Month: December 2012

Road Closure?

6:45 am – the below incident is no longer listed on the CHP website, but boy did the rain just pick up. Weather reports later today.

IS REOPENED 13.7 MI NORTH OF SAN SIMEON (SAN LUIS OBISPO CO) AT 0615 HRS ON 12/22/12
IS REOPENED TO SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC 0.2 MI SOUTH OF GORDA (MONTEREY CO) AT 0615 HRS ON 12/22/12

5:30 am – This from CHP this am. Will try to get more info when I can. I am guessing – operative word guessing – that this means that CalTrans set the road closure sign up at the Willow Springs Maintenance Yard. Nothing will be done until dawn.

Incident: 00024 Type: CLOSURE of a Road Location: Sr1 N / Gorda TBM/LatLon: 35.842500 -121.401944
Detail Information
5:10 AM 3 [9] 1039 MTRY COM [Shared]
12:37 AM 2 [4] CTRANS ENRT TO SET UP CLOSURE
12:37 AM 1 [3] REQUEST CLOSURE F/ CALTRANS
Unit Information
12:51 AM 2 Unit Assigned
12:51 AM 1 Unit At Scene

Winter Solstice – 2012 edition

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I have gotten a chuckle out of the Mayan Prophecy die hearts, have paid attention to the 11 year cycle of the Solar Maximums (which we are entering), have watched the “fiscal cliff” we are approaching (who comes up with these names, anyway?) but choose to focus on the lengthening of days and the holiday season of Joy.

Below, I repost one of my Winter Solstice posts from 2009:

“The Winter Solstice occurs exactly when the earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26′. Though the Winter Solstice lasts an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used like Midwinter to refer to the day on which it occurs. For most people in the high latitudes this is commonly known as the shortest day and the sun’s daily maximum position in the sky is the lowest.” (Wikipedia)

There are as many different types of celebrations of this astrological event as there are cultures and religions, past and present. It is the “official” day of winter, here in the northern hemisphere, and it is when the days begin to lengthen again.

For me, rooted in a northern clime, the significance is both the beginning of winter, and the lengthening of the days. I am a person of the sun, who rises with it, and slows my rhythms when its time with me is also slowed. Long before we had a name to go along with these most natural of nature’s patterns (seasonal affective disorder), our bodies simply increased the secretion of melatonin in the body, causing longer sleep. Now, we know that special lights, plants, and negative ions can diminish the effect of the lesser sunlight.

It is a seasonal lull that many of nature’s plants and animals observe. It is a time for us to be focused inward rather than outward. Rather than fight the natural patterns, I choose to follow them, and become quiet, solitary, and introspective. Tomorrow, that time lessens, and my outward focus will begin its return, just as the sun increases its time in our northern skies.

I will celebrate the holidays with friends, as we all do, but for me, the true holiday is today, the Winter Solstice, when I begin my outward focus, once again, and leave the inner world I have come to inhabit.

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I don’t usually post photos I find on FB, but this one is so good, and so appropriate! Sunrise this morning at Stonehedge.

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Rocky Creek Closures, Holiday schedules

HIGHWAY 1/ROCKY CREEK VIADUCT PROJECT CONTINUES WITH DAYTIME ROADWORK AND OVERNIGHT CLOSURES

MONTEREY COUNTY – Daytime roadwork on Highway 1 continues next week from 7 am to 5 pm Wednesday, Dec. 26 through Friday, Dec. 28. There will be NO overnight closures from Sunday, Dec. 23 through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. There will be NO daytime closures on: Monday, Dec. 24, Tuesday, Dec. 25, Monday, Dec. 31 or Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Daytime and overnight roadwork resumes on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013.

Rainbows

We have certainly had a wonderful proliferation of rainbows lately! Here is one from Martha Diehl:

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Frac’ing in Monterey County

I have posted about this issue before, and if you haven’t seen Gasland, go to this link to review the issues from one perspective Gasland the Movie. I have seen the movie, and it is an eye opener.

