HALF MOON BAY LIFESTYLES OF THE SAN MATEO COUNTY COASTSIDE
Where the March Madness
NEVER ENDS
FOR DIOLI FAMILY, WORLD OFTEN LOOKS LIKE A BASKETBALL
Farming into the
future
LARGE COASTSIDE EMPLOYER LOOKS TO TEAM UP WITH UC DAVIS
THE MASTERS of the harbor PILLAR POINT HARBOR GETS NEW LEADER
APRIL 2020
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Contents
APRIL 2020
Features 12 Keeping safe harbor 16 The future of farming on the coast 34
Sometimes, basketball is a family affair THE DIOLIS ARE ALWAYS DRIVING TO THE HOOP BY CLAY LAMBERT
PILLAR POINT HARBOR GETS NEW LEADER BY LIBBY LEYDEN
LARGE COASTSIDE EMPLOYER LOOKS TO TEAM UP UC DAVIS BY LIBBY LEYDEN
Departments Editor’s Note 6 Upcoming 8 Flashback 10 Coastside Canine 50 Coastal Garden 52 Real Estate 54 Cover: This isn't Pillar Point Harbormaster Chris Tibbe's first time at the helm. Photo by Kent Hwang.
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Your home. Our mission.
At Compass, we believe no barrier should stand between where you are and where you belong. By pairing knowledgeable coastal experts with intuitive technology, we deliver a modern real estate experience on the Coastside and beyond.
Mary Beth Alexander 415.608.9327 DRE 02050811
Scott Benson 650.563.4214 DRE 02090149
Jerome Brolan 650.455.4904 DRE 01023833
Anne Crawford 650.303.1225 DRE 00775500
Brian & Ralph Ely 650.773.4045 DRE 02005787 DRE 00426557
Lisa Forward 650.281.4745 DRE 01947457
Kirsten Hagen 650.504.1469 DRE 01490617
Linda Hollister 650.868.0883 DRE 00362367
Stella K. Johnson 650.799.7525 DRE 00648495
Robin Kirby 650.763.3231 DRE 01959005
Ron Kucera 650.743.5084 DRE 01374273
Brian Lee 650.759.6616 DRE 01412016
Rich & Leslie Macario 650.303.3943 DRE 01393258 DRE 01885766
Soraya Orumchian 650.888.1794 DRE 02092606
Patrick Ryan 650.759.2430 DRE 01044049
Tom & Sharon Salet 650.245.6326 DRE 01217786 DRE 01084650
Rose & Nate Serdy 650.440.9510 DRE 00554021 DRE 01493170
Stephanie Sills 650.678.5707 DRE 02060529
Cheryl Stockton 650.888.8894 DRE 01738955
Judy Taylor 650.479.1284 DRE 00603297
Mark Weisbarth 650.868.6783 DRE 01943900
Ron Gable Vice President Managing Broker 650.867.4988 DRE 00458345
Compass is the brand name used for services provided by one or more of the Compass group of subsidiary companies. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Numbers 01079009 and 01272467. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified.
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Editor’s Note
APRIL 2020
Crisis is reminder of what is truly essential
S
ay one thing for the current crisis: It has reminded us of what it means to be truly “essential.” These are extremely trying times. And it isn’t often I use this space to write about serious worldwide affairs. Usually, I’m perfectly content to tell you what’s beyond this column, on glossy pages produced as a kind of excursion across the coast for your mind. And this month’s magazine contains all the diversions you could hope for. But you are forgiven if your mind is elsewhere. Today, I want to salute the many essential workers that, at least at this writing, are continuing to do their jobs so that some quality of life remains. These are the foodproducers, the public safety workers, the people who stock the shelves at your favorite grocery. The joint letter from public health officers across the area specifically enumerated a slew of businesses that were allowed and even encouraged to continue operating at this time. That’s because society would further falter without food in our stores and other amenities without which modern folk would have a difficult time. Notably missing from the jobs considered essential are most of the world’s highest paying professions. You know who you are. As of this writing, the list includes newspapers and the rest of the media, by the way. In other words, us. Please know the staff of Half Moon Bay magazine is largely working from home at the moment and always careful to keep a distance from anyone we might meet. We like to think our work brightens your day, and what is more essential than that? Be safe. We are holding you close, if only in our hearts. — Clay Lambert PUBLISHER Barbara Anderson
PHOTOGRAPHER Kent Hwang
EDITOR Clay Lambert clay@hmbreview.com
DESIGN Shari Chase BUSINESS OFFICE Kelli Plath
WRITER Libby Leyden
CIRCULATION Alison Farmwald
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ADVERTISING SALES Karin Litcher Karin@hmbreview.com Randie Marlow Randie@hmbreview.com Judith Modlen adservices@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 clay@hmbreview.com. ©2020, Half Moon Bay Review
Community is key. Love where you live.
