Ned Callihan Fundraiser

“6-9:00pm – Dinner, Raffle & Entertainment: Hot Box Harry band and Rise-Up Singing
8:15pm – Live auction begins
We recommend Check or Cash to pay for Auction Items (no card fees).

Auction items include: art pieces from local artists, food and lodging at Big Sur’s finest Inns and Restaurants, vacation accommodations in Hawaii, healing & bodywork sessions, professional services and many other items.”

Here are just a few representative items for the auction:

a rare Edmond Kara Clown Mask

Condor at the Edge Photo By Daniel Bianchetta

LaVerne sent me many more photos (11 total) and all of the raffle items are gorgeous, including a quilt by Nadine Clark; a photograph by Bill Burleigh, photo and artwork by Dale Diesel; and many more. You may have noticed I am trying to cut down on the number and size of photos, when possible lately, as I am watching the space I have available, even with the paid version I now have, dwindle. The time may come when I have to migrate to my own website from wordpress, but given the size of my blog, I am not looking forward to that time. Until then, I will be conserving “space” when possible.

A Rare George Choley Paintin

A Moment in the Dance of Life By G. Ramon Byrnes

Upcoming Meetings and Events

This Friday is the Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council Meeting.

FRIDAY, October 21, 2011 10:00 A.M.
Pfeiffer Big Sur Lodge Conference Center
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur

AGENDA

10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER Congressman Sam Farr

II. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS

III. APPROVE MINUTES OF July 15, 2011

10:15 IV. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

10:25 V. OLD BUSINESS

VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Report on identifying future trouble spots along Highway One Steve Price, Caltrans
2. Report on Rocky Creek repair project Steve Price, Caltrans

11:00 VII. REPORTS FROM MEMBER AGENCIES

(please bring written report)
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FireScape Monterey (http://firescape.ning.com/ ) is hosting a symposium on October 26th at the Hidden Valley Music Center in Carmel Valley (88 Carmel Valley Road). Starting at 9am sharp, there will be presentations on Esselen and Salinan cultural resources and fire practices, US Forest Service Wilderness policy for fire management and fire suppression, Wilderness Act legislation, rehabilitation and recovery of bulldozer lines used during wildfires, healthy watersheds, local fire behavior based on fuel loads, effectiveness of landscape fuel treatments to protect communities from wildfire and the ecological effects of wildfire in local vegetation types. Come learn about the area we live in and what Fire Scape Monterey is all about. For additional information log onto the website or contact Kerri Frangioso (kfrangioso@ucdavis.edu).
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If you would like to donate money to the Benefit, please make it out to “Ned Callihan” and send to:

Ned Callihan
c/o Jaci Pappas
P.O. Box 429
Big Sur, CA 93920

Jade Festival # 20!

Rough House playing “Too much Fun” on a sunny Sunday afternoon sort of epitomizes this year. Great, great fun!
More later!

Weather, Jade Festival, Photo Contest

Weather is a bit unsettled, or at least I am getting conflicting reports of possible thunderstorms tonight or tomorrow, and then a second storm next week (before Jade Fest, so far).

I have been busy with preparations for the Jade Festival, as well as work, but continue to work on the photo contest. I apparently lost my mind when I said everyone could submit up to 5 photos – I’ve recovered, but still getting them all downloaded and filed.

Health Center Fundraiser at Ventana

The day was perfect, the setting sublime, the people joyful. What a day!

Wine tasting was provided by wineries from throughout the region, and I think every Big Sur restaurant was represented in the incredible appetizers served, and they were unbelievable. At the risk of forgetting anyone, I won’t list them. But it was a delightful treat.

To Arvil, Nadine, and Patte who coordinated an unforgettable event. We (Rock Knocker and I) so enjoyed the event, we are planning on making it an annual tradition!

Met with old friends and new friends and soon-to-be friends in the spirit of the close community we are. It was so nice to meet some people I had come to know first through reputation, and then through this blog – but to come face-to-face and get one of those famous Big Sur hugs, made my day! Thank you, Soaring, you are indeed a gem and a legend to our Coast. I would love to read of your experiences as fire look-out for so many years up on Cone Peak. Maybe a guest column several times a year? Whaddya think? Would y’all love to read her stories?

Photos of the event might be posted tomorrow, if technology cooperation achieved and time allows!

