Len Erickson, Secretary of Midcoast Park Lands, will make a presentation on Quarry Park to the Midcoast Community Council tonight, Wednesday, at 7:45pm. MPL is in the process of turning over the park to the county.

MCC meets at Seton Medical Center Coastside, Marine Blvd & Etheldore, Moss Beach. Take Highway 1 to Marine Blvd and follow the signs uphill. Please park in the upper parking lot.

You may have noticed that Coastsider has been down since Thursday. Naturally, this happened while I was traveling, so it took longer than usual to diagnose the problem and come up with a plan of attack.

Coastsider now on a faster and more reliable server. I’m still ironing out problems and migrating some of Coastsider’s other services to the new server. Coastsider’s Gallery will be down for the time being and you may encounter a few other bugs in the meantime.

Once I’ve confirmed that the site is stable, I’ll email members to let them know we’re back. If you see anything that looks broken, please add a comment to this story.

Barry Parr

Blue Blanket Improv will be hosting a "Beginning Improvisational Comedy Class" Starting Monday, September 22 @ 7-9pm

An introduction to the world of improv comedy.  Discover the power of "Yes, and…" Explore your inner Characters, Relationships, & Objectives.  Let go of planning, and enjoy living "in the moment".  This 6 week class will give you the guidelines to unleash your inner creativity. Improv develops listening, risk-taking, and the ability to support your partner, great skills for offstage as well as on. The class will culminate in a "showcase".  If that sounds intimidating, this class is for you! We support each other each step of the way, celebrating growth. There are no mistakes in improv! 

Prerequisites: A willingness to let go of your "inner critic". An ability to accept the uncertainty that comes when you don’t have control of the situation (as if we ever do!)  A recognition that trying to "be funny" is one of the big obstacles to enjoyable scenes. Unconditional respect for your fellow players and the audience.

For additional information on "Blue Blanket Improv" and the instructors please visit us at www.BlueBlanketImprov.com

Fee: Resident: $65.00. Non-resident: $70.00* Ages: 14 and up Location: Train Depot (Half Moon Bay) Dates:  Mon, 9/22 - 10/27 Times: 7 - 9 pm Class Code:  713319.01*
* Register on-line at:  www.HMBcity.com

The Montara Water and Sanitary District invites residents of Montara and Moss Beach to celebrate fifty years of success overcoming environmental challenges, together with five years of progress meeting local water needs, at a community party on Sunday, August 24, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel.

"The Montara / Moss Beach community has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to meet local needs through effective local government. This community party lets us thank the residents who are responsible for the continued success of our District," according to Paul Perkovic, president of the MWSD board of directors.

A barbeque lunch featuring food and beverages donated by local businesses begins at 1 p.m., followed by an opportunity to tour District facilities and read about the history of the Montara Water and Sanitary District, the Point Montara Naval Anti-Aircraft Training Center (which formerly occupied the MWSD site), and the Point Montara Lighthouse and Hostel (most recently featured in news stories across the country for its traveling lighthouse).

Former State Senator Quentin Kopp will briefly address the community about 2:30 p.m., followed by presentation of proclamations honoring the Montara / Moss Beach community and MWSD for their accomplishments over the past 50 years, cleaning and disposing of wastewater and solid waste for the community, and over the past 5 years operating and improving the local water system while keeping water rates as low as possible.

Shortly after it was formed, the District constructed the most advanced wastewater treatment facility on the Midcoast to eliminate polluting the Pacific Ocean with the community’s untreated sewage. Five years ago, the District acquired the local water system, which had been neglected during decades of private ownership. More recently, MWSD installed the first solar power system to serve a Midcoast agency.

Please RSVP using the link on the MWSD web site, http://MWSD.Montara.org/ to assist in planning adequate food and beverages. All community members are welcome to attend, whether or not you RSVP.

Click for background on the district’s history and anniversary.

All users of Propane from San Gregorio South to the Santa Cruz County line are invited to submit their information at: www.pescaderolodging.com/pugs, with enough interested parties (commercial as well) we will then invite all providers to submit their best pricing for the association.  We’re copying the structure of the South Skyline Association, of which many of us were members until Amerigas kicked out everyone in Loma Mar, San Gregorio, Pescadero and points South. No need to join the group until we’ve received our best package and it’s accpeted by enough to earn the substantial discount offered associations and based on volume.  If you have any questions please use the link provided on the site.

Rob Skinner

Senator Leland Yee has offered to sponsor a bill to allocate $10 million in parks bond money to the city of Half Moon Bay to assist in the acquisition of Beachwood from developer Charles "Chop" Keenan.

With the defeat of AB1991, the city is required by its settlement with Keenan to buy the Beachwood property from him for $18 million. The proposed bill, which Yee’s office says faces no opposition from environmental organizations, would provide the city with up to $10 million in Proposition 1C (2006) money to create a public park on the site.