Join us to support Coastside Nonprofits by donating now at coastsidegives.org
Kirsten Hagen
Stephanie Sills
Broker Associate®
MBA, MIM, Realtor®
650.504.1469
650.678.5707
kirsten.hagen@compass.com DRE 01490617
stephanie.sills@compass.com DRE 02060529
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Upcoming
See ya’ next year In nearly any other year, April in Half Moon Bay means the Pacific Coast Dream Machines. But not in this time of sheltering in place. It’s a shame for many reasons, not least because it is a much-needed fundraiser for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center. But it is also a spectacle that appeals to young and old alike. May the machines once again roar at the airport.
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L I S T YO U R E V E N T Do you have an event that might be a good addition to our Upcoming page? Email Clay@hmbreview.com for consideration.
2020 SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION
AW A R D W I N N I N G W I N E S
SILVER AWARD
Fisherman’s Red 2017 Red Blend Monterey
BRONZE AWARD
Coastal Fog White 2017 White Blend Monterey
BRONZE AWARD Pinot Noir 2017 Pinot Noir Monterey
BRONZE AWARD
Mavericks 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Monterey
Half Moon Bay is a place of unrivaled beauty, nestled between the noble Santa Cruz Mountains and the powerful Pacific Ocean. Half Moon Bay and the surrounding Coastside have not changed over the years - it is an area time forgot. Half Moon Bay Winery was established to honor the picturesque reputation of Half Moon Bay and our coast.
The Jos. W. Cotchett Family Half Moon Bay Winery | Half Moon Bay, California www.halfmoonbaywinery.com Find our wines in all fine stores and restaurants including: Archangeli Grocery Company (Norms Market) | Barbara’s Fishtrap | Cameron’s Inn, Pub & Restaurant | Coastside Market Cunha’s Country Grocery Store | Deluxe Foods of Aptos | Half Moon Bay Fish Market | Ketch Joanne Restaurant & Harbor Bar Neighborhood Gas Mart | New Leaf Community Market | Pleasure Point Liquor & Mini Mart APRIL
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Flashback
Stagecoaches challenged by both roads to Pescadero By Dave Cresson
A
“Flashback” reader, Mike, of El Granada, just sent me an interesting question: “I drive sports cars and often enjoy the Stage Road out of Pescadero through San Gregorio. I have wondered why a stage road would be located there instead of along the shoreline with its somewhat less-steep terrain.” This is a fun question because it touches on so many different threads of the Coastside, both present and past. Today, that Stage Road drive is a wonderful, short car trip. Between two old villages, Pescadero and San Gregorio, the road goes up and down, over and around coastal hills and valleys. The scenery is varied, with hairpin turns that open joyful views. Stagecoach passengers probably had the same delightful experience 150 ago. Stagecoaches ran down the coast, touching Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio and Pescadero; however, back then, drivers and passengers
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contended with dust, mud, inclement weather and uncertain road surfaces. Between San Gregorio and Pescadero, Stage Road runs parallel to the coast, a mile or two inland from the Coast Highway (now Highway 1). Actually, stagecoaches used both roads. Historically, the path that became Stage Road was one of the earliest inland travel routes in the area. The year-round path between the native villages of San Gregorio and Pescadero creeks was away from ocean tides and marshes, therefore less vulnerable to bad weather. Possibly existing for thousands of years, it is probably the trail the natives used to guide the first European visitors to California, Portolá‘s 1769 expedition, remaining to serve Spanish and Mexican ranchers as well as the wagons and stagecoaches later brought by Americans. A few stagecoaches first came to Half Moon Bay directly from San Francisco in 1862. When a railroad began to operate between San Francisco down to San Jose in 1864, stagecoaches going to the Coastside began to meet the trains. At first, they left from San
Mateo station (1866) and then from Redwood City (1872). Some stages went to Spanishtown and continued on to Pescadero, while others went to La Honda, San Gregorio and Pescadero. The traveling distance of the two roads (Stage Road and the Coast Highway) used by the stagecoaches between San Gregorio and Pescadero are nearly identical. Stage Road wanders around and goes up and down more. Stage Road gets as high as 400 feet but the Coast Highway rises to only about 200 feet. So back to the question: Why did stagecoaches use Stage Road instead of the Coast Highway? Among the possibilities: Company managers and their drivers chose which roads to be used because of personal preferences. Sometimes weather and road conditions forced the use of Stage Road. If horses were asked their opinion, perhaps they would say the longer downhill runs on Stage Road were good compensation for their hard work uphill.
