Category: Classic Big Sur

Bali Institute at IONS Community Meeting

The President of the Bali Institute, Marcia Jaffe and Issac Zikri will be presenting at the IONS Community Group Meeting on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 2-5pm. Come and join us for some tradition Balinese food and culture.

Bali Institute presents “A GLIMPSE OF YOUR GLOBAL FUTURE!”

You are cordially invited to experience a magical afternoon introducing the world-renown BALI INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL RENEWAL. Balinese music (not live but still exciting), video, food and surprises. Hear directly from the founder, Marcia Jaffe, about this important new global leadership and dialogue center based in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. The BALI INSTITUTE is the first world learning center for leadership, global activism and indigenous wisdom. Special guest will be Mr. Issac Zikri, director of the Institute, and an emerging young global leader from the Minangkabau Tribe of Sumatra. The Minangkabau Tribe is the largest and one of only 5 remaining matrilineal cultures in the world. He is considered an expert on indigenous cultures of Indonesia, which has more than 300 separate cultures with their own religions and languages living side-by-side. Hear about his fascinating Muslim matrilineal culture, and his work on behalf of the Bali Institute.
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Marcia Jaffe will speak about the work of the Bali Institute and the upcoming Bali conference in 2010. The staff of Bali Institute is already preparing its master timeline for the 4th International Quest for Global Healing Conference – to be held in December 2010 in Ubud and Permuteron, Bali, Indonesia. The list of potential presenters, facilitators and creative visionaries continues to grow, and announcements will be made before the end of the year. The international planning team meets this December in Bali for a five-day “thought/dream leaders gathering.” This high-energy meeting will explore themes, world directions, and Balinese wisdom experiences to enhance the transformative outcomes that promise to generate the most inspirational and empowering conference of 2010! Special prayer ceremonies will be held, a private visit to the holy priest will be taken to help select the perfect days for this gathering, and the integration of east-west dialogue and collaboration will all help shape this unforgettable experience. We look forward to hosting more than 1001 people in 2010 – and we hope you will join us.

Discover why more than 2,000 concerned global citizens, business leaders, academics, activists, innovative thinkers and people from all walks of life have attended conferences, gatherings, and workshops at THE BALI INSTITUTE in the last 5 years. Luminaries who have attended include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Bhutan Minister of Home Affairs, former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, Nobel Peace Laureates Jodie Williams and Betty Williams, Lynn Twist, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Cedza Dlamini, royalty from Swaziland and Bali, and many more.

Afternoon host Rose Welch from the Big Sur Community has worked on behalf of the Bali Institute for several years and attended two of their global conferences. Food, drinks, and an afternoon you won’t forget! Please RSVP soon. And do visit the website at www.baliinstitute.org

RSVP to rose@noetic.org
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On another note, don’t forget the Annual Health Fair at the Big Sur Health Clinic on October 6th. Details on the Announcement Page.

Don Case Pledge Card

Currently these pledge cards are making the rounds up and down the coast. I know down here on the South Coast they are available at Gorda, TreeBones, Pacific Valley School and Esalen. They will also be available at the Jade Festival as well.
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Sunday Night in Big Sur

The gates opened at 6 pm. Guests arrived as early as 5:30 pm. Parking is a challenge at the HML, but so many wanted to come to support the guest of honor, Don Case, and his family. So, we came early, got good spots to park, and waited, chatting among ourselves.

When the gates opened, the lights were already twinkling, even though it was not yet dark. The line wound down the lighted path, where our names were either checked off, or donations made, and we were offered a copy of a water color painted by Don Case of the grassy field and redwoods which surround the HML.

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The buffet, provided by the Big Sur Bakery and SLOW Foods Buffet, led by event orgainizer Mike Gilson, CPOA, provided wonderful food for our enjoyment.
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Also of CPOA, Jeannie Ford’s children, Emily and Joe performed beautifully on violin and cello for the attendees.
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Magnus Toren, curator of the HML, met and greeted all, as well as oversaw the venue and its preparation.

The number of attendees was astounding, and gratefully appreciated by Don and his family. It was so wonderful to see so many Big Surians in attendance, giving hope to Don and his family that replacement of his long-time home was truly a reality.

