Tag: Big Sur

Big Sur Information

Header photo by bigsurkate

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AS OF 3/10/26 — HIGHWAY ONE IS OPEN ALL THE WAY THRU FROM CARMEL TO CAMBRIA. There are a number of areas that have only one lane due to maintenance and/or construction with wait times of up to 15 mins.

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Links for phone users who can’t see the links to the right without scrolling through two years of posts. I’ll start with just a few, but if you have others you wish to see here, let me know.

Big Sur Maps (3) with slide names, locations, etc.: https://bigsurkate.blog/big-sur-interactive-highway-maps-with-slide-names-mile-markers/

Caltrans Interactive Map: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

CHP dispatch: https://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx

 

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Interactive Highway Map with Mile Markers and slide names is to the right, under “Pages” first one *Big Sur Interactive Maps... if the following link doesn’t work. *Big Sur Interactive Slide Maps will answer any questions you may have about where something is in relation to something else.

MY DIRECT EMAIL IS: kwnovoa(AT)mac(dot)com

 

New Health Center Executive Director

Big Sur Health Center has announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Kathie Lester. Kathie has more than 25 years of diverse experience in healthcare program management, nonprofit leadership, and business operations.

With her appointment, Kathie will replace Sharen Carey, who is stepping down from her long-time role as Executive Director. Lester is poised to lead the Health Center into an exciting new chapter of service to the Big Sur community and surrounding Central Coast region. After a transition period, Carey will remain on staff as Grants Administrator.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kathie to the Big Sur Health Center team,” said Health Center Board President, Derric Oliver. “Her extensive experience, combined with her deep understanding of healthcare systems, nonprofit management, and community advocacy, aligns perfectly with our mission to provide accessible and compassionate care to our patients. We are confident her leadership will strengthen our programs and enhance the lives of those we serve.”

A graduate of The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lester began her career in social services, driven by a passion for advocating on behalf of underrepresented communities. Her early work with the American Lung Association in Minneapolis focused on nonprofit management, fund development, financial management, communication strategies, and event planning. This foundation ignited her long-standing commitment to serving communities in need and addressing critical social and environmental issues.

In Spokane, Washington, Kathie served as an Agency Program Director for a homeless shelter dedicated to victims of domestic violence, where she oversaw emergency services, provided critical support to clients, and led teams of staff and volunteers. Her leadership and compassionate approach ensured the delivery of essential resources to individuals and families in crisis.

Upon relocating to Southern California, Lester expanded her expertise by managing billing best practices for a private medical practice for eight years. Most recently, she has spent the last decade directing residential treatment facilities for adolescents, furthering her ability to combine strategic leadership with personalized care.

Carey, who is retiring from her role as the Executive Director after 40 years of dedicated leadership at the Health Center said: “I’m excited to pass the torch to Kathie. Her experience, passion, and dedication make her the perfect person to lead the Health Center into its next chapter. I have no doubt the community will embrace her, just as they have supported me over the years.”

 Lester’s philanthropic spirit and personal interests reflect her commitment to the community and the environment. She is an animal rescue advocate, an avid hiker, and an enthusiastic traveler and music lover. As she steps into her new role, Lester is excited to explore all that Big Sur and the Central Coast have to offer while immersing herself in the region’s unique culture and natural beauty.

“I am truly honored to join the Big Sur Health Center as its new Executive Director,” she said. “The Health Center plays an invaluable role in this community, and I look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff and board members to continue providing high-quality care and strengthening the Health Center’s impact. I am eager to meet community members and contribute to this vital mission.”

The Big Sur Health Center is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality medical care to the residents, workers, and visitors of Big Sur. Under Lester’s leadership, the Health Center will remain steadfast in its dedication to addressing healthcare disparities, expanding access, and supporting the overall well-being of the community.

Wildfire Preparedness Week Events

files.constantcontact.com/fac05d5d601/d8a7fa93-9fd3-4b68-9890-24ccc8ec8f8a.pdf

The images below are screen shots. If you wish to download the images so you have the clickable links, do so at the link above.