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Questions, comments or suggestions for future Flashbacks can be sent to DaveCresson38@gmail.com. Cresson is the founder of the Half Moon Bay History Association.
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March MADNESS Where the
never ends
FOR DIOLI FAMILY, WORLD OFTEN LOOKS LIKE A BASKETBALL By Clay Lambert Photos courtesy John Ediger Photography4Good
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T
his is a basketball love story. No one dies in a tragic helicopter crash. Scary viral infections can’t stop it. This is the story of one Coastside family for whom March Madness continues no matter what. It begins more than 40 years ago, when Martin Dioli was a youngster at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Daly City. He’s the one who is always outgrowing his clothes. The story continues through high school, where Dioli starred on the hardwood for the St. Ignatius Wildcats, and onto a memorable career at Gonzaga, now one of the top college basketball programs in the country. In fact, if the NCAA national championships hadn’t been halted by coronavirus concerns, the Zags would be a top seed in the tournament that begin last month. But the best part of the story takes place right here on the coast, where Dioli’s personal 3-pointer comes in the form of daughters Katherine, Bella and Alli. Dioli enters the game “I was always tall for my age,” says Dioli, now a 6-foot-8, 51-yearold attorney and coach of the Half Moon Bay High School girls junior varsity basketball team. That’s why the father of one of his friends goaded him into playing
Top and center: This past season, Martin Dioli was a constant presence at the end of the Lady Cougars' bench. Below: Alli Dioli, left, and Bella Dioli, No. 21, were key components to a very successful season.
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for the first time. Dioli and basketball turned out to be a perfect match. “I played different sports, soccer and other things,” he recalls. “But I really loved basketball.” It was as if he were born into a basketball team. Two twin brothers a year younger are well over 6 feet tall. Another younger brother is 6-foot6, and his sister is 6-2. “Mom is 6 feet tall and she’s the shortest in the family,” Dioli says. While his height gave him a natural advantage, it took a while for Dioli’s game to gel. As a high school freshman, he was relegated to the B team. Then it was on to the JV squad before making varsity. The Wildcats were good, playing in the state championships in his sophomore year. By his senior season, colleges were calling. Several schools in what is now the West Coast Conference recruited the strong student-athlete, as did Ivies like Brown and Penn. Dioli was charmed by Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash. A cousin recommended the school and the team seemed great. “I liked the guys,” he explained. It might not have hurt that head coach Dan Fitzgerald was also a St. Ignatius graduate. Dioli redshirted his first year on campus, and the second year wasn’t exactly stellar. “I was a specialist and came off the bench,” Dioli recalls. He remembers one game against Pepperdine, when he was called for traveling twice in quick succession. Thirty years later, he swears he maintained a pivot foot. “Anyway, I got screamed at at halftime and I was in the doghouse,” Dioli said. Then there was the incident at the Cowboy Shootout, a Christmastime tournament in bonecold Laramie, Wyo. Dioli was wiling away the evening in a hotel room along with teammates Brian Fredrickson and Paul Verret, who was laid up with a stress fracture in his leg. The trio ordered a pizza. “Verret is sitting by the pizza and there is one piece left,” Dioli remembers. “Brian and I both decided to go for it. I think I picked Brian up and kind of dropped him on Verret.” Verret screamed in pain, and the roughhousing turned a stress fracture into a clean break. Suffice to say coaches who depend on the working bodies of young athletes were not amused. Dioli maintains it all worked out in the end because the broken bone healed more quickly than the lingering stress fracture. Then came the fateful day in his fourth year at Gonzaga — in his third year of eligibility — when Dioli was home sick and missing practice. Fitzgerald sent an assistant coach just to make
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sure Dioli was really sick and not malingering. Dioli didn’t like it, so he quit the team. Dioli rebounds By then he had graduated anyway. He was planning a legal career and preparing for the law school entrance exam. In the meantime, the burly Dioli found work as a bouncer and bartender at a campus bar called Outback Jack’s. One fine day in the spring of 1990, a pair of assistant coaches — Dan Monson and Mark Few, who would go on to become the now-legendary head coach of the Bulldogs — showed up at the bar. They wanted the big guy back on the team. “They said, ‘Fitz is out and you have a year of eligibility remaining,” Dioli said. “I thought they were kidding. I said, ‘Do you guys want a beer?’” But the seed was planted. He felt bad about the way his college basketball career ended. He