Award-winning filmmaker Stephen Olsson will be in Half Moon Bay on August 18 for a screening of his new documentary Sound of the Soul, hosted by The Visionary Edge.

In a world increasingly polarized by religious conflicts and fundamentalist forces, Sound Of The Soul transports viewers on an exhilarating and thought-provoking cinematic journey, reverberating with unity, understanding, and most of all, hope.  Award-winning director Stephen Olsson’s new film is a vivid, multi-layered portrait of both of an open-minded Arab city and The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, an exceptional event that invites Muslim, Christian and even Jewish men and women to perform in public at its historic sites.

Sound Of The Soul explores the heart of Fez itself: its heritage of tolerance as an ancient sanctuary for people of different faiths; its mystical Islamic foundations; its evocative medieval settings.  This is the ideal location for an unforgettable festival that brings together a unique array of musicians - a transcendent chorus of African Berber women, a Portuguese Fado singer, a French early music ensemble, players and vocalists from Afghanistan, England, Russia, Ireland, Mauritania, Turkey and finally, a gospel band from New York City.  All are intermixed with ecstatic Sufi performers and all are connected through their artistry by profound expressions of love and longing. 

Reece Computer Systems is having a Friday Night Social Hour in our new space on August 17 from 5:30-7:30pm.  You are invited.  Please don’t bring anything except a welcoming grin and a guest – we’ll supply food, dessert, refreshments and fun.

Reece Computer Systems is locaed in Shoreline Station, Suite 103D (yellow building), 225 Cabrillo Highway S., HMB (at the corner of Kelly and Highway 1). 

We missed including the announcement of Reece’s store opening last month. You can read an edited version of their press release by clicking below.

The Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival is a celebration of local talents from Fine Arts to kids art this Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

Over 70 crafts and food vendors, Non-stop live entertainment including rock’n roll, bluegrass, and folk music, Aztec Dancers, and on Sunday afternoon the only-in-Pescadero, Community Fashion Show. New and very special this year, is a visit from the NASCAR, Jason Leftler RaceTeam, #38 show car.

Or come for the food: fried artichoke hearts, BBQ’d oysters, handmade tamales, portabella mushroom sandwiches, tri-tip sandwiches, chicken and ribs, organically grown produce and honey and more.

Paffy’s Kid Korral is a special area where kids will find games, slot car racing, a bouncer, and they can make candles, flutes and finger puppets. Or take a ride on Johnny Appleseed, a local mule. On the kid’s stage, see comedy, juggling, magic and puppet shows.
 
Admission is free. All proceeds to benefit local youth programs. IDES Grounds, Stage Road, Pescadero, 17 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

Half Moon Bay firefighters’ temporary restraining order on contracting out services has been lifted and their referendum petition ruled invalid [pdf of decision]. The referendum would have overturned the Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District’s decision to contract out services.

County superior court judge Marie Weiner limited her judgment to whether the referendum petitions were written correctly.  The district did not dispute whether their decision constituted an ordinance subject to referendum.

The judge decided that the petition was incomplete because it included the "be it resolved" part of the resolution, but not the "whereas" clauses. The referendum refers to consolidation, which is only addressed in the "whereas" clauses of the resolution. A clause in the petition which claimed there were hidden costs to the contract although it did not quote the "whereas" clause which said it was the most cost-effective solution.

The question of whether the decision to contract out services was a legislative act subject to referendum would have been more complex, and the judge quoted case law suggesting that a case could be made either for the district or the firefighters. But because the district did not contest the issue, it remains unresolved.

There are only two candidates for the two open seats on the Half Moon Bay City Council. The Review is reporting that, except for the incumbents, no challengers have registered to run for the November Half Moon Bay City Council election as of the deadline at 5pm on Friday. The only candidates are incumbents John Muller and Marina Fraser, running for the two open seats they currently occupy.

The filing deadline for all races was Friday, August 10 at 5pm. However, if an incumbent fails to file before the deadline, the deadline is extended by a week until August 17.

Coastside County Water District has one challenger and three incumbents running for three seats:  Mario M. Vazquez (attorney), Ken Coverdell (incumbent), Jim Larimer (incumbent), and Bob Feldman (incumbent). Feldman was appointed to finish the term of John Muller, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by David Gorn.

The big race this year will probably be the race for the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara Fire Protection Districts. Both districts are in the process of contracting out services to CalFire. This has been opposed by the firefighters and it is likely to be a major issue in the election.

The Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District will be heavily contested, with seven candidates for three seats: John J. Szabo of Half Moon Bay, John Draper (Assistant Harbormaster) of El Granada,
Doug Mackintosh (Local Business Owner) of Half Moon Bay, Jerry C. Donovan (Incumbent) of Half Moon Bay, Ron Taborski (Retired Businessman) of Half Moon Bay, Gregg A. Hosfeldt (Public Works Manager) of Half Moon Bay, and Bert Silva (Incumbent). Because incumbent director Eufusia did not file to run, the deadline for filing has been extended to Friday, Aug 17 because one of the incumbents did not file before the deadline.

