Best Buddies Ride

Today’s Date: Thursday, September 4, 2014
District: 05–Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11th ANNUAL BEST BUDDIES CHALLENGE BICYCLE RIDE COMES TO THE CENTRAL COAST THIS SATURDAY

CENTRAL COAST – The 11th Annual Best Buddies Challenge bicycle ride will take place on Highway 1 beginning in Carmel in Monterey County and ending in San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County on Saturday, September 6.

Traffic control for this ride will begin at 6 am and consists of rolling closures by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). In addition, Electronic Message Boards will be posted alerting motorists to ‘Share the Road’ with cyclists. Motorists can expect delays not to exceed 15 minutes.

This bike ride will begin at 7 am at Carmel Valley Road in Carmel. All riders will be off the road by 4 pm on San Simeon Road near Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

Caltrans reminds motorists to be aware of these cyclists and any support vehicles. For more information regarding this event, please visit the Best Buddies Challenge website at: http://bestbuddieschallenge.org/hc/

For traffic updates on other state highways on the Central Coast motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm

Jim Shivers
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer
(805) 549-3237
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Fire at Highway One and Elephant Seal Viewing area

It started about 5, and being familiar with the area, didn’t think it would get far, and thus held off on reporting it. Don’t underestimate the fire potential of dry grass. Two tankers have been assigned, as well as a couple fire crews, including one from Cuesta.

The CHP is quiet about this one, so must not be interfering with traffic.

Unless it “grows legs,” as the ff community says, I’ll be leaving reporting at this post.

Labor Day, in honor of Anna Walentynowicz

Who is she, one might ask. I would have, too, before I recently watched a Polish Film called “Strike.”

She is the woman responsible for the Solidarity movement and the eventual overthrow of Communism in Poland. Her dedication and hard work took decades, and many sacrifices. She was originally a welder at a shipyard and couldn’t read. Her son taught her how to read so she could take the crane operators test – more money and better shifts. She was afraid of heights and threw up in her bag the first time up. She was a strong, fascinating woman. Her name was Anna Walentynowicz. She was the women’s labor rep at the Lenin Shipyard and a trouble-maker. She went to jail numerous times for her labor and anti-communist views and activities.

The Solidarity Movement started when the Shipyard fired her 4 months before her retirement. She was one of 7 leaders of the movement, one of whom was a male named Lech Kaczynski, later President of Poland. He wanted her to head the movement which started with her firing. She felt a male would be better, and she also felt he was the better public speaker, at least as portrayed in the movie. She died at the age of 80 in 2010 in a plane crash which also claimed Lech and his wife. She was a fascinating, hard-working woman who made a huge difference in the Labor Movement and also in her country. So today, I honor her.

Fracking info and site

Another nail in the coffin ?

Help Save “America’s Best Idea”
Spread the Word About Fracking on Public Lands!

A famous American writer and historian, Wallace Stegner, once called our national parks “the best idea we ever had.” Because these lands were set aside for conservation, generations of us have been able to witness America’s natural beauty, and grow our appreciation for the natural world. So to think that Congress is handing out permits for oil and gas companies to frack on our public lands is deeply upsetting. Help spread the word by sharing our list of the Top 13 Parks Threatened by Fracking.

We’ve compiled a site with pictures and stories of each of the 13 most threatened national parks. With your help, we can stop oil and gas companies from harming these special places. Take a moment to learn more about the threat of fracking in our national forests, then pass our site along to a few friends! You can share it through email by copying the page link, or on social media by using the share buttons next to each postcard.

Our public lands are too important to be tarnished by the oil and gas industry, just for a limited supply of cheap natural gas. Show your love for national parks and forests by sharing ‘The Top 13 Parks Threatened by Fracking’ with a few friends, and encouraging them to sign the petition!

Thanks

Www.fwwatch.org

FOOD & WATER WATCH • 1616 P STREET NW, SUITE 300
WASHINGTON, DC 20036 • TEL: (202) 683-2500

Fire Restrictions Upgraded

NEWS RELEASE

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres National Forest Elevates Fire Restrictions

GOLETA, CA, August 26, 2014…Due to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, Los Padres National Forest officials today announced that Level IV fire restrictions will go into effect beginning today, August 26, 2014. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until the end of the declared fire season:

Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest including designated Campfire Use sites; however persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel within the designated Campfire Use Sites only. California Campfire Permits are available for free download from the Los Padres National Forest website (http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf). You must clear all flammable material for a distance of five feet in all directions from your camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when it is in use.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit with the Forest; however, hunting with a valid State of California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from this restriction.

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site.

Fireworks are prohibited at all times and in all locations within Los Padres National Forest.

Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.)

Violators are subject to a $5,000 fine and/or six months in jail, and could be liable for the full cost of any fire suppression activities that result from their actions. For further information regarding current conditions as well as safety tips, contact your nearest Forest Service office or visit the Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf

Mother Nature says it is Fall

It has been cooling down, more and more each night until Sunday night I closed all windows and doors and donned my silk long johns. I know. The last hurrah of summer is this weekend with Labor Day, and the Fall Equinox is still 3 weeks away, but Mother Nature is following her own calendar … Not ours.

Foto Friday, 8/22, posted on a Monday

The Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarious)

IMG_2106-21

Wild Orcid (Piperia elegans) This was pointed out to me by Barbara Woyt just two weeks ago.

Sorry I am so very late with this. I tried since Friday. If it was an emergency, I would have sent to Debbie or Mike to post. Thanks for having my back, Debbie and Mike!<