decided to put on the Gonzaga uniform for another season, but first he would have to get enrolled in the college. He took the GMAT and got in to the MBA program. Because that wasn’t enough for a man who had always been an academic overachiever, he decided to take the fivepart test to become a certified public accountant. And Dioli was still thinking about law school. Dioli has fond memories of his last season on the hardwood. When pressed, he says, sure, he might have played professionally overseas. Instead, he went to the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Dioli, with the assist His basketball coaching career started when his oldest daughter was in the third grade. Some of the dads formed a Catholic Youth Organization team for Katherine and her friends. Little did he know he was signing up for years more in the gym. “I didn’t even know if my girls would be interested in sports,” he says. By Katherine’s seventh-grade year, Half Moon Bay High School had a new coach who also went to St. Ignatius. Antonio Veloso eventually asked Dioli to coach the JV team at the high school and to help out with the varsity team when he could. In due time, Katherine graduated. This season daughter Alli began her freshman campaign even as her sister Bella was preparing to graduate. The Dioli duo starred on a Central Coast Sectionwinning team that finished the season last week at 25-4 and a perfect 11-0 at home. But Martin Dioli is the real winner in this story. He’s an undefeated 3-0. He says the game brought him closer to his teenage daughters, and
“VERRET IS SITTING BY THE PIZZA AND THERE IS ONE PIECE LEFT,” DIOLI REMEMBERS. “BRIAN AND I BOTH DECIDED TO GO FOR IT…” MARTIN DIOLI, RECALLING ONE NON-BASKETBALL INJURY
that they even wanted him around through high school years that can be tough on dads and their daughters. “I worried I would be there too much, but they want me there,” he said. “I’ve gotten to see all of their games.” Today, Katherine is studying international relations with an eye toward finance. Bella, he said, wants to be a nurse. But Alli, who was honored as the Peninsula Athletic League MVP as a freshman, may be the real baller of the whole bunch. “She wants to play in the WNBA someday,” her proud father says. It’s a lofty goal, but he says she is doing everything right. She gets straight A’s at Half Moon Bay High School and plays basketball relentlessly. On March 6, the day after the Cougars lost in the state basketball tournament, she was back in the gym at 7 a.m. Dad says she shoots hundreds of shots each and every day. The next day, she practiced from 8 a.m. to noon with her West Valley club team. Her father had the same drive, both in the classroom and the gymnasium. “I can relate to her,” he said. There is one member of the family who might consider the decisions to suspend the NBA season and cancel the NCAA tournament a reprieve from the constant sound of a dribbling basketball. That would be Dioli’s wife. “Sometimes it gets to be too much for Jaime,” he says. HALF MOON BAY
Pages from a Gonzaga basketball program attest to the importance of center Martin Dioli.
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The masters of the harbor
PILLAR POINT HARBOR GETS NEW LEADER By Libby Leyden Photos by Kent Hwang
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t’s a little past noon on a Wednesday as Chris Tibbe, the new harbormaster of Pillar Point Harbor, straps on his life jacket and joins Deputy Harbormaster Dante Madrigal on the patrol boat. The pair begin their daily routine of touring the harbor, looking for any boats that may be in distress or floating debris in the water. They check to make sure kayakers and paddleboarders are wearing life jackets. Patrols such as this are vital, according to Tibbe and Madrigal, to keep a running list of who is coming and going and anchoring in the mooring field just outside the marina. It is one important role for the Harbor Patrol, which is responsible for maintaining and providing public safety at Pillar Point Harbor in Princeton. It’s a function of the San Mateo County Harbor District. While Tibbe only started in his new lead role a few months ago, he is no stranger to working at a harbor or being on a boat. He grew up in northern Michigan and came from a family of boaters. “One of my very first jobs was pulling all the boats on the docks out of the water so they did not
Harbormaster Chris Tibbe grew up around boats and harbors.
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The Harbor Patrol keeps an eye over everything at the harbor, from fishing boats to trash cans. 20
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Let us help design the ring you have been dreaming of phone: 650.726.2546 info@goldworkshmb.com fax: 650.726.5243 www.goldworkshmb.com 542 Main St., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
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“THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH BEING THE FIRST RESPONDERS, SO WE MAKE SURE OUR STAFF HAVE THE TRAINING THEY NEED AND THE TOOLS IN PLACE,” CHRIS TIBBE, PILLAR POINT HARBORMASTER
Dante Madrigal notes that the Harbor Patrol has to be ready for any contingency.