There are two candidates for one seat on the Point Montara Fire Protection District board: Vince Williams (Engineer) of Moss Beach, and Christopher R. Cilia. The deadline has been extended to Aug 17.

There are currently five candidates for three open seats on the Midcoast Community Council, and the deadline has been extended to Friday, Aug 17: Leonard D Woren (Software Engineer) of El Granada, Deborah Lardie (CPA/ Businessowner) of Montara, Howard Richard Lieberman (CEO) of Miramar, Bob Ptacek (Business Consultant) of Montara, and Neil Merrilees. Woren is a member of the Granada Sanitary District board and Ptacek is a member of the Montara Water and Sanitary District Board.

For Montara Water and Sanitary District, one challenger and two incumbents are running for two open seats, there will be no extension: Richard Bulan (Businessman), Scott Boyd (Incumbent) of Montara, and Kathryn Slater-Carter (Incumbent) of Montara.

The current candidate list, with contact information [pdf], can be downloaded from the county’s website.

The Half Moon Bay City Council considered prohibiting sidewalk sales during the Pumpkin Festival, but looks like it’s going to come out with more-clear guidelines for enforcing existing ordinances.  The council also took up the appeal of a citation for an informal auto repair business being operated on land zoned for floriculture.

Opening, presentations, and announcements [25 min]  | Quicktime | Flash  |

Oral communications [9 min]  | Quicktime | Flash  |

City Council reports [7 min]  | Quicktime | Flash  |

Staff reports and consent calendar [25 min]  | Quicktime | Flash  | Strategic Planning Report |

Appeal of citation for non-agricultural use of ag land (Don Heinz, 450 Wavecrest Road) [74 min]  | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |

Prohibition on sidewalk sales by merchants during Pumpkin Festival [80 min]  | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |

Erin Tormey is the organizer of the Coastside Farmer’s Market. In Half Moon Bay, the market is at Shoreline Station (at Kelly and Highway 1), Saturdays, 9am to 1pm

Yesterday I had a goofy day. It was loaded with inconveniences, interruptions and petty annoyances. I was cranky for all kinds of good reasons, none of which made me feel very good, but all of which reminded me how good I have it.  And I was also reminded that most of the time when you feel icky it’s because of one of three things.  One-you are not getting enough water.  Two- you are not eating right. Three- you are not getting enough sleep.  All of them were true when I arrived at the Pacifica Market yesterday, but remedies were at hand, as it turns out, so now I am golden, rested and ready.

And you can be too. Because yesterday the Market was loaded with all sorts of new oddities that appeared in the stalls of our local farmers along with a comforting collection of standards.  I went home with a bag full of these unusual delights, given to me by concerned vendors who were hoping I wasn’t cranky at them, or if I was, they figured that feeding me a peach might mellow me out. Many suggested I needed a small vacation.  Which is always a good suggestion, even when you are in the best mood ever.

Anyway, my Farmer Pals are pretty smart, so I took their advice and took a mini-vay-cay that very evening, and now I am feeling like a whole new woman. I highly recommend everyone do the same whenever possible. Try it this weekend!

Here’s what you do.  Plan nothing for Sunday. Nothing. Not one thing.

Baby salmon sharks have been washing up on Central Coast shores in the past month, reports the Santa Cruz Sentinel. This sounds like the shark we featured on our Coastsider a couple of days ago.

A dead salmon shark was found this week on the beach in Half Moon Bay. Researchers say they’ve seen more dead salmon sharks wash ashore this year than in the recent past. And it’s not the first time, although it’s the greatest numbers in recent memory, researchers say.

Every summer for the past decade, dead baby salmon sharks have inexplicably beached themselves, an uncommon occurrence because sharks tend to sink to the bottom of the ocean when they die.

Necropsies conducted at Stanford University and Long Marine Lab at UC Santa Cruz have shown that most of the salmon sharks had bacteria-induced brain infections at the time of their deaths, but shark experts still don’t know the source of the bacteria.

Sean Van Sommeran, executive director of the Santa Cruz-based Pelagic Shark Research Foundation,  asked that if you catch a salmon shark, call him at 600-5214 or 459-9346.

The Coastside Land Trust, San Mateo County chapter of Surfrider Foundation and LIVE 105 Action Team will lead a community beach clean up on Poplar Beach this Saturday, August 11, 2007, 10 am to 12 noon.  All ages are invited to play an important role in keeping our sandy shores, coastline and ocean clean and free from debris.  Autographed copies of the new "Garbage Greatest Hits" music CD will be given away to participants who collect the most debris.  cleanup supplies are provided.  Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, layered clothing and sunscreen and bring their own work gloves.

Poplar Beach is at the end of Poplar Avenue in Half Moon Bay, California. From Highway 1, turn west on Poplar Avenue (south of Highway 92). Clean up coordinators will meet volunteers in the Poplar Beach parking lot. email [email protected], or call Steve at (650) 291-9428 www.surfriderSMC.org