NOTE: This story has been modified significantly from its original version. I spent some time talking to Jack Olsen from the Farm Bureau and have updated it to reflect some of his concerns.

Coastside farmers are not at all convinced that they want or need recycled water, according to the County Times.

I talked with Jack Olsen, of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, who’s quoted in the story. He feels it doesn’t properly present farmers’ interest in recycled water, saying "We’re very open to looking at it if it’s safe, reliable, and affordable."

That could be a tough challenge for recycled water to meet.  The County Times cites Olsen in saying that recycled water could cost $300 or $400 a month compared to $90-$100 for the electricity needed to operate a pump.

The story also quotes farmers concerned that no one will want to eat produce grown with "sewer water", no matter how many times it’s treated. However, it doesn’t cite any evidence that consumers would have concerns about the source of the water.

The one farmer who was quoted as enthusiastic about recycled water was Coastside County Water District board member John Muller. In our conversation, Olsen named a number of other large Coastside farmers who are supportive of recycled water.

The story also notes a dispute over the effect of pumping on Pilarcitos Creek. Half Moon Bay City Council member David Gorn is quoted as saying that the pumping is depleting the creek. I know of other people who have looked into the problem and are convinced the evidence shows that pumping, particularly by the Half Moon Bay Golf Links, is a big problem for the Creek. Olsen’s not so sure, noting that creek is complex system with multiple dams manipulating its flow and the Pillar Point breakwater affecting its mouth, and that agriculture in the Pilarcitos watershed is down significantly from past levels.

A whale washed ashore late Saturday night or early Sunday morning on Half Moon Bay State Beach at Poplar Street. The whale, tentatively identified as a humpback, had been seen floating off the coast on Saturday, according to ranger Nell Lyons.

Thursday, a superior court judge ordered the city of Half Moon Bay to release some of the documents demanded by the Cypress Cove Townhomes Association.

In the city’s press release, City Attorney Adam Lindgren maintains that the court erred in its application of attorney-client privilege.  According to Lindgren, the most significant document in the case, a partially redacted (blacked-out) version of the property due diligence report, could have been released sooner had the suit not been filed.  The law says that if documents are released after a suit is filed that the defendant must pay the plaintiff’s attorney costs.

The City Council will meet in closed session at 7:00pm Tuesday before the regular City Council meeting to decide whether it will release the documents or appeal the Court’s decision.

Click "read more" to see the city’s press release.

Wednesday’s editorial in the Half Moon Bay Review reminds me of physicist Wolfgang Pauli’s famous assessment of a scientific paper: "It’s not even wrong".

Our hapless editorialist opens by describing a local political fundraiser and saying that no laws were broken there. But the author does fret because the guest of honor was California Coastal Commissioner Sara Wan, saying "Section 84308 [of California’s Political Reform Act] notes that state officers, including Coastal Commissioners, shall not "direct" anyone to contribute more than $250 to anyone with a matter currently pending before the state."

Well, no, that’s not what the law says. The law actually says that the donor—and not the recipient—should not have a financial interest in any matter pending before the state.

The editorial then veers off into a long digression on the (very real) evils of ex parte communication. But it fails to note that no ex parte communication took place at the event. Or that Sara Wan is the only coastal commissioner who refuses all ex parte communications—a fact she mentioned in her presentation to the group.

The next to the last paragraph betrays what all the sound and fury is about: "The fault here is not his [Half Moon Bay City Council member Mike Ferreira’s]. He is simply raising money and awareness for his campaign."  That’s right, Ferreira’s not at fault.  But he’s mentioned three times by name. Supposed bad girl Sara Wan is mentioned once.

The editorial concludes with the sheerest of nonsense. "Coastal Commissioners should steer clear of local politics in every instance". How is this possible when half the commissioners are required by law to be local elected officials?

This is an interesting document. We’re wringing our hands about a legal appearance at a legal event at which unethical behavior was actively discouraged. Meanwhile an elected official who’s not at fault is forgiven for things he didn’t do. And we conclude with a recommendation that defies the laws of physics and the state of California.

This is not the first time the Review has served up a disingenuous or conveniently inaccurate editorial that condemns the city council with innuendo. Auric Goldfinger said it best: "There is a saying in Chicago, Mr. Bond: ‘Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action’."

If you’ve had a problem posting a comment on Coastsider in the last couple of days, we’ve fixed the system and comments are now working again.

There will be no election for the Granada Sanitary District board. All three incumbents and no challengers have filed by the initial deadline.

Two Coastside boards—HMB Fire Protection District and Midcoast Community Council—continue to be open for new candidates until Wednesday, August 17, in addition to the Half Moon Bay City Council. Friday was the initial deadline for candidates to file their paperwork. If an incumbent fails to file, the deadline is extended.

Two incumbents—Paul Perkovic and Karen Wilson—have not filed for the Midcoast Community Council. There are now four candidates for four open positions.

Neither incumbent has filed for the Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District board.  Three candidates have filed for the two open positions.

