DayTripping: Quarry Park and plenty of paninis
APRIL 2016
HALF MOON BAY A NEW VIEW
OPEN SPACE NEAR SKYLINE PROVIDES SWEEPING VISTAS
Making IT WORK AGAINST THE TIDE
FISHERMAN CREATES HAPPINESS BY KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Q&A
EDDIE ANDREINI JR. SHARES HIS PASSION FOR THE SKIES
\
Because a handshake still means more.
Kevin O’Brien
Claudia Lopez
Melissa Robinson
Adam Underwood
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HALF MOON BAY
Contents
APRIL 2016
Departments CoastalGarden
Tomatoes? On the Coastside? Here’s how. 36
CoastsideCanine
Captain the Miniature Australian shepherd. 50
DayTripper
Quarry Park and paninis. 42
Publisher’s Note 4 Flashback 6 Upcoming 8 Real Estate 46
Features 12
18
Conserving our Coast Young adults work – and live – in local parks BY JULIA REIS
New vista opens Mindego Hill promises the intrepid hiker stunning views BY CARINA WOUDENBERG
26
Making his own way
32
Q&A
David Bloom zeroes in on a productive life BY CAT CUTILLO
Dreaming of Flight: inteview with Eddie Andreini Jr. BY CLAY LAMBERT
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CAT CUTILLO
ON THE COVER
David Bloom by Cat Cutillo
R
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HALF MOON BAY
Publisher’s Note
APRIL 2016
Life lessons from a belly-dancing fisherman
T
here are scores of inspiring people on the Coastside. From school teachers and volunteers to business owners and political leaders. There are those who can donate a good deal of money and those who donate years of their precious time. We have no shortage of citizens from whom to draw inspiration. But not all of them fit the traditional “pillar of the
community” mold. Enter our 64-year-old, belly-dancing, ex-professional eel fisherman named David Bloom. David has been a fixture at the harbor for nearly 40 years and has whittled down his priorities to the few that make him the most happy. Fishing, his boat, dancing, and a pair of feral cats. As David would say, “It’s all those distractions that keep you from being yourself.” David makes a living on the water without a crew and is entirely self-reliant. He is surviving in a profession that has driven out even the most stable and organized. When talking about taking care of his adopted feral cats he says he lets them do as they please, “as long as they belong to themselves fully. That’s all that matters.” Most of us have chosen lives that require some amount of juggling. Family and career responsibilities and social networks. Those things come with great rewards, but David is a reminder that not everyone needs, or wants, all these entanglements. It would be difficult for many to lead David’s brand of simplified life, but after reading Cat Cutillo’s story in this month’s issue, I suspect we could all find a few nuggets of wisdom from a man who is completely engaged in what he does, and clearly enjoys every moment of it. He has a knack for simply being himself. We should all be so lucky. Look for a digital collection of all the “Against the Tide” profiles coming this summer.
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PUBLISHER Bill Murray
COPY EDITOR Julie Gerth
BUSINESS OFFICE Barbara Anderson
EDITOR Clay Lambert
PHOTOGRAPHERS Cat Cutillo
WRITERS Cat Cutillo Carina Woudenberg Julia Reis
DESIGN Bill Murray
CIRCULATION Lynn Altwer ADVERTISING SALES Linda Pettengill Randie Marlow Barbara Dinnsen Kathy Schramm
2016
CONTRIBUTORS Dave Cresson
BILL MURRAY Publisher bill@hmbreview.com
CONTACT US 714 Kelly Ave. Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019 (650) 726-4424 www.hmbreview.com SEND LETTER AND PHOTOS Your contributions are welcome. Please send photos and letters for consideration to bill@hmbreview.com. ©2016, Half Moon Bay Review
Flashback Fire protection built from community spirit
E
very community needs a few folks who give a little extra for the good of everyone. The history of the Coastside’s fire protection is a nice example. Before the population explosion brought by the Gold Rush, there was little need for a system to fight fires. Native Americans lived in nearly disposable huts made of tree branches or thule reeds. Hispanics made more permanent dwellings out of fireproof adobe clays. When the American settlers came — they formed dense communities, and they loved to build their shops and homes and hotels out of wood. Lumber was easily available for them. The new Americans also favored using fire to make light in the evening, to warm their places, and to work with iron for horse shoes, carriages, and farm equipment. Fire would become an issue. The early town, made of wood, sprung up at the intersection of the road over the mountain to San Mateo and the road that ran down the length of the shoreline — from Devil’s Slide in the north to Pescadero in the south. It did not take long for fires to begin claiming some of those early wooden buildings. Among the painful losses was that of the area’s first Catholic Church — Our Lady of the Pillar. But it was perhaps the fire in 1879 that burned down a blacksmith shop and carriage factory that was most important. The carriage factory owner was especially bothered that his place was lost so quickly and easily. Locals turned out for their usual bucket brigades, fetching water from the wells and throwing it at the flames. Even so, Robert I. Knapp’s factory building was quickly enveloped. Within a year — in 1880 — Knapp, together with another prominent local businessman, Joseph Debenedetti,
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built a loose organization of men ready to assemble anytime anyone shouted, “Fire!” They passed the hat to buy the first, shared community firefighting equipment — 200 feet of hose, buckets, some fire axes and a cart to rush gear to the next fire. The first group of volunteers was ready to take the field. Ten years later, Knapp — still a leader — installed a water pipeline from higher in Pilarcitos Canyon down to Half Moon Bay. The first hydrant connected to that line was installed in front of his plow factory on Main Street. Over the years, fires continue to take their toll. Likely, the biggest came the day the magnificent three-story Occidental Hotel burned to the ground in 1894. In November 1899, money was raised by “subscription,” or voluntary tax, in order to organize volunteers. They bought more equipment, wagons and hoses. The volunteers were given uniforms and the gear was stored in a new fire locker off Kelly Avenue near Main Street. A fire bell was purchased for $81. The bell was mounted high atop the fire locker. This would be the town’s first real fire department. Since those days, the volunteer effort has grown and expanded with a paid force. Fire stations with fire trucks came along. The largest station is the installation strategically located at the intersection of the south end of Main Street and Highway 1. It opened in 1998. Jurisdictions expanded so that communities from Montara through Half Moon Bay were handled by a single fire district. Now the force is a multimillion-dollar operation, and still in the process of expanding its infrastructure and abilities. Fifteen volunteers continue to serve by the side of a paid force with 32 positions. — Dave Cresson is the president of the Half Moon Bay History Association. To learn more about the association and its work, visit halfmoonbayhistory.org.
