Don’t forget!! (Note, the dates are wrong, it is the 28th & 29th)
A couple more Thanksgiving photos later in the weekend. Meanwhile enjoy this crisp, clear fall day!
Category: Classic Big Sur
Friday Meeting Reports
I’ll add the Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council notes here later today, as my notes are in the car. In the meantime, here is Betty’s report from the California Coastal Trails Meeting with Bill Monning.
California Coastal Trails, Big Sur Segment:
“Yesterday’s meeting went well, although it was unbelievably cold inside the Grange hall.
Present were representatives from State Parks, County Parks, TAMC, County Planning, USFS, Coastal Commission, Coastal Conservancy, and four representatives from the Trail Committee, chaired by Bill Monning.
We began reviewing comments made by agencies and going into the first stages of a collaborative approach. A working vocabulary of terms used in planning will be developed, so that we are clear about concepts needed in order to secure support and funding.
Lee Otter has found a lot of funding sources for the trail besides the Coastal Conservancy.
Some very positive comments were made about the Community Proposal.
I felt very good about being able to see a future of interaction with the various parties using a feeling of teamwork.
We will be calling on other groups to participate as the plan proceeds, and doing public outreach for collaboration within work groups.”
Pacific Valley School Wins Golden Bell Award
A tiny one-school district with 25 students proves that passion for education and compassion for all living things is an award winning combination.
Set in Big Sur, where the spectacular Pacific coastline meets majestic redwoods, Pacific Valley School wins top honors from the California School Boards Association for its “Ambassadors for the Arts and Environment Program.” For its innovative student-led entry in the Association’s annual Golden Bell Awards Program, the District receives the first annual California School Boards Association “Going Green!” scholarship.
“Ambassadors for the Arts and Environment” is recognized for its dedication to building student-led, environmentally friendly curricula and community outreach. The program was submitted in the Sustainable, Renewable, Energy and Resource Efficient Programs category of the Golden Bell Awards, a long-standing statewide recognition program that identifies and celebrates excellent public education programs across all areas of instruction and leadership.
AMBASSADORS FOR THE ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT
Designed to accelerate student learning about eco-friendly concepts through peer-based instruction, “Ambassadors for the Arts and Environment” encourages students in the Pacific Valley School to explore environmental concepts through art and cross-curricular community service outreach projects. Students in the program reach out to the numerous underserved communities in the surrounding area to help build environmental awareness among the region’s youth.
The goal of “Ambassadors for the Arts and Environment” is “…to expand and transfer awareness of the potential value of environmental stewardship, identify ways to harness these phenomena through the arts and multiple curricula… and underscore the lessons with a community service component to spread the wealth of these powerful learning experiences to students in the surrounding rural and underserved districts.”
Recipient of the 2005 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, the program includes a variety of lessons. Two examples are outlined below.
Full Circle
Teams of students are trained in and pass on to others special art techniques and key environmental stewardship-related concepts, such as creating beautiful handmade paper recycled from classroom waste paper, painted in watercolor and embedded with seeds to address the concept of a completely-sustainable resources loop. Through this concept, the recycled art can be planted in the ground, allowing the seeds to grow back into trees from which paper originates.
Power Up
With support from a PG&E “Bright Ideas” grant, the school’s Gifted and Talented Program receives hands-on, project-based learning by tapping renewable, non-depletive energy from the sun. They build model solar-powered cars and even hold a “Solar Car-O-Rama” with model car shows and drag races.
“One Who Teaches Learns”
The “Ambassadors” invite neighboring districts and deliver student-led programs and activities to all students, including those with special needs. Their winning application describes how a child with severe autism appeared unable to participate in the project, retreated to a corner, crying, but was ultimately engaged and, with a paintbrush in hand and smile on his face, designed brilliant colors on a piece of freshly recycled handmade paper. The students pride themselves on developing ways to express and communicate their discoveries to others through the arts and their own personal peer teaching styles.
Congratulations, Pacific Valley School, teachers, and students. You are indeed the Gem of the South Coast!
Big Sur Forest Service Management Unit Act
NEWS RELEASE: WILD AND SCENIC RIVER LEGISLATION
INTRODUCED 11-6-09
Congressman Sam Farr (California 17th District) today introduced critical legislation to assure the protection of biological and recreational resources on federal lands in the Ventana Region and Big Sur Coast. The Big Sur Forest Service Management Unit Act (HR 4040) would implement multiple measures to protect public lands in the northern Santa Lucia Mountains, including:
o Designation of over 90 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers including portions of the Arroyo Seco, San Antonio and Carmel Rivers, as well as Big Creek;
o The designation of the Horse Canyon and Horse Pasture additions to the Ventana Wilderness Area, along with several technical boundary adjustments resulting in a net increase of approximately 2,000 acres of federally designated Wilderness;
o Establishment of the Big Sur Management Unit (BSMU), which would replace the Monterey Ranger District and provide greater management and budgetary autonomy necessary to address concerns unique to the disjunct northern unit of Los Padres National Forest;
o Conversion of the closed Arroyo Seco – Indians Road to the Arroyo Seco – Indians National Recreational Trail, a public thoroughfare offering unparalleled opportunities for hiking, equestrian use, bicycling and other forms of non- motorized recreation;
o Establishment of the Jeff Norman Botanical Area, a plant community rich in endemic maritime chaparral on National Forest lands immediately south of Pfeiffer Beach;
o Designation of the BSMU as a Wildland Urban Interface Special Study Area with the requirement that a Fire Management Plan be created within one year, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
For maps, text of the bill, and additional information, see this link:
Highway One Meeting Tonight
I usually don’t like to post so many in one day, but the weather posts below are important, and the Highway One issues meeting for tonight just posted their agenda, for those interested or thinking about attending.
