The Coastside Mothers’ Club will host its first annual sand castle-building contest, "Sandy Feet Festival," to benefit Coastside Hope, www.coastsidehope.org, the primary provider of safety net services for our community. This family-focused event is open to the public and will include a sand castle-building contest, beach games and a picnic lunch. Local "celebrity" judges will select their favorite works of art in several categories and many local businesses have donated products and services that will be awarded to the winning families.

Sunday, October 7, 2007
Dunes Beach
Highway 1 & Young Avenue
Half Moon Bay
9:00am - 1:00pm

The price of contest registration is $10 per family and lunch boxes, prepared by Chez Shea, are available for purchase in advance: $8 for adult and $3 for children.  Registration forms can be found at www.coastsidemothersclub.org and are requested by October 1, 2007.  Onsite registration will be accepted, but not recommended, as lunch must be pre-ordered.

CLICK below for schedule and more.

Wanted: All cattlekings & kingpins,  all cowpokes and cowgals, and funslingers from near and far to join us for the Pescadero Education Foundation & La Honda Educational Foundation’s Wild Wild West Casino Night!

Saturday, September 29  
5 to 10pm
Long Branch Saloon  
321 Verde Road in Half Moon Bay

Come have a knee-slappin’ good time!  Come for rousing games of chance and skill, including Texas hold ‘em, live music, live auction, and live entertainment. Come and buy a BBQ dinner before the fun begins, including prizes for "Best Dressed in the West" & the biggest winners of the evening! Bring your appetite, your thirst & your wallet and support our kids!

Buy a $75 ticket and have a BBQ dinner and get $25 in chips, or buy a $50 ticket and we’ll give you $10 worth of chips. Call 747-9287 to reserve your tickets.
A limited number of tickets can be purchased at the event.

All proceeds benefit the students of Pescadero and La Honda Schools.

San Lorenzo Valley, Sept 16, 2007 Knowing fundamental tackling skills are one thing—but actually doing them in a game is another.  Neal Seaton and Manny Arellanes’ textbook offensive tackles pushed the tall Pacifica Tigershark defenders into shallow waters allowing running back Blake Kastl a 20 yard run to score early in the first quarter.  The Cougar defensive tackles and guards Austin Krieger, Matt Young, Will Smith and Sean McCaffrey thrashed the Tigershark offense with strength and speed off the line.  The Cougar Midgets closed the first quarter with a healthy 16-0 lead over Pacifica’s Tigershark Midgets. 

A series of Tigershark fumbles recovered by Cougar defensive end Jose Uribe and defensive tackles Sergio Covarrubias and Erik Procopio gave the Cougars most of the control during the 2nd quarter.  Brothers Dalton (center) and Taylor James (tight end) did a great job of pass blocking and QB protection, allowing several successful pass plays.  The final turnover allowed Offensive Coach Dave Gibbs to call a pass play where quarterback Joey Erdie threw a 15 yard pass to wide receiver Timma Cruz who smoothly completed and scored.  The Tigershark offense was completely shut down by quick Cougar defensemen Jacob Spaeth and Nate Seaton.  On a 4th and 13, Cougar Midget Head Coach Mike Seaton called on placekicker Chewy Huerta Jr. to attempt a 30 yard field goal.  Huerta’s soccer style kick sailed between the uprights, bringing the Cougar lead to 27-0 with 2:00 minutes still remaining in the first half.  Mario Kastl said "this game just gets better and better" to fellow water boy Alex Segura, both with big brothers playing for the Cougar Midgets. 

The end of the 2nd quarter and the entire 3rd and 4th quarters were filled with passing plays from both teams.  Cougar safety Joseph Lowman intercepted a pass bringing the Cougars to their 26 yard line.  A fumbled handoff allowed the Tigersharks their only touchdown late in the 4th quarter, but they failed the attempt at the extra point.  Cougar Midgets dominated the game.  Head Coach Mike Seaton should take pride in knowing his practice drills have paid off—the team has the fundamental tackling and blocking skills necessary to succeed –even when they swim with tall sharks. Final score Cougar Midgets 27, Tigersharks 6.

In this blog entry I posted a few pictures I snapped of the ceremony this morning. No doubt there will be others that follow (there were many people with cameras there.)

But these are the first images of the event I believe.

Ocean enthusiasts and members of the public are invited to attend an upcoming general interest meeting of the Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter. 

Straw Hat Pizza, 549 Oceana Boulevard, Pacifica, CA 94044
Monday, September 24, 2007, 7:30 pm

Marine biologist Bob Breen, a member of the North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group appointed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) to assist in the second phase of implementing the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA).

San Mateo County Chapter general interest meetings are a place to hear from remarkable speakers on interesting or hot topics in a comfortable setting. Attendees will meet like-minded individuals, contribute to the discussion, and learn more about the issues and challenges that face our coast and ocean. 

At this meeting, attendees will learn how to become involved in the MLPA Initiative, upcoming San Mateo County chapter activities, volunteer opportunities and community events, as well as the role of the chapter to safeguard and enhance the quality of surfriding environments and public access to such areas, and to educate the public regarding the importance of the oceans’ waves as recreational resources and the need to preserve surfriding sites for future generations.

