Half Moon Bay March 2012 by Wick Communications

T h e

h o M e

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G a r D e N

2012

a r C h

I s s u e

Half Moon Bay 

A Y

Keeping Ken Kesey’s spirit alive in La Honda  new generation of farmers  Repurposing in Montara home

Devil’s slide, Montara

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Half Moon Bay 

half

moon

on the cover

Devil’s Slide, Joe Altwer Oil on Panel, 9x12, 2011

“After travelling between Italy and Moss Beach for the last 6 years, I often forget about what a beautiful place we live in. I’m always driving, focused on the road, or caught up in daily tasks. But once you stop and take a look around, it is truly an amazing place. The cliff at Devil’s Slide, for example, tells a story with its rocky remains poking out from the water reminding us of what once was.” www.josephaltwer.blogspot.com www.grenninggallery.com View more of Joe’s work at Caffe Lucca, 8465 Cabrillo Hwy., Montara

from the artist

Publisher Bill Murray Editor Clay Lambert Writers Lily Bixler, Mark Noack, Stacy Trevenon COPY EDITOR Julie Gerth Photographer Charles Russo design Bill Murray, Mark Restani Business Office Barbara Anderson Circulation Sonia Myers Advertising Sales Linda Pettengill, Louise Strutner, Susan Verlander, Barbara Dinnsen Find us 714 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019, (650) 726-4424, www.hmbreview.com HALF MOON BAY is published the first week of every month and inserted in the Half Moon Bay Review. The entire contents of the magazine are also available online at hmbreview.com. ©2012, Half Moon Bay Review

bay



publisher’s note

more than meets the eye

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few weeks ago Joe Altwer came into our office — which is not uncommon since he works with us distributing the paper — and said that heard we were featuring artwork of Coastside scenes on the cover of the magazine this year. I said, “Why? Do you know of some painters?” And then, luckily, I caught myself and added, “Are you an artist Joe Altwer yourself?” Indeed he is, and a mighty fine one at that. It just made me pause. Joe, by all accounts, is one of the most soft-spoken people you’ll ever meet. Yet behind that quiet façade is a heap of solid talent in a field not necessarily populated by 20-somethings. Turns out he has been studying landscape and figurative painting in Florence for the past 6 years (and sharpening his streetstyle skateboarding skills at the same time). Distributing newspapers for the Review by day and walking in the footsteps of impressionists at the same time. Kind of makes you wonder: Who else is walking around in a utilitarian hat only to don a much more creative one in a free moment? ¶ Our writer Mark Noack profiles one such former Coastsider in this month’s magazine. When Mark Noack pitched his idea of writing a story about Ken Kesey’s old house in La Honda, it made me remember a story my Mom once told about her early days as a nurse in the Bay Area in the late 1950s. She worked in a mental health ward and, at least on one occassion, was asked by an orderly who worked with her if she would take a read of a story he was trying to write. She obliged but didn’t think much of it at the time. Although heavily stylized, the story, she says, was based heavily on events and the staff at work. Turns out, of course, that this story would soon be published. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” first came out 50 years ago and remains one of the most celebrated works in American literature. And, yes, my mom says their boss was pretty strict — but not quite Nurse Ratched strict. ¶ Please check out the story of Bill Johnston's Montara home filled with repurposed materials. First and foremost, the unique designs are just plain cool — a blend of industrial and natural wood. Urban hip meets homey charm. What’s more, all that scrap is serving another purpose by not adding to the pile at Ox Mountain. I’m jealous of all that creativity. Hats off to Joe and Ken and Bill, and all those honing hidden talents. Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think. —Bill Murray, Publisher

bill@hmbreview.com

M A R C H

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contents M

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Home Equity

Line of Cred

3.25

PreView

Little League opening Day, Blue Blanket improv, sports Hall of Fame, Mel Mello Day, Beer and Cheese tasting Page 7

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KeePinG Kesey’s sPirit aliVe Artist groups drawn to scenic spots to draw inspiration for paintings Page 16

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new generation drawn to agriculture despite challenges Page 26

Hail to tHe cHef one of our most delicious coastal treats need not be plain Page 33

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on scene take a look at a sampling of the Chamber of Commerce Members who attended the awards dinner in January Page 35

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usbank.com | 888-444-BANK (2265) * 3.25% Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on Equiline Home Equity Lines of Credit with a U.S. Bank Package, and a 70% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. U.S. Bank Package required. The interest rate will be fixed at 3.25% during the 6-month introductory period. APR is 3.25%. After the six-month introductory period, the APR will vary with Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal for lines of credit with a minimum line size of $20,000 - $125,000 depending on market. As of January 30, 2012, the variable rate for lines of credit ranges from 3.25% APR to 9.25% APR. Higher rates apply for higher LTV or lower credit limit. The rate will not vary above 25% APR nor below 3.25% APR. An annual fee up to $90 may apply after the first year. Offer is subject to normal credit qualifications. Rates are subject to change. Property insurance is required. Consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of interest. Some M Lines A R of C Credit H 2 are 0 1 offered 2 � through H a U.S. l fBank M National o o n Association B a y ND. � ©2012 5 restrictions may apply. Home Equity Loans and U.S. Bancorp, U.S. Bank. Member FDIC

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PreView

Mar.2012

MARCH 10TH

PLAy BALL!

