NOTE: We’re expanding the definition of "Coastside" here to include land adjacent to Skyline, even if it’s on the other side of the hill. Consult the Midpeninusula Regional Open Space District website for a complete list of upcoming hikes.

Docents for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District have scheduled free outdoor activities in January, all taking place on the District’s permanently preserved open space lands throughout the South Bay, Peninsula and Coastside areas. These guided hikes are a great way to explore the beauty of nature in winter including birding, mushroom hunting, animal tracking and earthquake hikes, among others. Please help the District introduce these free opportunities to your audience by listing the following outdoor activities. Note that some activities require reservations. For further information, to make a reservation, or to obtain directions, please call 650-691-1200 or refer to the District’s Web site at www.openspace.org.

Saturday, January 10
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, meet at Purisima Creek Road entrance
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
"Breathe Deep in the Redwoods"
Find out why you’ll be breathing some of the cleanest air in the world. Get to know the secrets a redwood forest holds with docents Bob Segalla and Collin Lim on this moderately-paced, seven mile loop hike with a 1,400-foot elevation gain from the ocean-side of this Preserve. You’ll enjoy the Soda Gulch, Harkins Ridge, and Whittemore Gulch Trails. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after December 27.

Saturday, January 17
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, meet at Purisima Creek Road entrance
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
"Redwood Forest and Chaparral"
Join docents David Milburn, Susan Peterson, and Colin Lim for a seven mile hike encompassing two ecosystems. You’ll begin in the redwood forest along Purisima Creek and ascend Harkins Ridge Trail (about 1,000-foot gain) through the chaparral. At the junction with Soda Gulch Trail, you’ll descend through chapparal before hiking back into the redwood forest and through a tranquil canyon where tributaries flow into Purisima Creek.

Saturday, January 17
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, meet at Whittemore Gulch entrance
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
"Fungal Fun"
Join docents Chris MacIntosh, Jack Owicki, and Kay Partelow and try to find stars, bird’s nests, jelly and other fungi on a seven mile adventure. Hiking up and down Harkins Ridge and Soda Gulch Trails in different environments (1,000- to 2,000-foot elevation gain), you’ll get the hang of noticing the sometimes camouflaged but always fascinating fungi that flourish in winter. Enjoy the variety of size, shape, and growth habits on this non-technical fungus appreciation hike. The rain (or lack of) will determine what you’ll see. Bring boots for mud, stamina, and your curiosity.

Sunday, January 18
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, meet at Russian Ridge
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
"Waterfall on Old Page Mill"
Hike down past Alpine Pond with docents Paul Vadopalas and Kandis Scott on Old Page Mill Trail to view a waterfall created by the overflowing pond, and return on this two mile, leisurely-paced hike. Bring your camera to capture a six-foot waterfall occurring only during the rainy season.

Saturday, January 24
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
12:00 noon – 3:30 p.m.
"Tracking: The Basics"
Learn to identify and differentiate the tracks and scat of our mountain canine and cat predator families, and how deer tracks can tell interesting tales. Docents Keith Johnsgård and Jenny Whitman have been sharpening their tracking skills and will lead you on a five mile hike through prime tracking areas of this preserve in search of signs of critter passage. There are two steady, long climbs with 600-foot total elevation gains along the trails, including Ancient Oaks, Ridge, and Borel Hill Trails. Hope for mud!

Sunday, January 25
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
"Winter Discovery Walkabout"
Enjoy a five mile, moderately-paced hike in a lovely preserve with docents Rebecca Pickart and Suzanne Schleck to see the winter transformation of the grasslands and oak forests. You’ll look for life forms that awaken with the winter rains following months of summer dryness along the Ancient Oaks, Hawk Ridge, and Bay Area Ridge Trails.

Three nights ago a bunny was hit by a car on our street in Montara. Its little friend witnessed it and tried to help. when my daughter came upon this scene they were huddled together in the street. The uninjured bunny was trying to cover the injured one with his body, trying to push it up and standing between it and the oncoming cars. It was a heart breaking scene. The injured rabbit died.

With difficulty she caught the uninjured bunny, put it in a cage and took to our home. When who we thought was the owner showed up, he informed us that the rabbits were found in the lot behind his house. The bunny pair was loose and had been hopping around at will for months. There don’t seem to be babies involved so we think the bunnies were both the same sex or neutered.

We have the rabbit in a warm bathroom with food and water. The bunny is shy but when offered food around will allow us to pet and even hold him.  Remarkably, he/she appears to be in very good health except for some matted fur.  We learned that bunnies form bonded pairs and can become distraught and ill if separated but he/she seems to be doing OK.  It is a domestic dwarf bunny, mostly gray with white and very cute.

We are looking for someone with experience with rabbits to adopt this courageous little bunny. We work full time and have 3 cats and 2 dogs - all rescues and adoptions, plus a horse. We just don’t have the room or time for another animal. All the rescue societies we have contacted are overflowing with unwanted rabbits. If you know someone who can adopt or foster this bunny please call us at 728-1318.

