On September 14, the California Department of Forestry (CDF) presented a draft transition plan to the Point Montara and Half Moon Bay fire district boards.  We thought you’d be interested in what was presented.  You can download:

• CDF"s PowerPoint presentation to the boards
• Executive summary of the proposal
• Handouts for the boards
• CDF’s contracting process
• Fourteen other supporting documents (zip archive of pdf files)

HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) wants to improve the health of children through a program that integrates gardening and nutrition into the school curriculum at Farallone View, and increased organized physical activities during lunch recess.

Farallone View parents can hear all about HEAL from Hatch Elementary parents, who have a working school garden, as well as the rest of the program. They want to help Farallone View parents do the same.

Sweet Peas Produce will be on hand to provide living examples of the variety of produce children might cultivate in their garden, along with some sweet and healthy natural treats.

The meeting will be Tuesday, October 3 at 7pm at the PTA general meeting in the Farallone View Library.

Despite being short-handed, with 22 players in uniform, Half Moon Bay High School defeated Sequoia Friday night, according to the County Times.

Still, three weeks into the season, Half Moon Bay coach Matt Ballard and his coaching staff have proven that quality can overcome lack of quantity. The latest example came Friday when the Cougars rolled up 390 yards on offense in a 40-20 victory over Sequoia (0-3).

During October, local photographers from across the country are joining together with the Professional Photographers of America Charities in promoting "Family Portrait Month." This national fund-raising effort will benefit Operation Smile, which treats children who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Each year Operation Smile  an organization of thousands of volunteer surgeons, dentists, and specialized health-care professionals, perform surgeries on as many needy children as their funding permits. Because of the medical volunteers, it costs only $240 to perform a typical operation. More than 100,000 children are born with a facial deformity each year in Operation Smile’s 23 mission countries.

Martha Bruce Photography, located in San Francisco, is one of the participating studios.  Since Montara is home to Martha & Bill Huddle, owners of Martha Bruce Photography, they are bringing the studio equipment home so they can offer formal studio sessions for Coastside families right here in Montara. These sessions will be held on October 8 & 22 by appointment.  Outdoor family sessions anywhere on the coast will be available any time during October by appointment. Coastside residents are also welcome to arrange session times at the San Francisco studio on other days.  100% of all session fees from Coastside families will be donated to Operation Smile.

Opponents of Measure L in Pacifica will hold a fundraiser/concert Friday, October 6, from 7:30 - 11pm at the Sanchez Concert Hall, 1220A Linda Mar Boulevard. The concert features blues/jam/groove band The Blue Swamis, psychedelic surf rock band Pollo del Mar, and female Rolling Stones tribute band Lick (featuring Chick Jagger), plus special guests TBA. A $20 donation is suggested, and beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks will be served.

The fundraiser will help defeat Measure L—a permanent zoning change which would authorize 355 housing units in the Quarry, threatening environmentally-sensitive habitat and creating a commute-hour traffic nightmare for Pacifica and the Coastside. In addition to several Pacifica groups, Measure L is also opposed by the Sierra Club, Committee for Green Foothills, Greenbelt Alliance, San Mateo County League for Coastal Protection, and the Green Party of San Mateo County, among others.

For more information, visit http://www.PacificaQuarry.org

Rock the Dock at Princeton Point Harbor features live music, food, rock climbing and other family activities. It runs from 5 to 8pm.  Proceeds from the event benefit Highway 1 median improvement, Pillar Point Harbor, and the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association.

Eight Mountain View and Los Altos residents have applied for the seat on the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s Board of Directors left vacant by Deane Little’s resignation on August 11, 2006. The appointment to Ward 4, which includes Mountain View and Los Altos, will have to be made by October 10, 2006, 60 days from the effective date of the vacancy.  The applicants are:

1.  Jerome Galli - Mountain View
2.  Terrance Hanna - Mountain View
3.  Lucy Hsu - Los Altos
4.  William J. James - Los Altos
5.  Joshua G. Moore - Mountain View
6.  Curt Riffle - Los Altos
7.  Jeff Segall - Mountain View
8.  Patricia Showalter - Mountain View

The Board voted on August 23, 2006 to appoint a new Director to the seat left vacant by Deane Little rather than having a special election which would have cost $770,378.

The deadline for candidates to submit their applications was Monday, September 18, 2006. The Board will meet with candidates for a first interview on Monday, September 25, and with second-round interviewees on October 9, 2006.  A third and final round will be scheduled for October 10, if necessary.