Just a few days ago, the Monterey Herald ran this article:

Feds auction prime Monterey County land for oil development

Impact on environment in question
By GARANCE BURKE
Associated Press
Posted: 12/12/2012 04:38:55 PM PST
Updated: 12/13/2012 08:31:46 AM PST

SAN FRANCISCO — The federal government auctioned off nearly 18,000 acres of oil leases on prime public lands on Wednesday in Central California, home to prized vineyards, endangered species and one of the largest deposits of shale oil in the country.

The full article can be found here:
Feds auction prime MoCo land for oil development

I discussed this in January 2011 in a post that provides many links to information about fracking, the BLM, oil development, and the Salinas Valley Aquifer. You can find this post here:
Frac’ing in Monterey County

Radio KAZU reported this, a few days ago:

At his office in Monterey, County Supervisor Dave Potter isn’t looking for compromise. He’s concerned that in this agricultural rich county fracking could contaminate the water supply or do other harm. He wants state regulators to act now. “Quite frankly I’d hope they’d put a ban on it, right now. I suspect when they do look into this, they’re going to find that fracking is having a serious impact on Mother Nature,” said Potter. Potter and fellow supervisor Simon Salinas recently wrote to the federal Bureau of Land Management. The asked the BLM to postpone Wednesday’s auction of oil and gas exploration rights for nearly 18,000 acres of public land in Monterey, San Benito and Fresno counties. By law, the BLM must periodically auction off these mineral rights. So despite this opposition, and a protest outside the auction in Sacramento, the sale went ahead, and all the parcels sold. Supervisor Potter says his constituents are worried. “A lot of concern, a lot of fear of the unknown. And the water supply we have in some areas are very marginal to begin with. They’re concerned they’ll be without potable water,” said Potter.

Here is a fracking map and link a reader sent me: Fracking Map

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Street Signs in Big Sur … I don’t think so

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A loyal reader sent me this on December 11, 2012. When I first saw it, I thought, “Wow, this won’t last! Some tourist will think it would make a great souvenir, or some local will think street signs have no place in Big Sur, or both.” I don’t think it was even legal. I say “was” because it did not even last a week. Bad idea, ill conceived, IMHO.

January Events – save these dates!

This would be a great weekend to plan a trip to Big Sur, spend a few nights, check out the locals event on Thursday, January 10th, and stay on for the Foragers Festival events on Friday and Saturday, January 11-12! Join us for some wonderful winter events!

FORAGERS FESTIVAL*
January 11 – 12, 2013

Enjoy A Culinary Exploration into the World of Wild Foods

A celebration of the amazing array of wild foods will be the centerpiece for a Big Sur weekend of gourmet food, world-class wine and beer, entertainment, expert-led foraging hikes, a chef competition and a very special dinner with Kory Stewart, a chef who Forages! All events are for the benefit of the Big Sur Health Center.

Friday night will feature dinners at local restaurants. The Big Sur Bakery will host “Forage with Friends” dinner. The River Inn will partner with Firestone Brewery for a “Foragers Beer Dinner”. More exciting dinners/specials will soon be announced.

Saturday morning kicks off with Wild Mushroom Walks and Talks led by expert foragers. These will be informative and entertaining strolls through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

The Restaurant at Ventana will host two events on Saturday beginning with a chef competition featuring wild mushrooms. Titled “Fungus Face-Off”, the event will put participating chefs in friendly competition for “best” in numerous categories by noted judges, culminating in “People’s Choice”. The food and wine tastings also features a silent auction with many unique offerings. The Fungus Face-Off takes place from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Saturday evening, Truman Jones, executive chef at the Restaurant at Ventana and Kory Stewart, executive chef at Americano Restaurant located in San Francisco’s Hotel Vitale, will prepare the grand dinner beginning at 6:00 pm at the Restaurant at Ventana. The multi-course dinner, destined to be a memorable feast, will be paired with incredible wine selections.

Please visit our site: Big Sur Foragers Festvalfor the more information including schedule, prices and ticket sales.
*The Chanterelle Festival has been discontinued.
******************************************************************

Award Winning Ocean Film Makes Big Sur Debut

Well known locals and others on a panel to discuss this film with the audience.

What would Big Sur be without the ocean and it’s creatures? From the stories of those who lived off the land and sea in years gone by to the present day when people from all over the world come to Big Sur for many reasons, especially it’s unique beauty, the ocean has played a huge role in who we are.

