VIDEO.  During the 5/15/2020, 6:00pm, Covid-19 Special Meeting, City Council, Staff and the Sheriff’s Department discuss how to get the State Parks to open up there parking lots and bathrooms. It is not looking good for this Memorial Weekend.

Have a listen to this calm and intelligent conversation in these high pressure times. Contact information below.

Please feel free to contact the State Parks and let them know how you feel.

Contact: Jorge Moreno (LinkedIn), Public Information Officer for the California State Parks Media Contacts and Resources.
 

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VIDEO. Half Moon Bay City Council’s, Debbie Ruddock, came up with brilliant nudge to encourage people to wear masks on the Coastal Trail.

The Coastal Trail is pretty narrow…so she asked the City Staff if we could “make a splash” and “create the Buzz” by designing a mask in order to encourage people to use masks on the Coastal Trail.

Arriving the 1st of June. Only 250 for the first run to make sure people like them.

Would you like one?

If they are popular, the City will make more. Contact Colleen Lettire at clettire@hmbcity.com if you would like one.
 

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VIDEO. CHP Helicopter spots California State Lifeguards as they rescue a couple from a cave below the Ritz on May 7th, 2020.

Firefighters with Coastside Fire Protection District arrived just after 9:15pm and set up a rope system from the top of the bluff to back up the rescue swimmer from California State Parks.

The CHP brought in a helicopter and the Pillar Point Harbor Master arrived with a rescue vessel. They both provided backup, light, and safety for the rescue swimmer.
 

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VIDEO.  Coastside CERT needs to start preparing for The California Great Shake-Out on October 15th of this year. https://www.shakeout.org/california/faq/ In preparation and with our newfound love of home and remote learning, Coastside CERT and the Earthquake Country Alliance will present 2 different 1hr segments of the Coastside Great Shake-IN!

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VIDEO. Interest rates are at an all time low.

1-2% is considered “free money”.

Public agencies pivot in the face of Covid-19, to give their customers a break, while not letting infrastructure go.

Broken infrastructure equals fines in California.

Watch and comment remotely. They do listen.

Montara Water & Sanitary District (MSWD) Meetings 1st & 3rd Thursdays.
 

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ARTICLE and LINKS.

We have a steady supply of the KN95 masks, which are suitable for the general public during the pandemic.  They are not the medical grade N95’s, which are still only being sent to the medical and first responders.
The few times we have gotten N95’s randomly, we have donated them to local hospitals.
I don’t expect to see any true N95 masks on our shelves this year.
We have plenty of other face coverings that will be useful for now.
I worry some about fire season and not being able to get any.
I am also worried about people not understanding the differences in protection between the two masks types.
~ Cheers,  Eric Hassett, Hassett Hardware
 

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CURRICULUM.  School is out. Here is drop kick Syllabus for anyone who can read.  Amusingly, but pointedly presented.  Share it with family and friends to start a discussion.

Learning Objectives

Our learning objectives are straightforward. After taking the course, you should be able to:

• Remain vigilant for bullshit contaminating your information diet.
• Recognize said bullshit whenever and wherever you encounter it.
• Figure out for yourself precisely why a particular bit of bullshit is bullshit.
• Provide a statistician or fellow scientist with a technical explanation of why a claim is bullshit.
• Provide your crystals-and-homeopathy aunt or casually racist uncle with an accessible and persuasive explanation of why a claim is bullshit.

We will be astonished if these skills do not turn out to be among the most useful and most broadly applicable of those that you acquire during the course of your college education.
 

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SAMCEDA Business Survey:

Please consider completing the survey here.

The survey will close on Tuesday, May 26 at 5 p.m.
The data from the survey will be shared with each city and chamber of commerce within the County so that together we can design, develop, and implement the most impactful tools needed for small business reopening and recovery.
 

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PHOTO-ESSAY. I  am an admin of the Coastside Sewing Collective, which Bruce Jones spearheaded and I coordinate as the distribution person.

We’ve had 1000’s of masks made and distributed over this pandemic to the point that local hospitals no longer need them, as PPE is now in sufficient supply.   ~ Claire Sheehan
 

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OWN VOICE ~ InPerspective by Gregg Diegez.

Coming in the midst of a deadly and expensive Pandemic, the proposed water and sewer services rate increases by Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) are generating significant rate payer opposition. In addition to my natural interest as a ratepayer, I have been asked by neighbors to look into this issue. The purpose of this article is to assess the District’s need for those rate increases.
 

