Dee Harley was honored with the Farmer of the Year Award, at the 38th annual Farm Day luncheon. Harley’s farm produces the famous goat cheese that bears her name. American Legion Post 474 Commander Russell Bisonette won the Ashcraft Award for outstanding Community Service. Mel Mello Jr., was awarded the Delores Mullin "Like a Rock" Award.

The award came with a special commendation from Gov Schwaartzengger, but in keeping with the Girl Power theme,  it was presented by Jackie Speier. Gene Mullins was in the house, along with the full board of Supervisors, representatives from Leland Yee’s and Anna Eshoo’s offices.

Speier made a very strong speech, saying "The community’s relationship with the Peninsula Open Space Trust must be repaired." She went on to say that  now that she has officially retired she will dedicate the coming year to doing "whatever I can to protect and preserve and support the farming community of the San Mateo County Coastside.  Call me. Invite me to everything that has anything to do with agriculture, and if I can get here, I will."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that Harley is the first woman to ever win the Farmer of the Year award.  This was incorrect.

The Midcoast Community Council (MCC) is looking for a volunteer to be appointed to a new committee that will investigate flooding and stormwater management on the MidCoast.  This committee is sponsored by San Mateo County, and will include the County Planning Director, the County Director of Public Works, the chairperson of the MCC, a member of the general public, and a representative of the builder/contractor community who resides on the Coast.  Meetings will be held on-demand, perhaps 1-2 per month, most likely in Redwood City during normal business hours. Details to be arranged by the committee.  The MCC is responsible for appointing the representative from the general public. The citizen member should be familiar with flooding problems in the MidCoast.

To apply, please download the standard County Application, or contact Kathryn Slater-Carter by e-mail ([email protected]) or phone (728-5449) to have one mailed to you.

Applications must be received by April 10.  The MCC will select the recommended committee member at their next regularly scheduled meeting on April 11, 2007. Please do not submit the application on-line.  Instead, please mail to:

Midcoast Community Council
PO Box 64
Moss Beach, CA 94038

A developer who wants to subdivide a lot next to Farallone View Elementary met with community members Monday night.  We have video of the meeting. | Quicktime | Flash |

There’s also a great deal of information, including the history of the application, on the county’s Online Permit Center.

In this first installment of his new video column,  Kenny Howell: Messing Around In Boats, Kenny shares his passion for kayaking. We join Kenny as he cruises Pillar Point Harbor and as he explores treacherous Ross’ Cove. The video is available in two formats: A small Flash version for older computers or slower connections, and a larger Quicktime version for newer computers and faster connections. | Quicktime | Flash |

The Farallone View Ed Fund is holding a beach party and auction Saturday, March 24th from 7:00 to 11:00 PM at the IDES Hall in Half Moon Bay. The event will feature a $2,000 cash raffle. The Ed Fund raises money to develop and augment programs in areas such as technology, classroom aides, the library and the arts.

Enjoy margaritas or wine and beer from Picchi Brothers Winery and the HMB Brewery, eat scrumptious food, watch surf movies, and see your kids in our special video, all while you peruse the many fabulous live and silent auction items including a beach party, 49ers closed session training camp, six nights in a Maui condo, cross country skiing package. There will e dancing to the great surf band the "Rip Tides".

An evening of fun, food, drinks, entertainment and dancing for only $15/ticket in advance (available at the scrip table) and $20 at the door.  Raffle tickets are $10 each, 3 for $25, 8 for $50.

The California Coastal Commission has sent the county a list of questions and requests for additional information regarding its proposed changes to its Local Coastal Program. The fourteen pages of requests in two letters can be downloaded from Coastsider [pdf].

In addition to what appear to be routine requests for backup information and maps, the Commission has asked the county:

• A more detailed explanation of the buildout estimates in the plan, including whether 25-foot-wide substandard lots were assumed to bebuilt on as-is or merged.
• A determination of whether the infrastructure (roads, water, and sewer) is adequate for the buildout.
• An analysis of traffic impacts of the buildout plan and how the county plans to address them.
• An explanation of how the county plans to meet priority visitor-serving needs for water, if priority water is reallocated to residential uses.
• An analysis of the impact of the proposed rate of growth on infrastructure and an explanation of why second units and affordable housing is not included.
• A more detailed explanation of how the county’s proposed lot merger program would work.

That’s only quick summary of a detailed and moderately technical 14-page document. Download it yourself and post your questions, comments, and clarifications on Coastsider.

There will be a workshop Monday evening to discuss a proposed seven-house subdivision near Farallone View Elementary in Montara. The workshop will be in the Farallone View multipurpose room from 5:30 to 7:00pm.

A major subdivision of seven houses is proposed. This proposed subdivision would be the equivalent of a block in length and would be built on a proposed extension of Kanoff Avenue. The proposed extension would start at the tiny portion of Kanoff north of (and parallel to) Second Street. It has two houses on it. Six lots would be 7,200 sq. ft., one is 7,658 sq. ft.

This "new" portion of Kanoff Avenue would run on an angle between Farallone View Elementary School and Third Street to Le Conte Avenue. There it would join into Third Street. Third Street’s name changes to Kanoff Avenue at Le Conte. (Kanoff Avenue—also known as Third Avenue—runs for about two blocks, and then the street name changes to George Street.)

At Kanoff Avenue north of Second Street, the proposed Major Subdivision is adjacent to open space land. Locals refer to the area as "the wetlands." A portion of the new street (which is on an angle) is between Cabrillo School District Land and Third Avenue.

The purpose of the pre-application workshop is to provide for and foster early public involvement and input before the applicant submits the necessary planning applications initiating the County’s formal review process. The developer is Ken Menasco of 14366 Antone Court, San Leandro, CA 94578

A map showing the location of this proposed Major Subdivision has been provided to the Coastsider to post on the website.

If you would like to provide input/concerns/viewpoint for an article in the Half Moon Bay Review, contact:

726-4424 - Nick Casey, Half Moon Bay Review

726-7054 - FAX number to send FAX to Nick Casey

If questions, suggested individuals to contact are:

650-363-1829 - Matt Seubert, Project Planner, Planning & Building Dept

650-363-1930 - Jim Eggemeyer, head of the Planning & Building Dept

650-363-4569 - Supervisor Gordon, with the Dept of Supervisors

Martha W. Puff

The Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District has issued a press release explaining why it and the Point Montara district have declined to take any action on the referendum petitions submitted by the firefighters. The districts say their decision is based on the advice of their legal counsel, citing five deficiencies in the petitions:

• The full text of the CDF contact was not attached to the petitions, as required by the election code.
• The petition contains "improper argument" in favor of the referendum.
• The contract with Cal-Fire was missing from the referendum.
• The referendum contains "opinion and mischaracterization of the facts" concerning the boards decision.
• The Point Montara board maintains that the contract between the Half Moon Bay district was not a legislative act of Point Montara and is not subject to referendum in the district.

You can download a copy of the agreement between the district and Cal-Fire (CDF)—summarizing the services to be provided under the contract—from Coastsider.