More kids and dogs than ever before, plus lots of shots of grown-ups having a great time at this Coastside tradition. Montara Fog has a great bunch of photos as well.

The Chron reports that the power plant that will turn the methane produced by Ox Mountain is now operational. The power will be sold to Alameda and Palo Alto.

Julia Scott at the County Times had a longer and more detailed article on this back in January.

But it’s hard to miss the shiny new plant built at the top of the landfill. Starting this spring, the gas it collects will leave the landfill in the form of electricity — enough to power as many as 10,000 homes in Palo Alto and Alameda.

When it goes online in two or three months, the plant, recently completed by Ameresco Inc., will be able to capture and convert more methane than any other Bay Area landfill. Its six engines will operate 24 hours a day and generate up to 11.5 megawatts of electricity, more than twice that of most local landfills, which produce about 5 megawatts.

"It’s probably one of the largest landfill gas-to-energy projects that’s been developed in the past five years — certainly it’s the biggest project in California in the last five years," said Linda Nugent, senior project developer for Ameresco, which won a contract from Republic Services Inc. in 2004 to develop the plant.

Methane-capture technology has evolved considerably since it first came into use in the early 1980s. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 445 such projects exist in the United States, with the potential for 535 more.

Adult Day Health Center hosts World Class Blues Band on 4th of July following noon Parade.  This is the band that plays at the San Francisco Blues Fesitival (cancelled this Year).  Harmonica Master Andy Santana Plays with Rusty Zinn.  This is the band that backs Charlie Musselwhite and Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds).

Although the Dream Machines raised money for this cause…funds are down this year and this is a very important event to the Adult Day Health Center.  Not getting in the review makes me want to cry the blues but as always the Grass Roots of the Coastside will support us.

Show starts right after the Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade at the Adult Day Health Center on 665 Correas (Off Main).  Barbeque and Beer and Blues.

This week, in addition to celebrating our Nation’s Independence,  I am going to celebrate a temporary bout of independence from overly long letters! 

SO—without further ado— the answer to Burning Question number 70409:

Yes! We are open on the 4th of July.  We will likely close early so everyone can get to the Parade, which starts at noon, but we will be open as usual at 9 AM.

Answer to part 2 of Burning Question Number 70409:

Nope.  We can’t change opening hours:  we would if we could, but we can’t so we aren’t.*

But if you want to make sure you get your red, white and blue potatoes so you can make a lovely tri-colored pan-full to go with your seriously independent free range chickens, or your blueberries, strawberries and raspberries for your equally gorgeous and commemorative Independence Day desserts, why come on down to Pacifica on Wednesday afternoon, where you can stock up on everything you need for a bang-up wingding. 

Pacifica’s own Jay Howlett will provide the entertainment on Wednesday afternoon, and Pacifica’s own Don Rowell Trio will light your fuse on Saturday.

And thanks to our sponsors from the Harbor- the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Huck Finn Sport Fishing and Sierra West for your support of the Market, but also for your support of the men and women of The American Legion Post 474, to whom we all owe a huge debt of gratitude.

See you at the Market,

Erin Tormey
Coastside Farmers Market

May to December
In Half Moon Bay @ Shoreline Station
Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm •
In Pacifica @ Rockaway Beach
Wednesdays, 2:30 -6:30pm

Surfrider Foundation is holding a Montara State Beach Post-Fourth of July beach clean up on Sunday, July 5 from noon to 2pm at Montara State Beach.

Medical care on the Coastside is still a mess and it’s going to get better soon for anyone. The Sequoia Healthcare District says that if the Coastside agrees to be annexed, there would be money available for medical care in the community. Meanwhile, the records of our bankrupt clinic are tied up in the clinic’s bankruptcy. There’s lots of good detail in this story by Julia Scott and it’s recommended reading.

Under the proposal, which is still very tentative, two-thirds of voters from Montara to the Santa Cruz County line would have to approve both the annexation and a new parcel tax to fund the clinic or other projects the community would choose. The Coastside would then become eligible for generous program grants from the Sequoia Healthcare District, which is flush with cash from a profit-sharing agreement with Catholic Healthcare West, which operates Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City.

The health care district will make $8.5 million in grants this year to clinics and nonprofit programs on the Bayside and has $22 million in reserves, according to [Sequoia board member Don] Horsley. A parcel tax is a "stable and predictable" source of funding, as opposed to a sales tax increase, he said.

The proposal would take two years before delivering healthcare on the Coastside. And there is the question of control. The district’s board would control its budget.

Meanwhile, the records of the former Coastside Family Medical Clinic continue to be out of the reach of its former patients.

The records are under the care of a court-appointed trustee, who is responsible for keeping the records safe until they can be distributed. The responsibility for distributing them falls to the Coastside Family Medical Center and its former board members, who do not appear to have a plan — or the resources — to do so. ...

"That is an affirmative duty for which the debtor and its principals may be held liable to the extent they have breached that duty," the motion [by the bankruptcy attorney] says, suggesting that former clinic patients who suffer harm as a result of being denied their medical records could sue. ...

[CFMC board member Charise] McHugh would not comment on whether the former board of the Coastside Family Medical Center has a plan to distribute the remaining records at this time.

"I will just say that there is nothing more important to any of the board members than the clinic and those patients," she said. "You just have to trust us."

Just wanted to invite you to bring your vehicle to Cool Harbor Nights, Car and Motorcycle Show this Thursday, July 2.  The event starts at 4 PM and goes until sunset.  We have some great gift certificates to give away to show participants so be sure to register and fill out an entry ticket at the table in from of Princeton Seafood Co.
The Senior Coastsiders will be there selling raffle tickets for their 50/50 drawing if you are interested.
Marty is putting together a Car Show Special: Skewer & a Beer for $5.00.  He will have steak, chicken or shrimp.  Yum!  Yum!
Mary Botham

A mother and her five year old daughter drowned at Montara State Beach late this afternoon, reports KTVU. Emergency crews responded at 4:20pm.

A San Mateo County Fire spokesman said a five-year-old girl was swept a few hundred yards out in a rip current that runs along the south end of the beach.

The girl’s mother was also overcome by the heavy surf trying to save the child. ...

"We had a total of seven victims on the shore," said Ari Delay of the Half Moon Bay Fire Department. "Five of them were not transported. Two were taken by helicopter to Stanford Medical Center, both with CPR in progress in route to the hospital." ...

"The family at some point was swept out on the south end of Montara State Beach. There’s a rip [current] that goes along the south end," explained Delay. "It’s unknown the exact circumstances. It’s a precarious surf out here. The surf line is very dangerous."

The daughter was found after a 30 minute search by the Harbormaster’s boat.