The sound of boys and girls playing baseball echoes in full voice with opening Day ceremonies for the Half Moon Bay Little League. About 300 Coastside children have signed up to play in a season that runs till June. The first games, taking place at Smith Field, start at 8:30 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. Admission to games and the ceremony is free. For information, contact president@hmbbaseball.org.

iMPRoV FoR LAuGHs At oDD FeLLows HALL

March 10 Join Blue Blanket Improv for high-energy belly laughs at 7 p.m. at the Ocean view Odd Fellows Lodge at 526 Main St. in Half Moon Bay. The audience gets to be part of the show by tossing out suggestions and ideas for this local improv troupe to act out and build on. Refreshments available.

sALute tHe sPoRts HALL oF FAMe

March 24 The first Half Moon Bay High School Sports Hall of Fame dinner takes place at the Oceano Hotel & Spa. Cocktails will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner. The 12-person class includes Brad Walters, Silas Moore, Fausto villegas, Laura Terada, Karen villa, Craig Branstrom, Tony Ackerman, Jim emery, John Pepper, Becky Schmidt-Hollenshead and coaches Jack Coolidge and Luis Mintegui. Contact hammerstromk@gmail.com.

it’s MAGiC

March 24 To bring together the Coastside community and local nonprofits, plus a little fundraising, the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay Foundation presents “The Magic of the Coastside.” Appetizers at 5:30 p.m. and a cracked crab and artichoke dinner at 7 p.m. will be topped off with a show by magician Jay Alexander. Tickets are $50 at the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and visitors’ Bureau, Alifano Technologies or Weller/O’Brien Insurance. www. hmbrotary.org.

sALute CoAstsiDeRs wHo MAKe tHinGs GRow

March 30 The 43rd annual Mel Mello Farm Day luncheon blends a delicious lunch, prepared by Coastsiders involved with the agricultural community, with honoring local individuals for sound practices, dedication, and contributions to the industry and the community. Farmer of the Year, Dolores Mullin “Like a Rock” and glenn Ashcraft Chamber Community Service are the awards. Tickets are $25/advance and $30/at the door; call 726-8380.

BeeR AnD CHeese FoR tHe tAstinG

March 22 The sixth annual Artisan Cheese Festival takes place later this month in Petaluma. But, if you don’t want to go that far, you can enjoy a sampling of beers paired with an equally eclectic range of cheeses at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. The local brewery and restaurant, located at 390 Capistrano Road in Princeton, is starting off with a month of related events in honor of the festival, which takes place March 23-25. All month there will be a tasting menu of four Northern California cheeses paired with house-made beers by Brewmaster Kirk Hillyard. Some of the names will be familiar: Harley Farms Fromage Blanc and Chevre from Pescadero. Also scheduled is an Artisan Beer and Cheese Dinner on Thursday, March 22. It begins with a 6 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 7 p.m. It will highlight cheese in each course and will be paired with several of Hillyard’s brews. M A R C H

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 dwellings

“homeRethink recycl “Fortunately, I have friendswithtrucks.” — Bill Johnston, Montarahomeowner

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Coastsider has unusual

take on building

from scratch By Stacy Trevenon Photos by Charles Russo

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ill Johnston’s eyes twinkle as he gestures impatiently. “Come on, I’ll show you,” he says. “This is just too cool.” In his garage shop, the criminal defense lawyer points to a tall, dark brown case that looks like an old steamer trunk from the 1920s. He found it at Stanford University’s surplus sales department, haggled the $250 price tag to $100, put it into his orange Honda Element and went back to court. “The next day, two lawyers asked why I had a coffin in my truck,” he said. “It’ll be a conversation piece.” A stroll through the Montara home Johnston shares with wife Ayn can unleash hours of such conversations. “I’ve always been somebody who likes to repurpose things,” he said. “I'm always entertained by the creative use of materials.” He hired Half Moon Bay architect Ed Love to help him build his new home and crisscrossed the Bay Area to find retail bargains, homeowners in transition and deconstruction sales. “Fortunately, I have friends with trucks,” he said. After slicing their initial $800,000 building budget in half, the Johnstons repurposed their former home into a rental unit, and in

Above: In the Johnston kitchen, much of the cabinetry came from a Gunn High School remodel and is placed under countertops that were once school blackboards. Right: Bill Johnston relaxes in his living room beneath a ceiling of salvaged two-byeights and within sight of his “eclectic” stair unit.

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thinking cycling

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“Ithinkthe contrast between smoothfinished elements andthose more raw, is interesting.”

Counterclockwise from above: Straight ahead is the Thermador gas range and blackboard countertops from home and school remodels, the huge dining table made of manufactured wood and the restructured stair unit. A peek through the stair supports offers the same view from the other side. The clawfoot tub in the bathroom off the kitchen came from a remodel of the Zaballa House that brought the inn up to ADA standards.

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2011 moved into a 3,800-square-foot new home. It’s a museum of sorts, filled with found objects. ☞Layers of plywood and aluminum over double-paned glass, with four-inch peep holes for the couple’s three “mutts,” make a tall front door from the Alan Steele metal salvage yard in Redwood City. ☞The entry’s marble tiles from Twice as Nice lead past stairs made from two units that Johnston cut apart and took to Princeton Welding to refashion. “I fell in love with the sculptural aspect. It’s rather eclectic.” ☞There is the 200-pound quartz and granite boulder chosen by Ayn Johnston. A friend backed his pickup into a Gold Country creek to collect it. ☞Two majestic, 9-by-12-foot mahogany doors were purchased from a friend after haggling the price down to $1,000 from $3,000. They open into his home office. ☞The 3-by-9-foot dining table that seats eight (maybe recalling Johnston’s childhood with 11 siblings) is made of “parallel strand laminate” manufactured wood. ☞Johnston “can look around (the kitchen) and see only two items that are new, retail: Ikea shelves and two Lowe’s pendant lights. The countertops were slate blackboards from Bay Area schools and “destined for the Dumpster” and the sixburner Thermador gas range and double ovens respectively came from Hillsborough and Atherton home remodels. ☞Three thousand linear feet of salvaged two-by-eights make the groundfloor ceiling. ☞Upstairs are bedroom doors from San Jose’s Notre Dame High retrofit, salvaged bath vanities and Brazilian cherry floors from a salvage yard. ☞Trim from salvaged first-growth redwood lends a Craftsman touch that pulls elements together. It’s utilitarian, yet aesthetic. “I think the contrast between smooth-finished elements and those more raw, is interesting,” he said. The house has been green-rated, he said, for reasons like extra-thick insulated walls, energy-efficient appliances and forced-air heating. It’s also therapeutic. “This is the antithesis” to the legal work, he said. “It’s very hands-on. I can sit down with tools to manipulate something quite beautiful. (Law) is external and helps someone, but it isn’t something to hold. 