Sunday Photo, 10/23/22

Dry Seasonal Creek in Fog

Trees in Fog

I love this time of year, cool nights, warm days (sometimes) or foggy days, great for photos.

Sunday Photos, 8/21/2022

Song of Trees continued: These are the trees that planted themselves after the Wild Fire of 1996. This spot had been dozed for a fire break. I had never seen the view as the manzanita, ceanothus, and chemise was so tall and thick. After the clearing when I finally saw the view. That was it. That was where I would build my house.

My three self-planted Big Leaf Maples. I watered them the first year, but then weaned them off of supplemental water. Same with the oak below. They were so tiny when I first discovered them. I had to protect them against critters, weedeaters, etc. and now, so tall and strong and handsome. They are happy hee.
And this is the majestic Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) that doesn’t grow up this high, per the Oak Foundation. I have others that are at least 100 years old up here, so they do like this environment and are happy to have another in their group.

And for those of you not on social media, here is what Weds looked like while we waited to see if this was going to come with dry lightning.

Another Heat Advisory, 6/17/21

Advisory: Excessive Heat Warning

Excessive Heat Warning Location: Cities of Greenfield and King City, Interior Monterey County, Southern Salinas Valley, Arroyo Seco, Lake San Antonio, Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, Pinnacles National Park Duration: 6/17/2021 11:00 AM to 6/18/2021 1:00 PM Description: Excessive Heat Warning means dangerously hot conditions with temperatures from 98 to 108 expected. More Info: https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=58213407

Photo Sunday, 6/13/21

Feel free to copy this and distribute it in whatever manner you choose. Let’s make this the summer we educate our visitors to change their behavior.

DCF 1.0

Drone Footage by @CaltransD5 of Rat Creek

COVID-19 comes to Big Sur

***I have turned off comments for this post. It doesn’t matter which restaurant. Since this published, I have heard of several others, but not verified. Cars packed all parking lots and along both sides of the highway from Nepenthe to River Inn Saturday. Lots of out of state plates. Whichever businesses that did not have it before, will in the next few weeks. It will spread all up and down the coast as it has along every major artery along the east coast, thru the south and in the west and mid-west. As Sharen Carey says, “Assume it is here and act accordingly.” Now we know it is. Make your own choices for you, but always wear a mask for others.***

Big Sur went over three months without a single case of coronavirus. The quarantines, social distancing and masks had worked, but it couldn’t stay closed forever. The closure was taking its toll on businesses and employees. And so, like the rest of Monterey County, and the State of California, we opened in stages.

After restaurants were opened for indoors dining, a restaurant was informed by an employee that s/he had tested positive for the virus on Thursday. The restaurant immediately implemented all workplace exposure guidelines put out by the Monterey Health Department and notified them. The restaurant also told the employee to stay home until cleared by his/her health care provider.

Friday evening, a notice went out to all employees about the exposure. Testing was implemented on any employee who may have been within six feet of the employee for 15 minutes or more. Every guideline was met and implemented.

I contacted the manager of the restaurant for any further information early this morning, but he did not respond. I also contacted two other Big Sur businesses to see if the restaurant manager had provided any information to them, and neither was aware that COVID-19 had shown up in Big Sur.

I contacted Sharen Carey, Executive Director of the Big Sur Health Center who told me that there are currently two cases of COVID in Big Sur. Of course, due to privacy concerns, no further information is available about either case.

We will probably never know if this case was caught from a visitor outside the area, from a family or friend, or while in town. There are many variables that come into play. As Sharen Carey has been telling us for three months, assume it is here, and act accordingly. Implement social distancing, wear masks, and stay home if sick or high risk.

Sometimes, I have to wonder if I will ever get to visit my favorite Big Sur places again. I miss them, and my friends. I don’t think being a hermit becomes me.

For insight into other rural “gateway” communities facing this pandemic and the need to open to survive, see: https://apple.news/AbuEvWMmXRF6ojpYwSmK8fA\

 

Coast Road, SF Chron 1959 & Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This seems to dovetail well with yesterday’s post. Another clipping sent to me by Sylvia Trotter Anderson.

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