And now, we are very fortunate to be able to show the film “Ocean Frontiers” at our next B-SAGE/Grange event Thursday, January 10. This film, which premiered at the Blue Ocean Film Festival in Monterey a few months ago, is an inspiring voyage to seaports and watersheds across the country where we meet industrial shippers and whale biologists, farmers and wetland ecologists, commercial and sport fishermen, and reef snorkelers—all of them embarking on a new course of cooperation to sustain our oceans and the economies that rely on them. It highlights four cases where vastly different stakeholders came to the table and cooperatively made good decisions for the environment.

According to one participant, “Ocean Frontiers is a great film to share with the community because it is optimistic and positive, and shows successful approaches to the ocean stewardship issues we face today.” We are excited to bring this film to Big Sur.

The panel discussion immediately following the film showing will be moderated by the de facto mayor of Big Sur, retired Fire Chief, Frank Pinney. On the panel will be Laura Kasa, Executive Director of Save Our Shores, Biologist David Moen from Ventana Wildlife Society, Marcus Foster – surfer, Jess Mason – deep sea diver and Kirk Gafill, President of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce. The panel will discuss the film and take questions and comments from the audience.

Thursday, January 10, 2013 at the Big Sur Grange.
Come for soup, salad and bread at 6.
Bring your own place setting.
Or, come just for the show at 6:30.
We plan to be prompt.

Santa and Caroling in Big Sur

Hello Big Sur!

To ring in the holidays Lisa Goettel brings us the traditional Christmas caroling throughout Big Sur and the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade will be bringing special treats for all of the children of Big Sur. Read details below.

The Big Sur Fire Brigade has volunteered to escort Santa on his visit to Big Sur!

    This is on December 20th.

    This year Santa is bringing special treats for all of the children of Big Sur!!

    If you would like Santa to deliver a personal gift he would be honored to do so!!
    Here are the Instructions-
    · Wrap a gift for your child and label with name, pick up location and phone number
    · Deliver the gift to the Big Sur Library no later than December 19 during normal open hours.
    · Meet Santa at River Inn (5:45), Fernwood (6:10) Post Ranch Housing ( 6:30) or Nepenthe (6:50) and he will deliver your gift personally!!!
    · Questions? Call Meredith 667-2156

    Big Sur Caroling

    All are welcome to join us on Wednesday, Dec. 19th in Big Sur as we get in the spirit of the holidays and carol through the local restaurants.
    Supported by a core group of Big Sur singers who have been singing with Lisa every week – some for several years – we will share our voices through Big Sur. No experience or practice is required! If you would like to learn some of our special harmonies and practice some of the lesser-known carols, we encourage you to join us at some or all of the free Wednesday evening classes at the Big Sur Charter School in December, from 5:30-7pm http://thebirdsings.com/classes.html
    This year we are inviting kids to join us for caroling at the River Inn. Kids are invited to meet at 4:30pm at the River Inn on the 19th to practice, then sing with us there at 5:30.

    Schedule:
    4:30pm – Kids meet for practice at the Big Sur River Inn.
    5:00pm – Adults meet promptly at 5pm at the Big Sur River Inn. We will warm up in the administrative offices.
    5:30pm – River Inn – with kids caroling!
    6:15pm – Fernwood Resort
    6:45pm – Big Sur Bakery
    7:15pm – Nepenthe
    7:45pm – Deetjens Big Sur Inn (core group of regular Big Sur Singers only)

    If you are going to join the caroling you can print your own holiday songbook here:
    http://thebirdsings.com/caroling.html

    Spread the joy and have a safe and happy holiday!
    From the Big Sur Fire Brigade and the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce

    The Big Sur Singers on Wednesday December 19th at 5:30 pm as they carol for us building the Christmas spirit. This year the children of the Big Sur Charter School will also be joining the caroling.

    Then return to welcome the Big Sur Fire Brigade and Santa Claus on Thursday December 20th at 5:45 pm as the children of Big Sur receive a special holiday gift from Santa. Milk and cookies will be offered next to a roaring fire.