Clockwise from top: Bill Johnston proudly stands by a recent acquisition, a harp case he found at Stanford University’s surplus sales department. A collection of stuffed animals is set up under the ceiling of salvaged two-by-eights in the master bedroom. An outdoor shower, strategically placed behind a big eucalyptus tree for privacy, offers refreshment after a dip in the hot tub as well as a spot to wash the dogs.

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 DweLLinGs

“taking ownership of this house gave me an opportunity to restore a relic of that movement going way back to the ’60s. (this house) seemed like a direct path for my life.”

— teRRy ADAMs, LA HonDA ResiDent

Author Ken Kesey was a polarizing figure and many in La Honda recall the problems that followed in his wake. COURTeSY TeRRY ADAMS

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visiting psychic entering Terry Adams’ cabin on the outskirts of La Honda was immediately struck as if by a bolt of lightning. “It was like he hit a wall. He said, ‘Oh my god, there are heavy vibes in this place,’” Adams recalled. “It was like he was picking up conflict vibes of some sort of astral battleground.” The place sure looked like a war zone when Adams first saw it. Bullet rounds and whiskey bottles littered the floor along with two doors stolen from a police car. It was 1997, and Adams was thinking about purchasing the hovel off La Honda Road, fully aware that it came with a poltergeist. The spirit’s name is Ken Kesey, the larger-than-life author who, during the 1960s, made the cottage in the redwoods an artists’ enclave for his commune of drug-driven Merry Pranksters. A fan of Kesey’s writing since his student days, Adams wanted to preserve the author’s old La Honda house, a location he described as the “Shroud of Turin” for the psychedelic culture. “Taking ownership of this house

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An old piano, apparently painted by Ken Kesey, still has a place in his former La Honda home, now owned by Terry Adams.

La Honda man carries on Merry Prankster mantra

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dals tore out some of the collages painted on the walls. A drunken gave me a opportunity to restore a relic of that movement going relative of one Merry Prankster visited and demanded Adams let way back to the ’60s,” he said. “(This house) seemed like a direct him take a decorated wallboard as a souvenir. path for my life.” In February 1998, the La Honda Creek flooded, sending two In the 1960s, Kesey was a human totem of the psychedelic feet of water inside the house. The flood washed out the footmovement, and years of parties, squatters and revelry left his pad bridge, knocked over two walls and left about a foot of silt on the in a decrepit mess. The walls were peppered with mold, soot and floor. One week later, someone looted the house, stealing Adams’ holes. One edge of the house was supported by a coffee tin filled electronics, a motorcycle and thousands of dollars in tools. with concrete. His reserve of goodwill bottoming out, Adams found himself The psychic who picked up on astral vibes was actually touring posting a “Keep the Fuck Out!” sign outside the cabin as a kind of the house for his day job, assessing the building to see if Adams anti-welcome mat to the world. could qualify for a $199,000 bank loan. The bank ultimately rejected the loan. KeseY’s legaCY Thanks to the help of a mutual friend, Adams later hammered out a personal deal to pay Kesey directly for the house, a place he hadn’t called home for decades. The two met for the first time esey has been and remains a controversial figure for La when they closed the deal. Their only other meeting was a 1999 Honda, the town that became his “hill-country verreunion party at the cabin organized by a British film crew to send sailles” in Tom Wolfe’s book, “The electric Kool-Aid off Kesey on a late-life bus trip to find Merlin the wizard. Acid Test.” Kesey died in 2001, but “The citizens of La Honda and others would by acquiring the cabin, start wondering … what are the ninnies doAdams hoped to keep ing?” Wolfe wrote. “What do these kids come alive some of the Prankfrom, broken homes or what? Sometimes it was ster magic — that comethe MerrY PranKsters social — Are these kids alienated? Is our society one, come-all spirit of The Merry Pranksters take their place getting rotten at the core?” revolution and fraternity. alongside the Black Panthers and the Chicago Back in the early ’60s, Kesey and his crew In taking over the home, Seven as iconic groups that will be forever began rhapsodizing about LSD, the hallucinoAdams discovered he had associated with the 1960s. The Pranksters regenic drug that was then legal and being tested also inherited Kesey’s leftvolved around Kesey and were known for their by the U.S. government on civilians. When the overs, including souvenirepic trips aboard a bus they dubbed “Furthur.” troupe migrated to La Honda in 1963, they welhungry fans, squatters and They didn’t shy from the drugs of the day and comed seemingly any artist, youth or transient some resentful locals. included beat mascot Neal Cassady and the to join their bacchanalia. Soon after buying the grateful Dead among their loose confederaOne of those followers was Redwood City house, vannative Roy Sebern, who remembers driving out tion. The Merry Pranksters were said to have to La Honda in the Chevy sedan that doubled introduced the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang as his bed. Kesey’s one-bedroom home to LSD, and to have caused problems in La became his home, Honda and elsewhere.

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The Cuckoo’s Nest

Once owned by author and Merry Prankster Ken Kesey, the La Honda property along Highway 84 was the sight of numerous counterculture parties, including those made famous in Tom Wolfe’s book, “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.”

Kesey was known as a real-life version of the supercharged McMurphy character from his book, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” That book, published 50 years ago this year, remains one of the most-read American novels ever written. It was based loosely on his experiences working at a veterans hospital in Menlo Park and dealt with the forced conformity of modern society. Some readers thought it also took aim at the emasculation of the American man. Time magazine listed it among the 100 greatest Englishlanguage novels ever written.