Posted by Ann Hobson and Carissa Chappellet, Co Chairs Hwy One Committee
Meeting today 5 pm Big Sur Lodge – Cottage by pool
667 2025 or 667 3100
DRAFT AGENDA FOR Big Sur Meeting Thursday November 5, 2009
Highway One Big Sur Cyclist and Litter Issues
Litter:
Volunteer clean-up days
Trash Cans/possibly where Emergency Phones are located
Ban Plastic Bags from Monterey County
Temporary reflectors on Hwy
Voluntary fee at station at beginning and end of 90 mile
corridor
Signage issues
Cyclists:
Road Improvements
Share the Road Signs
Cyclist Information about Cycling Hwy 1
Restrooms/Doggie Bags
California Coastal Trail
Road Sensors
Road Closure Days
Fiber-Optic benefit under bike path
Old Coast Road
Issues at Pfeiffer State Beach
Surfrider Chapter for clean-up efforts
Condors
Nature Signs or information
Pampas in the Sun
While I hate pampas grass, because it is so invasive, and so hard to kill, I couldn’t pass up this photo op. I won’t give out the name of the landowner who originally thought this was a good idea to plant this in his garden years ago here on the South Coast, but I would like to pass along a tip for travelers.
One of the ways that this invasive species gets spread up and down the coast, is that tourists stop, pick one and then attach it to their antenna, or otherwise scatter the seeds to the winds. Please don’t. I kid you not. I’ve stopped and warned many people about the results of their unthinking behavior. It is very, very difficult to eradicate. It takes over an area, crowding out our native plants, then spreads it seeds via wind or tourists, and takes over another area, until the entire coast side is nothing but pampas grass along Highway One.
Cal-Trans fights a never-ending battle with this stuff, often being forced to resort to serious chemicals in order to kill it. Don’t help it spread. It does a good enough job on its own.
Thank you, bigsurkate
Don Case House Raising Update
Dear All –
In just the past three weeks since the Henry Miller fundraiser on September 27th, approximately $47,000 has been raised towards our goal of $100,000 to help the Case family with rebuilding their home.
$17,000 was raised at the FOOD INC / SLOW FOOD BUFFET at the Henry Miller Library, and six Angel Donors have pledged $5000 each.
Thanks to all of you who have been so generous to make all of this happen!
We are getting close, but we still are asking for donations of all sizes, along with three more Angel Donors willing to donate $5000 each.
If you are able to donate, please know that your generosity is greatly appreciated by the Case family.
Please make checks payable to : CPOA / Don Case Fund
and mail to : CPOA P.O. Box 59 Big Sur CA 93920
Upon receiving your donation, CPOA will acknowledge your tax-deductible donation
with a confirmation letter that includes CPOA’s 501(c) (3) tax status information.
If you have any questions regarding your contribution, please contact me at 831-915-0903.
Houseraising services, labor, or actual building materials will also be graciously accepted.
Your neighbor, Mike Gilson
CPOA Board Member
And for those of you who would like to use the pledge card, here it is again. You can simply grab it, screen shot, or whatever your preferred method is. Of course, the easiest way is to donate online.
Softly comes the night
And so, tomorrow it begins … love, friends, good food, great music … and the JADE.
Health Fair Tuesday
Guadalupe Quilt Raffle
at the Big Sur Health Center Health Fair
Tuesday, October 6th
12-noon – 5 pm
Raffle Tickets on sale at the Health Fair
$3.00 each or 2 for $5.00
Need not be present to WIN!!!
The beautiful Guadalupe Quilt was made by Nadine Clark
All proceeds go to the Big Sur Health Center
The Guadalupe Quilt will be on display at the Health Fair!
Marianne Faithful at the HML
What: Marianne Faithfull in concert at the Henry Miller Library
Where: Henry Miller Library, Highway One, Big Sur CA.
When: Friday, October 9th at 7.30 PM
Contact: Henry Miller Library, 831-667-2574, magnus@henrymiller.org
This is the Henry Miller Library yearly benefit concert. Following up on previous years benefit concerts with Patti Smith and her Band, Henry Rollins, Laurie Anderson and, last year, Philip Glass & Wendy Sutter, the benefit is in support of the important cultural contributions made by the HM Library as well as the ongoing work of preserving and making publicly available the significant archives under Library stewardship.
After a successful US promotional visit with media coverage including; NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and World Caf�, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Sunday Morning and a stellar performance at The City Winery in New York City, the iconic singer Marianne Faithfull returns for a major tour in support of her Decca debut ‘Easy Come, Easy Go.’ The tour includes this benefit performance in Big Sur at the Henry Miller Library on October 9 at 7.30 PM.
We are extremely grateful for Marianne’s generosity in coming to do this in support of the Library.
The evening will end by everyone joining together at the Big Sur Bakery for some of the best pizza and wine on the West coast!
Tickets are still available by calling 831-667-2574 or online at http://www.henrymiller.org