Florie Loukedis

The National Weather Service is forecasting a "significant storm event" early next week. 

There is some forecast uncertainty regarding the strength and timing of this storm system. However…There is increasing confidence that a period of wet and windy weather will develop. If this storm event occurs there would be a threat of urban and small stream flooding… As well as mud slides and debris flows over burn scarred areas from this past summer’S fires.  Persons in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties who are near the burn areas should pay very close attention to this developing situation since it appears that heavy rainfall will be possible in both areas.

Much has been written in various bay area press outlets that has oversimplified and obscured the circumstances of the Beachwood case.

Below is the largely overlooked editor’s intro in the May issue of the California Lawyer magazine regarding that magazine’s article on the Beachwood judgment. It was overlooked because the Beachwood April 1 Settlement (rather than an appeal to the 9th Circuit—arguably the biggest mistake in the City’s history) - had already occurred at the time of publication. Here is the editor’s interesting statement about the case, which includes a fairly bold conclusion to have been made by a legal magazine’s reporter about a federal judicial decision.

However, the longer David P. Hamilton, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, worked on this story for us, the more troubled he became with Judge Walker’s ruling. "My experience is that when you come across a judge’s opinion as strongly worded as Judge Walker’s was, you naturally assume that the offending party was caught dead to rights. But as I dug deeper, I realized there was a fair amount of contradictory evidence that either didn’t make it into his ruling, or was dismissed out of hand."

Just as we were about to go to press with this story, the city announced a settlement offer in the case.

Mike Ferreira

Click below to read the full editorial.

It’s that time of year again, when the Grey whales migrate 7,00 miles from the freezing waters above Alaska to southern California to give birth to their enormous 1,500 pound calves. These mammals have been making this journey for thousands of years only to return to the icy waters again in the spring.

If you would like to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures it’s not to difficult. There are thousands of miles of pristine beach and plenty of tours that go out hourly just to watch as they pass.

The Oceanic Society (San Francisco), a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting marine life, offers whale-watching tours from San Francisco, Bodega Bay and Half Moon Bay. Prices are reasonable and it’s a great activity to spend with the children.

As usual there will be many great whale watching festivals around the area with wine tastings, chowder and seafood, and lots of activities for the little ones. So go out and get your sea legs ready for an unforgettable season of giant mammals.

Sunday, December 21, 2008, Art Show/Sale, Caffe Lucca, Noon to 5 p.m., Hwy 1 at 8th Street, Montara, 728-5229 
 
Claire of Eclarity:  one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, bracelets & rings from silver, natural stones and beads
 
Gaia Essentials:  pure, botanical skin therapy products
 
Ana Perez:  hand-crafted, decoupage bath accessories
 
Tede Shawls:  Woolen shawls from Nepal
 
Live acoustic music

Pacifica Art Connection is happy to announce the return of Coastal Quilters to the Quarry Cove Art Gallery. Located in Rockaway Beach, this exhibit promises to be as delightful as their previous exhibit two years ago. The five members of Coastal Quilters, Donna Bachmann, Maureen Liebermann, Jackie Samoluk, Joan Willey, and Kathleen Bahamondes have between them over 80 years of experience quilting.

One of the many quilts being shown is Jackie Samoluk’s Cathedral Window. This large quilt, with its time-consuming and intricate piecing done in blues and whites is an excellent example of this traditional pattern.

These very talented quilters have shown their work at many different locations along the coast including Johnston House and the Pacifica Quilters show.

Coastal Quilters will be hosting an Artist Reception THIS Saturday, December 20 from 2-4pm at the Gallery. As part of their reception, the Coastal Quilters will be having a "Trunk Sale" as well! On sale will be handmade items ranging in size from tissue covers (just perfect for stocking stuffers or Secret Santa presents!) to traditional and contemporary style wall-hanging and bed size quilts.

The Quarry Cove Art Gallery is located at 225 Rockaway Beach Ave, next to Pacifica’s Chamber of Commerce and Avani Salon. If you love quilts, then please come by the Quarry Cove Art Gallery and see this wonderful exhibit of handmade works of art! The Gallery is open during the week 10-6 and on weekends 11-4pm.

The Farmer’s Markets for both Half Moon Bay and Pacifica are—by popular demand—extended this season  to include the first three weeks of December.  

While some of our local farmers are phasing out for the season, a few new folks are phasing in for the final weeks, and our remaining growers have an abundance of wonderful fruits and veggies available that are the perfect antidote for Holiday Indulgence.  But if it’s indulgence you seek, or a great gift for a foodie we have some of those too! Handmade Fair Trade Chocolates, beautiful arrays of dried fruits, new crop almonds, gorgeous german baked goods, duck-breast bacon that when combined with dried cherries or fresh pomegranate jewels and crisp persimmon slices make for a spinach salad that will knock you out. 

The Market operates rain or shine in Pacifica on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30 to 6 PM, and in Half Moon Bay on Saturday mornings from 9 AM to 1PM through December 20th, and we look forward to serving our community for these three extra weeks this year.  

Erin Tormey