On the last possible day, both incumbents (Chris Mickelson and Ev Ascher) and one challenger (former CCWD director Jim Marsh) have filed for the Coastside County Water District.

 

• Ev Ascher (NonPartisan Office Incumbent) 114 Cypress Point Rd, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (res.); Declaration filed 8/12, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• James Marsh (NonPartisan Office Engineer) [email protected]; (650) 7262824 (day); Declaration filed 8/12, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Chris R. Mickelsen (NonPartisan Office Director Coastside County Water District) P.O. Box 3234, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (mail); [email protected]; Declaration filed 8/12, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Gael Erickson (Non-Partisan Office -Appointed Incumbent) 242 Francisco St, El Granada, 94018 (res.); Po Box 2905 , El Granada, 94018 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 726-4416 (day); (650) 726-4416 (eve);  Declaration filed 8/10, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Ric Lohman (Non-Partisan Office -Appointed Incumbent) 420 1st Ave, El Granada, 94018 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 759-7969 (day); (650) 726-9607 (eve);  Declaration filed 8/10, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Leonard Woren (Non-Partisan Office -Software Developer - Incumbent) [email protected]; (650) 726-9647 (day);  Declaration filed 8/11, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Gary Burke (Non-Partisan Office -Retired Business Executive) 421 Greenbrier Rd, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 726-3638 (day); (650) 303-7144 (eve);  Declaration filed 8/11

 

• Lane Wm. Lees (Non-Partisan Office -Businessman/ Retired Firefighter) 651 Poplar St, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (res.); [email protected];  Declaration filed 8/11, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• G. Ronald Taborski (NonPartisan Office Businessman) 483 Winged Foot Rd, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 7262565 (day); Declaration filed 8/12, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Geoffrey Davis (Non-Partisan Office -Computer Systems Engineer) Declaration filed 8/11, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Gael Erickson (Non-Partisan Office -Appointed Incumbent) 242 Francisco St, El Granada, 94018 (res.); Po Box 2905 , El Granada, 94018 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 726-4416 (day); Declaration filed 8/10

 

• Terri Green (Non-Partisan Office -Businesswoman) P.O. Box 370818, Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; Declaration filed 7/27, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Kathryn Slater-Carter (Non-Partisan Office -Incumbent) Po Box 370321 , Montara, Ca, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 728-5449 (day); (650) 728-5449 (eve); Declaration filed 8/10

• Jim Harvey (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)P O Box 165 , Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 7231891 (day); (650) 7283665 (eve); Declaration filed 8/09, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Paul Perkovic (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)Declaration filed 8/08, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Bob Ptacek (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)PO Box 371119, Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 7282271 (day); Declaration filed 8/08 , All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Peggy Ruse (Non-Partisan Office -Business Consultant) 400 California Ave, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; Declaration filed 7/28, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Bruce MacKimmie (Non-Partisan Office -Incumbent) P O Box 975 , Moss Beach, 94038 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 728-5806 (day); (650) 728-5806 (eve); Declaration filed 7/27, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Alexander King (Non-Partisan Office -Fireman) Declaration filed 7/25, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Vince Williams (Non-Partisan Office -Engineer) 741 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 563-9530 (day); Declaration filed 8/02, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Ginny McShane (Non-Partisan Office -Director, Point Montara Fire Protection District) 723 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 728-3130 (day); Declaration filed 8/03, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

Half Moon Bay City Council member Toni Taylor will not be running for reelection. She didn’t file her papers before the deadline at 5pm Friday. Four years ago, Taylor was the top vote-getter in the City Council election, with 20.5% of the votes, followed by Grady and Ferreira. Because an incumbent is not running for reelection, the filing deadline will be extended until Wednesday, August 17.

Half Moon Bay City Council members Jim Grady and Mike Ferreira filed their paperwork, along with George Muteff, Bonnie McClung, Naomi Patridge, and Steve Skinner.

Peter Bodnar, who took out papers last week, has not returned them, but now has a few more days to file.

• Mike Ferreira
• Jim Grady
• George Muteff
• Bonnie McClung
• Naomi Patridge
• Steve Skinner

• Peter Bodnar

All three incumbents whose seats are up for election in November—Leonard Woren, Gael Erickson, and Ric Lohman—have filed their declarations, although not all have been fully qualified yet.  Lane Lees, a former Half Moon Bay firefighter who is suing the department, has filed to run for the Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District board. Two of four incumbents in open seats for the Midcoast Community Council—Gael Erickson and Kathryn Slater-Carter—have filed their declarations.