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Upcoming
The Coastside in photos April 1 The Coastside is made for photographers — from the foamy waves of the Pacific Ocean to the spring flowers and beyond to giant redwoods. That will never be more obvious than during the Capture the Coastside photographic exhibit at the Coastal Arts League, 300 Main St., Suite 6, in Half Moon Bay. After an April 1 reception, the show runs through May 15. More than a dozen of the area’s finest photographers are showing off the area through their own particular lenses. Coastalartsleague.org.
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Photographer Rob Cala’s nature shots will be among the work on dsiply at the Coastal Arts League show.
Out on the town with seniors
April 13 Seniors’ Night Out promises fun for any volunteers as well as the seniors they escort. There is always a theme of some sort and a terrific dinner and entertainment. Caring Coastsiders pick up their guests or otherwise escort them from 6 to 8 p.m. at Senior Coastsiders, 925 Main St. If it’s too late to sign up as an escort, it is never too late to donate to this good cause. 726-9056.
Hoping for bocce ball
April 17 Play an ancient game with an Italian name and raise money for one of the area’s best nonprofits — Coastside Hope. The second annual bocce ball tournament is from 4 to 7 p.m. at Mullins Bar and Grill, 2 Miramontes Point Road in Half Moon Bay. If you haven’t played bocce, be prepared to be bowled over. Don’t worry… You’ll get the joke eventually! Tickets are $65 for one or $120 for two and include dinner. 726-9071.
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Upcoming
Hot rods, hot music, and cold beer April 24 Pacific Coast Dream Machines rumbles onto the coast again with its sprawling and thoroughly distracting good time for all. Expect motorized contraptions of every description, including antique cars, old warbirds and historic farm implements. You are guaranteed to be surprised at every turn. One of last year’s oddities was a new “unimotorcycle” event. You have to see it to believe it. Dream Machines runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport. Visit miramarevents.com for details.
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Motorcycle jumping has been a very popular event at the Dream Machines show.
Celebrate our planet
April 23 Technically, the Coastside’s biggest Earth Day celebration is a function of the Pacifica Beach Coalition, but you can bet teams will drift down over Devil’s Slide to clean up area waterways here. Coalition affiliates often take to Tunitas Beach and the area around Pillar Point Harbor for the good of us all. The day’s events include an EcoFest at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacificabeachcoalition.org.
A day for good causes
May 3 Mark your calendars for Silicon Valley Gives. It’s the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s single platform — open for a single day — that allows donors to peruse many good causes on the Peninsula and donate to the ones that seem worthy. Expect Coastside nonprofits to be well represented. The event has raised nearly $16 million in only two years. svgives.org.
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“YOU WILL BE CAMPING OUTSIDE DOING HARD LABOR.
YOU’RE GOING TO BE EXHAUSTED.” — ZOE KING, STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION MEMBER
Conserving our coast YOUNG ADULTS WORK – AND LIVE – IN LOCAL PARKS
Senior intern Hannah Ormshaw works on trailclearing on Pillar Point.
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By Julia Reis, Photos by Cat Cutillo
S
tanding on a bluff with Pillar Point Harbor and the U.S. Air Force Pillar Point Air Station’s famous “golf ball” as a backdrop, the group surveyed the ground beneath their feet. Between the coyote brush, native grasses and pesky poison oak, there was plenty of diverse plant life on the Coastside slope. The group’s job? To keep it that way by taking out Monterey pine trees shading out the other plants. Repairing trails, restoring local habitats and removing invasive plants is all in a day’s work for the Winter Corps team, a small group of young adults working in San Mateo County parks through early May. For a number of years, local park entities and the national Student Conservation Association have teamed up to provide opportunities for youth who may be interested in careers in natural resources management. Founded in 1957 as a student movement to help with upkeep of national
(From left) The SCA team was made up of Anthony Cruz of San Francisco, Zoe King of Redwood City and their SCA Project Leader, Tom達s Quezada, who hails from Texas and will be in the Bay Area until May.
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Ranger Greg Escoto (left) holds some invasive species plants while ranger Michele Laskowski works on trail clearing around Pillar Point.
“IT’S HARD WORK WITH A GREAT REWARD.”
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parks, the nonprofit’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders. It places high school students and young adults in park conservation programs lasting from two weeks to 12 months. Building and maintaining structures, helping native species grow, and doing community outreach are among the jobs that SCA members take on. In doing so, they learn how to use tools like chainsaws, and pick up wilderness first aid training and other skills. Adult student conservationists are compensated by SCA and can be eligible for AmeriCorps education grants after completing their work. Over its nearly 60-year history, the Student Conservation Association has seen 75,000 members, many of whom have gone on to careers as park superintendents, scientists, or jobs in
likeminded fields. In San Mateo County, local high school students work with the county Parks Department doing tasks like collecting trail information and sprucing up picnic tables. From December through May, they work and camp in local parks one weekend a month; during the summer, teens work full-time in four-week programs. The Winter Corps team is a new endeavor in San Mateo County. Since February, three young adults have been working full time on various projects in peninsula and Coastside parks, camping out Monday through Friday. While two team members are Bay Area natives new to conservation work, project leader Tomás Quezada hails from Texas. He began working for the Student Conservation Association
SCA Project Leader Tomãs Quezada (left) cuts down a tree with the help of ranger Greg Escoto. The pair was working near Pillar Point.
