Month: October 2011

South Coast Fire Clearance Grant

From John Handy, of Treebones, who did a terrific job putting this grant application to the USDA all together and soliciting the matching “in-kind” donations from local residents and businesses.

“It’s a great day for us. We were awarded a grant of $178,633 to work on fuel mitigation on our roads and driveways and make our properties safer and defensible in case of fire. It will take a lot of planning and cooperation to make this money go as far as possible. It’s a lot of money but we could have used much more. This grant approval just happened today (10/19) so give me some time to organize next steps. We won’t have the money in hand immediately.

I’ll pull together an informational meeting as soon as I can to explain the process going forward.

The application process was long and involved and was only made possible by some generous in-kind contribution commitments by members of our South Coast Community. Thank you all.

Warmly, John Handy”

Pitkin’s Curve Bridge Photo

This was submitted by a reader of ours. It is a classic! He took it on the way home from the Jade Festival:

Pitkin's Curve Bridge by Glen Cheda

Upcoming Meetings and Events

This Friday is the Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council Meeting.

FRIDAY, October 21, 2011 10:00 A.M.
Pfeiffer Big Sur Lodge Conference Center
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur

AGENDA

10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER Congressman Sam Farr

II. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS

III. APPROVE MINUTES OF July 15, 2011

10:15 IV. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

10:25 V. OLD BUSINESS

VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Report on identifying future trouble spots along Highway One Steve Price, Caltrans
2. Report on Rocky Creek repair project Steve Price, Caltrans

11:00 VII. REPORTS FROM MEMBER AGENCIES

(please bring written report)
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FireScape Monterey (http://firescape.ning.com/ ) is hosting a symposium on October 26th at the Hidden Valley Music Center in Carmel Valley (88 Carmel Valley Road). Starting at 9am sharp, there will be presentations on Esselen and Salinan cultural resources and fire practices, US Forest Service Wilderness policy for fire management and fire suppression, Wilderness Act legislation, rehabilitation and recovery of bulldozer lines used during wildfires, healthy watersheds, local fire behavior based on fuel loads, effectiveness of landscape fuel treatments to protect communities from wildfire and the ecological effects of wildfire in local vegetation types. Come learn about the area we live in and what Fire Scape Monterey is all about. For additional information log onto the website or contact Kerri Frangioso (kfrangioso@ucdavis.edu).
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If you would like to donate money to the Benefit, please make it out to “Ned Callihan” and send to:

Ned Callihan
c/o Jaci Pappas
P.O. Box 429
Big Sur, CA 93920

Photo Contest winners & other miscellany

I apologize for taking so long to get this up, and for missing a couple announcements. bigsurkate could easily be a full-time job, but the problem is, I already have a full-time job – and 4 dogs (one of whom has been to the vet three times in two weeks) and a home in the wilderness, which is always challenging. Thanks for your patience.

So, here are the winners:

First place goes to Daniel Van Gerpen, of Salinas, CA for his Garrapata Pano shot. He actually submitted this one last contest and it was inadvertently lost, misfiled, or otherwise left out. You can find his work at danvans.com Dan, send me your address (at kwnovoa@mac.com) so I can send you the $50 Nepenthe Gift Certificate.

Garrapata Pano by Daniel Van Gerpen

In second place, Big Sur Mountain Tops by Daniela de Sola of Big Sur.

Big Sur Mountains by Daniela de Sola of Big Sur

And in third place a mystical image by Brett Paul.

Palo Sunset by Brett Paul

I also would like to apologize to Lee-Ann and the organizers of the Occupy Wall Street protest at 13 stones for not being able to get the word out about yesterday’s gathering. I hear it was great, as was the one in Monterey. The Occupy demonstrations have spread through out the world, now. I want a bumper sticker that says – “I’m part of an endangered species – the middle class!” Let’s keep the conversation going!

Esalen Fire Aftermath

Here are photos taken by Bryan Scott in Maintenance of the results of the fire. Thank you for sharing, Bryan!




Fire at Esalen’s South Coast Center

Last night (Sunday 10/9), a fire took most of the upper residences at the South Coast Center at Esalen. Mike Gilson so kindly sent me a number of photos, that just as soon as I can get them downloaded, I will post here.

South Coast Center Fire #1 by Mike Gilson

South Coast Center Fire #2 by Mike Gilson

South Coast Center Fire #3 by Mike Gilson

I am recovering from the Jade Festival today. No voice, most body parts hurt. (Am I getting old, or what?) so won’t be doing much of anything but recovering.

Jade Festival # 20!

Rough House playing “Too much Fun” on a sunny Sunday afternoon sort of epitomizes this year. Great, great fun!
More later!

Oh, sh** – Lightning strikes

8:30pm – crystal clear and crisp evening. Received .4 inches of rain this afternoon, for a total for the week and the season of 5.9 inches. Yup, fire season is toast.

1:30pm – the lightning moved on, and all is quiet on the home front. I actually enjoy thunder and lightning when I can count to 5 between them. When it is almost simultaneous, not so much.

1:00pm – another one, right HERE. Okay, this is not fun, and I am turning off my electronics until it moves away.

12:57pm – Lightning and thunder just now, right smack on top of me! Dakota is shaking at my feet hiding under my desk. Oh, my!

Photo Contest – Vote NOW!

Today, despite the weather (or maybe because of it?) the internet goddess smiled mightily on me, and I was able to upload all ten photographs easily. She is also letting me update my links, changing over from fire watch to storm watch. I should complete the transition shortly.

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Fire Watch is over, Storm Watch is on

Monday night, as I thought, I got 2 inches of rain. Tuesday night I received 2 and 1/2 inches of rain, but worse, the winds were pretty bad. As I thought, Plaskett was blocked. My neighbor and Rock Knocker got out early this morning and got it cleared. John started at the top, Rock Knocker started at the bottom, and they met in the middle at Turkey Flats where an entire tree toppled and blocked the road. Last night, I got a mere 1 inch, but more is on the way this morning.

I am in the process of changing over the links to the right, and I will also be uploading the photos for the header contest throughout the day. It won’t be made public until all 10 are up, hopefully by this afternoon.

Weather tomorrow for the Jade Festival is supposed to be clear, albeit cool, so dress in the usual Big Sur layers. I won’t be reporting live tomorrow, but perhaps on Saturday.