One of Don’s old friends came down from Sonoma, probably more old friends, but this gentleman I spoke with at dinner. He helped raise the roof on the original house 40 years ago.

I did not stay for the showing of Food, Inc. as it was dark and the road home requires significant attention, particularly as it was foggy, and I had a long way to go. Driving slowly to fit the conditions, I marveled at the community of which I have become a part. The love, joy, and sharing which permeated this gathering warmed me all the way down the coast.
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Don Case, you are well and truly loved, my friend.

And to bring this post to a close, a few words from Joyce Duffy: “I cannot put into words the tremendous jolt of love energy that we all got from last night.
Today when I left the Case home, Neva was resting in a lounge chair on the slab of the old house … Josh and Don were at a table in front of the old hearth trying to teach Oceana and Kiana to play dominoes … there is lightheartedness and peace and relaxation and a for-sure-now knowing that someday there will be a house around surrounding the family. We are all a bit speechless in reaction to the overwhelming shower of love and help.”

Sunday afternoon in Big Sur

Yes, it is true. Ventana is open again, after the kitchen fire destroyed it almost a year ago, and serving lunch on the patio!

I met several friends for lunch there, Sunday. The place looks marvelous. Before going on on the patio, we stopped to look at the art display for the silent auction to benefit the Big Sur Health Center. There were so many good pieces, and people had already bid $200 or more on each — silently, of course. Here is one wall of the offerings.

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We went outside to sit down in gorgeous weather. Everything was perfect. Like a dummy, I set my camera on my lap. I don’t know what I was thinking. I can’t keep a napkin on my lap, never mind a camera. It slid to the concrete, and broke. For me, losing a camera is like losing a part of my soul. Thanks to the good eyes of Debbie, we found the 3 broken plastic pieces that allow the lens to lock in place. I got super glue at a local store, with the idea that I would try to fix it, if the camera wasn’t broken. So much for taking photos of the glorious food, restaurant, and the evening at the Henry Miller Library for Don Case’s houseraising fund raiser.

I saw Joyce Duffy at the HML when I first arrived. She had her camera. She would take photos. I could take photos with her camera. The evening would be saved. She was to email them today, if she could get to a computer. Alas, she did not get to a computer until tonight, and said none of the photos came out very good. If any are worth posting, I will post a few when I get them, with the story of the evening.

Now, back to the broken camera. This morning, I tried my other, telephoto lens, and it worked! The camera itself is not broken, just the lens. So I proceeded to try my idea with the super glue.

The first two pieces went on easily and well. One cannot even tell they were broken. The third piece was being difficult. I finally got it glued on, but not before I glued my fingers together, my fingers to the lens, and ultimately, caught the free-floating dog hair which permeates my place. I now have dog hair permanently glued to my fingertips. Imagine what my fingerprints must look like?
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Do not try this at home.

I doubt it will work, and I can never trust the mount, again, so I ordered a new lens. The Jade Festival is less than 2 weeks away. I have to have my good lens.

So, that was my Sunday afternoon. How was yours?

Big Sur is …

… more than anything, a sense of community, for those of us lucky enough to live here. The sweetest gathering tonight. Details tomorrow.

This weekend in Big Sur

Sunday will be a busy day. A display of 36 local artists will be held at the Restaurant at Ventana.

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Promo photo by (yet to be determined)

‘Recovered & Renewed – A Year Later’

Sunday, September 27 through Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Restaurant at Ventana
48123 Highway One, Big Sur

Benefiting the Big Sur Health Center
and our local Artists
36 artist created original pieces for this special event
You can preview the art at: www.recoveredandrenewed.com

That evening is the fundraiser for Don Case and the showing of Food, Inc. at the HML. Looks like a great day to be out and about!
Don Case

Pot Growing in Big Sur

I’ve avoided addressing this subject, as it perpetuates the stereotype that has been in existence since the 1960’s — the pot-smoking, drug culture of Big Sur. If it was ever true in the past, it is a blatant stereotype today. And it reeks of the sensationalism that the local media seems so bent on. However, there are some points I think deserve addressing.