Although this would prevent the city from building houses on the site, the city has already said that it would lose money if it had to build houses. In June the city released a financial analysis that claimed it would lose $35 million if it could develop as many as 50 houses on the site.

It is unknown how much of the site, which contains wetlands, could be turned into usable park space.

I spoke with Adam Keigwin in Senator Yee’s office and he said that although this was a new proposal, it was still possible to get the bill through the Legislature in the current session.

In June, the city received $5 million from the Association of Bay Area Governments insurance pool as a result of its loss of the Beachwood suit.

The Coastside Land Trust has appointed Beau Gill to the Board of Directors and added Shari Deghi as the organization’s Outreach Coordinator.
Beau Gill, a resident of Half Moon Bay, is a life long advocate for responsible land use. He was educated at Los Angeles Valley College and UCLA, and brings a background in public relations at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, commercial and fine art photography, and documentary film production to CLT’s Board of Directors.
Shari Deghi, a Half Moon Bay resident, moved to the Coastside in 1988, she was drawn by its natural beauty and abounding opportunities for environmental study with her wildlife biologist husband. She brings a breadth of experience to CLT, from Wall Street management to local community action with a number of non-profit organizations. As CLT’s new Outreach Coordinator, she will assist the Executive Director with event coordination, public relations and fundraising.
The Coastside Land Trust is dedicated to protecting the urban open space of the San Mateo County coast, for enjoyment now and for generations to come. Its primary focus is safeguarding scenic bluffs, open space, stream corridors and agricultural lands in and around the communities of Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Miramar, Moss Beach, Princeton-by-the-Sea, and Montara.

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) broke ground yesterday for new and improved trails at Pillar Point Bluff, a 123-acre property it owns near Moss Beach. Long a popular destination for local joggers, dog-walkers and hikers, the informal network of trails just north of Half Moon Bay is undergoing much-needed restoration thanks to grants from the California Coastal Conservancy and gifts made through the Jean Lauer Memorial Land Protection Fund at POST.

When the trail improvements are complete this fall, two miles of paths lined with native plants and wildflowers will extend across the scenic bluff top, including a portion of the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail. Two new access points to the property will also be constructed, as well as a wheelchair-accessible trail.

POST purchased the bulk of Pillar Point Bluff from private owners in 2004 for $2.7 million. The acquisition was made in partnership with the California Coastal Conservancy, which contributed $1 million toward the purchase with an eye toward installing a segment of the Coastal Trail. The Conservancy has since contributed another $528,650 to POST to cover the entire cost of trail planning, design and improvements as well as the first year of trail management and continued habitat restoration on the land. Once completed, the new trails will be patrolled by the San Mateo County Parks Department through a management agreement with POST.

A celebration of local talents from Fine Arts to kids art.  Over 70 crafts and food vendors,  Non-stop LIVE entertainment including Rock ‘n’ Roll,  Bluegrass,  Folk music, Mariachis and on Sunday afternoon,  the only in Pescadero,  "Community Fashion Show".

Have your palm read, or come for the food.  Fried Artichoke Hearts,  BBQ’d Oysters, hand-made tamales, portabella mushroom sandwiches, tri-tip sandwiches, Hamburgers, BBQ’d Chicken and Beans, organically grown produce and honey, and much, much more. The best of the coastside.

Paffy’s Kid Korral is a special area where kids will find games, painting, ‘make it and take it’ crafts, the bouncer, and for his 5th year, Johnny Appleseed, a local mule offering free rides for the youngsters.

For an old fashioned, country-good time, just follow the Dancing Cow to Pescadero.

WHO:  The Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival Committee

WHAT:  A small country fair, LIVE entertainment, hand made crafts,Fine Arts, shown by the Pescadero Artists Alliance and a special section ‘Just for Kids’.  Admission is still free. All proceeds to benefit local youth programs

WHEN:  Sat & Sun   AUG 16 & 17, 10am - 6pm

WHERE: IDES Grounds,  Stage Road,  Pescadero (17 miles south of Half Moon Bay, on the San Mateo Coast)

Click below for Music Line-Up

I’m a member of the Coastside Running Club and four of us successfully completed a 50 mile race last Saturday.  The race is called the Headlands 50 and is put on by the Pacific Coast Trail Runs company. They held a 100 mile event at the same time. The results are listed here: http://www.pctrailruns.com/HH_Results_08.htm

The four of us are:
Eric Vaughan, age 48, from El Granada—9 hours 16 minutes
Ron Little, age 37, from Montara—9 hours 47 minutes
Franz Dill, age 32, from La Honda—10 hours 37 minutes
Mike Weston, age 47, from La Honda—13 hours 13 minutes

Some of us wrote up race reports and added pictures:
Ron Little—http://www.ronlittle.blogspot.com/
Franz Dill—http://dillweedrunner.blogspot.com/
Mike Weston—http://mweston.wordpress.com/