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he said. He built his own little shanty off the cabin with some repurposed wood and windows. “It was a party there all the time,” he said. “There was a kind of friendliness in the group and Kesey in particular; it encouraged a person to become whole in his personality and knowledge of himself.” Kesey’s welcoming attitude and status as a folk celebrity made him a magnet for both positive and negative energies. The town, up until then a summertime retreat for San Franciscans, found itself suddenly the West Coast’s ground zero for the burgeoning ’60s counterculture and its backlash. Some residents and locals still pin the blame on Kesey for turning their town into a rough-and-tumble destination for drug addicts and biker gangs. “Kesey brought problem after problem to La Honda,” said lifelong local resident Dan Caughey. “I don’t know why people celebrate him. Ninety-nine percent of them weren’t here at the time, and they think that the guy who wrote, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ must be a great guy.” A San Mateo County Sheriff ’s deputy for more than 33 years, Caughey remembers the period as a nonstop series of calls stemming from the Merry Pranksters’ misadventures. Sheriff ’s deputies and federal narcotics officials regularly kept the cabin under surveillance. More than anything else, Caughey blamed Kesey for ruining La Honda Days, the town’s family parade and fundraiser for the local volunteer firefighters. Kesey was welcoming the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang to parties at his cabin, and La Honda had become the bikers’ new favorite destination. M A R C H

For the 1970 La Honda Days, about 75 bikers essentially took over the town, flooding the town’s three bars and blocking off the western highway entrance. Caughey, his partner, and two reserve patrolmen were the only law enforcement for the town, and they saw the town parade devolve into a riot. One biker knocked over an elderly woman and ran over her with his motorcycle, Caughey said. He received a possible rape call from Venturi’s bar, where an intoxicated woman had her clothes and jewelry torn off. The bar was packed with biker thugs, he said, and all the deputies went in together to pull out the woman. One of the bikers yanked away an officer’s baton, Caughey remembers. Sheriff ’s deputies ended up hiding with the victims at La Honda Elementary School while they waited for a rescue helicopter to land. “It was the first and last time that we had to hide out and wait for help,” he said. “Now I know that Kesey didn’t say, ‘Go wreck the town.’ It wasn’t like he was leading them, but he did invite them.” After the mess, deputies and local firefighters decided to cancel the parade for good. Other La Honda residents recall Kesey in a better light. The former Boots and Saddles lodge owner Mack McCarty used to point customers to his barroom wall to admire a poem that was a gift from Kesey. Marcy Steiner, who grew up on nearby Skyline Boulevard during the ’60s, thought Kesey and his entourage brought a light-hearted festivity to town, which may have riled up some of the older folks. She later opened the Merry Prankster Café in La

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Restoring Ken Kesey’s old La Honda house and keeping the spirit of the Merry Pranksters alive has been an obsession of current owner Terry Adams.

Honda, which closed down in 2003. Lifelong resident Pam McReynolds remembered Kesey sitting with his wife, Faye, like all the other parents to see their children perform in the La Honda Elementary School annual Christmas play. “He was dressed pretty much like everyone else, except he had these bright red, sparkly shoes,” she said. Keeper of the flame

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aving now lived in the house for more than a decade, Adams has come to become a sort of curator for Kesey and the Prankster years. He knew Kesey could be a divisive figure, pointing out that even some former friends became alienated from him over the years. “He was charismatic and fascinating, but he had this big ego,” he said. “At times he wasn’t too easy to get along with.” When Adams first came to La Honda, he felt a cold shoulder from some La Honda residents. But any resentment has now vanished, Adams says, pointing out that he has become closely woven into the fabric of the

community. A true blue-collar man, he works as Public Works manager for the local water utility. He is also a prolific writer, producing poetry and essays along with co-hosting the monthly literature meetings in town. Many have opened up about their own dalliances with Kesey’s troupe. “It’s amazing the number of people around town who tell me, ‘Yeah, I got laid there,” he chuckled. Adams came to admire Kesey during a stranger-than-fiction period in his own life. During the Vietnam War years, he served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command Headquarters, a job that he says gave him access to the targeting instructions of the U.S. nuclear warhead arsenal. Troubled by serving as “postmaster for World War III,” he severed his ties with the military as a conscientious objector in 1972. That decision was due in no small part to Kesey’s mantra of compassion and human truth, he said. Now 68 years old, Adams freely admits taking LSD as a “wonderful awakening experience” for him in the 1970s, and he said Kesey’s role in the counterculture is still something he admires.

After the water damage and thefts, Adams spent several months meticulously repairing the cabin, raising the home by five feet to prevent another flood. Most of the original psychedelic décor is gone. He put up a rainbow flag and Christmas lights, but the home today more resembles a cozy lodge than an artist’s retreat. An old friend donated Kesey’s old upright piano, decorated in a kaleidoscope of colors. Today Adams welcomes most visitors to his house, such as student field trips from Pescadero High School and the occasional tourist or journalist. For the first few years, Adams tried to revive the zany, creative mega-parties that Kesey preferred. He had “three or four” huge shindigs, but he remembers the loud music and crowd being a true endurance test. “If I was 40 years younger, I’m sure I’d be doing outrageous things,” he said. “At least there’s always a good feeling here, and I can’t help but feeling that it’s due to the house.” 

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Pilarcitos High School junior Juan Moreno, Jr. waters one of the many trees recently planted during the school’s new gardening program.

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A garden grows at Pilarcitos

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he Pilarcitos Alternative School appears a dingy temporary building in some ways. Traditionally, the school on Kelly Avenue, just west of Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, has lacked some of the murals, plantings and other improvements that make area schools so inviting. “It looked lonely,” said Pilarcitos junior Juan Moreno. He said the school had no color. But he knew how to change that. With paint-stained hands revealing his love for art class, Moreno plants onions and green tomatoes at home for his mom. This fall, Moreno suggested to teacher Ian Licata that they reseed grass in front of the school. That idea was the impetus behind a partnership between Pilarcitos and the HEAL Project, long known for helping Cabrillo Unified School District educators plant a love of gardening and good food in young minds. Licata got in touch with HEAL and learned that, due to ongoing improvements at nearby Cunha Intermediate School that have rendered the field temporarily out of bounds, HEAL was looking for another school to participate in the program. The idea grew from there. Now, several months later, HEAL and Pilarcitos students meet every Thursday morning to work in the garden. “(The gardening class) brings the kids a sense of pride and ownership in the school,” Licata said. He explained that sprucing up the school’s façade helps the students feel that, “the school is theirs,” not just an institution. On a recent Thursday morning, three or four students were weeding scraggily grass bordering the walkway and transplanting decorative grasses along the path. “How long do you think it will take to get this high?” one student asked using a hand shovel to indicate a height about three feet above the small grassy mount he’d just planted. Renie Figone-Hacker, an AmeriCorps service member who works with HEAL on the school garden project, said it depends on the rain. Licata said Pilarcitos plans to expand the gardening program to incorporate nutrition classes. Students hope to build a greenhouse and plant fruit trees on campus this spring. — Lily Bixler