out of a passion for building community and because he wanted to get experience to apply to his interest in becoming an herpetologist — a scientist who studies amphibians and reptiles. His job has taken him to places like New Hampshire, with refugees, and to Cape Canaveral, Fla., to do sea turtle research. “This program caters to people from all walks of life,” Quezada said. “It’s hard work with a great reward. You’re taken out into a field that requires you to connect with it in a very one-on-one way. It’s very laborious and hard.” On assignment in Princeton, the Winter Corps team was greeted with blue skies and spring-like warmth after having spent much of the spring working through the rain. Before getting to work, San Mateo County Parks Natural Resource Manager Ramona Arechiga demonstrated how to use handsaws and loppers for cutting the invasive pines into small pieces. “They’re learning all kinds of things — wilderness first aid training, how to properly use tools to not cause self-injury or cause
Natural Resource Manager Ramona Arechiga (left) and ranger Michele Laskowski work on the trail clearing around Pillar Point.
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Those in the Student Conservation Association say the work is hard but rewarding.
By the numbers
28 million
hours of hands-on service provided since 1957
317,492 feet
of waterway nationwide were improved by student conservationists last year
12 percent
of the National Park Service workforce is made up of Student Conservation Association alums
75,000 youth
have been apart of the Student Conservation Association since its founding
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undue damage to an area,” Arechiga said. “Most of this can be learned on the job.” That’s what team members Zoe King, a Redwood City resident, and Anthony Cruz of San Francisco are doing. Both are Bay Area natives new to conservation work. Cruz has a background in electronic music and has largely worked odd jobs involving computers and photography. He saw the SCA position as an opportunity to better connect with the terrain he grew up around. “I like to go running, and I wanted to get a more profound relationship with the places I go that I think are really important to this area,” Cruz said. King, meanwhile, has an affinity for the outdoors that stems from having attended a Waldorf school. She, too, has worked a variety of jobs and wanted an experience that got her out of an office cubicle. “It’s exactly the opposite (of being in an office) and it’s great,” she said. However, there are challenges. “You have to mentally prepare yourself,” King said. “You’re not going to be in the
comfort of your own home. You will be camping outside doing hard labor. You’re going to be exhausted.” But for those who take to conservation work, the labor is gratifying. “It’s good to use our bodies because we’re meant to, and a lot of conveniences in life work against that,” Cruz said. “And it’s way better than the gym,” King added. Both are interested in pursuing further jobs in the outdoors once this position ends. For Arechiga, whose passion for the environment was borne out of camping, the partnership between local parks and the Student Conservation Association is meaningful. “There were limited opportunities in my community doing conservation work,” she said. “In San Mateo County, we have a wealth of natural resources. To be able to teach our youth about what makes this place special is very important because those folks will probably take better care of the environment.” HALF MOON BAY
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Mindego Hill promises the intrepid stunning views
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NEW VISTA OPENS
Grazing cattle have worn grooves in the hillside at Mindego Hill. The 1,000 acre property opened to the public on March 30.
“I LIKE HOW QUIET IT IS OUT HERE. THE 360-DEGREE VIEW FROM UP THERE IS AMAZING…” CRAIG BECKMAN, MROSD MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
Photos and story by Carina Woudenberg
B
ordering the town of La Honda, Mindego Hill has long been home to a bevy of wildlife and provides grazing land to free-roaming cows and their calves. And on March 30, the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District opened the 1,000-acre property to the public. Many people attended the grand opening, and the interest speaks to the perspective the 2,000foot summit offers. From the peak, hikers can catch views of the neighboring Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, another MROSD owned property, Pompino Creek Valley, San Gregorio Creek Valley and even a decent slice of the Pacific Ocean. “Everybody’s excited to see this,” said Craig Beckman, maintenance supervisor for MROSD. “This is a beautiful hilltop.” Beckman was speaking in late February as roughly 100 district employees and volunteers worked to place signs, fix up the trail and weed out the pesky purple-star thistle. It was an all-handsAPRIL
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Top, Mindego Hill borders the town of La Honda. Hikers can park at the Mindego gateway lot and hike roughly two miles to the Mindego Hill trails. MROSD employees and volunteers enjoyed a picnic lunch at Mindego Hill during a break in the day’s work.
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on-deck kind of day in preparation for the big opening roughly a month later. “We try to do something like this once a quarter where we invite all the district staff,” Beckman said. “It started out as a way to coordinate our maintenance crew and then we expanded it to invite everybody.” It was an unseasonably warm day and workers were treated to a break in the rain and clear views that emanated from the sun-soaked hillside. “Places like this make it fun to work out here,” Beckman said. “There’s always something changing. Something new.” One new venture the district has embraced is in working with cattle. Mindego Hill is the first space it’s opened to the public that is also home to the grazing cows and their calves. MROSD spokeswoman Amanda Kim says she understands that sometimes people will respond nervously toward the livestock when they encounter them near the trails. On the flip side, others might try to pet them and be friendly. Generally, she says, you want to be neither too friendly toward them nor fear them. “Try to walk around the cattle and talk to them calmly if they are on the trail,” the district advised in a recent social media post. The cattle are owned by a rancher who lives off-site, but the space actually holds a proud tradition of cattle ranching through the years. In fact, Mindego Hill is named for Juan Mendico, or “John of the Mountain,” a man who built his home and cattle ranch in the area in 1859. Almost 100 years later, the property was purchased by World War II veteran Adm. Arnold True and his wife, Corinne. The family also raised cattle — bringing in angus and Brahman cattle along with a cross of two breeds that was used for rodeo bull-riding.
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Top, hikers are treated to stunning views along the 2,000 foot peak. Left, MROSD workers make their way through the forest canopy on the way up to the peak. Right, workers place signage to advise hikers.
