Video: Remembering the drive through Devil’s Slide

David Chang

 

Len Banks

By on Sat, March 22, 2014

UPDATED: We’ve added another Devil’s Slide video. This one is by by Len Banks.

Remember what it was like to drive on Devil’s Slide?  Soon, we’ll all be able to appreciate the view again. David Chang created this video back in March of 2011.

Grand jury applications due Friday, March 28

Old San Mateo County courthouse

By on Sat, March 22, 2014

It’s not too late to apply for a position on the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury.

The grand jury conducts investigations and advises the public and county officials on issues within the county. Members serve for one year. The grand jury has conducted a number of investigations that are important to the Coastside.

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. Jurors will be selected from the applicant pool through a random draw.

Application forms can be obtained by writing Grand Jury Clerk, Court Executive Office, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063, or email [email protected], download the application, or call 650-261-5066.

MROSD opening new amenities at El Corte de Madera, Sunday


By on Sat, March 22, 2014

El Corte de Madera map

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District invites the public to the opening of new parking area, facilities and trail connectors at popular recreation area that links several open space preserves and county parks at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve, March 23, 2014. The 30-minute program begins at noon.

Assembly member Rich Gordon and San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley will be on hand for the opening for the new recreational facilities, as well as new trail connectors to the Bay Area Ridge Trail and Sierra Morena Trail.

Details are on the MROSD website [pdf].

El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
Skyline Blvd., 2.7 miles north of the intersection with La Honda Road (Hwy 84)

Devil’s Slide trail to open to public Thursday, March 27

Image credit Barry Parr
Work continues on the trail and facilities, but some groups have been able to preview it this week.

By on Fri, March 21, 2014

Watch Coastsider’s Related Video: Remembering the Drive on Devil’s Slide

The long-awaited trail (and former highway) on the Devil’s Slide will open to the public on Thursday, March 27 at 1pm. Here are the details from the county.

San Mateo County spent nearly a year building three scenic overlooks, resurfacing the road and making other improvements for hikers, cyclists and equestrians. Parking is limited so Parks officials recommend people carpool, take public transportation or cycle to the trail.

The parking lot on the northern trail entrance (nearest Pacifica) can only be entered when you are heading south on Highway 1. The lot includes 17 parking spaces, one accessible space and one space for a recreational vehicle.

The parking lot on the southern trail entrance (nearest Montara) can be accessed when traveling north and south on Highway 1. The lot includes 24 parking spaces, one accessible space and one space for a recreational vehicle.

Both lots have toilets.

No motorized vehicles of any type are allowed on the trail. Dogs are permitted on a six-foot leash. Informational kiosks and pet stations are located at the north and south trailheads.

The trail includes three overlook sites featuring benches and observation scopes allowing visitors to observe marine life that live or migrate along the San Mateo County coastline, including harbor seals, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, northern elephant seals and humpback, grey and killer whales.

Visitors will also see interpretive panels detailing the history, geology and animal and plant features of the area.

Public Workshop Tuesday:  Three-story, 15-unit apartment building in El Granada

Letter

By on Thu, March 20, 2014

“Mavericks Apartments” Project is proposed as a 3-story, 15-unit (3 affordable) apartment complex on the southwest corner of Avenue Portola and Coronado [Google Streetview link].  Density Bonus Program for the three affordable (lower income) units allows for at least one zoning incentive (modification of zoning code requirements).  Incentives requested are: relief from setbacks, lot coverage, and/or height limit (36 ft max, 38 ft requested).  Two design options will be presented for discussion.

The pre-application workshop provides an opportunity for community members and public agency representatives to give input to the applicant before final plans are submitted to the County.  No decision is made during the pre-application process.  More information on the San Mateo County Planning Department website.

Tuesday, March 25, 7 to 9pm
Granada Sanitary District Meeting Room, 504 Ave Alhambra, El Granada

Toast the Coast - Farallone View Annual Auction

Press release

By on Thu, March 20, 2014

Support Farallone View Elementary school and enjoy a night out, with dinner, drinks, music….