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M A R C H

een on farming but having little experience, — Brian Coltrin wanted to stake a living in agriculture even though he knew at the outset he was signing up for hard work and little pay. It was 2008, and he was just getting ready to leave a sustainable agriculture apprenticeship at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His classmates split off to different careers: some looking to join urban farm nonprofits, others launching public-school gardens. Coltrin wanted to be more of a typical son of the soil, producing the best fruits and veggies possible and selling them at a fair price. Coltrin looks at it as a small step toward saving the world. A former tutor for troubled children, he envisioned a sustainable-practice farm with visiting packs of students getting their hands dirty in the fields. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could get more kids connected to the land?” he said. “I’m drawn to that goal of social entrepreneurship, giving people healthy food and getting groups out on the farm.” Coltrin and his friend Miranda Roberts had a lucky break when their classmate Paul Richardson asked if they wanted to join him in launching a new farm on a few acres of his parents’ property in Pescadero. Better yet, they now had a tractor and other expensive equipment they could borrow. The new partners recall being high on excitement, going a little overboard as they bought more than 40 different kinds of seeds for the maiden crop of Fat Cabbage Farm. It sure seemed like a winning recipe. Fast-forward four years to February 2012, and Coltrin is now packing up his equipment at the farm. After three years of trying to make it happen, the rigors of farm life have been too much to bear, so he’s decided to take off for proverbial greener pastures. In this case, that means a white-collar job working for the California Certified Organic Farmers association. Now 36 years old, he remains upbeat about the future of sustainable agriculture, even though he’s no longer a producer. He insists

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MUSIC

Maggi Aaronson, co-owner of Fat Cabbage Farms in Pescadero, readies seedlings in her greenhouse on a weekday in February. She is part of a new generation of farmers who feel a special connection to the land and the food they eat.

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Amy Ridout is production manager at Pie Ranch. She is preparing the soil to plant new apple trees.

he’s still gung-ho about farming, but nonstop weeks rising at 6 a.m., sleeping in a trailer and eating nothing but his homegrown veggies have colored his green aspirations. There were aspects he definitely enjoyed, like interacting with farmers market customers up in San Francisco. But, in short, he’s too tired and poor to keep at it. “It was a lot of sacrifice,” he said. “I saw the trajectory for my farm, and it could have doubled in revenues … but it was killing me in terms of physical labor.” He is hardly alone. Starting and sustaining a farm is notoriously difficult. The stakes are high, but farmers agree on the importance of growing a new crop of trained farmers. The average California farmer is 55 years old, according to a 2008 University of California, Davis, study. Veteran farmers say interest among millennials has never been higher, but the new generation of farmers faces a bevy of challenges.

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peaking before a predominantly young audience at the EcoFarm conference last month in Monterey, Auburn rancher Dan Macon shared a chart showing the usual pattern he sees in startup farms. The first year is a euphoric rush, he said, but then the fantasy hits the ground pretty hard. “By the second year, a new farmer is saying ‘Wow, this is a lot of work,’” Macon said. “By year six, they’re saying, ‘Geez, I’m working 80 hours a week, and I’m barely making minimum wage!’” Being a farmer is a schizophrenic business. It requires a combination of horticulturalist, entrepreneur, engineer, salesman and scientist. Macon pointed out that many of those skills were once passed informally to him through his family, but many new farmers don’t come from that background. Even for a small-scale farmer, the workload is a huge burden, rushing from toiling in the fields, to maintaining equipment, to harvesting crops, to zipping off on the weekends to a farmers market. The initial shock of farming rang true for 34-year-old Roberts, who is still holding the line at Fat Cabbage

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Because handshake still Because Because Because Because aahandshake aahandshake ahandshake handshake still still still still se a handshake still means more than click means means means means more more more more than than than than aamouse amouse amouse amouse mouse click click click click s more than a mouse clickSure, Sure, there arelots lots oflots good Sure, Sure, there Sure, there there are there are are are lots oflots good of ofgood ofgood good Sure, there are lots of good

ButBut when itcomes comes insurance But when But But when when itwhen it itcomes itcomes comes totoinsurance to toinsurance toinsurance insurance you need more than just value. you you need you you need need more need more more than more than than just than just value. just just value. value. value. But when it comes to insurance You deserve Premier Service. You You deserve You You deserve deserve deserve Premier Premier Premier Premier Service. Service. Service. Service. you need more than just value. Andthat’s that’s what you’ll getget And And that’s that’s what that’s what what you’ll what you’ll you’ll get you’ll get get You deserve Premier Service. AndAnd from our agency and Allied from from from our from our agency our our agency agency agency and and Allied and and Allied Allied Allied And that’s what you’ll get Insurance. WeWe take time Insurance. Insurance. Insurance. We take We We take time take take time time toto time tototo from our agency and Allied Insurance. getget to know you and your get to get know get to to know to know you know you and you you and your and and your your your Insurance. We take time to insurance needs. And Allied insurance insurance insurance needs. needs. needs. needs. And And Allied And And Allied Allied Allied get to know you and your insurance

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720 Kelly Avenue 720 720 Kelly 720 720 Kelly Kelly Avenue Kelly Avenue Avenue Avenue Half Moon Bay Half Half Half Moon Half Moon Moon Moon Bay Bay Bay Bay 720 Kelly Avenue 726-6328 726-6328 726-6328 726-6328 726-6328 Half Moon Bay kevin@wellerobrien.com kevin@wellerobrien.com kevin@wellerobrien.com kevin@wellerobrien.com kevin@wellerobrien.com 726-6328 License 0C17330 License License License License License ##0C17330 ## # 0C17330 0C17330 # 0C17330 0C17330 kevin@wellerobrien.com

Custom Hand-builtwww.sagegreenhouses.com Redwood Greenhouses installed Covering the entire Bay Area 650.892.1290

650-892-1290 | www.sagegreenhouses.com MarchMagAdEJGallery.pdf 1 2/23/2012 9:03:02 AM

Capturing the Colors of the Coastside...

