Supervisor Rich Gordon’s office will be keeping the Coastside office hours this Friday, December 12 from 10am until Noon at the Sheriff’s Substation in Moss Beach.

Surfrider San Mateo County Chapter - Public Meeting, Thursday, Dec 11, at 7pm in the Pedro Point Firehouse, Pacifica.

Big wave surfer and local legend Dr. Mark Renneker will speak on, “Change at Ocean Beach” The winner will be announced in our Surfrider San Mateo County Chapter Logo Contest. We hope to see you there!

Tiz the season to be jolly!  So, what’s holding up the holiday spirit? It could be because the jobless rate is the highest in 35 years.

It might be due to the fact that after convincing Americans that they have to invest in their own retirement, our financial geniuses on Wall Street and in the credit industry have created a worldwide crisis, causing most of us to lose half of that retirement savings.  It might be that non-profits and public schools are in crisis:  donations are down by 2/3, public funding is all but gone, and many of them invested bond and other monies in institutions that are gone forever, leaving them with a public debt of millions of dollars each.

It could be because experts are predicting the most dismal retail holiday sales in decades.

The crisis in the retail market has hit Main Street much harder than it has hit big box vendors.  Small business owners have little cushion, funding their small shops on their own savings.  Because small businesses don’t have the buying power, their margins are thinner than big box stores when they compete on price. In the retail clothing industry alone, comprising 190,000 businesses nationwide, there are 30 times more small businesses (under $1M in sales) than there are businesses of greater size.

According to the Fed, a recession is already under way in the United States. The GDP tanked another 0.5% in the third quarter of ‘08, and the Fed predicts this trend will continue (or increase) during at least the first 6 months of 2009.

This hits small retailers right where it hurts, and puts at risk all of our futures.  According to the Small Business Administration, businesses with less than 500 employees account for almost half of private-sector employment. Small businesses employ our youth and our part time workers.  A recent National Federation of Independent Business survey showed 15% of small business owners anticipate layoffs in 2009, which will put even more strain on an already weak U.S. labor market.

I always try to find that half-full cup.  A warm Christmas can be had without many presents, but with conversation, Scrabble and card games.  A bowl of savory soup is just as good as a prime rib, given the right weather and company.  Holiday parties can, and should, be potluck. And shopping locally, from the retailers in my neighborhood, helps too.

When you support a locally owned business, you give back to the community in which you live, learn and play. Three times as much money stays in your community when you shop in a local business rather than a chain.

Your local business owners give freely to the community, sponsoring teams, giving to non-profits, and hosting downtown events.

When you shop locally, you don’t pay shipping costs, you get to talk to a friendly person who lives near you, and the money you spend stays in your neighborhood. Just as you invest to care for your home, spending locally helps you care for your community.

My half full cup is our own capability to save small businesses, jobs and our local economic vitality.  I believe that we can do it, working together.  Let’s start a movement!

Terri Schoenrock Reece

Did you know…..they can grow new body parts, walk on 10,000 feet, pry open a mussel using a seawater hydraulic system, and turn their stomach inside out to dissolve their lunch outside of their body? Are they aliens? Nope, just an amazing sea star!

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach is a unique intertidal environment. As the tide retreats, a world of wonderful creatures and plants is exposed. There are many species of fascinating animals: sun stars, bat stars, leather stars, turban snails, unicorn snails, green striped crabs, and other interesting animals like the Hopkin’s Rose nudibranch, sea pork tunicates and mossy chitons. The Reserve is also a haul out area and rookery for a large population of harbor seals.

Are you curious? Why are they called leather stars, unicorn snails, mossy chitons, and sea pork?

Our Naturalist Training is an incredible opportunity to learn about the ecology, habitats, and adaptations of life in the tide pools.

The goals of the Friends of Fitzgerald are “the protection and preservation of the Marine Reserve as a unique intertidal environment and the promotion of educational activities for school children, residents, visitors and researchers, to see and touch many elements of wildlife ecosystems.”

Our Naturalists help to promote our goals by sharing their new found knowledge and passion for the intertidal by talking to Reserve visitors on the weekends, during school field trips/tours, in the visitor center and through outreach opportunities at fairs and other environmental gatherings. It is a rewarding experience to share the wonders of the ocean with people eager to know more.