 

• No Candidates have filed

 

• Leonard Woren (Non-Partisan Office -Software Developer - Incumbent) [email protected]; (650) 726-9647 (day);  Declaration filed 8/11, All papers filed, candidate qualified.
• Gael Erickson (Non-Partisan Office -Appointed Incumbent) 242 Francisco St, El Granada, 94018 (res.); Po Box 2905 , El Granada, 94018 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 726-4416 (day); (650) 726-4416 (eve);  Declaration filed 8/10, All papers filed, candidate qualified.
• Ric Lohman (Non-Partisan Office -Appointed Incumbent) 420 1st Ave, El Granada, 94018 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 759-7969 (day); (650) 726-9607 (eve);  Declaration filed 8/10, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Gary Burke (Non-Partisan Office -Retired Business Executive) 421 Greenbrier Rd, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 726-3638 (day); (650) 303-7144 (eve);  Declaration filed 8/11

 

• Lane Wm. Lees (Non-Partisan Office -Businessman/ Retired Firefighter) 651 Poplar St, Half Moon Bay, 94019 (res.); [email protected];  Declaration filed 8/11, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Geoffrey Davis (Non-Partisan Office -Computer Systems Engineer) Declaration filed 8/11, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Gael Erickson (Non-Partisan Office -Appointed Incumbent) 242 Francisco St, El Granada, 94018 (res.); Po Box 2905 , El Granada, 94018 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 726-4416 (day); Declaration filed 8/10

 

• Terri Green (Non-Partisan Office -Businesswoman) P.O. Box 370818, Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; Declaration filed 7/27, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Kathryn Slater-Carter (Non-Partisan Office -Incumbent) Po Box 370321 , Montara, Ca, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 728-5449 (day); (650) 728-5449 (eve); Declaration filed 8/10

 

• Jim Harvey (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)P O Box 165 , Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 7231891 (day); (650) 7283665 (eve); Declaration filed 8/09

• Paul Perkovic (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)Declaration filed 8/08, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Bob Ptacek (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)PO Box 371119, Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 7282271 (day); Declaration filed 8/08 , All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Peggy Ruse (Non-Partisan Office -Business Consultant) 400 California Ave, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; Declaration filed 7/28, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Bruce MacKimmie (Non-Partisan Office -Incumbent) P O Box 975 , Moss Beach, 94038 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 728-5806 (day); (650) 728-5806 (eve); Declaration filed 7/27, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Alexander King (Non-Partisan Office -Fireman) Declaration filed 7/25, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Vince Williams (Non-Partisan Office -Engineer) 741 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 563-9530 (day); Declaration filed 8/02, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• Ginny McShane (Non-Partisan Office -Director, Point Montara Fire Protection District) 723 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 728-3130 (day); Declaration filed 8/03, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

Friday night, the Coastside Film Society presents The Five Obstructions. Director Lars von Trier drags his old mentor, Jorgen Leth out of retirement by challenging him to "re-make" one of his classic shorts over and over again in a variety of clashing styles.

von Trier provides five set of "obstructions" that his master must overcome.  For example, the first film must be made while shopping for cigars in Cuba with no individual shot lasting longer than half a second.  Thus begins a battle in which we get to watch student and mentor reverse roles as Leth is thrown and conquers challenges which have been custom designed to ruffle his artistic sensibilities.  All five final films have been intercut with documentary footage showing how each challenge was tackled and overcome.

"In 90 minutes we get to reexamine the nature of cinema, the sources of creativity, and the unexpected joys of the unanticipated moment. And it couldn’t be more fun to watch."  Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Friday, August 12, 2005 at 8:00 pm
Community Methodist Sanctuary,  Half Moon Bay
777 Miramontes, Half Moon Bay, Corner of Johnston & Miramontes.
$6.00 donation per person

All three incumbents—Jim Harvey, Paul Perkovic, and Bob Ptacek—have all filed their papers for the Montara Water and Sanitary District.  As of the end of the day on Tuesday, here’s who’s running for all offices other than Half Moon Bay City Council.

• Bruce MacKimmie (Non-Partisan Office -Incumbent) P O Box 975 , Moss Beach, 94038 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 728-5806 (day); (650) 728-5806 (eve); Declaration filed 7/27, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Alexander King (Non-Partisan Office -Fireman) Declaration filed 7/25, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Vince Williams (Non-Partisan Office -Engineer) 741 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 563-9530 (day); Declaration filed 8/02, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Ginny Mc Shane (Non-Partisan Office -Director, Point Montara Fire Protection District) 723 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; (650) 728-3130 (day); Declaration filed 8/03, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Terri Green (Non-Partisan Office -Businesswoman) P.O. Box 370818, Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; Declaration filed 7/27, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Jim Harvey (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)P O Box 165 , Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 7231891 (day); (650) 7283665 (eve); Declaration filed 8/09

• Paul Perkovic (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)Declaration filed 8/08, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Bob Ptacek (NonPartisan Office Incumbent)PO Box 371119, Montara, 94037 (mail); [email protected]; (650) 7282271 (day); Declaration filed 8/08 , All papers filed, candidate qualified.

• Peggy Ruse (Non-Partisan Office -Business Consultant) 400 California Ave, Moss Beach, 94038 (res.); [email protected]; Declaration filed 7/28, All papers filed, candidate qualified.

 

• No candidates have filed.

 

• No candidates have filed.

 

• No candidates have filed.