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Corrine True reportedly wanted the property preserved as open space. After she died in 2006, the family arranged an agreement with the Peninsula Open Space Trust to protect the land. The land was later transferred to MROSD for management. In addition to the cattle, the land is populated by deer, badgers, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats and snakes — among other wildlife. The district has set up cameras in various places along the property and has been treated to photos of several of these creatures and more. The space also holds an unusual geologic history and was once home to an undersea volcano, Beckman said. As a result, hikers can find volcanic rocks on the property that differ from the sedimentary rocks found at other neighboring sites. The hike is a bit more arduous than the Russian Ridge site that sits nearby and Beckman said he’s interested in seeing how many visitors the site will attract over time. “It’s a bit more than the usual hiker wants to take but there are some people who want to get out that far,” Beckman said. “I like how quiet it is out here. The 360-degree view from up there is amazing, the way the mountain kind of stands out from the ridge makes it an unusual spot up there.” HALF MOON BAY
What’s next?
The Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District is currently on track to open the lower portion of the La Honda Creek Open Space to the public by fall 2017, says MROSD spokeswoman Amanda Kim. This includes six miles of hiking, parking and a bathroom and can be accessed through La Honda. The upper section of La Honda Creek over by the Red Barn is also set to open in 2020 and will include parking and a loop trail as well as a grazing.
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BLOOM ZEROES IN ON A PRODUCTIVE LIFE
MAKING HIS OWN WAY Photos and story by Cat Cutillo
D
avid Bloom has spent so much time in Pillar Point Harbor over the past 38 years that he can no longer hear the steady pulse of the foghorn blowing. It’s become as rhythmic and forgettable as his own beating heart as he unties his boat and pushes out to sea. Standing 6-foot-2, Bloom towers over his tiny 10-foot-long fishing boat. It’s an abandoned rowboat he converted with his bare hands using some unlikely found materials to create a vessel fit for a lucrative fishing business. The exterior is made from street signs, the seat is from a sports car headrest and the fuel tanks are made out of fire extinguishers. “Fire extinguishers are made of the very best
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AgainsttheTide
Bloom on the dock of Pillar Point Harbor. APRIL
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Left, David Bloom gives away fish to a thankful kayaker on a Sunday afternoon at Pillar Point Harbor. Above, Bloom takes his custom made boat out into the harbor, made, in part, by old street signs. metal. They don’t mess around in schools and hospitals,” says Bloom. Bloom first launched the boat, which he named “Zero,” in 2000 after six months of building it in his spare time. “When I made this boat, the truth is I didn’t need it. I had an even tougher boat that could go through breaking waves,” says Bloom. “I had a compulsion to make it. I could not stop myself. “It was complete thinking,” says Bloom. “I figured I’d find out why later.” He finally traced his driving force back to the Christmas when he was 2 1/2 years old and had received a cardboard toy airplane called a Blackhawk. It had a steering stick. “This here is my Christmas present to me,” he says. “After I made it, I discovered that.” In fact, Zero has been the gift that keeps on giving. Bloom says he only has to work about seven hours per week
to make a good profit because the boat itself only costs about $5,000 per year to maintain and only uses three gallons of gas per outing. “People constantly tell me it’s the most productive ship in the harbor. I catch the most in the least amount of time,” he says. Alaskan fisherman and boat builder Chris Pedersen met Bloom two years ago and says he was so impressed with Bloom’s boat that he is currently replicating one for himself. “That’s where I started as a little boy in a little tiny rowboat selling perch in my family’s boatyard,” Pedersen says. “Now I’m downsized. Dave’s way ahead of the curve. He has no crew, no responsibility of making somebody else a living, and (he’s) fishing to enjoy life. “(It’s) unbelievable the intelligence of this man for surviving in a world that is killing every (other) fisherman,” Pedersen says.
“WHEN I MADE THIS BOAT, THE TRUTH IS I DIDN’T NEED IT. … I HAD A COMPULSION TO MAKE IT. I COULD NOT STOP MYSELF.” DAVID BLOOM, FISHERMAN
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And although Zero might stem from the imagination of a child, the boat’s technical execution is clearly from the mind of an engineer. Bloom used old engine parts, including an outboard motor, and he made steering and throttle in one piece. He has a flip up and down fish-finder transducer, and he says there are at least 17 large holes to strategically drain water. “Twice last year I put the back end of the boat under water. Its not a problem.” says Bloom. “If the helm’s full of water, you just take off and everything will drain by gravity.” He even installed PVC piping to run multiple hook lines and reverse them while baiting and taking off fish. He says he’s run as many as 40 hooks at one time and up to a mile and a half of continuous fishing line. “He comes back with a nice load of fish. People are lined up on the dock. They’re ecstatic. They’re as fresh as the fish you could get out of the aquarium on Dave’s boat,” says
Pedersen. “Plus I get to eat fish 500 meals a year for free,” says Bloom who now fishes for rock cod. Throughout the 1990s. Bloom fished commercially for monkeyface eels. In fact, in a 1998 Half Moon Bay Review article, Editor Marc DesJardins wrote that Bloom had, “More success fishing for monkeyface eels than perhaps anyone in the country.” By the time Bloom had launched his boat, Zero, in 2000, he had ceased fishing for monkeyface eels, but he is still known around Pillar Point Harbor as “Eel Man.” He is also known around the Harbor for his passion for belly dancing, which he says he pursued for the exercise. “Dancing develops your posture in every way,” says Bloom. “People’s conception of manhood is totally off base. I’m 64 years old and feeling my age a little, but I’m still real limber. Believe it or not I’ve got a six-pack from belly dancing.” Bloom lives in Princeton alongside two
“I’M A GRADE-A WEIRDO. BUT THERE’S ONE WORSE THING THAN BEING WEIRD. THAT’S BEING NORMAL.”