This Sunday is the sixth annual Kids’ Day at Quarry Park, sponsored by Midcoast Park Lands.

The event features kids’ activities, face painting, games, jumping tent, food, and music for all ages from 11am to 2:30pm The Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers will play jigs and reels in the morning; the D.B. Walker Band will play blues in the afternoon.  The even is free, but donations are accepted for food.  For more information, call Chris 726-6126.

The 40-acre community park is nestled within the historic community of El Granada, located 25 miles south of San Francisco, and just 4 miles north of Half Moon Bay’s historic district.  From Highway 1 in El Granada, exit at Coronado St. and follow the signs. The entrance to Quarry Park is located at the corner of Santa Maria Ave. and Columbus St. Facing the park sign, the main entrance is to the left and the Tot Lot is to the right.

This year was again a great success due to the wonderful enthusiasm of all the people who turned up to participate.

Here are some images from the California Coastal Clean Up Day event at Montara State Beach and Grey Whale Cove.

42 Volunteers (many kids as well which was great) turned up on Saturday from all over the Bay Area, some even came from as far as the East Bay, to help collect over 600 lbs of trash from Montara Beach, the bluffs, Grey Whale Cove and the roadside along Highway One.

Along with the usual collection of plastic bottles, bags and hundreds of cigarette butts and a sofa the most unusual item found was a Smith & Wesson .40 shell casing from a hand gun, creepy.

Kevin Stokes
MontaraBeach.com

There is going to be a very special fundraiser for Grass Roots Aliance for Community Education, Africa, whose founder Natasha Martin, recently received the Jefferson Award, and is a Half Moon Bay resident.  The fundraiser will be held at Cypress Meadows in Moss Beach, on Friday Sept. 21st at 6pm.  The donation is $50 to attend, included for that donation will be food from Cafe Gibraltar and It’s Italia; fine wine; music by the Penisula Scottish Fiddlers; a speech by Lazaraus, an African university student whose elementary education began with, and now continues with, funding from G.R.A.C.E.; a short presentation by Natasha Martin; a wine cellar raffle; both a silent and live auction, with amazing offerings. 

This organization is unfettered by bureaucracy, the money that G.R.A.C.E. receives goes directly to empower communities in Africa, in five countries,in a grass roots effort to fund the education of children orphaned by AIDS, to facilitate a youth peer counseling program, and also a goat rearing program for adults living with HIV/AIDS.  It also works,through members of the community, to educate the community on AIDS prevention and care, and to breakdown the stigma attached to the virus. It works across tribal lines, inspiring cooperation and collaboration, rather than conflict, among tribes accustomed to the latter. 

We all have a fabulous opportunity to be part of this amazing organization by attending a wonderfully local fundraiser. While enjoying each other’s company, fabulous food, wine, music and perspective we can help to truly transform the lives of many people suffering from the consequences of AIDS in Africa. That is an opportunity not to let pass you by.

Information and RSVP:  (650) 712-1890

Support Senior Coastsiders and A Taste of the Coast is yours.

Sunday, September 30 from 5 to 8 pm.
Sea Crest School Auditorium, 901 Arnold Way, off Main Street, behind Lesley Gardens.

Enjoy an evening of great food, great wine and great people, with live rockin’ bluesy music from Catie Chase and the Getaways! Sample the fare from more than two dozen local restaurants. A raffle will be held every half hour at the event. Win gift certificates to your favorite restaurants and other culinary delights. A No Host Bar will be available.

Buy your tickets now. Admission is $40 per person until September 20 and $50 afterwards and at the door. Raffle tickets are $5; each one gives you five chances to win prizes throughout the evening.

Tickets are available at the Senior Coastsiders’ office located in the Ted Adcock Community / Senior Center, 535 Kelly Avenue, HMB (phone 726-9056) and at Toque Blanche in La Piazza, 604 Main Street. You can also obtain tickets from board members of Senior Coastsiders and via credit card / PayPal at http://www.seniorcoastsiders.org.
Participating Restaurants
• Bangkok Thai House • Barbara’s Fishtrap • Cafe Classique • Cafe Gibraltar • Cameron’s •  Casey’s Cafe •  Cetrella •  Chez Shea • El Gran Amigo Taqueria • Fog City Pizza & North Indian Cuisine •  HMB Coffee Company •  HMB Inn, Kitchen & Cocktails •  Happy Taco •  It’s Italia • Ketch Joanne • Mezza Luna • Montara Bistro • Moonside Bakery • Moss Beach Distillery • Mullin’s Bar and Grill • Pasta Moon • Rogue Chefs •  Sam’s Chowder House •  Siam Restaurant • Sushi Main Street •  Tres Amigos

When you support Senior Coastsiders, you are helping to provide Meals on Wheels for frail seniors and adults with disabilities on the coast, hot lunches and companionship at the senior center, classes to keep the mind and body active, home repair, transportation to and from the senior center and grocery stores, counseling, care management, information, referrals and much, much more. Without the continued support of people like you, many of these services would be impossible.

Please join us for a Taste of the Coast!

Suzanne Black
Board Member,
Senior Coastsiders