Dinner from Mezza Luna, open bar from 5:30-6:30, dj U-oN spinning…And no kids!  Lots of wonderful, relevant items up for bid, including vacation getaways, gift certificates for local restaurants and donations from local businesses.

Please invite friends and family…all are welcome! 

Saturday, March 22nd
IDES, Main Street, Half Moon Bay
5:30-10:30PM

$40 per person in advance, $45 at the door. 

Buy tickets online.

San Mateo County beach closures, March 19

Image credit Barry Parr

By on Thu, March 20, 2014

The following beaches have elevated levels of indicator bacteria and are posted:

Beaches:

  • Pillar Point #5 (Capistrano Beach)
  • Pillar Point #9 (Outer Harbor)

Creeks (where they meet or cross the beach):

  • North Roosevelt Creek (new)
  • San Gregorio Creek (new)
  • Pilarcitos Creek (at Venice Beach South)

 

Man shot after six-hour stand-off in Pacifica home

Image credit Michelle Morales, Pacific Coast News
Ambulance leaving the scene of the shooting
Image credit Google Maps
The stand-off took place on the 300 block of San Pedro Avenue in Pacifica.

By on Wed, March 19, 2014

A man who shot and killed by police following a six-hour stand-off in Pacifica Tuesday night.

The standoff took place in a home on the 300 block of San Pedro Avenue, after family members reported the 34 year old man’s erratic behavior to police. The man confronted police with an axe and barricaded himself in the house. The Mercury News reports:

Police learned that the holed-up man may have had access to a rifle and ammunition that was hidden in the house, and surrounding homes were evacuated as a precaution. Police tried to communicate with the man, at one point throwing a phone into the residence for him to pick up as well as talking through a public address system.

Pacifica police were joined by a Daly City SWAT team. Eventually, police entered the home. The man stabbed a SWAT team member with a knife. “In defense of the injured SWAT member the suspect was fired upon and was determined deceased at the scene,” according to a police news release.

The injured officer is being treated in a hospital for non-life-threatening wounds.

Coastside comedy improv is back, Friday

Letter

By on Wed, March 19, 2014

OLYMPIC RETURN

Welcome the Blue Blanket Improvisers back from Sochi!

Blue Blanket Improv is back in the gym, and this time, it’s not just a yoga studio – They are FIT

You may have noticed that Blue Blanket Improv has been strangely silent for the last several months.  Wonder why all their passports have new Russian visas?  These versatile mental gymnasts are just returned from the northern climes and bad TV coverage.  You’ll hardly recognize them:  Subjected to intense training, BBI has been torn down to the ground, and built back up: quicker, stronger, more focused, and funnier.  See them in their Olympic form and welcome new players to the squad.

Come see them in action on Saturday, March 29th, starting at 7PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM).  Your challenges will showcase their skills:  Verbal wit?  Check!  Narrative structure?  Check!  Characters, emotions, space objects, and “Yes, and”?  Check, check, check, and check! Give us your best shot: lob in a starting location, follow it up with a zinger of a genre, ask for an improbable ending line, and top it all off with an emotional roller coaster!  Remember, the Russian judges didn’t offer any do-overs, and neither should you!  These scrappy comedians are at the top of their game.  Are the returning champions a shoo-in to represent the USA in the 2018 Winter Improv Olympics?  Come see them strut their stuff and decide for yourself!

Photos: Preview of new Devil’s Slide trail

Image credit Barry Parr
We had the opportunity to take a preview hike on the new Devil's Slide trail. The vistas are amazing and the atmosphere is quiet. The trail is scheduled to open officially at the end of March.
Image credit Barry Parr
We started at the south entrance, just below the tunnel opening. Parking is limited to about ten spaces
Image credit Barry Parr
There are still construction crews on the site, and the bathrooms are not quite ready for the public.
Image credit Barry Parr
Once you reach the gate, the sounds of traffic from Highway 1 drop away, and you can hear the surf. The trail is a essentially a two-lane paved road. Crews were adding stripes for a bike lane when we were there.

By on Tue, March 18, 2014

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