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When a dock pipe springs a leak, Dante Madrigal is a plumber. The next day he might be saving a life on open water.
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freeze during the winter,” he said. He spent summers working at a boatyard while in high school, before later moving to California to attend college in San Francisco. He finished his studies but not before taking a brief hiatus to sail to New Zealand as a captain of a boat. After graduating, he continued working in boatyards, including one in Alameda where he stayed for many years. Later he relocated to the Pacific Northwest to serve as harbormaster at the Port of Bellingham. When his wife took a job back in California, the couple moved once again and Tibbe worked as an independent business owner. Missing the experience of being in charge of a working harbor, Tibbe took the job to lead Pillar Point Harbor’s Harbor Patrol. “I can see the positive influence the harbormaster can have on the harbor itself and the community,” he said. “The harbor is a dynamic part of the community and the experience people have with it largely can depend on the harbormaster.” Tibbe said first and foremost he wants to balance the needs of the harbor with the stewardship of the environment. Pillar Point Harbor sits next to a marine sanctuary that is protected by federal regulations. An avid sailor, he would also like to see more interaction with Oyster Point Marina, the other harbor maintained by the Harbor District. “It would be nice to see more engagement with our sister harbor. Perhaps a regatta or cruise, where boaters from there sail here for a day, get some crab and enjoy some time on the Coastside,” he said. Pillar Point Harbor is known for its thriving fishing industry. Tibbe said he is “widely optimistic and hopeful” it will stay strong. The harbormaster and the 15 deputy
The San Mateo County Harbor Patrol prides itself on having a positive influence on the docks.
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Chris Tibbe says you have to be "like a Swiss Army knife" to be a member of the Harbor Patrol.
“EVERYONE HERE IS LIKE A SWISS ARMY KNIFE; THEY HAVE A LOT OF SKILLS,” CHRIS TIBBE, PILLAR POINT HARBORMASTER
harbormasters who work at Pillar Point Harbor do more than just patrol the waterfront. They are all tasked with maintaining the trash and recycling facilities and clean bathrooms, attending to the landscaping and responding to any emergency at the harbor or at sea. The role of harbormaster is similar to being a lifeguard, park ranger and police officer. “Everyone here is like a Swiss Army knife; they have a lot of skills,” Tibbe said. Madrigal said a few weeks ago there was a leaking water valve under one of the docks, so that day he was a plumber. If a boat smashed into a dock, the Harbor Patrol would act as a crew of carpenters, he said. “We clean streets, mount signs, build fences,” Madrigal said. “We’re jacks of all trades.” Additionally, the Harbor Patrol often serves as the first responders to incidents on the water, such as a drowning or boat
capsizing. The staff is all trained in critical lifesaving response and work collaboratively with other agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. “There are challenges with being the first responders, so we make sure our staff have the training they need and the tools in place,” Tibbe said. “We use our best judgment and learn from our successes.” As Tibbe continues to settle into his new role, he said he’s been enjoying meeting the people who make up the harbor, the live-aboards, the restaurant owners, the fishermen and the daily visitors. “This is one of the most unique and rare harbors we have left on the West Coast,” he said. “I am here most days and will always make myself available to anyone who wants to talk and learn about what we do.” HALF MOON BAY
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Good stuff on the
COASTSIDE! Going to A Party? Take us with you
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Winery
SEND MOM SOME LOVE
Flowers & Arrangements
2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards
? Silver Award 2018 Chardonnay Silver Award 2016 Sangiovese Silver Award 2016 Zinfandel Bronze Award 2016 Cabernet
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Handcrafted wines produced and bottled in Half Moon Bay since 1993. 650-728-3613 ~ trojakknier.com 151A Harvard Avenue in Princeton Wine tasting on weekends or by appointment 32
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Mazzetti’s Bakery 101 Manor Drive, Pacifica 650.355.1007 Tues-Sat 6am-7pm, Sun 6am-6pm
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Farming INTO THE FUTURE
LARGE COASTSIDE EMPLOYER LOOKS TO TEAM UP WITH UC DAVIS
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By Libby Leyden Photos by Kent Hwang
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magine being able to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables more efficiently and leaving less of a footprint. The Agriculture Excellence Institute, spearheaded by Rocket Farms in partnership with the University of California, Davis, is attempting to do just that by creating a research center in Half Moon Bay that unites new technology with farming. The model would utilize vertical farming, robotics and aqua farming to grow nutrient-dense food while being 100 percent sustainable. Rocket Farms President and Chief Operating Officer Nick Bavaro is hopeful he can bring the vision of the Agriculture Excellence Institute together. “This is the ideal spot; I mean just look at the view,” he said. The $50 million to $100 million project would be funded partly by Rocket Farms in combination with donations and grants, which are not yet confirmed. Bavaro said the facility would be built on Rocket Farms property and include a vertical greenhouse, a research facility and several units of affordable farmworker housing. ‘The focus would be, we are going to create a self-reliant facility which will point the direction on where agriculture needs to go,” Bavaro said. “Less impact more quality.”
