Category: Misc

Missing Man & Structure Fire

Two items this morning and then this evening I have the post ready for Shale Point repairs.

First, I have been asked by the SLO community to provide an update on the search for George Carpenter. The search will continue today, weather allowing. Horses are not being used because the brush is to thick. One person has asked about a “locals” search and rescue. A couple of our best locals are on the search team, but no, there is no separate “locals” search, but everyone is keeping an eye out, everywhere they go. Monterey County Search & Rescue is very good. My understanding from the “Find George Carpenter” page on FB is that rescue dogs specifically trained for this type of search are being used, which is why Scooter has not been taken up there, but that may change.

Second, Jo Chapman’s house burned down last night. Bixby Ridge, Trotter built house. Sad to hear. Current owner is reported by KION as John Moon. Video shows the house burned literally to the ground I don’t have any further information this morning.

Two matters of interest for you

First, the closure near the SLO will be back in effect on Monday, Jan. 4th at 8 pm until 5 am, and will continue on that schedule until 5 am on Friday the 8th. That one week project is entering its third week, and may continue the entire month of January. See Cal-Trans page for further details.

Second, reader Paul Saffo pointed me to this one. The USPS announced its new stamps for 2010. Here is one:

The Bixby Creek Bridge stamp, featuring a bridge in California, is the subject of the 2010 Express Mail stamp. The stamp goes on sale Feb. 3.

$18.30 for express mail? Jeez. I certainly won’t be buying this stamp, unless it is to add to my old stamp collection!

On a personal note …

I try to keep this blog pretty well focused on the issues and events of our coast, rather than personal matters, although peeks occasionally slip through, I admit. I also try to post every day. However, my work schedule was thrown off by the death of our friend Lee Buzzard. There is much to be done on both fronts, and it is the holiday season on top of it. I hope to get some photographs tomorrow suitable for posting over the weekend, but in the meantime, enjoy your Friday! And remember how precious your family and friends are in your life. Lee reminded me of that. Let him remind you, too.

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.”

Coming Up …

Friday, the 13th, the Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council Meeting from 10 am until 2 pm at the Big Sur Lodge. This is the main portion of the agenda:

V. OLD BUSINESS

1. Big Sur USFS Management Unit Legislation Representative Farr
2. Coast Highway Management Plan and Sup. Dave Potter
Byway Organization Update
3. Update on Big Sur Fire Safe Grant and CWPP Frank Pinney

VI. NEW BUSINESS

Also remember Sunday is the Big Sur Half-Marathon. Cal-Trans has issued a press release stating in part:

BIG SUR HALF MARATHON TO BE RUN ON HIGHWAY 1 SUNDAY

MONTEREY COUNTY – Two southbound off-ramps will close due to the 7th Annual Big Sur Half Marathon to be run along Highway 1 on Sunday, Nov. 15 starting at 7am.

The southbound off-ramps at Del Monte and Casa Verde will be closed in Monterey on Highway 1 from 4:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. Motorists are encouraged to use the following on-ramps as alternates: southbound Fremont, southbound Soledad and northbound Aguajito. No delays are anticipated.

Editor’s Comment: This race starts in historic downtown Monterey, proceeds through Cannery Row, then along the ocean’s edge in Pacific Grove. Impact on Highway is minimal, and impact on Big Sur is non-existent.

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.

bigsurkate

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.”

Temperatures in the Mtns. of Big Sur

We ran it up to 112 yesterday, and it hit 100 before noon today. Kate’s recipe for heat with no AC: 1. Take hose, and run all the scalding water out; 2. Soak head and hair thoroughly, do not dry; 3. Take light cotton dress and soak thoroughly, do not wring out; 4. Put on wet dress; 5. find bug-free zone and lay down; 6. Repeat every hour.

That’s my day today, with transcripts, printing, and writing thrown in during the “dry” times in my routine. Paper and computers do not like to be soaked.

Personal

This blog may be on “hold” for a few days. My mother is in the hospital and was just “upgraded” from the regular unit to the “step down” unit. It is the one just below critical care.

Trying to get things in order so I can go to Redondo Beach for a few days, sometime this week, I hope.

KSBW poll re closing State Parks

KSBW is running a poll on whether it is a good idea to close the State Parks in order to save money. Unbelievably, the responses are evenly divided. If you feel strongly about this, and I imagine most of you do, go the site below, scroll down, the poll is on the left, and vote. Sorry, tried a link, and wouldn’t cooperate.

http://www.ksbw.com

Poll Results

Okay, results are in. 38 people voted, all but one wants to see more Big Sur garden photos. People are still voting, about one a day, but so far, all but one still want to see more Big Sur gardens. Once my camera arrives, I will start taking photos of local gardens to share with all of you, whenever I think of it. 

More on the budget fiasco and its effect on our State Parks as information becomes available.