I will not have the photo contest up for at least a week, I am guessing. I was flooded with entries on Friday, and am still downloading (large files are hard for my system) sorting, filing, etc. before I can even begin to pick the top 10 choices. It will be really difficult, as there are some great entries. One major priority will be looking at how the photo will fit into the mandated heading size.

Fracking Update in So. County

By Steve Craig re upcoming LUAC meeting for Wednesday, 9/21, this update:

“This is not a surprise, the Chevron pipeline into Bakersfield proposal. They have been truck shipping and perhaps train shipping for years; now, with steam injection and fracking, it may become economic to pipeline.

This step will facilitate the construction of the Exxon plant similar to the Chevron one, and will connect any fracking drilling from Venoco, as well as transport the Chevron field’s outputs. On the positive side, it will prevent heavy truck transport and reduce the present level of transport for the Chevron plant.

This is a further step of creating a new and expanded south County oil field without ever going through a decision process about whether this is something acceptable to the people here or managing fracking processes. The question of the legal applicability of the citizen vote ordinance will be primary, as will the scientific question about field connectivity to the OCS and state tidelands.

This will be an important meeting.

Venoco is testing the capacity of the well along the river presently which was fracked (or at least had four separate rig operations) four times. Still no impoundment and no CDFG or Corps action on this site. Apparently Venoco pumping oil from what I can see of the pipeline size and type; on the positive, it does not look as if their fracking produced enough gas as there is no flare off system during the testing. This is a hopeful sign, unconfirmed, for the long run.

Have not heard the outcome of the date for a rescheduled appeal, whether that is going forward or not.”

For additional information, contact Steve Craig at:
Steve Craig
Restoration Landscape
PO Box 369
Lockwood, California 93932

office: (805) 472-2266
mobile: (818) 419-8229

Best Buddies Race

Just a reminder that the Best Buddies race will take place tomorrow, Saturday, September 10th, along Highway One between Carmel and Hearst Castle. While the road is not closed, it is difficult to navigate, and the riders tend to take up most of the south bound lane making it hard to get around them. Be safe out there.

Also, there was a public announcement from Cal-Trans about work on all the bridges from the county line to Carmel Highlands in the next few months, but I can’t seem to find it at the moment. When I do, I will post it.

Art from here and there …

Mark your calendars – coming next month, the wonderful annual fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Clinic which has become a well-attended event! I’ll post a reminder, closer to time, but if you are interested, you should get your tickets now, before they are all sold out.

I have photos of the Rain Rocks rock shed and Pitkin’s Curve bridge project (it is fascinating) and also additional follow-up on fracking for gas in Southern Monterey County, all coming up when time and internet allows.

Thanks for sticking with this blog, while I have been so busy with my personal projects and work.

House Raising and Meeting with Congressman Farr

Two announcements from the Coast Property Owners Association, who are quite busy this week. First, an announcement regarding the call for volunteers to help raise Don Case’s house back up!

Don Case House Raising
Call for Volunteers – June 17 – 30, 2011

Many of you know that Don Case lost his home during the Basin Complex Fire in 2008. With assistance from a number of generous individuals from the Big Sur community and the Coast Property Owners Association, Don is ready to raise his new home.

The foundation is in and building materials are on the way. We will start with “framing the shell and installing doors and windows”. Work will begin on June 17, 2011, and we are looking for 5 to 15 carpenters, carpenter-helpers and maybe some folks to help make sandwiches or shuttle people up to the house site as there is limited parking.

If you are not able to provide labor, but wish to donate to cover the cost of materials, donations are welcomed and appreciated.

Please RSVP to casehouseraising@gmail.com for details or call Joyce at 831-601-6160. Please help spread the word.

Thank you in advance. We look forward to some good times for a good cause.
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Budda Bowl by Joyce Duffy

CONGRESSMAN SAM FARR
17th Congressional District of California

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2011
CONTACT: David Beltran
david.beltran@mail.house.gov
http://farr.house.gov
202-225-2861
Congressman Farr, CPOA to host public information meeting on big sur
management unit act
Washington, DC – Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) in collaboration with the Coast Property Owners Association (CPOA) of Big Sur will host a Public Information Meeting on the Big Sur Management Unit Act. Congressman Farr and the CPOA are inviting the Big Sur Community to participate in the meeting to take place on Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 10:00 AM to noon at the Pfieffer Big Sur Lodge Conference Center, Pfieffer Big Sur Stat Park.