Bloom loves the solitude of fishing by himself. Inset, Bloom carved the name that many call him at the harbor — “Eel Man.”
feral cats that are now 15 and 16 years old, respectively. He draws his philosophy from everything he sees. “The way I’ve always raised the most outstanding, ruling cats in my area of Princeton is you give them total freedom. Let them do what they want and let them push you around even as long as they win their next fight and belong to themselves fully. That’s all that matters,” says Bloom. “You just give absolute freedom.” And Bloom seems to have nine lives himself. “I already lived three to seven lifetimes. When I was 26 years old I spent so much time running around the densest forest that I could find. I risked my life a million times doing everything super macho. At one point the day started lasting forever just like when I was a child. I had no distractions and time almost stopped. You don’t know how, deceiving things are in the world. The pitfalls and traps,” he says. “Its all those distractions that keep you from being yourself.” He says he loves the solitude of fishing. “I named the boat ‘Zero’ so I would not have to defend anything
about it and could be free.” Zero, a number that is both void of value and full of possibility. It embodies silence, the moment before we start counting, and a chance to start over again. It is both the beginning and the end. And perhaps there is a point where everything comes full circle. Recently, Pedersen came across Bloom doing something different to his boat. In the white noise of the foghorn, Bloom likely heard silence as Pedersen watched him painting a new symbol onto his boat. It was the Chinese symbol for the word, “Zero.” “He finally got to name his boat in Chinese,” says Pedersen. “When he was painting that on there he looked like a little boy opening a Christmas present.” “I’m a grade-A weirdo,” laughs Bloom “But there’s one worse thing than being weird. That’s being normal.” HALF MOON BAY
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LeadingQuestions
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Interview by Clay Lambert Photos by Cat Cutillo
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here is one name on the Coastside that is synonymous with aviation: Andreini. Eddie Andreini Sr. was a legend far beyond the San Mateo County coast. His aerobatics and vintage aircraft were known the world over. He was inducted into the International Council of Airshows Hall of Fame. When the 77-year-old pilot died in an airshow crash at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield in 2014, generations of fans mourned his passing. The Andreini passion for aviation lives on, however. Son Eddie Andreini Jr. remains a guiding light in the local flying community. He’s been involved in Pacific Coast Dream Machines for nearly two decades. For the last 14 years, he has been responsible for special attractions and works to attract rare aircraft to fly into the annual event.
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He has brought aircraft from throughout the history of aviation and in so doing fueled a love of flight to untold thousands of visitors. Among the flying machines he has found for display were a Wright Brothers 1903 Wright Flyer, a World War I Vimy bomber, and a hangar’s worth of World War II aircraft, including a Japanese A6M Zero fighter jet and a World War II B-25 bomber. Andreini Jr. is himself an accomplished pilot. He holds a multi-engine, commercial, instrument, high performance, and experimental rating in P-51, YAK 3,YAK 9 and YAK 11 aircraft. Andreini Jr.’s day job is managing Half Moon Bay Building and Garden Supply with his wife, Sandy, but his head is often in the clouds. — Clay Lambert
Andreini legacy lives on at Dream Machines
Eddy Andreini Jr. poses with aircraft at his hangar at the Half Moon Bay airport. APRIL
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DO NOT BE AFRAID. WHATEVER YOUR PASSION IS, PURSUE IT.
Half Moon Bay magazine: Many of us are captivated by airplanes and flight at an early age. Do you have memories like that, and if so, what was it that grabbed you? Eddie Andreini Jr.: I got into flying at an early age through my father. As long as I can remember I was at the airport helping with the plane and going for rides with my dad and his friends in all kinds of small planes. I soloed in my dad’s 1944 Boeing Stearman biplane when I was 15 years old. That was before I had a driver’s license! When I graduated high school, I went on a solo cross country trip in the 1944 Boeing Stearman up into Oregon and Washington going to airshows and small airports. I had no GPS, radio or navigation aids, just a chart and a compass. The No. 1 thing that grabbed me was the freedom of flight. To be able to see the world in a different way. HMB: What advice do you have for young people who might be similarly interested in aviation? EA: Do not be afraid. Whatever your passion is, pursue it. 34 34
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HMB: What is your favorite part of Dream Machines? Is it seeing the planes or perhaps meeting with other flight fanatics? EA: My favorite part of Dream Machines is the diversity. There are no other events like it anywhere. I go to so many airshows and fly-ins on a regular basis, and I can tell you none of them have so many kinds of mechanical machinery on display as Dream Machines. HMB: What do you think of drones? In addition to a boon for photographers, they are doing much of the work that used to be done by military pilots? EA: I don’t have a lot of experience with drones and military use. I believe we will see more drones being used in a commercial application, but I don’t think manned missions will be completely replaced by drones anytime soon. HMB: Your father created quite a legacy that stretched well beyond Coastside aviation. What do you think he would make of the fact that the county named the airfield in his honor? EA: I am sure my father would be honored. HALF MOON BAY
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Tomatoes? On the coast?
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oastal vegetable gardeners know the challenges of growing tomatoes in a cool foggy summer climate all too well. While artichokes, lettuce and Brussels sprouts flourish, tomatoes wait stubbornly for warm, sunny days. By the time September and October bring clearer skies, the damage is done. Tomato plants that haven’t succumbed to blight offer low yields, poor fruitset and an abbreviated ripening period before fall rains arrive. Nevertheless, tomatoes are America’s most popular home garden crop, and many along the coast are reluctant to admit defeat. San Mateo / San Francisco Counties’ Master Gardener Cindi Morris grows thousands of tomato seedlings each year for the annual Master Gardener Spring Garden Market. Drawing on her years of experience and expertise, each winter she selects the most promising and high performing tomato varieties for gardeners both coastal and bayside. Morris described her process for growing healthy seedlings, and also suggested some steps gardeners can take to improve their tomato yields. Half Moon Bay magazine: Cindi, you’ve been growing tomatoes for several years to offer at the Master Gardeners’ annual sale. How do you ensure that thousands of customers will indeed have strong, healthy seedlings to select at the sale? Morris: I take my job as grower seriously. The first thing to understand is soil, specifically, which soil mixes will make strong tomatoes. You need to learn about your growing environment and try to keep the temperature at a constant 80°F. You have to select and purchase high quality seeds. You need to understand how a tomato grows from seed to first growth to true leaves and roots. You also need to be flexible and willing to react instantly to changes or problems. And finally, you need to be giving of your time — to be dedicated to your baby plants.
