The cost of closing state parks may cost more than any savings, according to a leaked memo from the state parks department’s attorneys, reports the Mercury News. Governor Schwarzenaggar added $6.4 million to the legislature’s $8 million cut in the state budget, which would require the closure of many state parks.

Park concession holders could sue for breach of their contracts with the state. Concessionaires in state parks generated $89 million in sales last year.

The memo, which was written earlier this month for state parks director Ruth Coleman and distributed to high-level parks managers, was leaked and obtained by a Sacramento-based environmental group, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which has posted it on its Web site. ...

Faced with a $24 billion deficit amid plummeting tax revenues, the Legislature cut $8 million from the state parks budget. Last month, Schwarzenegger cut an additional $6.2 million through a line-item veto, for a total of $14.2 million. ...

Other legal problems spelled out in the memo include the Endangered Species Act. The state might face fines by the federal government if poachers kill endangered salmon, condors or other animals on unpatrolled state park property, for example.

Further, the state also could be sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act. State parks settled a 1999 lawsuit by the California Council for the Blind and Californians for Disability Rights in which the agency agreed to make its entrances, paths, signs, restrooms and other facilities accessible to the disabled between June 2009 and 2016. If state parks missed the court-ordered deadlines, the plaintiffs would likely sue, and "it is unlikely state parks could use lack of funding as a defense to making parks accessible," the memo said.

The state may also be in violation of the California Coastal Act if it blocks public access to beaches. It even might be required by a court to write an time-consuming, costly environmental impact statement to close parks, the memo adds.

You can view the memo after the jump.

The Midcoast Parks & Recreation Committee (MPRC) has approved a Draft Report on the proposed route and improvements needed for the CA Coastal Trail segments connecting Pillar Point to Mirada Surf.  The report reflects walking tours, comment, research, and discussions by the Trails Team over the past six months.

The diverse elements of salt marsh habitat, Princeton industrial streets, fishing harbor docks, and eroding beach give these trail segments special character and challenges.

The next steps will include review with relevant agencies and presentation for public comment.  The report can be viewed on the MPRC website: http://www.mprc.sanmateo.org/CoastalTrail.html

Barbara Campbell is proprietor of the Music Hut, Main Street, Half Moon Bay. This letter was intended as a comment on the HMB Film Society’s upcoming film about the economics of Main Street America
Like everywhere else across America, the recession has slowed Half moon Bay’s economy, yet we are actually doing better than many comparable communities.  One likely reason is the high percentage of businesses independently and locally owned.
While we sit and lament the “good ole days†of Half Moon Bay, the economy takes its toll and chains continue to displace locally owned businesses.

Local independent businesses are critical to our community prosperity, not just because independent businesses create the overwhelming majority of new jobs here, but it is the kinds of jobs they create.  Whether they hire staff directly or contract to other businesses, they create opportunities for local designers, accountants, computer consultants, attorneys, our young people, retirees and many other skilled positions. Independents also carry a higher percentage of locally-produced products and foods than the chains, meaning more jobs for local farmers and manufacturing.

In contrast, a new chain store typically is a clone of all their other units, eliminating the need for local planning and minimizing use of local goods and services.  Those economies of scale boost corporate profits but detract from the local economy. Few of the jobs involve career opportunities, and profits are exported promptly to corporate headquarters. That’s one of several reasons local independents return three or more times the money to the local economy as chains (and definitely more than remote or online businesses).  With overall economic activity down, capitalizing on this local premium is critical.
Keep this in mind when you hear a PR person from a chain claim how many new jobs it will bring. Studies indicate they displace as many jobs as they create.  And when some local communities actually studied the local impact f a chain, they concluded such development actually costs more taxpayer dollars to support in safety and services than the community would reap. Similarly when we are bombarded with advertising designed to make us think better deals are found at chains or online, when one actually looks at the overall value, price, but also the quality of products and services, you will often find the independent business comes out on top.

Our local charities also rely on independent businesses for support.  What would Senior Coastsiders be without all the local involvement from businesses, or the too-many-to mention fundraisers for all the schools, sport teams, and day cares.
But dispite dismal trends for mom and pops in recent years, a counter force is building. In the past decade, more than sixty communities have launched Independent Business Alliances—coalitions of local businesses, non profits and concerned citizens uniting to support  local entrepreneurs and prevent chains from displacing local businesses. Through group purchasing, joint marketing, public education and political advocacy we can make changes. It is time for us to use these tools and start developing a plan for our city. Stop and think what it would be like if Main Street were a ghost town.  Independent businesses are an intregal part of why we live here and what gives Half Moon Bay a unique identity.

The Coastside Film Society proudly presents a documentary and discussion about the
influence chain stores are having on small town America.

Independent America: The Two Lane Search for Mom & Pop

How is the rapid adoption of Walmart, Starbucks, Borders, and other chain stores changing the character of small town America? How does the loss of Mom and Pop stores influence Main Street?  That’s the subject that the husband and wife team of Hanson Hosein and Heather Hughes explore in this documentary. The couple (and black lab Miles) drove 13 thousand miles and crossed 32 states gathering footage they felt represented the views of small town America. 

The rules they followed were simple.
1) No interstate highways.
2) Eat, stay, and shop at local establishments.
3) Let the locals do the talking.

With luck, the post screening discussion is going to be lively.

Friday, Sept 18, at 8:00 pm
$6.00 adults, $3.00 children
Community United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 777 Miramontes, Half Moon Bay

More info at: www.HMBFilm.org.

Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act. On Saturday September 19th, The Visionary Edge will screen THE END OF THE LINE. The event will be co-hosted by and presented at the Community United Methodist Church in Half Moon Bay. 

Saturday, September 19th. Doors will open at 7:00pm, event begins at 7:30 at the Community United Methodist Church, 777 Miramontes Street (at Johnston), HMB. The event is free; donations will be   accepted to cover the costs of screening. Call 650-560-0200 for information and reservations. 

The End of the Line, narrated by Ted Danson, is the first major feature documentary film revealing the impact of over-fishing on our oceans, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009.

In the film we see firsthand the effects of our global love affair with fish as food. It examines the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna, brought on by increasing western demand for sushi; the impact on marine life resulting in huge overpopulation of jellyfish; and the profound implications of a future world with no fish that would bring certain mass starvation.

Coastal Cleanup Day is the highlight of the California Coastal Commission’s year ‘round Adopt-A-Beach program and takes place every year on the third Saturday of September, from 9 a.m. to Noon. In 2009, that day falls on September 19, The Montara Beach Coalition will be beach captains at Montara State Beach. Coming at the end of the summer beach season and right near the start of the school year, Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together, take care of our fragile marine environment, show community support for our shared natural resources, learn about the impacts of marine debris and how we can prevent them, and to have fun!

Please meet in the Northern Parking lot of Montara State Beach at 9.00 a.m. on Saturday 19th to register, please bring sunscreen, hat and wear closed toe footwear. Gloves and trash bags will be provided or you can bring your own bucket to save on supplies. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on the 25th anniversary of this wonderful event! For more information and directions to the meeting point please visit: http://www.montarabeach.com and click the Coastal Clean Up Day link.

You are invited to a walking tour of the Coral Reef Fuel Load Reduction Project. We will share what we learned from the project and additional resources for living in an area with fire concerns.

We will begin with a brief discussion at the parking lot located at the east end of Coral Reef where it intersects Sevilla Avenue. We will then walk through the work site to describe the work that was done and answer questions about the project or about fire prevention generally.

Due to the uneven nature of the terrain, parts of the tour will not be accessible to persons with physical limitations. Please contact the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (712.7765) to discuss any special requirements to participate.

Saturday, September 19, 2009, 1-3 pm
Meet at the east end of Coral Reef Avenue
CalFire (provided there are no fires that day)
Cabrillo Unified School District
Peninsula Open Space Trust
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
               
Please share this letter to anyone you think might be interested in joining us on that day.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Ellen Gartside

Join Team Savvy Skirts as we bring awareness to the Coastside about the annual Light the Night Walk to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Today from Noon to 5pm at Harbor Village - stop by and meet the Bay Area Campaign Manager for the LLS who will be giving out free information and prizes.

Savvy Skirts will be selling Lemonade for Lymphoma, balloons and Savvy Skirts gift certificates all to benefit the LLS. Come down today and sign up to walk with Team Savvy Skirts on October 10, 2009 in Palo Alto.

Its a 2 mile walk at dusk where all participants carry lighted balloons in memory of loved ones who are survivors or have been stricken by these horrible blood cancers. The walk is truly a nice tribute and an event for the entire family. Bring your wagons, dogs, wheelchairs, etc! Or get inspired to start your own team!

This year’s Light the Night national spokesperson is Tina Fey. Check out this site for more information on the nationwide walk in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: www.lightthenight.org.

Saturday September 12, 2009
The Shoppes at Harbor Village
270 Capistrano Rd #8
Half Moon Bay, CA
560-0142

The Visionary Edge will screen Speaking In Tongues Saturday, September 12. Doors will open at 7:00pm, event begins at 7:30 at the Community United Methodist Church, 777 Miramontes Street (at Johnston), HMB. The event is free; donations will be   accepted to cover the costs of screening. Call 650-560-0200 for information and reservations. he event will be co-hosted by and presented at the Community United Methodist Church in Half Moon Bay.

The heated debate over bilingual education usually takes place in courtrooms, at academic conferences and in editorial missives. At its most vitriolic the "English only" camp skews toward xenophobia and racism, while the opposition at times sounds utopian themes of American global economic resurgence with the aid of multilingual classrooms. Often neglected in this discourse is the firsthand experience of students, an oversight that veteran documentarians Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider beautifully rectify with their latest effort. 

Closely following four very different local public-schoolers through an academic year, they draw on subtle nuances of the kids’ stories to illustrate the complex shades and permutations of bilingual schooling. Two children are placed in immersion programs to retain their native tongues while learning English, and the other two are in the reverse situation. Their parents list both familiar and surprising reasons for enrolling their children, but each remains a strong proponent of the programs despite criticism from extended family, friends and a loud chorus of English-only activists. Even while dismissing common barbs, the families must confront unique challenges both humorous and serious. 

With San Francisco becoming the first city to mandate access to bilingual opportunities for all public schoolchildren, this thought-provoking documentary could hardly be timelier.

Filmmaker Marcia Jarmel will be present to dialogue with the audience on this important topic. 

Located in Half Moon Bay, The Visionary Edge produces events to inform, inspire, and empower us all to create a wiser, sustainable and more compassionate world.

There will be a Healing, Song, Meditation and Prayer service in the Methodist Chapel this Friday, Sept. 11th, 8:00 p.m. This service was started by Brother Roger in a small hillside village called Taize, France after WWII –The music has simple yet beautiful one line Christian chants and contemplative words like: Come and fill out hearts with your peace, you alone O Lord are Holy, Come and Fill our Hearts with your peace, Alleluia