The class will be offered 10 am – 3 pm on Saturdays January 24 – March 7 (no class Feb14). Six mentoring hours with other current Volunteer Naturalists and assisting with two tours at the Reserve are required to successfully complete the course. Upon completion of the course we ask Naturalists to do 2 -3 tours per month. Materials fee: $65.

To learn more about our program please call Mary DeLong at (650) 728-5917, email . Visit our website at http://www.fitzgeraldreserve.org. Feel free to pass on this information to your friends who may be interested.

This fall, my wife and I have been enjoying a great CSM class held here in Half Moon Bay.  “Studies in Film: Directors” has been an excellent introduction to some new work we’d not seen before. We’ve definitely participated in the freewheeling discussions after each screening. And so far, no one’s fallen asleep during the professor, David Laderman’s, insightful lectures.

This film class is a first for CSM on the Coastside, a super bargain: 15 films and class conversations for only $60 tuition.

Problem is, worried college administrators are threatening to close out this Spring’s class if there’s not enough community interest [20 students]. Classes run each Thursday from 6:00 to 9:30.

So movie lovers, check out Film 200 “Film Genres” CRN 35125. 

If you’re at all like us, the class will help you enjoy your movie-going even more than before.  And if you don’t like it, you can always drop the class for no charge come January.

Ed: You can include emails:  or if you think they’re appropriate.  Thanks

Named “One of the hottest drummers in the business” by the Star Gazette, following her 2005 solo album,“Music for the New Millennium”, Cindy Blackman is a rarity as a female jazz percussionist.  Known for her 11 year stint with retro funk rocker Lenny Kravitz, Cindy has returned to her Jazz roots. Her recent performance in Hartford, CT “captivated the capacity crowd during two high-energy sets of no-nonsense post-bop jazz. Blackman’s dexterity, endurance and finesse called to mind the admirable performances of last month’s Olympic athletes.  Chuck Obuchowski, September 15, 2008

George Mitchell, acoustic bass; Carlton Holmes, keyboards; Antoine Roney, sax, Cindy Blackman, drums

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society
At the Douglas Beach House on Miramar Beach
307 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

$30.  Tickets at the door.  Priority seating for Members.
Doors Open at 3 PM, Music from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, with intermission. 

“Artist in the Holiday Garden”—Four women artists, a Natasha Foucault fashion show, floral displays, live music, and hors d’oeuvres & wine will be featured at Shelldance Orchids in Pacifica Saturday, Dec 6, from noon to 4pm. Guests will receive an orchid with each purchase over $150.

Arrive with friends & family for an enchanting & uniquely entertaining afternoon of great art- featured in the Orchid Gardens of Shelldance in Pacifica, easy parking & a sweeping view of the ocean. 

Shelldance Orchids
2000 Coast Hwy 1
Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 355-4845

Farallone View Elementary’s 28th annual Holiday Gift Bazaar will be Saturday, Dec 6, in the Multi-Use room from 9am to 2pm.

There will be lots of holiday favorites –- photos with Santa, handmade crafts, fresh wreaths, baked goodies and lunch, games, a children’s craft area featuring gingerbread houses and face painting. There will also be live entertainment and the famous cake walk.

Children’s Shopping Hour is from 9 to 10am. During this time, kids will have the opportunity to shop and gift wrap their purchases without help from their parents. We’ll need older kids (10 and over) to help the younger ones. Students from 4th & 5th grades can sign-up to help.

Parent volunteers are needed to help out on the day of the Bazaar.

Giftwrap: Wrapping supplies are needed for the Kids’ Wrapping Station. This station is where all the students can have their purchases gift wrapped free of charge during the Bazaar. They rely on your donations of paper, ribbon and gift bags. There will be a donation box available in the PTA room for you to drop off your donations. If you are unable to get your donations to the school, call Mara Krasts at 563-9505 to request a pick up.

Gingerbread Houses: They will happily accept boxes of graham crackers, lots of white frosting, hard candy and leftover Halloween candy.

Baked Items and other Goodies: Baked goods are sold during the Bazaar. Homemade or store-bought items are welcome and appreciated. This includes cookies, muffins, brownies, festive breads and cakes for the cake walk. Donations of soda or juice boxes, paper plates, napkins and cups are also needed. Baked goods and cakes will go to the PTO room (next to the MU room) on Friday, December 5th or the morning of the Bazaar.

Questions? Call Pat Davison (650) 563-9073