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KEEP THEM WARM, AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
HMB: What are some typical problems you experience when growing tomato seedlings, and how do you manage them? Morris: Almost anything that can happen, does. This year I’ve had two problems. The first is that some plants got overwatered; this leaches nutrients from the soil leaving plants under-nourished. By adding more nutrient-rich compost when we uppot these plants, I hope to green them up. In addition, I’ll add some fish/seaweed emulsion to provide extra nutrients. The second problem
that occurred was excessive heat in our hoophouse during the day. The temperature can reach 115°F. We’ve had more hot days than cool ones so the seedlings grew too fast. So my team and I pushed them down back into the soil to give their stems a chance to strengthen. All of the hairs on each stem can become little roots, so by pushing them into the ground they grow stronger. It’s a big job when you have 2,600 tomatoes, but we do our best. HMB: What can coastal gardeners do to improve their success with tomatoes? Morris: To be honest, the San Mateo County coastline is a challenging place to grow tomatoes. Keep in mind that tomatoes thrive in the Central Valley. Of course, that doesn’t stop us from wanting to try to grow our favorite crop! A few things will ensure that you grow happy tomatoes: If you’re growing in containers, always buy the best soil; choose a good light seeding soil. Use a highquality compost mixed into the potting soil when you up p ot your plants. Put your plants in the sunniest spot that you can find. Remember that tomatoes need six to eight hours of full sun per day. Don’t overwater, which can lead to disease or death on the coast. Don’t spray water directly onto plants. If you can, water from under the pots, or water without getting the leaves wet. How much fertilizer you put on the plant is less important than providing good growing conditions. Tomatoes are wind
pollinated, and temperatures have to be in the high 70s day and night or there will be no fruit set. Find a place where you can keep those babies warm. A little greenhouse with a fan system would be ideal if you live on the coast. Warmth is a big issue; without it, the plants become stressed and diseased. HMB: What are your top picks for tomato varieties that do well in our coastal climate. Morris: For classic-type tomatoes, choose Early Wonder, Polbig or Stupice. For beefsteak tomatoes, Paul Robeson. For cherry tomatoes, Black Cherry, Idli, Mountain Magic, Sun Gold and Sweet Chelsea. This year, give these proven tomato varieties a try and follow Cindi’s tips. With luck, you’ll be enjoying your own sweet, vine ripened tomatoes from your coastal garden.
Spring Garden Market
You say you want to try your hand at tomatoes? Or maybe you have your heart set on a coastal herb garden or growing eggplant. You can learn about all that and more at the Master Gardeners’ annual Spring Garden Market. The plant sale and educational fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 16 at the Sequoia Hall within the San Mateo County Event center, 2495 S. Delaware St., San Mateo. To learn more, visit bit.ly/MGPlantSales. APRIL
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Theatrical concoctions
LocalSpirits
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DRINK MENU CHANGES WITH THE SHOW AT THE COASTAL REP By Sarah Griego Guz
T
hey call themselves the “Little Old Ladies” of the Coastal Repertory Theatre and it’s hard to imagine a night at the local theater without some LOL. The group is a driving force behind the production company’s continued growth as it reaches its 30th season. The LOL can often be found next to the wine bar in the lobby, carefully crafting a signature cocktail. The mixed drink, chosen to complement the current production, is mixed up along with a story and a smile. “We started doing wine bar on Sundays, usually,” said LOL Jane Seifert. “We decided to do mimosas. All we had to do was bring the orange juice because we
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We are located in the Shoppes at Harbor Village next to Pillar Point
already had champagne. That’s how we got started on drinks of the day. “We do them periodically,” she said. “Sometimes, we even dress up. If there’s a show that lends itself to dressing up, we do that too.” During the showing of “Company,” a production set in New York City, Jane could be found behind the bar, mixing up Manhattans, which also happen to be her favorite drink. “The Manhattan goes back to family history,” said Seifert. “It was a favorite of my parents. I think of them fondly when I have one and I always say, ‘Here’s to you.’” In some cases, coming up with a custom concoction to match the current production is easy. Other times not so much. “Sometimes we go through the bartender’s book,” said Seifert. “There’s a drink called, ‘Tequila Mocking Bird.’ When we did ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ that was easy enough.” “The one we really like to do is kir royal, and so we’ll change the name of it,” she continued. “When we did, ‘Woman in Black,’ we called it ‘Femme Fatale.’ That’s always a popular one because people are familiar with that drink with the crème de cassis and the champagne.” Proceeds from drink sales have gone toward making a difference at the theater. “We’ve done the refrigerator in the kitchen,” said Seifert. “Now we’re just about finished with the shed and we’re hoping to raise money for the new doors. They are going to be named ‘Margaret’s Gateway’ in honor of Margaret Harris. It will a tribute to her.” HALF MOON BAY
CONTACT US
mojoyogahmb@gmail.com (650) 866-9231
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phone: 650.726.2546 info@goldworkshmb.com fax: 650.726.5243 www.goldworkshmb.com 542 Main St., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
XNLV261902
Norma Vite (left) and Jane Seifert make Manhattans which were the signature drink during “Company’s” Saturday night performance. Vite and Seifert are part of the group Little Old Ladies or LOL who are helping to raise money for the Coastal Repertory Theater.