Rocket Farms' officials think their Half Moon Bay operation is perfect for innovative technology.
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Rocket Farms already utilizes technological solutions. President Nick Bavaro says the changes afoot will only allow the industry to grow.
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People have always been a part of the large farm operations on the north side of Half Moon Bay. Rocket Farms President Nick Bavaro says that won't change. 40
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MUSSELS MONDAY $20!
MOULES-FRITES AND A PINT OF BEER OR A GLASS OF HOUSE WINE
LOCALS WEDNESDAY LOCALS GET
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$1 “THIS IS THE IDEAL SPOT; I MEAN JUST LOOK AT THE VIEW,” NICK BAVARO, ROCKET FARMS PRESIDENT AND COO
Bavaro said farming is behind a lot of other industries that already made the shift into using more technology. If farmers do not adapt, they will be left behind with little profit and fewer crops. Rocket Farms, which until 2011 was knonwn as Nurserymen’s Exchange, is already implementing technology into their production methods. On a tour of the property Bavaro shows how the company is using robotics to fill up pots with soil. He explained that it’s not about replacing labor, rather it involves teaching people how to use the technology instead of doing it all by hand. Rocket Farms grows and sells around 25 different products, including potted plants, such as herbs, and roses. While the company is a for-profit operation, Bavaro said the intention with the Agriculture Excellence Institute is not about
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The Half Moon Bay Magazine is supported by our advertisers. Visit them and thank them for making this publication possible!
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In photos taken before warnings about the spread of COVID-19, Rocket Farms workers gather to ready potted plants for sale. 44
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The WaveChaser races welcome competitors on ski surf kayaks, standup paddleboards, prone boards and outriggers.
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“AS A FARMER YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HARVEST AS MUCH AS MANY MONTHS AS POSSIBLE. THAT IS SUSTAINABLE,” NICK BAVARO, ROCKET FARMS PRESIDENT AND COO
making money. He said instead it’s about discovering ways to revolutionize farming techniques. “As a farmer you want to be able to harvest as much as many months as possible,” he said. “That is sustainable.” Bavaro described examples such as creating clones or resistant root stock as work the Institute may produce. He said the center would find better ways to farm and share those ideas with people across the country. Food grown at the research facility will likely be donated locally. The facility would be staffed by UC Davis professors, students, interns and other visiting teachers and scholars. A portion of the property would feature farmworker housing designated for people who are working the Agriculture Excellence Institute or other local agriculture workers. Bavaro is not sure how many units would be built or what rent will cost, but it is meant to be “affordable” he said. “The whole idea is to educate them and give them better skillsets,” he said of his workers. In 2018, Gail Taylor, UC Davis’s chair of the Plant Sciences Department, and Chairman of Rocket Farms Charles Kosmont signed a partnership agreement for the project. Officials at UC Davis declined to comment on the project at this time. The Institute is seen as a way to “further work toward the goal of ensuring global food security while sustaining our planet,” the agreement reads. Bavaro said that while the company has other locations in California, he would like to bring this project to Half Moon Bay, despite it being the most expensive place to do business, because of the beauty of the land and the climate. “We just want to make sure the community is supportive of agriculture,” he said. HALF MOON BAY
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BigSHOT
BEGINNING IN MID-MARCH,
Coastside residents were asked to stay at home for the most part, but encouraged to get out in the open for some exercise. It never hurts to have a couple of Saint Bernards with you. Photo by Clay Lambert
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Coastal CANINES
Skipper
Age: 2 and a half Breed: Schnoodle (Schnauzer and poodle mix) “He is a rescue and I found him on Petfinder.com,” recalls Karin Litcher, advertising manager for Half Moon Bay magazine. “Skipper was described as a 'plug-and-play' dog that would love everything and everybody. There is not a mean bone in his energetic body.” Litcher said people in the rescue group told her their hearts “skipped a beat” when they saw him, hence the name. He’s a lover, but also a player. Skipper loves to play with the big dogs at the dog park and will chase a ball until the ball is tired. “When he's home, he insists that one of the cats wrestle with him. “As far as Skipper is concerned, there are not enough hours in the day to play, play, play,” she said.