50% off firSt MoNtH’S tuitioN

Unlimited classes 4-½ hr private lessons

FREE uniform + student manual 80 Cabrillo Hwy N. Ste. C Half Moon Bay 650-712-8891 sherre@ussdhmb.com

HAVE TO HAVE IT NEST Gallery

131 California, Half Moon Bay nestgalleryhmb@gmail.com 650-563-9139

Renewed, recycled, reused, previously loved furniture, household items, decor, artwork, estate clearing, garden art and more. Open daily 12-5 or by appointment

Gallery & Studio

840 Main Street Half Moon Bay

(650) 728-7518

CMY

ellenjoseph.com

Original Paintings, Reproductions & Commissions

Could Your Smile Use a

Spring Cleaning?

CABRILLO FAMILY DENTAL CARE WILLIAM R. KIRKHAM, D.D.S. RYAN A. HENSPETTER, D.M.D.

We Welcome New Patients State of the Art Equipment & Techniques Gentle & Friendly Care | Cosmetic Dentistry Convenient Location (Right Oﬀ Of Hwy 1) 669 CRESPI DR., SUITE F, PACIFICA, CA 94044 PHONE (650) 359-1646 / PACIFICADENTIST.COM M A R C H

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Kenneth T. White II May You Walk In Beauty A R T S H O W T H R O U G H M AY 1

Finishing Touch You need professionals to make your home perfect. Blinds-Shades-Shutters Motorization Custom Draperies

Pearl Interior Window Fashions

650.726.1390

353 Main Street • Half Moon Bay

Tree Service Fully Insured PL & PD 30 Years Experience • 24-Hour Emergency Service Tree Topping • Trimming • Shaping • Hazardous Removal Herb Klingele, Owner

650-747-0574

Lic. #721631

Certified Arborist ISA # WE-7810A

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(650) 619-6894 SortingThingsOut@gmail.com www.sortingthingsout.com

37 YEARS IN BUSINESS

P.0. Box 457 Half Moon Bay California 94019

650.726.4544 Contractor Lic. No. 611287

Half Moon Bay Electric Company | 429 Main Street, Half Moon Bay | 726-2711 H a l f

Noreen Cooper Heavlin, MLIS Professional Organizer

Steve Bowerman

for all your lighting needs ... from lightbulbs to a complete selection of lighting fixtures

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Business and Residential

BOWERMAN ELECTRIC

come see us

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Miranda Roberts, co-owner of Fat Cabbage Farms in Pescadero, weeds among the rows of her broccoli crop. Roberts says it takes time to learn the business aspects of farming, including managing payroll and staying informed on statewide farming politics.

Farm with a new partner. She emphasizes that she had more financial security and family support than her former partners, so she was cushioned for the rough early patches. The first year, 2009, Fat Cabbage Farm made just $7,000 to split between the partners. By 2011, that had blossomed to $37,000 — still not much, but at least revenues were going in the right direction, she explained.

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oberts indicated it also took time to learn the untaught tricks of the trade, like how to manage a payroll and stay informed on state farming policy. On a more brass tacks level, she learned that the Japanese green Komatsuna may grow beautifully on the coast, but that doesn’t mean shoppers at the Belmont farmers market will buy it. The sweet-scented snow peas, on the other hand, draw customers “like moths to a light bulb.” New and veteran farmers agree a reliable local agriculture network is the best way to help each other out. For two years, San Mateo County sustainable farms have traded off hosting workshops on everything from cattle ranching to fertilizer. A number of statewide efforts have also taken shape to nurture new farmers, including the Farmlink nonprofit located in Santa Cruz. Debbie Harris, a 29-year-old farmhand at Pie Ranch, would like to someday launch her own farm, but she would first need a couple acres to make it happen. For San Mateo County in particular, land remains

the biggest stumbling block for many young farmers. The Peninsula is among the highest-priced areas for real estate in the world, so buying land is out of the question. For now, she’s taking a wait-and-see approach. “I’ve thought about it forever,” she said. “These things are intimidating … but I know I’m not going to be sending kids to college by being a farmer.” Land can be one tough cookie, explained Anthony Chang, a farm financing expert with Farmlink. Government loans through the Farm Service Agency are available, but they can be complicated to obtain. Grants are rare, but some small agriculture operations have found success through online lending clubs or “slow money” groups that want to support organic farming. Despite the toil of farm life, Roberts confides that the experience is worth the trouble. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” she said. “There’s ups and downs, but I still love what I’m doing.” 

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Health Wellness with NEW LEAF COMMUNITY MARKETS

Vitamins, Supplements & Bodycare Cooking Classes & Wellness Lectures

Largest selection of Local & Organic

Produce

New Leaf & Bloom’s Annual

Saturday & Sunday March 17 & 18 All Vitamins, Supplements & Body Care

Gaia Essentials’ Herbal Facial Cream With Essential Oils & Hand-ground Herbs that stimulate cell growth, helps balance sebum production, improves tone, firm & brighten skin. GAIA ESSENTIALS Come visit the studio! Please call ahead : 650-728-7745 116 La Grande Ave. Moss Beach • www.gaia-essentials.com

celebrate the year of the maya! Experience Mayan Cuisine traditional Central American flavors with a European finish enjoy home cooked food away from home 7 am-4 pm Mon-Thur, 8 am-7 pm fri/sat/sun 650.726.7699 • 523 Church St • half moon bay

é o f n a a C istr ous m fa os ! r p u c o Ca Tr y is h Ta F Come see our display areas for ideas to improve your yard!

Rice Trucking

Corner of Hwy 1 and 92 Half Moon Bay, 650-726-3110 www.newleaf.com 3 2

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Decorative Rock, Flagstone, Soil, Sod, Sand, Gravel, Pavers, Retaining Walls, Water Feature Kits and more!