CoastsideCanines
Captain Breed: Miniature Australian shepherd Age: 8 Rick Modena has an important announcement for anyone who might not want the years of responsibility that come with owning a dog: Never ask your wife if she’d like a puppy — especially if you are in a relaxed environment and the rum is flowing. “We hadn’t planned on getting a pup,” he recalls. But he and his family were taking a little break up at Clear Lake and he saw these 6-week-old miniature Australian shepherds. Suffice to say, they were cute. “He looked like a cotton-tailed rabbit,” Modena said. “I asked my wife, ‘Hey, you want one of these?’” You know how the story ends. The Modenas named the dog Captain after a certain brand of libation that helped foster the decision. What they couldn’t have known then was that Captain would become a loyal and constant companion. He loves to go along on trips as the family crisscrosses the West to participate in dirt bike competitions. And you are likely to see him sitting on the hood of Modena’s truck as he goes about his tile and granite business on the coast. Captain serves as a living hood ornament, waiting patiently for his owner’s return. While Captain looks friendly, Modena cautions anyone who sees him to beware. Captain is a working dog and all business. He’s been known to nip at people he perceives as a threat. “He’s 22 pounds of might,” Modena said. “I go to Home Depot and I don’t have to worry about my tools while I’m gone.” — Clay Lambert
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Splash into Summer! at La Petite Baleen!
Resident Camp • Retreats & Rentals Family Camp Ropes Course • Teen Adventure Camps
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Share your big news!
We love your pet as much as you do.
If you’ve beem recently engaged or married, your community wants to know! Contact the Half Moon Bay Review and have your announcement printed in the paper for your memories.
IT’S TOTALLY FREE! Call us at 726-4424 or go to hmbreview.com and click the home button and then submission forms.
Now Offering: Laser Therapy for anti-inflammatory and pain treatment. APRIL
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Daytripper
Quarry Park includes a popular playground area and hundreds of acres of forested hills to explore. 42
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PLACE TO GO
Quarry Park Mezza Luna Café
Quarry Park Quarry Park is really two parks in one. The first is a popular playground area with picnic talbes, barbecues, a community garden, tree house and an open grassy area for play. The second is a beautiful eucalyptus forest with a mile-long trail for exploring.
In 2014, nearly 500 acres of hills and forest called the Wicklow Property was added to the park. There is a system of trails throughout the property that go right up from the playground, restroom and parking lot already present at Quarry Park. Trails meander through meadows, forests and the quarry floor, and lead to destinations like a cool, algae-covered lake and a raised boardwalk at the harbor view vista point. The Wicklow property is dog-friendly and even includes a dog station in the parking lot. Dogs on leash are permitted on the trails of Quarry Park. However, dogs aren’t allowed in the playground area. The park is located in El Granada, four miles north of downtown Half Moon Bay. From Highway 1 in El Granada, exit at Coronado Street. and follow the signs. The entrance to Quarry Park is located at the corner of Santa Maria Avenue and Columbus Street. There are restrooms near the playground.
BILL MURRAY
The Vista Point Trail begins as a service road at the gate opposite Columbus Street in the main parking lot. The road enters a dense eucalyptus forest and begins to gain elevation. At .3 miles, a short road to the left will take you to the quarry floor. Return to the main road and continue up the moderate grade. As the road ascends, you will have great views through the trees to the Pacific Ocean. Stay to the left at the next two road junctions. A short distance from the second junction you will see the vista point to your left where you will enjoy the view of Pillar Point Harbor and the quarry floor from the safety of a deck with railings. The trail may be used by horses, hikers and bicyclists.
PLACE TO EAT
Mezza Luna Café If you didn’t bring stuff to barbecue at the park, you’ll be mighty hungry after your hike up the hills. Head toward the harbor and find yourself at Mezza Luna Café for some paninis and gelato. Not a bad combo. If you’re there early before your visit to the park, you can fuel up on traditional egg dishes, hefty omelets and fruit cups, and, of course, a double espresso Italian style. Quarry Park is dog friendly and so is the café so Fido won’t have to camp out in the car. Open every day until 5 or 6 p.m. 240 Capistrano Road, Princeton by the Sea near Harbor Village. (650) 560-0137.
Scan here for more information about Quarry Park.
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BigShot
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Sea Horses
A group of equestrians take adavntage of the spring day for a ride along Half Moon Bay Beach. Cat Cutillo / Half Moon Bay Magazine
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RealEstate
Realtors: Do you have a recent sale that you think might make a good
featured home. Contact Linda@hmbreview.com. There is no charge.
Address 622 Stetson St., Moss Beach Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2.5 Square Feet 2,130 Sale price $1,275,000
RECENT SALE
Just steps from the beach and bluffs
Stunning, spectacular ocean views just 25 minutes from downtown San Francisco. Two newly足rebuilt decks over looking Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Spot gray whales, humpbacks, seals, pelicans and gorgeous ocean sunsets from the living room. Reverse floor plan with upstairs great room, cathedral ceilings, and huge, ocean-足facing windows. Granite wood足burning fireplace, ocean views from kitchen bay window.
COLDWELL BANKER, HALF MOON BAY
S N A P S H OT
Median home sales price
$1,047,500 +16.4% Year over year TRULIA.COM MARKET TRENDS
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2016
RealEstate Select recent Coastside transactions Seller
Property
Buyer
Amount
Coast Property Enterprises LLC, et. al.
700 Le Mans Way, Half Moon Bay
Francis and Carolyn Belknap
$989,000
Gary M. and Susan M. Morgan, trustees
10 Judith Court, Half Moon Bay
Thomas Maravilla
$1,115,000
Kathleen V. Donovan
257 Cuesta Real, La Honda
Gabriel Schine and Casey Smith
$715,000
Ali Hobson
396 2nd St., Montara
Cecilia Abadie
$950,000
Thomas and Clare Bruce Turner
351 Nevada Ave., Moss Beach
David A. and Gail A. Ansel
$1,500,000
Diomedes and Angela T. Liu, trustees
514 Buena Vista St., Moss Beach
Christopher Thein
$960,000
Eduardo L. and Lidia Labaj, trustees
421 Saint Joseph Ave., Half Moon Bay
Dennis H. Leung and Fiona L. Lin
$950,000
Raul and Ernestina Sencion, et. al.
