Volunteers are needed for a one-day count of the homeless in San Mateo County.

On January 30-31, the County of San Mateo Human Services Agency will conduct its biennial One Day Homeless Count. The count is a federal requirement which is also a key component of the HOPE ten-year plan to end homelessness, and will provide an increased understanding of both the number of homeless and their individual and collective needs.
The primary count will occur between 6am and 10am on January 30 with supplementary activities to be conducted on January 31. Click below for more information and a job description.

Can anyone give a me a definitive answer on just what exactly is going on with the tree cutting near the hilltop store/goat pen? I am definitely out of the loop but I am surprised that there is so little talk about what is going on. Most of the pine trees are gone and now several Eucalyptus trees are gone. What else is going to disappear? I heard two explanations. Either this is part of the widening of 92 @ Main street project or this has to do with giving the power lines freedom from the encroaching Pine trees.

Where can I get answers concerning the the HMB municipal infrastructure? Like the big golf ball that appeared without advanced notice, it seems as though some highly visible projects commence with very little advanced notice and then some projects which are highly anticipated (proposed community park/recreation area behind Stone Pine)that just seem to languish without any update as to progress (or lack of) on the issue.

P.S. I appreciate the Coastsider for giving us some kind of public forum for our community concerns.

John Marshall
Half Moon Bay

By a unanimous vote, Ken Nitz was last night elected President of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) Board of Directors for a one-year term. Also elected were Directors Pete Siemens as the District’s Vice President, Curt Riffle as Treasurer, and Mary Davey as Secretary.

An avid environmentalist, Ken Nitz lives in Redwood City and has represented the residents of Ward 7 on the Open Space District’s Board of Directors since 1996 when he was first elected to a seat on the Board.  In addition to Redwood City, San Carlos, and Woodside, President Nitz’ Ward also includes part of the San Mateo County coastside. The boundaries of District Wards 6 and 7 were reapportioned in 2004 in order to democratically represent coastside residents who became District constituents when the Coastside Protection Program became official on September 7, 2004. Among Nitz’ constituencies are El Granada, Half Moon Bay, Montara, Moss Beach, and Princeton. Nitz has a long history of community involvement, including volunteering at Earth Day 1990, for the Gorilla Foundation, and Wildlife Rescue as well as a number of District events.

There will be a meeting for residents of Moss Beach tonight from 7:00 to 8:30pm at Seton Medical Center, Fireside Room to discuss the Midcoast parks and recreation plan.  Two Moss Beach community residents will be selected for the implementation team.  There will be meetings in Montara and El Granada next week.

For more information, see our earlier story.

There’s something special going on in the twilight sky over the next few days: A comet visible to the naked eye.

Comet McNaught is already the brightest comet in thirty years, according to Space.com, and is poised to get a lot brighter—maybe even up to forty times as bright as Venus (the brightest light in the sky aside from the Sun and Moon) as it races toward its closest approach to the Sun, from January 12-15.

This comet, like all comets, are one of nature’s great illusions. As comets approach the Sun they form their spectacular, ghostly tails. But contrary to what you you might think, the tail does not necessarily trail out behind the comet—the tail simply points away from the Sun, no matter the actual direction of the comet.

How to find the comet: The comet is visible to the naked eye but you will have better luck with a pair of binoculars—a small, inexpensive pair will do just fine. Wait until just after sunset (about 5:15 pm), then locate Venus. Venus is the bright, blue-ish "star" that appears in the southwest sky just before sunset. If you know where the Farallone Islands are you can simply draw an imaginary straight line from Venus to the Islands and scan with your binoculars at the line’s halfway point. You are looking for a small, fuzzy point of light with a tail. 

If you don’t know where the Farallone Islands are simply put your fist out at arm’s length and start searching two or three "fists" to the right of Venus at an elevation about halfway from Venus to the horizon. You should have until about 5:45 to see the comet, depending on the fog banks.

Early birds can also look for the comet in the morning sky—the south-eastern morning sky, starting about 45 minutes before sunrise.

Cross your fingers and hope for clear skies!

A 16 year-old Half Moon Bay High School student was arrested on suspicion of making threats, battery and probation violation Friday, reports the County Times.  The student allegely threw a soda at a teacher and threatened him and his family after the teacher sent him to the office for being late.

Latcho Drom ("Safe Journey") (103 minutes ) is a celebration of Gypsy music from a French director with Rom (Gypsy) roots, at this month’s Coastside Film Society Film Night in Half Moon Bay. The documentary film uses no narration, preferring to let the pictures and the music speak for themselves.  Listen closely and the music will reveal how the Rom changed as they migrated from their ancestral home in India through Egypt, Turkey and up into Europe.

In India the music remains light and romantic. In Egypt it absorbs elements from Muslin prayer.  Southern France provides us with the wild Romany jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt.  In Romania and Germany the music turns darker, reflecting the harsh treatment Rom’s have long encountered here.

The film’s journey takes place over a year’s time and each piece of music reflects the season it comes from. Director Tony Gatlif holds his camera on the elemental essentials of Rom life: water, fire, beasts of burden and of sustenance, colorful clothes, jewelry, musical instruments, song, and dance. Throughout, via song and dance, young and old celebrate, embody, and teach the cultural values of family, journey, love, separateness, and persecution.

In this film "Music is everywhere—children barely able to walk dance alongside great-grandmothers.  Wordless stories abound, told in the smiles of strangers waiting for a train or in the frowns of rifle-toting farmers come to evict travelers from their land." Grant Balfour, Amazon.com

The film was recommended to us by the world class musicologist and independent film-maker, Yasha Aginsky, who will be on hand to discuss why the thinks this is such a wonderful film.

More info on the programs of the film and the Society at: http://www.HMBFILM.org

Friday, Jan 12, 8 pm
Community United Methodist Church Sanctuary
77 Miramontes (corner of Johnston) Half Moon Bay
Donation: $6.00
   

The inspiring, multi-cultural Oakland Jazz Choir sings traditional and contemporary jazz arrangements. The OJC has collaborated with notable jazz, blues and gospel artists including Mark Murphy, Marlena Shaw, Madeline Eastman, Faye Carol, Brenda Boykin and Terrence Kelly. Venues have included Yoshi’s Nitespot, The Great American Music Hall and Kimballs East.

The choir has performed at numerous jazz festivals including the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Sonoma Jazz Festival, the Vallejo Jazz Festival and the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival.

The Oakland Jazz Choir has racked up some impressive tributes and have sold out every one of their concerts so far.   .

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society 307 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA  94019 $30.  Tickets at the door. Doors Open at 3pm, Music from 4:30 to 7:30pm, with intermission. $30