The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District marks the seasonal opening of its David C. Daniels Nature Center at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve with a celebration for all—including creative exhibits, a ranger-led nature hike, refreshments and fun for the whole family April 4-5, noon to 5pm.

The celebration is free and open to the public. Reservations are required for Saturday’s 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. ranger-led nature hike and can be made at www.openspace.org/reservations or (650) 691-2150 (option 2) after March 21. Visit the District’s Web site or call (650) 691-1200 for directions.

The nature center, overlooking Alpine Pond, helps people of all ages connect with the environment. Volunteer staff and hands-on interpretive displays teach visitors about the plants and animals living in the surrounding pond and open space preserve. Visitors can also meet Snickers, the District’s captive-bred gopher snake and explore nearby hiking trails.

The nature center is free and open to the public on weekends from April to mid-November. Built in 1995, it was partially funded through the generosity of the Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Judy and David Daniels family in memory of their son, David C. Daniels.

Who:  The Farmers of Hwy 92 invite you, the Greater Bay Area Community

 
When:  April 18-19, 2009, from 9:00 to 5:00

 
Where: Participating farms located along Hwy 92 into Half Moon Bay, CA

 
Why:  To establish a platform for the local community to enjoy and appreciate the natural beauty and agricultural history found along scenic Hwy 92.  To provide educational opportunities and on-the-farm experiences that will allow families to connect with the land, the environment and agriculture.  To focus on enhancing their level of appreciation and awareness of the land and our seasons, the importance of local growing and harvesting of crops, and educate them on various ecosystems and how people effect and are effected by those systems.  To encourage personal responsibility and accountability with regard to the environment for both local participants and those from the Greater Bay Area.

 
How:  The Farmers of Hwy 92 will provide the following:

• Fun, affordable event to get coastside families out enjoying the Earth on Earth Day
• Focus on farmers’ daily lives and their role as stewards of the land, all in celebration of the Earth and the integral role farmers play as "keepers of the earth"
• Farm tours & greenhouse tours
• Agricultural, environmental and educational demonstrations, such as livestock viewing / feeding and crop planting demonstrations
• Farm animals, pony rides, train rides and hay rides
• Live music, community participation and sponsorship

 
Collaboration:  The Farmers of Hwy 92 Celebrate Earth Day is the first collaborative event organized by the local farmers on Hwy 92.  Instrumental in the collaboration are Bob Lemos of Lemos Farms, Hank & Scott Pastorino of Pastorino Farms, Johnny & Jennifer Cozzolino of 4-C’s / Cozzolino Farms, and farm-related business owner, Terry Tenzing of Friendly Pony Parties & Barnyard Pals.

Inviting Particiation: Seeking local organizations, companies and individuals with a focus on environmental or ecological concepts, green business practices, sustainable farming or organic produce as well as local artisians and local musicians to participate.  Would you join us?  Please contact Terry Tenzing:  [email protected] or 650-303-4281.

Please spread the word about this wonderful opportunity in our community!

Hope to see you there!

Supervisor Rich Gordon will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the closure of Coastside Family Medical Center on Monday, March 23 at 7pm in the Cunha Intermediate School Multipurpose Room.

Gordon promises "a frank discussion of the issues surrounding the closure and ... information regarding options." He also says he will "work toward finding solutions that provide assistance in this difficult time."

Health Plan of San Mateo staff will be at CFMC on Monday to answer additional questions for their members.

The City of Half Moon Bay has scheduled a series of free, interactive community workshops beginning March 25 to gather input on the future of housing in the City. Residents and other interested parties may attend one or all of the workshops which are the first step in designing a new Housing Element for the City.

"This is a great opportunity for our residents to help us make sure we have the right mix of housing choices in our future," said Steve Flint, Planning Director. "Community input is crucial in preparing a Plan that reflects the primary issues and goals of our residents."

WHAT IS A HOUSING ELEMENT? It is a planning document designed to address the existing and projected housing needs for people of all incomes in the City. It will provide future guidance for the types and number of dwelling units that will be appropriate for the City over the next 20 years.

WHAT WILL THE WORKSHOPS BE LIKE? The workshops are an opportunity for the public to provide input on housing issues that face the city including the types of housing needed in Half Moon Bay, where new housing should be located and what types of special housing needs exist and need to be met within the city. In addition, the city is seeking input on how to preserve and improve the quality of Half Moon Bay’s existing residential neighborhoods.

HOW WILL THE INPUT BE USED? The input will be used to develop goals, strategies, policies and programs that will guide residential development in the City.
WORKSHOPS:

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

I love having a "3rd Place" in Montara—a place other than home and work where we can go to meet friends and experience community. 7th Street Montara (on Highway One) is such a place. During these lean times the restaurant is still providing 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. In order to continue to provide great food the restaurant needs locals to support them. There is now a discount for us on Tuesday nights as well as a special discount program for ordering multiple meals as take outs. The food is great, so please stop by and try it out.

We also have an excellent Indian Restaurant and Caffe Lucca both of which are struggling to keep their doors open as well.

Nancy Margulies

I loved this story in the NY Times about the Obamas and their veggie garden: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/dining/19garden-web.html. Whether you are worried about health/weight, money, want a chance to get outdoors once in a while, or just want to eat the best food you have ever tasted, having a home vegetable garden is all that and more.

Even if you only have a window, you can grow lots and lots of wonderful things: most herbs grow year round here on the Coastside, quick growers like radishes grow even in the winter, and many veggies and fruits can be planted year round in our moderate climate.

