Applications are now being accepted for the San Mateo County Grand Jury term from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. The Grand Jury has investigated a number of significant Coastside issues in past years.

Any resident of San Mateo County for more than one year who is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, of ordinary intelligence, sound judgment and good character, with sufficient knowledge of the English language is eligible for selection by Judge Buchwald. Elected public officials are not eligible.

After the completion of an interview by Judge Buchwald, jurors will be selected through a random draw. There is more information about the application process on the Grand Jury website. Application forms can be obtained by writing Grand Jury Clerk, Court Executive Office, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 or telephoning (650) 599-1200.

The deadline is April 8.

An ad hoc committee from the Midcoast Community Council (MCC) will meet with neighbors of Rancho Corral de Tierra (RCdT) to discuss the two proposed portals (Le Conte in Montara & Coral Reef in Clipper Ridge). The purpose of the meeting is to inform every one of the latest updates and organize the group to gather the public’s ideas on alternatives to these trail heads which will be used in future discussions with GGNRA and County representatives. This committee is intended to update the community on this issue and act under the Bylaws of the MCC.

We are tentatively scheduled to meet Monday, February 21, at 7pm at Seton Medical Center Coastside, Marine Boulevard & Etheldore, Moss Beach. (Take Highway 1 to Marine Boulevard and follow hospital signs uphill then take the first left before reaching the Hospital’s main parking lot to go to the upper lot).

It is time for the Coastside residents to organize and decide on a coherent plan so we can communicate this to NPS and the County. This will be the first of many meetings to work together with GGNRA and County Public Works to come up with an equitable solution that protects the residents and gives everyone in the bay area easy access to this wonderful addition to our open space.

MCC attendees must park in upper parking lot per hospital policy

Many of you in our community may not be aware that the Jazz Band class, along with other classes during “Zero Period” (~7-8 am before school starts) are being considered for elimination because of the state financial crisis and proposed educational cut backs.

I have always felt, and there have been numerous studies to prove, how music in the schools increases a student’s learning abilities. Because of this, I have volunteered my time and contributed when I could to keep the music programs active at both Cunha and the High School.

The Jazz Band serves as the pinnacle of music achievement for students who strive for excellence and their reward for all the extra practice time they put in is being able to show off their talent with a solo improv with the other musicians. Think of it as the Varsity Team in Music.

Many of these students have progressed from picking up an instrument for the first time in 6th grade and have honed their ability and technique as the moved through the nuanced differences of concert band, wind ensemble, marching band and jazz band. And it is these same disciplined and hardworking students who are consistently at the top in academic achievements and college placement which reflects well on Half Moon Bay High and the community as a whole.

In the Winter 2009, Principal Streshly said, “For those of you who have children at Cunha and Hatch, we will be taking our Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band to those schools to perform for the students. It is always good to show the younger students what they have to look forward to if they continue in music”. So what will this action teach the next wave of students?

Since I just heard about this on Thursday and all the details are sketchy, I don’t have any solution yet. I do want parents of younger children, especially those in the elementary schools to think about how this may affect their child’s eduction. For lack of anything else, please let the schools and district know how you feel about the ideas that are being put forward, and how you think it will affect the community beyond just the high school.

Bill Kehoe

San Mateo County Public Works Department has recommended that the County and the city of Half Moon Bay contract with Pacifica Community Television to operate the Coastside’s Public Educational and Governmental (PEG) television station. The station is currently operated by Mid-Coast Television (MCTV), which bid on the contract along with Peninsula TV in Redwood City. The city and county will begin negotiations with PCT, which operates Channel 26 in Pacifica

According to the Request for Proposal, the contract is scheduled to be approved April 14 and the new contractor will take over PEG operations on the Coastside September 12.

The bid for the the PEG contract has been in the works since the city agreed to synchronize its contract with MCTV with the county’s contract. The county held a meeting and request for comments in June, and issued a Request for Proposal in December. The deadline for proposals was January 24.

Proposers may submit a comprehensive, written protest by February 28.

If Cemel defies his father’s orders and does not kill Meryem, he will have committed a sin just as unforgivable as Meryem’s. Can he soldier though this and take the life of a girl he begins to suspect is innocent?  Can Meryem learn to take control of her own life?  And how will their more traditional perspectives affect the worldviews of the people who show them kindness in the big city?

“Wonderful storytelling ... from the lyrical opening shot of a mountain’s reflection piercing the sea to the closing portrait of open air, director Abdullah Oguz’s narrative is just as crystalline as the Aegean Sea he opulently photographs…Bliss easily could have been an astoundingly depressing and hopeless tale of Muslim oppression…but after he establishes the old-world order that the leads are escaping, (director Oguz) never looks back.”  Justin Strout, Orlando Weekly

Friday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m.
Community United Methodist Sanctuary
777 Miramontes St., Half Moon Bay
(corner of Johnston Street)
Suggested donation: $8 adults

More info and a video featuring samples from the lush musical score at:
www.hmbfilm.org

Cheryl Sinclair of Pacifica has honored by the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame by the Commission on the Status of Women.

According to the commission, Sinclair has dedicated herself to improving health care in San Mateo County throughout the last 22 years; as Director of Community Outreach for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center and Chair of the RotaCare Coastside Clinic’s Advisory Council, she has worked tirelessly to improve quality of and access to health care for the county’s coastside residents.

In 1984, the Commission on the Status of Women established a permanent Women’s Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding women for their contributions to the well being of San Mateo County. Impartial judges selected from outside our county read the numerous nominations with names redacted to ensure a fair and unbiased process, before selecting the finalists. The women are honored for their outstanding contributions to their profession, their generous work as volunteers, or both.

Performing straight-ahead and progressive originals plus arrangements of classic jazz standards, LA pianist, composer, teacher and recording artist “…Josh Nelson has all the markings of being a major factor in the modern jazz scene.”  At 30 years old he has already performed with some of the most respected names in jazz and recorded for countless albums and films. His compositions and performances have appeared on prime time and cable shows and films. Winner of the Louis Armstrong and John Philip Sousa awards, he was also one of 12 semi-finalists in the 2006 Thelonious Monk Intl Jazz Piano Competition.  Featuring Josh Nelson- piano, Dave Robaire- bass, Dan Schnelle- drums, and special guest Dayna Stephens- tenor sax.

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Brooklyn born DAYNA STEPHENS was selected to be in the Theolonious Inst. of jazz program by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard. Since graduating from the Monk in 2003, he has played with Carlos Santana, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargove, Freddie Hubbard, Stevie Wonder,  and Quincy Jones among others. He also plays upright bass.
 
Online reservation available through Brown Paper Tickets.com
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/129112
 
February 20, 2011 – 4:30, $30
Douglas Beach House on Miramar Beach
307 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
650 726-4143, www.bachddsoc.org

Please join the HMB Library as we celebrate the arrival of the new San Mateo County Bookmobile.  We’ll be at Pescadero Elementary School, 620 North Street on Saturday March 5 from 3:30 - 5:00PM.  Check out our new wheels and enjoy the music, food, and fun.

A complaint about an aggressive unleashed do on San Pedro Trail, a house i Montara was TP’d, two thefts from unlocked cars on the same day in El Granada, and this:

A male subject went into The Wine Bar in Princeton to retrieve some music equipment. He became upset with the staff accusing them of serving alcohol to minors. He claimed to be an employee of a Fire Department and threatened to have their liquor license revoked. He also ranted about how the management needed to be fired.