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VIDEO.  Coastside County Water District Director and Blue Sky contractor, Ken Coverdell, focuses on  how CCWD can help to support the local economy. CCWD approved $900,00 in infrastructure contracts, this evening, to local contractor Andreini Brothers!

CCWD has plans for $25 million in capital improvements in the next 5 years.
 

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VIDEO.  Three Big Changes: Covid 19 SIP, lack of rainfall on our local watershed, and drop in revenue.

Three affects to watch in coming months:

• Significant drop in revenue for commercial (restaurants and the like and Bay City Flower closure), possibly 30%.
• Lack of rainfall mean no local water from June to December. We will have to pay SFPUC for Crystal Springs water, including the electricity expense it takes to bring it over the hill.
• Possible bad debt due to past due accounts. Shutoffs are not allowed in California. May jump to 6% of CCWD revenue.  CCWD has 10 plans for customers to choose from, in case customers need to extend payments.

While additional grants and other funding may be obtained, The District must set new priorities given the significant need and reduced funding.

Below is a list of projects that the District is considering to fund over the next five years. We are seeking public input on priorities.

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PHOTO-ESSAY.

A feast for the eyes.  How lucky we are to live amidst such natural beauty.  Toni Corelli, a highly respected local botanist, specializes in the wildflowers of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Her Flickr photo collections provide delightful virtual wildflower excursions.  A walk on Devil’s Slide  or our Coastal Bluff Tops .

Curious about a plant? Double click on a photo for plant names then search online for more information. Yes, you can eat Wild Leeks, but watch out for the Giant Hogwort.

Click here for  More about Toni.

Great for students of all ages.

Then go out side and find some wild flowers!

~ Thanks to Judy Macius, of the Village of the Coastside (VOTC) for the links and Toni Corelli for the photos.
 

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OWN VOICE ~ InPerspective by Gregg Diegez.

Attached charts show where we stand vs. select countries. We’re 9th worst in deaths/million among all countries, and that includes some small ones like Sweden, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium. How embarrassing, sad, and deadly for what used to be the world leader in Pandemic response. We had every advantage: money, technology, more time than other majors, and somehow, someone blew it….  What’s disturbing is that we’re creeping UP again…. Maybe we could ask for help?
 

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VIDEO. Meeting for 5/11/2020.

Discuss Proposed Revised General Budget for Fiscal Year 2020- 21 and Authorize the General Manager to Submit it to Member Agencies for Approval.  Big changes for Sewer Authority Midcoastside (SAM) . Budget approved in less than 10 minutes.
 

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LITERARY SUBMISSION:  I know you are engaging with a population for which I and others don’t have access to but would like to ask you if you can work with them in creating something. It will give people such a mental boost to express themselves and see it later in a publication.

As we go through this terrible time, many of us have fear and thoughts of how life will change. Often, it helps to express your feelings in writing and release them from your mind. If we share, we connect. Others read, relate, and know they are not alone.

vyris, a new online literary magazine, has been created to give coastside residents the opportunity to contribute their creation. We have an editorial team of summer interns eager and excited to begin working to have this published online by the end of June.
 

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VIDEO. Listen to the Superintendent talk about possible paths for student to return to school.

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• The Garden and Estate trail are open, the historic House is closed at this time
• The Clock Tower Shop is open with Filoli-made products, plants for your garden and other special items. All purchases are credit card only, no cash or checks
• Online advanced tickets are required for all visitors, including members 
• No seating or drinking fountains are available
• Visitor and Education Center restrooms are the only available restroom facilities onsite
• Daily capacity is capped to ensure necessary space for social distancing

• Follow the one way route outlined on the Garden map
• All visitors must follow San Mateo County and CDC requirements
• Practice social distancing (more than 6 ft)
• Wash or sanitize hands regularly
• Face covering must be worn in accordance with local requirements
• Visitors not following requirements may be asked to leave

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The 2020 Left Coast Annual (LCA) Exhibition was scheduled to open at Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, on Friday April 10, 2020.  As the world turned upside down with the spread of COVID-19, it became clear that the exhibition would not be able to take place in-person as communities responded to shelter-in-place orders to protect public health.  Artists and Sanchez Art Center Staff, (Janet Barker, Program Manager and Cindy Abbott, Executive Director) pivoted to create this first show in new virtual galleries.

Click HERE or enter SanchezArtCenterVirtualGalleries.org in your browser bar to enter the galleries.

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Learn to sail! This is a safe and fun way for youth ages 8-16 to learn how to sail in either an Optimist (Opti) or Laser. Both boats are extremely popular recreational dinghies that also feature prominently in competition. Most certainly STEM! (science, technology, engineering, and math).