If you’re not the outdoor type, remember the Coastside Farmers Market is opening the first Saturday in May, with lots of locally grown fruits and veggies. As well, many our local food purveyors buy locally grown, fresh and wonderful veggies and fruits to sell to you.

Buy local, buy fresh, and "grow your own."

This week, NPR’s Morning Edition ran a 7 3/4 min segment on Duarte’s Tavern in Pescadero [text and audio]:

Ron’s grandfather, Frank Duarte, a Portuguese immigrant, bought the tavern and the land around it for $12 in gold in 1894. In those days, Pescadero, near the Pacific, was a popular settlement for whalers, fishermen and farmers from Portugal.

To start off his business, Frank Duarte Sr. bought a barrel of whiskey from Santa Cruz. "Used to be 10 cents a shot or three shots for two bits," says Ron Duarte. "They’d set the barrel of whiskey here in the bar and people would bring their bottle in and fill it up."

Ron Duarte says his grandfather and father were barbers, as well as barkeeps. "Thank God I missed the barber part," he says. Besides, Ron adds, laughing, "None of us have much hair. You know, you can’t have hair and brains both."

And that goes for son Tim, too. Asked if he’s the owner of Duarte’s, Tim replies, "I’m the owner until my dad comes around. Then I’m the owner’s son."

Rich Gordon formally announces his candidacy for the 21st District Assembly seat, which runs from Redwood City to San Jose. From the San Mateo Daily News:

"The bottom line is the state is so broken that I just feel somebody’s got to step up and fix it," said Gordon, citing his mix of local, regional and state experience as reasons why he’s the person to do just that.
Gordon, of Menlo Park, is a third-generation Californian born and raised in San Mateo County. His focus includes strengthening the economy, environmental protection, education, adequate water and health and safety.
Gordon has served as a county supervisor since 1997 and will be termed out in 2010, the same year he hopes to secure the state Assembly seat. During his tenure, he has served as president of the California State Association of Counties and on a number of commissions and boards such as the Transportation Authority, the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments.

Half Moon Bay resident Norm Coleman plays Ty Cobb in a one-man show in Pacifica next month, reports the Tribune.

Coleman’s love of theatre and baseball led to the development of his one-man show based on the life and times of Detroit Tiger Hall of Fame outfielder Ty Cobb So why Ty Cobb?

"As a child, I had a vivid imagination and always played and fantasized myself playing a famous person," said Coleman, who debuted his show two years ago. "Sometimes a general leading his Army to victory, sometimes a Presidents running the country, but usually I was a ball player. I imagined I was the best player on the Brooklyn Dodgers; sometimes the best hitter and other times the best pitcher."

"Now, as an adult, an actor, why not play the greatest player that every played the game?" said Coleman, who migrated to California from New York years ago.

The show captures Cobb from his youth in the South under the thumb of a demanding father, to his playing days, as an Army Captain in World War I, to his days as a manger of the Tigers, to his days amassing a multi-million dollar fortune derived largely from Coca Cola stock and making charitable contributions after his baseball career, to his days as a sick former player near the end of his life in the early 1960s.

From Mark Sipowicz, the owner of Moon News. This letter went to the bookstore’s customers today announcing Mark’s plans to close the store on April 30.  Beginning tomorrow, all the store’s merchandise is 10% off. Mark says if you mention this letter, you will get a special 20% discount on Thursday and Friday only.

I hold it true, whate’er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

  —From Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem In Memoriam, 1850

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Readers,

Those famous lines of Tennyson’s have come up for me over and over these last few weeks. I hope you all can share the sentiment.

When opening the store 12 years ago it never occurred to me that I might one day have to also close it. That is not to say that I didn’t notice the rising threat’s to this line of work each consecutive year, but my general sense was always that as long as we kept selling more good books and we kept the unique appeal of Moon News alive and thriving we could count on a long and happy life for the business. And I suppose we did—12 years is certainly not a short life for a store nor has the happiness we have all experienced, the pleasure and meaning we have all derived been insignificant. But an ending is now clearly in sight and it is time to move towards it.

I’d like to thank you all for a truly wonderful adventure: filled with seductive stories, poetry, friendship and a great sense of place. Those of us that have worked behind the counter here at Moon News have not only enjoyed the pleasures of the book trade but also clearly and deeply reveled in the spirit of the conversation that arises across the counter with you during this exchange. I think I can speak for nearly all those talented and good-hearted people that have worked here when I say that there hasn’t been a single day when some pleasure of the trade hasn’t tapped us on the shoulder, brought a smile to our face, or warmed our hearts in some way. And more often than not that glow has arisen from our contact with you, the reader and customer.

As some of you know, I have spent the last 12 months working both with a broker and without to sell the bookstore and have worked with at least a dozen different buyers. Potential candidates have included longstanding good customers, staff, fellow bookstore owners from around the Bay Area, and a few candidates from out of the area. A lot of good will and flexibility has been exchanged on both sides in all cases and yet through out, a juncture has occurred in the road where the buyer announced that the challenge is too great—disappointing yes, but of course true for so many reasons also. And although I made a clear announcement to myself and others that I was ready for a change for personal reasons over a year ago, even at that time, it was hard to separate the economics from the personal. So when the economy soured last year and we saw our first year of dramatically lower sales compared to the previous, the financial challenge clearly rose to and above the level of my personal commitment to move on.