2140 N. Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay
VG Investments
$2,600,000
BBQS LLC
461 Cypress Ave, Half Moon Bay
Moses W. and Linh Chan
$1,580,000
Jerry C. and Helen Wood-Vinokurov, trustees
18 Erin Lane, Half Moon Bay
Wade Bolton and Eric Rosenblatte
$800,000
Loralyn C. Alaimo
416 Grove St., Half Moon Bay
Mara and Scott Peters
$958,000
Carnoustie, LLC
111 Carnoustie Dr., Half Moon Bay
Anthony and Johanna C. Dyck III
$2,075,000
Michael D. and Marfery McCracken
114 Hildebrand Road, La Honda
Mark L. and Shelley M. Jajeh
$1,610,000
Renee Klionsky
496 7th St., Montara
Casey J. Harbison and Geraldine Keane
$850,000
Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustees
463 4th St., Montara
Samuel J. and Teresa J. Gebler
$852,000
William Narey
127 Madrona, El Granada
Matthew J. Sanders and Sarah Hachey Po
$1,170,000
AEN One Associates
155 Valencia Ave., El Granada
Mario and Veronica Mora
$1,010,000
Craig L. and Karen S. Poulsen, trustees
1518 Spinnaker Lane, Half Moon Bay
$1,100,090
$1,253,500
Ray E. Wells and Sarah L. Bachman
40 Escondido Place, La Honda
Ryan and Cindy Hayes
$589,000
Timothy B. Sullivan
9111 Alpine Road, La Honda
Rose B. and Sunny M. Yi, trustees
$845,000
Jeffrey S. Gananian and Jeannine Clark-Gananian
424 Redwood Ave., Pescasdero
John D. and Amy A. Hayes
$300,000
Cal. BRE License #01372531
JULIETTE KULDA Stats for 2015: • Closed over 60 real estate transactions • #1 Realtor on the Coastside in Sales Volume
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.
• Represented 23 Happy Coastside Buyers
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2016? •Hitting your real estate goals out of The Park •Securing your ideal Home Base •Working with an agent who always has her Eye On The Ball
• #1 Favorite Real Estate Agent – HMB Review Reader’s Choice Awards • Featured on HGTV’s House Hunters Show featuring the Coastside • Her Customed-Focused Team Will Ensure All Your Needs Are Met • Ask about our KW Luxury Division
GO GIANTS!
It’s all about pulling together the right players on the right team. BE EXCITED ABOUT COMING HOME!
Lic # 01451449
Alain Pinel Realtors License: #01959005 42 N. Cabrillo Hwy Half Moon Bay 94019 XNLV250075
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650-763-3231 rkirby@apr.com apr.com/rkirby Snr Real Estate Specialist, MBA, APR Presidents Club MOON
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“More Than a Shade Better”
Robin Kirby
SPECIALIZING IN COASTAL AND MID-PENINSULA CITIES:
RealEstate
Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Foster City, Redwood City, Redwood Shores
Providing Personal Service for 28+ Years
SUSIE MONTGELAS CRS, SRES
BRE#01190770
Direct: 650.931.2026 Cell: 415.828.4530 smontgelas@apr.com www.SoldonPersonalService.com It is my goal to make your Real Estate experience so special — you will refer a friend!
“SOLD ON PERSONAL SERVICE”
Lisa Forward XNLV260984
Alain Pinel Realtors lic# 01947457 42 N. Cabrillo Hwy. Half Moon Bay | 650-479-1103 www.apr.com/lforward | lforward@apr.com
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Market remains tough for real estate buyers
2
016 is starting off tough for buyers because of low levels of inventory and rising home prices. While there are slightly more homes for sale today than there were at the end of last year (37 now versus 35 in December), the number is way too low. There are also more homes sale-pending now than there was back in December. It’s impossible to predict the future, but this is historically the time when we see inventory start to build. Of course, we are starting from such a low level that many of the homes will be snapped up in a New York minute because of the lack of supply and that is especially the case with the homes at the bottom of the market. The tight inventory situation isn’t just a Coastside phenomena; its actually worse elsewhere on the peninsula. This puts more pressure on buyers to have all their ducks in a row before making an offer or continuing to be a proverbial runner up. That can be a frustrating experience. So how does a buyer needing a mortgage compete in a highly competitive market with cash buyers? That’s hard to do as cash deals are much cleaner with fewer potential problems and delays. There’s no appraisal or financing contingency nor any delay in closing waiting for loan documents that are late in coming due
to the new tighter banking regulations. I would think in many cases a cash offer will beat out one needing a loan. But the reality is most people need a loan, especially in expensive San Mateo County. This means, to be successful, you must get yourself fully approved for a mortgage before making an offer. This can take time, in fact, more time now thanks to the new bank regulations that kicked in last October. You have to have 100 percent of all the lender needs met in writing with the exception of the appraisal identifying your new home. Banks always seem to want additional information. This may sound somewhat discouraging to those looking to buy a home, but there are some bright spots as not all homes are gone in 60 seconds. At the low end, things are highly competitive with multiple offers. But, as you start moving up the price ladder, the market gets a little softer and this is actually where you may even see price reductions. I’ve noticed this trend since last summer. Right now, almost 20 percent of all the listings here have had price reductions. If you focus on the homes that have been sitting on the market a while, you may have more success and less competition too! Steven Hyman is the broker and owner of Century 21 Sunset Properties. He can be reached at 726-6346 or at www.century21sunset.com.
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