650-726-0100 650-726-4354

2119 Hwy. 1 South, Half Moon Bay Mon-Fri 7-5, Sat 7-4

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do you have a question for the chef ? Contact José Luis ugalde or Liam Durkee, Café Gibraltar 560-9039

Hail to tHe cHef 

Beyond BoilinG one oF ouR Most DeLiCious CoAstAL tReAts neeD not Be PLAin

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pring is upon us! the beautiful weather this winter may have lulled us into believing that it was already here, but fresh spring produce is the true mark of its arrival. the recipe we have chosen celebrates the verdant abundance of spring, with amazing baby vegetables that can be found here in our local farmers markets. the artichokes, fingerling potatoes and baby carrots that we utilize for this recipe come from tunitas Creek Ranch. Aaron Dinwiddie is an organic farmer who treats his vegetables like precious gems. i have never seen a farmer more lovingly tend his garden than Aaron. His vegetables are gorgeous and he can be found at the Farmer’s Market in Half Moon Bay. He grows his beautiful vegetables in a nirvana-like setting south of Half Moon Bay. this recipe is vegan vegetarian and can be gluten free by replacing the flour with corn starch. For those of you with no interest in vegetarian cuisine, trust me, this is a worthwhile dish for anyone, omnivores as well as vegetarians. its freshness celebrates the coming of spring!

AnGinARes A LA PoLitA 10 ea 2 ea 3/4 cup 6 ea 12 ea 1/2 lb 3/4 lb 2 tblsp 1 cup 1 ea to taste 2 tblsp

medium artichokes, remove choke & outer leaves lemons extra virgin olive oil scallions, white and green areas, chopped small white boiling onions baby carrorts small fingerling potatoes, cut in half flour or corn starch water small fennel bulb, sliced salt and pepper fresh dill

Cut artichokes in half then remove choke and outer leaves. Rub each heart with a lemon cut in half. After each heart is rubbed, add to a bowl with water and lemon juice to prevent oxidation. In a lightly oiled wide sauce pan, place scallions about the pan, top with onions, carrots, potatoes, fennel and artichoke hearts. Dissolve the flour with the water and remaing lemon juice. Pour the water mixture and the olive oil over the vegetables so they are barely covered. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle one tsp. of the dill atop mixture. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about one hour. There should be a little liquid left; remove to a serving platter and serve at room temperature garnished with the remaining dill.

— Liam Durkee, Café Gibraltar

ABout tHe CHeF

José Luis ugalde is chef and owner of Café Gibraltar in el Granada.

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Senior Coastsiders Thrift Store A great place to shop, donate, volunteer.

Housewares, Garden Accessories and a Great Group of People!

Mondays, Thursday-Saturday 10-4pm, Sunday 12-4 All proceeds support programs for seniors. 515 Kelly Ave. • Half Moon Bay • 726-6543

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e d i s t s a o CGuide Half

eview Bay R n o o M

S ARTES H C AR BEA D LENINING A C D ING G S LOD MAPLS OO S SCH TRAIL

Look for the new

Coastside Guide coming March 28! | 2011 MER /SUM NG SPRI

Half

Space resevations started in February and are going fast. Please contact the Review ASAP to inquire on availability.

TS, BOA EEN ND AYS B SA CHE S ALW BEA T IT HA R O F , BU WN NO URANTS IS K IDE RESTA ASTS AND E. S CO RID TO THE WOOD CES D RE T PLA REA EG M O S FOR E 51 PAG SEE

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Space is limited.

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Dining • Hotels • Calendar • Beaches • Trails • Maps and More! New section on Pacifica and Coastside demographics!

THEOUR ATE EBR S OF S CEL HNES L FARM RIC ASTA O r C youide gu the teo StoanEmSaty s Hun Aid ARTAC Re sts BE LccEooNaD A

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Bay Moon Half

w Revie

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Do you have an event coming up? Make sure to bring a camera and get at least 10 shots of the attendees! Then, give us a call at 726-4424 or drop on by.



on scene

Julie and Paul Shenkman

Heidi Kuiper and Allan Alifano

Christine Mendonca and Melissa Rey

Cheryl Sinclair and Casey Sample

Kris Mason, Bill Gillespie and Dana Dahl

Tony DeCasare and Mark Andermahr

the chamber awards its members

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he Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau recognized some of the area’s most dedicated and successful business leaders with its fourth annual awards dinner on Jan. 25 at the Oceano Hotel and Spa. MarkAndermahr of the Half Moon Bay Bakery took the Mayor’sAward, insurance agent Heidi Kuiper was named the volunteer of the year, and longtime City Councilwoman Naomi Patride took home an award for civic achievement.Andre Franco and Rocky Law were honored for a lifetime’s good work, Bryan Jones was given the longevity award, Nano’s Yogurt Shack was recognized among new businesses, Paul and Julie Shenkman of Sam’s Chowder House were noted as the year’s innovative business and Jude and Julie Damasco were named to the business hall of fame. Mike Alifano and Cortney Alifano

Nano and Becky Kavaliku

Jesse Warshauer and Cameron Palmer

Charise McHugh and Kelly Morlock

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DINING OUT We’ve moved next door, we’re the same café and more! Shish Kabob, Mediterrenean BBQ, Falafel, Omelets featuring

MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7 am – 6 pm Everyday

8465 CaBriLLo HigHWay • Montara • 415.200.5475

CASEY’S CAFÉ

WINNE of the 2008 R! , 20 2010 & 20 09, “AS FRESH11 IT GETS”AS AWARD

www.caseyscafeofhalfmoonbay.com

Homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees Gluten free menu items • Soups and Chowders available Breakfast all day • Dog-friendly patio • Wine & beer list 328 Main St. #101, Half Moon Bay • 650-560-4880

HOMESTYLE MEXICAN FOOD FOOD HOMESTYLE MEXICAN

Spanishtown Restaurant Spanishtown Mexican Mexican Restaurant and Market

Families AvailabletoTo FamiliesWelcome Welcome-- Food Food Available GoGo Banquet upto to1000 1000People People BanquetCatering Catering for for up 515 Moon Bay Bay 726-7357 726-7357 515 Church ChurchStreet, Street, Half Half Moon Open Daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Open Daily 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

ON THE COASTSIDE, WE ARE SURROUNDED WITH DELICIOUS DINING OPTIONS!

Come visit our COFFEE BAR featuring coffees from around the world ...

Who’s Yo Mamma? Secret Sauce

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION HQ 1410 S. Cabrillo Hwy. Half Moon Bay 3 6

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650-726-5705 www.cameronsinn.com M A R C H

Add a kick to your sandwich!

