(From my blog in 2010) “Today is the longest day of the year, and also the anniversary of the Basin Fire of 2008, the event that launched this blog. Today, I hope to reflect back on that time, and post a couple of photographs I took that day, if the Internet Goddess allows. The first two photographs are mine, but scroll down for the stories and photographs of others. I have also provided a link where others shared their stories last year, and more are doing so this year. What an amazing gift we have in each other!” You can read the rest of the blog, the stories, and more here: https://bigsurkate.blog/2010/06/21/summer-solstice-basin-fire/
Also, because a reader who wasn’t following me back in 2008 asked for information about these fires, I made public the collection of posts I put together back then of the blog posts from both the Basin and the Chalk Fires of 2008, reproduced as originally written — warts, misspellings, and all. You can find it to the right under “Pages” — Big Sur Fires, 2008. I found it interesting to re-read (my writing has changed a lot) and see the photos from those times.
Nadine Clark has this framed and hanging on her wall:
I have covered this issue before — last month before the end of the public comment period here: https://bigsurkate.blog/2019/05/16/vacation-rentals-tourism-and-big-sur/ but it comes before the Planning Commission next Wednesday, and I wrote an article for the Voices of Monterey Bay website published today.
Here is part of what I wrote:
“The special characteristic of the Big Sur Coast should also be recognized as a primary resource. Man’s presence along this coast continues to reflect a pioneering attitude of independence and resourcefulness; and the environment has been a special nurturing ground for individual and creative fulfillment. The community itself, and its traditional way of life are resources that can help protect the environment and enhance the visitor experience.” — Big Sur Land Use Plan
By Kate Woods Novoa
Big Sur is raw, rugged, and humbling. It has been said that she can — and will — spit you out, if you don’t belong here. Longtime locals speak of her as if she is an entity. Visitors think of Big Sur as idyllic, and it is in many ways. But this romance does not have a place for short-term rentals.
Those who live here know the difficulties that are a part of the life here: the instability of the road, town trips and school days that must be canceled due to the ever-changing road conditions of Highway 1; storms that take out power lines and telephone lines; slides that take out our main artery, water systems and private roads, not to mention critical bridges; the isolation and the lack of any of the amenities most people have come to not just expect, but need. Get away from the highway, and you may see no services, except what landowners or neighborhoods provide. Here, it is still possible to live up close and personal with Mother Nature. That is why it is humbling. Those who survive the lessons that she has to teach become a community with shared values and a love for this place and one’s place in it.
Fabian Pfortmüller, a Swiss community builder and entrepreneur, defines community “as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” But community, to me, is more than that. We care about each other, help each other, and care about the places where we live. “This is where the magic of a community happens,” Pfortmüller said. “When people care about each other, they develop trust. And trust unlocks collaboration, sharing, support, hope, safety and much more. While most organizations in the world optimize their performance towards external goals, communities optimize for trust.”
Tales of collaboration, sharing, support, hope and trust are legendary in Big Sur. From the early settlers to the last fire, road closure, or bridge collapse, tales of neighbor helping neighbor abound.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves effective January of 1863.
Then on June 19, 1865, the Union soldiers landed in Galveston with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free, according to the Austin History Center. After this, more than 250,000 slaves across Texas learned that they were finally free.
The celebration of June 19 was coined “Juneteenth” and grew with more participation from descendants as they treated the day as their Independence Day, according to the Texas State Library. It spread to other states and has been celebrated every year since.
In 1872, Rev. Jack Yates led a fundraising effort to purchase land for Emancipation Park in Houston.
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas. It’s a day to celebrate African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures.https://abc7chicago.com/society/what-is-juneteenth/2117379/
President Obama states of this painting: “Outside the Oval Office, I kept a painting of a small crowd huddled around a pocketwatch, waiting for the moment the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. On Juneteenth, we celebrate the anniversary of that news – freedom – reaching slaves in Texas.”
UPDATE, 6/19 – The technical malfunction that impacted non-emergency phone lines at Monterey County’s Emergency Communications Center since Wednesday afternoon has been repaired.
Residents can now use regular non-emergency lines for police and fire as needed. (For Coastal MoCo Sheriff, that number is 831-647-7911.) This malfunction did not impact 911 service in the county.
Maia Carroll Communications Coordinator County of Monterey
Update, this pup has been found! She was on the side of the road with the help of friends and all of us watching out, she has been located. Thanks, all.
Our pup Naia ran away Monday night 6/17 around 7:30pm from our friend’s home at 50510 highway 1. She was spotted just south of the home but is timid and wouldn’t come to the people who saw her. Could you please post her photo and our phone numbers? Cell is 612-219-2534 or 612-743-8997, or can call Andrew and Shelby at 831-667-2281. Thank you so much, Anastasia and Cole
3:30 pm — there is a lot of drift smoke coming over the Santa Lucia’s this afternoon from the controlled burn, and there looks like there may be some visibility issues on Nacimiento, so drive slowly and safely.
NOTICE: A prescribed burn will be conducted in the Mansfield training area past Stony Valley, near Nacimiento-Fergusson Road from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17. Smoke will be visible.