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NOWG! N HIRI
g n i r p S
Coastal GARDEN
By Arwen Griffith
likely to I bloom even following dry winter
grew up on the East Coast so, to me, spring means snowdrops followed by crocuses and then buttercups. When I moved to California, spring just wasn't the same. But as I grew more interested in gardening, I started noticing the little native gems that popped up in February as well as the fields turning riotously yellow or purple with wild mustard and radish. Last spring, California had a "super bloom.� That is when complex conditions cause long-dormant seeds to bloom all at once. Hillsides all over the state were blanketed in color. But while super blooms are primarily a desert phenomenon, wet springs can deliver spectacular flower shows anywhere. There's no super bloom on the horizon this year, though, as this February had the lowest rainfall on record. Although spring is clearly shaping up to be warm and dry, that doesn't mean you won't be able to see the Bay Area's exquisite wildflowers. I'm already seeing the first California poppies, and by the time this article is out, they should be in full swing along with many other delightful wildflowers. Here are just a few other varieties to look for:
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■ Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) is not a grass at all, but a member of the iris family. Its low purple flowers reward those with patience. The yellow throats lure in pollinators. ■ Blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) have bell-like flowers on a tall stalk. They can get lost in taller grasses but flash into sight with the wind. ■ Cream cups (Platystemon californicus) look a little like buttercups; these pretty cream and yellow flowers are found in disturbed soil and open areas. ■ Lupines (Lupinus bicolor and others) are hardy natives, usually purple or blue, that thrive in disturbed areas. Densely flowered platycarpos (L. microcarpus) is a compact lupine with yellow or cream flowers. There are more than 70 varieties of native lupine in California! ■ Goosefoot violet (Viola purpurea) has cheery yellow flowers and pops up even on the rocky cliff edge in Bernal. I may have been spotted crawling out to photograph it. A similar flower is Shelton's violet (Viola sheltonii), which grows in wooded areas. ■ Leopard lily (Lilium pardilinum) is my personal favorite, although I have only seen it growing wild on Mount Tamalpais. It likes wet feet and has spectacular reddish orange flowers hanging in clusters along a stem that can reach 8 feet tall. ■ Northwest crimson columbine (Aquilegia formosa) is a stunning find, typically in moist areas. It's sometimes called crowsfoot because of the shape of the leaves. ■ Shooting star (Deodecatheon clevelandii) is a delicate
native relative of the cyclamen. With tiny purple flowers, it's easy to miss, but worth seeking out. ■ Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is often seen in either yellow or white varieties. It's a medicinal herb as well as being hardy and drought-tolerant. ■ Serrated onion (Allium serra) has a pretty pale pink flower on a 12- to 16-inch stalk. It has a few hollow leaves at the base that smell like, well, onion. It can be mistaken for Thrift, which is usually on the coast, and has flowers clustered in fives rather than three or six like the allium. ■ Wild radish (Raphanus sativus) is not native; it's naturalized from Europe but covers fields and roadsides all over the state. It is always purple or pink; the almost identical flowers you see in white or yellow are jointed charlock (R. raphinistrum) or a hybrid of the two. While cultivated radish has an edible root, you'll want to try the seedpod of this one. For learning more, I highly recommend “Introduction to California Spring Wildflowers,” by Philip Munz (2004, University of California Press). Arwen Griffith is a University of California master gardener living in San Francisco who enjoys the wildflowers on our Northern California coast. Contact your local master gardeners for free gardening advice at http://smsfmastergardeners.ucanr.edu or on Facebook or Instagram @ sfbaygardeners. The article was edited by Susan Kornfeld and Cynthia Nations, UC master gardeners. HALF MOON BAY
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RealESTATE
Realtors: Do you have a recent sale that you think might make a good
featured home? Contact Karin@hmbreview.com. There is no charge.
