Free public forum to focus on “The Creator Economy: The shape of the next economy and why it is good news for the Bay Area”

On Thursday, January 6, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company welcomes the first special guest of its 2011 “Brews and Views” series, Paul Saffo, Managing Director of Foresight at Discern Analytics. Saffo is a forecaster with over two decades of experience helping corporate and governmental clients understand and respond to the dynamics of large-scale, long-term change. Joining Saffo is special guest moderator, Sean Randolph, president of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, a public-private partnership of business, labor, government and higher education promoting a competitive economy for San Francisco, Oakland, and the Silicon Valley.

The January 6 Brews and Views will explore the shape of the next economy and why it is good news for the Bay Area. According to Saffo, November 2008 was not merely the start of the current economic downturn; it was also the end of a 50-year-long economic cycle and the transition to a new economy.  Our current crisis is nothing less than a shift from a dying consumer economy built on consumption to a new “creator economy” built on mass interaction.  This shift could be very good news for the Bay Area - as long as we play our cards right.

Thursday, January 6, 6 to 8 p.m. The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company 390 Capistrano Road, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Calif.

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event.

Pelican Eye has photos of how erosion from this week's storms have eroded the beach near the new staircase at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

The first storms of the season have carved a ditch into the beach in front of the new Fitzgerald Marine Reserve staircase. Hopefully the County Parks Department has a plan to remedy the drainage problem before erosion jeopardizes the $239,000 staircase. Representative Jackie Speier and Dave Holland, Director of San Mateo County Parks dedicated the new staircase on Wednesday, October 27, 2010.

The National Weather Service forecasts that the next winter storm will hit the Bay Area around midnight on New Year's Eve and the rain will continue through Sunday. However, there will be neither strong winds nor heavy rain this time around.

This tree was brought down in Montara at Fourth Street and Le Conte by Wednesday's high winds.

Half Moon Bay State Beach Plover Watch Volunteer Program Volunteer are needed to help protect the western snowy plover, a threatened shorebird that nests on local beaches. Plover Watch volunteers monitor the plovers’ beach habitat, collect data on the birds, and educate beach visitors about the snowy plovers. A free, day-long volunteer training workshop will be offered at Half Moon Bay State Beach on Saturday, January 22, 2011, 9:00am-2:00pm. For further information or to register, contact Ranger Nelle Lyons or Paul Langan at (650) 726-8804, voicemail box 7, or email [email protected].

Another storm system is forecast to hit the Coastside on Christmas Day, according the Natioanal Weather Service.

.Travel to higher elevations may become very difficult…This weekend storm is expected to be fast moving… But could drop as much as two inches of rain in the higher terrain and up to an inch in the urban areas. Gusty winds… Especially near the coast… Are also possible as the front moves through saturday evening. This system will also produce another round of heavy snowfall over the sierra and very gusty winds to great local whiteout conditions late saturday into sunday… So holiday travelers will need to use caution.

Someone was shooting cyclists and vehicles with orange paint balls on Tunitas Creek Road, houses were burglarized in Moss Beach and El Granada, a car was stolen from Costanoa and later found sans radio.

The San Mateo County Sheriff has issued a burglary warning for the Midcoast.

Within the last two weeks seven home burglaries have been reported: five in the Moss Beach area and two in the Clipper Ridge area of El Granada—on streets with relatively quick access to Highway 1. The burglars usually through unlocked rear doors and windows, and side gates are being used to enter back yards, during the day and early evening.

The Sheriff asks that you report leads, suspicious activity, and incidents to the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 650-363-4911, dial 911, or the Sheriff’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-547-2700.