Introduced in the Last Session of Congress as H.R. 4040, and Awaiting Reintroduction in the Current Session, the Big Sur Management Unit Act would:

Reorganize the Monterey Ranger District of the LPNF into the Big Sur Management Unit;

Modify the existing LPNF boundary to exclude private land within the current 1907 boundary and include federal property outside the current boundary.

Provide statutory backing for the USFS Firescape process

Make various subtractions and additions to existing wilderness

Add various river and stream segments on federal property to the wild and scenic river system.

The latest draft of the bill is available at: http://www.farr.house.gov

For more information contact Alec Arago in the office of Rep. Farr at 831-424-2229, alec.arago@mail.house.gov

Also, if you would REALLY like to be informed about this proposal, read the well-thought out website created for this purpose here: Farr’s Bill, HB 4040

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Many announcements vie for your attention

Just in the last two days, I have gotten three requests to post information for your perusal, so I am combining them all here. I have photos and other things I need to catch up on, as well as the usual updates, and don’t forget, the PHOTO CONTEST IS HERE!! I’ve only received THREE entries, and Memorial Day is almost here. I will have a prize for the winner, too.

The first in was from the Public Information Office of the USFS Los Padres Forest office in Goleta. The bottom line is they are doing what they can to repair storm damaged roads. The notice starts out like this: “GOLETA, CA… Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that many Forest roads will remain closed to vehicle traffic until the required environmental analyses are completed and road damage can be fully evaluated.

Recognizing the impact these closures have on public recreation, Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez addressed the regulatory steps required to re-open storm-damaged roads, and outlined her strategy for accomplishing the work required under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).'” So, now we all know, they are doing their best given the resources, manpower, and regulations under which they labor. (Gotta love the feds, eh?)

The second request is to notify you about a new website which looks at Sam Farr’s bill to create the new Monterey District Management Unit. This was sent anonymously, and the website is maintained anonymously. That should set off some bells in your head – it did in mine. I have never posted requests from anonymous sources in the past, and do not intend to start now. I will keep an individual or organization anonymous, if requested, but if I am not “permitted” to know the source of the information, I certainly cannot support it blindly. I read the entire website, which does have some great links to historical information about the wilderness designation, wildland fire fighting, federal acquisitions of private land, and work force housing, to name just a few, but it was clearly built with a very specific agenda in mind. Some of what is advocated on this website I support. Some, I do not. Fact and opinion are artfully blended together. It is a well thought out site, very professionally done, but which has a very specific agenda about Congressman Farr’s bill, and changes which this anonymous person or persons feel need to be made before it is presented. Some of the language this person or person proposes is unenforceable and bad policy, in my opinion. You can make up your own mind. Google farrsbill and you will probably find it. Remember to sort out fact from opinion here. There is a meeting with Sam Farr on June 18th about Congressman Farr’s proposal, so keep that in mind.

Thirdly, I have been requested by the Ventana Wilderness Alliance to notify everyone about National Trails Day on Saturday, June 4th. Celebrate National Trails Day at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park – Saturday, 4 June 2011. “Volunteer sign in begins at 9 am at Big Sur Station…. Following the trail work, all are invited to a reception at Big Sur Station to celebrate the public unveiling of the Ventana Trails Forever Fund – an endowment held at the Community Foundation for Monterey County to support public trail maintenance across the Ventana and Big Sur region. Enjoy celebratory food and drink while swaying to the sweet tunes of Songs Hotbox Harry Taught Us. Reception begins at 3:30pm.”

Okay, those are the requested announcements, but here is another I do without request.

Baseball season has started!! YAY!!

“For more than 30 years, a very colorful and sometimes competitive softball league has provided fun, entertainment and a sense of community for the residents of Big Sur,
California. The rules of the league have been influenced by its unusual “ball park,” which actually features trees in the field of play. The ball park lies on sunny flat alongside the
Big Sur River within the boundaries of Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park. Here, on Monday and Tuesday evenings from the beginning of June through the end of August, a host of
locals and an occassional curious visitor gather to watch teams like the Outlaws, the Dogs and the Burritos renew ancient rivalries …”

Here is the link for the BASEBALL SCHEDULE!

Quite a bit of rain, yesterday, but blue skies today, which will continue through Memorial Day, although temperatures are predicted to be below normal.

Okay, that’s it for now, more when the internet goddess, who is quite tempramental at the moment, allows. Also, with an increase in requests for announcements, I will probably move all such announcements from the front page, back to the announcement page, which seems to happen every summer, as these requests increase.