Yes, a rather large pot farm (10K plants reported) were found on the LPNF in Big Sur a few days ago. It was on public lands, and is clearly a large, commercial operation, not the small guerilla operations typically seen. MCSO’s estimation of the value, at least based on past experience, is grossly exaggerated. As a criminal defense attorney for many years, I have seen that it is quite typical for law enforcement to estimate value based on gross weight, including stems, root balls, and dirt. Allows them to make it seem more than it is. I am not minimizing 10K plants, that is a large number of plants, I am just minimizing the claimed value.

These commercial pot farm problems are not endemic to Big Sur, but to large tracts of public lands anywhere in California. Santa Barbara, and many other places, are reporting finding these types of pot farms on their public lands. As long as it is illegal to grow pot — and even though California has a compassionate use statute, the federal government refuses to recognize it — it is a lucrative business adventure. Frankly with a farm this size, I don’t think the declining economy is at fault. This one, based on reported size only, is a well-established commercial cartel, not part of the local economy.

I would like to give my personal thanks to Tom Hopkins, president of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance for volunteering his organization’s expertise and manpower to clean up this site. Kudos to VWA!

Don Case Fundraiser

Don Case Benefit
BIG SUR BAKERY presents : A Benefit for Big Sur Elder, Veteran, and Basin Complex Survivor Don Case

SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
at THE HENRY MILLER LIBRARY
6 p.m.
$50.00 per person with all proceeds to benefit the Don Case houseraising

Food Inc posctcard back

A screening in the redwoods of the movie : FOOD INC.
with guest appearances and q&a by Writer/Producer Eric Sclosser and Director Robert Kenner

and a SLOW FOOD BUFFET coordinated by Big Sur Bakery and Slow Food Monterey

Tickets available here or by calling 667-2574.

Big Sur elder Don Case lost his home in it’s entirety during the Basin Complex Fire of 2008.

Many community members are looking to help Don raise his home once again if funds for basic building materials can be donated. Donations can be made here and are tax deductible through The Coast Property Owner’s Association’s 501c3 non-profit organization.

To buy tickets, or simply to donate to the cause through paypal, go here:

Don Case house raising

On the announcement page, I moved the fundraiser for Chuy and Gloria for the 19th at the Grange, after giving it a few days front page space, and I posted the announcement for the meeting regarding Ambulance Service for Big Sur there as well.
Also, don’t forget the Health Center’s 30th Anniversary BBQ today, Saturday, at the Grange. And Sunday is the Lucia BBQ to benefit the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Department. Hope your weekend is filled with love.

9/11

Few of us will ever forget this day, eight years ago. Many of us sat in stunned disbelief in front of our television set watching the events of this day unfold. Today, may we all remember our fallen, and pray for peace in our world — in our lifetime.

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On another note, as Barbara Ray posted in a comment on the “About” page: “Saturday is the Big Sur Health Center 30th Anniversary BBQ at the Grange from 12-4 P.M. Everyone is invited for free food, music, and celebration. It should be a great community event.”

On this day ten years ago

All day long I’ve sat at my desk, looking at a photo of lightning I took 10 years ago today.

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I sat outside, after dark with my old Nikon, taking photo after photo, not knowing what would come out, it was only ASA 400 (the forerunner of ISO). I have a tag on it explaining about the photo. All day, I’ve thought about commemorating the day, but with the Carmel Valley Fire, and work … Then Stan sent me the link below to some incredible photos he shot, and that did it. Work can wait for 10 minutes more.

It was a magnificent light show. Dry lightning. It spawned the Kirk-Hare Fire (later called the Kirk Complex) which burned over 80,000 acres and lasted 3 months. My photo was film and all that remains is the small 3×5 photo I have.

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However, if you’d like to see some outstanding shots by Stan Russell of the lightning that night, go to this link:
Stan Russell lightning shots

But for a real step back in time, visit Big Creek’s recount of the various fires complete with photos. This account appears to have been done by our own John Smiley, with help from stewart Feynner Arias. What a history lesson for those of us who only kept track of the basics. See the link below:

UCSC-Big Creek fire report