Seton Coastside, a skilled nursing facility in Moss Beach has had a very talented resident named Ron Divino on site for a short, physical and occupational rehabilitation stay. Ron has the ability to balance rocks at unbelievable, and some say, miraculous angles.

Why and how is Ron able to create this beautiful art? He calls it a gift from God. "It’s a metaphor for the wonderful world we live in. No matter what is going on, Mother Nature provides us with this beautiful world. "

In addition to the rock sculptures that reside in Seton Coastside’s atrium, you may have seen Ron’s work in San Francisco’s Aquatic Park, and other places around the Bay Area.
Ron suffered a debilitating stroke that has left him without the use of one of his hands. A hand that could, with its partner, lift heavy rocks and place them in perfect balance tip-to tip, hands working together in balanced strength. He has practiced his artwork most recently at Seton Coastside and he will return once a month he says to maintain the lovely rock garden.

Ron has left a legacy of spirit among the other 100 plus residents and 160 staff members who are called associates. He said that this was a "test of faith" for him understanding this stroke. "God knows that I truly love Seton Coastside and the care that I have received. It has been a wonderful experience having my physical and occupational therapy here. My favorite memory of this place was when I could actually walk from my room to the therapy room. The teamwork here among therapists, social services, the nurses and doctors has been incredible.

The associate and residents who have had the privilege of meeting Ron and seeing his new rock creations will really miss him. They take pride in the fact that they were able to help him get on with his life.

Seton Coastside is a member of the Daughters of Charity Health System whose mission is to serve the body, mind and spirit of those who need medical care. Legendary rock balancer, Ron Divino has helped carry forth their mission. Here is a statement of Ron’s purpose, "to enlighten people’s hearts and allow them to embrace the spiritual gifts that nurture us in our daily lives which often go unnoticed and taken for granted." Mission accomplished, Ron.

For more information about Seton Coastside’s services please call Cheryl Sinclair, Manager of Community Outreach and Business Development at 650-563-7121 or contact her by email at [email protected] Ron has requested that donations in his honor be sent to the Seton Health Services Foundation, which will be used by Seton Coastside, located at 1900 Sullivan Avenue, Daly City, CA 94015.

Cheryl Sinclair
Seton Coastside

The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has appointed Sandra Thompson to its Board of Directors. Thompson is a native of Iowa, where she grew up on her family’s farm. She spent 18 years in various sales, marketing and strategy positions with IBM, where she led e-commerce and Internet infrastructure initiatives worldwide as vice president of network solutions.

The Staff and Board of Coastside Hope would like to take a moment on this special day to express our Heart-felt THANK YOU to our valued volunteers.  Today and every day, you are the Heart of Coastside Hope, and the gift of your time is invaluable.

With your help we are able to distribute supplemental food and safety net services (housing and utilities) to hundreds of families rignt here on the coast. Thank you for everything you do to make this community a place we all LOVE.

Cheri Parr
Executive Director
Coastside Hope (formerly Coastside Opportunity Center)

Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Joseph D’Acquisto, 33, of Montara, and Kathryn Rose Vellucci, 21, of El Granada, on suspicion of fraud and other crimes, reports the County Times.

Between October 2006 and January, the pair allegedly stole mail throughout the north Coastside. They also allegedly used counterfeit checks, stolen checks, stolen automatic teller machine cards, stolen credit cards and fake driver’s licenses. With the stolen items, D’Acquisto and Vellucci allegedly purchased clothing, food, home supplies, tools, pizza and paid off personal debts, the Sheriff’s Office reports.

In the story, a Sheriff’s Lieutenant emphasized the impact of identity theft on its victims.

Raman Bechar’s offer of $2 per square foot for a five-year lease on his space has been rejected by his landlord, reports Julia Scott in the County Times. At last week’s Half Moon Bay City Council meeting, landlord Mike Shami said he was putting his negotiations with Peet’s on hold so that Bechar could submit an offer. Shami wants $3 plus capital improvements.

"I knew that whatever I said would not be acceptable, because what he wants is for Peet’s to come in," added Bechar. He said he would be willing to make a second offer of $2.25 per square foot by Thursday along with some upgrades that could involve replacing some ceiling tiles, sinks, tables and chairs — but nothing as elaborate as the $175,000 that Peet’s already committed to revamp the entire space.

The article quotes Half Moon Bay commercial real estate broker Dave Worden as saying that Bechar could get a better deal somewhere else.

Home Rehabilitation Day is a one-day event to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low income seniors and adults with disabilities. Projects dealing with safety and accessibility are given priority.

They need your help on June 9, Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome: carpenters, handy people, painters, gardeners and anyone who is willing to lend a hand from 8am. to 4pm.

To volunteer call 650.726.9056 or email [email protected] by May 15th.

Joyce Cooling, jazz guitarist and songwriter, appears with friends and musicians in a celebration of their Bay Area musical history.  This amazing lineup includes some of their current band members, Nelson Braxton (Braxton Brothers) and Rob Rhodes, as well as dear friends from past bands: Claudio Amaral (Viva Brasil), Kitty Margolis, Celso Alberti and more.

They’ll trace their straight-ahead jazz roots, through their days playing Brasilian music, up through their contemporary jazz songs of today.  This show will also benefit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society
307 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
$30.  Tickets at the door.
Doors Open at 3 PM, Music from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, with intermission.

Tar balls have washed up on several beaches from San Mateo county to Santa Cruz, reports the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Here on the Coastside, they have been reported at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and Fitzgerald Beach.  The tar could come from a natural oil seep on the ocean floor, although none are known in this region.

The samples were sent for analysis to the Department of Fish and Game Water Pollution Control Laboratory in Rancho Cordova. There, scientists can match the tar’s chemical fingerprint to known natural oil seeps, or determine that the tar is from a boat or tanker.