beach on Tuesday evening.

The San Mateo County League for Coastside Protection endorses John Moseley and Ken Johnson for the Cabrillo Unified School District (CUSD) Governing Board.

The Mission of the League for Coastside Protection (LCP) is to defend the coast by supporting those who uphold the spirit and substance of the California Coastal Act.  We work to elect responsible public officials who will preserve and enhance the quality of life on the coast for residents and visitors, protecting the coastside environment, agriculture and fisheries.

We endorse two candidates with strong views and clear differences when it comes to running our schools.  Where they clearly agree is that the children of the Coastside are the school district’s responsibility, and neither of these candidates brings any other agenda to the CUSD Board. Both John Moseley and Ken Johnson have demonstrated long term, sincere interest in providing the very best outcomes for our youth.

The League for Coastside Protection urges you to vote for John Moseley and Ken Johnson for the Cabrillo Unified School District.

Dana M. Kimsey
Scott Boyd
LCP Co-chairs

“Millions lost in financial fiasco” in San Mateo County, according to an article in the Bay Area section of the San Francisco Chronicle (Sunday, October 19, 2008). The on-line headline is “Lehman Bros. bust hit San Mateo County hard” http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/19/BA1C13K00D.DTL

“San Mateo County has been stung by
the recent Wall Street investment
crisis, absorbing about $150 million
in potential losses that could result
in public school budget cuts, delays
on road and Caltrain improvements, and
scaled-down city services.”

I would like to assure all ratepayers and taxpayers served by Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) that MWSD had absolutely no funds on deposit with San Mateo County, and suffers no financial losses as a result of the County’s investment strategies.

MWSD invests funds not needed for current operations in the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) managed by State Treasurer Bill Lockyer. The State Treasurer’s http://www.treasurer.ca.gov/pmia-laif/ provides more information on LAIF investments.

Paul Perkovic
MWSD Board President