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Address 240 Amesport Landing, Half Moon Bay Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 Home Size 950 Built 1989 Sale Price $760,000
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Sought-after location in sought after Amesport Landing. Bright ground floor end unit with fenced patio, in a park-like setting with redwood trees, grassy areas and beautiful landscaping. Recent upgrades include wood floor and paint. Other upgrades include light fixtures, stove and dishwasher. Some ADA conveniences - grab rails and wheelchair access to shower in one bathroom. One car garage and close access and opposite the front door a one car carport. Off street visitor parking. Very close to downtown shops, restaurants, beach, library, community centers. PHOTO CREDIT: GAIL HAFELFINGER AND FRANK VENTO, INTERO REAL ESTATE SERVICES
S N A P S H OT
Median home sale price
$1,373,200 â–² 3.4% over the past year
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RealESTATE Select recent Coastside real estate transactions
Seller
Property
Buyer
Amount
Philip B. and Alena M. Polster
723 Sierra St., Moss Beach
Robert J. Posesva and Quan Nguyen
$1,350,000
Vicente and Gema Cruz
531 Madrone Ave., Pescadero
Sherean Neuhart and Vanessa Bezerra
$670,000
Kevin J. and Jill E. Palmer, trustees
914 The Alameda, El Granada
D. Colleen Harp and Nick Musil
$1,000,000
Marisa Hicks and Rosanna Zeigler, trustees
515 Almeria Ave., El Granada
Christopher Thein
$1,375,000
Timothy J. Welch
346 Carmel Ave., El Granada
Margaret L. Glynn and Daniel P. Richards
$1,157,500
Paul R. and Gayle G. Sylvestri, trustees
739 Sonora Ave., El Granada
Allan Smith and Haley Peterson
$1,155,000
Thane Gilmour and Janet Curtis, trustees
169 Turnberry Road, Half Moon Bay
Diane R. Dorsa trustee
$1,775,000
Stonehaven Investment Management LLC
574 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay
Glen A. and Kristin A. Mitchell
$1,175,000
Charles W. Halterman and Gwendolyn V. Halterman, trustees
840 Main St., Half Moon Bay
Bluefish Properties LLC
$1,300,000
Paula N. Belloni
456 Oak Ave., Half Moon Bay
Jusman R. and Gursharan Singh
$1,080,000
Lance Kastl and Edith Kastl, trustees
61 Valencia Ave., Half Moon Bay
Gerald P. Girouard, trustee
$1,485,000
Todd Martincello
8485 Cabrillo Highway, Montara
Kristjan Higdon
$250,000
Lauren J. Renken, trustee
55 Alameda Ave., Half Moon Bay
Luanne S. Andreotti
$1,850,000
William V. and Joan D. Powell, trustees
544 Grove St., Half Moon Bay
Kyle and Sarah Wilhelms
$1,125,000
Gregory MacDonald
127 Sequoia Dr., La Honda
Dennis M. and Krista K. Bartlett
$1,230,000
Wilbur D. Andrews II and Maria D. Allo, trustees
vacant land, Montara
Audrea M. Festejo
$300,000
Adam and Amy Paulson, trustees
615 Kelmore St., Moss Beach
Cheryl Doriot
$1,185,000
Stephen and Kristyn Cardosi
545 Palma St., El Granada
Loren E. Shufton
$1,450,000
John Ramacciotti, trustee
2210 Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay
Edward J. and Sandra L. Andreini
$1,250,000
Elias and Carolina Galankis
911 Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay
Allan D. Dunham and Claire L. Silva
$815,000
Izushin Corp.
Vacant land, Half Moon Bay
Fernando and Priscilla Villegas, trustees
$169,000
REAL ESTATE NEVER LOOKED MORE BEAUTIFUL.
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ASTS I D E N T Y C O TER 2019 EO CO U FALL/WIN S A N M AT OF THE O F T H E S A N M AT EO C O U N T Y C OA STS I D E
FALL/WINTER 2018
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Neighborhoods. The magazine.
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SHEPPARD FAMILY DENTISTRY
R E A D E R S
R E A D E R S
R E A D E R S
R E A D E R S
CHOICE
CHOICE
CHOICE
CHOICE
2012
2013
2014
2016
Voted Favorite Dentist
SH
The Sheppard Family has been practicing dentistry in Half Moon Bay since 1978. Patient services include routine cleanings, implants, and one day crowns. GUM HEALTH AND MAINTENANCE CROWNS AND VENEERS FILLINGS EXTRACTIONS IMPLANTS FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION TEETH WHITENING
EP
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Comprehensive Family Dentistry in Half Moon Bay for over 40 years
D FA M ILY D E N
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Brian Sheppard, DDS O N E V I S I T C ROW N S
Office hours by appointment:
650.726.3355
890 Main Street, Suite A Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
info@SheppardDentists.com www.SheppardDentists.com