(650) 726-5009 • 85 Avenue Portola, El Granada (Across the street from post office)

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do you have an event coming up? Make sure to bring a camera and get at least 10 shots of the attendees! then, give us a call at 726-4424 or drop on by.



on scene

Amy and Patrick wooliever

Patrick Murphy, Ken and Jill Vandroff

Geno Padua and Gary Jaeger

tim Dubois and Chris Hammerstrom

Matt and sandra Ryan, and sarah Bunkin

Val Dubois and Katy Jaeger

tHe stARLiGHt soiRee sHines At oCeAno

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he Ball Room at the oceano Hotel and spa was the venue for the recently held starlight soiree on January 25. the Cabrillo education Foundation fundraiser drew more than 300 supporters together to enjoy drinks, appetizers, a silent and live auction followed by some spirited dancing. the foundation reported that over $103,000 was raised that evening with $86,000 going to the endowment fund and another $17,000 to be divided up between local schools for immediate use. Photos by Bill Murray. Bruce and Diana Purucker

nina Greeley and Doug nolan

Dave and Lisa Gilmour

Liz Murphy and Gay Buckland-Murray

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Considering buying or selling a home?

Put the power of a local real estate agent in your corner.

Ara Croce, C.R.S. Ara’s your advocate! Since 1974 she has represented her client’s best interests in real estate matters. Ara’s a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), and has achieved numerous awards while helping clients achieve their real estate goals. For prompt, professional results, call Ara and let her skill and creativity work for you.

Carolyn Shade

DRE 01451449

“More Than a Shade Better” Carolyn has resided on the Coastside for the past 45 years and has in depth knowledge of the coast as well as the peninsula. Whether you are a first time buyer or seller, downsizing or expanding, let Carolyn help you with all your Real Estate needs.

PROFESSIONAL • TRUSTWORTHY • EXPERIENCED

Lynda Santini

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LIC#01306091

Service, Honesty and a Smile.

funding or selling your Coastside home.

Allison Akana

Helen Aragoni

Vita M Hall

DRE#01262611

For Buyers and Sellers new laws, regulations, short sales and foreclosures are constantly changing the Real Estate Market. You need a Realtor who is going to keep you updated on that ever changing market. For 5 star customer service and value see or call Vita Hall. Top Producer Nationwide

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Do you have a question for the pros? Contact Jennifer Segale, Wildflower Farms, 726-5883 and Carla Lazzarini, Earth’s Laughter, (650) 996-5168.

down to earth 

 Keep an eye on the birds

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y garden is full of birds most of the year. They nest in the tall hedge that grows along my fence line. I get to watch the parents fly in and out of the hedge, for weeks, with nest-making material in their beaks, and then a little later I get the privilege of watching the fledglings flutter out of the hedges to land on the ground or a low branch as they learn to fly. During and after nesting season, they can also be found in the bird bath, for my viewing pleasure, of course! The hierarchy of birdie bathing is quite fascinating — who gets bumped, who never has to wait, etc. Watching my bird friends is one of my favorite things to do in my garden. I’m not the type of bird watcher who knows the names of them all (or even most), but my nosiness can compete with the best of them. So I thought. Recently I was lucky enough to have a tour of the secret garden of a couple that put me to shame. (The couple, that is, not the garden…) Their garden is straight out of a fairy tale; there is a darling summer house, lawn-mowing bunnies, badger burrows and, the birds! There are countless types of birds, doing countless types of birdie things. The aspect that made this all so amazing is that it’s all observed and recorded by several “Critter Cams.”

They are little cameras, some with night vision, that spy on all these goings on! The camera in the blue bird’s nesting box was my favorite. It was like I was inside the tiny box with the mama bird, sitting on her nest. These guys made me look like the amateur that I am. How was I going to live without this when I returned home? Luckily I didn’t have to, and neither do you. Cornell University’s Ornithology Department has a project called Nest Cams and anyone can let their birdie voyeurism have free rein. Go to nestcams. org. I dare you to watch just one! — Carla Lazzarini

Bill Murray

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 photography

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’m not really sure why nature scenes like this became such a popular choice as screen savers over the years. Perhaps these types of images speak to some zenlike sensibility deeply encoded within our DNA. Or perhaps they’re indicative of humanity’s longing to leave the modern industrial world for a sort of prehistoric natural existence. Or, more likely, people just think that long exposures of flowing water are really pretty. Whatever the case, you can make your own idyllic stream screen saver with a bit of manual photographic know-how. To begin with, set your camera to full depth-of-field (Ansel Adams preferred f/64), at the lowest film speed (also known as ISO), and on a tripod for the longest exposure possible. More importantly, find a time of day conducive to soft light (early mornings and twilight) without patchy spots of bright sun. From there, release the shutter and just sit back and let the water flow. You’ll have a keeper ... for a saver. (Nov. 3, 2011, Pilarcitos Reservoir, Nikon D90.) Charles Russo

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Meet Donna Murphey Our office emphasis is healthy smiles. We have the technology and skills to give you a beautiful healthy smile ... easily, comfortably. You’ll be amazed at what we can do. Your Comfort is our first concern. Our team of friendly, caring professionals is specially trained in the latest techniques.

CEREC

O ON NE E V V II SS II T T C CR RO OW WN N SS

I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF DR. SHEPPARD’S STAFF FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS. IT IS WONDERFUL TO PRACTICE DENTAL HYGIENE IN AN OFFICE THAT VALUES OUR PATIENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE AND COMFORT. I AM MARRIED WITH TWO GROWN SONS. I ENJOY TRAVELING, HELPING WITH SONRISAS DENTAL SCREENINGS, REBUILDING TOGETHER AND RELAY FOR LIFE, AS WELL AS SPENDING TIME IN THE GARDEN.

C. Ray Sheppard, DMD C. Ray Sheppard, DMD General & Preventative Dentistry A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT

(650) 726-3355 (650) 726-3355

OFFICE BYSte. APPOINTMENT 890 MainHOURS Street, A, Half Moon Bay

www.halfmoonbaysmiledesign.com 890 Main Street, Ste. A, Half Moon Bay www.halfmoonbaysmiledesign.com

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