Paolo did a great job of getting invites out to almost everyone, but if you missed it, it will be held Saturday, March 22 at 11 at Pacific Valley School, across from Sand Dollar. Bring stories, being music, and being your best Jesse smiles to share.
Month: March 2014
Red Flag Warning for SLO & others
This blog post disappeared and I have tried to re-upload the NWS graphic to no avail. Already have a post ready for tomorrow am, so will probably let this one go. Sorry, folks, but sh** happens and technology sometimes has a mind of it’s own.
Okay then. I FINALLY got it up and look how much of the state is under a red flag warning!
Commercial shoot on March 20th may impact Highway One traffic
This is from The mid-coast fire brigade, but could impact the rest of us, if one is going to town north that day.
On March 20, 2014 a commercial shoot will take place at the Grimes Ranch @ Highway 1 and Palo Colorado from 7am to 7pm.
Although everything should take place in the grass field please leave early and give yourself time as they may block the road for short periods. The commercial shoot will include the “Bixby Bridge” with CHP potentially closing the road for undetermined times. If you are headed South (or North for the rest of us)….please be aware and plan accordingly.
—
Cheryl Goetz
Fire Chief
Mid Coast Fire Brigade
831-625-8175
Oceans Frontiers – 2
Hi all,
Here is a flyer about our upcoming free public showing of a beautiful movie about the Sea, next week at Pacific Valley School, in conjunction with our Parent Teacher Organization’s “Family Night”. You are invited!
The “Personality One” by Don Harlan, or How Elephant’s Trunk Got its Name – Introduction
Don Harlan is the original road warrior. He worked Highway One for many, many years. He was the Supervisor at Willow Springs when Rock Knocker first came to work there in 1980. Don was part of the Lucia Loge Harlan’s and grew up and was schooled down here. He had many road stories, dating back to the 30s, when he watched the north and southern portions connect.
In 1971 he wrote an article which is passed on to the Supervisors (foremen in Don’s time) who work this section of the Highway. Greg DeAlba, the current supervisor shared this with me, and I think it would make an interesting serial for this blog. In it, Don describes the various trouble spots and how they came to be named. There is nothing PC about this piece, but it is a delight to read, both for the historical value and for Don’s writing style. He was one of a kind. Long after he retired, he showed up to Rock Knocker’s and my wedding in his hard hat. He never left home without it.
On Mondays, absent an emergency fire, flood, or road closure, I will be offering a segment of this piece, as it is 11 pages, single spaced. I am taking photographs of each portion, rather than re-typing it so that it is entirely true to the man Don was – and I can’t mess it up! Look for part 1 next Monday.
USFS – LPNF Volunteer Opportunity
NEWS RELEASE
Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Volunteers Wanted for Los Padres Preservation Project
GOLETA, CA, March 5, 2014….Los Padres National Forest officials today announced the Monterey Ranger District is seeking volunteers to work in an exciting archaeology program. Applications are being accepted for “Partners in Preservation” site stewards. The deadline for submitting your application is March 17.
To qualify as a “Partners in Preservation” volunteer, applicants are required to complete a 2-day training workshop. The next workshop will be held Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. Training will take place April 5 at the Monterey Ranger District office in King City, followed by training in the field April 6.
This training is sponsored by the Ventana Wilderness Alliance and will be led by the Society for California Archaeology through its California Archaeological Site Stewardship Program with the assistance of Los Padres National Forest staff.
Additional volunteer opportunities on the Monterey Ranger District are available on an individual basis.
For additional information on the “Partners in Preservation” program or for other archaeology volunteer opportunities, contact North Zone Archaeologist Bob Strickland by phone at (831) 385-5434, extension 20771, or by email at rnstrickland@fs.fed.us.
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South Coast Fuel Reduction Project
SOUTH COAST COMMUNITY FUEL HAZARD REDUCTION PROJECT
POST GRANT PUBLIC MEETING
COMMUNITY CENTER AT PACIFIC VALLEY SCHOOL– SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014 1:00PM-3:00PM
Dear Big Sur Friends and Neighbors:
December’s Pfeiffer Ridge fire has reminded us again how devastating a wildfire can be in the wild land-urban interface in which we all live. Two years ago the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade applied for and was granted, through the Monterey Fire Safe Council a US Forest Service grant of $178,000. This money was used to create defensible space along strategic roadways, driveways, on ridge tops and along slopes in order to reduce future fire danger and make your homes more accessible to fire equipment and personnel in the event of a fire. We have completed the fuel reduction work associated with this grant. As a result, the roads and private properties benefitting from this project are now safer.
This grant was made possible by matching in-kind contributions from the following:
The Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, the New Camaldoli Hermitage, Lucia Lodge,Treebones Resort, Gorda,Big Sur Unified School District, Kate Novoa, Betty Withrow and Cal fire
I would also like to thank Dick Ravich who advised us every step of the way on our grant. Jonathan Pangburn our Forester who obtained the necessary permits and wrote all the prescriptions for the ground work. Pam Peck, who managed our finances and stepped in to help with many of the grant management efforts. And last but not least: Tom Nason of Ventana Engineering our contractor for the project who did a spectacular job for us.
As part of this grant, a public meeting will be held at the Community Center at Pacific Valley School on March 15th to highlight the execution of the grant and what follows in each neighborhood. There will be some presentations and discussions on the grant work; maintenance of the work performed; creating defensible space and what you can do to protect yourself. There will be refreshments served and educational pamphlets for you to take home. We encourage everyone who could be affected by our next wildfire to attend.
Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th,
Sincerely, John Handy
Board Member, Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade
FOTO Friday, 16
Around the cottage …
What is ahead in the Weather World
Nothing like last week’s weather challenges, but two more rain events are predicted.
DISCUSSION…AS OF 09:03 AM PST WEDNESDAY…PATCHY FOG REMAINS PRESENT ALONG COASTAL LOCATIONS FROM HALF MOON BAY DOWN TO THE MONTEREY BAY AREA INLAND TO SALINAS. WHILE THE FOG HAS BEEN DENSE AT TIMES THIS MORNING…DO EXPECT FOG TO BEGIN TO DISSIPATE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING. HIGH CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM OVER THE REGION AHEAD OF THE NEXT, STRONGER STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO BRING RAIN AND A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO INTO THE REGION BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON. [Ed. note – tonight for Big Sur] HAVE UPDATED THE FORECAST TO FINE TUNE THE TIMING OF PRECIPITATION AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS. DESPITE PWAT VALUES ANALYZED IN THE 1.10″ TO 1.25″ RANGE ACROSS THE REGION…UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT CONTINUES TO BE LIMITED. THE BEST CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY PUSHES THROUGH THE NORTH BAY THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN FURTHER SOUTH LATER TONIGHT. HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE NORTH BAY CAN EXPECT AROUND
0.50″ TO 0.75″ WITH THIS SYSTEM…ISOLATED AMOUNTS TO NEAR 1″ ARE STILL POSSIBLE. FURTHER SOUTH…COASTAL HILLS/MOUNTAINS MAY PICK UP 0.25″ TO 0.50″ OF RAINFALL WITH VALLEY LOCATIONS RECEIVING GENERALLY LESS THAN 0.10″.
DRY AND WARMER WEATHER RETURNS FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK INTO OUR AREA. 850 MB LEVELS WILL SEE NICE WARMING AND AT THE SURFACE HIGHS WILL JUMP BACK INTO THE 60S AND 70S FOR ALMOST ALL SPOTS.
ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN IS SLATED FOR LATE SATURDAY THROUGH LATE SUNDAY AS A STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES THE BC COAST WITH AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT STRETCHING DOWN THE COAST. WARM AIR ADVECTION RAIN WILL BEGIN LATE SATURDAY FOR THE FAR NORTH BAY AND SPREAD TO THE SOUTH ON SUNDAY. ALTHOUGH THE EVENT WILL BE SHORT, RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD BE DECENT OUT OF THIS WITH A NICE AR WITH PW AMOUNTS AGAIN OVER 1.25″ STRETCHING ALL OF THE WAY WEST OF HAWAII POINTING DIRECTLY AT THE COAST. COULD EASILY PICK UP MORE THAN 1″ FOR THE NORTH BAY OUT OF THIS WITH 1/4″-1/3″ AROUND SF BAY. AMOUNTS WILL GREATLY DIMINISH TO THE SOUTH WITH MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES ONLY LOOKING AT VERY LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS.
FOR NEXT WEEK…AFTER THE EVENT ENDING ON SUNDAY, ALL SIGNS POINT TO DRY WEATHER FOR MOST OF THE WORK WEEK WITH A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL IN THE PACIFIC. HIGHS WILL JUMP BACK TO ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS.
As for me, I’m off to pick up fresh fruits and veggies, get a couple gallons of gas for my back-up generator, and get some propane. Pretty well stocked, otherwise. Enjoy the weather break.
Proposed Fraking Legislation in California
California 2014 Bills: Last Friday, February 21st, was the deadline for introducing 2014 bills in the California Legislature. Over 1,900 bills have been introduced this year and here is one of proposed new laws:
SB 1132 (Mitchell & Leno) – to amend Public Resources Code § 31670, and to add § § 3160.1 and 3160.2 to the PRC. This bill would require a Natural Resources Agency’s scientific study (deadline: 01/01/2015) on well stimulation treatments, acid well stimulation and hydraulic fracturing treatments, to consider additional elements, including, among other things, evaluating various potential direct, indirect, and cumulative health and environmental effects of onshore and offshore well stimulation and well stimulation treatment-related activities, as specified. Would also prohibit all well stimulation treatments until the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency convenes a committee to review the scientific study, as specified, the Governor issues findings that specific measures are in place to ensure that well stimulation treatments do not pose a risk to, or impairment of, the public health and welfare or to the environmental and economic sustainability of the state, and, if applicable, those findings are affirmed by judicial review, as specified. Would also require the division to adopt a formal process to resolve any claims with respect to vested rights, as specified. Because a violation of the bill’s requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.